For Brides: Exactly WHO will be photographing you? .... Oregon Wedding Photographer

Jamie Zanotti Photography consists of... me. Jamie Zanotti. Yours truly. ;0) So when you hire me to capture your wedding, I will be your photographer! But I always bring a second photographer, and I wanted to share a bit about them with you today!

First off, let me just say that every wedding collection I offer includes the services of a second photographer, so you get twice the coverage! Between the two of us, we can literally be in two places at once to capture that many more details and once-in-a-lifetime moments! For example, take Sara and Jordan's memorable first look...

Sarah was standing on the bridge, awaiting Jordan's approach.  But instead, a huge group of kids on campus for a day camp or something appeared out of nowhere!  And they crossed the bridge, while Jordan waited.  An inexperienced photographer might have simply jumped out of the way to wait for the first look, but Amber knew that this unexpected passage of kids was the real story.  And even though I was clear across the bridge and unable to communicate with her, I knew she knew.  And I knew she was fast enough to switch up her settings and capture the charging crowd...  Together, we were able to fully tell the story as it happened. 

My view:


Amber's view:


Another example of the benefit of having two photographers is when it comes to the groom and groomsmen... Since I would trust any of my second photographers to capture my own wedding, I am completely confident in their ability to capture the groom and groomsmen getting ready, plus get portraits of the guys. This leaves me free to devote my attention entirely to the bride and her bridesmaids! Here's an example of what Ashley was capturing of Doug and the guys:


...while I was back at the house with Julie and the girls:


I have to brag a bit on my second photographers. In fact, I need to come up with a new word to describe them. They're not secondary in any way. They're dear friends, and talented photographers whom I would trust to capture my own wedding. "Assistant photographer" doesn't come close to describing what these ladies bring to the table! "Co-photographer" doesn't roll off the tongue super well, but that's really what they are. I love being part of a team, and creatively collaborating! I think the images we produce together are that much better for the joint effort.

Now, Ashley and Amber are just two examples. To this point, one of them has been available to shoot every wedding I've done with me. Of course, I'd be thrilled if that was always the case! But I'm blessed to have several more peers I look forward to collaborating with, when that time comes. When you hire me, you can trust that I'll be bringing someone that I partner well with-- someone that has the skill and presence of a photographer I'd trust to capture my own day.

To book a wedding or session, e-mail me at jamie.zanotti@gmail.com

Woodsy bridal bouquet inspiration .... Eugene Oregon Wedding Photographers

If I wasn't a photographer, you might find me in a flower shop. I love gardening! We had a great cutting garden at our first home, and I miss it. Living up here on our little hill in the woods is not so conducive to growing flowers... Somehow, between the deer, and the shade, and the clay, and the rocks, and the wild turkeys, I think the flowers just don't see it as being worth their effort. ;0) I remember when we were building our little log cabin, and telling a neighbor how I'd been reading up on which plants were deer resistant. She replied, "That's nice, honey. The deer up here don't read those books." Ha! And she was riiiight. ;0)

So anyway, I'm always seeing all of these gorgeous wedding flowers, and had the idea to take some inspiration from the more woodsy, organic bouquets I've seen here and there, and create a new flower bucket for our front door. I'm not a fan of silk greens, but it had to be done. (See paragraph #1.) At least the pinecones are legit.  I've collected them, waaaaay too many of them, on hikes over the years...  Here you have it:



To book a wedding or session, e-mail me at jamie.zanotti@gmail.com

My sweeties... Oregon Photographer

Just had to share a few more recent snaps of my sweeties...











To book a wedding or session, e-mail me at jamie.zanotti@gmail.com

For Seniors: How many outfits and locations? .... Oregon Senior Photographer

Hi seniors! I'm starting a new category, just for you. (If you're a bride, check out the "for brides" category!) In these posts, I'll be sharing thoughts/tips/tricks/answers to frequently asked questions... Your senior pictures are a once in a lifetime event, and my goal is to help you get the pictures you want, and have a GREAT time in the process! I hope these posts prove helpful to you!

So, I thought I'd get this started with one of the most common questions (well, two, really) I receive from seniors: "How many outfits should I bring?" And, "How many locations can we go to?"

First, a bit on my session philosophy: You might have noticed that my sessions are looong. Up to 3 hours! My thought is, "You get to do this once. You've put a lot of time and effort into choosing your clothes, and getting ready, and we'd better make the most of it!" I want you to walk away with an image collection of great variety, and the more time we have, the more variety we can get!

Ultimately, you can wear as many outfits as you'd like, and we can go to as many locations as possible, within those 3 hours. It usually works out to about 3 - 5 locations, and about 3 - 5 outfits. There are lots of things that factor into how many outfits and locations are possible, like how far apart the locations are, etc. Rachelle made a lot of good choices that resulted in a great, varied collection of images, and I will use her as my example.

