Fridays are for Fun

Happy August friends! I cannot believe this -- what a fast summer so far and this week proved to be the same with some great moments. *Had a really creative shoot last night with a bride, before the day of her wedding. I'll share more soon, but have been wanting to implement something like this for awhile. Yay for checking off another thing on my "dreams" list.

*Peets was giving away free drinks on Wednesday. Let's just say Brandon, Marissa, Kenny and I may have taken a little coffee break to indulge here. Thank you Peets!

*Hosted a party for Kenny's 30th! Yes, this is the third week in a row where you are hearing about Kenny's birthday. I promise it is the last week too :) We had such a blast on Tuesday evening. And, I learned that any good party ideas, come to my brain, very last minute... Meaning, I was scrambling like crazy. My poor husband.

*Ordered these amazing Red Velvet Cupcakes from The Cupcake Crusader for the party. We highly recommend that you taste one, asap :)

*Watching the Olympics like crazy. Staying up way too late.

*Went for a swim on Sunday evening right before we watched the Olympics. Decided that I will not be trying out for the Olympic swim team...

*Gearing up for an amazing wedding in Napa this weekend. So excited for many reasons, among one of them, cooler weather :) Hello seventy degrees -- perhaps I won't look like a drowned rat by the end of this wedding :)

Have a great weekend! So thankful that you would even take the time to read this little post. K and K

Chico Wedding Photographer: Wordless Wednesday

All day long, Ben would hug Lauren just like this... And when I see these kind of moments, I know for sure, that words aren't always need to say I love you.

Chico Engagement Session: Cody and Whitney

When I first heard Whitney and Cody's story -- I am pretty sure we were all in tears in my office. It is just such a powerful picture of love. Whitney has not only become a part of Cody's life, but his little son's lives as well. We loved working with Whitney and Cody last week. They are beautiful people, inside and out. They love each other and they love to laugh.

Thank you so much friends! We are totally blessed to know you. K and K

Whitney, you are so pretty...

Loved her jewelery...

Chico Wedding Photographer: Ben and Lauren Tease...

What an honor to be a part of this wedding on Saturday evening! Thank you so much, Ben and Lauren, along with your sweet family and friends!More to come soon...

Fridays are for Fun

Oh Friday! So glad that you are here! It has been a bit of a long week, with some grand adventures: *Obviously, I watched the Bachelorette Finale on Sunday. So pleased with the results -- Can't wait for Jef and Emily to ask me to photograph their wedding ;)

*Drove to Sacramento on Monday to run errands that we can't do here in Chico. Good thing we can have dance parties in the car :)

*You know those weeks when nothing goes right with technology -- yes, I am having one of those. It's amazing how much I count on technology in the daily operations of my business. I am trying to tell myself that this isn't stressful...

*Nestled into the couch for the Letterman show on Tuesday night to watch our brother. Fell asleep five minutes into the show. Luckily, I have a husband who can brave the late night hours and woke me up for Allen's performance. He's amazing!

*Wrote half of this blog post on a World Market ad, while sitting in the drive thru line at Starbucks :) Totally blessed when they handed me my drink for free, because I had waited in line so long :)

*Ran to the market last night with Kenny. Bought our veggies, and while waiting in line to pay, realized I was wearing my tanktop inside out. Oh dear -- hope I am not "losing it" yet.

*Washed the car at dusk in our barefeet. Totally nostalgic -- as if summer should always look this way.

*And highlight of the week: Getting ready to celebrate Kenny's 30th birthday on Sunday! Are you all so excited? I'm not sure if being 30 is great or if it just means that we are truly getting older.... Either way, sounds like a great reason for a party :)

And our wedding craziness is about to begin: Fourteen weddings left! So excited friends! Have a great weekend!

K and K

And, so thankful for our friend, Bethany, who captured some photos of us at the beach. Here's one of our many favorites...

Paradise Wedding: Tyler and Liesl

Tyler and Liesl live in Colorado, so we didn't get to spend a lot of time together before their wedding. In fact, we met in person for the first time, two days before their wedding. And you will quickly notice from these photos, that they are amazing people. Their joy, totally infectious. Their love for each other, so obvious. We enjoyed every moment of their wedding day. The day took place at Chapelle de L'Artiste in Paradise. Such a beautiful setting for a small wedding. We were able to be with Tyler and Liesl nearly all day -- as they prepared and spent time with a few close family and friends. They all made us feel right at home and we're so thankful for this opportunity.

Tyler and Liesl, you are wonderful people! Thank you friends! May you have a blessed life together! Much Love, K and K

Vendors: Venue: Chapelle de L'Artiste Makeup and Hair: Pink Diamond Artistry Catering: Roots Catering Cake: Lovely Layers Cakery Floral Design: Christian and Johnson Photographer: K Stone Photography

Liesl was seriously like this the entire day...

