d e s i r e e h a i g h p h o t o g r a p h y

blog moved.

2009-11-12T23:28:00.000-08:00

sorry, you have reached my old blog.
visit:deshaighblog

xoxo

it's here!

2009-11-12T23:24:00.000-08:00

hello folks, the grand reveal is here!

please visit des haigh to see it in all its glory! and don't forget to update your bookmarks for the new blog as well.

yipee! yippee!

xoxo
d

surprise. surprise.

2009-10-28T09:32:00.000-07:00

{image source unknown}

well folks, there will not be any blogs posts here for a few. i've got a giant SURPRISE in store for you. that's where i've been and that's where i'll be until the grand reveal! i hope all is well and healthy in your world. feel free to drop me a comment or an email to keep me entertained, working alone is not my thang.

i'll eat you up i love you so.

2009-10-17T23:51:00.000-07:00

i got to see it. i cannot quite wrapped my head around what i loved and didn't love about it. let me know your thoughts. and i'll sleep on it.

(p.s. only one more to go, #15)

portrait

2009-10-08T14:36:00.000-07:00

jenni+erik

2009-10-06T20:02:00.000-07:00

first of all it is not that often that i get to shoot a tradition catholic wedding, let alone in my favorite church of all times. jennifer and erik were married in the extra lovely st. mark's cathedral, with a soloist singing ava maria and all! the lighting was beautiful, the getaway car was to die for and jennifer and erik were amazing.

all my best to you both!

and yet another thanks to sheila for taking me on these last two events.

jessi+chris

2009-10-06T19:57:00.001-07:00

another lovely summer wedding with the puget sound as the backdrop. jessi and chris were a pleasure to photograph. i must say that jessi had put together the best group of bridesmaids i have ever seen, they were attentive to her every need, from hair and make-up retouches to making sure she was hydrated through the scorcher of a day. and i have never heard a father talk so fondly and so highly about his beloved daughter than jessi's dad.

and you gotta love a grandma who still shoots with her trusty film camera!

fall at shabd

2009-10-06T11:31:00.000-07:00

i have been coveting her things for months now and now there is the new fall collection. *swoon* i might just have to save up some dollars and finally make a purchase...but what to choose. what. to. choose.

cause this is how 'she' rolls.

2009-09-23T19:04:00.000-07:00

sometimes it the simplest things that keep us entertained around here and let me tell you there is no lack of laughs here. i'd thought i share a few of lucy's new sayings:

-"that's the word on the street."
-"that's how i roll."
-"turn off your cheesy light show."
-"you must be kidding me!" (thanks to her cousin josh)
-and every occupation is described by adding an "er" to everything i.e.:
"i'm a make cookie-er"
"artmaker"
"cutter person"

she is a joy to be around and we are so blessed on a daily basis to be a witness to her lovely spirit and beautiful imagination.

{number 15} 3/5 of the way there

2009-09-23T16:44:00.000-07:00

well remember this little thing i put together the beginning of this year, well i finally have a time to check a few things off that i have completed....and take note of ones that have clearly slipped my mind.

i went on a fabulous girls weekend trip and saw district 9 with rhonda, not my kinda movie but entertaining in the retelling aspect. it gave us some good laughs nonetheless and if i ever see an alien i'll be sure to throw a can of cat food his way.
then there was ponyo. miyazaki's film about friendship, love and ham! i am a big fan of his movies and highly recommend it, as well as my favorite movie of his, totoro to anyone! we loved ponyo and made a family date out of it....theatre snacks and all! it was so great to see the wonder in lucy's eyes as she watched the film and to hear her act it out after wards. magic.

jesus, mary, gin & ginger

2009-09-19T15:17:00.000-07:00

i just celebrated my birthday and had a grand ol' time. this is my jesus year and i share the date with the blessed virgin mary, holy goodness! i celebrated my birthday day with all the fellows (and suji) in my life and had an awesome photoshoot in the woods! then it was me and the ladies on friday for dinner. the celebrating spanned a whole week, was filled with cupcakes and gifts, and ended with an 80's dance party at the can can with some good friends, sweet sounds and like the best outfits ever....as if!

thanks to all the loves of my life for making me feel so special, for making me laugh and for being the bestest friends a girl could wish for!

xoxo

wedded.

2009-09-18T17:38:00.000-07:00

this gorgeous couple got married out in poulbo at the lovely farm kitchen. it had all the right touches; from the cute chalkboard signs that welcomed you at the arbor, the vast array of handpicked dahlias that presented themselves throughout the sun filled event, to the delicate ribbons tied to the trees for the ceremony.

carl was the hit of the nite with his rap performance that he had prepared especially for his new bride. randee and carl are a special couple, their love beams. you two are magical!

and a big thanks to the ever gracious sheila addleman, who invited me to this wonderful wedding and brought beers for the ferry ride home! whadda gal!

mrs. o

2009-09-17T19:50:00.000-07:00

mrs. o is a fabulous, sexy blessing and i am sure that her partner will agree after seeing these! she was able to turn on the sweet and sexy like it was nothing! she took my breath away. mrs. o, you my dear are just plain rad! cheers to you darling!

xoxo

whoa! end of summer...

2009-09-17T18:36:00.000-07:00

well folks, i'm back and ready to catch you up on a pretty fantastic season, rock on weddings and a killer boudoir shoot but first i need to get you up to date on all the crazy fun we've been having this summer.

here it is in a nutshell...

lucy's first pride parade

a cabin getaway up in roslyn with dear friends

the chefs

girls weekend away to white salmon, with a pit stop at forever 21 for accessories.

guitar hero! yes, we rock it....okay odessa rocked it!

here's to wishing that fall is just as wonderful and fun filled as summer. so when the tan fades and school starts we can always look back and say, "this my friends, is how we rolled back in summer of '09!"

summer is always the new hot pink

2009-08-21T14:19:00.000-07:00

counting down the last days of summer? here, this should help. hot pink has been my best friend all summer long and now i can't seem to let go. what's your color? any suggestions that'll help me ease into fall, ugh...fall?

summer, thus far

2009-08-11T18:28:00.000-07:00

we have been toting around the beach bag everywhere and letting it take us where ever our little waterlogged hearts desire. lucy has join the heavenly spies in their pro-style sun tanning and hot pink hat brigade. we've been saturated with rainbow stripes, brightly colored nails, cupcakes, sparkles, sand cakes, beachin', swimming and friends, both old and new.

we also had the pleasure of taken a little vacation to one of the most magical places known to my family, the oregon coast. we had a wonderful time in manzanita as well as at short sands (our favorite beach...ever!), where dave got to surf and lucy learned to boogie board! she's even sporting her own new wetsuit.

we had a lovely time as a family, running the endless beach, combing for treasures and loving eachother immensely.

we have also learned that although lucy is quite the beach bum, she is not a fan of nautical creatures and wants to make sure that her hands steer clear from them at all times. no more tides pools, for a long while, cute little jelly fish or not.

i do have a problem.