In the storyboard at the top of this post, Rachelle accomplished three very different looks simply by making good use of layers! She started out with her white jacket, then simply removed the jacket and let her blue scarf stand out, and then removed the scarf to achieve a 3rd look. All of these pictures were taken at the same location, which is the second smart decision she made: The main location she chose had a lot of different backgrounds to offer. There were grassy fields, concrete steps, manicured lawns, a gazebo... even an old metal barn adjacent to it! So we were able to achieve a great variety of images without using up time driving around. Awesome!!

Let me show you a few more examples from Rachelle's session. Here again is the great use of layers:


Notice how she put her hair up in a few of these, to further change things up:


(A hat can be a great way to add variety, too!)

And here are two more looks Rachelle achieved, just by switching out her cardigan:


One last thing that helped us achieve a great variety for Rachelle's image collection was that she had kind of converted the backseat of her car to a closet, so we were able to quickly look at colors/textures/patterns, and coordinate them with our surroundings as we went.

So, to recap:

1) Make good use of layers!
2) Choose locations with a lot of variety.
3) Bring accessories (hair clips, hats, etc.) to further change your look.
4) Bring lots of clothing and accessories, hung "closet style" in your car if you can!

If you have a question/topic/whatever you'd like to see addressed in a future "For Seniors" post, please e-mail me at jamie.zanotti@gmail.com!

To book a session, e-mail me at jamie.zanotti@gmail.com

Occasion: Jenna is 6 months! (Part II) ... Eugene Oregon Portraits

I love this pic of Adam and Becky. They're just so fun-loving and joyful! But I'd be remiss if I didn't let you in on the back-story behind this pic... Or should I say, the "under" story... As in, there was a little someone under them who couldn't resist being in the pic:



Oh, how I love little Nora! She totally has the same energy as my Kendra:


Baby sis Jenna is already holding her own... Check out this expression! Love it:

(MAJOR kudos to Adam for seeing this little spot with the tufts of grass and soft back-lighting. I walked right past it!)









Becky does SUCH an amazing job coordinating their outfits!!! I'm always soooo excited to show up to a session with the M's and see what she has put together! The purple-lime-grey palette worked PERFECTLY with the location:


And because Becky pays attention to patterns and texture as well, their images translate beautifully to black and white, too. Notice Adam's stripes, and Nora's checks, plus the softness of Becky's sweater with the shimmer on Jenna's shoes...


The reflection in the glass reminds me of the intro to some movies... Is it Dreamworks? Or?? Does anyone know what I'm talking about? There's this wavy footage of a row of townhouses, that look much like this:




I'll leave you with one last funny moment... This one was supposed to be just Adam and Becky, but Nora informed me she had cute boots and inserted herself into the scene! Seriously, I LOVE her!! I like her version of things even better than what I had intended:


Thanks as always for a GREAT session, M's! I'm already looking forward to Jenna's 1 year!!

To book a wedding or session, e-mail me at jamie.zanotti@gmail.com

For Brides: What ONE image is your MUST HAVE? .... Oregon Wedding Photographer

Hi brides!  I'm starting a new category, just for you.  In these posts, I'll be sharing thoughts/tips/tricks/answers to frequently asked questions...  There are soooo many different thoughts and opinions on everything wedding photography-related; these are simply mine.  I hope they prove helpful! 

In this first "For Brides" post, I thought I'd share this question I'll ask you during your consultation:  "What ONE image is your MUST HAVE?  When you think of your wedding day, and visualize a picture of it, what is the immediate image that comes to mind?"  For Julie (pictured above), the image came to her immediately:  It was one of her and Doug.  Full body, in front of the chapel.  Framed vertically.

Of course, when you've made the decision to hire me as your wedding photographer, I'm assuming you've already looked through my site and blog enough to know that our (your and my) photography style and personalities are a good fit.  You can rely on me to to carry a zillion or so creative ideas in my brain, even with nothing to go on, but I always love to know the ONE image you MUST HAVE, so I can put that at the forefront of my mind.

