the photographs of Sara Renee

2010-06-30T10:54:00.000-07:00

I have a new website/blog now.
(no more blogspot!)

SARARENEE.COM

Girls Night(!!!!!)

2010-06-05T09:43:00.000-07:00

4 June 2010.

Our first "official" girl's night. These girls are, BY FAR, my best friends.
For the past twenty three years of my life, I have been only best friends with boys. Because boys are cooler, I mean...it's true. Girls tend to be catty and jealous and...just not my style.

But THESE girls. They are special. They're weird and loopy and real.

They cheer me up. We work out together (running stairs, abs, laps, etc). They helped me get over this awful break-up last month. Jill shows up at my house in the morning with arm-fulls of breakfast and cooks it for us. Desirae gives me the keys to her car, lets me borrow her red, snakeskin high heels, and brings me crazy trinkets from Thailand. Heather (who doesn't live in Cleveland) drives 12 hours to visit and check up on me, and takes care of me when I'm sick.
Basically, I have permanently incredible friends. I had to have been bored before I met them.

And you can make fun of that tv/movie "Sex&the City" all you want, but there is a for real correlation between those girls and us girls. It's awesome.

Anyways!
Last night we got dressed up and went out on the town. Fun!

Nashville, TN.

2010-05-24T15:47:00.000-07:00

Right before I flew out to Europe (which I am still in Germany, by the way...for a few more hours anyways) I went down to Nashville to see these guys. My good friends and my old room-mates.

We took some family snapshots on the front porch (heck yes for olive green houses, or olive green ANYTHING for that matter!)

Nashville isn't really my cup of tea (yeah, I'm talking to all you pretentious scene kids who listen to music because you like the bassist's hair cut) but I thoroughly enjoyed this trip. I like my friends. They are good people.

Oh! And I saw Michael Tait (dcTalk) at a bar. 14 year old Sara would have been alllllll over that!

McNellis Family.

2010-05-24T15:37:00.000-07:00

So!

These photos are of Adrienne, Bronson, &the coolest baby: Vesper Rose. (...yes, that is her real and actual name).
Adrienne was the contest winner for the "Free Photoshoot" Contest I had a while back. Yes, it clearly took me forrrreeevvveerrr to post these. They've been sitting on my hard-drive, eagerly awaiting this day.

This was a wonderful shoot &they were such a great family to photograph. As you may have noticed I tend to attract more portrait/contemporary type clients (which is awesome, don't get me wrong) but it is way cool to photograph the family dynamic.

Enough talk, here is the McNellis family!

Gina M. Clark

2010-05-09T21:20:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago Gina came and stayed with me for a week and we had a pretty great time.
Fishing...shopping...movie-ing...bowling...aquarium-ing...and so on.

We took these photos out and around my place.
Her eyes are as big and almondy and lovely!

Thanks Gina for a great time!

Elyse&Diego!

2010-05-06T08:04:00.000-07:00

Elyse contacted me about photographing her wedding right before I (was supposed to) move to Germany. I was bummed that I would be missing it...and then as life would have it- now I'm able to photograph it!

We took these engagement photos out at a farm by the river.

It was a GORGEOUS location!

They are an incredible couple, and tons of fun to work with!

(The tattoo/laying down photos are my favourites...)

After this session, Elyse&Diego went to Mexico and brought me back this AWESOME purse! I love it! I'm pretty picky about clothing and accessories so I was thrilled to get this! Thank you Elyse and Diego!

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On a personal sidenote: I got my first pair of high heels yesterday.

Pretty big deal. They're going to be my "special occasion" shoes. So if anyone wants to take me out on a dress-up date, I'm ready.

I have a fabulous wedding I'll be photographing tomorrow, reeeealllly excited!

(Hooray Jill&Chad!!!)

And one week from now I will be out trapsing and photographing Europe for a business/pleasure trip.

I'm pretty excited to decorate my place with Europe photos.

Also- for future brides...all my wedding packages include a complimentary engagement session and these sessions are soooo fun! (Fun for both me and you). Just something to think about...

Christian Hoeferle, German Businessman.

2010-04-30T08:20:00.000-07:00

The following images are of my friend Christian Hoeferle.
He is a businessman, father, husband, and my friend!
He is, of course, German, and his family is my favourite family (maybe in the whole USA).

This suit is made of Egyptian cotton, in case you were wondering...

Lady DaDa.

2010-04-28T19:44:00.000-07:00

Neon green wig, three black dots above each eyebrow, a silver sparkly mini-dress, six inch high heels, and my bestfriend Desirae.

(sort of Lady GaGa inspired. but not anywhere as strange)... (and thanks to Chelsea who came out to shadow this session!)
and to everyone in Cleveland, TN who drove by while we were shooting...you're welcome!

Erin in Wonderland.

2010-04-22T14:08:00.000-07:00

For WEEKS of living in my new house, I have been wanting to photograph in my yard, using my red desk chair. And finally! Erin was my number one model of choice, and lucky for me, she was willing and able to come over to do it!

These photos were all taken in my backyard from about 7pm-730pm (the best time!!)

Inspiration

2010-04-09T11:42:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week I was asked what inspires me. Which got me to thinking and brainstorming, which ultimately led to this blog post.
So here are some things that inspire me!

I am inspired...not so much by other photos (oddly enough), but by:
Books (&the scenes they paint in my head). And Tennessee. And sunlight. And science (photosynthesis). Weather. Wood grain. Deserted places. Being alone (I am unable to think when there's too many things going on around me). Making lists (consider this exhibit A). Colours. Train whistles/blares (so, wildly excited by this sound). Textures. I get inspired by things I can touch with my hands. Or things that, just from seeing them, I can tell how they would feel IF I could touch them.
The basic summary is that: most things inspire me in some way or another, to varying degrees.

On the flipside: I find technology to be a inspiration sucker. I hate being interrupted by my telephone or the television. Electronics kind of bum me out on that level. I find myself trying to moderate them. As in- I want to do some thinking/brainstorming, so I will leave my telephone in another room and close my laptop.
Also, looking at other people's photos...just is not a great thing for me. I do better when I am left to my own imaginings. Most people don't get this. I LIKE looking at other people's work...but it affects the way I see things, it cramps my style. So I avoid it.
Also, noon is a bad time. Everything is too bright. I don't like noon, on sunny days.

Now Offering: Shadowing/Mentor Sessions.

2010-04-06T08:05:00.000-07:00

First things first...Spring never really came, and it's full blown summer here in Tennessee which makes me ESTACTIC!
I've been spending copious amounts of time outdoors lately and have fallen hard in love with Tennessee summers (again, like I do every year). My skin is turning brown, some freckles have shown their cute little faces, and I feel full of sunshine.

Second things next, I decided that...
since I have this crazy thorough photographic education, why not help other people?
...(in case you didn't know I spent ten months living in MA attending Hallmark Institute of Photography, spending 18 hours a day in&out of this building, shooting, editing, designing, retouching, leanrning, RE-shooting, etc)...

So if you are an aspiring photographer in the area (or willing to travel to Cleveland, TN) and are interested in learning from me, e-mail me through the contact tab on my website.

I am going to offer two separate learning type sessions:

Shadowing me on a photoshoot (covering things like: composition, lighting, using light modifiers, choosing backgrounds, posing, client interaction, etc)

and/or sitting with me during the post-processing (using Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop CS4).
If you'd like to participate in both, there will be a discount.