2009-08-10T14:52:00.000-07:00

if any of you that know me, have gone camping with me, have sat at a bonfire with me, have seen a video of me at a fourth of july celebration that involves a fire pit and 6hrs of footage of me roasting marshmallows and sandwiching them between two graham crackers and chocolate...you know that i love S'MORES! i have been challenged in a s'mores eating contest and others, well, didn't know the s'mores consumption would happen so fast and gave in. i have a problem that i am well aware of and so okay with! s'mores have had me at "hello".

so in honor of, yes!, national s'mores day, i will be wholeheartedly celebrating (and sneaking a peanut butter cup in there every so often) and loving the ooey gooeyness of it all!

wedding entrance, what?!

2009-07-23T17:06:00.000-07:00

a wedding entrance that will truly knock your socks off. i wish i was this clever at my wedding since this would have fulfilled my inner solid gold dancer. hats off to this st. paul, minnesota couple may their lives be filled with this much joy and pa-bow! always.

{holga} wedding

2009-07-08T20:20:00.001-07:00

here are a few of my favorite holgas from erin and eric's wedding.

matchbox pinhole

2009-07-06T17:27:00.001-07:00

dave and i made ourselves a set of matchbox pinhole cameras and had some fun on our way to brother's house for a little post 4th of july bbq. the two of us managed to get our older nephew and his girlfriend to make their own as well. we developed 4 rolls of film in one day yet only paid for 1, the wallgreen's one hour photo guy kept thinking he had messed up our prints (even though we explained to him our little experiment, can't beat free photos)... so it was a great way to end a weekend.

here are a few of my photos, i use slide film and had it crossed-processed and i think i'm sticking with it. we will be working out a few kinks on our next cameras and hopefully by the end of the summer we'll have somewhat perfected our skills.

{wedding} erin + eric

2009-07-04T09:12:00.000-07:00

erin and eric were married on a gorgeous day in jackson hole. i thoroughly enjoyed meeting the both of them and was blown away by their kindness, compassion and energy. erin was easily the most relaxed and warm hearted bride i have ever met. they were married on a private residence in tucker ranch, which made for a wonderful backdrop for the entire day.

{details} erin +eric the rehearsal

2009-07-03T14:47:00.000-07:00

erin and eric had a lovely rehearsal at the lazy moose ranch, a vast property with stunning views and classic western charm. the dimly lit ranch house and details were hard to stray away from and the skies, well, they speak for themselves. this place is so charming that the horses came by for a little love and a deer made an appearance for the guests. it was a great way to welcome out of towners and prepare them for the wedding the next day.

and a great big thanks to carrie, for allowing me the opportunity to share in the richness of jackson hole.

erin+eric

2009-06-30T23:42:00.000-07:00

sneak peek of a beautiful jackson hole wedding.

ms. l

2009-06-25T20:19:00.000-07:00

ms. l is a doll, a classy vintage kinda gal. her session was ah-maz-ing! i have never photographed someone who has such a sense of self, direction and a natural following light (which she thanks antm for teaching her). ms. l is a lovely painter, a kind spirit and brought it to her shoot! thank you for letting me share these, it was so hard to choose. you are simply sweet.

the end of an era

2009-06-25T16:38:00.000-07:00

the saddest new broke today that two beloved icons have been made eternal gold stars in hollywood heaven. i was a charlie's angel in first grade, making sure my mom got my hair to feather in perfection and posed in every photo like it was the red carpet.

and as far as the king of pop goes..whew! if you only knew the depth of it all. i carried photos of him in my wallet at the age of 6, wore a sparkly glove for a good year of my young life, taped pictures to my walls and choreographed dances with my friends until the street lights came on. i practiced my mj dance moves like no one's business in hopes of being able to perform them for my parents and our guests, which happened often.

so on this day of epic celebrity saddness, i leave you with a favorite video in honor of showing a little respect to a era. forever gone.

jackson hole, wy

2009-06-25T10:11:00.000-07:00

{photo via carrie patterson blog}

i am gearing up to shoot a fabulous wedding with the lovely and talented carrie patterson, we met at blend and immediately hit it off. so well in fact, i think we talked more than we slept! i am looking forward to seeing the beauty of wyoming and to working with such an amazing, recognized photographer.

before i leave i will be leaving you with one more boudoir post, so stay tuned and be prepared to take in some sweet hotness!

ms. r

2009-06-18T17:49:00.000-07:00

i had the pleasure of doing a little boudoir session with a few super sexy gals. for those of you who don't know me personally, this type of photography is where my heart is, its what made me passionate about photography in the first place. this was the first shoot in a long time like this and i must say i am once again in love.

i want to thank the sassy ms. r for a wonderful time, the sexiest outfits ever and for bringing it! thank you so much for letting me share these, you are beautiful and my dear, you effin' rock!

(disclaimer: these are not okay to view if you have a corporate cubical job in which "the man" says that looking at XXX is a distraction and does not help with workflow or if you're a prude and can't handle sexy independent women who know how to flaunt their s*%$. this will be the only warning for boudoir photos, EVER!)

...

jon & james

2009-06-14T15:39:00.000-07:00

jon and james both graciously modeled for a wedding shoot. they did an amazing job and looked fabulous to boot. here are some of the highlights.

now that several of these shoots are done, here is to moving forward to bringing you a fresh new exciting site and *fingers crossed* new blog. so stay tuned and sending healthy, productive work vibes my way.

happy weekend!

