But the time has come for a new headshot…and being bored waiting for some products for a shoot to arrive the other day I had a quick go at a self portrait….I think it turned out rather well….

I’m going to be shooing their wedding at the end of the month and it’s going to be a blast!

Lauren is my friend Debbie’s daughter. I met Debbie via a great online photography site:

NoBS PhotoSuccess

and she asked if I could shoot their wedding!

I have another great friend, Jason Abbott, from Texas flying up to help out – and I can’t wait!

Here are some faves from the day:

Mad Dogs and Englishmen will sell out ultra fast – to register your interest please fill in your name and email here:

Email Marketing You Can Trust

I’ve been thinking of a way to get Portland’s Dad’s the best present, rather than the usual boring sweater and colone combo that they usually get! Of course, I want my photographer to be the main player in the event…so I’ve come up with Father’s Favorites. While my Daddy and Me day is still going be scheduled as planned, I thought that what Dad’s really wanted was something to bring a smile to his face every time he looked at it…

CLICK HERE FOR FATHERS FAVORITES INFO

Check out this Amazing One-Of-A-Kind event. There are only 10 slots open and it’s first come first booked!

Father’s Favorites is taking place Wednesday June 2nd. (by appointment)
Viewing day is Wednesday June 9th. (by appointment)

I’ve had a great time here with my Canadian friends, and met some awesome new ones! Hung out last night with David Beckstead (hands down winner for best business card ever!) who is a true rockstar photographer.

My presentation yesterday was fun, although being translated was weird! At least the translator was a good friend of mine, Julie, and her daughter, Joelle, was one of my models – so much fun was had!

Video coming later today, here is the first image I’ve processed from the live shoot of Joelle. My other model, Melissa, was equally awesome and I’ll work some images of them both next week.

This is my last day in Canada before heading home – traveling slows down now for wedding season…phew!

Our Limited Edition portrait sessions are an ideal way to capture the bond between Father and Child..

Our popular Daddy and Me Limited Edition session is held at the studio. Dress in your Sunday best for a memorable portrait
Daddy and Me will be shot on May 23rd

Create a nostalgic portrait of you and your children with our popular
Daddy and Me Limited Edition session.

session fees $49
packages starting at $99

Call or email the studio NOW to book your spot – these sessions won’t last long, I know that Dads want a cool and timeless portrait for Father’s day this year!

This time, I’m headed to California – Los Angeles!

Pinned-Up. A full on, two day assault on your senses, featuring:

•Live Model Shoots
•Posing Instruction
•Lighting Instruction
•How to Promote Pin-Up photography
•How to Create that “Pin-up” look and feel.
•Hands-on Coaching, and
•Unbelievably intensive Photoshop Demonstration and Training

I’m in negotiations with my pin-up muse, and the girl who got me on the road to pin-uppy fun, Cherry Dollface, to be one of the models.

For more info, including registration, click here.

Sponsored by Mama Shan’s Digital Goodies, NoBSPhotosuccess, Friday Photoschool, Shootsmarter and Animoto.

5 reasons to book a Mommy and Me portrait session:
1• It’s Mother’s day – treat yourself! (or your wife!)
2• Because you love your child
3• You want a stunning portrait, not a snapshot.
4• You will not find better prices for the best Mommy and Me portrait.
5• Kids grow up fast – they won’t be this age forever!

Session fee $ 49
Packages start at $ 99

Sessions on April 25th

Call 503.381.7828 now
to schedule your appointment.

Recommended ages 7 months to 7 years.
Our special Limited Edition pricing will be in effect, and availability is limited.

Since this is brand new – please let me know of any bugs that you find (or spelling mistakes too!)

Have a look round using the links at the top and enjoy!

So – here we are in a new decade! I planned to write a nice end-of-year wrap up to post just before New Year’s Eve, but I’ve been so busy that it got put off till now! I’m writing from my hotel room in Nashville, where I’m showing Pindora’s Box at the PPA Imaging USA trade show.

2009 was a great year for Katchlight and Portland Pin-Ups, and 2010 is going to be even better!

Here’s a brief rundown of my the last 12 months of my life – both professionally and personally.

The biggest thing to impact me in the last year was the arrival of my son, George! Alison and I are over the moon with the little chap, and his brother Henry is a very proud sibling! It’s challenging for sure having a 3 year old and 3 month old, but I’m sure once they are older it’ll all be worth it. I have to send a massive cyber kiss and hug to my wife, Alison, here – as she is a stay at home Mummy, and works harder than anyone I know. I couldn’t ask for a better Mother for my kids, and thank my lucky stars every day that I found her!

I shot more weddings last year than any year for many – and ended up with 20 on the calendar…and each and every one of them was not only great fun, but also allowed me to meet fantastic, romantic and wonderful people. I honestly haven’t had a year like that in my wedding photography career – I love shooting weddings anyway, but each one just got better and better – so to each of my couples from last year – thankyou for being awesome! I’ve helped create some memories for them, and made some great lifelong friends too.

Portland Pin-Ups has been my baby for a few years now. It started out as a creative outlet for me to relax after long wedding days, or retouching the latest Adidas campaign, but during the last 12 months it’s taken a life of it’s own and is now starting to gain National attention. It’s taken me on journeys around the country to meet amazing people, it’s helped create a stunning product for photographers to help them with their pin-up work, it’s spawned a new career for me speaking and presenting workshops, and it’s going to send me off on new journeys this coming year too. After I return from Nashville I’m off to present a few workshops in Canada, then it’s off to Chicago to speak at the NoBS Inferno and back to Canada in May to speak at the PPOC Nationals. This is a huge honor for me, and I’m equal parts excited and petrified in equal measure!

The pin-up side of my business has also led to some great commercial work, most recently producing an Animoto ad and tour images for Sandy Puc’. This really came home to me here in Nashville when I walked in and saw my images of her on many of the stands in the trade show. When her tour starts later in the month, the pirate images will grace the tour bus too!

2010 plans are now behind schedule due to my traveling, but I already have some wonderful couples lined up for weddings, and plenty of travel and touring on the horizon too! Pindora’s Box is only just beginning, and Mama Shan and I are planning our next products in the line.

In the next few days I’ll be posting my favorite images from last year!

Here’s the 2010 – should be a cracking year!

Cheers

Mike.

Contact Me Pin-Up Portfolio Stuff for photographers