Fridays are for Fun

Well, for the first time in quite awhile I am celebrating that Friday means the start of a weekend for us. I'm pretty excited about it and I would say that this week has been really good: *Began packing for the big move. I know, we are only moving two miles, but let's still call it a big move, because really, anytime you have to go through years of collected stuff, it is quite the event.

*Had the best coffee date with some of our favorite people on Sunday. There is nothing like it. I treasure these small moments in life.

*Began watching the Amazing Race and realized once again that Kenny and I should definitely apply to be on this show. I say this every year and wonder why their application process has to be so long?

*Enjoying a cup of chai tea as I write this and excited that fall is finally starting to come around here in Chico. I'm definitely a fan of fall weather, scarves and warm drinks.

*And speaking of this, was told by our friends at Starbucks that red cups are nearly here... which means a couple things for me: One, I will drink far too much egg nog and two, I can almost begin to decorate for the holidays.

*Reminded of how much I have to be thankful for. I should never complain.

*Looking forward to having our good friends, Josh and Bethany here in Chico this weekend. It's going to be so fun!

*Also looking forward to cheering wildly for our brother, Allen as he sings his heart out on Saturday at the El Rey. If you live anywhere near here, you will not want to miss this :)

Have a great weekend friends! Enjoy the fall weather -- and wear a scarf for me :)

And I got to spend some time with Jane last night. She is so pretty....

Willows Wedding: Mike and Andrea

Mike and Andrea are high school sweethearts. But they are more than this, they are perfect for each other. Mike plays baseball for the minor leagues while Andrea is his biggest cheerleader while also working for Enloe. They have a beautiful life together filled with lots of family and friends. Andrea is sweet and you can tell, people adore her. Mike is the kind of guy that makes anyone feel welcome. When we were asked to photograph their wedding last year, we may have gotten just a bit excited. Andrea envisioned a pretty formal wedding followed by a really fun party. I promise, this is exactly how the day flowed. Everything from Andrea's dress to Mike and his boys, was beautifully put together. And the reception couldn't have been more fun and crazy: They packed out the Civic Memorial Building in downtown Willows. People laughed and danced and just enjoyed the evening to the fullest. Special Times Catering did an amazing job putting together the spread for the reception and making sure that everything was in perfect place before any guest arrived.

So thank you Mike and Andrea for staying true to yourselves. Thank you for giving us candid moments to catch all day long. Thank you for being so kind and open armed toward us. We feel like friends and we find that a huge honor.

Happy Honeymooning Tomorrow! Enjoy Hawaii -- every moment. Thank you, Thank you! Much Love, K and K

Andrea wore this ring on her right hand, as it was passed down from generations...

Meanwhile, Mike prepared to see his beautiful bride...

These dresses were so pretty -- all the girls just gorgeous...

The ceremony was held at St. Monica's Catholic Church in Willows

Love this shot of Mike and his Mom...

The Portraits...

And I love these shots of Andrea. She is stunning...

Right before they entered the reception...

The beautiful centerpieces...

Is this an amazing cake or what?

And right after he finished dancing with his Mom, Mike gave Andrea's Mom a hug as well... So glad Kenny caught this...

They both have the best parents. Truly. And they are all like family to one another.

What a great party filled with so many great people. There were over 400 people at this wedding and let's just say, we got to capture a TON of fun on the dance floor. Many thanks to Ryan, with Elite Sounds for keeping this party going!

Chico Wedding Photographer: Kevin and Denise Tease...

It was a beautiful and emotional day yesterday as we watched Kevin and Denise tie the knot. They are two wonderful people and that was evident as we watched everyone gather around and celebrate yesterday. Thank you Kevin and Denise. Say hi to the Caribbean for us! Much Love, K and K

Fridays are for Fun

I was confused for just a moment this morning when I could not figure out what day it was. I am pretty sure when you travel, your days get a little mixed up. Either way, it's Friday, and looking back we had some great adventures: *Flew to San Diego on Sunday morning.

