What's better than pretzel M&M's, runs through the park, homemade grilled cheese, swimming at dusk, renting a movie for .49 cents, and having our own dance party with SugarLand in the background? Being.Together.
And in case you were wondering what we look like when we get home from our runs... Actually, this is quite a bit later, but you get the point... And yes, we are both wearing Adidas hats, because we still think it is cool to match :)
I am telling you, 2011 has been full of the kindest couples -- the sweetest people. Aric and Cinnamin are among those. Aric is thoughtful and deliberate. Cinnamin is sweet and full of joy. Together they share love and companionship. They taught me a lot in the couple hours we spent together. Once again, I am so thankful that they would let us into their lives and especially, into their wedding day this fall. Cheers to love! And happy hour at the Tea Bar!
Aric rocked it!
And... off to the fields for a different look. I am going to be honest, I always get a little nervous with fields. I don't like spiders, or snakes or wild animals for that matter. But for the sake of a photo, I put on my brave face... And, it was worth it! These two made the fields look stunning!
Cinnamin, you are gorgeous -- I love your smile!
You two are just wonderful!
You will have to excuse me if in the next week or so, you see a lot of photos of these guys. But honestly, how could I not show the world all of this cuteness? I am taking the next week and a half, before another big wedding season, to plan and prepare for the fall. It will be a bit more quiet on my blog, but not to worry, there is so much to come and LOTS of stories to tell.
And... just in case you were wondering, my nephew Benjamin, may in fact, be the real Baby Einstein! At least his hair points to that fact.
You are so cute...
May your Tuesday be wonderful!
When I first met Bri, here in Chico, she was planning her dream wedding to Billy for this coming January. However, Billy is in the military and when he was told of a possible deployment early this fall, they quickly moved the wedding to August! I am so glad their date was still available for me because I can't imagine not photographing this wedding. Seriously, it was such an honor. Kenny and I got to road trip back to Washington and together, we loved being a part of their day.The wedding was gorgeous and meaningful and a whole lot of fun. Thank you so much Billy and Bri! We are so blessed to work with people like you.
Their first look was so sweet, followed by more sweetness...
My view...
Kenny's view...
Seriously, just so thankful to work with these two!
Bri, you are gorgeous and Billy you have the best smile!
Such a fun and stunning bridal party!
A few candids from the ceremony....
I could tell that Bri and her maid of honor were the best of friends -- here they are right after Billy and Bri tied the knot!
The details were beautiful!
Some of my favorite beach photos with the couple!
Yes, I like you two!
And these happen to be the paddles to the kayaks that they rode away in... Yes, are they fun are what?
Rather than traditional cake for everyone, Bri and Billy chose a bonfire with smores!
And as the party wore on at the end of the evening, this ring bear still had enough energy to celebrate! Cheers to Bri and Billy!
Have a great Thursday everyone -- I am out of the office for the next few days, so I will see you on Monday!!
Kenny and I spent yesterday evening with this couple -- and they are among the kindest people I have met. I really, really like them, together! More to come soon...
There is nothing like the beach. Nothing.like.it. And in the busy months of the summer and fall, I definitely look forward to the time when Kenny and I will get back to the beach, our beach. Because when we are at the beach together, we dream and we rest and we reflect and we are grateful. So cheers to the things in life that bring us rest and joy. I can't wait to share more of what I am up to soon. For now, here is proof of what the beach does for my soul! And please forgive the lack of fashion -- sweatpants and boots -- but seriously, what could be better?
Billy and Bri are married! Kenny and I were so touched to be a part of this day, especially considering that the couple would invite us all the way to Seattle, Washington. We love traveling for weddings, so this was especially sweet!The wedding took place at a beautiful venue, on the Olympic Peninsula, The Edgewater House. The details were stunning. Everything from the bridesmaid dresses to the shoes to the view. What a beautiful day.
When couples hire us for the entire day, we really get to capture all of the details from beginning to end. So here is the beginning of their day. Cheers to Billy and Bri! You put together such a special wedding day. Thank you for sharing that with us!
Billy serves as a part of the military, and so I can appreciate his serious looks. He is so awesome!
