Durgeat Photography

Gray

2011-10-24T12:45:00.000-07:00

Thanks guys for a wonderful afternoon at Echternach Lake. You've got a gorgeous daughter, and you've all definitely brought a lot to my portfolio!

So hard to pick the best to post here... but I'll try. Enjoy!

Warhawks Return

2011-10-07T09:14:00.000-07:00

I'm partial... The Warhawks are a collaboration of Stingers and Hawks, and I was a previous Stinger. Left of the Stingers are a select few who have not yet PCS'd - and I hold onto them tightly! The Stingers were a close family, and we experienced some of the most awesome moments during such a short few years.

Returning from Iraq were a couple of my favorite Stingers, just this past Tuesday! I was asked if I could come out and try to capture some of the emotion that boils over when loved ones come back after so much time away. I was overjoyed, and jumped at the opportunity to SEIZE THE DAY!

Taegan, waiting for Daddy...

Ms. Camden, all grown up after 6 months away...

Patriotism at it's finest!

Boar, not shutting down QUITE fast enough...

Come here, you!

Some pictures don't need a caption...

(I can't spell the sound of eating up sugar!)

Welcome home Shady!

Love

2011-08-13T13:08:00.000-07:00

Another milestone in the life of a photographer... My very first Senior Session! Weather started out iffy - we cancelled the morning... but after a long enough dry spell we went for it! A big shout-out to Sarah for choosing me as her photographer... she gave me valuable experience that I wouldn't have gotten otherwise! ENJOY your senior year, good luck with graduation, and may God bless you in your future endeavors! Great things are in store for you!

Keenan

2011-08-02T14:13:00.000-07:00

Never thought I'd see the day I'd have to say goodbye to ANOTHER great Stinger pilot! Travis "Bandit" Keenan was someone I seriously looked up to for the past few years. As I told him, I envied his relationship with his wife, and I admired his devotion to his children... He was a mentor to EVERYONE who knew him, and he was a damn good one. There's no doubt he's going on to bigger and better things - but I'm gonna miss the heck outta this guy!! Good luck and God Bless sir!

Stevie, Ava, & Victoria

2011-07-16T05:58:00.000-07:00

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.... so what better way to enjoy it than to get out with the camera?! These were all taken at one of our favorite spots - the lake in Echternach!

Maki

2011-06-16T11:22:00.000-07:00

How bittersweet it is to be part of bidding farewell to a GREAT pilot and previous commander. Gonna miss the HECK outta this guy!! Good luck and God Bless to you and your family sir!

Baby V

2011-03-10T13:07:00.000-08:00

Many months away from the camera, and I think the recent sunny weather has inspired me to pick it back up. I'm looking forward to spring pictures with ALL THREE of my girls! That's right - I've been away due to pregnancy and rearing a third baby... Below - Victoria Raye. Born 19 October, 2010.

Young

2010-06-24T12:59:00.000-07:00

My, it's been a while since I'd actually gone out with the camera for a session! But I couldn't have asked for a better day or a more photogenic couple! Thomas and Lauren are expecting their first baby girl, Camden, in just a few more weeks! Session took place at the small pond in Binsfeld during the evening light and the pictures just came out fabulous. I tried to pick just my favorites to post on here, but there were TOO MANY!!! Enjoy :)

Toe Jam :)

2010-02-10T12:01:00.000-08:00

I had the honor of hanging out with the Noe kids again today for a few... their mother requested that I capture their feet while they're still young (you know, before they turn all old and smelly!) It was tough... I fought with blankets and tables and angles and AGE (lord knows a baby doesn't sit still and hold their feet just right! Fortunately, a little photo shop and a lot of imagination went a long way. :)

Looking forward to warmer weather and playdates so I can get her gorgeous kids outside in a natural setting and capture their award winning personalities all over again :) Thanks guys!

Zkiab

2010-01-13T08:53:00.000-08:00

My maternity session with Paul and Carrie was frustrating to say the least. But THANK YOU for being so patient and understanding! I always tell my clients that indoor photography is not my best friend. I'm far from experienced... In fact, I'm not. My camera is a huge, alien thing to me, full of buttons and gadgets that I don't understand at all (and frankly, I'm too lazy to learn how to use it!) I SO love the point/shoot ease of outdoor photography on a dry, sunny day! HURRY AND COME BACK TO ME SUMMER!