Message me for more information if you're interested. This would be a great time for you to pick my brain! And I can guarantee it will be fun! (like everything else going on in my life).

Evie, Jimmy Guy, &Zoey

2010-03-30T09:10:00.000-07:00

I recently had the pleasure of hanging out with, and photographing these three children (one of which has enough energy to light up a big city). They were awesome!

Photographing children was a pleasant change because their expressions are so much more carefree. If a kid practices making faces in the mirror, they are probably not practicing having their lips slightly parted/being sexy. They're being goofy and real! And I love it!!

Photos like these make for WONDERFUL Mother's Day presents! So if you want to book a shoot before Mother's Day, just contact me via the CONTACT tab at www.sararenee.com
It'll be fun!

Winner!

2010-03-28T19:00:00.000-07:00

Alright, so my Inbox was slammed with Business tips and ideas.
AWESOME stuff. I was amused, impressed, and inspired. All of the ideas were pretty killer.

After narrowing the contestants down to 2 people, I was faced with the awful task of picking ONE. (Actually, really difficult). But the task is finished, and I am pleased to announce that the winner is one...

ADRIENNE MCNELLIS from Chattanooga, TN.

I thought maybe it would be interesting to share her idea(s)?
•for starters, she approved of my idea for a Free Photoshoot Contest
•going to local sporting events and photographing them, then handing out my cards and getting e-mail address for people to get their photos (good for getting my name on people's brains)
•since car events are so big down here (HUGE), Adrienne suggested going out to the shows and mingling with the owners to see if they needed/wanted shots of their car.
•auctioning off a Shadowing session for aspiring photographers (annnnd, this is something I offer and if you are an interested aspiring photographer, just e-mail me!)
•Hosting a gallery showing of selected photos, perhaps even having some of it for sale. And making it, not just a plain old gallery, but complete with food and drinks and making it an awesome and official event (you ALL would have to promise to come).

So! Goodness gracious. THANK YOU ALL TONS FOR YOUR IDEAS.
I am sooo glad and grateful to have received all of them.

I will be implementing some of these ideas soon (and some of the ideas I got were things that I had already, just days before, started working on. It's good to see that my brain was at least on the right track).

Thank you all!

On a completely un-related note, here are photos I took this afternoon of my house/woods behind house:

Pretty much, I love this house. Woods, creek, skylight, jacuzzi bath-tub, hard-wood floors...it's lovely.
&it's great to be back in Tennessee!

About.

2010-03-23T21:35:00.000-07:00

A little bit (&maybe even more than you want to know!) about me: Sara Renee

First off, you'll notice in the very first photo that I am holding Fluffy, the blue bunny. He's still around and in great shape for being twenty two years old.

Secondly, my family rules. I love family photos. Love them. I could look at anyone's family photos for hours.

The left hand side was last summer when I got the Canon 5d MkII. Excited isn't a big enough word. This camera has actually made my mouth water on numerous occasions.
In the second set, and in the photo on the right...this was the first trip to Pennsylvania that my mom let me pack my own things. And I (honestly) forgot the dress shoes for my Christmas outfit. My mom was sooooo pleased!

Can you tell that my mom used to dress me? In satin gowns and huge bows!

One time my mom went out of town for the weekend and my dad let me wear my clothes to bed, and wake up in them and wear them another day. For a six year old tomboy, it was heaven.

I also used to have a huge gap in my teeth and was reeeeeeally into Orlando Magic (Go Shaq!). And I was consistently covered in fake tattoos. I took piano lessons for 6 years, and this lady was my first piano teacher.

After piano lessons, I played guitar (specializing in classical guitar) for four years. Oh, and dcTalk was my favourite band when I was little. I still think they're super talented.

I also wore skirts, with high striped tube socks, and Chuck Taylors.

Um, next- I shaved my head my last year in college. I started dying my hair (rotating between being a redhead, bleach blonde, and black) when I was in 7th grade. I had no clue what my natural hair colour was. A fresh start was in order! I mean, that adds up to NINE years that I dyed my hair. I will never colour my hair again.
And the motourcycle! Number one thing to do on my "Before I Die" list. And I did it! Last year, with my Graphic Design teacher. And I absolutely LOVED it!

Otters are one of my favourite animals. A few summers ago I went to CA and found this huge otter. I was excited to be held by it. (ha!)
The photo on the right is some sort of creative exploration with a manny head and cigarettes. (I don't smoke. Actually, I think cigarettes are kind of gross. And super unhealthy). It was merely a prop for this photo.

Mmmm...in case you didn't know- I use a Macbook Pro and I photograph weddings.

(&I love wearing hats. Beanies, baseball caps, any kind of head gear).

Pipes are relaxing and enjoyable for me (photo by the lovely Shaunae)
This bottom photo is especially funny:
My brother brought me to this all day bbq/cookout/party. When I say "all day" I mean: we got there at noon and left at 9pm. Of course I brought a book! (I hate parties unless they are 15 minutes long). But all his friends thought I must have been miserable because here I was, reading Sherlock Holmes at this big shindig they're having. Person after person kept sitting down next to me to chat it up....ugh! I wanted to put a sign up saying "Hey, I'm not bored, I actually LIKE to read".
My brother still teases me about reading at parties.

For Halloween this yeae my costume was a moustache. That was it. Best costume ever; I think I will do it every year for the rest of my life.
And I am in the phonebook!

I got this magnifying glass last month and love it. Magnifying glasses are such cool props.
This purple whurple photo on the right is one my friend Max took last year at photo school. (HE IS SO GOOD).
It's karo syrup mixed with blue&red food colouring. He then painted it all over my lips and face with his finger. It was very difficult not to open my mouth/grin for this photo. But it was the most fun I've had modeling all year- which says a lot about Max.

So that's my life in a short photo series. There's a ton more (my childhood was extremely carefree and full of mystery novels, playing in forests, building forts, exploring foreign territories, and daydreaming).

And now...I do all the same things that I did when I was little, but now I make photographs too!

WIN A FREE PHOTOSHOOT!

2010-03-21T14:59:00.000-07:00

Hello!
I am giving away one FREE Photoshoot (good for Portrait, Couple, &Family sessions) this month. You have one week to message me via the Contact tab on my website and give me one (or more) tip/idea to help me with my business. Whoever has the best & most substantial idea wins a free Photoshoot!

And just to clarify, if you live in Florida and have this killer tip for me, I can not make a trip to FL (but I still want to know your ideas!)
(So) let's say that, unless you are willing to travel to Cleveland/Chattanooga, TN..., you should probably be local. But any and all Business ideas and wanted!

Get brainstorming and get back to me!

New Packaging.

2010-03-18T10:57:00.000-07:00

Well now that I'm back and all set-up I re-designed my packaging.

Some people say that brown and black do not match. And I am here to tell you that those people are WRONG. Brown and black absolutely (and clearly) match. People are crazy! My every day outfit is the following: brown boots (either cowboy or equestrian), black leggings, and some sort of t-shirt or hoodie. It's safe to say that I wear this outfit an average of six days a week.

Brown and black just look SO GOOD together. Like, if they were people, they could be best friends. Brown and Black forever. And so, those are my colours.

(And on an earth friendlier note- my packaging is mostly created from recycled goods.)

