12. 3.09
It's the season for family photos! Everyone always wants to update their looks for the big holiday card, so the requests just keep coming in! However, I am going to be completely honest with you all...family photos are not really my thing. I only photograph a few families a year. I do these for people who I have met, formed a great relationship with in the past and truly have a connection to! I got a call from Abby of Skinner Jones a few weeks ago and the more we talked about her very-large-extended family shoot, the more I actually wanted to do it!

I came to THE house. You know when you watch movies, especially holiday movies, and the entire family comes to one big house that is super cozy and the kitchen is always bustling, the fire is on and music is rockin' while all the chaos of the family ensues?

This was THAT house! I absolutely loved this family and really enjoyed photographing them! There were 22 people, total, so I broke everyone down into their respective families before the GRAND family photo! Here are some of my favorite images!

LOVEe

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Geoff Heith says:

What great shots...a good looking bunch for sure!

(12.03.09 @ 01:45 PM)
melissa oholendt says:

These shots ROCK.

(12.03.09 @ 08:10 PM)
coco says:

Eliesa you did such a wonderful job shooting our family. Not an easy task wrangling all these people and personalities, but the photos turned out beautifully. We'll treasure them!
Thank you -
Coco

(12.07.09 @ 02:02 PM)
Sus says:

I can attest to this family's Thanksgiving and beyond: simply splendid. And, I am fairly certain it doesn't get much more gorgeous than Ba. Much love to a favorite family of mine. Gorgeous work, Eliesa.

(12.08.09 @ 12:39 PM)
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Ladies, you can thank me later for this post...really...just enjoy!

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LOVEe
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Rachel says:

delish! :) He has a bit of a Matt Damon look, especially in the shot with the dresser. LOVE the B&W on the couch one.

(10.19.09 @ 10:25 AM)
owtown alumn says:

yum! why did i date him in high school! awesome shots!

(10.19.09 @ 08:00 PM)
melissa oholendt says:

I can't comment on this without getting myself in trouble...

(10.19.09 @ 08:52 PM)
Hillary Braaten says:

Haha oh Erin, what a stud! He sure knows how to work it doesn' he??

(10.20.09 @ 08:03 AM)
joan_got_madluv4airun says:

wow. great pictures, really professional.


stop being so skinny and seducing me with that coffee mug...

(12.02.10 @ 01:22 PM)
joan_got_madluv4airun says:

wow. great picz. really professional

(12.02.10 @ 01:24 PM)
Anna Swaller says:

I know what's going on my Christmas list...a little bit of Erin ;)

(12.02.10 @ 08:36 PM)
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Aurora is a little firecracker - and I LOVE her!!!

I met Aurora earlier this year, when she was recommended to me as a designer for our fabulous new re-brand. Finding the perfect designer can be a daunting task, but the second I met her, I knew it was true love and she knew exactly what I was about!

Brian is the calm in their relationship - and it is the perfect balance, since these two have been married for 7 years! I asked them what the secret to 7 years was and they said, "Laugh and be Nerds..." Alright, I'll take that advice and run with it!

I also have to give major props to these two for supporting local fashion: Brian's jacket is by Laura Fulk and Aurora's dress is by Joynoelle!

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LOVEe
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Aurora Whittet says:

We love them! Thank you so so much! You are as always amazing. Can't wait to see the rest.

(10.17.09 @ 11:11 AM)
Bernard says:

Great shots, great clothing. Love his shoes! Crazy about the last shot - good job E! :)

(10.17.09 @ 11:29 PM)
sarah says:

holy cow that last shot is STUNNING.

(10.19.09 @ 01:40 PM)
Jodie Johnson says:

omg AMAZING. everything. dang i love her hair

(10.20.09 @ 10:18 AM)
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This past week, while on the Bend [Trip], I had some time to think and discuss life, love and all it's possibilities with some wonderful women. Sometimes you don't realize something until you say it out loud. And I realized something BIG! I've felt frustrated with myself recently. As an artist, as a photographer and as a person. I couldn't figure out where or why I had these feelings, I mean, I have the best job in the world, right?

Then, I said it. I'm a people pleaser. I love to make people happy. And I know that my images make my client's dreams come true. However, the artist within me needs something more. I need to remember to make myself happy with my images to keep things fresh and creative. I need to make myself happy before I can continue to make others happy.

Thus, I have decided to take my blog back! I will continue to post images from weddings and all our other shenanigans,  but instead of posting images that I know my clients, magazine editors, etc will like, I am going to post the images that I personally LOVE!


"How many cares one loses when one decides not to be SOMETHING but to be SOMEONE."

~ Coco Chanel





Cheers to Happiness!

eliesa


Special thanks to Laura for this fabulous photo!
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sara montour says:

I'm so stoked that you posted it! I think that the beginning of winter is a strange time for creative people. I know that I almost always fall into a funk this time of year and I think it's awesome that you're being proactive and taking control of it.

Also, BAM! You are HAWT, lady!

(10.12.09 @ 12:57 PM)
GZ says:

Great message and I totally agree, us people pleaser's can lose our sight trying so hard for our clients.Amazing photo E..you got ups :)

(10.12.09 @ 01:11 PM)
Nicole says:

YEAH!!! So happy for you.

(10.12.09 @ 01:25 PM)
Dawn Chemmings says:

First of all, you look hot in your boots and undies. Second of all, you are the BOMB.COM. Lauren just leaned over my shoulder and said "hi"

(10.12.09 @ 01:29 PM)
johnwaire | photo says:

kudos!!!!

