Each of my clients gets a board. I ask my brides to keep this board photography specific… as much as I LOVE to see their wedding decor, colors, and dress ideas.. I really want to see what imagery they respond to as it relates to photography. This helps me understand what types of images are important to my couples and it may also helps me assess their comfort level in front of the camera. As for family sessions and high school seniors, I ask them to pin ideas for wardrobe, hair and make up, and concepts for their shoots. Since we are both on the board together, I can also pin ideas and make sure that we’re on the same page for a certain look, style, or concept for the shoot.

I also use Pinterest for myself for things outside of photography that catch my attention… a few things for my closet, lesson ideas or artwork for my students, and I try NOT to pin food..but I do have one board for that. Take a look around! Stalk my client’s boards, visit some of my interests, and be sure to follow me! http://pinterest.com/mchasephoto/

If you’re considering a family session or senior session this Summer — NOW is the time to book!! I will be meeting with clients over the new few weekends and would love to brainstorm ideas for your session! Email me for info! mchasephoto@comcast.net

I am a huge fan of color — in my house every room is painted a different color, my wardrobe is full of prints and patterns in vibrant colors, and have I mentioned that I’m an art teacher!?! I embrace color! However, sometimes, color can be a distraction. If you look at a series of images you may only notice the color, and not the subject. When you take away the color, you begin to notice a few other important factors — their expression, their emotion, their body language, the textures, the lighting and the overall composition. It’s not about the color. It’s about the person.

Then, let’s take it to another level when it’s not a color image that has been converted to black and white. Instead, it is an image that was always intended to be shot in black and white and not converted. The light reacts to the black and white film in a way the light can’t react to a camera’s digital sensors. It picks up a vast range of value, beautifully softens the background with its grain, and hones in on details. I love it. I am so excited to be shooting with it more often!!! Here are a handful of my favorite black and white film images from past Senior Sessions. Let’s take advantage of this gorgeous medium and experience Senior Portraits with the best of both worlds! I’m booking 2014 Seniors now!! Email me for more information – mchasephoto@comcast.net

I was greeted by family members when I arrived to Byrd Park’s Roundhouse, and the choices David and Marta made were so lovely in their venue. The Roundhouse is a beautiful building with a wrap around porch and large windows and columns. It was the perfect indoor/outdoor venue for a Spring wedding. I loved the sheer backdrop that soften the brick building, the beautifully arranged florals, and live jazz music that played in the background. It was such an enjoyable and comfortable evening for friends and family, and such a joyous occasion for David and Marta. My favorite moment of the evening was following Marta as she hurried into a quiet hallway to Skype with her father after her ceremony. It was a night filled with the people who love them the most, and I am so happy they chose to have it documented!! Congratulations you too!!! Enjoy your preview!

Today, I want to show you how I made this evergreen collar. It was actually built VERY fast so I don’t have a lot of images. The branches I used laid really nicely, but in less than two weeks, they were completely dried out. I hand stitched all the branches on the front, but once it dried, it was too delicate to keep lifting and flipping to sew, so I resorted to adhesive when areas needed to have more volume and to attach the twigs. I didn’t realize how fragile this collar would be compared the collar of hay. I had to leave the back completely unfinished, and really didn’t know how much it would be damaged while my model wore it. It held up better than expected, and I completed the back last week with the extra materials I had saved and gathered.

Here’s a look at the collar making process!! Final printed black and white images are at the end (Yayyyy!!!)

Front of the collar, repaired from the shoot and completed!A look at the back and all those berries strung into necklaces!A few shots along the way that were posted on Instagram (@mchase) that also documented the process.And the BEST PART….. here’s a photograph of two prints that I printed in the darkroom over the last few weeks. I love how these images turned out!!! You can see the WHOLE series on my fine art website with a description about these collars. I also titled the series “Cultivate” and it will showcase 4 collars total. http://www.bymadisonchase.com/cultivate Half way there!! It’s a work in progress. I’m working on the 3rd collar right now, but haven’t totally committed to the materials yet. Truth be told, I am still gushing over these evergreen collar prints! Ugh. Wish you could all see them in person!!

“Kept” Silver Gelatin Fiber Photograph

“Understudy” Silver Gelatin Fiber Print

Earlier this Spring, I had the opportunity to meet Grandmamma & Grandpapa Pullin and their ENTIRE family. Their children gifted them with a portrait session to capture their growing family. I believe it’s been over 15 years since their last family portrait, so they were long overdue! We shot the family session on their property, and this gave Grandpapa a chance to show off his latest remodel, a hunter green 1940′s Chevy, and I think it’s safe to say that she’s apart of the family too.

This family session was made EXTRA special when there was a surprise announcement…
A NEW ADDITION TO THE PULLIN FAMILY!! Congratulations Courtney & Josh!! Thank you for allowing me to be apart of such a BIG announcement! (so glad I didn’t mess it up!) 

It’s been five years, and I find myself in an oddly familiar place.

I’ll be a long-term fine arts sub at a middle school (starting TODAY!), which is very similar to where I was five years ago. Oddly enough, this school is the EXACT same layout as the school I student taught in May of 2008, and yes, I’m in the SAME classroom. Bizarre.

I’ll be keeping an ear out for openings, much like I did then, yet, I have a feeling I will be doing less interviewing than five years ago. I wouldn’t say there were many openings in 2008 either, but certainly more than you’d find now.

This May my family will be planning for my brother’s college graduation instead of my sister’s wedding — a big celebration in both cases. How ironic to be in such a similar place, yet with such a vastly different perspective than when I was entering the educational system for the first time. I will also tell you that I broke out into shingles in the Summer of 2008.. “they” say it’s stress induced…so let’s hope that part doesn’t happen again this Summer.

My license will expire again in 2018. It does make me pause to see that date. What will my life look like in 5 years? Will I be in similar situation for a 3rd time? Will I be teaching? More importantly, will I be happy and teaching? Or will I be on a different path?

There’s no need to get too far ahead of myself. I’m checking off my goals for 2013 (hoping to finish the first set by July). I plan to make the most of this long-term position and hopefully win over the hearts and minds of these middle schoolers (okay.. that’s a stretch) but hopefully we’ll end the school year on a good note together. My brother is having some set backs at school due to a ruptured eardrum, so I’m keeping my fingers and toes crossed for him the last month of school that he can graduate his helicopter flight program on time. And, I’ve got my business in full-swing this Spring and Summer! I’ll let teaching fall into place for the Fall, and know that I have five more years with a renewed license if it doesn’t happen right away. I’m optimistic and thankful to such wonderful people surrounding me as I navigate such an unpredictable path.