christiehemm.com

2012-01-24T18:24:00.000-08:00

Sunset over Highland Park, January 2012.

2012-01-23T16:23:00.000-08:00

road trip'n 2011.

2012-01-06T15:15:00.000-08:00

I-5 N, December 2011.

2012-01-03T19:27:00.001-08:00

Wigwam Motel, Rialto, CA, 2011.

2011-12-29T12:46:00.000-08:00

Eva, Highland Park, 2011

2011-12-13T15:14:00.000-08:00

Highland Park Neighbor, Dec. 2011.

2011-12-13T15:13:00.001-08:00

2011-12-13T15:11:00.000-08:00

My favorites from Saturday's shoot.

2011-12-13T15:10:00.000-08:00

Arroyo Magazine Jan. 2011

Borrego Wedding....

2011-11-22T19:16:00.001-08:00

San Diego, CA

Yesterday's wedding....

2011-11-12T17:18:00.000-08:00

I shot a wedding for a friend on Friday in San Diego. I realled like this shot so far....

2011-11-09T15:06:00.000-08:00

Highland Park, CA

Eva...

2011-11-07T13:30:00.000-08:00

My friend and beautiful model Eva assisted me with my shoot on last Friday. Here are a couple of light tests of her - she's the best!

Pasadena, CA

Come to my show!

2011-11-03T19:12:00.001-07:00

Beck's Green Box Project...

2011-11-03T11:34:00.000-07:00

Here is the behind the scenes video for the commercial we shot for Becks Beer of Craig and the wolf!

Craig Thornton / Wolvesmouth_US from Beck's Green Box Project on Vimeo.

Caley...

2011-10-21T19:35:00.001-07:00

Riverside, CA

Missing Metz...

2011-10-21T19:32:00.000-07:00

Metz, France

Eva...

2011-10-21T19:28:00.000-07:00

Highland Park, CA

Travels...

2011-10-12T11:55:00.000-07:00

Bora Bora, Tahiti

Megan...

2011-10-11T15:06:00.000-07:00

Instead of relaxing before the wedding I shot some images of Megan... The farmhouse had such amazing light.

Santa Ynez, CA

Bora Bora...

2011-10-06T18:07:00.001-07:00

Bora Bora, Tahiti

Flying over Tahiti...

2011-09-29T21:43:00.000-07:00

Our invitations!

2011-09-02T21:06:00.000-07:00

Micael and I worked together on making our wedding invitations. I think we did a pretty good job :)

Highland Park, CA

Tamara take 2...

2011-09-02T11:02:00.000-07:00

Highland Park, CA

Tamara...

2011-09-01T15:48:00.001-07:00

Highland Park, CA

hair and makeup by Katie Mueller

shot a wolf this weekend!

2011-08-28T22:48:00.001-07:00

Shot some video this weekend of a live wolf. He was so cute!

Echo Park, CA

My wonderful birthday trip to Arrowhead...

2011-08-04T17:24:00.000-07:00

Arrowhead, CA

Violins in Metz...

2011-07-19T11:20:00.000-07:00

While I was in Metz Val and I made a friend, Laurent, who took us on a tour of the city. Laurent is a music teacher so knew some really amazing people, including a violinmaker named Alain Meyer Luthier. Alain lived with his wife and son in the craziest house I have ever been in. It was a 4 or 5 story artist loft/living space where they lived and worked. Down the road they had another insane house that they have converted into a gallery space (images of that space to come). Here are some images of Alain, his wife and their workspace.

Metz, France

more food...

2011-07-14T13:16:00.000-07:00

Pasadena, CA

Gyu_Kaku in Pasadena. Pretty cool place.. There is a grill in the middle of each table where you cook your food.

food, food and more food!

2011-07-08T19:47:00.000-07:00

Pasadena, CA

My sister's wedding....

2011-07-08T19:45:00.000-07:00

good times!

Murrieta, CA

Elements Kitchen...

2011-07-08T18:53:00.000-07:00

I'm not usually a huge advocate of Pasadena dining but I shot some food and interiors of a restaurant called Elements Kitchen earlier this week and it's pretty awesome. You should go eat there, and take me! :)

Chris Henderson for Pasadena Weekly...

