New Site!

Whoa! Last post August 2008!

Alright, in efforts to redirect the many sites we once called home,
please know that this is our new home:

BlueWindowCreative.com

Where you can check out coolness!

Also, follow along on twitter: @bluedub

Many thanks for keeping up with us! We're looking forward to all that's to come.

Blue Window Creative Website

So, our blog is now the test site for our squeaky new site. Lovingly referred to as, "Blue Dub Creative Beta."

Check it out: http://www.bluewindowcreative.com

New features like inquiry forms to be on there soon, as well as a few more pages and images. Hope to have all the bugs worked out and fully functional shortly! In the meantime, feel free to poke around, but don't be alarmed if you fall off an internet cliff with it. It's still in the makings.

Our Schtudio

After a few months of prepping, flooring, painting, and using fancy powertools that could take off a finger, our studio is now our new work home. Wouldn't it be cool if this whole building was ours? But it's just upstairs, where we share the floor with Maya Yoga and Brickhouse Studio. We're located in the Crossroads Arts District on 18th Street, in between Wyandotte and Cental. (Just west of YJ's and the Birdie's with the glowing pink underwear.) We kind of live here a lot, but do call ahead to make sure we're about before popping in.

A bit about the building: It was built in the 1920's, I believe, and was a screening house for Walt Disney. There were even some old film reels in the basement we found while playing adventure down there. There's some really neat vintage movie posters all about the buiding. One of my favorite details, is the gentlemen and ladies writing on the bathrooms. More pictures of cool things around here to come!

Upcoming Bridal Show : April 6th

So, the thought of going to a Bridal Show, as a potential bride and/or groom, makes me want to breathe into a paper bag. I imagine it to be kind of like walking through the perfume and make-up section at a busy department store. Where by the end you smell like three different things, one of them being men's cologne, and sporting a set of fake eyelashes. Okay, well-maybe not quite like that, but the idea is still overwhelming.

In order to aid in the fight against overwhelmed-itis, we'll be hosting a booth at the PWG Bridal Show, Sunday April 6th. I think we'll be somewhere towards the back, so do swing by and check us out. We'll be giving away a free custom invitation and photography goodies. Bridget with Ornamental Petal will be helping us finesse our booth styling. (I'm so stoked to see how our display plan comes together!) Our new invitation site will launch shortly and thought it would be a good way to spread the Blue Window word.

Ashley + Dave Save the Date

Man, I really dropped off the blogging bandwagon there for a bit. To make up for it, here is some neato stuff. This is a Save the Date we designed for an awesome couple, who's wedding is coming up in May. We created this pattern from an element on her dress, as well as created a monogram identity. Something completely unique, as well as green friendly. (No envelopes as this was a Postcard and her Invitations are completely self-mailing.) Invitation pics to come shortly!

Givin' Blood

So I know it doesn't look like these arms are big enough to hold a few pounds of camera, but it's quality not quantity that gets it done. ;-) Not that we have any superhuman strength, but our ghostly white arms serve us well.

I was all stoked that we got pink wraps when we gave blood. They asked if I wanted a bandaid instead and I was like, "Heck no! I can get a bandaid at home! Give me some of that pink jazz!" We try to remember to do this every so often. It is a little thing that totals the length of a coffee shop chat, yet can do a lot. Plus, you get sweet goodies at the end. I'm a total "cringe and look away the entire time" kind of person, but it's a bearable thing.

Welcome, Frankie Morillo!

Many congrats to Trisha and Kiko! Their boy, Frankie, arrived on February 17th they couldn't be more thrilled that he's finally here. (Although I'm sure they're quite tired!) I just love this shot they sent us. Makes me want to document babies being born, but guess that would be kind of hard to nail down a date, like weddings. They actually thought their little guy would come a week later than he did, but he must've been anxious to get out and play. They are such an incredible and inspiring couple; it's been exciting to see them grow into parents. It's quite a story to witness. They were married last March at Pilgrim Chapel.

On Front Page of [AG]WPJA

This image is on the front page of the Artistic Guild of the Wedding Photojournalist's Association! It's placed under the Getting Ready area of the current contests. This is a perfect example of the vintage style that I was talking about in a prior post. The make-up artist pictured is Katie from Mink. You'll notice the judges comments about smoothing the skin, however Katie is just that good! I didn't do anything but a bit of processing to the image.

This bride has also just become a mom! (A hottie one, at that!) What a great gift for their upcoming one year anniversary; more on that event to come.

Facebook-ites

Since this blog has been so spiffy, we've decided to try out this other new digital 'doo dad': Facebook. I really don't know too much about all the cool stuff you can do, but I figured out how to add a bit about us and some images. (More to come later after I am visited by the Facebook Fairy of Knowledge...or Joel helps me out with it. ;-) If anyone out there would like to link up, friend on, pal in, or get fanned, please do so. You can find us under Blue Window Creative. If you don't have an account, you are behind the cyber-life times, more so than us now, and it takes just a few minutes to get one. Come play Facebook with us!

Vintage, Ethnic, and Unusual Weddings

More details to come, but Bridget and I are looking to join hands on a vintage wedding. She's looking into bouquets from the 20's-40's; those suckers were incredible! I'd be pulling inspiration from slides I got from an estate sale last year, as well as other resources. (I have a habit of acquiring photographs and slides from anonymous people...) They're incredibly beautiful, and the contrast is so intriguing. I want to pull from that look and do a wedding that mimics that processing, and posing theme. Most would still be our 'style' focused on photojournalism, with some off the beaten path ideas. The possibility of this collaboration has us quite fired up.

