Snyder Family • Gorgeous Fall Portraits

There is a park in North Bend that is full of sugar maples and oaks that change to the most beautiful blend of fall colors near the end of October and if one can dodge the rain, it is the perfect backdrop for family portraits. The Snyder family has been with me from the time I started out and it is clients like them that make my job awesome. Of course, it helps that they are all model quality individuals!!

I have been pouring through Tamara Lackey's book, Envisioning Family, for inspiration. If you are a family photographer, this is a MUST for your book shelf. It is amazing!

Guess what? Yep, another creativeLIVE submission!

Children's photography is near and dear to my heart and it would be so incredible to be able to attend this workshop!

Friday Feature • The Old Hen Bed & Breakfast • North Bend

A Social Media Love Story

Despite being in the same town, Old Hen owner, Deanna Morauski and I met via Twitter. I Instagrammed a picture of a little known river view in Snoqualmie and labeled it with the hashtag #snoqualmievalley...since my Instagram posts go to Twitter, she found my Tweet and replied to it. Before then, I never even knew about The Old Hen. We emailed back and forth a couple of times and then both of us had a succession of busy weeks. Finally, our stars aligned and Deanna invited me for breakfast. And when an owner of a bed & breakfast invites you for breakfast, you don't say no. 

Nestled in a quiet corner of North Bend, off of the historic Edgewick Road, The Old Hen feels lightyears away, even though it is just two exits up from downtown. Placed right smack dab in between Snoqualmie Pass and the city, it is an out of town skier's dream. Or, like me and my husband, a local mom and dad's perfect setting for a quick overnight staycation. Our anniversary is in March. We'll be booking the balcony suite!

The road in. 

I've arrived.

Deanna's social media component is refreshing. Many local business owners are simply not aware of the benefit of getting outside of the valley. And we aim to change that. Our community needs some more outside draw. What better way of doing this than cultivating solid followings via Twitter and Facebook? I love this about Deanna. She understands. She even has this sign on her front desk. Yes! We're now not only "Friends", we're actually friends! All because of Twitter.

Athough, I must say, being greeted by a delectable breakfast spread of Nutella-filled crepes, a puffy egg omelet, fresh orange juice and French-pressed coffee definitely helped! This woman can COOK. Which leads me to a very exciting tidbit...airing on October 27 on the Live Well Network, Deanna will be cooking along side host and former boy bander, Joey Fatone, on his new show My Home Recipe Rocks. Be sure to tune in!

Yes, PLEASE!

I wanted seconds.

The Old Hen

The road out.

The Old Hen is located at 47150 SE 162nd St in North Bend. For more information, check out http://theoldhen.com. Go click 'Like' at http://www.facebook.com/TheOldHen and follow her on Twitter @TheOldHen.

I would like to start a chain of businesses working with each other to help build our audiences. If you are interested in being considered for a Friday Feature, please go 'Like' the business featured above and follow them on Twitter, if applicable. Do the same for me at facebook.com/photographybykristintetuan and follow me on Twitter @KristinTetuan. Then get in touch with me via email and tell me a bit about you and what you have to offer! I'd love to meet you!

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.