Janet Klinger’s Photography Blog

I am thrilled and honored that the Readers of Seattle Bride voted me, Janet Klinger, the “Best Photographer 2008″. THANK YOU! From the bottom of my heart. Granted it was a TIE, but according to Ali Basye (the Editor of Seattle Bride) we split the largest number of votes ever cast in a tie. Spreading the love.

The fabulously talented J Garner won Best Photographer in the “Vendors Choice” category along with his wife, Katarina. These two are not only incredibly talented, but industrious, personable, and business savvy. Hmmm. Wait. Don’t hire them. Hire me! After all, this is MY blog.

Other Winning Vendors (A partial list as it’s late. Purchase the latest edition of Seattle Bride for details.)

True Color Events: Best Wedding Planner AND Day-of-Wedding Planner. Vendors’ Choice.
Aisle of View: Best Wedding Planner AND Day-of-Wedding Planner AND ALL AROUND BEST WEDDING VENDOR. Readers’ Choice. Go Merry Beth!!!
Luly Yang Couture: Best Custom Dress Designer AND Best Bridal Accessories. Readers’ Choice.
Luly Yang Couture: Best Custom Dress Designer AND Best Dress Shop. Vendors’ Choice.
Golf Club At Newcastle: Best Location for a Sunset Wedding. Readers’ Choice.
Flora Nova: Best Florist. Vendors’ Choice. (She’s all over this blog. Do a search!)
Aria Style: Best Florist. Readers’ Choice.
Moms, Maids and More: Best Mother-of-the-Bride Apparel AND Flower Girl Dresses. Vendors’ Choice AND Readers’ Choice.
E.E. Robbins, The Engagement Ring Store: Engagement/Wedding Rings. Vendors’ Choice.
The Healthy Bride: Bridal Fitness Plan. (I work out with her too, but I’m a healthy “Goddess”, not bride.)
The Michael Benson Band: Best Live Band/Entertainment. Vendors’ Choice AND Readers’ Choice.
Wave Link Music: Best DJ for the Reception. Vendors’ Choice.
Hotel 1000: Best Hotel for Guests. Vendors’ Choice.
A Heavenly Ceremony: Best Officiant/Clergy. Readers’ Choice.
Fairmont Olympic Hotel: Best Quintessential Seattle-Area Reception Site. Readers’ Choice.

Anyone notice anything in common? Nearly all of these vendors have been featured on Janet Klinger’s Photography Blog. Love to say I told you so. For more Wedding Vendors we adore, choose the “Vendor” category on the right.

Phinney Ridge is such a fabulous neighborhood. Here preschool, groceries, parks, zoo, Greenlake, bakeries, and friends are less than a 10 minute walk away. We’re lucky beyond my dreams to live in this politically aware, socially conscious neighborhood where neighbors help each other and the urban village thrives.

Our community revolves around the PNA where members can borrow tools for home projects, and classes cover an enormous array of interest. A tiny portion of the class list includes yoga, pilates, swing, tap, belly dance, computer, musical instruments. Weekly gatherings include Spanish conversation, book clubs, social, political, musical and neighborly events. The recent embracing of the Greenwood Senior Center has added an additional wealth of opportunity for old and young to learn, play and bond together.

Some of my favorites Phinney Ridge / Greenwood establishments include

CLOTHING for Women: The Frock Shop, as if the owner has been sent from heaven to be my personal shopper- unique, trendy yet affordable. Wish packs-in adorable funky items to mix and match, Hip Zephyr for designer clothing in a casual boutique setting, Lemon Meringue for high end wear with an eye toward casual. Small but hip maternity collection too. Tweed represents local designers (funky casual) at still affordable prices.

CHILDREN’S Mimi Rose featuring owner-designed clothing and select toys, books. Rising Stars for adorable new & used clothing, books and gifts. Top Ten Toys is first to come to mind when I want a classic toy or I’m stumped for creative project ideas. playmatters, an indoor playground for kids, networking and seminars for adults. My daughter Ellie gets her hair cut at Beach Combers, where she gets to ride on a turtle while watching a video. Such a treat!

CAFES: The Asian infused Fresh Flours (The azuki bean- green tea cake is second only to their blueberry stuffed muffin) , The happy to be politically correct Green Bean (caters to those with kids. Super comfy atmosphere and tasty treats), Herkimer Coffee (best without children or when you need to work on your laptop) .

RESTAURANTS:

DINNER: Santa Fe Cafe for a flavorful Southwestern treat, Carmelita for vegetarian food (seasonal NW) and hip atmosphere, Il Giardino for tasty Italian, Chef Liao serves Asian fusion in a family run, casual setting.
SMALL PLATES with interesting drinks I choose Oliver’s Twist or Tigertail.
MEDITERRANEAN is popular here: Yannis’, Gorgeous George’s, Olive You, Georgia’s.
SIMPLE BUT TASTY Red Mill Burger, 74th Street Ale House, Crash landing Pizza.
BREAKFAST eateries: Phinney Market for Sunday Brunch, kitschy Mae’s Phinney Ridge Cafe or the sweet family run Pete’s Egg Nest.

OTHER valuable assets. We’re also home to the Phinney EcoVillage, lead by former Seattle Times writer and activist Paul Andrews. Phinney Farmers Market at the PNA. Woodland Park Zoo. Greenlake for swimming indoor, outdoor and all things done comfortably around a 3 mile trail. (Biking and rollerblading at a leisurely pace due to throngs of people enjoying this popular park.)

