Still here

This past month I learned that my Great-Grandparents met at Indian Boarding School. Our tribe (Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma) is doing genealogy work to update the family lines, and naturally, I'm doing some research to assist. It's been a really fascinating project to participate with especially around the time of our annual Powwow trip to visit our tribe.

One year ago, I created this self-portrait after attending Powwow and reflecting on my heritage. I had no idea that when I would return again, I'd be able to visit the grave site for one of my oldest ancestors, Smith Nichols, and learn that he was Wyandotte. This is my Great-Grandpa's Grandpa born in 1828.

Thanks to a cousin who is also doing research, we learned he fought in the Civil War with the Union side. Based on the dates of his life, he likely attended boarding school as well, and would have been about 15 years old when the Wyandotte were removed from the Ohio Territory to Indian Territory. What a historic and challenging time he lived!

I would not be who I am today if he hadn't survived. While I didn't get to learn about him until now, I'm grateful others have taken care to record and document his life. And I look forward to continuing to learn more.

Mt. Tahoma

As our tallest mountain in the state, it stands as a staple landmark of our area. It's been known as Tahoma or variations there of among the Indigenous people here.

There's been several years of discussion about Mount Tahoma becoming the official name for this beautiful mountain known under the US government name, Mt. Rainier. According to the USGS site on Volcanoes, it was given the name by Captain George Vancouver. He named it after his friend, Peter Rainier. But it already had a name before that, and I've chosen to use Mt. Tahoma instead to honor those who enjoyed it generations before Captain Vancouver.

It was such a treat to photograph it last winter! Our youngest teen had been taking a photography class in High School, so I rented us some large, long lenses to explore nature with as a local adventure day. This photo was taken with a 200-400 Canon lens. So, for the regular eye view form West Seattle, it looks smaller, but with this lens, I was able to zoom in so to speak and create this close up photo.

Sunflower

As Seattle is transitioning to the fall season, Sunflowers inspire me. They are such a bold flower that brightens any space. They provide seeds to nourish not just the bees with pollen but also small animals and humans too.

This portrait of a sunflower was created during the summer of 2020. It was such a hard time for many people, us included, as we missed seeing loved ones. Being able to focus on the beauty of this flower brought me so much joy and it also provided an opportunity to practice with my camera and natural light.

That's what I love about nature - no matter what's going on with humans, it's a reminder that seasons shift. We can take comfort in this and though transitions are harder for some, they hold their own lessons and each one reminds us that there is a time for everything. This sunflower provided creative nourishment for me at that time. It still makes me smile.

And, when I see sunflowers in someone's garden, they always remind me to look up and take comfort in nature's seasons.

All You

When I first started my photography journey, I was often using black and white film. I find it so beautiful and timeless. I'm leaning into this with the digital camera and offering ALL YOU portraits where I use my professional digital camera and lighting but convert the photos to black and white with minor adjustments for contrast as if it is black and white film.

While I've been thinking for a couple of years about how to do this, I was able to attend a workshop with a photographer who teaches others how to do just this! She also hosted a photo booth at the WPPI conference in March. It was there that I saw the magic happen and realized I could do this too. I'm so thankful for Mitzi Starkweather for her class and this amazing model, Elle Drane.

This kind of session is more laid back and conversational. The focus is on you being yourself with some small posing guidance. I love how they celebrate a person who wants to be 100% themselves without any retouching. This may not appeal to everyone, and I still offer those types of services. But these All You sessions are where my heart really gets filled. You can see more about them here on my blog post, "All You: Black and White Portraits."

baby

Oh, baby! I love this portrait of our friend's oldest. Can you tell it was created in our living room? This was way before I had a studio, and I wanted to practice studio lighting from the first class I had taken. While you may not see many photos of babies on my website, I do adore them and lots of experience with babies even before I had my own.

Growing up, I was around many, many cousins and I had plenty of "models" to photograph with my film camera. Thanks to being one of 23 first cousins, I can confidently share I see beauty in every stage and age. Thanks to many relatives and friends for trusting me and giving me space to create with their youngest family members.

This is one of my all time favorites both because our friend's baby was such an adorable kid, and because this portrait marks that time in my photography path where my work was expanding from natural lighting to include studio lighting too.

Siblings

These are our kids! They have been such an inspiration in my photography journey.

And, this was one of those days where I needed to test out the placement of some of my lighting equipment for a family portrait, so they sat patiently for me, then naturally the sibling banter began. They are part of my motivation for this photography business. This allows me to help support our family.

Thinking of all the siblings out there, and grateful to be able to parent these two.

Senior Portrait

Last year about this time, I was photographing our oldest for his Senior Portraits! We did both a more classic style portrait for the yearbook, and then a series for something more artful and personal. This was my favorite from that set.

He has been a music student since middle school, so it made sense to celebrate his passion for playing the Tenor Saxophone. I was inspired by old Hollywood black and white portraits of musicians. When I talk to other parents for their High School Seniors, I encourage them to lean into what's unique about their teen, or what they want to celebrate about this milestone in their lives.