So to tell you a little about what you get when you schedule a photoshoot with me:
After the (definitely fun &awesome) photoshoot, I take the images to my home office and edit/re-touch them. I then have a custom DVD case and disc made from images from your photoshoot. The case is sooo nice! It has a magnetic clasp and a smooth, matte finish, which is handmade and wrapped in a laminated press print.

Inside the case is a DVD (also printed with an image from your photoshoot) with all your edited images!

Then I package it all up (which you can see in the photos below), delicately slide it into my hand-made gift bag (along with some coupons &a print authorization form) and VIOLA! It's ready for delivery.

Please note that all cards, bags, labels, etc are HAND STAMPED. I do this myself for quality control and because, let's be honest, I love art&crafts time. I had different sized stamps made of my logo, and do it all by hand, order by order.

These kind of things are wicked amounts of fun for me to do, and I am hoping they are as much fun for you to receive.
BingBing!

Dorothea Lauster-Noe.

2010-03-11T14:17:00.000-08:00

Ironically enough, I was able to photograph Dorothea while she was vacationing here from Germany. She is the mother and sister of two of my friends and I can confidently say that Dorothea's entire family are some of the kindest and greatest people I know.

I was sooo pleased I had the opportunity to photograph Dorothea! She is (clearly, as you can see for yourself) gorgeous.
And here we go!

We had Amelie&Ana with us (Dorothea's nieces), and their SUPER helpful babysitter (thank you Sarah!) and my reflector girl (thank you Jill!) so we were quite the littler entourage, tooling around downtown Cleveland. It ruled! It felt awesome to get back into the swing of Portrait Photography (it had only been about a week or two, but still...).

The thing about me almost moving to Germany is...I DID move to Germany in my brain. So while I was only gone from TN for seven days, I had been living in Germany for at least two weeks in my brain. Ah! What a trip.

Thank you Dorothea for a lovely shoot, for walking all over town in those crazy heels, and for being so cooperative!!!

back in Cleveland, TN.

2010-03-08T12:59:00.000-08:00

Surprise(!)

I did not get on my airplane flight to germany.

It was an (extremely) last minute decision. I am painfully aware that everyone wants to know why…and all I can say is:

This was my decision. I chose Tennessee. I chose my business. And I chose my life here.

There are thousands of reasons I should move to Germany.

There are thousands of reasons I should stay in Tennessee.

I did actually move out of TN (&made it as far as PA). I got rid of my dog. Broke up with my boyfriend. Sold/donated most of my possessions. Moved out of my apartment. Closed my American bank account. Changed my mailing address. What I’m trying to say is: this was a surprise to me too.

And now I am back. I have my own lovely dream house. I have an amazing boyfriend, a handful of spectacular friends, and I want for nothing.

I scheduled my first shoot the second day I was back and shot it the third day I was back. (Ironically enough we had to schedule it ASAP because she was going back to Germany this past weekend).

So here is your press release:

I, SaraRenee, am back in Southeast Tennessee and am booking photoshoots now.

Business is getting stepped up a notch on my end.

A little bit of this &a little bit of that,

SR.

northern living.

2010-02-26T12:09:00.001-08:00

we woke up this morning to snow up to our knees.
boooo! pretty sure i don't need to be reminded that i love living in the south.

so my mom and i went out and shoveled and snow blowed. pretty hard stuff.
then august came over (my aunt now owns him)
and we took some portraits!

most handsome dog in the world.

farewell from the snow-land of PA.

cutest little persian eskimo&white pairing ever.

2010-02-25T14:36:00.000-08:00

i'm that girl who hangs out almost exclusively with the male species.
i live(d) with 5 boys. and girls are just not as much fun.
desirae is the exception. which is why we are best friends...
(well that, and she says that when she met me, she thought to herself "yeah, i'm going to be best friends with this girl") .
and so it began.

we have the same size feet (size 6/7).
we like the same beers. we share clothes, crafts, coffee, shoes, ideas, jokes, jobs.
she is a persian eskimo princess. i am an italian/german hybrid.

we had a fight once.
when i left TN we exchanged peacoats.

when we said good-bye, after all the hugging and what not, she hopped into her purple jeep and screamed "PISSED! PISSED! PPPPPIIIIISSSSSEDDDDDD! PISSED!" and swerved out of the parking lot.
it hilarious, meaningful, and i will remember it always.

engaged: Jill&Chad

2010-02-25T13:46:00.000-08:00

I've been friends with Jill&Chad for like...a bazillion years (probably more like 4).
And now they are getting married in three months, so we went downtown this weekend to take some engagement photos!

Many thanks to my beau for coming along &helping with gear carrying&reflecting!
this is us all before the shoot.
just a typical day of shooting, getting grabbed, &wearing many colours/layers.

and THEN, jill was awesome enough to come over the next day and take some photos of adam and i.
shooting with a timer is soooo lame! i mean, it's actually really fun, but it takes forever and the amount of good shots is very little. so i set the camera settings and framed it (camera on tripod) and had jill shoot! she was hilarious. everything i had told her to do on her engagement photos, she repeated back to us. seriously, i was dying laughing.
THANK YOU JILL.

lastly, we all have these "celebrity look-alikes".
adam is ryan gosling.
which is pretty nice since ryangosling is my definition of the "best looking man alive".

byebye from scranton, PA!

hannah davenport.

2010-02-17T19:15:00.000-08:00

last saturday (in the absolute freezing cold!) hannah came to town and we made these images.
these are a dream come true, because i am always wanting people to get all dolled up for outdoor photos. and tada! enter hannah!

so meet the gorgeous hannah (and her dog daisy), who were brave enough to brace the FREEZING cold wearing summer clothes!
(i mean, i was completely bundled up and i wanted to throw myself into a fire just to thaw out)

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i leave TN on monday. i'm not saying good-bye to anyone...that stuff is way over-rated. there's just no time to hang out "one last time"!
so...farewell TN! my weekend is slam booked and i JUST started packing.

cool story- i had a hotel guest call me today to apologize for not being able to say good-bye, to wise me all the luck in the world, and to tell me how much he has enjoyed my company
(this is a guy who comes in at 530am or breakfast and we have execllent life talks). and another guest brought me dinner from Outback! best thing(s) ever. i feel well taken care of and i appreciate that endlessly.

eeeeeee!!!!

Colkmire-Keen Wedding.

2010-02-12T21:33:00.000-08:00

Slacker city with the wedding photos!
There are so many photos from the weddings I shoot that it is a daunting task to prep them for blog. No excuse, but still.
Time is precious these days.

This is the most recent wedding I did, with April&Alan.
Tada!!!

Thank you April&Alan for letting me be a part of your beautiful day!

cameron reese.

2010-02-12T13:36:00.000-08:00

yesterday i met up with cameron reese to take some portraits.
he is 6'2"! (huge) and only a freshman in high scool. dang. i have been the same size practically my whole life and it's not anywhere near 6'2".

if you're in TN you know that it is freezing out and actually snowing (again). and yesterday was pretty cold too. cameron toughed it out with these thin shirts. it felt like my hands were withered and dead, so i know his whole body had to be hurting.

without further ado, here is CAMERON!

many thanks to chase smartt who came out and assisted me! you are a great help.

i love hats. and garage doors. and textures. and cameron's hair. and waking up to a rose earlier today. and the waitress who gave me a free hot coco today at the Spot Restaurant. and seeing my flier on display there. and drinking my coffee black. and my mom. and space heaters. and doing my laundry for free.