And in case you were wondering... This first look and the rest of the wedding will be blogged early next week!
Lately I have been meeting with quite a few couples, and I have begun to wonder how I could help more -- how can I help people make a good decision about their wedding photography? And when I say that, I do not assume that we are the best choice for everyone, because we aren't. There are so many choices and good choices. So what are some helpful things for couples to discern about the wedding photographers that they meet with. How can they make the best choice for themselves? I would say more than anything -- make sure the photographer is a professional. Ask them about their work, look at their photos. View a variety of their photos to see how they look in different situations, are they consistently producing high quality images? Interview them about their experience.
Once you are able to discern whether or not a photographer has the experience that you want, then I would say the second most important thing to determine, is whether or not this photographer makes you comfortable. Do you get along well with them and do you think that they will be able to put you at ease on your wedding day? A photographer spends a great deal of time with you on your wedding day and it is important that they are someone who you would want to invite into that day. Can you envision this photographer as part of your day? Kenny and I love the relationships that we get to build because of our work. You almost want your photographer to feel like a friend. At least that is how we want our clients to feel -- because this will give them the freedom to be themselves.
Obviously photographers have different styles, and you will see that, in the images that they produce. So make sure that their work matches what you envision as an end product. Also, does the kind of work they do, have a timeless value to it -- so that in ten years you will still love your photos?
Perhaps there is more I could say on this subject. Perhaps there is less I could say. I want the kind of clients who cannot wait to see what images we produce and trust us to the fullest. At the end of the day, if you can feel this way about the photographer you choose, then that is certainly the right choice for you.
Cheers to decision making (which I am slowly improving on).
And because I am steadily working on this wedding, I thought I would show you at least one more photo -- because I can hardly wait!
We all have stories to tell, every one of us. They are things that have shaped us and made us who we are. This is what I try to do with my work, give the world a glimpse of your story. And so meet Ashley. Her story is beautiful. It is full of great things and the most difficult of challenges. And today, she shines because God has changed her life. As I looked at these photos, what I love most is the way that the light reflected onto Ashley, and made her absolutely shine. Because really, this is what she does each day as she lives her life -- and she is making a huge difference in this world.
Much Love Ashley! You are beautiful!
She is so full of joy!
Just stunning...
And every now and then, I make my clients laugh...
Cheers to Tuesday night!
In cased you missed the first edition, a few months ago, here is a link that explains what is behind these posts: To All My Sisters Out There... Today, I wanted to chat really quickly about wedding planning. Perhaps this is because I just arrived home from the Chico Bridal Showcase and have a lot of thoughts. Which I just have to say -- Kenny and I had a blast meeting so many of you! Maybe it is because of our love for people and passion for photography --yesterday we got the best of both worlds!
Anyway, all of this, made me think about the process of planning a wedding. There are so many things to to think about and so many options. Where does one even start? I would say before you can even begin to book your vendors, it is such a good idea to come up with a vision for your wedding day. Think about what is most important to you about the event.
Here is a bit of a process that Kenny and I went through to plan our wedding.
To me, my marriage to Kenny was unequivocally (is that even a word) more important than the wedding day event, but that didn't mean that we lacked dreams for our wedding day. Weddings are once in a lifetime and for us, that day was so important. As we began to dream about our wedding day, we had a few thoughts (Ok, I had thousands of thoughts, but I will save those for a later post :) )
We wanted people to know they were loved and appreciated. We wanted to have fun and laugh a lot. We wanted the day to be beautiful. So we began to put those thoughts on paper and came up with somewhat of a plan for our day. It was a threefold vision for us, that kind of looked like this: 1. Appreciation for our friends and family 2. Fun 3. Beautiful
So that became a starting point for us. Who we were going to hire, what our venue was going to be, what colors we would choose, all depended on whether or not that helped us achieve our goal above. I make it sound so simple huh? I think the hardest part is making decisions to support your goals.
Well -- perhaps this is helpful. I say dream and enjoy the process. Remember that the end result is a beautiful marriage. Surround yourself with people that will support that to the utmost!