2011-06-24T17:27:00.000-07:00

Hollywood Hills...

2011-06-17T17:36:00.000-07:00

Megan...

2011-06-13T15:31:00.000-07:00

Craig....

2011-06-01T18:16:00.000-07:00

My favorites from the shoot...

2011-05-31T14:44:00.000-07:00

Makeup by: Katie Mueller

More of Eva...

2011-05-31T12:17:00.001-07:00

Eva...

2011-05-26T18:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I shot a beautiful girl named Eva Card. The shoot went great. Here is a little behind the scenes and a preview of what's to come.

Hair and Makeuo by Katie Mueller

makeshift living room....

2011-05-20T09:50:00.000-07:00

Pasadena, CA.

Craig aka wolvesmouth....

2011-05-19T18:39:00.000-07:00

Echo Park, CA.

Samus....

2011-05-19T12:42:00.001-07:00

Highland Park, CA.

Metz...

2011-05-17T16:29:00.000-07:00

While out exploring one afternoon in Metz I met this beautiful young girl walking her dog. I found that the outskirts of Metz was filled with some really unique landscapes and wonderful people.

in 128 days...

2011-05-11T20:07:00.000-07:00

WE'RE GETTING MARRIED....here :)

Los Olivos, CA.

I love Big Bear.

2011-05-11T19:24:00.000-07:00

Big Bear, CA.

Interviews from France..

2011-05-06T10:08:00.000-07:00

click HERE to watch

I miss France...

2011-05-03T16:59:00.001-07:00

Metz, France.

Bonjour!

2011-04-12T12:00:00.000-07:00

So I've been in Metz, France since last Friday and I am loving it. Metz is an amazing historic city filled with wonderful people. I am here photographing for Juenes Talents, a really great program that sends a select number of recent art graduates to photograph various cities in France. When we return we will have two gallery shows, one in Los Angeles and one in New York.

Here is my beautiful room in Metz:

Abe sitting in his favorite window...

2011-04-02T12:15:00.001-07:00

Highland Park, CA.

That's a really tall tree...

2011-03-10T18:12:00.000-08:00

Highland Park, CA.

Megan...

2011-03-04T13:25:00.001-08:00

Big Bear, CA.

Jourdan...

2011-02-26T15:40:00.000-08:00

I did a test shoot up in Arrowhead yesterday.... I am really happy with the outcome. Here are my favorites from the shoot.

Thank you Jourdan for modeling, you are amazing and beautiful!

Arrowhead, CA.

More of our new house...

2011-02-23T16:19:00.001-08:00

Highland Park, CA.

We moved!

2011-02-17T17:17:00.000-08:00

We are now officially residents of Highland Park. Other than having some lame neighbors we are really loving the place. I snapped some pictures of the ins and outs of my new office, my very own new office, while the light was good.

Highland Park, CA.

TEN...

2011-02-08T11:27:00.000-08:00

What does is mean to turn 10? Some of the girls rattled off phrases to me that were important to them like, “double digits”, or “oh my god! You guys we are PRE-TEENS”. I am pretty confident, although I don’t know for sure, that these phrases would never come up at a boy’s 10th birthday party. So, what is it about young girls wanting to look and feel so much older than they are? Is it just me or is the age in which you begin to wish you were older gotten younger?

The 10th year of life for girls is important, to them it's a pivotal time, and I really like the idea of meeting up with these girls and documenting their 10th year.

Here are some more photos of the girls from Friday night. Hopefully their parents will allow me to photograph them again.

(these last four images were taken during a game of "paparazzi", where the girls run around posing and screaming while they pretend that viscous photographers are after them)

I want to be clear that these girls didn't show up to the party like this. They are normal kids who if given the opportunity would probably dress and look like this everyday, but they aren't so they don't. I didn't give them the cell phones, the ipods, some of the makeup and most of the clothing, or the sassy attitudes, but this was a birthday party where dressing up was the main attraction.

Thanks for looking!

Menifee, CA.

preview...

