Poulsbo AirBnB

As a photographer, there is nothing quite like the thrill of capturing a perfect moment. And when it comes to these photographs of this cozy Airbnb in Poulsbo, Washington, I was able to do just that.

The first thing that caught my eye about this property was its charming exterior. Nestled in a lush green forest, the home exudes a sense of peace and tranquility.

Stepping inside, I was immediately struck by the warm and welcoming atmosphere. The open-concept living and dining area was filled with natural light, thanks to the large windows that overlooked the surrounding forest, and the skylights above. The mix of modern and rustic decor added to the cozy feel of the space, and I knew that this was going to be a dream to photograph.

I started my photoshoot by focusing on the main living area. The comfortable couches and unique hanging chair invited guests to sit and relax, and I could just imagine the cozy nights spent in front of the fireplace. The kitchen, with its stainless steel appliances and granite countertops, was the perfect blend of form and function.

Next, I moved on to the bedrooms.

The master bedroom was a true retreat, with a king-sized bed and en suite bathroom.

I was able to capture two lighting options in a single composition, here. A particularly fun challenge, and what a way to show off the atmosphere of this sanctuary on the sound.

The other two bedrooms were equally cozy, with plenty of natural light and comfortable beds.

Overall, this Airbnb was a photographer's dream come true. From the charming exterior to the cozy and comfortable interior, every aspect of the property was a pleasure to capture on film. If you're in the Poulsbo area and in need of a peaceful getaway, this is the perfect place for you. Big thanks to the team over at Rule No. 1 for designing such a great space.

Kitchen, Living, and Bathroom Remodel

As a photographer, I'm always looking for ways to capture the beauty and functionality of a space. And when it comes to kitchens, there's no room that presents more opportunities for both.

One of the standout features of this kitchen is the abundance of natural light that floods in through the large windows. This not only creates a bright and welcoming atmosphere, but it also provides the perfect illumination for food photography. The white cabinets and countertops also contribute to the bright and airy feel of the space, and their sleek, modern design adds to the overall aesthetic.

Overall, this kitchen remodel has resulted in a beautiful, functional space that is a pleasure to work in and photograph. If you're considering a kitchen remodel, I highly recommend taking the time to plan and design a space that meets your needs and reflects your personal style. The end result, as you can see in this photograph, is well worth the effort.

Another notable aspect of this kitchen is the ample counter space and storage. The large island in the center of the room provides plenty of space for food prep and entertaining, while the cabinets and pantry offer plenty of storage for all of your cooking essentials. This functional layout makes it easy to move around the kitchen and get things done, which is essential for any home chef.

Overall, this kitchen remodel has resulted in a beautiful, functional space that is a pleasure to work in and photograph. If you're considering a kitchen remodel, I highly recommend taking the time to plan and design a space that meets your needs and reflects your personal style. The end result, as you can see in this photograph, is well worth the effort.

The living room also underwent a major overhaul, with new flooring, paint, and a vaulted ceiling. The natural light pouring in through the large windows enhances the bright and open atmosphere, and the fireplace adds a cozy touch. The updates are not only cosmetic, with the drywall removed the opportunity was taken to improve the insulation above the living room. The result is a space that feels as great as it looks.

Finally, the bathroom also received a stylish update, with a new vanity, countertops, and tile giving the space a spa-like feel. The use of neutral colors and natural materials creates a calming and relaxing environment, perfect for unwinding after a long day.

Overall, this remodel has resulted in a beautiful and functional space that is a pleasure to photograph. The attention to detail and careful planning are evident in every aspect of the design and execution, and it's clear that this home now reflects the personal style and needs of its owners. Great job to the design team, and Three Tree Construction Company.

They say that summer doesn't start in Washington until the fourth of July. Even though the days are getting shorter already, the best weather in the Pacific Northwest is still to come. Seattle is getting hot and the snow capped peaks are rapidly melting. For me, it's time to go to the mountains. A few weeks ago, Kailey and I found time for an overnight hike at Stuart Lake. This year, more than any year, I've put a priority on being outside. It feels like one of the only acceptable activities left these days and like many people, I have found a lot of time on my hands. That's okay though because I love to hike, and hiking takes a really long time. I wouldn't say that I'm an experienced hiker, but I enjoy it. I think it's the solitude. The moments of serene timeless nothing that allow your mind to wander. Unstructured time in the wilderness frees me to be curious about my surroundings in a simple way - in a way that feels nostalgic. There's time to wake up early because your sleeping pad deflated, and be rewarded with the glorious tranquility of a sub alpine lake bathed in golden sunlight. The surface softly ripples, and the birds have just started to sing. A call is put out on the far side of the lake, and answered in kind from a tree nearby. There's time to wonder what the birds are saying anyway and whether their experiences are in any way similar to our own. The early morning and late evening are my favorite times while backpacking. The stillness is tanglible, and I like to imagine how these places have existed in more or less the same worry-free way, forever, not only just this moment. I feel envious of the worry-free trees and the worry-free rocks. There is time wander back to where you hung your food the night before, to light the stove, and wait for the water to boil. These days it feels like time is speeding up and slipping away, and I find myself valuing the things that seem to slow it down. Unstructured time outside is definitely one of these things. There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want. But first, coffee.