2009-06-12T16:23:00.000-07:00

who could ever image that tie dye could look so freakin' good? i have a fond memory of it as one of my favorite apartment managers (back in college) used to always wear a tie dyed shirt while working around the building and it always brought a smile to my face. but this takes it so a whole 'nother level

the designer is shabd-simon alexander, her label is shabdismyname she is making some awesomeness. be sure to check out the goods and hopefully get a little inspiration to knot, rubberband, and dunk something into perfection!

have a great weekend, we are headed to the mountains for the evening. electronics free!
stay tuned for a lovely wedding post on monday.
xoxo

{smitten} james + jon

2009-06-11T20:05:00.000-07:00

i must say that i am blessed to know the people i do and to have beautiful people surround me. james and jon are no exception to that, they are a lovely sweet couple who are in style and in love! both of which suit them.

i had the opportunity to work with them and see their adoration first hand. we had a wonderful time checking out ballard and then headed out to golden gardens for a little fun in the tall grasses. (that shoot will soon follow)

thanks to you james + jon for a beautiful time and letting your love shine!

i want to move this wall and put it in my house! it is the best wall i have ever seen.

how sweet are they? charming.

gilmores

2009-06-09T22:04:00.000-07:00

so these guys are a favorite of mine, they have the most magical, storybook children i have ever met or photographed. we headed out to the lovely discovery park for a beautiful sunset shoot. this post is a doozie as it was hard to edit all the wonderful things that i adore about this family.

trisha owns a fabulous children's store, retroactive kids, here in the city. as you can tell she has an eye for vintage finds and styles her family perfectly.

seriously, check out her dress...swoon!

could this be any more perfect?

one of my faves.
thank you guys for another unforgettable experience, you are all such sweethearts and your family is to die for!

tide pools and bffs

2009-06-05T23:12:00.000-07:00

today was super low tide at the sound so we headed over to check out the tide pools and hunt for sea creatures, shells, and any other toddler fascinations. lucky for us there where a ton of big kids picking up crabs and showing us where to find the good stuff. lucy brought her collection jar to put her special finds in and managed to fill it before we left, we now have quite the rock and shell collection.

and now for the good stuff! this is lucy with her best friend evan, they have hit it off since day one (literally), they just love the heck out of each other and they seem to come up with some of the funniest things ever.

so here they are, miss bffs!

what girl doesn't want a best friend like this?

lucy wasn't too happy with walking through the tide pools and having her shoes get wet and dirty, so evan gave her some much needed love. she then turned to lucy and said, "i gave you a little love so what's the problem?"

these two are perfection! i couldn't possibly love them any more than i do!

featured!

2009-05-27T21:03:00.000-07:00

big big thanks to kat from rock n roll bride for the esession love! if you haven't seen her blog yet be sure to check it out there is a lot of great inspiration and some of the loveliest weddings i have seen, plus a whole category dedicated to tattooed brides.

{wedded} fiona+randy

2009-05-25T22:01:00.000-07:00

thankyouthankyouthankyou! for being so totes ridic and stunning!

note: this is blog post 100! yeah! oh, and most of these images and the ones below were almost all done in camera, so there actions!

{smitten}fiona+randy

2009-05-25T21:53:00.001-07:00

fiona + randy are fabulous friends of mine who let me have my way with them and in turn gave me the best photo shoot of my life! so good in fact that my picky older brother went through the photos and said that this session was life affirming. yea, its that good!

thank you fiona, you are a doll and are so gorgeous.
thank you randy, i am so lucky to have you as part of my family.
xoxo

{castaways} electric

2009-05-20T22:35:00.000-07:00

the castaways put on yet another fabulously electrifying show! be sure to reserve seat for this one as the last few shows have been sold out! and there is a surprise ending that will surely put a smile on your face and give your heart a little giggle.

the can can
saturdays 7:30 + 10:30

perkins

2009-05-20T20:29:00.000-07:00

a beautiful sunny day at greenlake made for a fun session with a billy, denise and kate. and not to mention, a great to tucker little kate out, who quickly put herself to sleep upon our return home. brilliant!

thanks you guys for showing me around your neighborhood and for being so easy and fun to work with.

skov family

2009-05-20T20:21:00.000-07:00

just a little peek of this wonderfully hilarious family! you guys were a blast to meet and if you ever wanna grab a drink one evening, i'm your gal! thanks for sharing your family, your pets, and your laughter!

color inspiration

2009-05-19T20:09:00.000-07:00

{image via ffffound!}

{image via artmoco}
{image via lobster and swan}

{image via vanity fair}

reason 01: why i heart seattle

2009-05-14T11:35:00.000-07:00

{image source unknown}

i've decided to start a new little category here on the ol' blog, a seattle one. after much consideration of whether is should be about bakeries or favorite finds, 'seattle' fits the bill. here's to number one and counting...

the mighty o donut, vegan organic + delicious, you can't even tell they're dairy free. it makes working at victrola (my office of choice) all day a bit more doable!

three.

2009-05-10T09:51:00.000-07:00

happy birthday sweet bean!
you're the best ever.
xoxo.

lovely weekend + happy mom's day

2009-05-08T13:45:00.000-07:00

this weekend will be filled with celebration, lucy will turn three on mother's day! it will be a weekend dedicated to miss bean, after all she made it all possible. above are some party favors her + i made together using some of her wonderful paintings that i have saved. she glued them onto cardstock and i did the rest, i think they look perfect! lucy also requested giving her friends animal crackers, the kind in the circus box, (request granted). i am looking forward to a weekend loaded with toddler giggles, bubbles, family, friends, cupcakes, brunch + JT on snl!

i hope all you moms (and moms to be) out there have a wonderful day of being appreciated, sunshine and whatever it is that floats your fancy!

big love!

barbara cole

2009-05-06T14:04:00.000-07:00

{photo via barbara cole site}

if you have received the latest anthropologie catalouge then your eyes had the pleasure of feasting themselves upon the beautiful work of barbara cole. i am just dumbfounded by the beauty, the light, the colors and the (fill in the blank). her work is nothing short of perfection!