2011-02-07T17:09:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I had the honor of spending time with my niece, Chloe, at her 10th birthday party/sleepover. Other than Chloe I don't think I have spent any time with another 10 year old. I planned on taking some photos at the party but was pretty shocked to discover than 10 year olds are kind of insane. They are nothing like I was when I was 10, but I was a tomboy who dissected bugs for fun. They texted, sang Justin Bieber, liked makeup and high heels, basically they are 10 going on 18. Here are two photos from Friday night, more to come tomorrow....

oh ya and they look 18 too...

Menifee, CA.

Chef Farid Zadi...

2010-11-28T17:39:00.000-08:00

My second cover for Pasadena Weekly was on this awesome guy who has just opened an affordable cooking school in Pasadena. When we went to photograph and interview him he cooked us a really great meal of calamari, sheep kidney and mussels. Here is a link to the story.

Here are a few images from the shoot...

Reverend Rick...

2010-11-28T17:22:00.000-08:00

I just started shooting for Pasadena Weekly and my first two stories ended up landing me two covers. This story was on an openly gay reverend in Pasadena who just started a church with the intent to reach out to gay teens and offer them a safe place to turn to in time of need. Here is a link to the story.

This was my first cover ever and this was really cool to me... haha

here are a few of my favorite shots...

JPG Magazine...

2010-11-28T16:41:00.000-08:00

Last month JPG Magazine published my Elizabeth series as their featured photo essay. This was my first multi-page spread which was really exciting for me. They published the whole story behind the series along with images from the house and the portraits I created. Here is a link to the images and the story!

Inn at Morro Bay...

2010-11-06T15:48:00.000-07:00

Micael and I went to San Luis Obispo last weekend to look at a wedding venue, which ended up being amazing and perfect. That night we headed up to Morro Bay where we stayed for the next two nights. The hotel we stayed in was so awesome, we had a private hot tub on our patio that overlooked the ocean... amaaaazzzing :)

Morro Bay, CA.

Samus and Abraham...

2010-11-03T12:07:00.001-07:00

Echo Park, CA.

The sky over Echo Park has been crazy!

2010-10-20T16:53:00.000-07:00

My friend Brian...

2010-10-20T16:52:00.001-07:00

Echo Park, CA.

JPG Magazine

2010-10-20T16:45:00.000-07:00

My Elizabeth series was published in this month's issue of JPG Magazine!

Samus!

2010-08-15T13:33:00.000-07:00

We adopted a kitten from the Pasadena Humane Society last week. Her name is Samus, she is so cute and small, I love her, but Abe hates her so far (we're workin on it haha).

Echo Park, CA.

The final image for grad show...

2010-07-30T01:04:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday I shot my final image for grad show, which is August 21st at 6pm @ Art Center College of Design. The Friday evening before the shoot everything fell apart. The WB wardrobe house declined to rent me my reserved costumes due to some ridiculous and confusing policies. The original shoot I had planned was an elaborate cocktail party scene involving eight people total. I had been planning the shoot for over a month, I had an amazing location booked, props and styling all planned out, assistants, hair and makeup and of course excluding me my seven wonderful models, well to make a long story short I found myself with all of this except the key component pulling it all together and that was of course the costumes. In a calm panic I drove to school to see what I could do which unfortunately turned out to be nothing. I had to start from scratch with one day to plan an entire 1960's themed shoot. Luckily, I ran into Alyssa Lavine, we talked things out and a new shoot started to form. From there I had to call everyone and cancel the original shoot, but luckily Megan Mack and her boyfriend Ian agreed to pose in my new shoot. Saturday I got up early and drove all over Los Angeles in search of props and wardrobe. A good friend of mine accompanied me on my excursion and by 10pm on Saturday night I had just about everything for the shoot the next day. Except of course the tablecloth, which was purchased from Joanne's bright and early on Sunday morning. My sister, Katie and Tina arrived Sunday at about 1:30 ready to make all of us over. From there on out everything went great. Without the encouragement of my sister and friends I don't think I could of pulled this shoot off. I am not one who usually deals well with stress but even Micael was impressed at my ability to push through without a breakdown. I really owe a big thank you to everyone that helped out on Sunday, so THANKS! You guys are the greatest. Here are some images from the day...

