Romance Giveaway!
Jan
31
Jan
20
Drumroll Please…
And the winner of the Bridal Portrait Giveaway is… Sarah Kåll! Congratulations, Sarah (what a great name!) !
Remember, a Bridal Portrait Session is a two hour session before or after the actual wedding day. It’s a time when the bride and groom can focus on each other and not worry if the cake has arrived, if Aunt Melda has hit the cocktails too hard, if the DJ will have the perfect songs.
I offer Bridal Portrait Sessions as well as full day wedding coverage. My price list can be found here.
If you’d like to book your own Bridal Portrait Session or Wedding, contact me at sarah@pikkuarkki.com or call 050 349 4460.
Posted by sarah | 0 commentsOct
03
Starting Out: Get Better
Okay, the third Starting Out Post in a row! Crazy, right?
Well, what can I say? I just love photo tutorials. And I might be too lazy to go and find my card reader to upload newly taken photos to form a blog post with newly taken photos and newly occurring stories.
And thus we have the third Starting Out post in a row.
With old photos.
Nevermind.
Today’s topic is pretty stinking simple- GET BETTER.
If you don’t look at your past photos and cringe, then you haven’t gotten better. I, for one, look at my past photos and want to HIDE UNDER THE TABLE.
Example A from one of my first trial photo shoots back, back, WAY back.
Notice the complete over processing:
Notice the complete lack of appropriate exposure (it’s back when I CONSTANTLY forgot to change my shutter speed when I changed light- I thought I’d NEVER get it!)
They weren’t ALL bad, of course. In fact, apart from being overly processed, this still remains one of my favorite photos ever taken:
It’s just that 1/100 or so photos was actually GOOD.
But I read blogs of photographers who had LOTS of GOOD photos. And sometimes I got REALLY discouraged. ”I’ll never be as good as them- I know that.”
But Denise said, “I will. I’m going to be as good them someday.”
And I marveled at her confidence.
Everyday, I’d look at their photos. I’d see what I loved about them, I’d think how I might be able to incorporate their styles while still staying true to my own. I’d notice my favorite poses weren’t really poses. I thought less about creating pictures and more about creating moments. I tweaked my exposure settings. I worked and worked and worked.
And I got better.
I’m still not as good as them. There’s a reason they charge 10,000 a wedding and I don’t.
But someday, I MIGHT be.
Sep
24
Married: Katri and Mikko
The weather was gorgeous. Sunny, warm, breezy. The perfect autumn day.
As I was in my last minute rush to get out the door, I called to my sister in law (who was acting as babysitter for the afternoon), “Suvikki, is it still sunny?”
“No,” she replied apologetically.
Mean storm clouds had magically appeared in the last thirty minutes. ”NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” I groaned, dashing down the steps and outside to see the full extent of the damage.
I was devastated. It looked like it would pour at any minute. And I still had 45 of them before their bridal shoot would begin.
The whole tram and boat ride I cursed the weather. I thought about different covered locations on Suomenlinna we could shoot at. I hoped the bride’s dress wouldn’t get too dirty.
As soon as I arrived on the island, I saw the bride and groom pull up. Katri’s gorgeous presence and Mikko’s excited grin instantly washed away any doubts I had about the session. ”It’s fine!” she assured me.
And it was. The dark sky provided an amazing, dramatic backdrop to the photos. The cool breeze added energy and spirit to the bride and groom. And their evident love for one another made it a true joy to photograph them.
Thank you, Katri and Mikko for allowing me the honor to photograph your wedding portraits. It was perfect from start to finish.
To book your own bridal session or full wedding package, email me at sarah (at) pikkuarkki.com
Posted by sarah | 0 commentsJun
19
Wedding Photographer: Elina and Toni
Raise your hand if you’re sick of hearing how much I love my job. Well, too stinkin’ bad, because I’m going to tell you again.
I. LOVE. MY. JOB.
I love it.
On Friday, I got a chance to meet Elina and Toni- two crazy kids who are mad about hot chocolate, mad about movies (they go to the cinema sometimes three times a week. Man, I wish we had that sort of determination before we had kids!), and clearly- so clearly- mad about one another.
As with Jessica and Henrik, the internet brought us together and the internet did not let me down. (Seriously, internet? If you keep this up, you and I will be BFF with no looking back). Elina and Toni were the winners of the Bridal Portrait Giveaway I ran back in January. They opted for a pre-wedding shoot, since they won’t be tying the knot until July 17.
We met at Kaakaopuu at Kamppi- a place that apparently has the best hot chocolate in town. Can’t wait to try that recommendation very, very soon.
Since we had never met before and we hadn’t discussed wardrobe, I had no idea who to look for. But a beautiful woman in an ivory dress accompanied by a handsome dude in a waistcoat and trousers, quietly sipping their drinks looked like they might fit the bill.
We quickly set about procuring a bouquet from the nearest florist (Kamppi’s Kaivokukka) and then dashed out in front of the movie theatre to get ourselves warmed up.
“How do you feel about people watching you get your picture taken? Because there are about 300 people out there who will,” I asked as we made our way outside.
“I’m so nervous about the camera, I’m not worried about the people,” Elina confessed.
Nervous? I don’t believe it for a second. Just look at them.
Then we walked.
And then we sat.
And then we climbed up, up, up.
And then we climbed down, down, down.
And then it rained, so that was the end of that. :)
From the bottom of my heart, Elina and Toni, thank you. For being so beautiful, so trusting, and so honest.
I love my job. Sorry! Just had to say it again. 
