To India with emote360

Well folks, I'm off to India for two weeks, and Courtney & Joelle are heading back to SoCal to kick it with friends and family. So we'll be out of touch until the 27th or so. (If you need to contact us, do so by emailing Courtney at courtney@garyachristenson.com). For those of you that don't know, I'm co-founder and art director of an organization called emote360 (www.emote360.com), it's a 501c3 non-profit production company that creates media for other non-profits. Three of us from emote360 are heading to India to make a documentary film about an organization called Harvest India - follow our trip on the emote360 blog. This expedition is just one of the many exciting trips that emote360 will be a part of this year. God has blessed us so much and it's a dream come true to use my gifts in this way. I'll be the documentary photographer for the emote360 media team. The imagery I capture will be used for promotional materials that I design for Harvest India (website, print collateral, DVD menu & design, use in the documentary film...etc). Please pray for safety while traveling and while on the ground in India (I'm sure you are aware of the conflicts that are happening over there).

For more detailed information on our trip please visit this LINK on the emote360 Blog which explains the purpose of the trip, the intense schedule, the funding needs and various ways you can help. Currently, 90% of our project expenses have been financially met with NO solicitation thus far (which is amazing and we’re extremely grateful to our big donors that made it possible for us to purchase tickets and get over there to capture the media we need), however, we’re still needing to raise $6,000 to help offset the projects total cost (post production of the final DVD). Please consider partnering with us to finish raising the support we need to create this documentary for Harvest India. Tax-deductible donations can be made by CLICKING HERE.

Any donation over $25 will receive the final DVD that we produce - as a Thank You Gift. With over 100 people visiting this blog on a daily basis (plus the traffic on the emote360 blog), it wouldn't take a large sum from each person to complete our fundraising efforts. Thanks for your consideration in helping emote360 help other nonprofits.

We'll be back blogging in a few weeks. Keep it classy America.

Wedding Albums

Just got more albums back from our printer! One 11x14 Bride & Groom Album and two smaller Parent Albums. We stankin' love these things, and are still convinced that this is THE BEST way to display photos. They're so style-ee & b-e-a-utiful, and it definitely gets a crap load of attention... just like our daughter - we'd pretty much describe Joelle that way too :) Have a great weekend everybody!

Client: OLC

Just finished up a BRANDING overhaul on a natural resources company called Oregon Lumber Components. The vision for this logo was a mixture of a few concepts:

1) Traditional Values meets Forward Thinking - Since they've been in the industry for several decades now, they wanted something that would show their heritage in the industry, but also help establish themselves as leaders for the future of earth-friendly wood products. So I brought in a fresh green & charcoal color scheme, accompanied with a serif font that give a "foundational" look to their logo. And then I created an icon that shows "forward thinking" and "conservation of natural resources" through recycling their products (round it goes).
2) Eco Friendly - the main product they produce is a massive collapsible shipping container used for food and liquid transportation on a world market. This shipping "box" is better on the environment than their competitors products and it's completely recyclable once the product has been used).

Overall, OLC is a really innovative company and I think the new brand accurately represents who they are and where they are going in the industry.

Portraits: Wilkens Family

We had the pleasure of taking some portraits of the Wilkens family over the holiday. We ventured out of town on a super chilly January afternoon and loved every second of it... it was seroiusly chilly vanilly. Sidenote: Check out how well everyone's spine is aligned with thier bodies... seriously, take a look... not a bone out of place :) ... Jim is actually a chiropractor (and a darn good one at that), so I had to throw that one in there.

Friends & Family of the Wilkens, SIGN THE GUESTBOOK to be notified (via email) when they release all their photos from this session online.

Saint Dee-a-go

We just arrived back in Bend, OR after THE longest day of flying /slash/ sitting in airports... but at last, we are home. Joelle received 7 gold stars for flying so well, it was her first time... obviously, she's only 3 months old. And she spoke her first word while on the plane, we swear we heard her say "pharmaceutical" :) Anyways, we seriously had the best holiday in SoCal with Courtney's side of the family. We introduced Joelle to the beach (which she wasn't really a fan of), did some "polar bear club" surfing, played Wii, spent New Years with Court's 93.5 cousins (who are seriously the raddest), and just had lots - o - quality time with Court's immediate family (G-pa, G-ma, Bryce and Shaun). We appreciate our family and feel so loved by them. In a few weeks, Court is flying back to be with family while I go to India. Lots to look forward to in Oh Nine: International travels, vacationing in Maui, the potential of buying a house, watching Joelle develop, shooting more photos in various states and countries, and helping out more non-profit organizations... Happy New Year Everyone!



