OREGON // PERSONAL POST

I would recommend listening to this song while you go through the post.

I would also like to recommend going to the Storyline conference, by Donald Miller. It was the whole reason that I was even in Portland. If you want more information on it, feel free to e-mail and ask me or leave a comment... It will truly wreck you, in a beautiful way! 

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View from our beautiful Portland hostel.

Driving to the coast.Salted caramel latte, I believe. In Astoria.Fort Steven's Rock, home of a wrecked ship and also a TON of driftwood. That people apparently make into tee-pees. Tiny little drive-up coffee houses. We got something that was apparently triple the strength of a regular espresso. Needless to say, it was off the CHAIN. (So were we.)Headed to Canon Beach where apparently Free Willy AND the Goonies were filmed! April, documenting her experience with Haystack... she can now cross this off her bucket list!

No, I do not know these people.. but that weimaraner was harassing me all day. 

No big deal, just a rainbow circle around the sun.Take me back.

April is way better with that "cool, serious" face than I am.

One word for Multnomah Falls: GORGEOUS.(L) Me, (R) My dear, dear friend April.

Columbia River Valley Gorge.

A very happy little seal.

Another view of our hostel on a different day. 

INSTAGRAM SHOTZ.

1. Takeoff from Charlotte / 2. EXCITED / 3. Duh, cats can fly! 4. Gorgeous sunset somewhere in the sky / 5. Bi Ways diner. We went there twice / 6. Delicious breakfast. 7. Portland, Oregon / 8. Portland Saturday Market / 9. Open page in POWELL's book store about the coast. 10. I can find an Anthro anywhere / 11. Our beautiful, relaxing day spent at the coffee shop next to the hostel. 12. Hostel / 13. Hostel 14 / 15/ 16: Walking around Portland. 17. Awesome old school Trolley map in the hostel / 18. Me creepin' in Astoria / 19. AMAZING deer art piece / 20. Awesome brunch at the coffee house. 20. "Is that a shipwreck, ya'll?" Fort Fisher / 21. Haystack Rock. 22. Haystack or Canon Beach / 23. Driving back to Portland. 24-25 / Multnomah Falls. 26-27 / Back to Byways for Blue Corn pancakes with a homemade maple butter sauce / 28. Walking over the bridge to the hostel. Scary. 29. The actual point of the trip, STORYLINE! / 30. Lunch break / 31. Back to Storyline. 32-33. BEST THAI EVER / 34-35. Voodoo Doughnuts! 36-39. Visual ramblings and a sad goodbye to my new favorite city.

BRANDING, PART 2 // PERSONAL POST

It's taken me quite a long time to get my look for my photography together. I believe this is called, "branding"? Since i graduated college, I have gone through a huge transformation with my work. I started to realize how important it is to take time to get everything right in camera, to style your clients in a natural and serene way, and to make them feel comfortable...at ANY cost. {For me, that's usually making a fool of myself!}

As important as shoots are {duh} - I believe post processing and product packaging are also important. These pictures will be around a very, very long time. They will be shown to my client's children, and entire families. They will {hopefully} be scattered around their homes in decorated picture frames, and sitting on office desks.

I want to inspire my clients and make them feel like they're opening a little gift. They're special, and they need to know that.

I found my color palette, I found my textures and my materials. It still needs some tweaking, but here you go:

Emily Chidester Photography, the tangible side.

.. well I can't give TOO much away! ;)

BRANDING // PERSONAL POST

I think branding yourself as a photographer has to be the hardest thing in the world to do. I mean, as an artist you fight and fight and fight to NOT be stereotyped or labeled, and as soon as you try to market yourself, that's essentially what you're doing. By deciding to pursue weddings and engagements (which I never thought I'd do but I AM so happy I've landed on this.. at least for the time being)- I'm checking off the box for what photography I "do".. Which isn't fair. I do love shooting those intimate moments between two people who've managed to find  each other in this wild world we live in.. but I also love shooting wide expanses of land with not a single human in sight. I love shooting sun flares and wheat, and architecture and animals. Okay, let's be frank. I'm truly the happiest when there's a camera in my hand- no matter what the subject.

But in choosing "wedding photography"- I feel as though I now have to brand myself with a particular style. I happen to be a natural light photographer.. I thrive off of golden, dusk light and fields/nature and that sense of freedom. Of feeling infinite. So, in that regard I don't feel fit for indoor weddings, or big fancy ballrooms. Will I take those weddings? Absolutely- it's pushing myself to do something different. And I love and appreciate every bride/groom and wedding I'm a part of.

Okay, I've honestly lost my train of thought.

The bottom line is, are we ever TRULY content with ourselves?