The New New… Hello 2012

It’s 2012! Happy New Year!  I can’t believe how fast 2011 flew by! let me tell you, 2011 was such a year of growth for me. I learned so much. Things i’ve been longing to learn, and things I never had the desire to learn. Nevertheless i’m grateful for it all. I’ve been so so blessed this year and I can’t even describe the overwhelming excitement I have for this year that has just begun.

Clearly, it’s been awhile since I blogged but I’m over giving you, my beautiful readers (probably just my mom) excuses. Now I’m not saying my blog is going to be consistent this year either; but I’m pretty dedicated in the new year to just write and take pictures in no concrete format. Allowing myself to do what I love to do without restraint of what a “photo blog” is. So, if you do happen to come across my blog you might see a entry about some delicious food I ate, or my natural hair, maybe even a post about traveling in addition to my photo sessions. (But just to clarify there will still be many many pictures)

I don’t really want to “recap” 2011 cause that’s what’s expected but I wanted to share some images from things that didn’t make the blog last year… basically, a recap :)

Oh, Disclosure: this is going to be the longest post you’ve ever read. ever. feel free to just scroll to the pictures. I won’t take offense, promise.

Here we go!

I had the privelage of capturing some amazing, funny, loving families.

The Leek’s

Douglas convinced me to go to Seattle University for college… I kinda resented him initially, don’t worry he already knows that. So to pay me back (well, at least that’s what I tell my self)  He gave me a campus work study job giving tours around campus, which I actually enjoyed doing. I really enjoyed capturing him, his wife Latoyna, and his sister Lorrin. They were hilarious and we had a really good time.

The Zang’s

Katie is one of my mom’s best friends. When she asked me to take her family picture I said “Of course!” The more we emailed about the shoot, number of family coming kept growing and growing! I was kinda nervous but pretty excited at the same time. We ended up with 15 yes, 15 family members.  I must say I had to be pretty creative. In this picture below I think I moved 7 pieces of furniture, I like to call it “photo feng shui” ( I’m totally copyrighting that.) We had fun and in a hour we took a group family photo,  individual family photos, and photos of all the kids! It was a pretty awesome day. Below are some of the group photo’s and some of just Katie’s family.

The Welsh’s

The Welsh’s were the first recipients of a Lloryn Louise Photography Gift Certificate! They put it to use on an absolutely beautiful day. It was really sunny so we tried to find shade, especially for little Henry. It was also my first shoot with an infant that wasn’t sleeping :). With that said our goal for the session was to get Henry’s big beautiful blue eyes looking at my camera! Thankfully it worked a few times and in the end I think we captured some good moments.

The Benjamin Family

I met Tonya through a meet up for ladies with natural hair (more about hair another day) that she organized. In getting to know each other, I mentioned I do photography on the side. Usually, when I mention this fact people say “Oh, I need family pictures!”  I proceed to give them a card tell them to give me a call… It usually ends there. But not with Tonya, I’m pretty sure she called with in that week and I’m so glad she did. She even came prepared with ideas for the shoot! Our session was on UW’s campus in the quad and here are a few photos from our session.

I was honored to be apart of Matthew and Tiffany’s wedding.

This was my first wedding with a large party and over 100 guest. It was a big endeavor for me, and I’m so grateful for this couple allowing me (taking a risk on me) to shoot their wedding. Thank you Matt and Tiff! I had such an amazing time being apart of your union. I now understand what other wedding photographers mean when they say they fall in love with their clients! You know I love you guys! I also want to thank my second shooter Alfonzo. In the middle of preparing for his own wedding he helped me shoot this one, and the day would not have been a success with out him.

They decided to do an after wedding shoot on Alki Beach and here are a few images from that day. for some reason i’m REALLY loving these in black and white.

Styled Shoots

It was one of my goals last year to put together a styled shoot. Proudly, I can say I accomplished that goal, and within that idea came another. To have my own Glam Squad. I decided if clients would like make up, hair or styling services I can provide that for them conveniently. Well, truthfully clients kept asking for make up services and I was empty handed … So I figured why not put a whole team together! There will be more about my amazing squad in the near future but these images were specifically intended to showcase their amazing talent! So excited to offer these services in the New Year.