Trying to get Joelle in on some Wii... she loved watching.

Four generations of beautiful-ness

E-Photos: Shane & Jenn

Meet Shane & Jenn of Orange, CA... their "sexy powers" combined with our "photo powers" officially saved the world in 2008. While down in SoCal for Christmas and New Years, Courtney and I jumped at the opportunity to meet these two in Old Town Orange to snap some fun and creative portraits before their April wedding in Newport Beach. Shane and Jenn, you two were crazy amounts of fun to be around, and so beautiful together! We can't wait to see you guys again on your wedding day. We absolutely loved hanging out with you. Cheers.

Friends & Family of Shane & Jenn, SIGN THE GUESTBOOK to be notified (via email) when they release all their photos from this engagement session online.

Merry Christmas from SoCal

Joelle LOVES her Grandpa... and apparently LOVES smiling as of late. Too Cute. Anyways, Merry Christmas everybody and thank you for helping make 2008 a fabulous year for The Christensons. Thank you all for your visits, comments and encouragements on this blog. We wouldn't be where we are today without you all. Here's to the most blessed year of our life... Cheers!

NEXT T-shirt Designs

A couple apparel designs for World Relief NEXT. They wanted something a bit more edgy & messy to accompany their other shirt design with just their logo on it (not shown). This way they can have one styleee shirt for you to wear, and one normal shirt for your mom to wear... hee hee, your mom :) So everyone can be happy. And the best part, these puppies are only 2 color... so they can save some $$$ on printing and purchase a great quality T to print on. Non Quality Tees suck at being worn.

World Relief NEXT: Congo Part 2

Here is the booklet I recently designed for World Relief NEXT (through emote360). The piece feels great, looks dynamic, reads well and is very compelling. We also did a little handbill (Part 1) to drive folks to they're display table for their launch. We're excited to partner with these incredible people, and we're stoked to assist them in bringing positive change to this world.

Portraits: Bridges Family

Spent the afternoon with the always classy and outrageously sexy Bridges family. Darcy, Chris and Trenton. There is only one word that sums of their awesomeness... they... are... FABULOUS! Post Script: Darcy quite literally rocks Courtney's face off!!!

World Relief NEXT: Congo Part 1

Just received our first Congo print piece (Part 1) for the launch of World Relief NEXT this weekend. This particular handbill will be used to drive people to the NEXT display table where they can purchase a 16 page booklet I designed (Part 2) that will also have a handmade bracelet attached to the book. Proceeds from this product will help fund relief projects in Congo. It was a blast working with World Relief NEXT on these print projects. Looking forward to the future projects emote360 has lined up with World Relief NEXT.

Love Project

Helping my favorite bro-sephs at Love Project Maui with some designing goodness. A few print pieces for one of their latest projects. See you guys in Feb!

Holiday Ugly Sweater Party

Yup, this is really happening. We're throwing THE holiday party of the year. It's ganna be the craziest - festive - christmas caroling - photo sessioning - mixed holiday drinks - delish food - ugliest sweater competition - party that you've ever laid your eyes on. We're going all out this Christmas season to make it MORE Christmas-y than Christmas itself... to make up for all the Christmases that never really felt like the holidays should. Hello sleigh rides, snowball fights, snowmen, sledding, decorations, lights, cookies, candles and Bing Crosby. Pre-Merry Christmas to all.

Slices of Life

Left to Right: 1) Joey using her hand to play with a toy (she's growing up so fast). 2) I battled my brother (John) in some old school Axis & Allies. He won. We traveled down south to visit the Christenson side of the family for the holiday. 3) We took my sisters dog, Meka, on some walks... she's THE most rambunctious dog alive! 4) Ate way too much of moms home cooking 5) I married the prettiest girl in the universe (and the hottest mom on the planet).