NEWS:
photo sessions are CLOSED. no more photo shoots in the USofA (that are not already scheduled).
many of my friends here in TN think i'll be back in a few months. we'll see...! you little wishful thinkers!

THIRDLY,
this sunday i will be at cafe roma, co-hosting the CASA fundraising wine dinner. it is already sold out (reservations only), so if you have a reservation, then i will see you then! it's going to be a blast.

Miller Family.

2010-02-07T22:52:00.000-08:00

remember when it snowed in TN last weekend? yeah.
that was when we were supposed to go out and take the Miller's photos.
well, we did it yesterday instead. (still super ridiculously cold!)

they were troopers and they were awesome!
after the outside shots, we did some starry eyed shots in my office.

this family rules.
also, they are a perfect example of the apples not falling too far from the tree.

look at all those wonderful wrinkles!
my goal is to have the deepest smile lines ever when i grow up.
like mr. miller here.

starry eyes!

2010-02-05T21:14:00.000-08:00

if you need headshots, now would be a good time to contact me.
actually, if you need anything photography related, i am only here a few more weeks and have very little days available.
think about it.
go to sararenee.com and fill out my 'contact form" section.

these photos were made earlier today.
just because i wanted to try this lighting.
i really want beauty dishes (at least 2, preferably 4) but i'll make do with what i have.

my (ex)room-mate jeff is back is town visiting! love him.
and then there is desiare, my bb.
and my room-mate michael brasher (pictured both with a lot of hair, and again hairless).
and myself.

i'm digging on this illuminated look. for today.

on nervous breakdowns and the prevention of such things.

2010-02-01T08:05:00.000-08:00

well i have never had a nervous breakdown.
but sometimes, i have felt close. sort of. i mean, i'm pretty capable but things get pretty slammed.

when i was at hallmark institute of photography last year, we had classes on eveeeeerything. i mean, everything. we even had a yoga class to help us deal with stress. and one thing we had a class on, that i thought was awesome, was journaling.

seems silly. like a little girl keeping a diary with all the boys she has crushes on.
but it's not.

it's the most theraputic thing. and there are so many thoughts that flit in, bang around, and then leave my mind that i must write them down. and i like to keep them all in one, organized place.
and really, really wild and funny things happen in my life (and probably yours as well) and i want to get all the details correct for when i go back and write my memoir.

and on a stranger level, i just like to carry something around with me. my moleskin is like my more-adult blankee. there is a sort of security that comes with it.
like, "if i carry this with me, i'm set and good to go".

and stream-of-conscious writing...uhhh! my favourite! i can't believe the things that come out of my brain when i do that. it's pretty much always a surprise.

now i would like to talk about jeff buckley.
i watched his dvd the other night. and i can't get him out of my mind.
on the disc "live at sin-e", the song "the way young lovers do".
THERE IS NO SONG IN THE WORLD THAT MAKES ME FEEL AS HIGH.
listen to it. that specific version. it's ten minutes long. and it's a ride.

(i was going to post a photo of jeff, but...i like musicians to remain faceless. this isn't n'sync and we don't listen to music because of what the musicians look like.)

train stations, tests, penpals, snow.

2010-01-29T22:41:00.000-08:00

my apartment, which is located near the train tracks, sort of serves as a train station of sorts.
people are always there. a few weeks ago i had 13 people sleeping under my roof. yeah. wild.
well, i have 5 room-mates. and so it goes.

so a few weeks ago my friend ryan (from rhode island who, turns out we have been friends for TEN years!) came through town with his touring band. fun! it was so cool to see him on southern turf, because usually i come see him in RI.

that SAME weekend, my penpal came to town with her brother!
we have been letter writing (snail mail, not e-mail) for the past four years. it was so awesome to get to finally meet her! in person, just like her letters- she is the sweetest girl alive.

this is jennifer (my penpal) and her brother corey:

and this is ryan from rhode island!

there is this Febreeze commercial where the lady is something like "i have kids and they play sports, so you can bet that i use Febreeze".
and everytime i see it i think "i live with 5 boys. you can bet i use Febreeze just about every single day.
amen".

this is josh, 1 of the 5 boys i live with, helping me with test shots.

my past days have been blurry.
i started teaching the photoshop class at Lee. i have been editing and working a lot. reading too (i will never get into kindles, by the way. cool idea, but i need the smell and texture of paper). applying for government jobs in Germany (which is a lot of paperwork!) and daydreaming a lot. it takes me longer to do normal things because my mind will trail off into a daydream.
this is something i'm trying to get better at- as in...i WANT to daydream more. it's like a creative exercise (when done at the right time).

and so, newsworthy stuff: it is snowing in Cleveland, TN. like, pretty bad.
these are my footprints coming from my car, when it first started.
it took me 45 minutes to get to work (it usually takes me 8 minutes).

but i work part-time at a hotel and they're putting me up so i won't have to drive.
i absolutely looove staying at hotels! (also loving this leather jacket i got from victoria's secret. this is the kind of thing that makes me want to have a daughter so i can pass it down to her).

this is the end of this specific blog post.

the most encouraging thing i have ever read...

2010-01-26T07:42:00.000-08:00

alright, so...
i wanted to share this letter i received a few months ago with you, the internet world. this letter was like a warm bubble bath hug. because let's face it, life can be terribly stressful. the fact that we need money to be some sort of happy and taken care of sucks. and starting a business with no money...it's hard!

but then you sit back and realize...you take things in stride and JUST DO IT.
in college i had a boss who would tell me "you gotta want it!". and i think that's true in all things. if you want something, you'll be willing to work hard at it and...you'll probably get it.

just for fun, to take it back a bit...
this photo is from my very first roll of film, taken with my canon rebel 35mm camera.

so check this. this is a letter from a bride's dad to me.
his only fault is that he uses Nikon...(joke. sort of)

letter starts now:
________________________________________________

First, I need you need to take a deep breath. You need to sit slouched in a chair with lots of pillows and your puppy sleeping in the crook of your elbow. I need your legs uncrossed and your head merely attached to your neck but just barely. Let it flop back against one of the pillows and breathe deeply for a few moments. Turn your wrists up and relax your fingers. Quit curling and uncurling your toes and just hang, fully relaxed, breathing slow and deep.

Now. I have been where you are. I have been fresh out of school and I have been deeply in debt because of it. I know the overwhelming feeling and the urgent crush of it. I know the daily waking panic of wondering how you're going to pay for it all -- not just the debt but life itself. I know. I seems nearly desperate, nearing dispair. But I want to tell you it's not. I know those are just words but they are coming from a person who knows that it really isn't desperate -- not even close!

You, my littlest friend, are so talented, you really don't know your own potential yet. You are at the threshold of your life and you're about to pass over that threshold into a wonderful existence. One where you do what you love to do with people who love what you do for them. Every day you will increasingly grow in awareness and artful design and clarity. You will see things you never saw before and capture them in a way you never thought possible. You will use your camera in ways nobody has used a camera. Sure you will learn from other people and I encourage you to never stop gathering techniques and ideas from other people -- they are a wonderful resource. But you, you personally, have a gift. A God-given gift for seeing the world in a wonderful, funny, artful, beautiful and clever way that few people see it. It's God-given! So it's perfect! And it's pure. And it's clear. And it's not confusing and darkening. It's happy and hopeful and easy.

