Moving On

This is my last post in this blog. With the advent of a built-in blog on the front page of my website, plus Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr, etc...this blog is now obsolete. I thought about just deleting it, but it is a diary of the first years of my business, and I can't bear to let it go. Maybe others will find it interesting to skim through, as well. It's not all business - the death of my father, the passing of a beloved pet, personal trials and enlightenment - they're all recorded here.

Here's who I was when I started my business:

And here I am today:

Not so different...

But just for fun, here are some images along the way. May our path lead ever onward and upward toward our own best selves. Blessings to all. Awen.

      

 

 

 

The Tender Side

I've known Hale for years. Active in both choral and instrumental music groups, Hale is a talented showman. He's a natural choice for emcee work with his big voice and personality. He is a man born to be in the spotlight!

I was thrilled when he and his lovely wife, Romona, visited my studio.  Their love and easy laughter showed me the tender side of Hale. Theirs was the last session ever held in my Salem studio. It seemed fitting, somehow. Watch for Hale in my upcoming series, "Oatfield".

Seeing the Big Picture

Today's class, "Seeing the Big Picture: An Exploration for Photographers and Writers" was a success! We had a great time exploring via creativity, writing and photography exercises, and the outdoor photography  was especially nice on this BEAUTIFUL day

I received the nicest compliment from Ryan: "Cherie is an enthusiastic, heartfelt instructor, who brings the magic back to learning." Thank you, Ryan!

My favorite personal photo from today was this image of bleeding hearts. It's always a good day if I have a camera  in my hand. Our next workshop is in July - join us!

A Day at the Beach!

We visited the beach last weekend. What a beautiful day on the Oregon coast!

The ocean always energizes me. I spend my time playing in the waves (yes, it's freezing cold - but after a while, my legs get numb, and then it's just fine. yes, I'm crazy...) and lying in the sand, soaking up the rays.

Bryan has his own way of enjoying the beach. :)

Note the beautiful lighting. This was taken in early evening, about two hours before sunset. It's a PERFECT time for portraits. If it's time to update your family portrait, give me a call, and let's go to THE BEACH!

Class of 2013!

It felt like summer this weekend. Summer is senior portrait season, you know. I'm looking forward to seeing the class of 2013 this July and August!

Natasha is a woman of many faces. She's been in front of my camera in the past, as you can see!

 

When she asked to be a senior rep, I was delighted. We scheduled a session while the cherry trees were in full bloom. The result was ... stunning.

I still have openings for reps in the Salem and Portland areas. Give us a call! 

Donna lives in Hawaii now. "But I want a Moonlight Madness portrait!" she said.

"No problem," I replied. "I have photos of a crescent moon, taken last summer. We can photograph you in the studio, and create a fantasy portrait."

"And I want white tigers," she added.

So she caught a flight here, we spent a couple of hours catching up (thank you, Donna, for the vintage wine!) and then it was showtime. One moon + two white tigers + Donna = magic!

And Moonlight Madness.

(The Madness returns August 1.)

Classic Love

Andi and Mark are a beautiful love story. Andi is an accomplished musician, playing violin and music, while Mark owns Poison Frog recording studio and plays guitar. They share not only a love of music, but also a perspective on family life reminiscent of times gone by. "We've got a 1950's outlook," giggles Andi.

For their engagement session, I wanted to capture their classic mindset. We visited a local landmark, Deepwood Estate, and I positioned them on a balcony to take advantage of rim lighting, I added a slightly stylized look in post-production.

The stylizing is mine. The love is all theirs. Can't wait for the wedding!

Every year, I think, "How can I make this year's Dare to Be RED event new and exciting?" And every year, my clients bring ideas that combine with my photographic passion to create magic.

This year, two clients asked, "Can we do a pin-up style portrait?" The answer was a resounding YES! It was so much fun that we created a new event. Pin-Up Parade will happen in July, and people are already signing up. Thanks, Tandy and Allison!

Note the high-key (light) background – quite the contrast from the low-key (dark) background I’ve used in the past. I’ll be focusing on high-key photography for other events this year. Stay tuned!

Raindrops

Being in nature is cleansing for my soul. In times of tumult and unrest, it rejuvenates me to unchain my senses in the natural world. The sight of a raindrop hovering upon a branch, the smell of daphne wafting in earliest spring, the rough feel of bark on a still sleeping trunk–it sooths, heals, and refreshes.

After a recent rain shower, I snuck outside to with my camera to enjoy the fresh landscape, scrubbed clean by Gaia herself.

Serendipity

Like all artists, I’m always looking for the fresh take. How can I creatively capture a moment in time/a client/an idea? Whether my medium is photography or writing, I want to find what is unique and perhaps yet unseen.

Some artists/writers carefully sculpt their scene in advance. I admire their skill, but that method rarely works for me. Instead, I depend heavily upon serendipity, stumbling upon those quirky moments that spark creativity.

During her senior portrait session, Miz Lily surrounded herself with the cosmetics she loves. I caught sight of her reflection in the mirror, and voila! – serendipity scored again.

Generations

It was the eyes that caught me. Who is older, who younger? Logan seems much older than his three years, while his great-grandma still has mischief in her eyes.
The love between them is clear. Love knows no boundaries, not color nor location nor even age.

