It's time to give...2010

Those that know me, know that I like people, know that if I can help people, I will. The way I can do it right now? Photography. Photographers across the world are rallying together to raise some funds for the victims of the devastating earthquake that recently hit Haiti. I myself will do a mini session and you will not pay me for the mini session but bring a check for the session fee written out to the Red Cross for Haiti relief or Partners for Health.
75% of the print or 100% of the disc price will go to the cause too. This is my way of giving more and maybe yours too. It's a win win situation really. There are a few photographers doing this on island for different organizations so I am not alone. This is the time to get that couple portrait, individual or kids portraits done.

Next, in a continuation of this ANY matted art prints purchased from now until the end of March will have 75% going to the Red Cross for Haiti relief fund and Partners for Health. I have some really nice Cherry blossom ones and also check some of the art prints on my site or email me if there is a specific scene and I may just well have photographed it! I have 2 sizes of matted prints available right now. Please contact me for details.

Next. Yes, there is more! I am giving away a free session to a deserving family/couple/individual on Okinawa, if you are or know someone who deserves a free session and 10 free full resolution digital files, please send me and email telling me why you/they deserve a session...This was supposed to be blogged about around Christmas time (OK, exact date of draft 11/30/09 GULP!) but it got put on the backburner with the busy season. Here's the info...

Last year over 500 photographers participated in the Giving is Awesome project and donated over a half million dollars in donated portraits. This year I am participating as well (Yes, slightly late, but better late than never, eh!). Please read below to see how you can help and what you get.

You know someone. You know someone who’s experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids with a deployed spouse, has a special needs child or is newly married, young and new to the military life or maybe anticipating their first child. You know someone who keeps on trucking despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can’t afford custom on-location photography, but who would cherish it. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family’s spirit, love, and beauty.

You know someone. I guarantee it.

I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography. It’s in your power to give them the artwork they deserve this year. The winner will receive
• Photo session
• 10 full size edited images (plus proofs) on CD
• Three 5×7 prints
Oh, and the best part? The person who nominates the winner receives a $100 digital file credit. You can use this yourself or give it to a friend. What better reason to show some love could there possibly be?

The rules:
* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be unable to purchase my services. (Being unable to eat out every night of the week on Okinawa does not qualify as sincere financial need!)

* The nominee must reside on Okinawa. Tell us who you know, what they’re experiencing, and why they deserve a professional family portrait session. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.

* You must e-mail me the full story : ukreal1@hotmail.com
Session date TBD by the client and myself, but must be before April 2010.

Please send this info to your friends, family, and co-workers. I hope to receive lots of entries, but I need your help to spread the word. The winner will be announced on Feb 14th — get nominating! I can’t wait to read all of your entries!
Open your heart to someone in 2010 — and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.

Marine cousins...

So, I get this phone call inquiring about a shoot. For some reason, I don't know why, I thought it was one of my husbands Marine co-workers making a prank call. The whole call I was waiting for the guy to say he was winding me up. I call the husband after and ask if he had set me up. Nope. This call was for real! Two Marines. Cousins.

One PCSing...

The other staying...

Wanted some urban Okinawa memories for themselves and their families...

and one of the sea after the sun went down...

Best of luck guys...Stay safe.

Oohrah!

Cherry Oh Cherry Oh Baby!

They are back, it is 2010 sakura (cherry blossom) season. HERE are some 2009 ones I took.
This weekend I got a few buds...

and blooms...

all whilst the kids had a blast in the park! Oh, I could photograph these all day!
Then, I just have to share this one of April, it just cracks me up. "Just one more photo"...

Byesie bye for now!

Aiko and Justin: The day after...

Here is just a sneak peek of Aiko and Justin's wedding weekend...This is the day after that I helped shoot with Suwanee...We had a fantastic time!

I Heart Faces - We Are Family

This week on I Heart Faces is 'we are family'. I do quite a few family shoot, but this fun image came to mind for this weeks theme...

Cathy and I had been chatting about a shoot for a long time. We originally met at the bus stop, her daughter became my kid's babysitter and my kids LOVED her. My daughter and her son chatted about 'goosebumps' books on the bus to school and then they finally brought home their adopted daughter from the Marshall Islands. Family was complete and ready for a shoot before they PCSed out of Okinawa. I knew Cathy was fun loving, but she was wilder than me for suggestions! A great match and a great shoot! And I love it when the hubbys are all for it!

