About Us

There is something magical about taking a photograph, and being able to experience a moment in time over again. But as a photographer the feeling goes deeper than that, looking through the lenses at the subject, be it a person or a lone tree in a field. Right before the shutter snaps there is a moment where the photographer feels for that moment in time, that there is nothing else in the world except them and the subject. Photographs speak louder and more often than words. They are a ticket into the past, they are the feeling that touches your heart and a moment recorded forever.

We are the Erika & Ryan a team. we both find beauty and order in chaos, watching for the delicate interplay of light and contrast and -SNAP- there is that moment. That moment of shear natural beauty in everyday things. We approach our calling with an openness of spirit, an openness of mind that allows us to become caught in a moment of time, however minute to find the perfection that exists in everyday moments. Perfectionists at heart, we are driven to improve, learn, and to find the connections between technology and artistry, nature and mathematics; there is a mathematical equation within every image. We experiment with new media, lighting techniques, proportion, layering. We are driven to develop constant mastery of technical skill which we realize is the unattainable goal and therefore will provide us with a lifetime of learning opportunities.

We don't like to use chemicals for development, nor do we want to waste paper, so we view our images on the computer and print only the very best. We enjoy photographing a variety of subjects, be them people, or inanimate objects, landscapes or interiors. Delving into different worlds keeps us fresh and creative. Each different area of photography we tackle helps to compliment another and only helps us to fulfill our ongoing quest for knowledge.

But at the end of the day the purpose of our photography like all art is to share the beauty of the world and to evoke emotion. To tell a story through the image, to create a believable subject and to deliver a message of truth. Our art is 50% heart and 50% soul, its speaks to us on so many levels with so many layers. It is every ounce of who we were at that moment in time, it is a reflection of our life, our family, and our community. It reminds us of our past, and is helping to pave the road for our future.

Shooting for the Story

Tuesday, June 16, 2009 Posted in Personal, Photography

There are so many amazing photographs out there in cyberspace, I am sure everyone stumbles across a beautiful photo every day, or even a photographer who has taken one. In our personal experience as photographers and artists it has to be said that capturing one amazing shot is easy. It is simple to focus all your energy and talent into one small moment, and say “Wow, this might just be the best shot of the day”. We know how easy it is because we have done that many times, we have done tons of photo shoots over the years and looked back and found that one special image that just stands out among the rest. The only problem with that stand out image, is that it stands alone. Its only one out of hundreds that were amazing.

Our goal as photographers and artists is to have purpose and meaning behind every image we take. When we shoot for the story, everything we shoot matters, everything is part of a sequence of moments that make up a day and are translated into a story. The best way we tell stories is in our albums, we take details from your day, the landscape of your location, the people who were there and create images that best represent the feel of your event. Using artistic elements and portraits combined to create a book of art that says everything about what happened, without using words.

Every event we photograph, is approached with a creative method we have designed for you. Not only are we interested in setting up beautiful shots for you, but are goal is to photograph any moment, detail, person etc. that will contribute to the flow of the story we are telling. We tell your story as it unfolds in front of us. We take thousands of images that all have their special position within the pages of your story. Every image matters to us!

So when you choose your photographer, be it us here at Rowell Photography or any photographer anywhere. Be sure to choose someone who isn’t only interested in taking beautiful images in beautiful locations at the perfect moment, choose someone who is willing to open their minds and photograph every moment that they feel is pertinent to the telling of your story.

Because at the end of the day having an album that looks like a bridal magazine is nice, but its not real! When you look back on old photographs of your family, which ones stand out the most to you? To us, the ones that make the most impact are the photos that show people doing things like laughing and chatting, taking part in an activity or an embrace. The photos that speak the loudest to us are the ones that tell the most about the person or subject matter with emotion.

Capturing the story makes it easy for the future generations of your family who will look back on your images and your story book album and say ” That’s what you were like back then”. That’s what you looked like, that’s what you acted like, that’s who you hung out with. When you place photos in context with an event, or a feeling you create a story that people can easily pick up on and appreciate.

I have this fantastic photo of my Grandmother from her first wedding. She is sitting on her husbands lap in her wedding dress, they are on a chair that is in the mud, and in front of a house they made with their bare hands. When I look at the image I can see her youth, and I always imagine that just before the photographer snapped this image they were kissing. This image says so much to me, it gives me a glimpse into the past. Their expressions alone give so much information into what they felt like on that day.
Now a few months later my Grandmother and her new husband had some studio portraits taken. And when I look at these images I don’t see anything except two people, there is no story, there is no context, it is just an image (nicely taken and hand painted). Its just a document how how they looked in that time.

Of course I have plenty of these documents/images of that time, but what I would really love to have is more of those candid, life changing images. I would love to create an album of them, but since we don’t have any more from that day, we assume that no more were taken. Just one great image, and an incomplete story.

Don’t just settle for a few great images, go all out and get the story. The story is what will keep the memories alive.

One great image will keep people interested; but a story will live on forever with a family.

Erika & Ryan

personal Shooting for the Story

Tags: albums, artistic elements, Arts, beautiful images, creative method, expression, Families, grandmother, landscape, Love, memories, perfect moment, photo shoots, photograph, photographer, photographs, Photography, portraits, Rowell Photography, stories, Wedding

by Erika Hanchar

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June 16, 2009 - 3:44 pm Kevin Charlie - Beautifully written Erika! This is the true essence that should be within every photographer, to capture that decisive moment and to tell that story through images where words cannot be spoken. As I was reading through this post I was reminded of times when I would look through my parents photo albums when I was younger being fascinated by photography or my Grandparent's slides - each image told a story of times past. It's an amazing feeling when you can look at an image and relive a moment or feel like you were actually there. Images taken now and especially wedding photographs are certainly for future generations to look back on. I love the image of your Grandmother sitting on your Grandfather's lap - this image has love written all over it! Thanks for sharing! [kc]

June 16, 2009 - 2:56 pm Ingrid Cochrane - Nicely said!! My grandfather was a photographer until he died at age 83. He shot photographs all over the world, and I just love to look at them and marvel....