tulip festival

2009-05-05T12:58:00.000-07:00

here are some photos from our trip to the tulip festival, we had a wonderful time even though it drizzled a bit and we were unable to ride our bikes. we found an old school bus to play on and lots of old barns to photograph (i'll post photos some later). i even managed to get lucy to pose for a few portaits for her birthday, which is this weekend! can you guess how old she's gonna be?

marika

2009-04-29T15:32:00.000-07:00

my sweet friend marika will be welcoming her new little boy sometime this may, i had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with her and dana (then we headed to lunch at the 35th st. bistro, super yummy + super fantastic fries!)

marika + dana were full of laughs, cuddles, + sweet moments. it was a special day and i look forward to meeting the little guy + to finally finding out his name. thanks to marika for letting me share the photos + a big thanks to dana for going along with everything + creating inspiration!

can can

2009-04-29T14:52:00.000-07:00

the castaways made their last 'aerobotron' performance last saturday, which was by far my favorite show to date. if you haven't made it to a performance their new show 'electric' opens this saturday, it's going to be more entertaining than you can wrap your mind around.

thanks to faggedy randy for the invite and to patrick for the absinthe.

we . heart. him.

have a lovely light filled weekend

2009-04-24T14:17:00.000-07:00

{photo via flickr}

this weekend i will packing some film + shooting my heart out. i hear film calling my name + am contemplating a return back to where my heart is. i will be sure to keep you posted. this week has been about new branding and imaging, i keep returning back to soft muted colors and lovely images like the one above...and somehow being able to incorporated them into a logo that i will be happy with, is sort of a hurdle i can't jump. oh, the joys + struggles of branding. i will keep you posted on that as well.

i will return monday with a maternity shoot to share. this weekend is filled with friends, food + of course a cupcake here and there! the sun is out, the blossoms have bloomed + the sky is blue. all is well, now.

katie+martin

2009-04-20T21:51:00.000-07:00

katie + martin are friends of ours and our houses are within a tin can telephone distance away. katie recently had a babyshower in which she asks guests to bring recycled gifts, whether is be clothing, toys, strollers or blankets, it had to be previously loved by another. what a wonderful idea, huh?! and successful i might add.

katie + martin did an fantasic job, they were playful and loving...everything you'd want your parents to be. martin blew me away with his glances a katie throughout the day, it was hard to tell who was beaming more. congrats to the both of you, lucy and i will be looking forward to spending the afternoons at the farmer's market with you and your new baby.

doily beauties

2009-04-20T14:27:00.000-07:00

on my father's side there has been a long lived tradition of crocheting, which i think, sadly ends with me but i will be sure to teach lucy when she if she ever chooses to do so. i have always been a fan of doilies ever since i was a child, they made great pretend pancakes, the delicated way they would hang off the edge of a table always delighted me or how easy it was to make a vase a little prettier by simply placing a doily underneath seem to amaze me. i have now been inspired to have bits of nostalgia scattered around my house to remind me of simple beauty and to be thankful for my fore-mothers and the lessons they have left behind.

i found a few images that are providing me with some inspirations to create, i forgot to save the resource info but i believe i just googled 'doily crafts'.

the imaginary friend

2009-04-18T11:47:00.000-07:00

jana vitols and her partner greg are the children's music duo 'the imaginary friend '. they are both music teachers and have a passion for sharing their knowledge with with children of all ages. they will be performing in the future at local libraries, festivals and parties, be sure to keep your eye out and ear open for them as they are a hoot to play with and are quite the performers!

holga joy

2009-04-13T21:01:00.000-07:00

i finally got my holga to work with me and not against me. i am overjoyed! these aren't the best quality images as they are scans from prints, which are more cost efficient for my experimenting, they are crisp and clear in real life, but, whew, what a relief to finally get a decent image out of my camera.

hoppy sunday day

2009-04-13T08:41:00.000-07:00

we had a wonderful day yesterday frolicking in the rain. our plans to visit the flea markets were weather dependent so we let loose and let our whim be our guide. we started off at magic mouse toys where miss l. was allowed to spend a little easter cash, her choices: a lemur and a flashlight with 5 different images to project on the wall, my choice: magic tree (in sunny yellow), dave's: zero gravity fridge rover. we stopped for a little lunch.

then we headed south to kidnap the brother without a plan in mind. we drove around tacoma and found the house above, wowzers!, those cars where parked next to said house. easter extravaganza times 100! we had the streets to ourselves and stopped at our leisure to take photos where ever the urge hit. in front of lion statues, billboards, where ever. i then spotted this cute little bakery while making many illegal tacoma u-turns...living on the edge i say! corina, is a super sweet bakery that'll make your eyes crazy with all its baked goodness! i got the red velvet, brother got the hummingbird cake, lucy-two mini cupcakes + dave just stole bites here + there. d e l i c i o u s!! next time i think i'll get the banana pudding that was whispering sweet nothings in my ear.

on the drive home we spotted a rainbow, lucy's first. in the back seat she exlaimed, "i've been looking for one of those!" it was a perfect rainy seattle sunday!

say whaaat??

have a lovely weekend

2009-04-10T18:29:00.000-07:00

i am leaving you with a set of photos from lucy's ever growing portfolio! i will be back on the holga this weekend with a few new tips and ideas up my sleeve. sunday is family day! flea markets, thai food and treats, my favorites with my favorite people.

enjoy the spring and the weekend!

tulip festival

2009-04-09T15:36:00.000-07:00

{image via source unknown}

the skagit county tulip festival is now in bloom. it is a wonderful way to spend the day and if you're up for it you can bring your bike and ride your way around the tour. we always eat at the calico cupboard cafe and bakery in la connor. beware that everything is delicious and their dessert case will tempt you with more than you can handle and will beg you to take treats home!

we will be heading out next weekend with our best friend aaron but its all i can think about to keep me going till then.

...

