Portland Fashion Photographer: Beached

Model: Cassie Meder
Stylist: Melissa LaChance
Wardrobe: Isaac Hers
Muah: Christine Marie
Portland Commercial Photographer Lavenda Memory

Portland Fashion Photographer: Solestruck BTS

Set up my "photo booth" during the shoot for Solestruck last night and here is the recap:









What? You didn't know that photo shoots were a party on set? Well, now you do ( :

Portland Fashion Photographer: American Boy

This editorial has been featured on Image Amplified!













We shot this editorial in model, Ivan Heimbuch's downtown studio. We used the natural light (which was limited) available and really tried to tell a personal story in this series. Wardrobe and hair were both me, but I feel like it came out quite nice.
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By Portland editorial photographer, Lavenda Memory.

Portland Fashion Photographer: Fun on the Job

God, I love my job! Going into work today (aka a beautiful studio space where our shoot was taking place) I had to shake off some bad energy and get into work mode. It was a teeny bit harder than usual, but seriously- there is almost nothing that can cure a bad day better than an awesome fashion shoot!

First thing first, I checked in with my beautiful model, Meredith Aledaide, and our talented makeup artist, Terri Reece, on the final direction for makeup and hair. I LOVE getting to collaborate on the overall transformation! Afterward, I looked out the designers pieces and we chatted about our inspirations for the shoot. When it was finally time to get behind the camera I was in full fledged work mode and not thinking about anything except directing something super cool and capturing the peak moments.

The cool thing about today was that our wardrobe stylist, Melissa Lechance, (along with our second model of the day, Megan Hodge) didn't arrived until her scheduled 3 hours into the shoot session... which meant that I got to take a break mid-way through the day to play with clothes and the most beautiful Solestruck shoes!

Thanks so much to the designers of all the gorgeous headpieces, Lorri and Denise!

I had an idea after lunch to set up a "photo booth" (aka my macbook) so that we could snap away throughout the day. Here are some out takes documenting our fun day:

Portland Commercial Photographer Lavenda Memory

Portland Fashion Photographer: Fair Weather

I snapped a photo of this gorgeous cloud cover back in August. These days I am super lucky to get a day where it's not pouring on me. (Sad face). Truly a sunny-weather girl, this time of year- without fail- I find myself itching to get out of town, or at least find a cozy fire somewhere and throw off my shoes.
Needless to say, Portland's winters pose a challenge for photographers like myself who enjoy shooting mostly on-location. Instead of complaining about it every year, however, I've come to terms with Portlands wet winters and have figured out some good compromises.
The first thing I do is let the client know that overcast skies are actually a GOOD thing! Most of my clients don't know that clouds act like a giant diffuser of the sun and actually soften the light so that it's even and more flattering. Obviously, everyone is pretty excited about flattering light so we get off to a good start!
Secondly, I try and find a location with cover. Just yesterday I had a session that required some good, natural light despite the on again off again downpour. I chose a location beneath a bridge so that when the rain lifted a couple minutes we could step out and shoot, or take advantage of the cover while it poured.
Lastly, I've become a pro at spying those gorgeous suns on the weather forecast and of course try and schedule accordingly!

Portland Fashion Photographer: Power House

A quick peak at this gorgeous editorial I shot with the following team:

Muse Model: Maria Shank

Makeup and Hair: Terri Reece

Stylist: Savannah Smith

Portland Commercial Photographer: Lavenda Memory

Portland Fashion Photographer: Inside Stuff

The cool thing about photography as an art form is that the final image captured is 100% your point of view. I love hearing clients say, "I've never seen myself that way" (yes, even models) after viewing their proofs or a final series. I always think to myself- Cool, well that's definitely how I see you...

Anyhow, a huge influence on my work and vision comes from my upbringing in the deep, deep south. My childhood holds this ethereal reality that though I've probably romanticized, I draw on for visual and emotional inspirations. 
When I'm feeling inspired to capture, other little side effects occur too- like writing, or painting or strumming pitifully at my acoustic guitar. Luckily I don't know how to post my strummings, so instead here's a poem and a photo.

These photos below are from a test I did with model, Kara Jean and the following poem is an inside scoop on my inspirations. It's a bit nostalgic, a bit dark, and whatever else you can say about a poem.


MUAH: Terri Reece
Styling: Me

the shadows sat with me
cooling my dark shoulders
as the screen pressed against my arm.

she was speaking low and the hum of her voice
reminded me of fireflies
caught in my jar
their lights dimming
me not knowing why.

and then the buzz became louder
and the screen hit my elbow
as my eyes flickered and hungered for fireflies
but then I remembered-
there was no jar
only her
buzzing

only not buzzing
screaming, really

and the screen pushed a delicate grid of diamonds
onto my brow as my pupils swelled and
swallowed the moonlight.

and then there was cold steel.


inside, only me
outside, cruel steel-
a blade,
then blood
and then more buzzing
only not buzzing

screaming-

a man this time
a retreat this time

then blue and
red
and blue
and red
fireflies

flitting across the mesquite tree
lapping across the dark porch
searching out
with red hands
then blue.

