High School Senior Sessions Pricing.
We are rolling out the red carpet for our Seniors. We have so many great things to offer we just can’t stand it. It’s all so exciting! Our calendar is filling up quickly. Now is the time to do it before school starts. Yearbook deadlines are in the fall so book us for your photos while the weather is still great. Combine an outdoor shoot with an indoor studio shoot to get that stylish, magazine look!
Call us to book your high school senior photo session now!

Elyssa Jeremy video from Hildebrand Productions on Vimeo.

City, gum wall, old buildings, fruit stands, wide open fields, climbing trees, a small grove of trees and 2 very happy people, well actually, 4 if you count us :).
We started at Seattle Pikes Place Market and ended up at Discovery Park for their engagement photos. They combated mosquitos, monk fish, steep cliffs that went on forever and all the while laughed, hugged and walked hand in hand. Elyssa and Jeremy are so great together, so happy, that nothing could come between them, not even crazy nature.

We had great weather, great company and amazing photos of fun memories to show for it…a day well spent.

Mantras

Mine are as follows:

In times of perseverance “Keep Moving Forward”

In times of fear “I’m ok, I’m ok” (said MANY times during delivery)

In times of needing strength: I sing the Indiana Jones movie theme song in my head. (I sing it to my kids when we fly…ok, it’s my husband who needs it but I swear it helps. My theory is that if Indy could do all of those brave things with snakes, whips, bad guys and bar room brawls then I, armed with only my camera gear and wits, could be brave too!)

What are your mantras or theme songs that keep you “…moving forward” in life and through this lifestyle we have all chosen as adventurous photographers?

While looking for a flying photo I found these and posted them here just for fun. Enjoy!

Seattle Aquarium Cynthia and Matt Engagement Session from Hildebrand Productions on Vimeo.

Cynthia and Matt are the greatest couple. We had a fabulous time being inspired by all the glorious architecture & sites Seattle has to offer during their photo shoot. We are proud to offer many great photos of them capturing their happiness and fun-loving personalities. Congratulations on your engagement!

We are happy to announce that we are the new Seattle PUG (Photographer Users Group) leaders. It’s a nation wide group supported by Pictage and ShootQ, two companies we are grateful to have supporting the everyday workings of our business. You do not have to use these companies to be a part of PUG. The whole idea of PUG is to bring photographers together to share ideas, experiences, crazy stories and knowledge.
The first meeting we hosted was last night and it was amazing! Nobody shot the same type of photography, most had never met before. We had all different ages and personalities but everyone was cracking up, comparing experiences and learning from each other. It couldn’t have gone better. I’m so happy!

This is for 2 free months of ShootQ, and can also be used for 2 free months of Pictage too for anyone who has never used either service before. The code for our group is seattlepug2014.

Things we discussed/learned:
Everyone is a Canon shooter except us. (We are ok with that. 1f642
Dario of Infini Boudoir has a photography closet full of so many great photography things that he got tangled up, fell and broke his arm while trying to escape his gear closet. His arm is still in a sling. We decided that A. he needs a better story for his injury, something with more drama like a wild lion chase and B. We must see all the treasures that live in that closet!!

We had an even split of natural light photographers and studio/off-camera lighting photographers.

Flutter Studios is an inspiring space with cathedral ceilings, real brick wall, a big white wall (excellent as a reflective surface), dressing room, fridge, lounge room, bathrooms. David, the owner, is very kind to allow us to use his studio last night. He was very easy to work with. He has lighting gear to rent too. I would recommend you rent Flutter Studios for your next shoot!

We talked about How to Get More Clients. A good topic for experienced as well as new photographers.
My list of ideas was lengthy at 12 ideas enhanced by more great ideas from everyone at the meeting. Here’s a small excerpt from my notes:

3. Show what you want to shoot
a. youtube slideshows, website, blog, fb, Pinterest etc.
4. WOW your clients-
a. get published
b. win contests
5. – under promise, over deliver: mail notes and/or gifts to clients before and after the shoot.
6. FB- teaser photos the day after each event, run a contest on number of comments on their wedding photo on their page,
7. Have a booth in an expo or an open air market.

We have learned in our business that even if the main goal doesn’t pay off so well there are other opportunities that can come of the exposure/experience you gained from doing something new. So, even if it seems like an unlikely money maker go for it anyway and see where the path leads. Getting yourself out there is hugely important.

We had a request for pricing to be the topic for our next meeting so that’s what it will be. Our August meeting topic will be pricing. We’d like to do a hands-on shooting event since it’s summer. I’ll keep you posted as to when/ where & what is happening for the next PUG meeting.

Stay tuned!

1f642 Dawn
P.S. Next time I will get a group photo and your [handsome, sweet, pretty] (whichever adjective applies to you) face will be in the photo with all of us too but you have to bring your face to the meeting in order for it to be in our group photo! 1f609

We are proud to announce that Brandon and I are now the Seattle PUG Leaders!
Flutter Studios has graciously opened their space to us for our next meeting. Come check out this amazing space and be inspired to rent their space for your next shoot!
The meetings are free with complimentary beverages, socializing with other professional photographers and education…even free parking! What could be better?! Join us, bring friends and please RSVP.

Just mention that you saw this on our blog and you will get High School Senior Announcements available with every senior photo session!

I just love the colors here, so fun and vibrant! Wouldn’t this be great to send out to all of your family and friends announcing your senior’s graduation? Remember most kids get their “Senior” photos done during the summer BEFORE their senior year! Book your photo session now.