It's amazing how much the answer to that one question can help you pinpoint, and me understand, the priorities you have for your day and how it's captured...  For Julie (above), it was all about telling the story.  Capturing all the details, big and small.  From the chapel, to the guy's hats, to the pink peonies and her vintage ring...  Here's an album spread featuring many of those elements:



Another example is Heather.  The one image she cared about most was her father's face during the father/daughter dance, so both my 2nd photographer and I made sure to snap a nice, tight shot of his expression:





For Heather, it was all about family, as her answer to the "ONE image" question revealed.  It told me so much about her priorities for the day!  I was able to use that knowledge, even in the creation of her album...  making sure to feature lots of family images, and knowing she would delight in a spread like this one, with her flower girl daughter being the focal point:



So, if we haven't already had your consultation, start thinking about your answer to this question!  I love asking it, and hearing all of the varied answers that truly are so revealing about your heart for your wedding day, and how you want to remember it!  I really think it will help you consider and communicate the priorities of your day. I look forward to hearing about your ONE!!

If you have a question/topic/whatever you'd like to see addressed in a future "For Brides" post, please e-mail me at jamie.zanotti@gmail.com!

To book a wedding, e-mail me at jamie.zanotti@gmail.com

Occasion: Jenna is 6 Months! ... Eugene Oregon Photographers

Okay, okay... so she's actually 7 months... But this was her official 6 month session! ;0) I've had the privilege of capturing this beautiful girl since she was a bump in her Mama's tummy. SO fun!! I should have stopped snapping stills, and shot some video so you could hear her laugh. Seriously, it's like nothing I've ever heard. I gasped when I heard it. Jenna, your laugh is like lightning bugs and cotton candy and everything bright, whimsical, and sweet all rolled into one. It's dreamy!

...and guess who draws out that dreamy laugh like no one else can? Yup, big sis Nora:



Just wait until you see the rest! Becky nailed it with the outfit coordination (per usual), and the light was very, very pretty this afternoon. Stay tuned...

To book a wedding or session, e-mail me at jamie.zanotti@gmail.com

Wedding: Chipper & Laura .... Eugene Oregon Wedding Photographers

Like I mentioned in an earlier post, Chipper & Larua's reception was held in the historic Coos Art Museum. Just look at these stairs leading down from the 2nd floor galleries! GORGEOUSNESS!!! The whole day was a beautiful celebration, and I'm so thankful my sis-in-law invited me to join her in capturing it!! We had way too much fun, per usual. ;0) You MUST hop over to Ashley's photography site to see the best ring shot ever. Seriously, she is a GENIUS with the ring shots!

We started out the day at the Beauty Bar, where the girls were getting ready. I loved how they all seemed to be wearing something flannel/plaid/checked... It reminded me of my own wedding day! Maybe it's a coastal girl thing...?


I was giving Ash a hard time for sending me out in the cold to capture details, etc. But I'm SO glad she did! She asked me to try to capture a few getting ready shots through the window, from the outside looking in, and I LOVE the soft, artistic, almost impressionistic results:




Then I was off to meet up with the (most hilarious and FUN!) groom and groomsmen, as they got ready at the church. Chipper was in fine form:


I really, really enjoy 2nd shooting weddings! For one thing, the main photog usually sends me on an assignment or two that stretches me creatively, like I was talking about with the "looking in from the outside" shots. Plus, there's just not the pressure of being the lead! Once I've snagged all the "safe" shots I've been asked to get, I'm freed up to challenge myself creatively, and just try to get a great variety of images to supplement the lead's shots. I'm sure some of the guests were curious as to what I was doing, because I spent quite a bit of time hanging out near this art-bedecked pillar, waiting and waiting for just the right moment... and it came! This snap of Laura and Chipper waiting for the single guys to gather for the garter toss was just what I needed to complete the composition I'd been holding in my mind:



Ashley let me use her 35mm for this get-away shot. I might have to add it my wish list now! I love that it has so much of the width, but not so much of the warpiness. And it's sooo crisp:



Thanks again for having me along, Ash!

To book a wedding or session, e-mail me at jamie.zanotti@gmail.com

New Month, New Music: "Many Roads" by Andrew Peterson

I've just licensed the song "Many Roads" by Andrew Peterson for use on my site, and I'm so excited!!  Not only do I love his sound in and of itself (his song "Dancing in the Mine Fields" is another favorite of mine), but I think it's a great fit with my brand!  On his website, Andrew writes, "I want to use my gifts to tell the truth, and to tell it as beautifully as I can."  He's a writer of both songs and books, so of course his eloquence eludes me, but I feel precisely the same, and would love to have penned those very words to describe my heart in regard to my photography.  Especially my wedding photography.  I want to use my (gift of photography) to tell the truth, and to tell it as beautifully as I can! 

I've had some music-related trouble in the past...  It's hard enough to find THE song, but tracking down a license can be flat out impossible!  Centricity made the process accessible and smooth, and I'm so thankful!  Their kindness and responsiveness was a real breath of fresh air.

Please hop over to my site and have a listen:

jamiezanotti.com

To book a wedding or session, e-mail me at jamie.zanotti@gmail.com