Good Omens

Hello again - it's been a while. Nearly seven years have passed since I've posted to social media on a regular basis. (Some of you probably noticed, this account was managed by my lovely wife, @kaleleaves, during that time.) I think for a while there I wasn't sure how to engage with social media. I knew that I wanted to share stories, moments, thoughts and inspirations, but I had a somewhat dismissive and cynical view of these platforms.

There's a lot of noise to sift through - the opinions, the politics, the advertising and self-promotion. Most of all, it was the realization that we're all putting our best face forward. I wasn't so thrilled by that. It felt disingenuous that only our most attractive angles should be published and syndicated to our friends, family, and followers. But the truth is, I think I was taking things too seriously. I spent too much time wondering whether a particular photo is good enough to post and I was frustrated how I was only able to describe the facts of a particular scene, rather than the thoughts it stirred up. I think now, though, I'm ready to give it another shot. What better way to signify this than a photo of a comet? This is a photo of NEOWISE above Mt. Rainier. It is well known that comets were regarded as omens to ancient people. At times they were portentous, and other times auspicious. Today I'm going to call it a good omen and reflect on the intentions I have for the future here. I hope these posts will enable me to share more thoughts and inspirations with you all on a more regular basis. I can't promise much, but at the very least these will allow some time to reflect on things that have been on my mind, and give a reason to practice writing. ⁠

A comet is like a dirty snowball made of ice, rock and dust. As the comet is heated by the sun, the molecules of ice sublimate - they move from a solid phase directly to a gaseous phase - leaving behind the solid particles of dust and rock. This is why a comet has two tails. The first is a bluish column of gaseous ions, swiftly stripped away by the solar wind. The second is a trail of dust particles, also blown by the solar wind, but less so. These dust particles form the brighter tail, which is often seen with a gentle arc. It was thought that comets brought water to earth, but that is still a topic of discussion among astronomers. One thing we're sure of is that comets produce annual meteor showers like the perseids. These occur when the earth passes through a comet's path, gently showered by celestial dust.

Eclectic Capitol Hill Sanctuary

This Capitol Hill apartment is a wonderful example of eclectic style. Too often we see homes that are sterile, lifeless, and void of character. The owner of this apartment wanted the space to authentically reflect her personality. We love that there are no televisions in sight in this space designed for engaging conversation. A selection of these photos were published last year in Seattle magazine.

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Vashon Island Hideaway

We shot this cozy backyard cottage a few years ago, but it was just recently published in Seattle magazine.  To read more, check out the full story here.

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Upchurch Vineyards - Benton City, Washington

Last fall we traveled to Benton City, Washington on assignment with Seattle magazine. We photographed Upchurch Vineyards, an up-and-coming winery that is making an impression in the Northwest. To learn more about their wines, visit their website. 

Wilk Design Workshop

Earlier this month we had the pleasure of teaming up with Wilk Design Workshop to produce a set of photographs of their latest designs. This home located in Kirkland, WA, has a wonderful minimalist contemporary style. Check out a selection of photos from the shoot below! 

If you are interested in seeing more photos of this project, please take a look at this project on Houzz.com.

Dim Sum at Joyale Seafood, International District, Seattle

A few weeks ago we got an assignment to photograph a dim sum table scene. The task was easy enough: our client needed a top-down photo of a selection of Chinese dumplings. We headed over to Joyale Seafood (Google Maps) for the shoot. The restaurant staff was easy to work with and very accommodating. We cleared a large round table and set up our gear in a quiet section of the restaurant.

Who says you can't put a tripod on a table? Here's a look at our setup for the dim sum shoot. 

The kitchen steamed up some fresh har gow (shrimp dumplings), siu mai (pork-shrimp dumplings), barbecue pork buns, Chinese broccoli, egg tarts, sticky rice wrapped with lotus leaf, and a pot of hot tea. This is the result: 

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All in all, we were very happy with how the photos turned out and it looked even better in print: 

Seattle magazine, February 2017

Before & After Image Sliders - How to install on SquareSpace

One of the main features that I wanted to have on the new website were before and after photos. I had seen a few great examples of these online and wanted to implement it on my own site.  I was surprised to learn just how easy it is to do this with SquareSpace. During my search, I came across this blog post written by Anthony Kramer which has links to the install files and has a great step-by-step guide for the installation process. The installation is a little strange but anyone can manage it. This blog post isn't much other than a quick thank you and a link back to some awesome work. It was helpful for me so I hope that it is helpful for you as well. 

Welcome to the new Alex Crook Photo website!

Hello friends, family, clients and colleagues:  

Welcome to the new home of Alex Crook Photography! We've been working hard over the last couple of weeks to bring our website into the modern era. Although work isn't entirely finished, we're excited to unveil what we've accomplished!

Hopefully this new website is a better representation of what we're all about here at Alex Crook Photography. Our last site, designed and hosted on SmugMug, was really an online portfolio at best. Even though we loved the Lightroom integration that SmugMug offers, we simply were not able to do everything we needed. At the beginning of the year, we decided to make the switch to SquareSpace and have not looked back. Let us know what you think of our new look in the comments below, and stay tuned for regular updates on our blog.