Hollye Schumacher Photography

Ashley and Damon

noreply@blogger.com (Hollye) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:57:00 +0000

You gotta love the chuck taylors!

I'm thinking, pregnant Marilyn Monroe

My Sister's Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Hollye) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 05:24:00 +0000

My sister, Brooke, got married in June...and I am JUST now posting her shots. I've been so busy this Summer with travels and clients that I've neglected my poor sister's wedding images. I wasn't technically the "official" photographer for her wedding since I was the maid of honor, but I did manage to take them around San Francisco for about 10 minutes to snap a few quick ones.

These were taken after the ceremony in Monterrey

This little bonus shot was an image I took of my mom playing the Ukulele at my sisters reception...go mom!!

Ryan

noreply@blogger.com (Hollye) — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 03:12:00 +0000

These are some fun images I shot recently of my niece, Ryan. I added the giant lollipop to the session to bring more color into the mix (she was obviously very excited about it!). I opted for a white background to help the colors pop. Ryan is an incredibly fun kid to photograph and I am continually inspired by her excitement for life.

Woodward Family

noreply@blogger.com (Hollye) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 23:47:00 +0000

I had the wonderful opportunity to photograph my studio manager's family in San Diego this summer. Here are some of my faves:

Katie and Vincent

noreply@blogger.com (Hollye) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 18:18:00 +0000

I am SO happy to be presenting this wedding. Katie and Vincent are an amazing couple who have become very near and dear to my heart. Vincent was my roomate during my senior year at college (Go Buffs!). I was so honored when I got the call that he was getting married and they wanted to hire me. It's been such a pleasure getting to know Katie and reconnecting with my dear friend Vincent. They are a perfect pair.

Here are some of my faves...

I love color of the bridesmaid dresses. It was so vibrant and flattering on the girls.

I started tearing up at the point in the ceremony. Just before Katie's dad handed her off to Vincent, he asked Vincent to "take care of his little girl" It was such a sweet and sentimental moment. The look on his face really says it all.

The seamless coordination for this event was by CC and Paige at The Colorado Co.
Location: Arrowhead Golf Club, Colorado

The bride recently sent me this SUPER sweet note after viewing her slideshow:
"I can't even begin to tell you how happy I am with you and Eric's work- you guys are truly amazing!!!!!!
I am at a total loss for words (which is really rare for me!) The slide show is just wonderful- love the music, love the shots!!!!
I have been looking one by one at each of the other photos too- have barely gotten any work done today but I couldn't be more stoked! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!"

You're awesome Katie!

Why I love my "Job"

noreply@blogger.com (Hollye) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:23:00 +0000

I was asked the other day by the ladies at My Wedding Film why I love what I do. I thought it was such a great question that I would post the answers on my blog. I don't normally post a lot of personal entries in my blog, solely because I want this blog to be focused on imagery rather than words and opinions, but I figure a few insights into why I love what I do would explain why I am SO passionate about what I do.

so here are my top five answers as to why I love Wedding Photography...

1. I love my clients!

I get the opportunity to work with INCREDIBLE people. I have managed to attract an amazing group of past and future clients. I'm not sure how some of these people find me, but they do and I'm so honored when a like-minded person books me for their wedding, family session, or modern dog session. Secondly, I get to work with wonderful people in the wedding industry who are as passionate about hard work as they are about creativity and customer services. There is a group of great people in this industry who I've managed to befriend and I am always so grateful for their referrals and their creations.

2. I love photography!

(this might get a little long) I started photographing when I was 12 at summer camp. I won't go into the story about how I love the darkroom and it was there that I discovered the magic of the camera, etc, since it seems to be a common theme for photographers to say, but I will say that ever since I was 12 I was obsessed. Ever since I remember, I would create books of images I ripped from magazines. I collected books on the greats, like Annie Lebovitz, Herb Rits, and David LaChapelle and spend hours on the bookstore floor flipping through pages of images. At 16, I assisted a fashion photographer, wrote a 10 page article on why I wanted to become a photographer for an English project, and interviewed fabulous photographer, Phyllis Lane for the article. I did my required senior speech on photography along with a slideshow of images from my portfolio at age 18. In college I took courses and lived in the darkroom. I studied photography on Semester at Sea where my friends jokingly called me "the hermit" since I spent so much time in the hull of the ship developing images from the 9 countries we had visited. At 22 I saved my money and flew to Australia for what was intended to be a 3 week-long trip. I ended up living in Sydney for almost 2 years. I assisted any photographer who would allow a skinny, 5'2" female to haul their heavy equipment around. Thankfully, I was given the opportunity to assist by a few great photographers, most notably, Martin Mischkulnig who is still one of my favorite photographers to date.
In 2001, I won the Australia Nikon Award. The award was a Nikon F100 camera, a camera body that I had wanted since I was 15. Winning this award solidified my dream to becoming a photographer and made me realize I needed to continue down that path.
Since returning to Arizona in 2002 I have been working my way up through the world of wedding photography. A genre of photography I never thought I would experience until Phyllis Lane recommended I give it a try after my return from Australia. As of now July 2008, I have been dedicating my life to wedding photography for almost 6 years. I accomplished the goal of having a national magazine publish my work and write an article on my studio before the age of 30. My next goal is to become one of the most respected photographers in the industry. (still working on that one)