Tyler, you are so great!

Liesl, you are beautiful!

Their first look:

You are both so sweet to each other...

Loved all the details...

Christian and Johnson put together all the flowers and centerpieces, which were stunning...

Lovely Layers Cakery, did a beautiful job with the cake design...

And yes, Chapelle de L'Artiste provided an amazing backdrop for their wedding day...

An absolutely touching ceremony...

And right after the ceremony, they shared these sweet moments...

Chico Engagement Photographer: Cody and Whitney Tease...

This is just a little something we were working on last night -- love engagement sessions and especially during these warm summer evenings... More to come soon. Cody and Whitney, you are stunning!

Chico Photographers: Fridays are for Fun

Well the weather sure cooperated for us this week. Eighties in July?  I'll take it! Among this, there were a lot of other blessings: *Enjoyed every single moment of our day off on Monday. Slept in until 10:00 -- I know, call me lazy, but it was amazing!

*Counting my blessings -- I have been encouraged by so many people this week. Not sure why, but just received an abundance of sweet notes, which make me feel so loved.

*Going through Cannon Beach withdrawals. If only we could bring the beach back with us :)

*Had a cavity filled this week. Let's just say, it's been awhile since I had one of these. I think I had a mini anxiety attack when they started numbing my mouth. No worries though, an hour later, I looked like a chipmunk and had a "good as new" tooth.

*Really felt like summer last night when I made a quinoa salad for dinner with fresh veggies from the Market. Cheers for being healthy.

*Equally enjoyed the oreo ice-cream we ate after the quinoa salad. Cheers for eating dessert!

*Looking forward to the Bachelorette Finale this weekend. Seriously. I totally got suckered into this show and can't wait to see Emily end up with Jef;) Not going to lie, I have been cheering for team Jef since night one.

*Had a great chat with this sweet girl today as we ran through the park. She will be a sophomore this year at Utah State and I can't wait to see what God has in store for her!

*The preparations have begun -- Kenny turns 30 in nine days! Oh my gosh -- what should we do to celebrate?

*Came across this photo yesterday, and LOVE it. Can my Grandpa be any more awesome? Love him!

Happy Weekend to everyone. So thankful for all of you!

Chico Wedding Photographers: Josh and Lizz

Josh and Lizz knew they wanted a simple celebration. They wanted their closest family and friends gathered around them. And they wanted it to be meaningful. Their wedding day was certainly that. It included lawn games, laughter and the best of friends. It included a lot of handmade elements and thoughtful moments. And what I appreciated most, was how much Josh and Lizz love each other. So much lies ahead of them in the coming months and years. We can't wait to see and hear about your adventures that you will finally take together.

Josh and Lizz, Thank you so much for letting us be a part of your wedding day. We are blessed to know you. Much Love, K and K

Vendors: Venue: Neighborhood Church Dress: David's Bridal Floral: Chico Florist Cake: Shaleen Hoff Caterer: La Comida DJ: Caleb King

This bracelet is a family heirloom and so special for Lizz to have on her wedding day.

Lizz, you are beautiful!

Josh is such a great guy!

Josh and Lizz didn't see one another before the wedding, but they did get this moment...

Loved the detail here...

The ceremony was held beside the creek, at Neighborhood Church. As you can see, Josh had the sweetest response to Lizz...

They had the best of friends who celebrated with them all day long...

And then we got to spend a little bit of time with them...

The details for the reception were handmade and perfect for the day.

Lizz had made a jar of jam for every guest.

A beautiful cheesecake made for dessert by Shaleen Hoff. She is so talented!

The reception was held creekside and so Josh and Lizz rode in on this canoe...

You two are stunning...

Then they had this cute moment, when they thought we weren't looking...

Thanks so much Mr. and Mrs. Hill...

Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday...

Oh dear, I do realize that I am posting Wednesday's post on Tuesday. And I am doing that on purpose because tomorrow's post will feature Josh and Lizz's wedding.

As for today, this is why we never want to put our camera's down...

Chico Wedding Photographers : Fridays are for Fun

I am at that point in the summer, where I no longer know what day it is. Oh dear -- does anyone else have this happen? I did figure out that today is Friday, and so like every Friday, I wanted to recollect some of this weeks adventures: *Went from sixty degree weather at the Oregon coast to 105 degree weather here in Chico. Hello sweat :)

*Ended an eleven day road trip, by spending time with the Stone family in Depoe Bay. It was such a good trip. We had the best of times with both of our families. Our hearts are full and more than ever, we just feel so blessed by family!

*In eleven days we laughed a ton, ate a lot of great food, made so many memories and caught up on a little bit of rest.

*Celebrated with Brett and Devon who just got engaged! So excited for these two amazing people.