Ok, ok last thing, but certainly not least. Pursuit 31

Pursuit 31 is a photography workshop for Christian woman. The workshop allowed us to share our goals and dreams, our biggest fears, and how to balance the work/ family life. It was an amazing experience and I left with some sisters in Christ, and sisters in the photo business. Karen Stott and Latasha Haynes our amazing hosts really hooked it up with a styled wedding shoot for us and here are a few images from that pretty cool weekend.

Oh! One more thing. This is my Mom. She’s AMAZING. Seriously, if she wasn’t my mom she’d be the play aunt who’s house I was always at. She set a goal at the beginning of last year to lose 100 lbs. and on 12/31/11 she had lost  73lbs. See what I mean, AMAZING. I’m SO proud of you mom!

P.S. about this picture, ignore the matching hairstyles.. my mom (Love you mom) is what we call a copy cat.

Jeff and Detra July 8th 2011 {Seattle, WA and Renton, WA Wedding Photographer}

I had the honor of capturing Jeff and Detra’s Wedding earlier this year. My first wedding this year, more importantly my first wedding on my blog ever! I finally decided to make weddings apart of my advertised photography services. I did a couple of weddings last year but I was nervous and …well now i’m not :) Enjoy.  Oh and i’m trying a new photo format let me know what you think!

The Roberts Family { Family Portrait Photographer – Seattle,WA and Renton, WA}

Some how I COMPLETELY missed blogging this family and it’s just not right cause I love them SO much!!! Literally one of my favorite families in the world The Roberts asked me to take their family photos in early Janurary. The Day we decided on it was freezing…Seriously probably 37 degrees at best. But they came prepared with blankets and food (which made them even more awesome) We had a lot of fun. emphasis on A LOT… So much so i’ve decided to create a a gag reel of all the crazy and laughing pictures; completely outrageous! I can honestly say I’ve never been so cold, and felt so bad for making clients be out in the cold. But I’ve also never had so much fun at a shoot.

And the GAG REEL…

Taryn and Tiffany {Portrait Photographer- Seattle, WA and Renton, WA}

Let me just state before I even start this post. I’m humbled by this whole experience and really not even sure what to make of it!

Taryn reached out to me because she is an aspiring photographer and wanted me to help her learn her camera so she could get past the point and shoot phase. Although she’s a Nikon girl ;) I was honored, and more than happy to shoot around with her.

The day of the shoot Taryn came ultra prepared with her  friend Tiffany who modeled for us! It was such a fun time!  Taryn set up all the posing and we just shot side by side she asked questions, I made sure slowed down and took pictures with thought behind them. Taryn, I hope you actually learned something from me… But that’s the beauty of photography you will never know everything you just keep working at it. I’m glad to be helping Taryn in her process as I continue to receive help in mine. Here are my images from that day hopefully I’ll be posting some of Taryn’s soon as well!

Taryn getting all her settings right …

Taryn working the different angles

Taryn took advantage of all areas of the small park we were in… she’s definitely got the eye!

So this below is Taryn and I trying to model… you know be all fierce like Tyra and stuff.

Yeah… I’ve decided to stay behind the camera.

Thanks Taryn!

Audra’s Graduation

Audra, (Dr. Audra to be correct) A Sorority sister of mine Graduated from the University of Washington with her Ph.D this spring. She wanted to commemorate this AMAZING accomplishment with pictures in the UW Quad with her Ph.D Robe! I told her it would be an honor! We had a great time walking the quad and trying to bring out Audra’s inner Tyra :).  We also had some fun with her family who was very sweet, and her mom couldn’t be more proud! Thanks for letting me share this great occasion with you Audra!

Cuaresma Siblings!

Cecilia and I have been friends since high school. Our group of friends called ourselves the “Fab 5″…  Yeah we were sooo cool. Anyway, I’m proud to say we all pretty much still stay in touch (… well Cecilia goes MIA for years at a time, but upon her return it’s like she never left :)) When she reached out to me about taking pictures for her and her 3 siblings. I didn’t really know what I was in for, but I’m so glad I decided to go with it. Not to mention we got some great images to show for it! … I don’t wanna share all the details since they are saving their photos for something special. But lets put it this way; our shoot was 2 hrs away from Seattle, one car, 5 people, a tape deck and we hoped the “no trespassing” signs were just for kicks. Doesn’t that sound like fun!  Well I had a seriously really fun time I wish I had more photos of the actual road trip but humm… well …it was early. 6am early. and I slept.

