Reversed Lens Photography - Portland Oregon Wedding and Portrait Photography

We are RLP

2008-06-30T13:32:00.000-07:00

Reversed Lens Photography is the combined work of Will Darden and Emma Easley Darden. Each of us has a slightly different style, allowing us to work together to catch both the expected and unexpected moments. That's true both in our shoots and in our own life which is sometimes reflected here as well. Feel free to scroll through our work and see how life's best moments can be recorded.

Movin' on up...

2008-06-29T21:34:00.001-07:00

or, something like that?

The Reversed Lens Blog is relocating! You can now find us at our new site! Happy viewing!

Pretty as a princess

2008-06-29T14:40:00.000-07:00

We had planned to do Baby A's shoot a few weeks ago, as a "true" newborn session, but there were some complications and so we did her session at the ripe old age of six weeks. It was an exciting and slightly emotional session for me-- I've known their family of four boys for quite some time, and when Baby A's mom found out that they were expecting, we all kind of held our breath and hoped. But when she was born, the shock was real for everyone. It was just too good to be true! Photographing her in all of her sweetness made for a very happy me, and hopefully for her family too! And I'll get to be seeing a lot more of her too because she'll be a Milestones baby. I can't wait to see her grow.

K & J Got Married

2008-06-28T19:33:00.000-07:00

We shot K & J's wedding last week at Cannon Beach at the beautiful Surfsand Resort. It was a whirlwind weekend-- we were there for the rehearsal/family dinner/sand baseball/bonfire the night before, and then of course the wedding itself. Their families are a large part of their lives and the jubilance of their celebration reflected that, even through an on-slaught of rain just as the ceremony started and less than favorable conditions at other moments of the weekend. Everyone just took it in stride and said, "We're here. We're together. Let's make it beautiful." And it was, and they were, and we were honored to be a part of this amazing union of two people who we now count as friends.

While the girls got ready in their (much too small) suite, the guys chilled on the beach...

The bride's step-mom S, giving K her wedding necklace

And then, it was on to the party, featuring lots of Irish music and revelry...

Thanks for an amazing weekend, guys. There'll be more coming, including the amazing fire dancing. Stay tuned!

So long, farewell...

2008-06-25T13:08:00.000-07:00

We've been photographing the R family for over a year now. Baby A was the our first Milestones baby and our sessions with him were so much fun that his mom decided to do a session with his older sister, L, on her third birthday. This session was bittersweet, though, as it was both the last session for him (he's ONE! I can hardly believe it!) and because their family is moving away. They'll only be gone for a year, to the desert where his dad is beginning a medical residency. But we will miss them-- and their cherubic faces-- sorely!

Bye bye, Baby A. We'll see you in a year!

and one more, just because I liked it both ways:

Back at the alma

2008-06-18T11:30:00.000-07:00

We will be photographing A & B's wedding in August, and this last weekend we took them to Lewis & Clarke College, their alma mater, for their engagement session. An e-session is one of the things that we include with our photography packages; they're a fun way to get to know the couple better and also learn about their photography preferences. And we always come out of them with such fun images. A & B's session was no exception. They're a really fun couple who are planning a laid-back and very personal wedding and their personalities came shining through on their session. They're so playful and loving with each other. I can't wait to see them at their wedding!

Fields of green

2008-05-27T22:42:00.000-07:00

We're still playing roulette with the weather here in the great northwest. We've been planning this shoot with the W family for quite a while, and it looked like the weather was going to be gorgeous last weekend. Then the updated forecast came in and there were thunderstorms on the horizon! We all crossed our fingers and the weather held, just until after the shoot. I'm so glad because these images in the fields of Helvetia are some of my favorites of late. This was part of baby N's Milestones package, but I'm afraid his sister just might have stolen the show!

N & C eSession

2008-05-21T13:01:00.000-07:00

N & C are getting married in September in a lovely little ceremony out on the beach. We set out on Saturday to do their engagement session, one of my favorite things. An eSession is included with all of our packages; it gives us a chance to get acquainted on a more personal level, and also helps us to see how couples like to be photographed. Seeing those interactions is so much fun!