*Attempted to run most days while on vacation. Let me tell you, I am way more motivated to run in cool weather with the Pacific Ocean as a backdrop. Needless to say, I am going to try to find that kind of motivation back here in Chico.

*After almost eleven days off of work, I hardly recognized my office and to do list. Good thing we love our jobs.

*Flew a kite at the Oregon Coast. Well, Kenny flew the kite, I just took pictures :) And just so you know, the Stone family is the "real deal" when it comes to kite flying. We had three kites going at once -- one of the kites flying hundreds and hundreds of feet high and wide. We nearly took over the coastline :)

*Went to the Thursday Night Market last night. So excited to see that bell peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes are back in season. Nothing like taking home a basketful of vegetables for only three dollars and fifty cents. Thank you Chico farmers!

*Looking forward to another weekend to catch up and spend time with family. We have thirteen weddings left this year and I am just praying for a miraculous "cool down" before the next round of weddings begin :)

Have a great weekend friends! We'd love to hear about some of your summer adventures too -- so feel free to share below. Much Love, K and K

People: Allen Stone

Not all of us know what it is like to sacrifice everything for a dream. At the age of thirteen, most of us have no idea what we want to do with the rest of our lives. And those of us that do, hardly have the courage to follow those dreams, year, after year, after year. So when Allen sings at the tops of his lungs in front of thousands, he is sure of one thing. He was right. His dreams may be bigger than himself, but his determination is not.

You are an amazing man. Your hard work and talent is capturing the ears of millions. Thanks for letting us be a part of your adventure. Love you so much brother, K and K

PS: If you haven't heard his music, you can click here. If you want to follow him on twitter, you can click here. If you want to like his Facebook page, you can click here. OR, If you want to be a groupie, here is a link to his fall tour :)

Chico Wedding Photographer: 58 Years

This past weekend, we attended a family reunion, with 28 of us. And it all started with these two.

We are so blessed to be a part of Grandpa and Grandma's family. They are legacy makers. Together, they have made such a big difference in this world.

58 years Married Five kids Eight Spouses Nine grandchildren One Fiance Three Great-Grandchildren. One incredible story.

Thank you, Grandpa and Grandma, for how much you have changed the world. Thank you for loving us all unconditionally. Thank you for the thousands of sacrifices you have made for all of us. Thank you for being so generous. Thank you for years of memories. Thank you for being so funny. Thank you for showing us what matters most in life. Thank you for loving us through the good and the challenges. Most of all, thank you for loving each other well. Because of you, we are family.

Much Love and Gratitude from the 26 of us!

Chico Wedding Photographer: Fridays are for Fun

This week held lots of adventures for us... *We exchanged the Chico heat for some awesome Oregon coast weather. Time at the beach with family = best days ever!

*Indulged in the best white mochas at Insomnia Coffee in Cannon Beach. We used to visit this local place all the time in Hillsboro, so we were so lucky to find they had opened a franchise in Cannon Beach.

*Beat my family in cards... Ok maybe I only won one game, but that's enough to claim victory.

*Had our photos taken at the beach by our sweet friends Bethany and Josh! Can't wait to see the results, although I discovered I might be a bit awkward in front of the camera. I guess I won't quit my day job for a career in modeling :)

*Stayed up way too late around the bonfire with Josh and Bethany. There is NOTHING like good friends. We love them too much!

*Breathed deep. The ocean air just slows down life and we had the opportunity to take a deep breath. So thankful!

*Enjoyed wearing this rain jacket. Gosh I miss you Oregon... although your constant rain will not be missed as much. Don't worry Chico, I am coming home soon :)

Have a great weekend friends! We'd love to hear about your summer adventures too!

Guest Post, Katie Campbell: On Makeup

While being with my family this week, I asked my sweet friend, Katie, to write a blog post. Katie and I have known one another since Junior High.  We went to the same church, high school and then ten years later, we both lived in Portland. She is like a sister to me.  Katie and I both began our photography businesses in the same year. We are both married to pastors and we both love Starbucks. She is so talented and sweet and I know that she is making a difference in this world.  Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts here today. I just love you Katie! Ok, and is she just the cutest?

As a photographer one thing that has become a vital part of my photo experience and shooting style is professional makeup. Several months ago I teamed up with the fabulous Courtney Rogers of Human Beauty to help work with my clients. I knew I wanted to work with Courtney because I loved her makeup style and overall feel. When she works with women she is so genuine. Makeup for courtney isn’t just the outer beauty but rather, who you are as person. That’s why I adore her!!

I also think it’s so important to find a makeup artist who is good fit for your shooting style and esthetic. I love Courtney and how flawless her makeup is upon completion. She does a great job enhancing features and drawing out natural beauty.