Gotta love when clients get the giggles lol

Lull Mengesha- Author

What can I say about Lull. Well, he’s literally one of the most motivated people I’ve ever met. period. A couple years ago when he wrote his first book, The Only Black Student I knew then he’s bound to accomplish bigger and better then any of us could ever imagine. He now works with high school and college students all across the country and his book has actually become apart of some college courses. Lull is now in the process of getting his second book and first children’s book Lull and His LadyBugs published.  When he asked if I would take his and his illustrator Troy Tsuchikawa head shots for the book I knew it was gonna be a fun time… did I mention Lull makes me laugh, like stomach ache laugh on the regular ?

So proud of you Lull, You inspire me more than you realize. You’re the (little) big brother I never wanted, but really happy I have ; )

Insert stomach aching laughter… here.

So Troy has a pretty hilarious sense of humor as well, I actually really enjoy this picture below even though he’s not seriously being serious … 

1 Year in The Game

As of one year ago last Friday, Lloryn Louise Photography was born. Not a huge “woo hoo” for me. The honest truth, I only actually created LLP so the lawyers I shot my first event for would pay me. It was a complete after thought to create a business. Then I figured, “Well I can do this, I can run a business make it into something amazing with something I love to do, and everyone will love me!”

… That feeling came and went more times than I can tell you.

Mid last year when I was laid off, I told my self this was my opportunity to make this business work and maybe make it full time. But the motivation behind this thought was absolute bologna . Don’t get me wrong I worked at it, HARD. But when the weeks turned to months and I was running out of money I had to face reality and find a “real job”.

See, the problem was I was completely focused on the wrong thing, I wanted to make money, cause I was out of money. I wanted clients, cause I wanted money. I wanted success, cause I wanted money…. you get it.  I wasn’t focused on my clients, or my quality of work which are of course the most important parts of any business. But beyond the business, I lost sight of what I wanted to do. That was and still is to hone the craft of photography, make beautiful images and have fun while doing it.

Because my motivation was all off, I was producing a lack luster results. I wanted to give up, because LLP was becoming something I didn’t want it to be, well at least that’s what I told my self… “it’s attracting the wrong clients, it’s not making any money, it’s not producing great images.” It sounds silly now typing that out. As if LLP is some odd entity, doing poorly on it’s own. Duh Lloryn, I created LLP, I am LLP, it’s me and me alone in this endeavor.

So i’ve taken a few weeks to think about the past year and where i’ve gone wrong, and right and here’s what i’ve learned. {Disclaimer} Some of them are so simple it’s laughable so don’t judge me ;).

1. Treat clients the way you want to be treated (… DUH, right.)

2. If some one ask you do something you don’t wanna do say no, regardless of the money offered.

3. Your business is a serious thing, if you don’t treat it as such no one else will.

4.  Stay consistent, being whishy washy is so annoying

5. Take the time you need to better your craft

6. PRAY

7. Be open and receptive to feedback

8. Have fun, if your not having fun who’s fault is that?

9. You can’t fit into someone else’s “box” your creativity is it’s own box so don’t feel pressured to mold.

10. Don’t succumb to fear, you have a gift stand firm in it.

Ok this might be the longest post ever, BUT all these reflections have inspired a new Lloryn Louise Photography one that loves what she does, and who’s motivation is back on track.  who’s shooting because she loves it and is making her own “box”. I’m very grateful for my first year. It taught me so much and that’s what the first year is all about right? So here’s to year two!

Shadows. Lines. Shapes. : Seattle Art Museum Sculpture Park; Seattle, WA

 

 

Comedian and Actor, JB Bryant’s Headshots

A fellow SU graduate and friend JB is now pursuing his dreams as a actor/comedian in LA. Before he left we took some new headshots for him. It was FREEZING but he kept me laughing, he is quite the funny one and know he is going to be BIG. Look out for him, one day i’m gonna be able to say “I knew that guy when” lol. So proud of you JB for following your dreams!

I did say he’s a funny one right… lol

SPRING SPECIAL!!!!

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