Fotografo de Bodas, Santiago

February 28, 2010

Yesterday, after all the earthquake madness happening all over Chile that I saw on TV, we stayed inside pretty much all day. At one point we ventured out to buy pop and water, but the only store that was open had a line around the block and the gas station, which was also open, but had nothing left — no beverages of any kind, and no food whatsoever, even though they only sell candy! On our street, there’s some kind of plumbing problem so there are rivers of water running on either sides of the sidewalk, but it’s not flooded or anything. By the looks of it, a couple of our neighbors lost their roofs, but the walls are still standing. Most of the places near us are mechanic shops or big warehouses, not residential, so we haven’t seen too many people to ask.

We had a wedding to attend last night so that was the first time we ventured out. I was surprised to see that the streets looked significantly — not Port Au Prince like. At all. In fact, if I hadn’t felt the 8.8 level earthquake less than 24 hours before, I wouldn’t have known anything happened. Sure, there were a few buildings that had rubble at their base from chunks of the facade that had fallen off, but we drove from our house, almost at the end of the red metro line, to metro Los Heroes before getting on the highway, and we didn’t see a single building that looked structurally damaged. I mean, obviously Santiago has areas that were hit very hard, but dude, this city was built to last.

The news has made things in Santiago look worse than they really are. Concepcion and further South where the epicenter hit is where the real damage is. But up here, life is shockingly normal. At the wedding last night, I would guess probably 120/160 people were in attendance because a lot of the major highways leading into Santiago are still blocked so people from out of town couldn’t get in. But it wasn’t like nobody came. The ceremony was moved to outdoors since the church they were going to have it at had crumbled enough of the structure to be unsafe. But the event center for the reception was totally intact. The real chaos is in the supermarkets where people are panicking and stocking up on everything.

But anyway. Speaking of normal. Here’s the latest family session we did. Aimee, Felipe, and Evan, are visiting from the U.S. Didn’t they pick the perfect moment?!? I guess the one benefit of the earthquake is that their flight is delayed since the airport is closed at the moment. Seba and I photographed their wedding in Chile last year, so we were happy to head out to Maitencillo and get some family portraits of them too! I think Aimee has done almost every single session that I have to offer. And Felipe’s mom found us the apartment that we’re going to buy. Best. Clients. EVER.

When Aimee and Felipe came down for the wedding, Evan was too little to come down, but now he’s a very mature 6 years old and he’s a world traveler so we finally got to meet him. I was a little nervous because 6 year old boys can be a total handful, but in the end, I couldn’t even believe how awesome Evan was in front of the camera. Aimee, you are seriously a supermom — it is rare to meet a kid like Evan that’s so well behaved and so much fun!

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EWWWW, kissing is GROSS!!!!

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Seba always captures the most amazing silhouettes.

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Afterwards, Evan was rewarded for his good behavior with a plastic toy gun. I didn’t realize that it really is that easy to make a six year old boy that incredibly happy!

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42 Comments

hurray for animated gifs!

Comment by Kai Heeringa — February 28, 2010 @ 12:10 pm

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Ahhhhh relief!! Seeing that life goes on via pics makes me smile!!! Great family session – cuuuuute familia!

Comment by Andrea Gonzalez — February 28, 2010 @ 12:25 pm

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Kyle,

These are amazing. It must be hard to get a couple to be candid with a young person not always wanting to cooperate or not always being interested in what is going on. A handsome couple too! My favorites are the “kissing is gross” shot and the b/w beach scene with the birds. The animation was pretty cool too!

Comment by JimGrainger — February 28, 2010 @ 12:59 pm

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I love the “Kissing is gross” pic and also the one on the beach where Evan is hugging them both (Aimee's face barely peeking through). What fun!

Comment by Ritamae39 — February 28, 2010 @ 1:02 pm

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I love the range of Aimee's facial expressions in the animated gifs! awesome.

I also adore the ones of them in the field – very picturesque. Super mom indeed.

Comment by Decoybetty — February 28, 2010 @ 3:16 pm

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I've been worried and thinking about you! It's interesting to hear your perspective on the damage. Glad you're ok

Comment by Lindsey — February 28, 2010 @ 4:35 pm

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The bride with 'bluest eyes' was back! I love this set so much. And thoughts & prayers to all Chilean people who are affected by the earthquake.

Comment by shue — February 28, 2010 @ 5:47 pm

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angel was amazed at how gorgeous you made that area look (which is typically kinda run down or strewn with garbage). a good friend has a shop right next to where you took those photos, i'm sure you saw it its literally on that beach and kinda open air, selling instruments and stuff. his mom has been going crazy for news i should've asked you to stop by ahhaha.

My favorite photo by far is kissing is gross, thats just precious! seriously, i love the concept and execution. what a funny kid!

Comment by Lydia — February 28, 2010 @ 7:58 pm

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Ditto what @Ritamae39 wrote…

Lack of building codes in Haiti = apocalypse.

Comment by 'Drea — February 28, 2010 @ 8:15 pm

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I looooooove that despite the chaos you still found time to blog. You showed that life does still go on. The pic where the lil boy is sticking his tongue out while they're kissing is PRICELESS!!!

Comment by GlobalButterfly — February 28, 2010 @ 9:36 pm

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PS Love the animation!!!!!!