I feel like I captured some angles that are worth saving, but I did advise them to keep more experienced photographers in mind just in case I couldn't deliver what they were looking for. Anyway, here they are! I hope you like them.... Good luck with the baby, and if you like what you see - call me back for a newborn session :) I can't wait to meet him/her!

Attaway

2010-01-05T13:02:00.000-08:00

Oh. My. Gosh. Welcome to the world Adelyn and Ashlyn!

This was by FAR one of my favorite photo shoots to date. I'd googled images prior to this session, and dreamed up all of the wonderful things I'd do with these babies (and didn't even touch the starting line of what I wanted to do!) *cry* I was so overwhelmed with how tiny and cooperative they were for the most part... I'd done newborn shoots before - but this time I had twins. TWO BABIES! So tiny, and ultra precious and perfect. I'm still gushing with ooo's and aaaah's. In the end, I just wanted to sit and cuddle them and listen to them squeak while asleep.

I didn't do these babies justice... but I'll share what I think were the best shots captured during the session :) Enjoy!

Durgeat

2010-01-03T11:43:00.000-08:00

Here are several of my favorite shots that I've captured of my girls over the course of their short lives... Unfortunately, they've rebelled against their photographic parents recently and REFUSE to be great subjects for the camera :( Ava is such a strong willed, stubborn 2 yr old, and Stevie... well, she just wants to know when she can stop posing and go play. So thanks to all my clients for helping me continue my experiences with photography as my own personal subjects have decided to retire early!

Stevie Lynn, Age 3.5

Introducing Ava Ryan

From Our Home to Yours

2009-12-13T07:36:00.000-08:00

Mountcastle

2009-11-24T08:16:00.000-08:00

How envious I was to have a chance to photograph yet another photogenic family. Beautiful, sparkling smiles, gorgeous hair, and an absence of rain contributed to yet another successful session for Durgeat Photography. Thank you Laura, Anne, and Jenna for being such fantastic models as we discovered various parts of the Himmerod Abtei together.

Rasmussen

2009-11-21T07:11:00.000-08:00

Shot in the small village of Badem, the Rasmussen family was a pleasure to work with. Lainie was such a delight with her flowing, golden curls. A natural beauty. The minute she stepped out of the car, I couldn't wait to work with her. We used the church, as the huge wooden doors make a beautiful backdrop. The red berries on the bushes also were perfect when capturing Lainie in her pretty Christmas dress.

Alecia brought up the fact that there was a small park just behind the church, so we headed there for a few more shots before calling it a day.

Noe

2009-11-08T12:26:00.000-08:00

I wasn't completely satisfied as a photographer with this session (not the fault of the client I must add.) For starters, I booked this appt too late in the day, and I was running out of natural light to work with. Nicole was disappointed with her newborn pictures she had recently done with another photographer, so she asked if I could do others. Again, the baby was older than 10 days... so not the best idea. But her older children were simply beautiful. Izabella had fiery red hair that just made her vivacious character stand out that much more... and I fell in love with Sebastian's eyelashes! Sawyer was so sweet too, and he definitely didn't cure my baby fever (if anything, he made it worse!)

I'm looking forward to a springtime session with them. By then, Sawyer should be sitting up, and we can capture them among the spring blossoms that light up the German countryside around mid-April!

Phelps

2009-11-08T12:06:00.000-08:00

Dock, Cori, Drew, Caleb & Logan... thanks for a great session this morning! Drew definitely kept me on my toes, and gave me a chance to broaden my experience, working with different backgrounds and scenarios. Thanks to Logan for those precious baby cheeks... and to Caleb for the patience he showed through it all! I hope you're pleased with our work :)

Sienna

2009-11-08T11:51:00.000-08:00

Wow, I thought my 2 yr old was tough to capture. Sienna is 1.5, and she was ALL OVER THE PLACE! The one thing I learned about capturing younger kids is you've got to be ready for anything. Flexibility is key (and I don't mean with timing!) You need to be able to get down on their level... talk to them, bribe them... and BRING TOYS! Too often I had to offer up my car keys to get her to look this way!