*Like always, we were running late to the airport. I think Kenny and I must love stress, because there is nothing more stressful than thinking you might miss your flight as you drive through Yuba City, knowing the airport is still 40 minutes away.

*May have sprinted through the parking lot to catch the shuttle bus. May have seen a couple people laughing at us. Definitely felt like we were in a movie :)

*Sure enough, we made it. Arrived to our terminal with a good ten minutes to spare. We are so prompt :)

*Enjoyed a wedding and time with my family in San Diego. Realized, once again, that Kenny and I love to dance, despite our total lack of rhythm.

*Ate the biggest Cinnamon Roll of our life in San Diego. While I may have gone into a sugar comatose, it was totally worth it.

*Went to the San Diego Zoo. Pretty sure I hadn't been to a zoo for fifteen years. I loved it. My new favorite animal: the chimpanzee.

*Laughed a lot. So good for the soul, so good to be with family and so blessed by my awesome parents.

*On Tuesday, we drove to Irvine, to attend the Resurgence Conference. Came home encouraged, convicted and full of dreams.

*Mulling over so many great things taught at the conference. Among one of my favorite things said: "Influence is determined by the little things that you do each day: If you are not faithful in the small things, then you won't be given more."

*Came home to lots of laundry, no groceries and lots of work, but I wouldn't trade the last six days for anything.

*Still prepping for a move in less than three weeks. Although you wouldn't know it, as I have yet to pack one box :)

*And just now, my sister surprised me with a Starbucks. If that doesn't say Happy Friday, than I'm not sure what will. Thanks sister, You are the best!

Well that's it for this blog post. Happy Friday; the weekend is nearly here. We are gearing up for another wedding tomorrow and can't wait to celebrate with Kevin and Denise.

Have a great evening friends! K and K

Loved all the old boats sitting on the shore near Newport Beach... I can't wait to start downloading and look through all of our photos soon.

Our Wedding Photography Story

I shared this post almost two years ago, but wanted to repost this today for many of you as you sift through the many ideas and dreams that come with wedding planning: Back in 2004, when I was engaged and planning my wedding, I did not make photography a priority. I know, so crazy huh? If you know anything about me, I am super practical. I had a budget for our wedding and in my logical mind, photography had to fit in that budget, no matter what the cost: even if the cost meant giving up my dream of having amazing wedding photos that would last the rest of my life.

No one told me to think about this differently.

So, I hired a friend. Someone who loved photography, had a great camera and the best of intentions. This person was excited for the opportunity and I was excited about the price break. Can you even believe I said that? Yes, it was true. I wouldn't have to break the bank for wedding photos and that made me and my family happy.

But not forever.

While I am so thankful for the hard work that our photographer put into on our wedding day, he lacked some very important things. Important things that make a huge difference. Important skills that would have given me wedding photos I would hang on my wall for decades to come.

I made the wrong choice.

Looking back, I don't regret very much about the choices we made for our wedding day. I don't regret anything about the decor or the food or the drinks. I don't regret anything about the people or the time of year. Kenny and I got married -- we had our family and friends around us and we had an incredible wedding day. But I do regret this: I regret that we don't have amazing photos to help us remember the day. I regret that we don't have beautiful portraits to display around our home.

I wish someone would have told me.

So I encourage you to learn from our mistake. Don't simply dismiss a photographer because of price. Meet with that photographer. See if you truly appreciate their work, and be convinced that this vendor is worth investing in. I would have worked ten, twenty, fifty more shifts to earn my wedding photos. I would have compromised something else to pay for amazing and lifelong wedding photos.

I really wish I would have invested in a good photographer.

That's our story. I hope it is helpful and thought provoking for you. I would love to hear your thoughts.

Happy Wednesday friends! K and K

And as for photos -- we took this on Sunday evening in San Diego, where we attended a wedding :) That's right, we were guests and we had a blast!!