Left to Right: 1) The first Christmas tree ornament I bought for Courtney. Don't ask me why I got her a bowler ornament. We suck at bowling. I really don't have an answer, it was just there and I loved it. 2) We've been taking lots of showers with Joelle. She's the happiest while in the shower. So we're there a lot. 3) My burly beard and I ventured out into the wild and chopped down the best Christmas tree ever. 4) Joelle is always soooo sleepy... boring... 5) Hunting with my pops in our new duck boat. I won. The ducks lost. And we'll part with an opened mouth smile from Joelle. Cheers.

Fall = Done

Impromptu photo session with Joelle and some leaves that we found while on a Sunday afternoon stroll through the park. Yah, I guess she's pretty cute ;) Look at that second chin she's got going on.

Here's a sneak peak into the real life of Joelle Zoe. (Aka, "little terror" - just kidding, she's actually a really good baby... most of the time.)

Joelle + Mac + iChat

Here's a few pictures of Joelle lovin' her moms Mac, and doing her first video chat with the Keating family... she loves it! We've been Video iChatting like crazy lately. It's pretty much mind blowing to think that we can have full on conversations with any one on the planet... and it's free and NO BIG DEAL anymore, it's just expected. What a crazy world we live in! Anyways, Courtney's created a public folder on Picasa with a few videos and photos for those of you that can't get enough of Joey - VIEW IT

GIVE US A JINGLE:
iChat user name: "garyachristenson", "cdchristenson"
Skype us: "garyachristenson", "courtneychristenson"

Print Piece: Emote360

We've been "busting our chops" (whatever that means) on emote360 stuff lately... we've basically started a small movement that we named Schmooze-Fest 2008 ("schmoozing: to chat in a friendly and persuasive manner especially so as to gain favor, business, or connections"). We've been attending meetings, chamber of commerce events, non-profit forums and all that crazy stuff. I secretly hate doing all the salesman stuff, it's pretty far out of my comfort zone, but we gotta get the word out somehow. So in order to properly schmooze, one must have something to handout to help inform (along with our b.cards of course), or as the biz calls it: "a leave-behind or handbill of sorts"... so we've been making some pretty sweet print pieces for emote360. We may suck at being salesmen and we don't have a sales strategy of any kind, but at least all our materials look slick. This particular large print piece has a nice heavy stock, die-cut corner, basic info on the back and some selective UV coating just on the logo and text... the little details make for an overall great impression.

Emote360 Pic's + Launch

Ben and I took some emote360 staff pics yesterday. The first series of images say "Trust us, we know what we're doing", the second shots say "We view things a little differently", and the third image says "We're secretly gorillas"... look at those lips, too funny. Or it could mean "We get punched a lot, and this is what it would like in slow motion"... whichever you prefer - tomAtoes tomOtoes. I had a mentor tell me to "Never take yourself too seriously" and I'm still livin' by it. In all seriousness, tomorrow officially launches the beginning of emote360. Please check out our New & Improved Website and Blog. We're stoked to start providing a solution to help nonprofits meet more real needs, and on a global scale.

Website: http://www.emote360.com/
Blog: http://blog.emote360.com/

Portraits: Parla Family

Spent the afternoon on an outdoor adventure to photograph "Team Parla"... who just so happens to have one of the cutest babies alive (2nd to Joelle of course).

Meet Anthony, Heather and Samantha. Anthony (lets call him "A-Train" for the time being) & Heather (aka "H-Bomb") were both born at a young age, grew up in Bend and fell madly in love with each other sometime back in the day. A-Train asked H-Bomb to marry him while on an afternoon hike through Shevlin Park. H-bomb agreed. A-Train made the arrangements and they got married in Shevlin Park. A year later they did the deed (probably at Shevlin Park), and before they knew it, Samantha was born... also at a very young age. They all return to Shevlin Park today to proclaim their love and celebrate their family. Oh, and Samantha's middle name is Shevlin. Now that's a lot of Shevlins.

Oh, and did I mention that A-Train is a rock-star...

Politics Smolitics

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Pretty funny video from the fine folks over at JibJab. On a more serious note, we hope you all are going out there and gettin' your VOTE-ON. It's pretty important that you do so... and quite the privilege! Here are some bipartisan resources to help with the overwhelming process: CNN has a great website full of insightful info: CNN ELECTIONS, and if you're an Orgonian, check this site out: OREGON LIVE It has a great process to help walk you through the issues - on a local and national level. It's very important that you understand what's happening LOCALLY, wherever you live. So we'd encourage you to be equipped and choose the right people for the right job.