These qualities are not had by everyone. I need you to REALIZE that. Anyone with hands and eyes can lift a camera, point it, and press the release. That is NOT photography -- not the photography YOU do! What you do is FAR MORE than photography. Do you get the disparity here? There's pictures. And then there's what you do. They are NOT the same thing. Do you get it? Do you understand what I'm saying? I'm sure you do but I just want to look you in the eye and tell you that I really mean what I am saying and you need to believe in yourself like I believe in you. The ability of someone like you is so powerful and so genuine that anyone who sees you and sees your product will automatically be sold and will tell everyone they know to go to you and hire you for their needs. Money will come to you. Money will chase you down and overtake you. Money will be the very LAST of your worries. God will bless you beyond your wildest dreams! In fact, He already HAS!!! Your talent is a GIANT blessing from which you will derive pleasure and money and relationships and travel and satisfaction and honor and joy and self-worth. It's HUGE! Can you see it? I pray that you can.

This is the message I wanted to give you. This is what I wanted to say to you. I hope you can really hear it. It's true and it's real.

Anyway, I'm going to stop now. I want you to read this email. Then go back and re-read it again -- from the top, with the breathing and relaxing and everything -- and really look inside yourself and realize you have "it" -- the "gift". You have what other people search for their entire lives and lay finally dying in bed wondering how they never found it. You already have it! I need you to realize that. Don't worry about your education loans. Those are a tiny distraction. Trust in God and you will have no trouble making money and lots of it! Believe me! People LOVE -- they L O V E -- to be charged! And when they see what they are charged for, they will RUN to bring you their money! Trust me! And they will tell all of their friends, neighbors, co-workers, and strangers about you! They will! Believe me!

Again, I'm going to stop now. I am very excited about your future. You are a powerful force and you are just right on the verge of taking the world by storm! Get ready, I'm telling you. It's going to happen!

________________________________________________

there you have it.
this letter geared me up. unstressed me. motivated me. encouraged me.
basically made me like a warrior princess leading my troops (which is a metaphor for my photography business) into battle.

and for all of you who send me these insanely encouraging e-mails and letters full of kind words- THANK YOU! you blow the top of my head open with your sweet kindness.

in conclusion,
be encouraged! be hard working. and in the words of my favourite television character barney (how i met your mother): be awesome.

wood panel, hair cuttery, bingbing!

2010-01-23T22:24:00.000-08:00

the first set of photo was taken last night, just messing around.
the first two boys (ahem...men) on the left are 2 of my 5 (yes, i repeat 5) room-mates.
then there is myself, pre-haircut. and my friend black tony.

this second set is all of me, post hair-cut.
let me tell you a little bit about where i get my hair cut.

it's a little shop called Salon V where this big, muscular, tattooed up, NY accented, harley riding man named Victor runs the shop. i will not deny the fact that, if i ever get in a fight or am threatened in any serious way, victor is my first call.
victor's been cutting (and back in the day colouring) my hair for years. and he's awesome. he's taken me from black to blonde and back again. he wasn't angry when i shaved my head (i avoided him for months after i shaved my head because i was so nervous!),
and best yet- he actually knows how to cut hair and will work with you on styles.

i mean, really....good hairdressers are almost impossible to find!

(click on this for largeness).

these photos were made with one softbox. and in some of the ones of the boys, a silver reflector was used for fill.

and then, just for funny....
i was smoking my pipe hard, to get smoke from it for the photos, and it was just too much.
i accidentally inhaled and this face is how it felt:

the end.

ps. i start teaching a basic Photoshop class at Lee University on monday.
stoked!
i'll probably throw up before the first class i'll be so dang nervous.

meet Beatrice Robin Matthews...the smallest baby i have ever held.

2010-01-18T15:54:00.000-08:00

so...two weeks ago this little baby girl was born.
i got to hold her! and i suspect that my camera might weigh more than her.
it is SO WILD!

you might remember abby and sean from earlier in my blog...
i photographed their wedding, and earlier this year i photographed them while abby was pregnant with this darling girl.

i loooove this family.
sweet, smart, caring...gah! beatrice is a lucky little baby.

the matthew's are getting ready to move to TX and i am very grateful for this opportunity to meet up and photograph their budding family.

what a lovely family!

nyc lightbulbs.

2010-01-18T05:02:00.000-08:00

for the past few nights i have been waking up at 230/330am with my mind flicked on like every lightbulb in newyorkcity.

this NEVER happens because i am a log sleeper, so i have been excited, thankful, and productive.

since i had such a productive morning, i took myself out for breakfast at cameron's.

i cried at breakfast. not like sobbing, just a quiet tear up.
maybe it was the extra egg my waitress gave me. or my brother's first phone call from germany to me, minutes earlier. or my current emotional state due to the fact that i am leaving america indefinitely. or my inability to sleep past 330am.
but probably, it was the extra egg my waitress gave me.

test shots: for the fun of it.

2010-01-12T20:14:00.000-08:00

earlier this evening my bb desirae helped me figure out some test shots.
unfortunately, nothing worked for what we were going for...and we will have to try again (and so it goes) but we got these fun (and for me, hilarious shots).

the last photo is an actual decent shot.
but the point of test shots is humour, as far as i am concerned.

and so, here is desiare in my apartment, a few hours ago.

these are all test shots for a project that will be happening in a few weeks...a project i want&expect everyone to come out and be a part of.
details to come later this week (once i get a final test shot so i can promote it properly!)

(((((((((((((((((bam!))))))))))))))))

while posting these i (may or may not have) realized that i am going to miss things!
like desirae. and this red chair. and maybe even my room-mates. and parallel parking (which i can now do). and comfort and familiarity.
i was born into the military, and so moving every few years (even months) has been my entire life. safe to say, i can handle it. but...cleveland, tn is by far the longest i have ever lived anywhere.
THAT'S A BIG DEAL!

ah. no more tears. all that to say- it's good times ahead. i'm here for another month (maybe 5 weeks) so, let the good times tumble around us all.
yeah.

on goals, and the imporatnce of.

2010-01-08T23:29:00.001-08:00

click on this so it becomes larger, and read it.

this article, written by my friend tony eubank, was written when i was nineteen years old and just just just starting to make photos.

four years later and i have achieved every goal i made.
(hot dang!)

goals:
-saving up for a digital camera (now, three digital cameras later...)- check!
-graduating college and going to Hallmark Institute of Photography- check!
-actually moved to 1st street, in my favourite part of town- check!
-hearing the train a few times a day!- check!
-moving back to cleveland, tn after photo school to open my own business- check!

and then,
ever since i lived in germany (my last two years of high school) i put it in my list of goals to live overseas again. last year, when i wrote my career business plan, i put that in as a 5 year goal.
and (as my brother recently informed me), i used to send my brother postcards (while i lived in germany) telling him how much i wanted to move back to germany.

move to germany- check! (well, in a few more weeks)
ps. i'll be living in heidelberg.

goals are crucial.
i feel strongly about setting goals, being motivated, and working hard.

as my friend will once said (and this is my favourite motto slogan i have ever heard):
WORK HARD. BE YOURSELF.

sleep well. stay warm. make goals.

