ShutterClick

The "R" Word

2011-05-11T05:36:00.000-07:00

I really love following the site of Heather Morton. She has so many wonderful observations into the world of photography and puts a different angle on things as an art buyer (with impeccable taste, I might add).

Heather is challenging photographers on the topic of "Risk," through a speaking tour in various Canadian locations (darn! why couldn't she come to Tennessee??). The topic is one that all we photographers know well about, but how often do we really sit down and dissect what kinds of business risks we are taking and at what costs? And perhaps what risks will pay off professionally or even for our own artistic enrichment?

One amazing artist that Heather showcases on her blog is Russell Monk, who practiced risk through relocating from Toronto to Mexico to pursue his photographic passion. Her blog showcases the beauty that blossomed from his risk taking. It inspires me to take some risks...how about you?

Image copyright of Russell Monk

Forgotten Spaces

2011-04-06T10:15:00.000-07:00

One of Zak's greatest photographic passions is finding old abandoned places and capturing the mood and emotions of those spaces. Some of my earliest memories of our dates were what we'd call "photo adventures." If there was a "NO TRESPASSING" sign, it was prime for our exploration.

Some of those adventures inspired Zak to expand his exploring, taking photo road trips (while I held down the fort) mapped out specially for their aesthetic attractions. Two such trips included the Mississippi Delta area and the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia.

I would hear details of his great finds at the end of each day that he was away, and looked forward with great anticipation to seeing the images he had captured. While many of these abandoned spaces hold a haunting sense of sadness, the simultaneous beauty and majesty of the structures is kind of overwhelming. One can't help but wonder what led to the emptying of these spaces. They look almost frozen in a moment while only being altered by the elements. Some are lonely looking; others almost regal in their emptiness. It's difficult to tell when exactly life halted in these places, but one sure thing is that beauty can be found anywhere.

Details, Details

2011-02-15T18:07:00.000-08:00

A lot of people ask, "So, what's your favorite thing to shoot?" Of course, it's people, but beyond that broad answer, I really enjoy shooting little details. You know, close-ups of the wedding rings or those glorious wrinkles on a newborn's feet. Details. When you talk to people after a wedding, you never hear them tell you "Well, a bride and groom were there..." You hear about the table centerpieces, the cake, the bride's shoes. Those are the little things that make my heart sing as a photographer; the icing on the cake!

Where We've Been

2010-11-19T12:51:00.000-08:00

This Fall season has been a busy one and while we have loved every minute of it, we also decided it would be nice to get away. Together our family packed up and spent an extended weekend in The Blue Ridge Mountains.

When you need a little solace from the busy world, nothing does the trick like being in a place that is completely removed from all signs of humanity. The scenery was breathtaking and had such a sense of stillness and peace. Here are a few of my favorite shots.

Laura + Nathan :: Franklin, TN

2010-10-18T17:53:00.000-07:00

This weekend we photographed Laura and Nathan's wedding. What a happy day it was! The weather was stunning, the natural light was really beautiful and the autumn colors were in full force. We met the happy couple shortly after they got engaged, and right away we were excited about shooting their wedding. Laura and Nathan are the kind of people whose mere presence makes you smile, and they have the same effect on each other too! Their wedding day was no exception; it was joy and smiles from the very start. As a photographer, Laura and Nathan were a dream to photograph. They were up for anything, and their sweet chemistry made for photographic magic.

Thanks for letting us be a part of your special day! We love you guys!

Simple Beauty

2010-08-10T15:41:00.000-07:00

When life sometimes seems like a whirlwind of activity and appointments, sometimes it's nice just to take a break and enjoy the little things that inspire and delight.

Recently, I packed up for a morning trip to the Franklin Farmers Market. Nashville boasts many farmers markets - all of them quite wonderful, but this is just one of my favorites. The farmers and vendors are delightful to chat with, and the selection is really amazing.

One of our favorite produce vendors is Norton Family Farms. We LOVE their mixed greens and the beautiful colors of the tomatoes and peppers.

We've also recently discovered the Darby Farms booth, which has excellent produce and one of the best kept secrets in Nashville - chocolate chip sorghum cookies. Each package is so treasured at our house that we actually break them into little pieces to make them last longer.

Some other great sights included flower vendors. Buckets upon buckets of fresh flora was not only visually brilliant, but smelled amazing too!

The Perfect Shot

2010-07-14T11:09:00.000-07:00

As a photographer, my chief goal is to capture precise moments. Facial expressions, graceful movement, child antics. Well, I had the pleasure of photographing Miss Emma at the Nashville Public Library, and she definitely granted me many such moments. Not only is Emma beautiful and super photogenic, but she was very social as I photographed her. I believe her personality really comes through in these photos!

Summertime

2010-06-25T10:33:00.000-07:00

Summer at ShutterClick has been busy, even amidst this HEAT! After the overwhelming floods Nashville experienced, the city members came together in a way that was (and is) simply indescribable and completely wonderful. All I can say is that it makes me so proud to be a Nashvillian!

To benefit flood victims, SNAP (Society of Nashville's Artistic Photographers) held "Focus on Recovery," a photo auction where all benefits went directly to flood victims. Zak donated a photo to the auction, and he and the other members of SNAP, along with the help of corporate sponsors, raised over $30K. Here are some details on the event: http://snapnashville.org/showsevents/focus_on_recovery/focus_on_recovery.html

Our adventures this summer are taking us from Alabama to Georgia, but we have mostly been doing shoots indoors where it is beautifully air-conditioned.

Here's our favorite member of the ShutterClick family, staying cool and snacking!

Five Times the Fun

2010-04-15T09:39:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's photographic adventures had me on a shoot with Tom and Connie's five fabulous kiddos. They have a gorgeous historic house, not to mention lots of lush greenery and some neat old architecture on their property. Needless to say, it was the perfect location for our shoot.

I had so much fun with these kids - they range in age from 6 to 14 and have such beautiful, vibrant personalities. Each one brought so much to the camera....I smiled non-stop throughout this session. Hopefully these little snapshots will put a smile on your face today too.

Spring Adventures

2010-04-15T08:26:00.000-07:00

This week has been a busy one for ShutterClick, and the beautiful Spring weather has made for a most glorious backdrop in our photo sessions.

Wednesday I met with Jenny to photograph her two beautiful little girls, Maddie and Emalyn. For being 3 years old and 3 months old, these little ladies were the perfect (and quite adorable) photo subjects. I've got to say, coming from a house where we're only exposed to little boy stuff, it was fun to see all that pink! Here's just a peek at one of my favorite shots.

Latest Shoots

2010-01-14T10:29:00.000-08:00

As 2009 came to a close, we were busy with lots of family shoots. It's always so much fun to have the dynamic of a family and everyone's personalities come through in our shoots. Here are a few shots!

Welcome!

2009-12-09T06:20:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the new ShutterClick blog! Here we'll detail all our latest photography adventures for your reading pleasure, so stay tuned for updates!