Monday, October 27, 2008

Back November 6th

Just so you know Jaime and I will be out of the office... well actually we'll be taking our office on the road to Chicago from October 29th until November 6th. So be patient! We'll be checking emails and such but our usual snappy up-to-the minute response time may suffer a bit. We look forward to seeing our Seattle friends and clients next week.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

RAINN ads make an impact

RAINN Public Service Announcement - I Was


We've worked with RAINN in the past. RAINN is an excellent organization that helps victims of Rape and Abuse. They have a new ad campaign that really speaks to us, and felt it was important to post on our blog.

Visit RAINN and make a donation

Daphnes Bar in Edmonds


Michael & I had the privledge to photograph Daphnes bar in Edmonds. If you haven't been there yet, it is a must visit! It is a wine bar/bistro that is a wonderful replica of one that you would find wandering the streets of Europe. Quite impressive! You can find this little gem at 415 Main st. in downtown Edmonds.

Support Your local artists...


We recently had our little Schroeders picture transformed into a beautiful watercolor, by Paw Paintings. Turn in a couple photographs to Misti Tucker (owner of Paw Paintings) and she will, in return, hook you up with the most wonderful creation! 

Friday, September 19, 2008

On My Seattle Wedding


For those of you that browse the web, we're listing on MyWedding.com... in the Seattle section under photographers. You'll find more information here, on our website at www.boojazz.com. But if you find on us there, give us a shout! We like to know where people are spotting us on the web.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Modeling Scams... Still Around?

For everyone with a great face and a dream, there's someone out there that will take advantage of it. At least that's the way it's been. The internet and abundance of information has made it more difficult for scammers to get away with it. Also, there's a murky in-between group of individuals that are sort of legit... but are lousy at what they do except collect money from talent. They offer lots of products but no jobs. Here's a checklist that may help you...

- Trust your gut instincts. Does the agency look busy? Is there a license on the wall? Is the staff professional? If you feel uncertain, leave. You're not missing an opportunity if you don't initally trust the people involved.

- It's all about the dollars. Anytime an "agent" or talent scout wants cash upfront, don't believe it. They work on commission alone. As for classes... personally I'm not a fan of "schools." You can learn everything you need from an episode of Top Model or by trail and error with local photographers. Many are always looking for local talent to shoot, especially young women. Just be sure everyone keeps it professional.

- Most real agencies do not beg for talent. You find them, they don't find you. Be skeptical of people advertising for fresh faces.

- Most scam artists make money by offering high end photo shoots and expensive comp cards. It's the digital age, if they want you to shoot with a particular photographer, chances are someone's getting a referral check. A great photo is a great photo, regardless of who shot it.

Most important, know that you alone are in control of your career. Many places like to make promises and say one website, one photo, one perfect thing is going to whisk you away to stardom. It doesn't work that way. It's a business and you are selling your image to sell something else. That's the bottom line. The best way to discover opportunities is by networking with others. Comp cards, websites, all of that is secondary to a handshake and a one-on-one conversation with the right people. Sometimes I think the best way to start is to get your comp cards and be an agent to yourself. Get mailing lists for editors of local fashion magazines and popular photographers, market yourself to them. Most of the time they choose models by sifting through piles of postcards and head shots. It doesn't matter where they came from. Once your career is moving, the agencies will seek you out personally, and you'll have a successful track record, and a lot more to bargain with.

Friday, July 25, 2008

Maile's Senior Portrait

It was so much fun capturing Maile in Georgetown for her senior portrait session. She is so expressive and photogenic! Here are just a few samples of some of the great shots we got of her!



Sunday, July 20, 2008

Graffiti Collage Photography Art


We wanted to e-mail you and let you know about a service that we are now offering. Starting at $55, we can turn any photograph (whether we've taken it or not) into a work of art. We call it "graffiti art" and it's the coolest thing you can hang on your wall.

One of our happy customers said......

"I did get the picture on Friday just like you said. WOW, does it look beautiful in person. I love the metallic paper it was printed on, looks great. Nick was surprised and thought it was a lovely gift, everyone in the family thought it was just amazing as well.
Thanks again for all your hard work and we just love it!!"

We hope you'll love it too. Call for 425.577.3936 for details.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Heidi & Patricks wedding





We had the pleasure to photograph Heidi and Patricks wedding On June 14th. These kids knew how to have a good time!  

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Out of the Office...

Just so you know, Jaime and I will be tied up doing lots of things so we won't be in the office until this weekend, the 21st or so. We'll get in touch with everyone when we return.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Ballet Academy of Performing Arts Show

Everyone is excited to know about the photos we took on Saturday and about the availability of the DVD for June 8th performances. Here is the scoop....