Happy Autumn Sienna :)

James

2009-11-08T11:38:00.000-08:00

Marc & Naomi were a difficult duo. Expecting their first child, Naomi was eager to get the intimate maternity photos that she'd often seen lurking around other people's homes and websites. So we went to Binsfeld to the little lake behind the base (same place I held the Wegner photo shoot.)

While Naomi was up for anything, Marc just wanted it to be DONE so he could go home already. A little bribery, and some quick snapping, and we got enough to work with!

Wegner

2009-11-08T11:29:00.000-08:00

Another successful photo shoot with the Wegner family. Little Joshua was a joy to work with :)

Sturos

2009-11-08T10:44:00.000-08:00

Matt, Halea and Tyra were very dear friends of ours who PCS'd back to the states just a couple months ago. Before they left, we took a hike near Irrel, and captured them so that we'd always remember :)

Kirby

2009-11-08T10:29:00.000-08:00

Just as I was SO excited when I finished the Landrum shoot - I got a second opportunity at newborn photography when Doug & Heather Kirby asked me to photograph little Madelyn. My heart swelled at the outcome from that session :) Waiting for more newborns!!!

Remember, newborns are best captured within the first 10 days of life!

(PS - there were color photographs in this session too, but I'm a HUGE fan of black and white...)

Tubbs

2009-11-08T10:20:00.000-08:00

My photo session with the Tubbs was going to be my first time working with a "newborn." Little did I know that their newborn wasn't quite young enough for me to achieve my ultimate goals with! I've always envied the likes of Anne Geddes... or the black and whites you see with the babies in the father's hands, etc. Well, I didn't do my research first - if I had of, I could have let them know that the newborn pictures they were hoping for were better done from days 1-10 of little Aubrey's life. Aubrey was already 6 weeks old! :(

We did manage to get a few that I hope left them satisfied!

Salas

2009-11-08T10:15:00.001-08:00

A couple of photos of Wendy Salas that I took out at the Volcanic Lakes near Bettenfeld...

Welt

2009-11-08T10:05:00.000-08:00

The Welt family photo session was the first as far as family portraits were concerned. We met out at Manderscheid, on a REALLY cold morning. I had a lot of obstacles... sun positioning, shadows, not taking enough photos!! I'm one who likes to wait for the perfect moment before snapping the picture - so often times when I have a large number of people in one photo, I'll have someone who is blinking, or talking, or not looking at me.

A few photos from my session with David & Summer Welt & Family...

Butler

2009-11-08T08:51:00.000-08:00

After the Landrum shoot, word got out that I was an "ok" photographer. I did a holiday shoot for my squadron that earned me a pocketful of Euro :) It was a LONG day, shooting about 30 families in front of an F16 for holiday cards. I won't post these pictures here.

The session that followed was for a fellow pilot who flies in my squadron. He and his wife met me out at Himmerod Abtei and I tried my best to capture the personality that these vivacious people emit.

Here are some photos from my session with Scott & Ashley Butler. More editing experience with these... standout colors, cropping, etc.

Landrum

2009-11-08T08:43:00.000-08:00

The Landrum's were my second photo shoot, and when I was done with them I was THRILLED!! Again, went into it completely nervous, as they were only my second clients ever. Confidence is a huge thing I need to build with experience, so thank you to ALL my clients who are patient with me as I learn my passion.

A few photos from my second session with Marcus & Mindy Landrum. Mindy was pregnant with baby Isabelle. What I loved the most about this shoot is how naturally beautiful Marcus and Mindy are, and the intimacy that surrounded them during our session :) This was also a session where we played around more with the editing - arranging tones, cropping, black and whites, etc.

My First Photo Session...

2009-11-08T08:35:00.000-08:00

In March of 2007, my first photo session occured. I was nervous, as photography has been something I've wanted to pursue. I wanted to leave my client, and friend, completely satisfied. With this first session, I also learned that flash was not my best friend... and outdoor photography was something I'd rather do. Working with the sun, the outdoor elements, and nature is just so much more... FUN!

Here are some photographs from my first photo session, a maternity session with April. She was 8 months pregnant with Ms. Lilly Ann.

With All My Heart
Orchids & Lilly
Looking Ahead