We are offering discounted, custom pricing for weddings focusing on period inspired elements. Ethnic and uniquely-themed weddings: we'd love to chat about what we could do with your wedding, as well! We're basically looking to dive, face first, into a wedding adventure and want to take passionate couples with us! Contact us for more info; please tell us a bit about your wedding!

Oh, and sweet, custom invitations are definitely a possibility, as well!

Paper Source Wedding Shindig : February 16th

We'll be at Paper Source on the Plaza Saturday, the 16th if anyone would like to stop by. You can check out some of our work or just drop in and wave at us like a proud mom at a soccer game. We'll probably have some kind of sweet goodness for you to stick in your pocket...or...depending on what we get...might not want to stick it in your pocket as it would melt. We promise pretty things and for those still on the look out for a wedding photographer, something nifty just for coming to this event. Hope to see you there!

New Website!

Our web home got a face lift! I actually tend to do this about every six months or so as I like to mix it up and keep it shiney and new. Our fancy schmancy site includes some Flash, but not the 'bouncy, look over here, listen to this, watch this go' kind of way as 1. We're not that Flash savvy and 2. I would get confused with all that going on. We're so excited to get this little guy out on the streets. (Not in a hooker-type fashion, but more of a get out there and seen sort of way.)

We're still tweaking a few things, but hope it's thoroughly enjoyed!

Leslie + Chris {In Portland Oregon!}

(There may not be much sunshine in Oregon during the winter months,

but here's what it's like when it does peak through the mist... )

In short: Joel and I adore Portland and can't wait to go back. We've been there three times in the past year and find something new to love each time. This time, it was Leslie and Chris that inspired the travel.

They were so much in love with each other, they needed three weddings to cover it all. Well, maybe a civil marriage, one in Switzerland (Chris's native land) and then a reception in Portland so that everyone had an opportunity to celebrate their international togetherness. After several months of emailing, we met a couple days before their reception. They both had friendly, easy going personalities that brought out the best in everyone around them.

Despite the ever present misting of rain, and occasional drenching, we ventured out to play in the streets of the city. It was quite luxurious to have extra time to frolic; they braved dirt, rain and whatever that was that we hoped was mud. (My foot, not hers!) There was so much going on that day, and this is pretty abbreviated, but hope you enjoy checking these images out. We're so glad we got to capture their reception. It was a great opportunity, that we would've otherwise missed.

(Grandma snagging the last bite of dessert when she thought no one was watching.)

Fleurition Invitation Available

As we're a bit behind on website-ville as far as our invitation e-boutique goes, I thought I would post some of what we offer here.

This is a design that folds to approximately 4"x6", self-mailing invitation. (So, no envelopes to lick...funny if you remember that Seinfeld episode...) These are just colors for the sample, but you can custom select the colors depending on what goes with your event. (Can even be one color.) This particular invitation also comes with a monogram identity, similar to the one shown, but unique depending on the names. This is great for use in designing programs, table tents, menus, etc. For more information or to order, feel free to email us.

The Staats Family

: The parents, starring off into space, one kid telling a story, another ripping off the other's slipper, and the smallest one launching himself off the foot stool. I think this has to be fairly accurate to their real life.

Just before Christmas, and in time for presents, we worked in a session with Ashlie and Randy and their four kids. They were running around, wrestling, and playing; although they paused a few seconds here and there to give Mom some Grandparent pictures. We snagged a couple images of just Ashlie and Randy, as well, as she said she hadn't had one of just them since their honeymoon.

Everyone was a bit more dressed-up than normal (with the exception of the smallest running around sans-pants for awhile) but were comfortable in their own surroundings. This allowed me to document them in their 'natural environment'. Makes them sound like a herd of wild monkeys, but that might be more accurate than you'd think. ;-) It was great as they won't always be this wild and crazy and it was so fun to relive a bit of my childhood by capturing a bit of theirs.






(Looks like he's morphing into 'The Hulk' or something!)

Accepted into the Artistic Guild of the WPJA

So, I really don't spend my days entering every contest I can Google, but a Getting Ready image I documented in July (7.7.7) placed in the Artistic Guild competion for the Third Quarter this year. The Artistic Guild is for those who excel at not only documenting the event, but also in the post processing of digital images. To become a member, you have to place in a category, and this image did! I was flipping through so many inspiring images, and then this one came up and I was like, "Hey...that looks like Anneka's picture....hey wait....I took that...OH!" I am now one of three Missouri Wedding Photojournalists in the Artistic Guild and thought I'd share the big new with everyone. This particular image, just has a bit of additional lightening and darkening that I did, her strong silhouette was just a stunning contrast to the soft mist. I am so glad this image came through for them as it really added to the 'primping' chapter of their day.

Lori and Ava

Last weekend I got to spend a bit of time photographing Lori and her two year old daughter, Ava. I know she looks like a four year old, and what's even cooler is the fact she sounds like an 8 year old boy! No little girl voice on this gal. She's so entertaining and kept trying to feed me water and make me go 'night night' by smothering me with a blanket. Although she was only into the tree/ornament business for about five minutes, it was quite fun to hang out with these two ladies. The one with three images was something to send out with their Christmas cards. (That scraggly bunny was sweet! It was just as ugly and roughly loved as I was hoping, with one remaining eye and limbs three threads from falling off.)