Before heading out to get professional photos I personally think finding a good makeup artist to do your makeup before pictures truly makes or breaks great pictures. When you feel confident as a person you feel confident in front of the camera. I think every woman holds her head a little higher once she gets professional makeup done. Getting your hair and makeup done enhances the overall picture experience If you are a getting married, getting your engagement pictures done, or even for senior pictures I HIGHLY suggest finding a great makeup artist to work with. You won’t regret it.

Below are some before and after sessions that Courtney and I worked on together. It's so fun to see the transformation

A Chico Creek Wedding: Josh and Lizz Tease...

Josh and Lizz were married on Saturday -- a perfect day for their wedding. Thank you both for letting us into this season of your lives. We are so grateful and can hardly wait to share more from your beautiful day. Have a great Monday -- we are taking this week off to spend some time with family. Is there anything better?

And because this moment happened right after the first...

Can't wait to share more friends :)

Chico Wedding Photographer: Fridays are for Fun

I say this every week, but I cannot believe that it is Friday already. This week was such a good week and we managed a few adventures: *Spent some much needed time with our friends on Sunday evening. We sat on their deck, ate way too much pizza and laughed until our stomachs hurt. There is nothing like good friends.

*Discovered that my workouts are much better with good music. And this week, when the Black Eyed Peas  came on, I am pretty sure I started running faster. I definitely fear that one of these days I will start singing out loud in front of everyone at the gym. No judging if you are there when it happens.

*Every year, Kenny plans a special day for the graduating students who attend our church. I could only join them for dinner on Wednesday, but definitely enjoyed it. Always cool to see students transition and hear about their dreams to make a difference in this world.

*Had two really good consults this week for 2013 weddings. And by good, I mean that these couples are amazing people with awesome love stories. Really thankful for this opportunity. Reminds me that people book early -- so please don't wait to contact the vendors that you want. It is always hard to turn away sweet people because we are booked.

*Laughed way too hard when I saw this video, posted by Katelyn James. And yes, I was all alone in my office laughing out loud.

*Dreamed of the day that my laundry would fold itself, no luck yet.

*Had an impromptu Starbucks date with friends. I absolutely love it when friends stop by for a quick coffee run -- even if it is just 15 minutes together, it is the perfect combination.

*Speaking of Starbucks, bought these new little drinks to serve our clients. I didn't have time for a taste test before our meetings, but of course, Starbucks pulled through for me. I would be more than happy to share some with anyone who would like to visit :)

Looking forward to another sweet wedding this weekend. Yay for Josh and Lizz! Have a great weekend Friends!

K and K

Chico Backyard Wedding: That Moment

There are moments during every wedding, when it just happens. I start to get emotional; a tiny lump forms in my throat telling me something really special is happening. And this was one of those moments during Jackie and Kyle's wedding day. Jackie and her Dad went to share their dance together. The lyrics to I Loved Her First, by Heartland, played in the background and I felt the smallest tear come down my face. These moments get me every time. Because they are once in a lifetime.

Thank you friends, for letting us into your lives.

Totally blessed,

K

Fridays are for Fun

This is going to be a short one today. It's been a tougher week. There were some fun things -- like a 10:30pm ice-cream run to Safeway, and brand new goggles, (because we are nearly professional swimmers now) ;), but there was one harder thing that made this week a bit different. *We found out on Sunday morning that our Grandma had passed away. It was the evening of her seventy-fifth birthday. She was a brave woman, persevering through many, many trials in this life. I will miss her. And so it's a sad week. I am more homesick and can't wait to be with my entire family in one week. I also know this wasn't the end for my Grandma and that gives us peace. She is finally healed and in the presence of God. Isn't that amazing? Life is truly short, and I think times like this make us sense that God is very real.

*There was a highlight to this week and that was hanging out with Carsten while his parents went on a little date :) He wore his cut off, had a mohawk and entertained us with his many faces. He is just the cutest, wouldn't you agree?

Don't worry, he was only concerned for a moment....

We love you Carsten!

Have a good weekend. Enjoy some cooler weather, I can hardly believe that it was thirty degrees warmer last week at this time. What a crazy life! Much Love, K and K

Chapelle De L'artiste Wedding and Lovely Layers Cake and Blue Shoes

I am editing a wedding right now that was full of details. Everything planned so well and among the common theme was the color blue. It made me realize that a well thought out day makes a good end story. For all of us. So here's my quick thought for the day. Before you invest in a bunch of details, think about what your common theme will be. Whether it is a color or a style, if you know and can stay true to that, then the planning process may just be easier for you.

And you will love the end result, the design of your wedding day will be beautiful and cohesive. Who would have known that shoes could complement a cake so well? (and wait until you see how the rest of these details came together)

Happy planning friends! I hope to share so much more from this wedding soon.

Emily, with Lovely Layers Cakes, handcrafted this beautiful cake.