As an added note of fun, this portrait was awarded a Bronze level recognition from the Portrait Masters competition among international portrait photographers.

Wish

When our kids were young, before Elementary school, I was at home full time to raise them. We would walk to the park, the library, and had our own little adventures to get outside or out of the house. It was on those walks and local adventures that I started to photograph more nature.

This dandelion photographed at a local park with the sky as the background in a brilliant blue. When Holli with an i Photography was focused on art photography, I eventually sold on magnets and in small prints. Feels perfect to share here in the middle of Summer in Seattle. Though it's more than 10 years old, it still makes me smile.

Wishing you all a wonderful week!

Learning Light

Last summer I was learned more about lighting from New York based photographer, Felix Kunze. His in person Lighting Workshop really helped me level-up my lighting skills.

It wasn't the first time I was his student. Back in 2014, I also attended a live workshop hosted by Creative Live in Seattle. He and Sue Bryce had a class called, "The Lighting Challenge" and I loved seeing him create natural looking light with studio lighting. And, during the Pandemic, I also purchased his lighting classes that you can view as modules for various set-ups.

But what the in-person class reminded me of is that I'm a better student when I'm at in-person environment. The team that assisted Felix's class was really wonderful - from his lighting Assistant to his Stylist to the Model, it was an outstanding experience. It was a real treat to be able to attend and photograph in such a supportive environment.

What most people may not know about me is that I am always learning and looking for opportunities each year to level up my skills as a photographer. I'm so grateful to Felix and his team for providing this opportunity for me to learn more about light.

To provide full credit where credit is due:

Teacher: @felixkunze

Assistant: @_magnuskarlsson

Assistant/hostess: @tiffchapmanphoto

Model: @breyalea

MUA: @redjessmakeup

Lighting: Elinchrom

Backdrops: Oliphant

real people

Last year I had the honor of photographing for a local startup company, Blue Moth Hearing - they specialize in helping others elevate their hearing with access directly to devices they can try on and choose themselves. Their founder wanted real people as the branding models for her company, because that's who they serve, real people!

I wanted to share this photo of the week with you, because I truly believe that real people should be represented in branding and marketing materials. And, I wanted to point out that Models are real people too. What I've been so encouraged to see in this area is the diversity now being represented too - again leaning into Real People in photography and marketing. Now, we are seeing a fascinating shift with AI becoming more and more accessible and accepted in the world.

Stepping on my soap box here to share that while I understand why some are choosing to use AI to represent real people in marketing and advertising, I do not support it. Just like I am not a fan of over retouching with my clients, I always want to honor them looking like themselves. I believe real people are important because we need to see the products and services in real life - real people in those kinds of photographs cannot truly be replaced by AI models.

Another reason I am sharing this photo of the week is because my Uncle and Aunt were able to be the real life models for this branding location. They were cut from the final version of the video, but it was so fun to have my relatives in a project like this - and get paid! What I didn't realize at the time was how precious this photo would become to me. You see, my Uncle died unexpectedly in May. Having this portrait of him and her together in front of the skyline is truly special and I cherish it. I never would have anticipated a branding project helping me create something so meaningful.

Garden Walk

A few summers ago we were able to vacation at my in-laws home with several relatives. Such a sweet time with them all, and our niece had recently become fascinated with photography. So, we took a garden walk where she picked out what she liked. We talked about what would be lovely in a photograph.

I let her try out my camera and she took several on our walk herself. This one, with her hand holding the Echinacea flower, is my favorite from our time together. Children are so wonderful with their curiosity and excitement to learn about life. Her hand holds all those things along with the lovely bloom.

Garden Beauty

This photo was taken in July 2021, and this year of 2024, my garden is full of bread-seed poppies already! The garden is a place that brings me calm.

When life feels too heavy, or I've spent too much time in front of the computer, I love to go out into my small garden and enjoy all the natural beauty. These bread seed poppies are large and bold and fill the garden with such a vibrant red color! I love to see how much the bees enjoy them too.

Fun fact: my first photography client hired me to photograph her garden. She ran the coffee stand at Peninsula College. She shared with me that as a single woman who didn't plan to have kids, she thought photos of her garden were a good thing to share with her folks who lived in the midwest. It was a delight to explore her garden and photograph all of the life and color it held. I'm so grateful for Martha to put her faith in my abilities. Now, nearly 23 years later, I'm still loving the garden and photography my own.

winston & mary

My Great Aunt Mary was such a wonderful woman. She loved her pug Winston who was her companion for the last Seattle chapter of her life. She had other pugs, but this Winston was the last one. He was such a character! For a time, I lived with her, Winston and her daughter, my cousin Jamie. It was such a special way to really get to know them, and learn more about my family history on that side of my family tree.

Her life was an adventure! She married early on during WWII, and raised 3 amazing humans while moving all over the United States as a military family. I learned so much from her. And, her love for animals is something I'll never forget.