-We have placed the order form of the DVD on our blog (below) feel free to print out and mail your order to us along with payment in either a check or money order. We expect to shart shipping the DVDs in 3 to 4 weeks on a first come first serve basis.

-For those that want to pay by Pay Pal, that is an option. Just send us an email so we can go through the details. We will still need an official order form.

The photos will be available for purchase on our website in the "PROOFING" category under GALLERIES. Right now that link is not active so don't panic! We expect to have the photos up within 2 weeks.

Thanks so much for an enjoyable weekend. If you have any questions please to not hesitate to call!

- Michael & Jaime Foster

DVD Order Form

Read this document on Scribd: Order Form DVD

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Update - About Us - Published Articles

Finally, we got around to posting all of our notable press releases and articles about Boojazz and our various projects we've been a part of over the last sixteen years. Yeah, that's a long time. You can find these articles in the About Us section under Published Articles. There's about ten or so to browse though, and they'll provide insight about us,  how our company started, our crazy wedding, and some of the projects that helped build our little studio that could.

Enjoy!

Saturday, May 31, 2008

We're now a paying pal.

To make life just a little easier,  we now accept PayPal for wedding deposits and payment.  And, since the demand is on the rise, as we move into the later half of 2008, we will be looking into accepting all sorts of credit cards. For more information just give us a call.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Listen to Boo's Jazz Music Online


Seriously, you can't run businesses called Boojazz or Foster's Cafe without having your own radio station, right? So for everyone at work here's some tunes to brighten your day and keep the ball rolling.


Listen to Boo's Jazz and Foster's Cafe Music on Pandora

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

facts about our Wedding Photography - part 2

(For 1 thru 3 see one of our earlier blogs)

4. We always ask that you give us 6-8 weeks to process your pictures. Michael and I go through each picture individually, crop, eliminate blinkers, change color to black and white and add effects. Since there are two of us documenting your wedding, there are usually duplicates. We always double up on the extra important pictures, such as the family and bridal party shots, special traditions and ceremony. We choose the best images to select for your collection of prints. Not to worry though, you will receive all originals on disk 2 years after your wedding.

5. We offer engagement sessions with your wedding package for several reasons. First...because we want you to get to know us more personally and get a feel for how we work. Second...If you are comfortable with us and have an idea on how we shoot, it will put you more at ease when in front of the camera, which produces better pictures. Third...It's nice to have some pictures together in a casual setting. Your wedding day will be very busy, so this allows us to just focus on you two, without family, friends and vendors pulling ou in all directions. Finally, even though my husband and I love what we do, we don't want to be in your face all day snapping pictures. This is your special day and we want you to enjoy it!

6. If we had to turn down another wedding, after you booked with us, or already shot your engagement pictures, then your initial deposit of $ 500 will be lost. Otherwise, we will gladly return your deposit.

7. Our booking process is laid back and hassle free. We like to start by meeting you. We prefer a casual setting, over a cup of tea or coffee and talk about your wedding plans. We'll show you more of our work and answer any questions that you may have. If you feel comfortable to put down the required deposit ( $ 500 ) to reserve your date, great! If you want to take some more time and talk about it in private, thats fine too! There's no pressure with us. If there's someone else interested in your date, we always keep you posted.

8. Yes, we do offer a wide variety of album options. We have everything from traditional to magazine style. Just let us know if you have a budget to keep and we'll work with you!

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Katy Springer & Geoff Peterson


Katy & Geoff are getting hitched on October 11th 2008 in Gold Bar, Wa at the beautiful Wallace Falls lodge. 


Friday, March 28, 2008

All You Need is Love, and a Blogpost

So, after the wedding... you have this whole 50-year relationship to deal with. As a service to our wedding clients we like to keep you informed of the latest trends and information to keep you happy. Engaging Discussions is a collection of blogs and stories that help the modern couple during all aspects of your relationship. It's worth a visit!

Visit Engaging Discussions

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Engagement Portrait Session Video 2

 Here is another video of an engagement portrait session we took during the winter of 2006.

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Engagement portrait session video

Here is a video from an engagement portrait session from Laura & Michael's wedding.

Facts About Our Wedding Photography part 1

Brides and grooms have a lot on their minds when choosing a wedding photographer. Here are some facts about our photography services.

1. We only photograph 25 weddings a year at the most and usually only one per weekend. Since it’s just myself and my husband, we believe in focusing on you and your day. If we took on too many weddings, the quality level of service that we provide, would be brought down.