We tromped around the Pearl and captured the last rays of the evening sun and laughed a lot. They are such a fun couple-- I can't wait to shoot their wedding!

Bright sunshiney day

2008-05-17T22:19:00.000-07:00

We shot C & D's wedding on Saturday in what turned out to be a much brighter day than anyone hoped for. The weather was brilliant, and our couple was brilliant too. They were absolutely hilarious to work with, as you'll see in these photos, and soldiered on. It helped, of course, that we were in such lovely places, including the top of the green where we could shoot with Mt. Hood in the background. It doesn't get much better than that.

Thanks, guys, for a wonderful day!

Ceremony: Portland LDS Temple
Reception: Oswego Lake Country Club

The bride's niece, who stole the show more than once.

The amazing cake. I've got to find out who their baker was...

and the sharing of said cake.

and one more, just for the bride:

Little slice of life

2008-05-08T12:55:00.001-07:00

I've been slacking at actually doing a post of our family, our life. Yes, we do have one-- both a family and a life. Photography takes up a lot of it, though, and sometimes I forget to record our moments too.

Today I went with some friends and The Pea to the Plumper Pumpkin Patch for a spring tour. We got to plant a row of pumpkin seeds, see the animals, ride the hayride, and generally have a fabulous time.

Farmer Jim, who taught us how to plant the pumpkins.

Our own little stake of earth. If we go back, we'll be able to track the progress of our pumpkins.

This calf was only six days old.

The Pea talked about "da baby chicks!" all the way home.

This is what we live for

2008-05-06T22:20:00.000-07:00

We just got this email from a client, who we had delivered images to a few weeks ago, and I think I'll be grinning for days:

"It has been interesting to have your photos placed next to some of our older ones. Your photos seem to breathe with vitalilty and encapsulate a moment. They capture feeling, personality, and beauty not so often found in common photography. I cannot thank you enough."

Introducing our Yet Unnamed Photo Booth

2008-05-06T21:51:00.000-07:00

I still haven't posted about our photo booth set-up, something I've been meaning to do since its inaugural run at Avi's bar mitzvah. It's pretty simple: a canvas background, a ring flash... and a whole lot of mayhem. It captures a completely different side of the participants and we are totally loving the shots that come out of it. Here are a few from Tyler and Nicole's wedding:

The father and sister of the bride...

and brothers of the groom. They were a wild bunch.

First of the season

2008-05-04T19:18:00.001-07:00

We shot our first wedding of the season this weekend. The weather was a bit dicey but it held, for the most part, and gave us a great day at two beautiful venues. N & T were delightful to work with. They were, amazingly, quite relaxed and up for anything. We hope they're having a much deserved break on the beaches in Hawaii right now!

Ceremony: Portland LDS Temple
Reception: Hayden's Lakefront Grill

Moments

2008-04-28T12:59:00.000-07:00

I've been putting together an exhibit of some of our photography focusing on motherhood. I love these images so much, both individually and for what they convey together.

Creekside

2008-04-14T20:03:00.000-07:00

We did another senior representative shoot on Saturday with Ashley, our rep from Century High School. We went down to the Dawson Creek bottoms and shot among the green space. The only lament? They'd closed all of the bridges so we had to get a little bit more creative about getting around the creek. But shooting Ashley was a breeze.

Way up in the West Hills

2008-04-07T15:55:00.000-07:00

We did a session this morning with the S family at their home in the West Hills. They aren't often together as one of the sons and his family live in Israel, and so they had us come and do a session with entire family. We broke them up into little family groupings and that's what we're showing here. Sorry, guys, you have to wait for the viewing session to see the big family shot!

A's Big Night

2008-04-07T12:01:00.000-07:00

This weekend was A's bar mitzvah. We first got acquainted with him at R's bat mitzvah a few months ago and knew immediately that shooting this event was going to be an absolute blast. And he did not dissapoint. The entire event (well, both events-- the pre-shoot on Friday night and the party on Saturday) was fabulous.