Taking on some wedding tasks and projects yourself can be a great way to personalize your celebration and save money. But that doesn’t mean every aspect of your big day should be DIY-ed.

Here’s a good rule of thumb: If you can do it months in advance while, say, you’re watching TV at home, go for it — save-the-dates, invitations, welcome bags, favors. But if it’s time-sensitive or just too big of an undertaking, don’t risk it. The final days before your wedding will be very hectic: last-minute errands, family in town, seating charts to finalize, ceremony rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, packing for the honeymoon, and more. There won’t be any down time to arrange flowers or bake the rest of the wedding desserts.

So, to help you figure out how to use your time effectively, here are the five things that are really best left to the wedding professionals.

1. Flowers
Maybe you saw some “simple” mason jar centerpieces on Pinterest and thought to yourself, “Hey, I can do that myself!” But doing your own wedding flowers is a lot more complicated than it seems. Since blooms are perishable, you’ll need to time the flower delivery so that they arrive shortly before the wedding, leaving you only a day — sometimes even hours — to arrange everything. That’s precious time better spent getting your nails done with your bridesmaids and relaxing with your family. Also, any good florist can deliver beautiful arrangements at a reasonable price; or, you can enlist a few crafty friends to take on the project so that you don’t have to.

2. Your Hair
If your wedding-hair vision involves the words “Old Hollywood,” “blowout,” or “side chignon,” hire a stylist. A professional can do your hair twice as well as you could (even if you practiced and practiced) and in half the time. Keep costs down by having your ‘do done at the salon the morning of the wedding (instead of having the hairstylist come to you) or booking with a junior stylist.

3. Planning/Coordinating
Sure, you’re super organized, you know exactly what you want, and you have a ton of friends and relatives who’ve promised to help. But having a professional run the wedding day can mean the difference between an event that feels polished and inviting, and an event that feels disorganized and chaotic. And whether you choose a full-on wedding planner or a day-of coordinator, their main goals will be to make sure you and your groom are relaxed, stress-free, and fully enjoying yourselves — and that the wedding looks as good in real life as it did in your head.

4. Photography
These days, everyone knows someone with a quality digital camera and a good eye (and a killer Instagram feed). Before you agree to let your groom’s cousin or your coworker’s husband take your wedding photos, you should know that there are many advantages to hiring a professional wedding photographer. A pro understands the flow of the wedding day and will be able to anticipate what’s happening next in order to get in position for the best shots. He or she will also understand where the lighting is best, what time of day is ideal for different kinds of shots, and will think to get different candids that a family friend might not consider. A professional will also know how important it is to get close-up detail shots of all the elements you’ve worked so hard to make. Your wedding photos are the only tangible thing from your wedding day that will treasure for years to come and are worth the investment.

5. Food
Wedding guests love to rave about a good meal and complain about a bad one. So, while asking your mom to make your favorite dishes or baking 50 pies yourself the week of the wedding might seem like a way to personalize the day and save money, the food is really best left to a caterer. A professional will know how to properly estimate the amount of food to buy and how to prepare a meal on a large scale, when to serve different courses, how to combine you and your groom’s tastes into a cohesive menu, and how to accommodate guests with dietary needs or restrictions. If you’re looking to save money, consider skipping the traditional three-course meal and opt for a cocktail party-style reception instead, where tasty drinks and hors d’oeuvres are flowing the entire time. Professional caterers will also have lots of ideas on ways to save on your food budget.

Article by Heather Lee from Brides.com http://www.brides.com/blogs/aisle-say/2014/05/things-you-shouldnt-diy-for-your-wedding.html

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It was a lovely, bright and sunny day on the MV Skansonia Ferry in Seattle. There was a live band playing and wonderful catering as the guests over looked the Puget Sound with a beautiful view of the Seattle skyline.

Someone recently asked me what our credentials are so I wrote them out for the first time in years. It made me realize how busy we have been the past 7 years!

Here they are:
We’ve been professional wedding photographers for 7 years.
We are award winning have shot weddings all over the US, Canada and Argentina.
We’ve been taught by the best wedding photographers in the world.
We go to Vegas annually for training classes to continually update our skills.
We are a PPA, WPPI members and have been recognized as Certified Nikon professionals by Nikon.
Recent awarded people’s choice award by Wedding Wire.
We are certified educators with a 5-star rating by Fisheye Connect.
We teach Lightroom, Photoshop, Photography 101 and Off-Camera lighting classes.

This was taken at Willows Lodge in Woodinville. Here’s one of our most recent favorite photos. With the magic of Photoshop Brandon created this beautiful piece of art showing the bride walking past her groom and him admiring her beauty. This image is going to be printed on metal as a mural of smaller metal pieces held together by jump rings. I cannot wait to see it printed! It’s going to be amazing. This is our way of taking our photos to the next level. Come to our classes and we will teach you how to take your photos to the next level!
Be sure to check out our photography classes at http://fisheyeconnect.com/instructor/3048/brandon-hildebrand/profile.aspx

After much anticipation we are happy to announce our new class schedule!
We’ve had nothing but great success in our classes. Lots of light bulb moments and “thank you for making this all make sense now” comments from our students.
We love sharing our passion of photography with you and can’t wait for this next series of classes!
See you there!

April 29th Photography 101 aka Ready, Aim, Shoot!
May 6th Creative Lighting: Create the light you want
May 13th Lightroom
May 20th Photoshop

All classes are from 5:30-8:30
Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center
16600 NE 80th Street Redmond, WA

To register go to: http://www.fisheyeconnect.com/instructor/3048/brandon-hildebrand/profile.aspx

For more information call: 206.790.8995 or email: [email protected]