Chico Senior Potraits: Lauren

When Lauren pulled up for her senior session, I instantly knew this was going to be fun. She is super sweet, super pretty and has the kind of personality that is contagious. She isn't afraid to laugh out loud and just be herself.I loved working with her.

Congratulations Lauren! So excited for your senior year and to see all the great things in store for you.

Much Love, K

She's the sweetest!

Downtown Chico Wedding: Rob and Jessica Tease...

Totally honored to be a part of Rob and Jessica's wedding day yesterday. While the couple and so many of their friends and family came from the East Coast, Chico felt like home for all of us as we gathered to celebrate!Can't wait to share more soon. Happy Honeymooning friends! Say hi to the Bahamas for us!

Fridays are for Fun

Oh wow --- how is it already Friday? What happened to this week? Good thing I write these posts, they help me remember some of the great things that happen each week: *Welcomed a new nephew into the family. Callahan Norman Jones (After Grandpa Norman) was born on Wednesday to my sweet brother and sister in law. He is so amazing. And now I can most definitely say that both my siblings have the cutest kids ever. Really, I am not sure our children stand a chance...

*Speaking of nephews, went to Carsten's first Birthday party on Saturday. Where did the time go? I really cannot believe he will be one on Monday. Carsten loved his party -- I loved his party, and we all loved my sister's homemade cupcakes.

*Stayed up way too late making a list of things to do this month. This month might be over the top crazy. But hey, that's how we roll.

*And in case we didn't quite have enough on our plate, we will also be moving. Yep, got the keys to our new "rental home" on Monday. This is really exciting for us, however, we have yet to pack one box. Anyone want to have a moving party?

*Amazed by Kenny. He is such a hard worker and serves people so well. End of story.

*Ran out of cereal before the week ended, which meant no late snacking for me last night. I'm going to have to pace myself next week.

*Didn't clean my house once. Until today. And let me tell you, it needed it.

*Welcomed a new lens into the K Stone Photo family. I get really excited when I open up the box to a brand new lens. Thank you Canon. 

*Attended Will and Olivia's wedding, as guests, last Saturday night. This was such a treat. I forgot what it feels like to dress up and stay somewhat free from sweat for an entire wedding. So thankful that Will and Olivia invited us.

And we are prepping for a busy weekend. We will be photographing Rob and Jessica's wedding on Saturday and then heading to San Diego for a wedding and the Resurgence Conference early next week. So excited to pack my bags and say hello to some coastal weather.

Have a great Friday and weekend. Drink a chai tea for me :) K and K

And proof that my brother's kids are indeed the cutest kids on the block :)

Chico Engagement: Keaton and Ashton

There are the kind of people in life who have the gift of making others feel like a million dollars: The kind of people that you spend any amount of time with, and you are instantly encouraged. Ashton and Keaton are these kind of people. I have a feeling they make friends in an instant and people gravitate towards them. I have a feeling they would give you the coat right off their own back, if you needed it. I have a feeling they will do great things in this world, together.

We have only known these two for a little while, but they have already blessed us in so many ways.

So, thank you Ashton and Keaton for surviving the longest car ride of your life those years ago and knowing then, that you could build a life together. You are amazing people. Thank you for letting us be a part of your lives. We are super excited and definitely blessed.

Much Love friends! K and K

Ashton, you are so pretty...

A Chico Wedding: Jarrett and Megan

I know I say this a lot, but we may have done the happy dance, when Megan and Jarrett chose us to photograph their wedding. Once again, they had a sweet story and we wanted to be a part of telling it. Once again, we were blessed with amazing clients. Megan and Jarrett were meant to be. As the first line of Brad Paisley's song says: "I remember trying not to stare the night I first met you, you had me mesmerized." It's almost like they knew from the moment they met. Jarrett had a feeling he would marry this girl and Megan knew she would marry him. And so as they danced to Brad Paisley's song for their first dance, it all made sense. You can tell that they quickly grew close, they trust each other and they are good friends. Megan respects Jarrett and Jarrett adores Megan. And the quiet exchanges that they share don't go unnoticed. We were all touched by the way that they love each other.