Echo Park & Silverlake, CA.

Elizabeth's chair...

2010-07-23T21:35:00.000-07:00

I hadn't been back to Elizabeth's house for a while until yesterday. My wonderful friend Brian accompanied me down to Menifee to retrieve more items from the houses. My graduation show is coming up on Aug 21st and I wanted to have some more letters to display with the images I've made. Well, due to some extreme traffic we didn't get to Menifee until about 8:30pm, right as any light left in the sky quickly disappears. We decided to sneak in to the houses anyway. I can honestly say I've never been scared being there until last night. The eerie way the wind moves through that house and causes every door and window to creak really sends an uneasy feeling up your spine. Since we were scared and had no flashlights we didn't come back with much, but! we were able to take a chair with us. I am so excited to include this in my installation. I spent a few hours scrubbing off rust from it today and it's starting to look pretty good.

This podcast explains exactly why I am doing my project:
This American Life - House on Loon Lake

Needles and skid row...

2010-07-02T18:15:00.000-07:00

My landlord Michael works for this really cool non-profit called Clean Needles Now, you should definitely check them out and give them money.

This morning he let me tag along with them while they did a needle exchange down on skid row. For those of you who have been down in that area before you know how insane it is and for those of you who haven't I am not sure anything I could write could really convey the mania in those couple of blocks. It's only like 3.5 miles from my house but it is a completely different world.

I went today with the intention of taking photos but it wasn't an easy place to shoot and I didn't want to invade anyone's privacy or prevent them from taking part in the needle exchange. I think in the 3 hours I was there I ended up snapping about 6 photos and 4 came out all right... so here they are...

Although I didn't get a lot of images from going this morning it was really great to be around the Clean Needles Now team. What they are doing for people out on the streets is extremely important. Check them out and spread the word.

More behind the scenes...

2010-07-02T13:35:00.001-07:00

still workin on that video haha :D

Outtakes...

2010-07-01T15:44:00.000-07:00

Well, not really outtakes but more like random photos we shot around the house while Caley was in makeup.

More behind the scenes photos and video coming soon! :D

Finally!

2010-06-26T23:07:00.000-07:00

School is nearing the end! About a month and a half left at Art Center and then I am thrown into the real world. Kinda scared...

This term I am really focusing on expanding the Elizabeth series... so today was the first of many shoots to come. Here's a little sneak peak...

Makeup and Hair by Katie Mueller ... She's great! Hire her for everything!

Camping!

2010-05-03T21:19:00.000-07:00

Micael and I are finally on break so yesterday we took a short trip up to Pyramid Lake.

buy me this house...

2010-04-16T02:14:00.001-07:00

Set Shots...

2010-03-09T01:31:00.000-08:00

Mourning Grandad...

2010-02-24T22:05:00.000-08:00

Kenzie...

2010-02-21T23:50:00.001-08:00

sketchball take 2...

2010-02-09T02:09:00.000-08:00

sketchball...

2010-02-07T23:57:00.000-08:00

fooooood

2010-02-03T03:54:00.000-08:00

I shot some food for my good friend Craig Thorton this past weekend and even though it was my first time attempting to do so I'm not terribly disappointed with the results :D

SAAM!

2010-01-02T18:07:00.001-08:00

For Christmas this year Micael's brother Henri got us an amazing dinner at SAAM, a secret fancy face restaurant in Beverly Hills. The dinner consisted of multiple courses of the most amazing food anyone could ever have, seriously.

for more photos go to this link: here!

(my iphone really didn't do this food justice, but this guys camera did.)

christmas...

2009-12-26T21:01:00.001-08:00

we went to the snow and it was wonderful...

2009-12-20T14:21:00.000-08:00

Mom, Dad and Bently...

2009-12-07T15:07:00.000-08:00

Congratulations Danielle and Kevin!

2009-10-29T00:48:00.000-07:00

I am finally starting to make a real dent in the photos from Danielle and Kevin's wedding almost 2 weeks ago. The wedding was a lot of fun, here are 2 of my favorites...

