Portland Fashion Photographer: Touch Puppet Feature

This is an editorial shot exclusively for Touch Puppet, your source for the best fashion photography from around the world. 
"The goal of this site is to both inspire and bring attention to some of the talented working men and women of the fashion photography world."
Check out more from this series here.

Portland Fashion Photographer: Beached

Model: Cassie Meder
Stylist: Melissa LaChance
Wardrobe: Isaac Hers
Muah: Christine Marie
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: 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

Patricia van der Vliet for Vogue Spain October 2011

Vogue Spain

October 2011

Model: Patricia van der Vliet

Photographer: Greg Kadel

Stylist: Havana Laffitte

Full with emotions. Patricia looks scared, filled and comfortable on the pictures.

classic style but the cuts and the prints are modern so in summary retro looking a bit.

Givenchy, Miu Miu dress, Celine and Balenciaga bold shapes leading the story.

Impressive work!

Raquel Zimmermann by Josh Olins for i-D Pre-Fall 2011

i-D Pre Fall 2011

Model: Raquel Zimmermann
Photographer: Josh Olins

Curls and smokey eyes! Raquel is the woman! She is sexy but not cheap even in latex!
She s wearing Louis Vuitton coat, Givenchy pumps,
printed vintage Versace scarves (very trendy now and not because of Gaga...) fits with classy Valentino coat ,
Mugler skinny cut latex skirts, hot Givenchy pringet set,
Stella McCartney black dress with Gucci amazing blue coat, studded Yves Saint Laurent belt and the Givenchy pumps,
Cool rebel leather outfit  by The Row,Celine interesting colored coat and blouse, actually I don't like Loewe jacket
Elegant and sexy in latex at the same time! Raquel is one of the bests!

'Uptight Urban' Interview September 2011

Uptight Urban
Interview Magazine September 2011
Photographer : Craig McDean
Stylist: Karl Templer
Models: Julia Nobis, Kaitlin Aas, Aymeline Valade, Alyona Subbotina, Patricia Van Der Vliet, Milou Von Groesen, Ruby Aldridge, Corinna Ingenleu


Feel some kind of Missy Elliot effect..
Karl Templer shows how to wear that Prada dress correctly, in winter style
Ant that latex pencil skirt is amazing
colorful, hoods, clutches, extreme sunnies,

'Transformers' by Steven Meisel for W September 2011

'Transformers'
W Magazine
September 2011
Photographer: Steven Meisel
Models: Linda Evangelista, Karen Elson, Guinevere van Seenus, Jamie Bochert, Raquel Zimmermann, Jessica Stam, Candice Huffine, Aymeline Valade, Sun Fei Fei
Styling: Edward EnninfulHair: Jimmy PaulMake Up: Pat McGrath


So Steven Meisel and W, only with the biggest "transformers" just like Raquel Zimmermann, Karen Elson, Linda...etc
W Magazine shows how "easy" to transform from a young rebellious chick to glamour diva and aging 20 years...