Ethos 3rd Anniversary Service.

2010-01-07T19:57:00.000-08:00

it was my pleasure to attend and photograph Ethos' 3rd Anniversary celebration service at City Church in Chattanooga this past sunday. there are a lot of people who go there, and if you are looking for a community to get involved in, i'm going to throw at Ethos as a recommendation.

Shannon Chapman is the pastor, and he's awesome! His wife Mande is incredible! The whole staff are super legit, and the worship team is brimming with talent.

check check check it out!

i'm thankful for the opportunity i had to go and shoot here.

a sort of Q&A

2010-01-05T12:17:00.000-08:00

the question keeps getting posed to me:
"are you still going to take photos in germany?"

kind of a confusing question for me. and borderline offensive.
it' s like me saying "hey, i heard you're going out of town...are you going to abandon everything you love? maybe stop breathing and being a human?"
right, sounds far-fetched, but those are things that actually go through my head.

ps. one way plane ticket has been purchased baby!

but,
duh.
i'm still going to make photos.

sr: the swedish airplane/super model

i've also decided to start posing the funny stuff that happen on a daily basis in my life.

i have avoided doing this because, frankly, people use the internet as a bathroom to poop and throw up all their personal, depressing information. it's tacky and embarrassing so i try and keep things clean, vague, with only a hint of personal information on here. and also, i don't want to embarrass anyone else. but, those days are over!

story number one:
at cracker barrel with my friend logan. checking out. the song "friends in low places" by garth brooks comes on. i turn to logan and say "ahhh! this song is soooo sexy!"
the cashier is a young man and immediately starts belting out the song, singing along with garth brooks.
i mean, how more obvious can you be?

here are some things i have been working on as of late:

good day to you all!

William Henry Benjamin David Barrett.

2009-12-30T16:37:00.000-08:00

i happen to live with this bearded cherub, William.
today i was able to take him out on a shoot at this sweet new spot!
i envisioned the photos i wanted to take of him, and they involved sunshine (which wasn't available today) but these are just what i wanted!

my room-mate, and dare i say, friend...william:

Jared&Emerald.

2009-12-23T19:42:00.000-08:00

last sunday, a blustery gray day, i had the absolute pleasure of taking jared and emerald out on a photo shoot in downtown chattanooga. they are so much fun!
i met jared through mutual friends and he is a great photographer, you can look at his images here!

this shoot was very rock and roll. we just walked all within 2 blocks and shot in all these great backgrounds. lovely times lovely couple lovely imagery.

so i am in scranton, pa this week with my family.
i made the mistake of driving all night to get here, which i discovered i am not good at.
august came with, and my parents love him.

FUNNY STORY-
my dad says "sara, i noticed august has a scar on his belly. did something happen?"
i reply, "that is his belly button".
my dad gets really serious and says: "you had his belly button removed??!"

i had just taken a bite of pizza and spit it out all over the table. for the next few minutes my brother and i made all sorts of jokes about august being hatched from eggs.
hilarious!

most handsome companion.

snow. 415am. virginia. ihop.

anna&andrew!

2009-12-15T06:17:00.000-08:00

meet anna &andrew, the two lovelies who traveled from NC to TN for me to photograph them!

i met anna my freshman year of college and haven't seen her since so it was great to see her this weekend!

so- we drove out towards...i don't even know...somewhere country and rambling and i pulled over on the side of the road to catch the light and use the field-ish background. EVERY ONE who drove by (and there were a lot!) stopped to see if we needed help. i was actually astounded. from my shooting/adventuring in the south i have never had people be so nice to me. this one guy rode his four-wheeler over from across the street to see if we needed to be pulled out from the ditch i pulled into.
and then!
when a lady saw that we were shooting, she invited us down the road to her horse pasture! i was blown away by how kind and helpful everyone was.
(thank you for letting us use your horse and land!)

i'm pretty sure i'm going to shoot more in that area.

and without further ado...anna and andrew!!!

yeah! i love shooting couples. i feel like i get the best couples too. the fun ones. the playful, interactive, comfortable ones. i consider myself lucky for this.

i also love tall grass. i love tom sawyer. i love cow gates with red, chipped paint. i love treasures (like this perfect, hand-made leather purse i found at an antique store). i love that my dad is coming to visit me tonight!
i love all these things and more.

train car, bokeh, bare feet.

2009-12-13T18:00:00.000-08:00

24 hours ago, i was a content passenger on a 1924 train!
we left from chattanooga, had a wonderful served dinner on the way to chickamauga, strolled around the station at chickamauga, and then rode back. it was a long ride! it was soooo great!

there's something about trains that is really magical to me. i live right next to the tracks and when i hear it it always sounds like something different. sometimes it sounds like an orchestra warming up. sometimes a harmonica. sometimes playful. sometimes urgent.
in college, i would climb parked trains and read books or write under the yellow streetlights.
i have chased the train a few times, but those are all longer stories...

and so the wonderful adam took me on a train date!

our waiters had bowties, i got my first foot massage, i took a vast amount of out-of-focus photos to emphasize bokeh (which makes me feel cheerful and makes my mind feel in focus--sounds crazy, but it is true).
i could ride a train every day. i want to ride a train every day.

i love the photos from this date because, quite frankly, they are sentimental.
i am a sentimental girl! who knew?

sherlock holmes was on my mind a lot on this trip (though i know he rode in hansoms, being on a train had a very sherlock-mood to it).

trains trains trains! if only i could time travel and visit the 1920s for a week...

showing up matters.

2009-12-10T00:27:00.000-08:00

just recently i was told that
"eighty percent of success is showing up."
showing up matters.
(thank you blake).

life is about turning corners.
i used to walk all over downtown cleveland at night and pretend i was the only human in town, maybe even the world. and with every corner i turned, i would get uncontrollably excited about what i might run into. i mean, the unknown is heavy with possibilities! and i visualized the most fantastic things awaiting me around the corner.

my mind is a derailed train, every day.
my thoughts jump and switch tracks every few seconds. i am aware and in-tune.
today i saw all the roads i can take in my life. i mean, i can do anything! i am not in the least bit tied down. i can stay. i can go. i can go anywhere. and i can do anything if i work hard enough.
if i show up.

so i'm showing up.

thought: i keep catching myself starting to take life too seriously. i don't want to buy a house, get a new car, and lose myself in this american dream of debt and a fenced in yard. but it's almost contagious! my heart, or something inside of my chest, feels pulled towards things that involve intuition, my feet moving, and wide open spaces.

it's scary because people waste their lives. that is a real thing.
don't waste your life.

pspp release party

2009-12-07T18:49:00.000-08:00

last week i flew to charlotte, nc and cigi (of the Flock Apparel) and i had a photo release party for the models who participated in the Public Photo Shoot Project.
It was sooo cool! We had a big lightbox wall and all the photos printed and mounted. and then we had 5x7's mounted on cardboard frames and stamped with the "public photo shoot project" for sale.
very cool. very fun. lovely times!

i liked it. i like niche (the boutique it was at). i like cigi. i like people and their faces. i like blake's hair. i like the russian sisters. i like christmas trees. i like flying in airplanes (it is so close to impossible for me to stay awake on airplanes. i pass out as soon as i buckle my seatbelt). i like charlotte. i like bojangles cajun filet biscuits. i like stamps! i like cardboard. i like the song "monkey gone to heaven" by the pixies.
etc. etc.

the wall of photos!

this is what i look like in a mirror.

this man has the most beautiful freckles...