(10.12.09 @ 01:35 PM)
romain lhuissier says:

hi Eliesa ! I just discovered your work by your blog, greetings for all, great stuff here ! I think you are right to post images YOU like... I think an artist depends a lot of the points of view of her/his clients, but more of HIS point of view and the ablility to judge it: if you don't like some pics or less than other ones, why and how could they be liked by others ?! And customers are choosing you for your capacity of dissociating good pics of bad ones. Sorry for any language faults, I hope you will understand what I want to tell you !
I'll be surely and oftenly back for the inspiration you gave me tonight !)

(10.12.09 @ 01:36 PM)
roz says:

YOU GO GIRL!!! Everyone Loves your photos!! But this is why I Love YOU!! R xo

(10.12.09 @ 01:56 PM)
Shari Barnes says:

This is truly amazing! I love that you posted this!

(10.12.09 @ 02:07 PM)
Joy says:

I found your work recently through a group of local photo gals -- SO GOOD!! Just wanted to give you kudos for posting the above sentiment -- I couldn't agree more, although is sometimes hard to remember to think about ourselves as well! Keep up the awesome work!

(10.12.09 @ 04:25 PM)
melissa oholendt says:

You are one of the bravest people I know. LOVE the picture. And I LOVE that you are going to be true to yourself.

(10.12.09 @ 05:07 PM)
Sue from Camrose Hill says:

love this post !
it's your blog ~ you post the stuff you like... go , go, go!

love your style ...
Sue

(10.12.09 @ 06:37 PM)
PJ Lee says:

You look so happy. Isn't it priceless that someone captured you having one of your "important moments"--just like you do for others (however there is usually cake involved. Pehaps, you'll include cake in your next Eliesa portrait session.) Lovely.

(10.12.09 @ 11:32 PM)
Jeffrey Neal says:

Wowo! You are hot!!!!! Keep killing it E! i really want to be shooting with you everyday!

(10.13.09 @ 12:52 AM)
Kristan says:

I'm glad you decided to post this!!! I love it!

(10.13.09 @ 11:57 AM)
leonie says:

i had a thought which i was going to post. then i read melissa's comment and it is exactly what i was going to say. and btw, i love how you implemented it already in your recent post. i love to see the moments in between, those that only rare people catch!

(10.13.09 @ 01:26 PM)
brooke schwab says:

I love you! You are a brave and inspiring woman!

(10.14.09 @ 08:36 AM)
sarah says:

this is so rad! you go, chica.

(10.14.09 @ 01:10 PM)
Jodie Johnson says:

DANG HOTTIE! love the pic, love the blog, love your boldness.

(10.16.09 @ 09:26 AM)
melanie mauer says:

bravo! warmly, -melanie-

(10.19.09 @ 05:41 AM)
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AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am SO excited to announce the new look of Photogen Inc!

For the last 6 months, we have been SO busy at the studio to make Photogen Inc the brand it is meant to be! Last April, I decided to go ahead and hire a pro to do my re-brand. The investment was HANDS DOWN one of the best decisions I ever made!

I want to give a HUGE thank you to Aurora of Red Organic! In my search for a designer, I wanted to fall in love with someone and also have them understand my vision! Aurora was AMAZING to work with, very timely and made all of my dreams come true!

I also want to than Into The Dark Room for working with me so fast to create this BEAUTIFUL new blog! Now the identity of our new brand flows seamlessly and it feels SO good!

Not only is the blog updated, but there are TONS of new features that we want to offer our Blogstalkers :0)

UPDATED WEDDING WEBSITE - The wedding site got a face lift and some pretty new swirls!

FACEBOOK FAN PAGE - Seriously, you are going to want to be a part of this! Not only are there TONS of behind-the-scenes images of us shooting, but we will be running some SICK promotions and giveaways for both clients and photographers alike!

FOLLOW PHOTOGEN INC ON TWITTER - Our world is changing and this is the BEST way to stay connected with our amazing adventures and exciting things-to-come!



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A HUGE thank you to my team and Red Organic for helping me with this re-brand! I am absolutely in LOVE with it and proud of all of the hard work we put into this!

Feel free to leave a comment below and let us know what you think of the new look!

Here's for the VERY exciting things to come....oh, don't you EVEN think I'm done yet!


eliesa
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Jeffrey Neal says:

You are amazing! Love it E! So stoked for you and your team.

(09.21.09 @ 03:55 PM)
Emily Steffen says:

YOU are a rock star and your branding matches it! :) I might just be in love.

(09.21.09 @ 04:07 PM)
tasha herrgott says:

I know I have said this before, but I HAVE to say it again - your new brand is SOOOO amazing! I love it - its you! The blog, the business cards - they all look so darn incredible! Yay for you!!!!

(09.21.09 @ 04:17 PM)
Laura Ivanova says:

Wow! I've been waiting impatiently to see this come to life. Absolutely love it Eliesa! Aurora is the bomb!!! So excited for you and your new look!

(09.21.09 @ 04:43 PM)
Amy Campbell says:

Love the new look that you have for sure grown into!! Love all the new materials where was the printing done?

(09.21.09 @ 04:45 PM)
Hillary Braaten says:

e- I've been doing some serious daily stalking!!! lol & It looks fantastic, congrats on all your success thus far! I can't wait for photogen to shoot our engagement session & wedding day! ps I love the swirls haha!

(09.22.09 @ 10:42 AM)
Corinna Hoffman says:

I loooove it all!!! Awesome and the new logo is superb :) I do miss the pink stars on your blog, but the pictures speak boldly for themselves :)

Love it and happy to follow your blog, in Twitter and Facebook :)

xoxo

(09.24.09 @ 10:35 AM)
sarah says:

g.o.r.g.e.o.u.s. new look!

(09.27.09 @ 05:04 PM)
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