Katie M. • Acting Head Shots

I was recently contacted by Thumbtack to let me know that I had been chosen to be featured on one of their landing pages as a Spotlight vendor. I have been active on Thumbtack for awhile but had never actually pursued any of the leads I received. It was time to try it out. When I got the lead from Katie that she was looking for a head shot photographer for some acting head shots she needed ASAP, it stood out from the crowd. She wanted indoor, studio-like shots with something a little unique. I love being challenged by client requests!

Of course, I don't have a studio so I had to get creative. After some thought, I called Sacred Heart Church in Bellevue to see if I could use their space. They graciously said yes. I got there to scope it out before the shoot and the room that I was originally told I could use was full of people. It's okay, I thought. I can work with this. So, I asked to see another room that was suggested to me and it was not well-suited at all. No big deal. I am a firm believer in things happening for a reason. The hall outside the room was very dark but had this incredible stained glass window above a staircase. I had my lightweight lighting along for the ride (thanks, Kevin Kubota!) so it was an instant studio!

I spent an hour with Katie, a musical theater actress, and her lovely and very helpful husband, Jordan. We laughed the whole time and it was a blast. Looking forward to seeing where Katie's auditions take her. Break a leg, Katie!

Oh, and while you're at it, go check out my listing on Thumbtack and tell me what you think!

Thank you, Kevin Kubota!

So, for the last few days, I've been watching Kevin Kubota's lightweight lighting workshop and oh em gee. It is EXACTLY what I needed. I have been experimenting with off-camera flash for a couple of years and so having a reference point for what I've already been doing is so valuable. I bought the course, of COURSE! In case you were curious, my set up is using my on-camera flash in commander mode with a Gary Fong Puffer over it, set to "--"...super low-budge, but effective until I get the PocketWizard system.

Yesterday, I got out my 3-in-1 (best $60 I've ever spent), removed the metallic cover and shot my SB-900 through it with a smaller 3-in-1 on the silver side for a kicker and got some cute portraits of my 5-year-old in our living room. The challenge is balancing the flash with ambient light! Wow...it is SO HARD. And I'm an intuitive shooter. Settings are daunting to me so I go with my gut (I'm usually pretty accurate) and test. I've even got some neutral density filters on hold at Tall's for my 50 and my 85. Can't WAIT to test with them!

Thanks so much to Kevin for his incredible talents and teaching and for creativeLIVE for making him available to the masses! I've enjoyed the last few days immensely and have learned SO much. I feel more able to use any space and the rainy season here in Seattle doesn't seem as ominous because I feel I've been opened up to any indoor space. I fell more confident in asking permission to use spaces in my area and I'm not afraid of the answer anymore!

Now Booking Fall Mini Sessions!

I'm reinstating my annual mini-sessions! This is for anyone...families, couples, individuals and their pets, kids, whoever! This year, I will have four blocks of 5 time slots each. Each block will be at a different location! So you have 20 options for scheduling and 4 choices for location! How great is that?? Please contact me to book as slots will fill fast! I have settled on 2 of the 4 locations. Others to be announced. Custom designed holiday cards are an optional add-on!

Katie & Holly - Seniors

I'm pretty speechless. Feeling very blessed to have been able to shoot with not one but TWO gorgeous seniors this weekend. I am beginning to realize that this form of photography is one I am extremely passionate about. One that I am ready to put all my energy into marketing. Letting go of everything else. That is a huge step so one that will require more thought but one I'm seriously considering.

Recently, Sue Bryce did a workshop on creativeLIVE about her business and she got on the subject of seniors and the tradition in the US of getting senior portraits, which is something that just doesn't exist in Australia where she is based. She did say, however, that there is a growing market for "teenage" shoots, which she has been successfully capitalizing on. When I approached this shoot yesterday, I used so much of what I gained from listening to Sue. She kept emphasizing that a senior girl is "a girl, not yet a woman." This resonated so much with me because I wanted to capture these two in a way that conveyed their personalities as teens but also captured their youthful beauty in an artistic, fashion-forward way.

Looking forward to another shoot next weekend with another gorgeous girl and her violin! Stay tuned!

