Sakura Koontz Photography

Growing up, I was surrounded by cameras. You see, my dad was and still is a camera junkie. I spent my days flipping through my dad’s camera magazines and looking at images taken from various lenses. Every night after dinner, we took walks in the neighborhood taking photos of flowers, animals, and each other. My mom would then take the negatives, get them developed, and we would examine each photo and have a critique session. These are one of my favorite memories of my dad and I know that he is the one who gave me the passion for photography.

One thing my dad was determined to capture was the Main Street Electrical Parade. I remember my dad holding the “best” photo spot and waiting patiently for hours before the parade. He would then make sure the exposure was correct (this was in the film days) and the lenses were ready. And of course, his photos always came out perfect!

Well, I’m not as great or committed as my dad (in terms of photographing non-living things), but here are my shots from Disneyland’s Electrical Parade.

The little lady-bug things are my favorite! I love watching them spin around and around! =)

Thanks for checking in!

Here are some casual portraits from last week’s beach session. It’s always fun to see the dynamics of a family, and I hope I was able to capture their fun, relaxed side!

Whew! The holiday season is finally over and I’m back to booking 1-2 sessions a week. For awhile, I was shooting over 5 sessions a week and was running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Don’t get me wrong. I’m thankful for all clients and hope that they enjoy the images for years to come. But at the same time, I happy to be able to sit with a good book and a cup of hot chocolate.

During the busy season, I received many e-mails from clients, so I am going to take this opportunity to answer some questions.

What should I bring to the photoshoot?

This depends on the type of photoshoot. For a family session with young kids, I recommend bringing their favorite toy. The toys often helps the kids smile and it gives them comfort to have something they are used to. I am all for bribery, so snacks work well too. Props such as frames, flowers, cool chairs, hats, balloons and umbrellas are also fun, and I will do my best to incorporate them into the images.

For engagement sessions, I recommend the couple to bring something meaningful to them. It can be a letter, a gift, a photo…anything that will bring back memories.

After I get the CD, am I allowed to post them on my facebook? May I take it to a local printer and get them processed?

Of course! Yes, you may post any of the images on your facebook, blog, etc. I only ask that you do not alter the image in any way. This includes any type of processing using Photoshop or any other post-processing softwares, cropping, and/or deleting any information on the file. You are also welcomed to take the digital files to a local printer, but please remember that the images are cropped to a 5×7.

I see a lot of casual family photos on your blog. Do you do formal shots?

…mmm…no. Wait, yes. No. Yes. Yes, I will be more than happy to shoot formal portraits upon request. Although I feel that my style is casual, in the moment, and natural, I will be happy to photograph few formal portraits.

I’m very shy in front of a camera. Will you help us pose?

Yes. I’m with you on that one. Taking photos and being in front of the camera are totally different! I aim to capture natural interactions, but from time to time, I will direct some of the shots by arranging, and directing.

Thanks for checking in! Happy Tuesday!