Archives : Downtown Bend Oregon

Business Portraits For Executive Director Of Bend, Oregon’s Downtowners Association-Chuck Arnold

Trying to get in a photoshoot during someone’s weekly lunch time can be tough, but when it’s uncomfortably cold out it tends to make everything move much faster.  I guess that’s the ultimate goal during these types of shoots, however, as the photographer I still want to make a great connection with my subjects regardless of our time frame otherwise the results just aren’t going to be what we’re looking for.  Let’s not even begin to mention the fact that, at that point, my job actually begins to feel more like….a job!

Chuck and I were able to meet up during his lunch, stroll through Drake Park and shoot 3-4 different scenes within a matter of 45 minutes, (heck, it might have been less for that matter).  In the end, no digits were lost to frostbite, we got the shots he needed and when 3:00 rolled around, he wasn’t caught using his leather office chair for a quick snack.

Wedding Musician Duo “the Ashlings” at The Oxford Hotel in Bend, Oregon

Lauren Brauns and Amy Mitchell have filled this town with soft, sultry harmony for a few years now (playing under The Sweet Harlots).  Now they have a new gig to add to their repertoire – Weddings.  This dynamic duo – named “the Ashlings,” with Laurel having the most incredible voice and guitar and Amy, a beautiful cellist and backup vocalist, will no doubt be a wonderful addition to wedding music in Bend and surrounding Central Oregon.  Amy Mitchell, part of a string quartet that played at our wedding (a few years ago!), added a beautiful range of traditional classics; together with Laurel, they make the most perfect blend of traditional and folk.  Listen and learn more on their website:  http://www.laurelbrauns.com.

It was our pleasure to take some photography to enhance them breaking into the wedding market.  What better place to do it than The Oxford Hotel (new to downtown Bend, Oregon!), which is spread with modern decor and sophisticated style.  It was the perfect backdrop for the photo shoot.  We always have fun with these two and as usual the photo session was filled with laughs and Byron trying to be a ‘model’ and show them ‘the look.’    Special thanks to Ben Perle over at the Oxford for allowing us to lug all of our gear in to do the shoot in the first place!

We can’t wait to do some weddings together, so be sure to book these two fabulous musicians for a great addition to your wedding event.

- B&W

How swank is that?!  (Wendy’s favorite)

A beautiful portrait – can’t you see this on a poster?

These two are never far from a smile…

Here’s a picture of the ‘egg’ (the silver coffee table) we kept laughing at.  Damn, I want me a green rug like that though…

First Friday Showcase and Cyclocross Nationals in Bend, Oregon

As some of you know, we live in Bend, Oregon because the outdoors are a fingertip away.  In fact, our house is within a 5 minute bike path to the head of Phil’s trail, the mountain biking haven.  We ski, we climb, we bike.  Cyclocross in recent years, a unique segment of the sport that is biking, has flourished in this area (especially Portland, Or) and includes dirt, dust, mud, snow, stairs, barriers, hills….etc.  It’s the dirty kind of biking.  My biking/racing habits have been overcome by photography recently; however, we still participate in the biking community of Bend, Oregon.

Footzone was the host of this month’s First Friday Art Walk in downtown Bend where we showcased black and white photos of recent years local Cyclocross madness. Combined with next week’s ‘Cross Culture art + bike’ showing (in honor of Cyclocross Nationals in Bend), we’re deviating from the clean images of wedding photography (just for the moment) just to show you some fun.

Here’s a few from last night’s gathering!  If you couldn’t make it – join us next Friday to kick-off Nationals   Grrrrrrr…

A good crowd the whole night of friends and random art walkers…

The racer, Angela Mart, looking in the mirror – okay a photo of her

Truffles and wine – my favorite   Any food is really my favorite….

Good friends Chad and Sarah with their family swung by for a visit (that’s Ethan in the middle).

Tiffany Anderson Senior Photos – Downtown Bend, Oregon And Drake Park

It’s always a bit funny finding people at a coffee shop when you don’t know what they look like.   I try to get eye contact with people and wait for a look that says “yep, I have no clue who I’m looking for as well”.  That’s the goal, but what really happens is those people your really trying to meet up with are on the other side of the store and the person you decided to take an extended glance at ends up looking quite bewildered at you.  Luckily, all I had to do was search for the best dressed teenager around me and found Tiffany, her boyfriend Shane and mother waiting patiently.

This was probably one of the last days where I could get some fall colors into the shots so we went to Drake Park and also spent some time in downtown Bend where the sun was lighting up this blazing red tree.  Tiffany was a natural in front of the camera and I think this came partly from her excitement at having, as she said, “waited four years for this day”.  Thanks Tiffany, Gina and Shane for the fun day!

Denise and Jimmer Engagement Images; Tumalo Falls Central Oregon

It takes adventurous souls to go where few people have gone (practically underneath Tumalo Falls) for a photo shoot but Denise and Jimmer share adventure and love for the outdoors by nature.  The shoot was filled with spontaneous moments and strong images.  You can’t deny the connection between the two of them and it was a gift to be able to capture that in images they can share indefinately.  We even pulled out the 1973 Red Huffy (all original) tandem for some downtown night shots!  Thanks you two and we’ll see you in about a month for your big day

Downtown Bend, Oregon Personal Assignment – Circles

A fellow friend and local event photographer, Tracy Smith of Cascade Event Photography, invited both Byron and I to join him on a recent personal project.  Tracy goes out every Friday morning to shoot a personal assignment, with a variety of topics such as: textures, shapes, light and shadows, lines…and this week it happened to be ‘circles.’  Here are a few of my favorites while roaming downtown and exploring the art of circles in items around downtown Bend, Oregon.  Enjoy!

–Wendy

(Thank you to Thump Coffee for the visit!)

(A lovely reflection of Bond Street from St. Clair light post)

(Courtesy of Kitchen Compliments)

(Courtesy of Eyes on Wall Street)

(Courtesy of Powells Sweet Shoppe)

(Above two images courtesy of Townhend Tea)