I did many, many walks with Winston around West Seattle, and even took him to Folklife Festival with my then boyfriend (who later became my husband). Those days are such fond memories! Of all the Winston and Mary photos I took, this is the one that feels like it represents their relationship the most. I'm so grateful for the time we all had together.

Family

Last week my Uncle Michael Nichols died unexpectedly. We just celebrated his 61st birthday earlier this year. After the initial shock of hearing the news began to soften, I thought of this photograph. I took it in his backyard with his sisters (my Mom on the right and Aunt Thomasine in the middle). While it is a film photograph that did not get the best scan for a digital version, it's precious to me.

There are MANY more photos of my Uncle's life that I love. This one, this one is the one that I thought: oh, he's reunited with his sisters in heaven now...their parents too.

This family snapshot on a summer day really encapsulates the essence of their relationship. They have 2 older siblings, but these three, they really did enjoy being playful together and hamming it up for me! My Uncle and with my Aunt raised 9 amazing children, and loved all their nieces and nephews and the neighbor kid too. Let's just say there are many more photos that celebrate his life.

While I look back through the film photographs of my youth, and the older ones my Grandfather made, I'm reflecting on two things.

The first is that a photograph doesn't have to be perfect to hold value. People and the experience are what matters, and some photographs that aren't perfect hold these things, sometimes even better than the perfect photo does.

The second is that we take so many photographs that don't matter to those we leave behind! I'm thinking of my love of photographing flora and fauna and details in nature. Sure, they are beautiful, but the photos that I really crave in grief? These are the ones I need: photographs of the loved one. I have more to say on the topic, but I'm still processing and reflecting.

All to share, hug your loved ones, and enjoy each moment.

Motherhood

This week's portrait comes from my first big ambitious portrait project, The Tree Women Project. Our friend Kaylani was pregnant with her youngest, and she was such a wonderful person to model. As a photographer herself, she immediately got the vision. And she had such a perfect spot picked out in a little park in Kent that I had not visited before.

What I loved about her portrait was how she embodies the beauty of Pregnancy in a grove of trees during spring, which in their own way are emerging with new life too in the form of fresh green leaves.

To me, this portrait is such a powerful reminder that nurturing and growth are a powerful part of our journey. My photography and editing skills today are further than they were then, but still, the depth of meaning from this portrait still resonates deeply. And, I'm reminded of my own pregnancies. They are not easy for many of us, but they stretch us and grow us in ways we could not imagine.

Creating is like this too. For some it comes easier than others. The process is as unique as the person, and the results make us all richer.

Always Learning

When I attended the WPPI Conference this past March, I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew there would be hundreds of photographers gathering to learn and explore new gear in Vegas. I saw the many, many workshops, speakers and classes available. And, I didn't know exactly what I would learn, but I signed up for things that I knew I needed to grow my business.

One of the best parts was the Photographer's Playground where they had models, backgrounds, lighting and mentors ready! This one spot here with Jackson is one I visited the first day. He was dressed in what I would call Prom attire: a velvet suit, with some sparkly, shiny background. The next day, I found him dressed in this with an artful backdrop, and I knew it was time for more practice. This look was more aligned with the style of what I'd find photographing High School Seniors in Seattle. And, he was super easy-going, and full of ideas for poses!

I came away impressed and inspired by some of his poses for more of a casual and fashion feel to them like this one. But what I like is that these colors of the jacket and the background really help his hair color and eyes to shine. It has a cinematic mood, which I don't often explore with my clients, but now I can offer it as a style with a different lighting set up. That's why I chose this for my photo of the week, it really showcases my love of life long learning.

Dancing with the ancestors

Sitting in the late September evening with my children, husband, Aunt and Uncle listening to the music of the Jingle Dress Dancers and drum, I felt so much gratitude and wonder. Gratitude for those who carry on the traditions, and wonder at the artistry of it all. The regalia, each one a work of art. The music and rhythm of the dancers each one embody so much beauty too.

As members of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, our history is like many. Relocation, grief, perseverance, traditions, and the leadership of our Chiefs and elders keep our culture alive today. When I was sitting there in 2019, I contemplated how much we do not know. What stories did my Grandfather tell? What do I remember? 

In honor of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women week, I wanted to share this photograph I took there that evening. As we sat listening and learning, I wondered how to photograph what I wanted to represent the women of our tribe and others. I chose to do a motion blur technique with a slow shutter on the camera. It felt right to reflect the echo of what these women carry from the ancestors to present day.

When we hear about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, it can feel confusing. Why are Indigenous Women going missing and murdered at a higher rate than any other? What can we do about it?

Here in Washington state, we rank among the highest in the nation as of 2022 in terms of numbers of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

One resource for learning more here locally is through the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence , and participating in the national week of action through National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center.

What can I do? I can share and support those who are doing the work to help. I can also share what I am learning too. 

I wish to honor these women who carry on the Jingle Dress Dance on the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma’s Pow-wow grounds.