*{update} p.s. tulip lovers, the tulips have not yet blossomed, said the news, and won't be bloomin' for another 2 weeks or so! our crazy winter weather that has made its way into spring has caused an uproar in the tulip community and the flowers will bloom when they feel like it. so needless to say the tulips are on strike!!*

goodbyes + fresh starts

2009-04-07T16:31:00.001-07:00

one of my dearest friends, odessa and her family moved away recently but before they did we got a family session in, on a sunny day nonetheless. odessa has been one of my closest allies on the road of motherhood, geographically and at heart, she will be dearly missed. fortunately its not all bad, her and her family moved to a desirable vacation spot and will be working at the family inn, just 4 hours away. we have already planned a little girls weekend getaway and the family and i are planning a winter trip out there in hopes of getting a few crossed of the list and visiting our friends at their new home.

we love you guys! {and can we talk about japhia and those eyes! swoon!}

{test} holga

2009-04-07T13:51:00.000-07:00

i've been trying out my holga, the results are all over the place with my recent one. so far i've come to the conclusion that it likes: cloudy days over sunny days, it prefers fuji film, it needs the cardboard underneath the film holders, it likes to have its batteries taped in and is partial to light leaks...but not the cool ones, it is very picky on what it like to focus on or has a slow shutter and likes to expose itself for not apparent reason (he tends to like to go backless).

that being said, i am heading out this weekend with my friend, lark (who is a wonderfully, talented bookmaker) to take pictures of seattle for her thesis. we will be toting along our trusty (or not so trusty) holgas for the adventure, so if any of you have any handy holga tips, please please pass them along other wise it'll be yet another surprise roll!

finn's first birthday

2009-04-06T19:54:00.000-07:00

our wonderful friends celebrated their son's 1st birthday on saturday. as a trade for haircuts i photograph the heck outta whatever rhonda wants. it was a beautiful sunny day(finally) and we all throughly enjoyed the dante's inferno dogs cart, with all you can eat hot dogs, chips and sodas. i must say it was one fine day, that dante sure knows how to make a crowd happy and can you really go wrong when host has 3 cakes to offer!

(be sure to check out the cake stands in the collage, rhonda made them herself with a few treasures from the thrift store)

happy friday

2009-04-03T14:04:00.000-07:00

i just received this beautiful book! it is a great inspiration for anyone interested in wedding photography, full of information from equipment to valuable insight from some of the best in the industry. my favorites: jose villa and elizabeth messina are featured along with other amazing photographers i have yet to discover. you can pick it up here.

hope your weekend is filled with beauty and sunshine, lots of sunshine. (seattle needs to get out of this grey funk already!)

BLENDed.

2009-03-29T17:53:00.000-07:00

{the beautiful parsons}

i had a wonderful time at BLEND. the whole workshop was amazing, three full days of genius, sun + some of the most humble people in the industry. i couldn't have asked for a better first time workshop experience: i got the best roomate in the world (and a friend for life), i ended it all with the big JV himself and on our last evening it snowed...beauty in the high desert!

i learned, what have could have taken me a lifetime to learn, in just 3 days. every instructor was an open book sharing the path that lead them to where they are today, all extremely different in almost every aspect. it was nice to be able to take from each class a whole new look on life, photography and business.

i will never forget this experience and am so grateful (beyond measure) to have had this opportunity. the BLENDees where all such great people and what we shared in this past week was nothing short of magic!

above are some shots from my shoot with jose and below are of his lovely assistant lacie hansen.

here's to crossing off number 5!

smittened

2009-03-21T22:42:00.001-07:00

i just got these photos of my father (the blond in the middle) as child with his brothers. my goodness the trouble they must have been + they were all sweet on the eyes as they got older, i bet they had all the ladies swooning!

aren't old photos the best? for me it just doesn't get any better!

i'll be roaming the deserts of santa fe

2009-03-20T14:21:00.000-07:00

{images via encantado}

happy friday to you all! its a little bittersweet at the homestead, i am excited for this wonderful opportunity but am torn about leaving my family for a week, this is my first solo trip, in like, forever! but i guess when you're staying at an amazing resort you really can't complain. i will try and keep you posted with updates as the week goes on, but no promises as i'm not too sure what i have in store ahead of me. wish me luck!

$27.99

2009-03-19T20:31:00.000-07:00

{image source unknown}

i am gearing up for santa fe, the blend group looks like a bunch of fun kids from all over the place, including australia! it should be an amazing experience + i'm looking forward to making some new friends, taking a ton of photos + lots of creative magic. for the workshop i'll be packing up my holga with me in hopes of starting a little project i have in mind (its a surprise for dave). check out some great photos here + if your not so tech savvy and just want great photos this toy camera is worth its weight in plastic.

happy st. patty's day

2009-03-17T14:45:00.001-07:00

although i'm a vegatarian, no corn beef and cabbage and won't be drinking green beer, i will be eating french food and drinking wine with the ladies tonite. hope you all have a wonderful st. patty's day...and a drink one for me!

cheers!

well wish thanks

2009-03-13T11:10:00.000-07:00

thanks to those who sent healing love + light my way (and now my family's way). i am on the mend finally + have gathered all my marbles! it was a butt kicking week + i am looking forward to getting out and enjoying a little sunshine this weekend.

i will be second shooting a wedding on saturday at beautiful venue that i hope to share with you all soon. but i leave you with nothing but love and thanks + send you off to enjoy a weekend full of laughter...and *fingers crossed* a cupcake (or two).

xo(cough)xo

{f} the flu

2009-03-10T10:30:00.000-07:00

i am barely able to type so this will be short. i am o-u-t, out with the worst flu i have ever had in my entire life. i cannot do a thing, i surprised myself by actually turning on the computer. this sucks! i will take all well wishes that are sent my way!

till another day, my friends.

happy friday, finally.