Cheers to Wedding Plans! K
And because this couple had dreams of a beach wedding -- I am pretty sure their decision to wear boat shoes, even went along with that.
Well friends, in case you didn't notice, I have been MIA for the past week and it has been wonderful! We shot a wedding in Seattle last weekend and then drove even farther north to my hometown, Spokane. We have been soaking up every moment we can with family! But like all good things, this too must come to an end. Well, as you would have it, I barely took any photos on our quick trip. However, this self-timed photo is the inspiration for the this post and the following things that I give two thumbs up...
Matt Kearney's new album, "Young Love" that carried us on our fourteen hour drive north. Photographing weddings with my hubby The sweet town of Gig Harbor Amazing hospitality at my parents home A fresh haircut My Dad's treager grill and the cooking skills to back it up The best tasting steak this girl has ever eaten My Mom's fresh home cooking Beating my Dad at hearts Coffee with my Mom The Rockwood Bakery in Spokane Spending 7.00 on a pair of jeans at Nordstrom Rack
Mostly, two thumbs up to quality time with the people that I love. I am so blessed!
Oh yes, and finally two thumbs up to the fact that I will be back in my office tomorrow. See you soon!
We made the trek on Thursday -- to the gorgeous Pacific Northwest. And on Friday, we photographed a beautiful wedding on the beaches of the Seattle Harbor. Congratulations Billy and Bri! We are so blessed to work with you! Here is a tease of the beautiful Bri! More to come this week....
Crystal and Matt were married on one of the warmest days this summer. The wedding took place at the Riverview Golf and Country Club and it was stunning.Crystal and Matt are both teachers -- they have a love for students and they were surrounded by the best of friends on their wedding day. I felt like I was with people that I had known my entire life -- they were that nice! They embraced Kenny and I, and we are so grateful!
Their love story is simple and together they are better. Thank you so much Matt and Crystal for letting us be a part of your amazing day. There isn't enough time or space to tell your whole story, but here is a start....
Cheers you two!
While girls get ready on a wedding day, boys just hang out :)
The first look:
Crystal's Mom had decorated a golf cart for fun!
Crystal, you are stunning... This photo was taken right before the ceremony began...
Just a couple from the ceremony...
The details for the reception were amazing...
A few more as the sun began to set...
Cheers to a great evening!
Well, there are bound to be a few cuties who steal the show at every wedding. This little man turned out to be just that on Matt and Crystal's day... And look for the bride and groom on here tomorrow :)
I am just finishing this engagement session -- but loved these photos and wanted to share a few. Josh and Lizz are getting married next summer, but Lizz is headed to Louisianna for ten months, so we made sure to schedule their engagement photos early. As I spent the evening with these two, I learned about their passion for ministry and understood just how much they like the outdoors:) At one point during the evening, Josh wanted to climb a tree. I am really afraid of rattle snakes here in Chico, so I convinced him not to hike into the fields any deeper:) Next year, at this time, they will be Mr. and Mrs. Thank you Josh and Lizz for letting me be a part of your telling your story. You two are wonderful!
Happy Monday everyone! It is going to be a crazy week for me with a Seattle Wedding on Friday!
Dear Kenny, Well, you are twenty nine today. I have known you exactly ten years this month and it has been the sweetest of my life. Thank you for who you are Stone.
Thank you for getting up every morning, with so much joy and working so hard for our family Thank you for never complaining about my poor cooking skills Thank you for always making me laugh Thank you for cleaning the shower each week, because you know it is not my favorite Thank you for listening Thank you for leading me Thank you for your patience Thank you for watching 27 Dresses with me way too many times in the past three years Thank you for giving up so many Saturdays to photograph weddings with me Thank you for your creativity Thank you for your courage Thank you for letting me hear your jokes over and over again because secretly I like them Thank you for our impromptu dates to Starbucks, that end up being unforgettable Thank you for all of your encouragement Thank you for all of your cuteness (not sure you want to be called that, but I adore you) Thank you for texting me from across the gym, just to tell me I like cute on the treadmill Thank you for your friendship Thank you for your strength Thank you for holding my hand on the Tower of Terror at Disneyland because I was truly scared Thank you for protecting me and making sure all of the doors are locked at night Thank you for pushing me when I want to give up Thank you for dreaming with me
Mostly, thank you for loving God so much, for running after Him, and putting Him first in all you do. You have changed my life for the better, thank you for loving me.