You can see more images HERE

Best friend and assistant ever!

2009-10-27T19:24:00.000-07:00

Thank you for our awesome road trip and all of your help shooting the wedding! Love you!

Fake Trojan AD

2009-10-20T15:49:00.001-07:00

Rest In Peace Grandad...

2009-10-12T13:58:00.000-07:00

Big Bear!

2009-10-05T19:35:00.001-07:00

Went to Big Bear Lake with the girls this weekend. I found this cabin, and I really think you should buy it for me :)

Poor kitty...

2009-09-30T18:16:00.000-07:00

He longs for the outdoors...

Let's focus on the good times...

2009-09-29T15:43:00.000-07:00

Love you Grandad...

Road trip to San Francisco...

2009-09-21T21:56:00.000-07:00

The lovely Jeremy and Claire Weiss had a photo show out in SF this past weekend, so Micael and I decided to take a little road trip, see the show and visit J. Here are some photos from the trip...

GO!

2009-09-14T14:50:00.000-07:00

The wonderful photographers who I am interning for have a show opening this weekend in San Francisco. Go!

Visit them at Day19.com

9-13-09

2009-09-14T02:49:00.000-07:00

I went back to Menifee today to spend some time with my family and my two best friends. Here's a photo of my parent's garage during our lovely bonfire :)

beach sunrise...

2009-09-12T12:25:00.001-07:00

Micael and I attempted to watch the sunrise this morning down in Venice but unfortunately the sun was no where to be found (of course it's out now, shining away like an asshole).

It's been a while since I have shot photos for fun (art center has kind of drained the fun out of photography) but, I've decided to start carrying my camera with me again, I'm hoping to rekindle our old flame.

One more :)

2009-08-30T15:15:00.000-07:00

SEAL!

2009-08-29T23:39:00.001-07:00

Got to shoot some stills of Seal today as he filmed a commercial down in Hollywood. I had never been on a film set before so I definitely learned a lot. It was a great experience... I really hope I can do more work like this in the future. Here's one of my favorites from today.

My sister Katie did all the makeup for the commercial so if you are ever looking for a makeup artist here she is (oh ya, and she's the best!).

Mom's bday!

2009-08-24T00:55:00.000-07:00

Hemm family summertime fun.

Back from Austin...

2009-08-24T00:52:00.000-07:00

I took my camera with me to Austin and only took one photo. I don't really know why I took this photo of Henri's place but oh well, here it is.

Elizabeth Johansen...

2009-08-12T20:06:00.000-07:00

A couple years ago some friends and I stumbled upon a compound of abandoned houses up the street from my parents’ house (Menifee, CA). The first time we explored the site I pretty much fell in love with the houses. So much of the main house was incredibly preserved, jars were still stored in the kitchen cupboards and clothes still hung in the closets. It wouldn’t have been so weird to me if the clothes and dishes were modern, even slightly modern, like from within the past 10 years, but they were clearly from the 60’s. Old baby shoes, a baby’s hospital bracelet and toys were scattered throughout the rooms as well. These items seem important and it still baffles me that someone would just leave them behind. I’ve gotten pretty comfortable snooping around the house, digging in purses and reading letters left behind. I’ve found some really amazing stuff like vintage jewelry and letters packed with deep emotion notifying the family of the loss of a loved one.

{here are some of the images I have shot inside of the main house}

Most of the clothing left behind seemed to belong to the woman of the house, who I came to find out was named Elizabeth. I wonder about her a lot, and what could of caused such a quick departure that she left behind her purse still filled with her personal possessions. After photographing the house and all of its changes over the past 2 years I really wanted to take it a step further. I decided to remove Elizabeth’s clothing from the house, clean them, wear them and then play her in a series of photographs. Over the years I have developed all of these ideas about her personality so it wasn't too difficult getting into "character". I’m really happy with how the images have come out so far and am really looking forward to continuing the project.

{one of the weirdest parts of the project is that her clothes and shoes fit me perfectly}

If I had to describe Comicon with one photo...

2009-07-26T18:31:00.000-07:00

pretty good day :)