denver arts week. il posto.

I originally discovered my passion for photography while filling my art credits in college, so much of my early portfolio work is art photography. When I got involved in portraiture and event photography, I haven't spent as much time on art photography as I used to.

So you can imagine my surprise when I was asked to show some art pieces for Denver Arts Week in November. It's actually been almost a month since I received the invitation and I'm still a little floored. And also excited.

Denver Arts Week runs from November 6-14th and features a number events, as well as local restaurants and artists teaming up to celebrate art in our fair city.

My work will be shown at Il Posto, an Italian eatery featuring the work of Chef Andrea Frizzi. Il Posto will be celebrating the "complicated simplicty of Italian food and wine" during the week. In addition to dinner, they are also open for "Ora Felice" each day.

They are located at 2011 E. 17th Avenue. Call 303-394-0100 for reservations.

I'll never forget the last photography class I had in college -- we had to create a series of work to show. It took me over a year just to decide what I was going to attempt to work on before I ever enrolled in the class. At least this time, I was able to get an idea of what I wanted to show. Although editing the collection down to a few pieces has been a challenge -- I've already rejected a few of the prints after not liking the way they flowed with the other pieces, and changed them out for others. I am certainly picky, that is for sure.

The series that I will be featuring during the week comes from the amazing dance performance I was fortunate enough to photograph this summer from the Isolated Incident performance group's "The Things They Say."

Dance is amazingly beautiful to watch, although challenging to photograph, but I was lucky to snap a few shots to capture the beauty of movement. To see a small preview of the work that will be shown, please click here.

I invite you to come out and celebrate art with me during the week, and I hope you'll stop by Il Posto and enjoy the pieces I've chosen and some awesome food.

more great info from christine boulton.

Christine Boulton is not just your average wedding expert. She's a wedding industry goddess. So it's no wonder that I follow her Wedding Dish blog pretty regularly and love the comments and insights she provides "from the other side."

Having worked as a banquet manager for the first two years of my professional photography career in an effort to really understand the wedding industry, I can relate to a lot of the information and insight she provides on a regular basis. The wedding industry is fun and exciting, but it is also stressful and demanding. Trust me, I once had to reassure a Mother-of-the-Bride, three times in as many hours, that yes, the signs directing guests into our hard to find driveway would be out on the street at our agreed upon time of 4 p.m. She called at 10 a.m.

A recent post really hit close to home. It was all about realistic expectations when it comes to your photography.

I don't want to do the points highlighted to be given a disservice, so go ahead, have a read.

Since I tend to be a complete and total overachiever/perfectionist, shooting weddings stresses me out. Big time. But one of my mentors once told me that when you lose that bit of care that causes you to stress, that's when you lose your edge in this industry. I still believe it to be true.

So believe us, our sleepless nights, high rates and taking three weeks to process your images are because we want to make sure that the memories of your wedding day are captured and documented perfectly.

bailey. adam. just married. (a quick preview)

One of the things that I love about being a photographer is the way that we become part of the special moments in people's lives. Weddings are one of the most intimate celebrations to share with a family, and it was such an honor to celebrate the marriage of Bailey and Adam with their families.

Their reception was set poolside at Seville in Gilbert. On my visit to the country club a few weeks ago, even my creative mind could not have imagined how the staff transformed the space into such an elegant setting for a sunset dinner.
I particularly liked the contrast of the rust colored linens with the aqua color of the pool.
As I headed down from Flagstaff, I noticed some funky clouds in the sky, and hoped they lasted until the sun went down. Adam had told me he really wanted a photo of him and his bride with a signature Arizona sunset. While I cannot tell Mother Nature what to do, I was so glad she cooperated. The sky was amazing that evening.


One thing I simply could not get over was Bailey's stunning beauty. As we laughed and joked about how much the camera loved her, her bright red lips and giant eyes reminded me of a 50's pin up girl. Simply gorgeous.

And did I mention these two were hilarious? It seemed like we were constantly cracking jokes and laughing, in between the serious pauses to take a formal shot. But we got some dramatic ones too.


I really love this one, where the look on Adam's face says it all: "I am the happiest man in the world, to have this amazing woman as my wife."
After all the formal photos were done, we joined the family down by the pool for lots of dancing, laughing and celebrating. I have truly never seen a group of people so filled with love for one another, and having so much fun together, in celebration of two amazing people united in marriage.

To check out the rest of the photos from the evening, please click here.

branding. check.

Even though I have been working as a professional photographer for about five years, I haven't pursued it as a main source of income until this year. With that shift in mindset, I realized that there were a number of things I hadn't done to make my business "official." The biggest one being my brand. What is "Eunice Brownlee Photography" all about, and what makes me special?

I have been working with a high school friend, Cara Elizabeth, on this project for quite a few months, and I am just about the most indecisive person on the planet. I vacillated on color schemes, logo design, ideas. You name it, I waffled. On some level, I'm surprised she hasn't kicked me to the curb just yet.

But in a moment I least expected, I was at the fabric store on Saturday, picking up supplies for my daughter's Halloween costume, when I was struck by a stroke of inspiration. At long last, I have finally made a decision on my branding that I like. And plan to stick with. For now.

now on twitter

For those of you that know me, I have resisted getting a Twitter account for as long as I possibly could. In fact, I even teased my sister for getting one for her business. But alas, the more I read, the more I learn, the more I know that it's just a necessary part of doing business in the electronic age.

So follow me already, would ya?

learn to blossom.

Shari and I met up in a park in Lakewood to shoot her business portraits for her company, Blossoming. She really wanted shots out in nature, because she wanted to reflect not only her love of nature, but the fact that the form of therapy she practices truly is "all natural." As we walked through the park, we talked and laughed, and she shared with me some of the new developments her business is taking.

For someone who seems to hate having her picture taken, she was a great subject. As we shot frame after frame, I witnessed a common transformation in many portrait sessions: stiff and uncomfortable to soft and relaxed. As a photographer, I enjoy fostering that level of trust and ease so that a person's true essence can shine through.

In her line of work, Shari often sees a similar transformation in the clients she works with. When they come to her, they can be closed off, unsure, or hurt. She helps people to bloom, to open up, to let their inner self glow. Shari is a personal transformation specialist.

When most people hear the word "hypnosis," they think of a magic show act that gets a pretty girl up on stage clucking like a chicken against her will. They imagine someone using "mind control" to manipulate someone into doing things they would not ordinarily do.

Used therapeutically, hypnosis is a powerful tool to overcome the conscious mind and help a person to become a better version of themselves, whether it be to quit smoking, lose weight, or simply deal with emotional issues that are difficult to face.

So rather than calling herself a hypnotherapist, Shari Gordon has titled herself "Chief Blossomer." Shari uses a variety of techniques to teach people how to become the best version of themselves. She hosts a series of classes called "Project Blossom" and is available for private sessions as well. She can be reached at 303-570-5661, or you can email her.

If you would like to hear some of my own personal experiences with hypnosis under Shari's guidance, please feel free to email me.

The rest of her portrait session can be found here.