2009-03-06T11:19:00.000-08:00

hope you all have a glorious weekend! i am getting over some horrible sickness that hit me like a brick wall. so to lift my spirits + yours, i am leaving you with a photo that lucy took.

be sure to take a peek at all the finished mobiles from the elsie marley swap, there are some fantastic ones. i am secretly crossing my fingers that mine with show up today, in hopes of making me feel a little bit better.

happy friday!

guilty pleasure

2009-03-02T14:24:00.000-08:00

it's no secret that i'm a fan of reality t.v., we fortunately don't have cable so i am limited to my choices, but i have been following this season's the bachelor. tonite is the season finale and there is a dramatic turn of events that is suppose to shock the begeezers out of the audience! i could give you the whole rundown of why this is all so crazy + like no other season before it but then i would be embarrassed by how much information i have actually accumulated on the subject, and that my friends, is what's shocking.

here's to the most dramatic season finale- dun dun dun!- e v e r.

any guesses on the twist? your pick?

fresh

2009-03-02T11:46:00.001-08:00

miss baby h. was welcomed into the world last nite. the brother's family is all home, warm + happy. baby h. is well + weighed in at 9.9lbs, she is surrounded by her siblings, and really who wouldn't want more of these faces running around the place (that's her little older brother below).for reference sake, these are my almost three year old's dirty feet next to her fresh baby cousin's, with whom she is c o m p l e t e l y smitten with! and that's to put it lightly! congrats, to the brother's family + here's to several more years of slumber parties, late nite laughter + sweet baby smells!

{smitten} jenine+tommy

2009-03-01T14:31:00.000-08:00

let's start off by saying that they have a family tradition that usually involves taking photos like this:
which i love. i knew that i would have fun with these two but i also knew that i had my work cut out for me. jenine + tommy met when she was 19 (although she still looks it), moved to several different parts of the country, settled in seattle + will be getting married in hawaii this winter. i enjoyed getting to know them + it was a blast to take in their youthful energy....and seriously, could a girl be any cuter?

life can be a blurhappy weekend

2009-02-26T18:59:00.001-08:00

i'm signing out a bit early this week. i'm tired. i want sushi...and dim sum. so in hopes of having a little free time with the family and enjoying a weekend of doing nothing (but really doing everything) i am leaving you with a photo from a little outing with miss l to the kubota japanese gardens.

she likes it it was meant to be

2009-02-25T16:37:00.000-08:00

a little horn tootin'. this is what my swap partner had to say about the mobile i made for her.

"Eek! I hate to disappoint everyone, but this beauty is mine all mine! Thank you from the bottom of my heart, {des}, it's absolutely gorgeous and even better in person. So delicate. So creative.Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

-kindred crafters
(sara)
...
all is said + done. she likes it, really likes it! i found it was quite humorous when she posted a sneak peek of her mobile for the swap, i could hardly contain myself. we have similar styles both in aesthetics and in photo taking, i mean just look at our mobiles together (hers, the mushrooms + mine) they both come from a magical, enchanted place. so sweet + simple.

i must say that my first swap is an almost complete success (i'm still waiting for mine), i am happy that i did good + i can only hope that i got one coming with me written all over it! i want to thank elsie marley for all the hard work she put into making this happen.

sweet sleepover

2009-02-23T15:14:00.000-08:00

this weekend we had a house full of liveliness, screeches + laughter. the brother's family is expecting a new addition sometime within the next week (or so), so we had the kids over for a sleepover, sans the eldest.

we had a wonderful time exploring + hunting for treasures, which we in turn made in to glittery goodness and everyone incorporated them into their very on mobile. (sorry no pics of those) we discovered hollow trees, touched the velvety moss, carefully checked out mushrooms, danced, jumped on beds, made shadow puppets (a long lived crazy tradition), fed imaginary penguins, ate chocolate popcorn, ran down the hallway in various ways + just had fun!

we are lucky to be surrounded by such love + creativity, + blessed to be family to boot!

happy weekend

2009-02-20T13:22:00.000-08:00

sometimes being married to a photographer means late nite shoots with nothing in mind but having fun + seeing what happens. i'm not a big fan of post-image processing but have a sweet spot for vintage photos + muted colors, so here's to experimenting + calling it best straight outta the camera!

hope the sun is shining wherever you may be + have a beautiful weekend. i have a date with a toddler girl on saturday, steamed milk with honey + modern dance...what a dream!

{smitten} carly + bryan

2009-02-16T20:47:00.000-08:00

yesterday i had yet another wonderful engagement session, down by the waterfront. you meet people in life that possess that joie de vie, that zest for life + love- carly + brian are those people. i had the pleasure of hanging out with them + hearing about their wonderful adventures together thus far. they will be getting married in the fall + i can only imagine what magic lies ahead for them both.

{smitten} shannon + leo

2009-02-14T21:31:00.000-08:00

today i had a wonderful engagement session with shannon + leo, who will be tying the knot in the fall. these two where a joy, when rockstar meets hot mama! shannon has gorgeous eyes that just smile. we had ourselves some good laughs and let leo come up with a few ideas of his own. guess which are his!

happy valentine

2009-02-13T16:47:00.000-08:00

wishing you all a wonderful weekend + vday no matter how you choose to spend it. for last minute valentines visit b mine from kate spade there are lots of sweet lovelies for your love.

{link via cup of jo|image via gabriela camerotti}

holy yikes!

2009-02-11T18:01:00.000-08:00

okay, let me catch my breath! i have just reserved my spot for this fantabulous workshop! i can hardly believe that there were any spaces left, with this line-up and opportunity. the best part, as if jose villa (um, he's my favorite!) wasn't enough, i get to stay here! i am so excited.

i am so grateful to have this chance, after being at home for the past three years to focus on being the best mom i can be to lucy, there are no words to express just how much this really means to me!

so fancy shoe s + all...new mexico here i come!

bye bye mobile

2009-02-09T14:50:00.001-08:00

all packed. shipped. waiting to arrive at the doorstep of its owner. i must say the corner where the mobile was hanging feels bare but soon my mobile will arrive + hang in the same spot with pride.

{elsie marley moblie swap}

color me magic

2009-02-09T14:28:00.001-08:00

friday nite we headed over to queen anne to have dinner with friends + noticed this beautiful park in the heart of lower queen anne. i about jumped outta my socks + stopped the car but we were running short on time on the way to dinner, the lighting at dusk was the perfect photo opt but we still managed to get some great shots and have a little fun on the way home. its called counterbalance park + despite the frigid weather there were a bunch of people having fun with the lighted backdrop + some sitting on the park benches enjoying a cup of coffee. the lights actually travel along the park wall, it feels very aquatic, magical.

and following tradition whenever we drive to queen anne, we always make a point to drive pass the pink elephant car wash, one of miss l's favorite landmarks. this one spins unlike the one by our house, so its pretty special to her + as we drive pass by lucy always waves goodbye and asks if he's sad to see her go + why. this time we got to stop and get up close to take in the neon goodness.

