Form submitted successfully, thank you.

Error submitting form, please try again.

Missy Cochran Oregon Photographer bio picture

This is Me

Hi there! I am Missy Cochran and I love photography, I fact, you could say that I am obsessive. It all started when I got married and had my wonderfully awesome grandpa take my pictures. He was a professional photographer and I thought all photographers were the same. After the wedding, I got the pictures back and they were all very traditional. Not grandpa’s fault, but mine for not knowing what I wanted. Anyway, I realized too late that I had actually wanted something different than what I got. Since my wedding is all over, I now get to live vicariously through my awesome couples. Other stuff about me is that I make a goal every three months to run regularly, but haven’t yet quite found my mojo. I think I like the idea of being a runner but maybe I am not really one at heart! I love sweets and I love my church and doing things that add joy to my life.

About the Blog-site

featuring my latest photo sessions, tips for photographers, ideas to make your pictures better, and tidbits about my life all randomly jumbled together. Using "categories" on the top menu can help you isolate your interest. If you like what you see, add me to your subscriptions to get the latest updates to the blog. Also I love comments! I read them all and try to reply to everyone.

Photo by DIANNE BENTZ

Monthly Archives: September 2008

A New Style of Wedding Album

The past few months I have have been wrestling with my own head because I really want to make a new demo album for prospective clients.  The old one is awesome and people love it, but I feel like my style is changing as I grow into photography.  I just don’t feel like it is true to me anymore.  The dilemma is, I haven’t been satisfied with any alternative album ideas.  Today I have been working on some experimental designs and I am excited about the results, but I am not done yet and I just need some time to reflect on this new direction.  About a month ago, I made a possible new album style and posted it in this blog and already I am not satisfied.  My biggest hangup with what I am designing these days is that it is VERY simple.  Although  I love it, I am worried that my clients aren’t going to be into it as I am.  Because it is much easier to design, I am thinking about adding a lot more pages to the basic album and make it less expesive to add pages.  After all, I am able to spend less time designing.  That isn’t the only reason why I am wanting this new way; however,  I really do love the look of it.  You comments are so appreciated as this brooding artist must get back to work.

Also, this would just be one portion of the wedding, I am needing to take a break from this sample album design.  Phwew!

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Curtis and Kristen’s Wedding Story

NAMES Kristen Dobyns & Curtis Pittman
LIVE IN Portland, OR
OCCUPATIONS She’s a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and he’s an architectural designer
 NUMBER OF ATTENDEES 110
 NUMBER OF ATTENDANTS Four bridesmaids and Five groomsmen
HOW THEY MET They met while vacationing in Cancun, Mexico the summer after high school graduation 9 years ago and have been together ever since!
THE ENGAGEMENT He proposed on his birthday so she would have no idea
WHAT ATTRACTED HER TO HIM His hands, bum, passion for his career and his unique laugh
WHAT ATTRACTED HIM TO HER Her eyes, smile, sense of humor and her drive to be successful
A DAY THEY’LL ALWAYS REMEMBER When Kristen moved across the country to Pennsylvania to finish college with Curtis
 WEDDING THEME Bright and cheery, simple elegance
WEDDING COLORS Chocolate brown, lime green, peony pink and ivory
WEDDING FLOWERS Hydrangeas, calla lilies, roses, dahlias, orchids, daisies, gladiolas, spider mums
WEDDING CAKE Silver chiffon cake with champagne flavored custard parfait filling; top 2 tiers were Curtis’s favorite banana chiffon cake.  To top it off, ivory buttercream with a chocolate brown henna inspired design.
FAVORITE DETAIL Curtis’s aunt made our fabulous wedding favor boxes and filled them with individually wrapped dark chocolates : )
THE MOST UNEXPECTED ELEMENT Due to unexpected man-made destruction of our initial ceremony site, we had to change the location 3 days before our wedding!
HOW THE WEDDING WAS DIFFERENT THAN THEY EXPECTED Kristen found the day to be more exhilarating and less stressful than expected, Curtis thinks everything just fell perfectly into place.
THREE ADJECTIVES TO DESCRIBE THE WEDDING Glowing, perfect, exciting
HONEYMOON DESTINATION The Big Island, Hawaii
CEREMONY AND RECEPTION SITE Ceremony- Royal Rosarian Garden, Reception- Portland City Grill

PHOTOGRAPHER Missy Cochran, Artisan Photographics
FLOWERS East West Floral Arts
CAKE Beaverton Bakery
RINGS Original round solitaire designed by Curtis for her, Novell white gold band for him
GOWN DESIGNER Maggie Sottero via Charlotte’s Weddings, Beaverton
ACCESSORIES Kristen’s hairpiece- Glammi Occasionwear, Hong Kong; Curtis’s tie- Nordstrom
FORMAL WEAR Jim’s Tuxedos
MAKEUP Laura Mercier, MAC, Smashbox, NARS
HAIR Liberty @ 220 Studio, Portland
OFFICIANT Rev. Robert Bonds
INVITATIONS New and Blue, Portland
RENTAL Barclay Event Rentals, Clackamas, OR                                                                                               DJ Eric L. Wright
HONEYMOON Mauna Lani Bay Resort and Bungalows, Hawaii
DAY OF PLANNER Kim Johnston

Okay everyone, so I finally feel like I am getting a little bit caught up and I am so excited to post this wedding story!

Photobucket

The hotel where they got ready was hotel monaco.  The light was so pretty and they decorate with fun patterns everywhere!

Photobucket

Photobucket

Such a fun view!

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

The guys got ready in another part of the hotel so it was really easy to get pictures of both groups getting ready.  We love when that happens!  These pictures look fairly tame, but they were pretty goofy in there.  I love this first picture with Curtis looking slyly at the camera

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

One of the funnest events of the morning was when Kristen gave her bridesmaids their gifts.  She was just so excited to give them to the girls.

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Once Kristen was ready we just had to take advantage of the beatiful lighting int he room.  She was such a great sport to pose for us.  I love this one because her smile is big, natural, and un inhibited.

Photobucket

She pulls off the posh look really well too!  Man, I love this light!

Photobucket

Here is Curtis seeing Kristen for the first time looking blown away as every good groom should :)

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

We went to the rose garden to get some more pictures of just the two of them.  I love the light and colors everything went very well together.

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

I ADORE Kristen’s hairpiece.  It was stunning, can you believe she got it on ebay for $25?  I was shocked!

Photobucket

Curtis’s mom was so sweet, you can tell she loves her boy and he loves her back.

Photobucket

Okay, if I could chose one picture that epitomized Curtis and his groomsmen and the dynamics of their friendship as observed on the wedding day, this would most definately be it.

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

ceremony

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

reception details

Photobucket

Photobucket

Can you believe the view at Portland City Grill?  It was a beautiful and unique setting.

Photobucket

Photobucket

The view at night

Photobucket

Curtis was really sweet for the garter, Kristen wanted him to be nice and was a complete gantleman.

Photobucket

He hams it up for the throw, naturally.

Photobucket

Photobucket

Congrats you two, wishing you the best!!

Wah and Tina Teaser

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

My New Haircut!

I just got a haircut this morning!  My father-in-law would ask, “What about all the other hairs?”  Anyway, I love it!  I have been wanting this type of cut for a while, but wasn’t ready to commit.  A couple weddings ago, I saw a guest at the wedding with the cutest hair, so I used my awesome 200mm zoom and snagged some paparazzi shots of her hair due.  Anyway, this is how my hair lady, Penny, was able to work it out for me.  I love it!!

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket