Zak Schwank Photo

July 28, 2009 // Portraits

To say that I had a blast in Old Town Temecula on Sunday night would be a major understatement. I had a chance to hang out with fellow photographers and two cool families in a fun and relaxed setting. Perfecto for me! When I thought about organizing a group shoot I knew I wanted to keep it small, and I am so glad I did. I think we had just the right number of people to make it enjoyable. Anyways here are a few of mine from our group shoot. Be sure to post a link to your blog post or facebook gallery in your comments, so everyone can see the other photographer's perspective. I think that is going to be the coolest part for me. I love to see how others see things. A big thanks to everyone that participated. :) July 28 2009 2.jpg

Here are a few action shots. Jaime, Freida, and Sylvia doin' their thang! Be sure to stop by their blogs and tell them your thoughts! Uplifting comments make the world go around! :) July 28 2009 3.jpg

13 Comments Add a Comment Send To Friend

Rachael Earl:

Those are really great, Zak! You have such nice gals near you! :)

(07.28.09 @ 02:32 PM)

Freida:

Well Zak... I love, love, love seeing all of the photos from each of us... and getting a chance to see what we each saw. :)
I just adore #'s 2, 3, 4, 8... and the last group one!!!
Also... I was talking with my mom this morning and telling her how I feel like you (& Jennifer) have somewhat taken me under your wings... and have given me such a gift... to move forward... to go after what I want... to try. From the bottom of my heart thank you for that. :)
My mom said it sounded like you were paying it forward... I tend to agree....

(07.28.09 @ 04:11 PM)

Pamela telgenhoff:

These are great! Love kids...they add such a cool dymanic to pics!!!

(07.28.09 @ 06:34 PM)

Kelley:

Thank you Zak! We were so excited to be "chosen" :o) We had fun and LOVE the shots we have seen so far. Everyone was so nice. Thanks again!

(07.28.09 @ 07:13 PM)

Kelly:

How wonderful. I showed Ivan and his exact words were, "I look gooooood. When can Zak is cool." :)

(07.29.09 @ 09:29 AM)

smittengreta:

aw fun! we were with you in spirit waaaaaay over here representin the east coast! :) i love the composition of the one on the top right in that 2nd group of 4. hope that makes sense! haha :)

(07.29.09 @ 07:06 PM)

Sylvia Borgo:

Weren't these families the cutest! Thanks for inviting me to join you Zak, I had a blast with you and the gals. It's hard to pick a fave from the ones you posted - they are all too cute!

(07.30.09 @ 01:37 PM)

Brandi:

These are so much fun! What cute kiddos.. and you got to work with some cool people!

(07.30.09 @ 05:57 PM)

ohana photographers:

yahoowie for networking guys!!! rock on!!

(07.30.09 @ 10:33 PM)

Chelo:

I soooo wished I could of been there! Get me out of NJ, stat!

(07.31.09 @ 04:09 PM)

Jamie Burnett:

Wow... Looks like a great shoot. My kiddos would have been all over that digger!

(08.07.09 @ 09:05 AM)

Lisette Price:

How fun!! Love the shot of the little girl in the tire :)

(08.08.09 @ 11:04 AM)

Chris:

love the sandy little people's feet pic.

(08.08.09 @ 08:40 PM)

A fair is a veritable smorgasbord...

July 20, 2009 // Portraits

I had so much fun with this awesome family at the Del Mar Fair. It's actually the San Diego County Fair, but any true blooded Californian will never call it that. :) When I had the idea to hit up the fair I really wanted to concentrate on raw moments with this family. It wasn't a family session in the true sense of the word, but more or less a documentation of the time they shared together while enjoying the fair. I really love how this session turned out. Here are a few of my favorites. Kelly, the super fun mom, is a photographer too, and Brian is a photographer for the USMC. How sweet is that? Quick question...do you know where the title of my post comes from? Let me know by leaving a comment. I'll pick a winner on Friday morning, so get those comments in by Thursday midnight. :) The winner will get a lil surprise in the mail. :) And I know I'm being ambitious, but if we get over 25 comments I'll pick another winner. July 20 2009 1.jpg

15 Comments Add a Comment Send To Friend

ohana photographers:

ok takin a break from editing hell, and i mean in literal hell! man, it's hot. ok enough whining. love these zak! especially the flairplane one and the tunnel of love one ;) ok back to work :/

(07.20.09 @ 03:50 PM)

smittengreta:

baxter whining about the heat all day long is cracking me up!! try jawjuh out!! ;) so about the pics - i *LU-HUUUUUV* these!!! in this session, and the one of jaime hough's fam, i really can see you in your work zak!

(07.20.09 @ 06:46 PM)

Jules:

What a perfect place to capture the fun of this family! I love the flare above the plane!

(07.20.09 @ 08:03 PM)

Andy Schwartz:

I Love that look of awe and amazement in the kids' eyes in almost every capture! What a Super-Fab place for a fun family shoot. Great work as always Zak!

(07.20.09 @ 08:34 PM)

Jaime:

After seeing the title of the latest post ... I decided on a chapter or two from a book about a friendly spider and a famous pig for a bedtime story. :) Oh gosh Zak ... I totally love these! Gosh, wish you could have come to the fair with me! I love that flare too!!! Beautiful family!

(07.21.09 @ 12:09 AM)

Amy:

I just love the colors and lights of a fair, and I especially love when little kiddos have big eyes from taking all the excitement in. The photos are fun and fresh feeling, and are just joyful to look at.

(07.21.09 @ 06:56 AM)

Jamie Burnett:

Love the first one with the little guy pointing and Dad looking in amazement. Sweet moment! :)

(07.21.09 @ 08:18 AM)

Chelo:

I love the approach you took of capturing their time together :) These are lovely!

(07.21.09 @ 11:36 AM)

Zak Schwank:

Ahhh Jaime Hough...you are one smart cookie! I'll give you your prize on Sunday!!!!!!!!

(07.24.09 @ 08:53 AM)

Sylvia Borgo:

This family has the best smiles! What fun! Fab, Zak!

(07.24.09 @ 05:14 PM)

Jaime:

Tee hee! ;) Why thank you Zak!

(07.25.09 @ 05:36 PM)

Rachael Earl:

So cute! I love the fair-wish it was in town all the time! Plus, we just watched Charlotte's Web :)

(07.28.09 @ 02:32 PM)

Brandi:

OH MY GOD ZAK!!! I SHOT THEM!! LOL. I just about fell out of my FREAKING CHAIR when I saw this post. When they visited Dallas last year around the 4th of July, I shot them downtown. LOL. SMALLLLLLLLLLL world. Aren't they a sweet couple? I haven't met the kiddos but they are so cute!!

(07.30.09 @ 05:56 PM)

Annie Warren:

Oh man! I have never seen wider eyes than these little sweethearts have... in pretty much every image. So joyful, so innocent, so darned ADORABLE! Talk about wide eyed wonder at all they see... literally. My heart just swelled and my throat tightened. (I have 2 little boys too!)! GORGEOUS captures Zak. You were right ON IT.

(08.02.09 @ 06:40 AM)

Lynn:

Doing my part to get you to 25! :) I love sessions centered around a group activity. The kids' expressions say it all. Well done!

(08.10.09 @ 01:48 PM)

It Don't Matter If It's Black Or White.

July 13, 2009 // Portraits

So I need some creative input and turn to you. I love this photo...I mean really love this one. I intentionally wanted it blurry to show the moment and rushing excitement of a boy running to play games on the midway, but I'm stuck on whether it lives in black and white or color. What do you think? Personally I initially thought it had to be color...after all we are at the fair with lots of neat colors and lights, but after staring at it for quite some time I think it's best in black and white. Now there is no right or wrong just interpretation, so what do ya think?

17 Comments Add a Comment Send To Friend

Rachael Earl:

I tend to like candid moments in B+W better personally :)

(07.13.09 @ 10:55 PM)

ohana photographers:

first off, love it too! i'm usually a black and white person, but i'm lovin the color one, kimi does to. so we likey the color one :)

(07.13.09 @ 10:56 PM)

Sylvia Borgo:

Tough call, tough call - I'm gonna go with B&W.

(07.13.09 @ 11:29 PM)

Jeannie:

B&W, for sure!