Comment by GlobalButterfly — February 28, 2010 @ 9:37 pm

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Kyle, happy to read that life is going on and that the wedding was not canceled.

about the press i agree 100% with you. Imagine there was no blood at all – want to bet they would have dugg up some old pictures from 1985? or perhaps showed some haiti pictures. it is really really sad. lets think of the people in the south.
oh yeah – really nice photos. my favorite is amyfelipe08

Comment by Andre — March 1, 2010 @ 1:29 am

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Ohh Kyle, me alegra que estes bien tÃº y tu esposo.

Comment by I_Marmo_I — March 1, 2010 @ 4:52 am

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Great photos as usual. I love how the last one sort of sways.

As for the earthquake, it terrifies me and I'm not even there. I finally heard news from friends in Conce. It seems pretty bad, but they are okay… thank God.

Comment by Sara — March 1, 2010 @ 9:46 am

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Kyle AMAZING as usual. These pictures really make me happy and worth every peso/priceless for me especially after the terremoto when I honestly thought we were going to die while swaying on the 12th floor. These are now even more precious and will hang on my wall and serve as a daily reminder on what is important in life, what a great family I have to be thankful for, and how fragile it is. It is also apparantly therapy for me as I look at these and type as this is the first time I have cried since the earthquake. You are not just an amazing photographer but an amazing person and will always consider you a friend. Muchas, muchas, muchas gracias and besos.

Comment by Aimee — March 1, 2010 @ 10:11 am

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Yeap, just discovered them, I' a little late to the game

Comment by kyleracine — March 3, 2010 @ 7:25 am

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Life does go on, taking pictures of happy people is the best way to get over any major trauma.

Comment by kyleracine — March 3, 2010 @ 7:27 am

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Evan was shockingly cooperative…it may have to do with the fact that he was brived with a big plastic toy gun

Comment by kyleracine — March 3, 2010 @ 7:29 am

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it was a great time. Im glad you liked the photos!

Comment by kyleracine — March 9, 2010 @ 8:15 pm

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We actually had to clean trash out of the field, but once it was done it was picturesque like you said

Comment by kyleracine — March 9, 2010 @ 8:16 pm

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Muchas Gracias!

Comment by kyleracine — March 9, 2010 @ 8:17 pm

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Shue! I cant believe that you remembered the bride with the bluest eyes. She is gorgeous isn't she?!?

Comment by kyleracine — March 9, 2010 @ 8:18 pm

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It was full of trash, see comments above. I do remember the shop, but we didn't talk to anyone, oh well, next time.

Comment by kyleracine — March 9, 2010 @ 8:20 pm

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Thank goodness building codes are better here.

Comment by kyleracine — March 9, 2010 @ 8:21 pm

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Thank you. We have to keep up some kind of semblance of normalcy.

Comment by kyleracine — March 9, 2010 @ 8:22 pm

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Isn't it fun.I think i would do this more often.

Comment by kyleracine — March 9, 2010 @ 8:22 pm

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Thank you so much!

Comment by kyleracine — March 9, 2010 @ 8:24 pm

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Muchas gracias, de verdad pasamos algo de susto pero todo bien. Ojala tu y tu familia tambien se encuentren bien.

Comment by kyleracine — March 9, 2010 @ 8:24 pm

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So glad your friends are ok!

Comment by kyleracine — March 9, 2010 @ 8:25 pm

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Aimee! I am so glad I got to see you one more time before you left! As always it was so fun to photograph you — you love so fully and it shows in the photographs. You really do have an amazing family to be thankful for and I am honored that I had the chance to meet Evan and photograph you and him and Felipe!

See you in the Midwest sometime, hopefully soon and hopefully terremoto free!

Comment by kyleracine — March 9, 2010 @ 8:29 pm

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it was a great time. Im glad you liked the photos!

Comment by kyleracine — March 10, 2010 @ 4:15 am

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We actually had to clean trash out of the field, but once it was done it was picturesque like you said

Comment by kyleracine — March 10, 2010 @ 4:16 am

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Muchas Gracias!

Comment by kyleracine — March 10, 2010 @ 4:17 am

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Shue! I cant believe that you remembered the bride with the bluest eyes. She is gorgeous isn't she?!?

Comment by kyleracine — March 10, 2010 @ 4:18 am

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It was full of trash, see comments above. I do remember the shop, but we didn't talk to anyone, oh well, next time.

Comment by kyleracine — March 10, 2010 @ 4:20 am

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Thank goodness building codes are better here.

Comment by kyleracine — March 10, 2010 @ 4:21 am

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Thank you. We have to keep up some kind of semblance of normalcy.

Comment by kyleracine — March 10, 2010 @ 4:22 am

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Isn't it fun.I think i would do this more often.

Comment by kyleracine — March 10, 2010 @ 4:22 am

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Thank you so much!

Comment by kyleracine — March 10, 2010 @ 4:24 am

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Muchas gracias, de verdad pasamos algo de susto pero todo bien. Ojala tu y tu familia tambien se encuentren bien.

Comment by kyleracine — March 10, 2010 @ 4:24 am

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So glad your friends are ok!

Comment by kyleracine — March 10, 2010 @ 4:25 am

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Aimee! I am so glad I got to see you one more time before you left! As always it was so fun to photograph you — you love so fully and it shows in the photographs. You really do have an amazing family to be thankful for and I am honored that I had the chance to meet Evan and photograph you and him and Felipe!

See you in the Midwest sometime, hopefully soon and hopefully terremoto free!

Comment by kyleracine — March 10, 2010 @ 4:29 am

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