3. I love the challenge!

Believe it or not, wedding photography is HUGELY challenging. It's one of the most difficult things I've had to do in my life, not only because I am given the task of shooting creative images, under stress, carrying heavy equipment in the heat with an array of lighting challenges and changing scenery, but because, I have high expectations of myself and my goal is always to create more inspiring and beautiful images than I shot at the last wedding. I am always pushing myself to make more exciting images and it's that pressure to perform that is the most challenging aspect of all.

4. I love to learn!

In order to create great images in the face of these challenges, I am on a constant journey to learn. I attend non wedding related workshops every year to continue to develop my eye. One of my favorite workshops is offered by Vision Quest, taught by the incredibly talented, Doug Beasley. As a matter of fact, I'm headed to his Ireland workshop in 4 days (woo hoo!) And of course, what better way to couple my love for travel with my love for photography.
I also attend wedding workshops, some of my favorites being the workshops by Lacour,
Bambi Cantrell, Joe Buissink, Yervant, and Jerry Ghionis.

5. I love the people who help me stay afloat!

Wedding photography is a multi-faceted industry that involves not only creativity, but business savy and customer service. I can't continue to photograph images if I can't sustain my business and vice versa. I have incredible support from my husband and second shooter, Eric, my studio manager, Stacey, and web designer Ryan Brannen, who collectively allow me to happily stay afloat and give my clients the added support that a one-man-band can't provide.

So there it is in a nutshell. If you have made it this far, thank you for taking the time to read! And if you are like minded person, please feel free to drop me a line, send me a comment, or hang out with me for tea or lunch!

Impressions of Ireland

noreply@blogger.com (Hollye) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 08:26:00 +0000

I went to the magical country of Ireland last month to attend a workshop hosted by my good friend Doug Beasley. We mainly spent our time on the Islands off the west coast of Ireland, called Inishmore and Inishmein. Since the islanders continue to speak the Galic language and live the traditional rural life, they are considered to bethe most "authentic" Irish culture.

From a visual perspective, Ireland stunning. The contrast of light and dark and vibrant colors made for an amazing excursion. Since my return, I have been hounded by friends and family to post images. So I'm taking a break from editing my weddings tonight to post a few of my favorites. I just received my film images which I'll post in a few weeks. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy...

I laid on the ground for 5 minutes waiting for a gesture to make this image complete. When I saw the horse turn it's head and the wind pick up it's main, I knew I had the shot.

This is my good friend and traveling buddy, Bill. He's standing in the door or a rusted shipwreck on the coast of Inishmein.

An image from the ferry traveling from the islands to the mainland. The rainy grey sky was a common theme throughout the trip.

A testament of the rural lifestyle. An old woman feeds her chickens.

The pattern on the ground of the islands creates a visually stunning effect.

Ireland has the most amazing Guinness Beer! It tastes different than the Guinness I've tried in the states.

These are offerings on the interior or a holy well. The local Irish people come here to send prayers to loved ones who are sick or dying.

Old vacant homes on these islands are rarely torn down. A symbol of the migration of islanders to the Irish mainland.

I was struck by the fire red hair on this boy. I thought it contrasted nicely with the grey sky and water. The composition is simple and direct to bring more attention to the colors.

These were three of the youngest musicians in the town on Inishmore. Despite the islands small population and size, there are a plethora of tourists who these kids entertain as they pass by.

The stark contrast of green and white made me immediately stop the driver of our horse and cart to get this image. The white cows appear to be radiating light. I was happy with the spacing of the cows which added to a more evenly weighted composition in the final frame.

This image has not been enhanced or photoshopped. This horse on a hill was an optical illusion that created an entertaining composition.

I found this horse lonely and sad tied to the side of an old tractor. I loved the vivid colors of his main as it contrasted with the deep blue sky.

Greg Cluff Rocks!

noreply@blogger.com (Hollye) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 21:29:00 +0000

My good friend and local videographer extraordinaire, put together this little clip of out-takes of me photographing a wedding.

If you want to see me at work, check it out:

HOLLYE IN ACTION

If you're looking for a videographer he is, hands-down, one of the best around.

To view more of Greg's work, go to: GREG'S SITE

Olivia and Chris

noreply@blogger.com (Hollye) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:15:00 +0000

I have some blog catching up to do! This is one wedding in a series of awesome weddings over the past couple months. I'll be posting them as quickly as I can.