The Nitty Gritty

The Nitty Gritty:
*All regular sessions last approx. 1 to 1.5 hours (newborn: between 1.5 and 2.5 hrs) and include an online gallery for 1 month. Sessions prices are for sessions within a 10 mile radius.
*Mini session: An approx. 30 minute session designed with the individual in mind. Araha area only (beach or urban). Not designed as a family/newborn session, unless stated, see my regular sessions above for that!
*Session fees are non-refundable and a non-refundable deposit of $50 (which goes towards the session fee) is required to hold your date. Deposit payment is via paypal or in person prior to the shoot. Please note: Deposit will be forfeited if shoot is not rescheduled within 24 hrs of the shoot (due to unforeseen circumstances or increment weather only). Please respect my time as I respect yours x
*Unedited images are not offered to purchase. All photos chosen for purchase will be edited.
*Web sized digital files are not suitable for printing, but very suitable for emailing, Facebook, etc. Please, do not crop out my logo when using images online.
*There is a $200 minimum print order.
*Larger size prints (11x14 and above) will be mounted for stability.
*Styrene mounted or foam board mounted prints are ideal for Okinawa as they are light and require no frame.
*All full digital file images come with a print release.
You can do what you want with these, print as many as you want... Make sure you use a good lab since colors and quality may vary. Please contact me for different amount requests.
*All packages can be combined.
*Prices are subject to change. However, once booked, current price is honoured.
*All unordered photos will be deleted after one month.
*Please email any requests/questions you may have.
*See my blog for updates.

Thank You and I look forward to shooting with you :o)
Pamela Oliveras 2008/9/10/11

Sandy Sneak Peek

Here are a few from a great shoot I had with Sandy, her hubby and the Harley (the Harley and the hubby coming soon). I love these urban shoots...

Especially when you get a spontaneous moment like the one above...Seriously. These guys were just walking along...Sandy and I look at each other and we 'sumimasen' these guys over and click, it came out great...
And I LOVE portraits...the eyes, the eyes. Sandy is gorgeous of course...

I will miss your happy face and fun personality in Oki, Sandy...

Now the USA gets to experience your 'fabulous' self, lucky them! :o)

I Heart Faces - Best Face Photo

Happy New Year 2010. WOW.
This week on I Heart Faces is 'Best Face Photo'. I have already been lucky enough to take photos of lovely faces this year. Hard to choose a portrait but I thought this one would be good since it is from the neck of the woods where I currently dwell! It is from a recent pre wedding kimono shoot that I second shot for...

Aiko was so radiant. I just love this shot. It was a great opportunity. Thanks to Suwanee for asking me. Taken with a (borrowed) 60mm micro (great portrait lens!)...
Bye!...

a cupcake for a one year old

Here's a few more from a recent 'mini shoot' (see website under pricing for details).
One year old baby M did great on the shoot...There's nothing like timeless black and white...

and she had great fashion sense too :o)

Happy Birthday :o)

Mum decided to get these images on styrene, very easy to stick up on the concrete walls that so many of us have out here. Here are some photos of the finished product...You can order all sizes, including square...

It is very thin (2mm) and light...

See you later...

If you go down to the woods today...

well, actually, if you go down to sushi zen today (until the end of Jan), you will be in for a nice surprise...

A few of us photographers here on island have some images up on Sushi Zen's walls. Go check them out and eat good sushi! There are photos from myself and fellow photographers, Chris Willson, Amanda Webb, Shannon Entwistle (who took the below photo of the three monkeys) and Alexis Rubenstein. Links HERE.

Four for fun...

This shoot took so much rearranging and reorganizing (husbands schedules, weather, and oh, weather) that even the likes of Martha Stewart would be in chaos, but I am oh-so-glad we finally got together. This was one amazing family shoot. I love these first shots in both colour...

and BW...

We did some portraits...Mum and son...

Dad and daughter...

Smokin' hot Heather and hubby...

The kids were a blast and Heather and Garry were just go with the flow cool. It's another one of those 'this island is very very small' stories. I get an email for a shoot. We go back and forward trying to arrange it and then one day I am in my son, Loubie's, class for a field trip and the teacher says 'are you Pamela, the photographer?' It turns out that this was Heather, the teacher LOL. From then on we could pass messages through my kids if need be... ha ha...I had to get at least one crazy shot...

Before having a rest...

and chilling by the sea...

and just spending time together...

and getting some more beautiful portraits...

just in time to watch the sunset...

quietly...

Thank you Heather and Garry and to the kids too who made my job so easy...it was a pleasure to watch the sunset with you all :o)