Last spring I received a really great opportunity. I was asked by my friends at Seattle Magazine to shoot the imagery for the 2010 Seattle Urban Pages directory. I was in charge of shooting 90% of the imagery (excluding the ads) which was a massive undertaking, but I was able to experience Seattle in a whole new way. The directory is a resource guide to all things wonderful that you can only find in Seattle; from food, to shopping, restaurants, to attractions. Seattle is comprised of lots of little neighborhoods that each have their own vibe and culture. I was able to explore each neighborhood and experience the best of what they had to offer. I also met a lot of wonderful people along the way including shop owners, chefs, bartenders, artists, even a sea captain! Needless to say I had the time of my life and I am very proud of the end result. Here are a few spreads from the directory and some of my favorite people, places, and imagery from the project. So if you’re in Seattle this year make sure you pick up the 2010 Seattle Urban Pages!

Pear gelato at Bottega Italiana in Greenlake…..one of the few things I actually sampled and it was AMAZING!

The Yellow Leaf Bakery in Belltown…the staff is super nice!

Bluebird homemade ice cream in Capital Hill

Odd Fellows Cafe in Capital Hill, this place has an amazing vibe!

Joule in Wallingford

Susan Wheeler Home’s amazing antique store in Georgetown

Lei Ann Shiramizu owner of Momo (Electric Asian-Euro boutique) in the International District

Left: Fantagraphics Bookstore and Gallery in Georgetown

La Carta De Oaxaca in Ballard, one of the few places in Seattle that has incredible Mexican food.

The Locks in Ballard….you might remember the post I did about Charlie at the Locks:)

Did I mention I was only a week into a six month diet/cleanse when I started this job….torture! I guess it was a good thing or I would have eaten my way through Seattle;)

“Where bare feet and sandy floors rule!”

Seaside is one of my families favorite places to vacation. We discovered this small beach community years and years ago while visiting family in Panama City Beach. Seaside is about 40 minutes west of PCB. We’ve had lots of family reunions, vacations, and birthdays at Seaside, and it’s been fascinating to see how it’s built up in the last 15 years.  The Seaside of years past was literally a one road town with cute little shops and markets, and a killer shave ice store:) Now it’s a humongous community with art galleries, restaurants, and high end shopping. Thankfully though most of our favorite spots are still around, and now there are six, yes I said six, air stream trailers with shave ice and other assorted goodies.  The white sand, blue umbrellas, and clear ocean water do us in every time, and the essence and beauty of Seaside is still very much in tact.

Seaside is one of the hardest places to leave, it’s literally painful every time we have to pack up and go home, but we always know we will be back again soon. Riding bikes, eating shave ice, and laying under our big blue umbrellas starring out at the gorgeous Gulf.  Seaside has been lucky so far not to have received any oil, and we continue to pray to the beach gods that our adored beach community will make it through this horrific tragedy.

Seaside I miss you already, until next year!

You might recognize the Post office from the movie “The Truman Show”

There are serene parks and incredible antique stores all over Seaside.

Seasides main mode of transportation is bikes, there are very few roads that cars are allowed to access.

Pina Colada Shave Ice!!! Amazing every time!

We saw this amazing sea turtle at a fishing pier just outside Seaside, we were so stinkin’ excited!

I love that I’ve been able to share this place with Justin twice now, and look forward to going back there with him a gazillion more times:)

Family photo on the beach taken by my wonderfully amazing Aunt Kathy:)

Sometimes I think the universe is just out to get us. To challenge us in ways that are very unexpected. For example….I have been on a special diet that started last Wednesday (this is my very first diet that I have ever done by the way) and I’m not allowed to have ANY sugar, I mean notta! So of course this would be the week that I have to go and shoot at 4 ice cream parlors, 2 bakeries, 3 cafes, 3 bars…the list goes on and on. Let’s just say that I have a will power that is unstoppable….which I didn’t know about myself, honestly. I didn’t cheat once, even though I really really wanted to, and I was really proud of myself. So in the end I guess the universe was just out to teach me a little something about myself, thanks universe….I guess.

Another one of my passions is food photography. I remember four years ago when I was graduating college I was so determined to move to NY and shoot for magazines, restaurants and cook books. Nothing could stop me….aw the feeling of determination of someone who had never been told no or let down before in her life…..well NY soon remedied that feeling. Plans always change, and in my opinion they change for a reason. I was trying to soak up all the experience and life lessons I could. So two big moves and four years later here I am ready to start the food photography adventure again:) First step on my adventure is to get my updated food portfolio and website up and running. Well we are very close, hopefully the next few weeks it will be ready to go, but until then I thought I’d share it with all of you. My goal is to add to it every month, even if it’s just me setting up shoots in my dining room:) When I second shoot for other wedding photographers I’m the one who is following the catering waiter/waitress trying to shoot the food….I get some funny looks:) I just can’t help myself, even at weddings I make sure that I get awesome shots of the food and the beverages. Poor Justin if I bust out my 5D one more time at a restaurant I fear he just might die of embarrassment….like I said I just can’t help it:)

Well wish me luck on my new food photography adventure. I’m excited to see where it takes me:)

Enjoy.

[Show as slideshow]