(07.13.09 @ 11:40 PM)

greta, smitten:

color!!

(07.13.09 @ 11:51 PM)

Amy:

One more for color, going to even things out on the poll!

(07.14.09 @ 07:05 AM)

Ruthie Just:

I love black and white photos, but this one deserves COLOR :)

(07.14.09 @ 07:14 AM)

Kelly:

Ohhhh love it Zak!! Shows just how excited he was that day!! Luv em both but I think I'm going with color as my fav!

(07.14.09 @ 08:16 AM)

Zak Schwank:

Love it ya'll! Thanks for all your input. Kelly I'm almost done. :)

(07.14.09 @ 08:23 AM)

jennifer:

Color... I love the oranges that they are wearing!

(07.14.09 @ 08:25 AM)

Kelly:

I usually always choose b & w but I love this shot in color. Great shot Zak.

(07.14.09 @ 02:12 PM)

Jaime:

You know I am a sucker for B+W's, but I really love it BOTH ways! :)

(07.15.09 @ 06:39 PM)

katie Beverley:

LOVE this shot, man!!! Love both versions but I'd say color!!!

(07.16.09 @ 11:59 AM)

Jamie Burnett:

I vote black and white!

(07.17.09 @ 01:09 PM)

Becka @Studio222 Photography:

I'm a big fan of storytelling moments in black and white. Maybe a bit of a contrast boost would make it pop more but I love it! :)

(07.17.09 @ 06:21 PM)

Annie Warren:

B&W for me. My eye zooms straight to his expression!

(08.02.09 @ 06:44 AM)

Jules:

such a fun moment! I'm voting for color!

(11.20.09 @ 08:48 PM)

Summertime!

June 29, 2009 // Just for fun

This past week the clouds parted, the sun shined, and we engaged in the annual Schwank Family Water War. Well it's actually the first annual, but hey ya gotta start somewhere. :) I so love summertime! As a kid growing up in the hills of Julian, we would play outside from sunup til sundown. Water fights, building forts, pickin' apples...hey if you've ever been to Julian you know we make some good apples. :) And if I didn't come home covered in dirt and mud it hadn't been a good day. Well enough of my rambling...here's my kiddos trying to soak me...must get water housing. :)

You can't get me kid!

Absolutely love their smiles when they laugh. :)

Here's Daisy our fun and ever lazy lab. :)

14 Comments Add a Comment Send To Friend

Rachael Earl:

Awww-such cuties! I love the whole second grouping. My little girls have cute freckles, too!

(06.30.09 @ 09:49 AM)

Amy:

Awww, they have such pretty eyes! I love the red tub-trug

(06.30.09 @ 12:55 PM)

Chelo:

I love the shot of your little boy on the grass! and the bucket!! And the eyes on both of them- wowsers.

(07.01.09 @ 07:22 AM)

Jamie Burnett:

I LOVE the one of Jack in the bucket, and the one on the grass. So cute! They both have the prettiest eyes! :)

(07.01.09 @ 02:16 PM)

ohana photographers:

awww yah julian apples are the bomb!! awesome shots of the kidlets and give it up for the summa!!!

(07.01.09 @ 10:13 PM)

Becka Knight (Studio222 Photogrpahy):

Watch out! Squirt gun to the face! ;)

(07.02.09 @ 01:18 PM)

Sylvia Borgo:

I'm dying over here! I'm absolutely loving these fun shots! They are too precious!

(07.02.09 @ 01:48 PM)

greta, smitten:

as previously stated on fb, i LOVE these!! and yes, your kids' smiles are so sweet!

(07.02.09 @ 06:02 PM)

Jeannie:

I love backyard fun. I have the fondest memories of my kids there.

(07.04.09 @ 01:31 PM)

Lisette Price:

You have such beautiful children!! Looks like you guys had fun! :)

(07.07.09 @ 07:07 PM)

Annie Warren:

Oh my.... your kids are just adorable Zac! When my boys were that same age they used to adore 'bucket baths' out on the lawn on warm summer evenings. Your youngest looks so much like my son Eddie at that age... pale skin, bright blue eyes and white blonde wavy hair. You've got me reminiscing with these beautiful shots.