I remembered the ocean as I cupped my ears
against the siren screams

against the cold snap of steel across
her wrists

I listened to the sea until the
red
and the blue
disappeared
with her somewhere inside

then touched my ocean fingers
to the diamond grid imprinted on my face.

Portland Fashion Photographer: Katie O'Grady

I first met Katie O'Grady in an acting class where she was teaching. I remember being very surprised by how tiny she is in real life. On film and in print this woman has a lot of presence so I was shocked to see her teeny frame striding through the room.
Star of the movie Rid of Me (now out in theaters), Katie is a strong, determined woman who actually produced and put tons of footwork into her current film. You know all the unglamorous work that runs on and on past the filming? Yep- Katie was there for that!
The first time I shot Katie was for the Cover of About Face Magazine and while I enjoyed shooting her in her home for that feature, I was dying to do an extended session with her. When she contacted me a couple months back about this shoot I was ecstatic! She wanted to capture a timeless quality in the images for a "character" series and I was all IN!













Location courtesy of Holly Stalder
Makeup and Hair: Terri Reece
Portland Celebrity Photographer: Lavenda Memory

Portland Fashion Photographer: Color Story

I am about a week behind with editing, because so much work seems to come in all at once. Winter is motivating for editing, however, because there is no sunshine to tempt me away from my desk.
Every job is a different work load- from head shots to look books- I try and give an accurate estimate for turn arounds.

This series is a fun little set I did with Eclexion Boutique for my book. I would like to get it on some blogs and what not, so I can't post too many of the key shots till I hear back. Besides, I've still got a week to catch up on!

Portland Fashion Photographer: This Girl

I love, love, love to play through photography. It's a relief to step behind my camera and to drop all expectations- to simply observe, interact and then capture. And not to be all cheesy or anything... but it's very nice be inspired by new moments. That's why I like shooting new locations.

The test today was super fun because I had never seen the model, Kara Jean's house. We shot for the first time early summer when there was no need to be indoors. But this time we planned to use her house because of a snapshot I had seen of her bedroom. And her house was perfection!

The house was new to me- the colors, the smells, the sounds- And every interaction I had inside the house was a first, so I felt inspired to simply move things around and play. Thanks goodness she has a terrific sense of style- that certainly doesn't hurt! The walls were bright, the furniture was vintage and spoke of character... It was cool and fun and playful.

Here is a favorite shot inside Kara's bedroom, against a wall decorated with tree bark:



Hair and Makeup: Terri Reece
Styling: Myself
Portland Editorial Photographer Lavenda Memory

Portland Fashion Photographer: Real Life Acting

Just finished up an acting workshop that ran through the entire weekend, Friday-Sunday, totaling up to over 20 hours! I love being an Actress- getting to mix acting with photography and visa versa. Workshops are this incredibly intense environment of... release. Is that a weird word? (Well, whatever then.)
It's totally a communal experience, first of all. Throughout the weekend the spot light was only on me once a day and the rest of my time was spent watching my fellow actors.
Secondly, there is no external pressure to "perform" despite what many think of the vocation. It's simply a safe environment where we get to learn and listen, listen and grow.
As we work through a scene, or go through an exercise it's our jobs as actors to let go of all our preconceived ideas- about ourselves, the situation, the other people in the room- and to simply act and respond truthfully. Basically, we are releasing our stress, our self consciousness and our egos in order to be real for a few moments. And let me tell you- it's freakin awesome!
At the end of a long weekend like this I find myself feeling more sincere about my world view and wanting to be close to those I care about. It affects everything, including my art and/or  photography by clarifying my vision. By pushing me to find truth in others as well.
I have a photo- test scheduled for tomorrow and can't wait to see what kind of photos come out of our play. It's going to be an all-girls-day too! What could be better?!


Me and my girlfriend, Camille, playing at the Solestruck opening:

Portland Fashion Photographer: Winter is Coming

It was a beautiful day this morning and then bam- just like that- it became the Portland wetlands we see every winter. I kind of go stir crazy this time of year, because the southern girl in me begins to crave hot porches and freedom- you know- hot, 90° kind of freedom.
Anyhow, winter is becoming my "Testing Season". And for those of you who don't know what "testing" is, let me give you the low-down. A test is a shoot planned by a photographer or team in order to play out and test ideas and concepts. It's a great portfolio builder or updater and honestly, it's like scratching an itch for creatives. It means that we don't have to answer to a client for a moment, means that we get to take a photo of what we see instead of what we're supposed to see. *Sigh. Can you tell I love this part?




Now that I've initiated my own testing season I find myself waking earlier, walking outside more and scratching shoot ideas onto whatever grocery receipts I can find. It's really kind of exhilarating.
Now if only my brain could keep up with my inspirations, ha!