Business Head Shots: Out of Office

Business portraits do not have to be stuffy, they do not have to be boring, they do not have to be in an office or in a studio. Head shots can be taken in a comfortable chair, on a sunny beach, or sitting next to a quite pond. Any scenery that represents you and your business will be a wonderful backdrop to represent you to the world.

These photographs were taken on Ruston Way in Tacoma, WA for Mary Huff of Spiral Dragonfly Coaching (visit her at www.spiraldragonfly.com.)

Want to book your own session? E-mail me.

Thank you for reading,
Sarah McTernen
www.ardentphotography.com

I Call Fowl!

Thank you,

Sarah McTernen
www.ardentphotography.com

A Question About Art

"The art lies in the man, not in the medium, and the photographer who loves the poetical, dreamy, sometimes melancholy...moods of nature, will show these qualities in his work."


~Rudolf Eickemeyer, Jr.

For the longest time, I wondered whether or not I was an artist. To many people, the act of selling ones work makes one an artist. If someone else wants to buy it, your work is art. To me that definition is too inclusive. I have struggled with the identity of my work, the value of it and the meaning for it, more for my own definition than for any other purpose. I ran across this quote this past month while writing my newsletter and the words struck home. It doesn't matter what the external manifestation of it is, it is the way the mind works that is art, it is the vision that is art, it is the perspective and the ability to change that perspective that is art. Your thoughts?

Thank you,

Sarah McTernen
www.ardentphotography.com

It's Not Complete Until You Frame It

The Camo Violin 9x12

The Garden Fairy 20x30

The Toilet 16x20

Shadow Tulip 11x14

Typically, photographs are matted and framed in black wood as seen on many a gallery wall, but I believe the frame is the finishing touch that deserves just as much consideration as the elements of the photograph itself. The type of wood, the construction, the embellish-ments, whether or not to use matte: these all create a piece of art beyond the photograph. When I frame, I want to create a piece that will look wonderful in a living room, dining room or even a bathroom. I am not designing for the stark museum landscape. I am designing for the warmth of a home.


When I am looking for frames, whether it is pawing through antiques, perusing frame shops, or finding handmade items on the internet, I have a particular photograph in mind. I see the nuances in the frame that will bring out elements of the photograph and vice versa; it needs to pop. Most of the time, that is. Sometimes, I find a frame that I think would be wonderful, but I am not sure what piece to put it with, such as the piece above. I set the empty green frame over the packaged print of the Camo Violin while I was framing something else, looked over, and that was it .


To see more articles from the May edition of The Keen Observer, click here to view the PDF file and then E-mail me to make sure that you recieve next month's newsletter in your inbox.

Thank you,

Sarah McTernen
www.ardentphotography

Spring Sale At Creative Forces

Carolyn Osborne’s Spring Sale is this weekend, May 22nd and 23rd. Come and find beautiful jewelry and more.
Visit her studio at
430 Berkley Avenue Fircrest, WA 98466

Thank you,

Sarah McTernen
www.ardentphotography.com

May Has Been a Blur

I made a valiant attempt to post everyday or at least a few times a week, but once again life and business has got in the way of me writing. I have been out in the world shooting though, so look forward to some new work. I am planning to get a few post under my belt before I once again jaunt out into the world to capture some new everyday things and transform them into art.

Thank you so much for reading,

Sarah McTernen
www.ardentphotography.com

Head Butting Sheep

Thank you,

Sarah McTernen
www.ardentphotography.com

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you moms.

A very Happy Mother's Day to Missy, who is the winner of the Mother's Day Portrait Session Give Away.

Don't forget, if you book a portrait session by the end of May, you can get $15 off your sitting fee.

Have a great day!

Sarah McTernen
www.ardentphotography.com

New Front Page

The new look has finally infiltrated the front page. Though most of the information is changed, the layout resembles the rest of the site and a new header has been added. Let me know what you think!

www.ardentphotography.com

Thank you,

Sarah McTernen
www.ardentphotography.com

Free Portrait Session for Mother's Day

Are you a mother? (or do you know one?)


Do you live in the Puget Sound Region?


Would you like to have professional portraits taken of you and your children for free?


Then put your name in for my Mother's Day Free Portrait Sitting Contest!


One lucky mom will receive a 1/2 portrait session with me in the location of her choosing. You must live in the Puget Sound Region and must be a mom (sorry Dads, your month is in June). Oh and moms-to-be count.

My daughter will pull one name out of a hat on Mother's Day (5/9/2010).

Comment here or E-mail me at sarah@ardentphotography.com.

Thank you,

Sarah McTernen
www.ardentphotography.com

May Etsy Promotion

Celebrating the beauty of pregnancy and the wonder that is being a mother. Happy Mother's Day to all of you moms and moms-to-be out there.

1. With Child - beachchik (Custom Painting)

2. Natural Wooden Nursing Necklace - littlenurslings

3. With Child (oxidized) - frillz

4. A Mothers Love - Inspiring and Positive Fertility Art Print - TheFertileGarden

5. Bell Casts Gift Certificate - mamarocksdesigns

6. Birth Wise Bracelet - for Labor and Birth - WildMotherArts

7. Queen Bee Deluxe Pregnancy Gift Set - thespoiledmama

Thank you,

Sarah McTernen
www.ardentphotography.com

Want Pregnancy portraits or Mother's Day Portraits? E-mail me to book a session before June 1st and save $15 on your sitting fee!