{the list} number o7

2009-02-09T14:07:00.000-08:00

number o7

well fancy enough for me since these days especially, i've been sporting clogs + uggs (which are warm + cozy but just aren't me). as an anniversary gift, dave took me shopping- he's getting a kick checking things off the list. the shoes are both jeffery campbell, a local ex-nordstrom's shoe salesman turned designer. i love the vintage look of each and the price was right for the pocketbook (a little under $300 for both!) plus they are the perfect height so i don't tower over the mister. the booties have a removable bow, i was informed during my purchase that the bow is the new power symbol for the year (thanks to aretha's hat), so watch out seattle!

mobile swap 2oo9

2009-02-08T22:03:00.001-08:00

my mobile is a-l-l done! it will be lovingly package and sent to its rightful owner, who doesn't know its hers! be sure to check out elsie marley for updates on the mobile swap 2oo9 + be sure to check out the flickr group for photos of finished pieces throughout the month.

here's the scoop on mine. my partner requested earth tones + reds which sat really well with me. i went through a couple different processes, balloons covered in starched twine (in which the balloons where then popped) hung on the same string covered twigs, fabric in the same starchy mixture formed and dried. i am happy to say that i love the final piece. its muslin dipped in beeswax and then formed into organic shapes, some of the pieces have a crimson watercolored edge. its much smaller than the photos make it out to be and has a simple delicate feel. now i just have to write a little note and send this mobile...out of the country, hhmm??!

{the list} number 21

2009-02-06T16:00:00.001-08:00

number 21
our trip to hiroki was on a typical grey seattle day but boy, did it make it sweeter! it is a quaint little bakery in the heart of tangletown, full of sweet smells and quietness, we had a hard time deciding . there was this honey cheese mango torte that was all sorts of beautiful golds + yellows just calling my name but i was veered in another direction. luckily, hiroki was there to help guide us in our dessert trance. we went with the haupia + guava cake, green tea matcha tiramisu (the house specialty) and hiroki's favorite, the gateau basque. all were great choices, the coconut flavor in the haupia was very faint (like i imagine traditional haupia to be) and the guava overpowered what was there, miss l. seemed to disagree and ate it all without any complaints. the basque was delicious and the sweet crunchy top added to the delicate sweetness of the cake. the tiramisu was exactly what i dreamt of, it was light, fluffy + just the right amount of matcha, making it perfect. i couldn't choose between the tiramisu and the gateau basque and then decieded that i didn't have to choose, they were both equally delightful in their own way.

hiroki encouraged us to come back for a visit on the weekend, when they fill their second case with pastries and other baked goods. he was very kind + seemed to have the knowledge of fine french delights with an asian twist.

{the list} number 16

2009-02-06T15:48:00.000-08:00

number 16

they are here, my moo cards...and sooo worth the wait! these are my new business cards but i can already can tell that i'm gonna have a hard time giving them away, so i see another order in the very near future. the quality is great and it was nice to see things in print that have only had a life in a file folder.

chocolate mountain escape with a circus girl

2009-02-05T15:28:00.000-08:00

we had a little overnite trip up in the mountains over these past couple days. on our way up, we stopped by the boehm's chocolate factory to see what it was all about, for future valentine's day reference, they have the best chocolate covered marshmallow hearts e v e r! lucy also gave us a little show, she's in circus school now so we get all sort of entertainment these days. she's quiet the tight rope walker + trampoline jumper.

...

i am also 1/5 of the way to making number 15 a reality. the mister + i went to see revolutionary road on monday. we both liked it + thought it had an open and honest take on life, very telling. it was emotional, sometimes draining but one of the best real movies we've seen in a while.

checking in but really checking out

2009-02-04T19:25:00.000-08:00

we are just having too much fun over here with d. on vacation this week. i have a few things to share (hopefully within the next couple days), i will be able to check a few things off the list, but that means photos need to be uploaded and thoughts need to be had- and right now i'm just happy eating chocolate cake + having a toddler direct all of our imaginary play.

BFF

2009-01-30T20:33:00.000-08:00

i love love love you more than i did 6 years ago

the mister + i will be celebrating our anniversary on groundhog's day (monday!). dave + i had a whirlwind courtship: we went out, fell in love + got engaged all in a matter of 3 days. we married 9 months later. i never felt the need to get married nor did i ever think i would be someone's mom but there is no other person i could have done this with other than him. so while the rest of you will be wondering whether punxsatwaney phil will see his shadow or not, i will be hanging with my bbf!

have a wonderful weekend!

...
dear david,
thank you for being. i love seeing you walk
through the door every evening. i love that you're the first
(okay, second)
voice i hear every day. the way you make our little girl
laugh is one of the most wonderful things i have seen + heard.
you're still the best + although time doesn't allow the luxuries
we once had, know that you, my dear, are my love.

with all the fondness ever,
des

georgetown: cookies and blue sky

2009-01-29T23:00:00.000-08:00

{two tartes bakery wccc cookie}

yesterday my new friend sheila and i went to georgetown, to hunt down locations for future shoots. i must say i was smitten at the site of a large white chocolate chip chocolate cookie, blue sky + sunshine. i had fun exploring through maze of all the industrial buildings both old and new, moss covered walls and parts of a plastic skeleton scattered around the area. AND there is the corson building , a quaint + charming restaurant where dinner is $90 a head....hmm my head is spinning. ever been?

sweet heart smiles

2009-01-29T14:01:00.000-08:00

this beautiful video is making the blog rounds but i just had to share. if i could marry a video it would look + sound a lot like this. the lovely song is her morning elegance by oren lavie. it'll make your heart swell. i can only hope that this is why our sheets are always a tangled mess in the morning!

