New Website and Blog!

I've started a new photography website that integrates a portfolio and blog and information posts all in one place. I'm really excited about how it looks and hoping to be adding lots of new photos regularly. Everything on this blog will still have a home here, but new updates and pictures will be happening at the new site. So check out the new and improved:

http://jessicaschillingphotography.com

Film Fridays - Los Angeles Artsy Toy Camera Photography

I dropped the ball on last week's Film Fridays post, but I'm back with a new shot this week.

I love signs and signage, and I love art and art supplies. So the very cool sign of this art store in my neighborhood has always gotten my attention but I never remembered to take a picture of it until last week. It was a really pretty, warm but crisp Los Angeles "winter" day, and you can almost feel that in the color of the sky and the brittleness of the tree branches. But mostly I just like this photograph because it reminds me that I've always loved art and I just have to get out there and make it!

Taken on my Diana F+ toy camera, 38mm super wide lens, Fuji Pro 400H 120 film.

Film Fridays - Los Angeles 35mm Photography

Traveling to Florida for the holidays means I got behind on doing a year-end wrap up post that I had planned. However, I still got back in time to do another Film Fridays post for New Year's Eve. This shot was from the first wedding I ever photographed back in 2008. I'd had my DSLR camera for about three months and was  loving it, but I also brought along my 35mm SLR to take some film photos as well. This champagne shot is from the reception and seemed perfectly fitting for celebrating the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011.

And speaking of New Year's, I was going to pass on resolutions this year. I did a lot of things I wanted to do last year without having explicit resolutions and I kind of liked not having the pressure. However, I suddenly and tragically lost a friend last week and I've been reflecting a lot on memories of him and missed opportunities to spend more time together. He was a photographer as well and one of his quotes that recently came to my attention was "I shoot film. Occasionally I have the rolls developed." We always talked about going out to take photos together with our toy cameras, but I'm sad to say we never got around to it. So in his honor, my resolution for 2011 is to take more photos on film, of and with people I care about, and develop and share them frequently. Thanks for all the inspiration, Scott. You are loved, missed, and celebrated.

Film Fridays - Los Angeles Toy Camera Wedding Photography

So along with the toy camera photography I've been doing for fun, I'm also hoping to incorporate it more with the digital photography I do for portraits and weddings. I recently photographed a stylized wedding shoot with my friend Emily of Grandes Fetes and our awesome already-married friends modeled for us. For the most part, the digital photos show off Emily's amazing design better than the toy camera shots did, so we're both excited to debut those soon. In the meantime, I really love this backlit shot of Brett and Trina in front of a window. It's a little dark and grainy, a little out of focus, and still has a lot of character, which is exactly what I love about toy cameras.

Taken with the Holga 120 TLR, Lomo brand 100 ISO color film.

Los Angeles Event Photography - Roller Derby Season Champs

Even though I've been going to LA's roller derby games for years now, I went to more this season than ever before and was lucky enough to get to take pictures at many of the games. I can't think of a better way to wrap up an amazing season than watching the championships where my favorite team, The Tough Cookies, played against The Swarm. As always, much love to Gori Spelling for asking me to be her photographer!

 After a few ejections and much deliberation by the refs the final score was 148 to 106, with the Tough Cookies maintaining their champ title for three years running. Congratulations on an amazing season, Cookies and Gori! 

Matt & Jess - Los Angeles Maternity Photography

Matt and Jess are an awesome couple that I've known for years, and they have the added awesome bonus of sharing the same names as me and my husband. Which can get a little confusing when we're all hanging out and talking to and about each other, but it's still cool! 

So when I heard they were having a baby, I thought it would be fun to get together and take some maternity photos. We headed to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Page Museum for some outdoor photos on a sunny afternoon. I think the photos turned out great and really show off how in love and excited Jess and Matt are about their jump into parenthood. Check out more photos on Facebook.

In the time between when we took these and when I'm getting around to putting them up, they have had a beautiful, healthy, adorable baby girl. Congratulations, Matt and Jess!

Film Fridays - Los Angeles Toy Camera Photography

Second addition to the Film Fridays project. This shot was taken in West Hollywood somewhere around the Lomography Store when I did an afternoon workshop on the Diana F+ camera this summer. I have a thing for taking pictures of power lines - I like the way they criss cross through the sky and instantly add an industrial mark to natural landscapes. I have more film shots of power lines that will probably make their way to more Film Fridays, but in the midst of all the rain and cold weather in LA right now, here's a cheery summer shot to brighten your day!

Film Fridays - Pet Photography

In thinking about some changes I want to implement for my website (big overhaul coming soon!) one of the things I decided to add is a new feature called Film Fridays. So each week I'll be posting a shot or series taken on film, from one of my toy cameras or my 35mm slr. The shots may not have been taken that week, especially at the rate I'm currently getting film developed and scanned, but it's a great excuse to dig through my archives and find shots I haven't shown before or that didn't really fit into any other category or post.

And what better way to kick off Film Fridays than with one of my all-time favorite subjects, Emma. The coolest cat in the world in her favorite sunning spot, the dining room window.

Taken with the Diana F+, 110mm telephoto lens, Lomo brand 100 ISO film.

Killer Nostalgia - Toy Camera Film Photography

I am so lucky to be friends with the incredibly talented minds behind Killer Nostalgia, filmmakers who document weddings on super 8mm, 16mm and 35mm film. Since Killer Nostalgia shoots film exclusively, I wanted to to do the same for their portraits. I temporarily ditched the digital cameras in favor of my 35mm SLR, the Diana F+ and Holga TLR, some expired film several years old and some slide film for cross-processing. Eight rolls of film and eight hours of scanning later, I think we ended up with some really cool shots. 

I can't say enough good things about Dennis, Ivette, and Bill. They are all creative, cool, fun people making creative, cool, fun movies. Check them out and have them make an amazing movie for you!

Karen - Venice Beach Portrait Photography

Karen was looking for portraits for her business website and our mutual friend Marika put us in contact. We spent the afternoon wandering around the Marina Peninsula, the canals and Venice beach which gave us a lot of variety for backdrops. Karen is gorgeous and funny and sweet and that all made taking her photos really easy and fun. Check out Karen's health coaching website, Living Nourished, for her wellness expertise and check back here soon for photos of Karen and Marika launching their new business partnership.