Life of the party

2008-04-07T11:48:00.000-07:00

Saturday night was A's big party and it was a crazy, crazy night. First was the horah... I think it lasted for about fifteen minutes:

and then a rousing version of musical chairs... (this is the eventual winner disputing a call)

Finally, kudos to designband.com. They really kept the party going strong:

The gift of memories

2008-04-02T14:24:00.001-07:00

I just received my first call for a Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep session. The baby has been in the NICU for sixteen days and this morning, they realized that he was not far from passing. I was not able to go, unfortunately; finding care for my toddler last minute can be complicated.

I am so honored, though, to have a chance to be a part of this organization. I had heard about it peripherally through a friend whose baby was born with severe birth defects and lived for only a day. Thankfully, a loved one connected them with NILMDTS and they were able to do a photo session with him. I heard about it again recently on the Today show (you can see the spot here) and knew immediately that I needed to share my talents with this amazing organization.

If you know of someone who will lose a child and could be served, please contact me or the organization so that we can put you in touch with a coordinator. And if you're a photographer and feel that you can join our ranks, please consider that step. The gift of photography is such a profound thing for these families. I already feel blessed, having opened my heart to them.

Happy to be...

2008-03-31T16:38:00.001-07:00

THREE! L is turning three in just a few weeks and so we did a session to celebrate her birthday. She was more than happy to traipse around and mug for me on location in the Pearl and we had a really, really fun morning together. I don't think that it hurt that we went for a visit to Mio Gelato at the end.

H & D eSession

2008-03-28T12:49:00.000-07:00

We're going to be shooting H & D's wedding later this summer, and last night we photographed some engagement shots for them. D had asked her out for the first time at the Grotto and so it seemed an appropos place to bring it full circle. Then we finished up around the corner at their alma mater, Madison.

Little one

2008-03-25T14:29:00.000-07:00

I shot Baby S's newborn sesssion at her home on Monday. She's just three weeks old and is so calm and precious. It was a great morning.

One of her big brothers crashed the party for a moment.

Arts & Communications High School Rep

2008-03-24T14:07:00.001-07:00

McKenzie is our rep for the Arts, Communication and Technology High School. We did her shoot this last Saturday up along Water Avenue in the industrial area. We kept being drawn to the more sullied backdrops-- burnouts, graffiti-- and it was the perfect contrast to McKenzie's nature.

Sunset High Senior Rep

2008-03-24T14:02:00.000-07:00

Roxi is our senior portrait rep from Sunset High School. We shot her mini session down along the Eastbank Esplanade last Saturday. It was a perfect break in the spring storms and we had a great time together.

{2009 seniors}

2008-03-10T11:09:00.000-07:00

We're currently in search of 2009 Seniors interested in representing Reversed Lens Photography. We're looking for vibrant, dynamic juniors willing to tell their friends all about our fabulous images. In exchange, you'll receive a free mini session sometime in April 2008 as a preview. Other benefits include:

-- 50 free rep cards cards to hand out to other upcoming seniors before summer break
-- Ten watermarked digital images to post on MySpace, Facebook, or your blog
-- A credit toward your full senior session, shot sometime in the summer or early fall
-- Free products (prints, albums, etc.) and a complete sessions are earned based on the number of classmates referred

Sound like your thing? Then contact us as soon as possible, as there are only a certain number of spots available per school. Drop us an e-mail at info@reversedlensphotography.com for more details!

Into the wilds

2008-02-13T12:36:00.000-08:00

We had planned to do a shoot with the C family in their Hillsboro home. But when we woke up that morning we were greeted by brilliant sunlight and the plans quickly changed! We still shot pictures of their adorable son, S, in his play room like we'd planned, but we also made a detour into the nearby wetlands to take advantage of the break from Portland dreariness. And S was all for it-- he ran all the way to the park!

Becoming Bat

2008-02-04T10:01:00.000-08:00

We shot R's Bat Mitzvah last weekend at one of the beautiful Portland synagogues. It was a fabulous, joyous affair for a wonderful young lady, and we enjoyed ourselves immensely. The first evening, we did some shots of R by herself, as well as at the bima practicing with the cantor. The next evening was the party, and that will be a post unto itself!