I love you Stone! Happy 29th birthday to my favorite person in the whole world!
One of my all time favorite photos of Kenny, with our niece Adelaide...
Alright friends, as promised, here is part two of Levi and Heidi's wedding day:When I met Levi and Heidi this past spring, I just knew that they would be an awesome couple to work with. Levi is a bit sarcastic, and we all just love him. Heidi is sweet. Together, they dance beautifully... Their wedding day was full of laughter and love and teasing. It was a pleasure for Kenny and I to join. Thank you so much Levi and Heidi. We are blessed to know you!
I am always taken by details. A wedding day goes by so quickly, and so I don't want my clients to forget exactly what their celebration looked like. Perhaps this is an inspiration for a blog post soon...
They were so happy... wouldn't you agree?
The flowers and rings were stunning...
Let me tell you, they nearly had a food fight with this cake :)
Ok, now here is the story behind the dancing.... Levi and Heidi are exceptional, ball room dancers. For their first dance, they began in the middle of the dance floor, and ended up dancing through the crowd, around the tables -- it was magical. I am tellling you... This is only a couple of the photos from their first dance.
I really appreciated Heidi's Dad -- he was so kind to us and you can tell he adores Heidi. (Here is my angle)
(Kenny's angle)
More portraits of the two of them.... They are so awesome!
Ok, just a few more... Loved being a part of this wedding day!
Levi was so proud of this "get away" car! Cheers you two!
Some of the Vendors: Venue: The Palms Lighting and DJ: Dream Lighting and Sounds Dress: David's Bridal Wedding Coordination:Naomi from Your Perfect Day Wedding Coordination
Ok friends, well, here is part one of Levi and Heidi's summer wedding. There are WAY too many photos for one post -- so here is the beginning, the rest to be shown tomorrow. Levi and Heidi opted not to see one another until the ceremony -- so I got to spend quite a bit of time on their individual portraits. Although I only met them this year, they are the kind of people who laugh a lot and light up a room. Oh gosh, and wait until you hear about their first dance: Amazing! I know, I am leaving you hanging, but here is a tease for now...
Cheers to Tuesday and the fact that these two will be back on my blog, together, tomorrow!
Yes, amazing shoes and so perfect to photograph!
It was seriously one of the warmest days this summer, and so Heidi's girls were so sweet to fan her out during the middle of her portraits. Loved these girls!
Levi rocked this suit -- I really think Kenny should invest in one of these :)
I know, I can't wait for tomorrow either :)
Well, to say that I have neglected the blog, might be an understatement. I wish it wasn't, but indeed it is. This summer has been a whirlwind. I have been working really hard to finish all of my editing, to order and package and deliver photos. In the midst of this, I have finished my office (photos on that next week), and of course, my head is always whirling with so many new ideas. Good thing I have a husband to remind me that there are only twenty four hours in a day. Because of these things, there are stories left untold on this blog and I am so sorry. While I have been busy, I have to admit that sometimes, the reason the blog is neglected, is my own insecurity. I am not sure why I feel this way: Perhaps it is because this industry is so personal -- this is my work that I am showcasing, and the fact that it can be critiqued or loved, is very unnerving for me. If I don't put my work on the blog, then there is nothing to critique, but then, there is also nothing to love.
And so I am learning: True love involves vulnerability. It takes courage. Yet we feel loved the most as we are known and understood and accepted.
As I understand this more and more, I hope it will change my life and my business.
And speaking of a beautiful story: This is my lovely sister. She will have her first child, a baby boy, in the beginning of October. I am so proud of her -- she exudes virtue and strength. I love you sister. You are a stunning Mom -- does pregnancy get more beautiful than this?
We both showed up early, excited for this engagement session. Josh and Lizz, you are wonderful and perfect for each other... A tiny tease at your session for now.