There is a sacred yet giddy love between grandparents and grandchildren. I’ve been blessed to experience it from both ends, and I can tell you, there is NOTHING better.

This image began as a snaphot, taken by Logan’s daddy. “Can you do something with it?” he asked. I could indeed.

Early December Newsletter

Our early December newsletter is out - be sure to check out our holiday specials!

The Dreaded Photographer

So, I’m the dreaded photographer. Truly. About a month ago, I went to a styling salon in Portland that specializes in dreadlocks, and emerged with a VERY new look. It will take six months or more for the locks to mature; they take nurturing and patience. But the first time I glimpsed myself in the salon mirror, I thought, “I look like ME!”

I did research into dreadlocks. Today, we associate dreadlocks with Rastafarians, but they were first worn in ancient Egypt, and also by the earliest Christians, including James, the first Bishop of Jerusalem, who wore them to his ankles. Locks can be a fashion preference or an expression of political or spiritual beliefs. The stylist who created my new look did not have locks, though she has worn them. She said, “I won’t wear them again until I’ve earned them.” She felt they were an expression of accomplishment and wisdom.

I like that sentiment. My locks are an outward expression of an inward journey - a symbol of spiritual & emotional maturity. They are a reminder, every time I look in the mirror, that I am ever and always in the process of becoming who I've always been.

The Amazing Tacchini Girls!

Aren't they great! Their dad, Tom, has been a friend of mine for many years. When they visited my studio last week, we even got Dad in front of the camera!
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BIZ PICS - HALF PRICE!

Why should Groupon have all the fun? Here’s OUR deal:

March is Biz Pic Month! Business portraits, liberally sprinkled with Cherie Renae fairy dust, are normally $150 (which includes the session, 1-2 images, Cherie’s ever-so-flattering retouching, and a CD of both full-res and web-size versions) – but for THE ENTIRE MONTH OF MARCH, they are only $115.

But wait! It gets better! If TWENTY or more people sign up, EVERYONE’S session will be only $75. Yep, HALF-PRICE, folks. Come on, you know you want to participate, and it won’t get any better than this. Call your friends, encourage them to participate, and schedule today!

Did I mention that TODAY is a good day to call? 503.508.5157

DARE to be RED

Be bold. Be passionate. Never settle! Dare to be RED!

This popular annual event runs for the WHOLE month of February. Only $69 session fee - OR, sign up with a friend, and the session fee for you AND your friend is only $25 each! (Yes, you can recruit more than one friend...)

Be part of Cherie's 2011 marketing campaign. Do you dare?

We still have sessions available the last week of February - call us! 503.508.5157

Camping!

I wandered the southern Coast region with my friend Bryan this weekend. He introduced me to Camp Myrtlewood, a place of healing and peace.

We hiked a mile-and-a-half to a beautiful vista, and spent the afternoon eating and talking (and I took a nap). The forest felt primeval and I felt Tolkeinesque wandering amongst the giant ferns and firs.

The camp hosts are among the most loving people I've ever met. They opened their home and their hearts to us.

True riches reside not in accumulation, but in fullness of heart and soul.

Finally - an event for Men!!!!

I'm looking for confident, sexy men to be part of our Band of Brothers - Men in Kilts event! The first photo shoot is happening this Saturday, August 7. The images will be used on calendars, posters and on websites. Are you game? We will provide the kilts. Give us a call NOW! 503.508.5157

Bold Riley!

I recently photographed a Celtic band, Bold Riley. (Yes, the guitar player/lead singer is my new assistant, Christopher.) For this type of photo shoot, I'm not just capturing the essence of the individuals, I'm trying to capture the corporate spirit - attempting, in images, to portray the flavor of their music. Imagine hard-driving and joyful, energetic and intense - now how do we 'catch' it in visual form?

The first step was to take them into an unusual setting. A local park worked well, because it screamed CELTIC - think Stonehenge and Druidry - it put the music into context in an almost subconscious way.

The next step was to catch them as they played, because the intensity and the joy shows on their faces when they perform.

I scouted out the location ahead of time, so I could choose the appropriate time of day for this session. I chose early evening, around 6 pm. The sun was low but the light wasn't yet flat.

I'm pleased with the results, and the band is THRILLED. Here's a link to their website, just in case you're local to the Pacific NW...

Welcome to my new Creative Assistant!

So, I finally had to own up...I couldn't do it all. Ouch, it hurt to admit that. I really, REALLY needed someone to handle, among other things, the all-important verbal communication piece for the studio. But where would I find someone eloquent, personable, and able to deliver the 'Cherie Renae' experience to my beloved clients when they call?

Enter one talented and amazing person - Chris Buckley! I've known Chris since 1994. He is one of the most gifted musicians I've ever met, and he currently leads a Celtic band, Bold Riley, which plays to packed crowds here in Salem. He is a counselor to many and a friend to all.

I'm thrilled that he's going to be working as my Creative Assistant here in the studio. Between Chris, who will be my right hand; Harper, who handles my filing; Eli, marketer extraordinaire; Ariel, my capable business consultant; and Gabriel, who pinch hits where needed - I just may be able to keep the wheels on my busy bus!