THOUGHTS and IMAGES

Oakland family

2012-01-09T11:03:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorite Oakland families. I've photographed them since their daughter had her first birthday.

Jude Three Years Later

2012-01-09T10:59:00.000-08:00

Jude was in his mama's belly when I first photographed him. Now he's a rising ukelele star!

Austin Yoga Community Promotion

2011-10-07T09:18:00.000-07:00

Madeleine Tilin Photography has relocated to Austin, Texas from the San Francisco Bay Area. I will continue to shoot weddings and other projects in California, so bay area folks, please keep me on your radar!

In the meantime, take a look at a promotion I'm running for the Austin yoga community. I'll be shooting at the first ever Austin Yoga Festival—www.austinyogafestival.com—this weekend at Fiesta Gardens. This place is rich with great yoga. I'm excited to be behind the lens to capture the spirit of the yoga community here. If you are local, come check it out!

Madeleine Tilin Photography at Bridebound Blog

2011-02-08T14:01:00.000-08:00

Meredith Rosenblum of Bridebound Blog interviewed me for this great piece.

Please take a look to get an idea of my photographic philosophy and inspiration! She succinctly took my long winded answers—don't get me started talking about photography—and edited them into a compelling and descriptive article that gives brides and grooms a great idea of who I am, both professionally and as a person. Thank you, Meredith!

brideboundblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/madeleine-tilin-san-francisco-bay-area.html

And don't forget to explore her website for other "Bridebound Approved" vendor recommendations.

Leigh and Amy

2011-01-21T14:23:00.000-08:00

On a recent rainy evening in Pt. Richmond, California, Leigh, Amy and I tested the weather gods. I had camera protection in my pocket just in case the clouds decided to unleash early January rain on us while we were out. As luck would have it, the clouds just hovered over the bay. What resulted was a range of interesting light and structural backdrops at this once bustling east bay port. Thanks for sharing this amazing place with me, Leigh and Amy!

Hugh Groman Catering and Greenleaf Platters

2011-01-19T15:30:00.000-08:00

I recently had the privilege of getting a behind-the-scenes look at my friend's top notch catering company. Hugh Groman, www.hughgromancatering.com and www.greenleafplatters.com, hired me to photograph an event his company catered that took place at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. While I've had the opportunity to experience the amazing food and artistry he has been producing since 2001 in the Bay Area, photographing the event gave me a rare opportunity to see his company in action. From the smallest artful details to the space design to the artistry of every platter that came out of the kitchen, Hugh put on a first-class act. Thanks, Hugh, for inviting me along. Be sure to keep an ear to the ground for Hugh's newest culinary adventure happening in the east bay!

SUMMER/FATHER'S DAY SESSION OFFER THROUGH JUNE 30

2010-05-21T14:35:00.000-07:00

Summer feels like such a rite of passage when you are a kid...another year of school under your belt, the potential of never ending warm days and cold popsicles, open windows and wet bathing suits. Luckily, my kids keep the summer schedule on my radar too. We look forward to spending time with family in Austin, staying up late and having enough moments of boredom to really get the creative juices flowing. There aren't enough designated "un-doing" moments in their busy school year life.

There's a great E.E. Cummings poem called "when faces called flowers float out of the ground". I love that image. His quirky sense of reality reminds us to allow enough space to get creative and think out of the box.

So in honor of being on the edge of summer and the fathers, grandfathers, brothers and uncles in our lives, I'm offering specials with family portrait sessions if you book before June 30th. With each regularly priced session ($300 weekday, $350 weekend), you will receive a complimentary 8 x 10 archival print of your choice in addition to 10% off the regular session fee. All sessions include a DVD of 10 hi-res images (others available for purchase) from your shoot as well as an online gallery for family and friends.

Go to my website at www.madeleinetilin.com or call 510-435-3832 to book a shoot or for more information.

MOTHER AND DAUGHTERS

2010-05-17T15:37:00.000-07:00

I've always loved the lyrics to the Talking Heads song "Naive Melody." And while the song can be interpreted as a LOVE song, love has many forms. As a mother the words "Did I find you or you find me?" feel true in relation to my children. For me, these are the most poignant words in the whole song. How did I get so lucky?

" Home - is where I want to be
But I guess I'm already there

I come home - she lifted up her wings

Guess that this must be the place

I can't tell one from another

Did I find you, or you find me?

There was a time Before we were born

If someone asks, this is where I'll be . . . where I'll be."

I photographed this Oakland mother and her two teenage daughters one winter afternoon. Even though it's been a long time since I was a teenager, I remember the emotions like it was yesterday—the need to individuate while still (thankfully) holding on to some innocence and naiveté.

AFTERNOON AT HOME WITH A YOUNG FAMILY

2010-05-11T22:12:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to spend a few hours with this sweet family. They have a young son and their baby girl was three-weeks new. They also happen to be related so I was able be there for some shots that might not have been so accessible otherwise. I recently saw them. Nearly three weeks had past and the baby had changed so much already. I wish I would have hired a photographer for that time in MY children's lives. It's precious.

I love going to people's homes, especially when they have young kids. The children are comfortable and not distracted by the play structure (which personally I think can make for some of the most generic photos you can possibly get), you get more of a photojournalistic feel to the shoot and it also allows for changes of clothes, breaks for young kids, and the opportunity for adults to relax in a place where they are usually cooking, paying bills or changing diapers......Just my two cents. I love the opportunity to actually relax in my own home. It's why people want a month of Sundays. Or is that just me?

I was recently at another client's home and found a great spot....one that could easily go unnoticed to the untrained eye. You can create great, telling images with willing and relaxed participants, good light and an experienced photographer. I'll post some of these others soon.