We're off to Colorado this weekend to shoot at the prestigious Arrowhead Golf Club. Look forward to some wonderful location shots from that one!!

In the meantime, enjoy Olivia and Chris' shots from Desert Mountain Resort. An incredible day with an incredibly beautiful couple.!!

Seriously Hot Engagement Session

noreply@blogger.com (Hollye) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 07:29:00 +0000

This was a "hot" shoot on a few different levels. Tarin and John are not only a super hot couple but it was a record breaking 110 degrees this day in the middle of May. Needless to say we were melting by the end of it all. I give so much respect to T&J for pushing through the session and going along with my crazy ideas that started out as jokes and ended in really cool images (ie. the shot of them in the bushes). There is a lot to be said about the love these guys have for each other.
I tried to push the envelope with a few different toning techniques throughout the slideshow to compliment the scenery. I especially loved the great shapes and textures we were able to find in the city. As well as the ruggedness of the powerlines in the images at the end of the day which added an interesting framing and visual element. I hope you enjoy their slideshow as much as I enjoyed making it!!! And as always, feel free to leave feedback in the comment section below.

Here are some of my faves from the session:

Cheryl and Rob, loving it up!

noreply@blogger.com (Hollye) — Sat, 24 May 2008 19:38:00 +0000

Cheryl and Rob, you are the essence of fun! Thank you for your willingness to take some risks, jump around, and roll in the grass. It paid off in the images. And Rob, I've never seen someone pop a champagne cork, bounce it off of a tree and hit them in the stomach. Definitely a day to remember. :-)

LIttle Miss Delaney

noreply@blogger.com (Hollye) — Thu, 22 May 2008 23:42:00 +0000

BriAnne is having a baby, Oh Boy!

noreply@blogger.com (Hollye) — Tue, 20 May 2008 04:04:00 +0000

I wanted to show a wide range of feelings for these images. BriAnne was so willing to experiment with different lighting and techniques. I hope you enjoy the result!

Little Charlotte

noreply@blogger.com (Hollye) — Thu, 15 May 2008 22:37:00 +0000

SB Collections

noreply@blogger.com (Hollye) — Thu, 15 May 2008 07:42:00 +0000

These are images from a shoot with Sarah Cornwell, owner of SB Collections. She creates stunning jewelry for everyday wear and weddings. Here are some featured images from the bridal jewelry session.
The dresses were generously donated by Twirl Boutique and the veils were from Meghan Lawlor Collections.

Bridal Beauty Night

noreply@blogger.com (Hollye) — Thu, 15 May 2008 07:21:00 +0000

A few weeks ago I was given the privilege to speak at a Beauty Night sponsored by Bright Event Gallery and Imoni Events.

The focus was on educating brides about the wedding day and how to look your best with tips and tricks from the different wedding professionals.

Among the speakers were:
Linda Wagner make-up artist
Jennifer Thye from Imoni Events
Claudia from Claudia's Pearls
Erin from Destiny's Bride
and Myself

It was an extremely informative event and I was happy to receive some great feedback and emails from attendees.

Here are a few photo highlights...

Happy Mother's Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Hollye) — Tue, 13 May 2008 04:07:00 +0000

I love this series of images I took of my mom the other day in front of her playhouse. The playhouse is a mini-house a family friend built for us as a gift when we were younger.

Here are her words when I showed her the images:
There is something about the playhouse that makes me so happy and playful. Life must always have somewhere to play.

I get a lot of creative inspiration from my mom, who I'm so proud to say is one of the most creative and fun people I know. I am so honored to have her as my mom.

Camille and Cliff

noreply@blogger.com (Hollye) — Thu, 08 May 2008 04:27:00 +0000

Wedding Location: The Sanctuary Resort in Paradise Valley
Florist: The Flower Studio

Chelsea and Ryan The Graduates

noreply@blogger.com (Hollye) — Thu, 08 May 2008 00:07:00 +0000

Jackson

noreply@blogger.com (Hollye) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 03:03:00 +0000

Upcoming workshop for brides...

noreply@blogger.com (Hollye) — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:58:00 +0000

I'm going to be speaking at the upcoming Beauty Night for Brides.
If you are planning a wedding, be sure to check it out. It's going to be extremely informative.
I'll specifically be talking about how to find a photographer who is right for you, wedding time-lines based on the light, and tips to looking good in front of the lens.
Also speaking will be a hair stylist, make-up artist, and wedding coordinator to discuss the wedding from their perspective. If you're interested, give them a call as space is limited.

Little Ava

noreply@blogger.com (Hollye) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 04:41:00 +0000

Kristen and Jeff

noreply@blogger.com (Hollye) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 23:30:00 +0000

Sara's Senior Portraits

noreply@blogger.com (Hollye) — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 05:49:00 +0000

Photo Workshop for Mom's

noreply@blogger.com (Hollye) — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 07:23:00 +0000