{via mustard and sage + black*eiffel }

year of the ox

2009-01-26T10:50:00.000-08:00

happy chinese new year! this is one of the many reasons why i love living in seattle. wishing you all good health, luck and fortune.

when snow falls cozy things are being made

2009-01-25T16:33:00.000-08:00

i need a little something to do on this hot cocoa kinda day. now my dayplanner, sketch book, pens, lotions and first aid kit all have a cozy home of their own. and i, in turn, have a less cluttered bag in spite of the leftover snack bits, wrappers, rocks, flowers and whatever other unidentified treasures the toddler stashes in there. oh, the days when i wasn't an owner of a 'mom bag'!

the goodie pouch was put together with some cashmere scraps i had lying around, making digging in my bag a more delightful, textural experience, the lining is from the joel dewberry's ginseng collection. the book cozy was made with some wool that i found one day while thrifting, super simple sewing and a little fancy stitching did the job. i even managed to install a zipper for the first time, correctly- a task that i usually pass on to the mister, he has mad zipper skillz!

i just got some lollia wish handcreme and i'm real smitten with it! they have all sorts of wonderful scents and goodies!

sweet like honey on my mind lately.

2009-01-23T14:51:00.000-08:00

have a great weekend.

{image via emilie79*}

lovely.

2009-01-21T19:34:00.001-08:00

to the boy who loves a girl like me.

{ via: i love you more than _____.}

bits + twine + magic

2009-01-21T13:41:00.000-08:00

i just signed up for the mobile swap over at elsie marley , i've always wanted to be apart of a craft/gift swap + now that i have a blog...i can! there is still time to sign up + be sure to check out the flickr group from last year's.

now to the pondering...

so you can fit in my pocket

2009-01-20T14:07:00.000-08:00

if you like these be sure to check out e.soule ,they are so magical.

...

and a bonus after dim sum giggler.

like a fresh cloud without a cupcake wrapper

2009-01-19T20:12:00.000-08:00

what a wonderful break this weekend was + completely computer free! saturday i got a little alone time to take photos around the neighborhood (i'll post them tomorrow) + then to a pnw themed potluck with our wonderful friends. sunday was a beautiful, sunny, winter day + was open to all possibilities, we had no plans. we headed straight to the fremont market to search for some treasures. we found an old wire egg basket for lucy's room, which is slowly turning into a french flea market. charming nonetheless. then we went to take the mister to molly moon's for some much needed ice cream love, i got 'scout' mint, l. got chocolate and dave got vivace coffee...all delicious (even more so in a fresh molded waffle cone!)

i wanted to leave you with a photo of president obama + wish you all a happy inauguration! how do you not love a guy who eats snowcones?!

many thanks + good nite

2009-01-15T20:23:00.000-08:00

whew! a busy week over here + a full weekend to follow! so that being said, i am signing out early in hopes to have a completely computer free weekend! crazy, huh?! i will be checking my email on my phone, so i guess i'll be cheating a bit....just in case.

i wanted to send a big thanks to grace at design*sponge for the diy post + for all of you who showed some love via comments or email. much appreciation, you have no idea. its been a real treat to get into this whole blogging circle, i think i am getting a grip on things and the workings of it all, its a sweet community!

thankyouthankyouthankyou.
with much fondness.
now let us eat cupcakes.

{shoot} wanna?

2009-01-13T20:03:00.000-08:00

i am looking for a few couples that are madly in love, are just plain rad + ready to rock the camera! does this sound like you? some darn stinkin' cute couple you know? me an email + let me know what makes you two rock along with a photo!

i'll waive the $275 session fee + give you a cd of some of your best shots.

desiree{at}gmail{dot}com

{the list} number 01

2009-01-12T00:07:00.000-08:00

well folks, number 01 is in the works and running. the code master dave was able to put up a temp site for the time being, while i sit + ponder + search (for hours!) on a look that i'll be happy with for awhile. oh the drag of being so visual sometimes, luckily dave has the patience + wherewithall to withstand change after change. there are a few kinks but it'll do for the time being. look for the completed version in the upcoming weeks!

and i'll be happy to share a little tid bit with you all on wednesday (here's a hint: d*s)

hope you had a wonderful weekend, i'm getting back to work + yes, it's 12:30 at nite. crazy.
...
if you know of anyone who is looking for a wedding photographer, send them my way. i am still booking for 2009 at a discounted rate to update my portfolio.

{diy} hermes key ring

2009-01-09T16:44:00.000-08:00

after making a pledge to hand make most of our gifts this holiday, i opened a magazine and saw a beautiful hermes key ring (with a price tag of $195!). so, off i went to the local goodwill, found a pair of lambskin pants ($7), grabbed a bag of key rings ($5) + fired up the ol' glue gun (free) and i had myself a tassel key ring ready to be gifted.
supplies:
-18"x 5" piece of leather
-3"x 1.5" strip of leather
-1 key ring
-hot glue gun + sticks
-scissors
-fold the large piece of leather almost in half, leaving 1/2" space at the top. glue the top of folded edge. (my piece already had a finished seam that i place at the top)

-cut into 1/8"(or there abouts) strips the whole length of the piece being sure not to cut the top 1/2"-1". i just eyeballed it, you could measure and mark the lines, if you're the measuring type.

-place the key ring on the 3"x 1.5" leather strip, fold in half gluing ends together.
glue to larger piece.

-roll fairly snug making sure that the top lines up flush. add a dab of glue on the last inch and press firmly till set.

-taa daa!

i decided to add a finishing touch by sewing a few stitches on the end and wrapping coordinating thread around the top. hope you all enjoy this simple little diy, feel free to send me a photo or link of your very own crafty work.

{help} handmade needs you!

2009-01-09T15:57:00.000-08:00


this affects all lot of things i love and care about, being a crafter + a mom who finds it important to buy local and handmade. i feel that this affects more than just toys made overseas and mass produced.

here's what you can do {info via cool mom picks}

How to Get Involved -- it only takes 5 minutes of your time!

-Find your congress person and senators and write a letter like the sample here.
Particularly if they serve on the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection or the House Committee on Small Business.

-Send an email directly to the CPSC or contact chairperson Nancy Nord at 301-504-7923

-Vote for amending the law on Change.org, digg style: We are currently one of 90 finalists, and if it makes the top ten proposals, it will be presented to President Obama in January!

-Place the Save Handmade! button on your blog or website to help spread the word to everyone you know who cares about protecting the little guy and preserving beautiful items made with love for our children.