Special Portland wedding photography offer

2008-02-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

We're starting to book up for the wedding photography season in Portland, something we're very excited about. To share that excitement we wanted to extend a special offer to any of our prospective wedding couples: if you are looking at booking us for a venue that we have not previously shot at, we will give you a 10% discount on your package price. That's right-- 10% off! We love shooting in new places because it gives us a great chance to see things through fresh eyes. Call us today at 503.922.1122 or email at info@reversedlensphotography.com. You can also visit our website at www.reversedlensphotography.com

Note: This offer only applies to our established packaging and prices. Any special arrangements supercede this offer. Only applicable for the first couple to register for a specific location.

Milestones

2008-01-23T13:05:00.000-08:00

We shot Andrew's second installment in his Milestones package this morning. It was a pretty chilly day in Portland and so I had to shoot fast! This little boy is such a doll. I'm really enjoying watching him grow.

Winter beauty

2008-01-18T19:21:00.001-08:00

I had a fabulous bridal session with S today. We started in Portland's Cathedral Park, at the base of the St. Johns Bridge, and then finished in the industrial area at an old train caboose. It would have been lovely to shoot more but being out in a wedding dress in nearly freezing temperatures isn't anyone's idea of a good time, not even this fabulous bride.

Ruby glow

2008-01-17T13:08:00.001-08:00

I've been meaning to put up pictures of Baby B. for quite a while now, and here they finally are! We missed her "newborn" window due to some illness in ther family; we shot her at her two-month birthday. But she's still so cute and scrunchy! She was her usual self-- perfect and mellow and lovely.

J & L eSession

2008-01-15T16:59:00.000-08:00

We did J & L's engagement session in the Portland's Pearl District (yes, we're in love with all of those colored walls!) and then finished at the Central Library. Will has known L since kindergarten, and it was really cool to see her life come to such a lovely place with a lovely guy.

In full Trinity glory

2008-01-02T19:50:00.000-08:00

We shot D and L at the beautiful Trinity Cathedral in northwest Portland. The day was as perfect as you get in Portland in the winter-- clear, crisp, and perfect for making pink cheeks. We loved being down in NW, especially because everyone who drove by seemed to want to be in on the festivities! There was much merrriment for this beautiful couple.

Beneath the spires

2008-01-02T19:30:00.000-08:00

J and K were married in the Portland LDS Temple, south of the city. The weather was a bit unforgiving, particularly with the nature of K's dress. But hey're such a zany couple that they just smiled through it all.

The Boys

2008-01-02T14:31:00.000-08:00

We shot D, A and T together this last week. We followed them around-- actually, it was probably the other way around-- and then watched as their sibling revelry took over. It was a great shoot.

Gigiss and family

2007-12-06T15:04:00.000-08:00

We shot Gigiss (a web pseudonym) and his family over the Thanksgiving holiday, down in the Bay area, but we've been pretty bogged down. Here, at last, is a preview of some of their shots. They're a lively bunch of characters and it was great fun to finally meet all of them.

D for Mayor

2007-11-26T17:38:00.000-08:00

We shot D's shoot in downtown, and our backdrops included one of my favorite buildings-- City Hall. He seemed so comfortable there that we joked that he should be mayor someday. Who knows? He'd certainly have our vote. We thoroughly enjoyed traipsing around the city with him.

Hoping for clearness

2007-11-26T15:08:00.000-08:00

We did S's shoot on one of those Northwest days that's becoming more and more common, when you hold your breath and hope that the rain holds. And it did, right up until the last few minutes! But we had a nice couple of hours before then to capture his winning smile.

Out of town

2007-11-26T10:03:00.000-08:00

We will be out of town the week of Thanksgiving and will return to the studio on Monday, November 26th. If you have orders pending, we will contact you on Monday.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Pretty in the Pearl

2007-11-13T08:52:00.000-08:00

The Pearl District is turning into quite the destination for senior shoots! We had a great time wandering around with L on this bright Saturday, a total fluke in the weather pattern that we've been having. She was game for pretty much anything and so we used a lot of different locations and backdrops. We were having so much fun that we almost went for sushi!

Nature Girl

2007-11-09T12:10:00.000-08:00

When we asked R what she was looking for in a location, she said, "Well, I'm really into nature." So we did a large chunk of her shoot up in Forest Park, and then mixed some of the more organic elements of the Pearl in as well.