&here are some of the actual photos. ones of/for the models. who were all real people. and incredible people. it was awesome to work with all of them!

---------------------------------------------
my extended family recently had a get together in delaware and i was unable to join.
so my brother picture texted this to me with the caption "insert sara here"
i won't lie- it made me laugh haaaaaard.

i like my brother so much that i think i'll move to germany with him.
yeah...sounds good.

germany-bound.

2009-12-06T20:53:00.000-08:00

i, sara renee murray, am moving to germany!

i was recently given the opportunity to move to heidelberg and will be moving there asap, which i think will be the beginning of march.

my brother and i will be living together and taking the entire country of germany by storm! well, we will certainly be enjoying everything europe has to offer. coffee especially. and travel. and the photo opps! and each other's company. and the languages. ah! the culture!

if you'd like to book a shoot before i move, contact me asap via sararenee.com

that said, teavana is my favourite tea in the whole world and i am an avid tea drinker.

Andy Goodner.

2009-12-05T02:19:00.001-08:00

earlier this evening i was able to snag some photos of andy playing at the new venue on 1st street (which happens to be half a foot from my apartment).
his first song was covering radiohead's "weird fishes/arpeggi" which has been my theme song for the week.
true story- he is an awesome musician.

brother/sister....

2009-12-01T12:40:00.000-08:00

my brother came into town for thanksgiving, as we do every year.
fun! we had a real meal. it was my first adult thanksgiving. we had deep fried turkey, mashed potatoes with cream cheese, corn, squash casserole, stuffing, green bean casserole, homemade noodles, etc etc.

and then we took photos! family photos!
and these are the out-takes.

my brother and i are like...twins.
identical, almost. it's wild. we get along sooo well!
he is my little brother and i take good care of him.

sararenee.com

2009-12-01T09:30:00.000-08:00

if you haven't heard the news, i have a new site up!
wala!/voila!
hallmark required us to build a basic site last year, so i had this stinky dinky site up for a while, and now it's for real.

so go take a look!
there's a good chance there's photos of you up there (well, if i photographed you).

aaaand- there's good music playing!
i usually HATE websites that have music playing. but i succumbed. mainly because i play really good music (the avett brothers and 3eb- does it get any better?)

wahoo!

wood paneling. mmmm.

2009-12-01T08:52:00.000-08:00

what is it about wood paneling that makes my eyes drool?
i love it! it's so warm and it compliments skin tones so well.
warning: it takes me copious amounts of time for me to burn out on anything, so expect to see some wood paneling in the future and maybe forever.

these photos are from a few weeks back. to be honest, i forgot about them. this was just a fun, spur of the moment, hey-i-have-my-camera-and-lights-in-the-car kind of shoot. which i love.

------------------------------------
tomorrow i'm flying to charlotte for the PHOTO RELEASE PARTY!
if you were one of the fifty-eight models photographed downtown Charlotte for the PUBLIC PHOTO SHOOT, your photos will be unveiled and available for purchase! and if you live in/anywhere NEAR Charlotte, i want to see you there!

it's at NICHE, which is located at:
1510 Camden Rd
Charlotte, NC 28203-4754
7-10pm.
be there or be out of the cool loop.

seriously.

Stacey Isom.

2009-11-23T03:11:00.000-08:00

ahhhh! i seem to have opportunities to photograph the greatest people! and for this, i am grateful.

this is Stacey Isom.
playwright. professor. mental note taker.

she is so awesome! while at lee university, i heard people talking about her greatness and just this week i was able to meet and work with her!

and here is stacey:

(this shot of her smiling and looking up...golden!^^)

she is so awesome! while at lee university, i heard people talking about her greatness and just this week i was able to meet and work with her- which was an absolute pleasure.

we talked about how plays are all about bringing things that don't belong out. ergo...a typewriter outside. i have always been aware of props and how they can be fun, but my brain had never put those words to it and made it a conscious decision. now, i feel more purposeful in my planning.

this piece of wood paneling is something i created today (er...yesterday). i made both the stencils (with thin plastic & an exacto knife) and spray painted it into a pattern. it is now hanging in my hallway.
i love me some cowboys!

this photo was taken last night. i'm down to two kittens. and i need to find them homes asap!
even though this black one is snarling, he's pretty sweet. i named him mink (so much for not getting attached). but really, august is the only child/pet i can handle at this time in my life.

and speaking of august...he is still handsome, strong, growing, and awesome.

it is now 631am and i have been up since 10am yesterday. exxxxxxxhausted.
good-night, good-morning, whatever.

Brigitta Hoeferle, Montessori Kinder School.

2009-11-21T16:23:00.000-08:00

Brigitta is the kind of woman i hope to grow up to be.
she is a wise business woman, she is one hundred percent involved in her children's lives (and her kids are also very involved in everything), she is an excellent cook, a great wife, runs an incredible school and an impeccable household.
oh, and she is german! my favourite.

also...as you will see from these photos, she is a rock and roll star. i just don't get how she can be all of these things. mind blowing!

these are some fun "head shots" for her new website.

they were taken around the Montessori school at 10am. i can't remember ever shooting outside at 10am, but it worked!

in case you haven't noticed...i've been milking that lens flare lately.
my mom told me today that it makes my images look crappy, fuzzy, and low quality.
well...i'm pretty sold on lens flare. i realize it doesn't work for all shots, but if the sun is low enough i am definitely going to take a few shots shooting right into that ball of fire!

and on this note (or, photo), i leave you.
my apartment and autumn. merged and fused in a photograph.

Tanard, "T".

2009-11-21T12:36:00.000-08:00

i saw T at a basketball game a few weeks ago and figured i probably wouldn't meet someone this good looking again for a while. &so i asked to shoot him.

and here are the photos!

My new website was launched yesterday.
sararenee.com baby!

for some reason, i can not get the new site to upload on my computer.
i have tried: clearing my cookies and cache, restarting my router, restarting my computer, using different firefox and safari, etc. i was on the phone with my hosting company and he couldn't figure it out either. but i guess if it's working for ya'll then i'm ok with it.
but if you know why my old site comes up on my computer, please let me know. i want to see my site!

and also, i still have an innnnnssssaaaannneee new site coming, so this "new" site right now is kind of like a place holder. great things are on the way!

and speaking of great things, i went camping for the first time last night! heck yes!it was cold but i was not cold. we had a fire, cooked hot dogs on sticks, listened to the wind, watched the stars (which i really can't even see without my glasses on). i love being outside! i love the air and the sounds. mmm! makes me feel all feisty and alive.

my life has been completely non-stop lately.

i have been working, shooting, editing, rescuing kittens from my warehouse, camping, hiking, etc.

about the kittens- i've been hearing them meow for a week...so i went over the wall on the other side of my apartment and found them! it took some detective work, but there were three kittens in an old stove. they are now in a box in my room.

here's one:

teeeeny tiny!

if you want one and are local, let me know asap!

18 november 2009.