Jun
17
Early Bird Special!
Here’s the thing- July is a madhouse in the world of photography here in Finland. It’s the one month with guaranteed sunshine (okay, as guaranteed as it gets in this Northern climate), it’s a time when people have off of work so they’re free to spend a couple hours in front of my camera, the city is gorgeous- don’t get me wrong, I understand why people want sessions in July.
But it seems that June will now be a month of guaranteed sunshine (in case you Southerners are wondering, June is usually cold and rainy. Yes, this is a tough country to bear sometimes). And the city is already beautiful!
So! Why not spend an evening in front of my camera in June instead of July! It’ll make my life a bit easier come that crazy, crazy month.
Just to sweeten the deal, to give you a bit of incentive, here’s my Early Bird Special for ya’ll.
All portrait sessions booked for June get 50% off the sitting fee. That’s a pretty sweet incentive, people!
Contact me at sarah(at)pikkuarkki.com with any questions or to book your session. I’m excited!
Posted by sarah | 1 commentsMay
24
Wedding Photographer: Jessica and Henrik
After 15 years together, Jessica and Henrik decided to get married.
“Why now?” I asked.
“He asked,” Jessica responded.
How simple.
They knew they wanted a small wedding. In fact, they wanted to elope. So after months of sneaking to ring shops, sneaking phone calls to chapels, sneaking emails to the photographer (that would be me), the day finally arrived.
And then the nerves set in. At breakfast that morning.
“I know I shouldn’t be nervous,” Henrik said.
“Yes, you should. What you’re doing is really important,” I assured him.
I was honored to witness this wedding. And, really, I mean witness. As in THE witness. The official witness. It was I. An American in Finland who doesn’t speak a lick of Swedish. Nevermind, they both said “Ja” at some point during the ceremony, and so they are married.
I loved this wedding. I loved this couple. I loved this session.
I love that they stopped and sent a postcard to their daughter minutes after the ceremony. I love that they laughed and laughed together.
I loved Jessica’s hat. I loved Henrik’s suit.
This was perfection. Perfection.
May
23
Preview: An Elopement
Some call it Google- from hereon after, I will call it Fate. For it was Google/Fate that brought me together with the most awesome couple from Sweden. Who happened to be in Helsinki this last weekend to elope.
Since they live in Sweden, I had never met them before. Since I had never met them, I had no idea who to expect on Saturday morning.
Please, then, imagine my EXTREME JOY when these two walked in the door of the chapel.
I felt like I had won the ultimate super-style wedding lottery. It was like a J* styled shoot meets a day after session without any work on my part! Since there was no formal reception afterwards, I got to wander the streets with these two, stopping when the feeling struck us.
Their impeccable style coupled with the way they interact- man, I had so much fun.
I love my job. Have I mentioned how much I love my job?
More to come.
Posted by sarah | 1 commentsAug
31
Married: Alex and James
Alex and James, after ten years together, are now officially married. Hooray!
They tied the knot in August at the Pikkukirkko in Porvoo. Their reception was right across the street at Hotel Onni, which is just about the best setting for a wedding anyone could possibly ask for. It’s gorgeous and colorful and charming and “happily everafter-ish,” which is what everyone wants for their wedding, am I right?
The whole day was spectacular- intimate, joyous, filled with love and good humor.
I know you’re dying to see photos, so I’ll hush now and let the photos speak for themselves.
ps. These are by no means an exhaustive showing of my favorites from the day. But if I had to post all my favorites, I’d be writing this blog for the next two years.
Alex and her fair maidens getting ready…
The ceremony…
Alex with her bridesmaid (who happens to be her sister)
and James with his men (who happen to be the funniest guys alive)
The bride and groom in all their gorgeous glory.
And finally some of my favorite shots from the reception. James’s mom surprised Alex by buying a ton of bubble canisters. If you want a bit of fun, if you want grown adults acting like carefree youngsters (and really, you do- trust me), buy some bubbles and let people go wild. It was hilarious. And memorable.
I’m pretty sure in a past life, Alex, James, and I were best friends. Because I swear I felt less like a photographer and more like an invited guest who just happened to enjoy taking photos. I could not have had a better time.
Alex and James, thank you for extending such amazing hospitality to your lowly photographer. Thank you for making me laugh ALL DAY LONG. And thank you for counting me worthy to photograph one of the most special days of your lives.
For the complete set of proofs, head here. Friends and family, you can order photos directly from the website or by emailing me at sarah (at) pikkuarkki.com .
Posted by sarah | 5 comments
Jul
18
Enganged! Alex and James
So, remember that wedding I’ll be shooting in August? Well, today I got to meet with the happy couple (over from England to do some last minute wedding planning) to sort out wedding details and do a short engagement session.
Can I just for one second say how TOTALLY EXCITED I am to shoot this wedding? It’s going to be perfect. Perfect, perfect, perfect.
First, it’s going to be in Old Town Porvoo. If you haven’t heard of old Porvoo, just imagine gorgeous, colorful wooden houses and cobble stone streets. Streets so small cars aren’t allowed (which means no cars in photos!!). The reception will be held at Hotel Onni, which is about as Porvoo as you can get- gorgeous terraced cafe and personal, well-lit rooms. The wedding will be intimate- small guest list.
And the couple. Oh, the couple! Well, I’ll just let these photos speak for themselves.
Are you as excited as I am??!
Now, let’s hope my baby stays put until at least the day after the wedding. I’ll be 3 weeks away from delivering on the day of… You hear that, baby? STAY PUT!
Posted by sarah | 3 comments