So, on the with the recent family photos. I followed them around their condo and found every bit of good light available. The baby took plenty of nursing breaks, the toddler took a nap (well, sort of), and then we dug into blueberry crisp (or was it blackberry?). In any case, we were all fed and happy by the end.

I even got my baby fix. Then we adopted a puppy.:-)

Me getting said baby fix. Love this photo...Thanks, cousin!

WPPI in Las Vegas

2010-03-26T15:21:00.000-07:00

I recently returned from a few totally energizing and educational few days at WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) in Las Vegas. OK, I actually returned about two weeks ago, but I'm just now reporting on it. I was washing the cigarette smoke out of my clothes and doing an ebay spending spree with all the money I won at craps. Joking.

In a series of a few blogs, I'll offer up what I found to be the best things to come out of my experience there. I hope it will stimulate your interest in these people or products as it did mine.

The conference brought in some of the best and brightest people in the business. Presenters ran the gamut of big photography studios with large staffs selling DVD's of their secrets to successful photography to those who touched you with their complete individuality and unique way of viewing the art of photography.

While I always appreciate having new tools in the toolkit that is my brain, what really spoke to me was the complete honesty of Jesh DeRox. Sometimes you think you need to emulate habits of successful people in order to create success yourself. But listening to him was a great reminder that being fully yourself is the way to both personal and financial success.

If you aren't true to who you are, your work will show it. And you won't be as happy as you could be on a daily basis. Do what you love. Love what you do.

So what was the message that I connected with so much? I told him his seminar could have been called "The Yoga of Photography." I've practiced yoga for 15 years and taught for several of those. The thing about yoga that translates into photography is that real things happen when there is space. In yoga, that space occurs between the in breath and the out breath, in the transition between poses, or in the silence between the syllables of a chant. In photography, real things happen in a person or between people in a relationship in those SAME kinds of spaces. These moments happen just under the surface of what we THINK is happening at any given time. To quote Henri Cartier-Bresson, "the decisive moment, it is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event as well as the precise organization of forms which gives that event its proper expression." I'll add to that, it is also the connection of the photographer to her subject that allows the viewer to enter into that place in a photograph.

I could go on and on, but I won't at the moment. Feel free to comment....would love to know what other people have to say on this subject.

A few of the next topics:

1) Some great products I'll be offering as part of my business!

2) The marriage of video/audio/still photography

3) Thoughts on social networking and viral marketing

Stephanie and Sitki

2010-02-08T13:56:00.000-08:00

I took this sweet couple out for an engagement shoot on what started out as a very rainy day in San Francisco. After the bride met with the make-up person for their April wedding, the sun peeped through the clouds just long enough to take them to some of their favorite spots!

Love these Families!

2009-12-09T13:53:00.000-08:00

Sara

2009-09-29T11:51:00.000-07:00

I love what I do. Each shoot is a glimpse into what makes a person tick, whether it's a family photo shoot, a wedding or one-on-one. The synergy that unfolds between subject and photographer is an entity unto itself. The next few are from a shoot with a friend. She's a natural in front of the camera and a beauty. Thanks, Sara!

Oakland Mom and babes

2009-09-16T13:06:00.000-07:00

I spent a couple of hours one afternoon with this beautiful Oakland mother, her new baby and toddler. Those exhausted, but content early days of motherhood are particularly poignant and spending time in their home was a reminder of how precious the gift of life is.

The Lin Family

2009-07-15T23:36:00.001-07:00

Christina and James

2009-07-13T13:51:00.001-07:00

Christina and James are tying the knot in September. We went out last week for an engagement shoot—traffic was bad, we got a late start and raced against the fading light—but that challenge is what keeps photography interesting! I enjoy playing with color, texture and shape as I look through the lens.

Jude

2009-07-08T00:19:00.001-07:00

Chelsea and Jesse were pregnant the first time I photographed them. They have a happy and beautiful baby now. Here he is. And here they are — ecstatic with their boy!

Lazy Days of Summer

2009-07-08T00:08:00.001-07:00

San Francisco Wedding

2009-07-07T23:53:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to shoot at the Swedenborgian Church of San Francisco. It was built in 1895 and designed by architects including the well-known architect Bernard Maybeck. The lighting was dramatic and atmosphere romantic, comfortable and intimate—the perfect spot for a wedding. It was a sweet gathering!

Trapeze World

2009-05-10T22:12:00.000-07:00

I shot an event the other night at the Rotunda building in downtown Oakland. The dome of the rotunda provided a gorgeous backdrop for some amazing trapeze artists. For more info on this cool performing arts company, check out www.trapezeworld.com.

Madonna Inn

2009-05-04T15:10:00.000-07:00

The Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo is famous for it's kitschy decor. They must of cornered the market on naugahyde when they remodeled this place! I saw my son on the couch trying to wake up to the day and adjusted the shades so the light came in in just the right way.

Firsts.....

2009-04-29T23:06:00.001-07:00

I'm new to the blogging world, that is writing one, so this is a big experiment. Will I be entertaining enough? Will anyone besides my mama read it? (But she's one of the few people left in the world who doesn't own a computer. She may think I'm talking about the 70's hit movie, "The Blob." Well, Mom, if you do get a computer, it's not the big red thing rolling through the street.) These are the thoughts that will keep me up at night. With all of the blogs out there in cyberspace, why would anyone come to mine? Hopefully, so they will stay up at night wondering what they'll see in the next entry.

But really, this is a place to offer up some of my latest and greatest images, favorite subjects and funnest jobs. I love what I do!

Lots of firsts.....First blog entry for me. First baby for them. I loved photographing this sweet couple in their home. They were expecting their first baby in December. He's here now and I'm headed back. Look for pictures of baby Jude soon.

The baby wasn't even here yet!