Three of a kind

2007-11-08T00:43:00.000-08:00

We did a combination shoot with M, G, and N at Portland's Laurelhurst Park: Part family shoot and part pictures-of-the-artists for their business website (www.eclectikid.com). That gave us a lot of different things to focus on, which ended up as a lot of really fabulous pictures. Here are just a few from the family set:

Sweet baby

2007-11-02T19:57:00.000-07:00

We took A and her parents to one of our favorite spots, where the leaves were falling and the light was pleasant, and had such a fabulous time together. She was having a little bit of a rough day, according to her parents, but we were totally taken with her.

In the city

2007-11-01T23:03:00.000-07:00

E's shoot was done in a few of the industrial areas of the city-- first along Water Avenue near the East Bank Esplanade, and then on the opposite side of the river and one of the city's bridges. It suited her perfectly. E, we hope you loved these as much as we enjoyed shooting you!

Model view

2007-10-30T21:08:00.000-07:00

The day that we shot A's senior portraits could not have been more perfect. The air was had a bit of an edge to it but was still warm enough for us to wander around-- first at the base of Forest Park and then down into the Northwest district. And A was the perfect model, a complete natural. As we were finishing, she said, "You know, I kind of like having people take pictures of me." I think I see some more work in her future!

Teddy Bear

2007-10-24T13:17:00.000-07:00

I spent the morning with T, capturing him in his "native environment." We'll be doing a shoot with their family soon but we wanted to get some pictures of him first. And he was a complete doll, as his name would suggest.

A magical day

2007-10-21T21:45:00.001-07:00

Gus shot a wedding this weekend with AJ's Photography at the North Star Ballroom. He mostly shadowed them, and also ran their Party Shots booth, but he was also able to catch some fabulous images. Here's a few of our favorites:

Matched pair

2007-10-08T09:45:00.000-07:00

We shot A's three month pictures this week for the beginning of his Milestones package and also did some pictures of his big sister, L. She was thrilled to mug for the camera, but not as thrilled about holding him in her arms, so it was mostly a solo shoot for the two of them. But I got in a few sibling shots right at the end, and even got her to smile! Her mom's bribe of "pink princess ice cream" didn't hurt either.

Pink Princess

2007-10-08T09:30:00.000-07:00

L's pictures were so cute that I decided to put them up all by themselves!

Go Aardvarks!

2007-10-06T16:23:00.000-07:00

Will's alma mater, OES, held their annual alumni soccer tournament this morning and he went out to shoot some images for them. The weather was a bit dismal but the players had plenty of spirit.

Nearly grad

2007-09-24T16:00:00.000-07:00

We took A down to the Pearl district in Portland and wandered around, stopping to shoot when we'd find a fun background. It's definitely a location that we'll use again. The laid-back nature of the shoot really allowed him to be himself and I think we captured him perfectly.

One whole year

2007-08-20T15:52:00.000-07:00

We shot C's 12-month pictures up at the International Rose Test Gardens and at the Pittock Mansion, and had quite the time chasing her around.

All about the photographers

2007-08-19T10:56:00.000-07:00

We're in the process of launching a real website and so last weekend, we set out to take some pictures for our "about us" page. Here are the results:

Here they go...

2007-08-12T22:42:00.000-07:00

We shot the H's last Wednesday night, and not a moment too soon. H went into labor that night! Their baby girl was born quite a few hours later. This was a fun trip down memory lane, shooting on and around the campus of Portland State University, where B recently finished his teaching credentials, and near their old apartment haunts.

On a summer's eve...

2007-07-27T20:52:00.000-07:00

We shot Brandon and Eimmy's wedding on June 30th at the McLean House in West Linn. Their wedding was a blending of families and cultures and it was a joyous day.

B & A eSession

2007-06-21T14:43:00.000-07:00

B & A are getting married on 6/30 and we did this shoot to get to know each other better before the big day. We went down to Water Avenue, near OMSI, and wandered around together. It was so fun to see how happy and in love they are. I think that we might be as excited to shoot their wedding as they are to get married!