If you or someone you know is a junior and looking to score a screaming deal on senior portraits, please contact me to book for next season! I will be running an early bird special into the winter and spots will fill fast. My senior sessions are an experience, not just a shoot. Get in touch now because my book fills fast! And shooting with a friend is a fun, relaxing way to save, too, so be sure to ask about that! I'm a nice gal so gimme a call at 425.281.8312 or drop me a line at photographer@kristintetuan.com!

Holly's money shot. Lord, she's beautiful. She's also hilariously funny.

Katie is easy to laugh and full of life. Loved the challenge of getting her serious! ;)

I pinky swear you'll have a great time.

Holly's hair by Hair Ink. Make up by Kathy Mattioda.

Another creativeLIVE video submission!

I had the extreme honor of being selected as a live studio audience member for a recent workshop at the creativeLIVE studio in Seattle and it was life-changing. Once again, they are bringing an incredible opportunity to work with another incredible, world-renowned photographer, Matthew Jordan Smith, in his Working with Models Workshop. He is even bringing Yoanna from ANTM Cycle 2!! (If you know me, you know how obsessed I am with ANTM.)

I am hoping to be selected for this so I can gain some insight on breaking into this industry but also so I can fuse the knowledge I gain with how I approach my senior shoots. It will come just in time since I'll be shooting with a gorgeous senior the day after the workshop ends! Thanks for reviewing my submission, creativeLIVE! Love you guys!

A baby in a belly and my brother named Smelly.

(I'm sorry, Kel! I couldn't resist! It's all out of love!)

My little brother and his beautifully expectant wife came into town from Arizona this weekend for a quick visit and baby shower. I've said it over and over again, but I will say it again. Because I really mean it. They are going to be natural parents. It is just a vibe that some people have.

They're expecting a little girl, which, somehow, for me at least, makes it that much more special that my little brother will be the father of a daughter. He is the perfect dad for a girl. He is protective, laid back and will have no problem sitting down for tea when his little one is old enough to tell him to (the operative word being "tell". If you have a daughter, you catch my drift.). Not to mention the fact that he had two older sisters who forced him to wear dresses and play girly games with growing up. :) And my sis-in-law is the perfect mom for a girl. As a talented hair stylist and make up artist, she is well-versed in getting super girly but is totally willing to get into rain boots and stomp in puddles.

I can't wait to meet their little bundle! Congratulations, Tracy and Kelly! I love you guys a ton!

Body Harmony Massage/Yoga Website Shoot

I love that my business is starting to evolve into something marketable to a more diverse demographic. This tells me a number of things. Most importantly, it validates that my efforts to widen my reach are finally becoming a reality. In any business, this is a huge accomplishment. I am passionate about entrepreneurialism and love finding new and creative ways to not only grow my own business, but help others grow theirs. So, when Tina Templeman of Body Harmony contacted me to design and build her website, I was thrilled.

The service I provide in this arena not only includes development, design and copy, but commercial photography services that provide custom stock for your website. In the next 5 years, I foresee a small staff of talented developers and creatives supporting me so I can accommodate a higher volume of clientele.

This is an interesting project because I am designing around an existing brand. Tina came to me with an identity, seeking an online presence and wisdom on how to build it. As a yoga instructor and a massage therapist, she has a unique product to offer and I am enjoying being a part of developing it into a viable business.

We began our shoot in a gorgeous upper Kirkland neighborhood at the home of one of Tina's clients. It set a great stage for headshots with Tina and her support associate, Mary Jo, who is available to Tina's clients when she is not.

In addition to corporate headshots, we were looking to get some really great stock photography of Tina doing a real massage to use for the site. She set up her massage table in a gazebo in the back yard of the home set in front of a dense grove of bamboo...perfect for invoking a true sense of zen for the next portion of the shoot. Ahh, I can't unveil too much before I launch the site! But, here is just one of my favorite shots. 

In addition to being a massage therapist, Tina is also an incredible Baptiste Certified yoga instructor and I had the extreme pleasure of sitting in and shooting one of her classes at the gorgeous Shakti Vinyasa Yoga in Bellevue. She is involved with her students, supportive and offers a challenging environment in her classes. Not only that, she leads by example. She is extremely talented at what she does and watching her practice was very inspirational.

For more information on Body Harmony, please visit the new Facebook page! Be sure to click 'Like'!