2. We arrive when and where you need us to be there. Since our packages are based on hourly rates, we like to sit down and discuss your plans for your wedding day and how events will unfold. This will give us the best judgement on what time to start photographing and when to stop.

3. We mainly use digital these days, because it lends so many more options. With digital we can post your wedding pictures on-line for your guests and any out of town family to view. It is more time efficient browsing through files, rather than negatives, thus a quicker turn around time for your prints. When enlarging, the quality and clarity is remarkable. Don’t get us wrong, we love film and still use it whenever requested. Sometimes, brides and grooms will just ask us to shoot a roll of black and white, when taking their portraits. Black and white film is quite special!

4. We always ask that you give us 6-8 weeks to process your pictures. Michael and I go through each picture individually, crop, eliminate blinkers, change color to black and white and add effects. Since there are two of us documenting your wedding, there are usually duplicates. We always double up on the extra important pictures, such as the family and bridal party shots, special traditions and ceremony. We choose the best images to select for your collection of prints. Not to worry though, you will receive all originals on disk after your wedding.

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Wedding Brochure

Friday, February 29, 2008

Our Newly Redesigned Site

Hope you like the new digs! After many years, we decided it was time for a major overhaul. So we're still in the Beta testing process, you might encounter some bugs (like the crazy graphic on the wedding packages page, we're working on it.) So be patient, and if you see anything that links the wrong way or doesn't go where it needs to go, shoot us an e-mail.

Also, we will be adding several dozen new photos this weekend. So check back as we make updates during the month of March.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Georgetown






I had so much fun running around Georgetown with Sharon. Graffiti, railroad tracks, old buildings and a beautiful day!

Friday, February 22, 2008

The Ultimate Bride Resource Guides

Anti-Bride Guide: Tying the Knot Outside of the Box
by Carolyn Gerin and Stephanie Rosenbaum

Yeah, you know the whole idea stresses you out. So here's a good little book about doing things your way. It's a handy planner and resource guide that will keep you on track with tabbed chapters and pockets for stuffing brochures and clippings. I used it, and it was a real gem. There's also lots of tips that you wouldn't even think about until it's too late. Carolyn and Stephanie have additional titles as well...

Anti-Bride Wedding Planner: Hip Tools and Tips for Getting Hitched
Anti-Bride Etiquette Guide: The Rules - And How to Bend Them


A must have for anybody planning a wedding.

Grab The Anti-Bride Guide on Amazon

Thursday, February 21, 2008

RAINN continues to help victims.

We were happy to have RAINN utilize our photography talents for their recent on-line campaigns, especially for their myspace account. The photograph of a woman holding an umbrella, sheltering herself from harsh words, has made a huge impact on some people.

View the RAINN Myspace Page by clicking here. Be sure to send them a donation.

Some of the comments posted about our photograph...

"wonderful. this has the power to open up people's eyes and let them become aware to what's going on"

"These words should be made into an umbrella for your gift store... and in the CIRCLE in the center of it, should be the words "HOPE, STRENGTH, COURAGE= SURVIVOR... BECAUSE OF RAINN.ORG" .............. just a thought.... as I NEED a new umbrella, but wanted one that made an IMPACT and had HOPED you all had one listed in your RAINN store!!! =)"

"I just read this in its entirety..and..wow. Thank you for all that you do."

"I had seen this picture on all the RAINN sites (website, Myspace, Facebook), but I just now actually read all the words on it. I like this a lot."

-we are very honored to be a small part of such a wonderful organization.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

The Perfect Day by Rebecca Mead

For those of you Seattle and Portland brides-to-be that feel a bit overwhelmed by planning your wedding, you're not alone. Rebecca Mead's book, One Perfect Day: The Selling of the American Wedding, discusses the wedding industry and the rise of the "bridezilla." It's a decent read, cynical, sometimes witty, and best of all, available at a bargain rate for $5.99 at amazon.com.

View Rebecca Mead's Site

Grab the book!

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Michael's Art is in Koap Home in Kirkland

Come see Michaels paintings on display at Koap home in downtown Kirkland. His work will be on display now through March.

KOAP HOME

116 Central Way
Kirkland
425.822.2003

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Art Show in Snohomish

Jaime is showing her photography at Wired & unplugged, an internet coffee shop and a local music venue. For those that have never been here, it's a must visit! They showcase incredible local talent at their open mics on Friday evenings and have a headliner on Saturday nights. What are you waiting for? Come on out!

Wired and Unplugged
717 First St. Snohomish


Monday, January 14, 2008

Lauren's Senior Portrait Session

Lauren wanted some unique pictures to choose from for her senior yearbook pictures, so she hired us to run around edmonds and capture her personality!