2009-11-18T14:51:00.000-08:00

today has been full! mainly because i woke up at 5:20am. which is a time that i would much rather stay up until, not wake up at.

i was in need of a new self-portrait for my website, and so we made these today! pretty fun. this is right down in front of my apartment. my friend jelly lelly and jeff helped (which you will see below). and these are the results!

i could envision these photos in my head before the shoot, and the pile of leaves made the perfect accent. what a nice surprise!

and now,
let us take a trip down memory lane...when i first got august (who is 4 months old now!)

these photos were taken today. he is pretty close to being too big for my lap.

i'm a 1.8 kind of girl.

2009-11-17T10:59:00.000-08:00

for these photographs...i used only the modeling light on my new alien bee and a silver reflector (on most) and my 85mm 1.8 with the stunning mark deuce.

mmm...i like taking photos.
all the humans pictured below are pretty great. some are my room-mates, some are my closest friends, and some business associates. it just so happens that they are all pretty good looking.

this past week i went fishing! it was so great. i caught a fish (named steve) and i realized that...i love being outdoors. so heck yes for that. i am a cowboy loving trail blazer and that's how it is going to be.

and since my life is so grand and adventurous, i am going to pen a memoir at some point. everything now is just record keeping/note taking.
here is a clip from an e-mail sent to a friend, explaining my memoir plan and providing some examples for material:

"
i went fishing for the first time today and caught a fish! unfortunately, it died before we could unhook it and throw it back in. i feel pretty terrible, like a murderer. a little fish murderer.

and this will get a short paragraph- i stop at a gas station with august (my pup) in my backseat with the windows down. i run in for a drink. come out and there is a crowd of three super rough looking bikers in black leather, metal studs, and wrinkly skin gathered around my car. and they are baby talking to august! like, their voices googly.
"aren't you just the prettiest pup i've ever seen? yes, you know it! you are such a good dog, so pretty..."
holy smokes, my teeth about fell out of my head because i was grinning so hard.

i caught a snake in the woods yesterday.
not memoir material, but still very cool.
"

his response to me was:
"
Reny,

I would read that book. Although I think you should include the snake catching sequence. Those little details are what build and contribute to the texture of life. Also the idea of catching a snake has so many metaphorical relationships that you can't not include it. It could be one of your epiphany scenes. You stand in the woods holding a snake looking into it's eyes and pondering life's choices. That's lyrical man!!
"

i'm figuring that i should wait another 15-20 years to maximize the experiences told in this memoir. and i'm using all real names in it too, so....think about that.

get outside today. show the cold your body heat and get off the trail. jump a fence. catch a snake.

something like this.

butterfly wings and nostril flares.

2009-11-11T17:57:00.001-08:00

so you have your different types of lighting...long/short loop, split, rembrandt, and then there is my favourite: butterfly. it's hard to get a perfect butterfly (what with the model moving-even the slightest bit and it's off centre), and usually ends up being a not-too-terrible blend of a butterfly and short loop.

there's something so...romantic and sexy about butterfly lighting. and it's so flattering! and serious.
it adds a solemn tone.
and it it what i have been feeling as of late.

with these 4 shots (of my incredibly handsome room-mate julian)...well...
i don't want to give anything away...but i have some schemes. everything in my brain is entirely illustrated. in real-time.
and i have shoot ideas.
and cigi has been in town and we just had a brainstorming tornado session for out future PSPP projects and they are HUGE! and insane! and you can all (all over the US) be a part of them.
...more news to come on that.

to conclude...i can't tell which is heavier: my mind or my eyelids.

but i have a funny story to end with:
coffee date. last night. when i arrived, they had already ordered their drink and were sipping it while sitting at the table. i ordered my hot apple cider and join them at the table. some time elapsed, and they confessed:
"i made sure to come early tonight because i don't like coffee and didn't want you to see me order a hot chocolate."
so funny to me! the word "cute" is for puppy dogs, but it was cute.

good-night, all over the world.

...working!

2009-11-05T12:58:00.000-08:00

some things about today:

1- my hair is super long in the back. really, not attractive at all. but i'm growing it out for the winter!
2- des and i got pedicures today. my feet are soft like a chubby toddler.
3- i am editing PSPP photos for the Flock. (they won't be up until Cigi revels them in a grand revelation kind of way).
4- cusp. i am on the cusp. i can't stay still! i have to move!
5- isn't this man pictured here super handsome?
6- from now until 730am, i will be awake and conscious. (no rest for the wicked!)
7- i am in such need for a killer website that it is shameful. but it is in the works! rome wasn't built overnight, eh?
8- i have received two insane mix cd's for this month. my ears are grinning.
9- people post waaaaay too personal of information on the internet in public forums. it's nasty and you should know better.

Lacuna Coil: Knoxville, TN.

2009-11-04T13:33:00.000-08:00

Last night I trekked up to Knoxville, TN to the Valarium to see my old buddy Ryan.
Ryan &I went to HS together in Germany, and I was able to stay with him out in Spokane, WA this summer. He's drum teching for a band called Lacuna Coil (pictured below) and they pretty rocking.

Photographing this show made me remember why I loved shooting shows so much...capturing light as they move and change colour...ughhh!! Yes please!

Check out Lacuna Coil if you get the chance. Big sweethearts straight from Italy.

2009-11-02T06:17:00.000-08:00

let's talk about life. right now.

i, sara renee murray, am a late bloomer. every day i shed my skin and get a littler taller. a little bigger. and i begin to think a little deeper.

douglas coupland wrote "life after God." i read it.
the book ends with this:

"
now- here is my secret:
i tell it to you with an openness of heart that i doubt i shall ever achieve again, so i pray that you are in a quiet room as you hear these words. my secret is that i need God-- that i am sick and can no longer make it alone. i need God to help me give, because i no longer seem to be capable of giving; to help me be kind, as i no longer seem capable of kindness; to help me love, as i seem beyond being able to love.
"

this book, which i recommend to anyone, is about our generation being the first generation raised without religion. and we have to reach the point where we recognize that we need God. i am recognizing that.

there are no big things in life. only little things that accumulate.
and i am so grateful for these little things. every time i recognize some evident truth in my life, i am floored. and amused. usually amused, then floored.

when i see a lady in the car next to me plucking her chin hairs, i am thankful that her windows aren't tinted and that she's not ashamed.
when a boy dressed in a onesie tells me i'm perfect- i am amused and grateful.
when i wake up and my living room is completely flooded with airy, liquid gold and i swim through it- i am floored.

(and so)
here is to: growing up and shedding skin.
running for the thrill of it!
being aware and grateful.

Halloween 2009.

2009-11-01T11:52:00.000-08:00

Halloween 2009.
was filled with Block Party, live snakes, fried oreos, people watching to the max, cowboy boots, flannel, moustaches, light sabers, and a few photos.

Pretty much the best Halloween I have ever experienced.
FACT!

May the force be with you.

Sara&Geoff Keel Wedding.

2009-10-29T00:00:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the wonderful world of weddings and magic and the colour green!

Sara and Geoff did an awesome job of planning their wedding. The ceremony and reception were held at (my favourite venue in town, ahem!) the Filauer Lake House which is gorgeous! (you'll see...)
The entire day went smoothly, which I suspect is because Sara was incredibly calm throughout the day.

I have one word for you and it is: beautiful.
BEAUTIFUL!

This wedding was an honour to be involved with, and I am grateful for Sara and Geoff for letting me photograph them!

And also to Jenny Orr, who assisted me with the wedding.