Come visit Phinney Ridge. Everyone is welcome here.

Blogging eats time. Writing, image selection and photo prep are basics. I ache to have something pretty (well gorgeous actually), functional yet personable and still get to work with my awesome clients from time to time. Help is on the way. At least with the “pretty” part.
Jennifer Apple at Photoshop support shares concepts on design, functionality and links for templates & add-ons. Finally we have a favicon thanks to her clear simple explanation (and my Can-do staff person, Jane Patterson!).

Through Jennifer I discovered a link to the site of helpful God of the Blogging Universe, Paul Stamatiou. After hours of reading (Burp- scuze me!) you realize that this man is smart and enormously generous with his knowledge. Paul, if I ever meet you in person, forgive the bear hug.

Paul helps encourage “lurkers” to come forward to mutual benefit. (I’ll reveal Myself when I get some more TIME!) As suggested, we’re now registered with Technorati and are building our own Ping Configuration page.

I’ll stop here. Needless to say, the time-saving is all relative. Getting referred to these sites saved time in research. My time was spent reading high quality, relevant information presented simply. Gads. Look what time it is…

In the ever-present struggle to regain balance between personal and professional life, life as momma to Ellie and wife to Tim, Thursday night has been carved out as “MY” night. Granted one Thursday each month I’m at an informative PUG meeting, or an educational Woodland Park 3-5s co-op meeting, or occasionally an inspiring Soulumination meeting. Still, 1 to 3 nights each month are for doing as I please. This tiny freedom rejuvenates.

I usually spend that time with friends, so much do I miss being social. Now it’s easiest to build friendships with other working moms who are also motivated to go around Greenlake at 8:30 in the pitch blackness.

But last Thursday, oh my! I had forgotten the sheer pleasure of nestling into the warm sands of Olympus Spa. Blissful, rare relaxation overcomes me as I bake in the mud & jade room, then cool down to warm in the charcoal room. I don’t know the exact purpose of these “earth energy” rooms. Who cares about energy anyway. Give me it’s antithesis!

Then into the mugwort steamroom. Yuck. Slimy on the butt! Might that be why they gave me an extra tiny towel? With towel in place, mind off the slime, my pores couldn’t be happier, my breathing easier. To cool off, into the freezing waterfall pool. Gasp! Then into the hottest of the pools to soak before I have a 50 minute Korean body scrub.

1) Mud & Jade room 2) Relaxation lounge with foot message 3) Waterfall pool surrounded by 3 other warm to hot pools.

Why work if you can’t splurge now and then? Use of the spa for a day is $35 in Lynnwood, $30 in Tacoma. The bodyscrub is $65/60 Lynnwood/Tacoma. I’m so happy Tim and I figured out a way to have some time for each of us. I’m ready for another week.

Talk about a huge success. Not only has Luly Yang Couture taken Seattle by storm, and thrown a world-wide net around her captives, but I– the jean wearing, boot stomping momma from Phinney Ridge have been spell-bound and taken captive. Why should I care about fashion so much, living the active lifestyle my 3 year old requires? Because Luly makes ME look good. I’m not referring to stepping-out for my Valentine dinner with sweet hubby Tim. (hint hint) I’m talking about when my portfolio features her gowns. After 23 years of being a pro-photographer I now give credit where due.  All I have to say is that if you’re donning a Luly Yang creation, hiring me is all the more important to help save the dignity for your bridal party and family who would otherwise look woefully drab next to you.

Gorgeous as Luly Yang’s gowns are, they look even more so because David Galliett of Rented Elegance helped create this sapphire inspired ambiance.

Photographing Vera Wang’s Fall 2008 collection I witnessed the talents of Bryan Rafanelli of Rafanelli Events who planned this fashion-infused champagne brunch. This man is pure elegance. Aside from the obvious impeccable attention to detail, his calm in-charge demeanor would put the most demanding mother of the bride at ease. Judging from the ambiance created in each space, it’s clear Bryan Rafanelli is equally in-touch with the bride and grooms individuality, encouraging a bold or gentle emergence, as best suits. I would recommend Rafanelli in a heartbeat.

Other top vendors at this exclusive event were: Dresses by Vera Wang, The Ritz Carlton, Boston Common, Claudia Kronenberg Photography, Hair & Makeup by Luiz Filho , Flowers by Spruce Floral, Music by Music Management,

The man himself, Bryan Rafanelli.

Erwin Schinnerl, General Manager, The Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common. Erica Ann Arkin, Vice President of Bridal and Maids, Vera Wang, New York, in the background.

Claudia Kronenberg and Brea McDonald

Luiz Filho, Hair and Makeup Artist

Outside the Ritz Carlton, Boston

Photographing the Vera Wang Fall 2008 Bridal Collection in Boston I learned first hand Vera’s creative prowess. Luxurious ruffles and ribbon sashes. Jewel crimson, magenta, and cream. Garden accents of cabbage rose bustle, forest duchess cabbage rose, and wine wintergarden corsage. What I liked best was her dress-in-motion. Since my photography often captures personality-in-motion, I loved her selection of individuality: Mermaid, strapless column, ruffled layers, silk & wool , pleats, overskirts, and swagged ballskirt. I found her dresses both elegant and playful. Just what the Dr (or Event Planner, Rafanelli Events) ordered. Just what every girl dreams of.