(07.12.09 @ 07:24 AM)

Andy Schwartz:

I can't kelp but giggle when I see these. The look on your boy's face with that water pistol in his hand is so priceless! What a beautiful bunch you have there Zak!

(07.20.09 @ 08:25 PM)

Brandi:

Giant buckets are made of WIN!!

(07.30.09 @ 06:00 PM)

Lynn:

1.) I love your doggy, so cute!

2.) OMG are you freaking kidding me with these shots?!? I love your kids' eyes, they are amazing. And I am in AWE of the one with your son lying on the grass, laughing. Those eyelashes! That face! This needs to be a huge canvas now!

(08.10.09 @ 01:55 PM)

Part Duece

June 24, 2009 // Portraits

Ahhh finally back to blogging. :) Summer is here and the kids are out of school, so hopefully I can get into the swing of things and be a better blogger...I mean when I was a kid I dreamed of the day that I could blog. Well it's finally here and I just seem to cast aside my childhood ambitions for mundane things like spending time at the beach, skateboarding with my family, swimming at the pool...well you get the drift. ;)

Here are a few more from Jaime's radtastic shoot! Enjoy

The bottom right photo is actually taken while I was walking in front of them with my camera upside down! Booya!!

Totally lucked out with this one...tossed my camera above her and clicked away. She is swinging about 4 feet off the ground here...gotcha!

15 Comments Add a Comment Send To Friend

Amy:

I am loving the daughter following the father on the beach photo, the reflection is just so perfect, just a beautiful moment.

(06.24.09 @ 12:07 PM)

Rachael Earl:

I love the sandy feet! Something we can't get pics of here in Arizona!!!

(06.24.09 @ 01:13 PM)

Jaime:

To which, Rob told me as I was shooting ... "Mom, you need to do it like Zak" ... then proceeded to flip her Argus Bean (digital cam) upside down and clicks away! :) Gosh, she thinks you're the most radtastic photog ever. Totally love the tongue stickin' out -- that is so Rhy. And the shot of Rob showing you her pearly whites. Oh, and the one at the cross walk is soooo a fave of mine!!! And the one of Rob following Jayson's foot steps. We totally love them ALL. :) Till next time ... so no movin' out of CA!

(06.24.09 @ 06:19 PM)

Becka @Studio222 Photography:

I am loving the reflections Zak!

(06.24.09 @ 09:15 PM)

greta, smitten:

i had a sneaking suspicion, and now that i've seen part two i know for sure... this is my fav shoot of yours!! they look so happy!!

(06.24.09 @ 09:29 PM)

Freida:

love, love, LOVE #7... the cowgirl boots pairedup with the flipflops... such a great picture! #10... obviously... WOW. This last one on the swing... look at her eyes sparkle... so amazing!

(06.25.09 @ 06:25 AM)

Jamie Burnett:

I LOVE LOVE LOVE that last one... Perfect in every way! The sandy feet is great too! All of them are sooo good!

(06.26.09 @ 06:41 AM)

Sylvia Borgo:

Boooya! That's right! I love the tongue sticking out shot - she is a doll! Sweeeeeet shots, Zak!

(06.26.09 @ 08:19 AM)

Lisette Price:

Love the shot of their sandy feet! Too cute!!

(06.26.09 @ 09:26 PM)

Andy Schwartz:

Love the li'l ones and their boots and the sandy feet. Looks like so much fun, and those reflections......! Love it Zak!!

(06.26.09 @ 10:17 PM)

Jules :

Zak ... what a perfect session full of smiles, laughter, and love... just what family is all about!

(06.28.09 @ 07:02 AM)

ohana photographers -david & kimi:

got.to.love.the.feets!!! part deux equally as awesome as part un!

(06.29.09 @ 08:46 AM)

Roz Mitchell:

Aww! These are precious! Love the black and whites!

(06.29.09 @ 02:28 PM)

chelo:

Love the feet shot with the sand :)

(07.01.09 @ 07:24 AM)

Jeannie:

Adorable girls. I would love to get back to the beach this summer. This family had so much fun!

(07.04.09 @ 01:33 PM)