Thank you so much Jarrett and Megan. Looking back, I am just so thankful that you decided to call us and so thankful that in the end you chose us to photograph your wedding. Can't wait to see all that you will do together in this life. We are very grateful to know you.

Much Love, K and K

Vendors: Venue: The Palms Pavilion Florist: Meghan Barker Catering: Special Times DJ: Elite Sounds

Each girl wore these beautiful pieces in their hair.

And she was just so happy like this, all day...

Megan, you are gorgeous...

The first look...

Such a sweet bridal party:

And all of the small details just came together so well... Many thanks to Meghan Barker for the beautiful floral design.

The ceremony took place on the lawn of the Venue.

The details at the reception were elegant and one of my favorites of the season. Mindy and the team from Special Times Catering, don't miss a thing when they set and prepare for a wedding. It is always beautiful.

These two have such a great family and friends. Which made for a really fun reception.

Once again, the dances always tend to make me cry. Megan's dad is one of a kind. They have a lot of fun together.

Love this shot of Megan with her brother, Mark. Who also happens to be the owner of Elite Sounds DJ here in Chico. His team of people is just so good at what they do and professional!

Megan's Grandparents have been married for sixty plus years and happened to win the anniversary dance.

And the party was a fun one!!

West Linn Senior Portraits: Kate

There are clients that come to us more than once in their lifetime and that makes us feel like we are doing something right. Like we are accomplishing what we set out to do. This couldn't be more true with Kate and her Mom, Kristine. Kristine gave us the opportunity to photograph her son, Reid, a few years ago. So when she wrote, knowing that we don't even live in Portland anymore, it meant the world to us. And we definitely wanted to make it work.

And then we met Kate. She is so great. So gifted and talented and just down to earth. She was up for anything, even when we ended up meeting at a location that was full of people. She is beautiful, confident, humble and sweet.

Kristine, thank you for letting us be a small part of your lives. Thank you for investing in us and just making us feel so comfortable and loved. We love working with you and your family. Kate, thank you for being so willing to work with us and make us laugh. We are excited to see what your future holds.

Much Love, K and K

Ok, and isn't she so pretty?

Fridays are for Fun

Gosh, I am just so excited that it is Friday! We have been some busy bees over here, our weekdays full of so many great things: *Hung out with little Carsten quite a bit this week. He is the sweetest and always makes me smile.

*Decided to brave a run with the little man on Tuesday evening; just me, Carsten and the jogging stroller. No judging if you saw me struggling through this run. I have so much respect for all you Mom's who do this all the time, including my sister: You're amazing!

*Planned and cooked two really good dinners this week. Among my favorite thing: A fresh taco salad with homemade guacamole and brown rice from our friends, the Lundbergs. Good news was: I didn't even burn the rice :)

*Decided to start doing sit-ups and push-ups before bed each night. Sadly, this lasted one night. Better luck next week.

*Found a grey hair -- on Kenny. While I still constantly get mistaken for a teenager, it looks like one of us may be starting to look more like a thirty year old. He's so good looking :)

*Had a really good visit with my friend Katie this week. Friends are the best.

*Found out that Kenny prefers not to share his nightly bowl of cereal with me. So sad.

*Painted my toe nails while watching and celebrating the Seahawks victory on Monday night. I know there is much contention around this win, but thank you refs for letting us think we cheer for the best team in the world.

*Turned 30 last week. Kenny planned such a fun dinner with some of our friends on Friday evening. Feeling spoiled and a little bit old :)

*Most of all, feeling very blessed. We have the best family and friends and work with the kindest people. We know that our life is full, but we wouldn't trade it for anything. So thank you to everyone who encourages and walks beside us in this life.

AND... For the first time in ten weeks, we have the weekend off! Best days ever! While we love our jobs, we are super thankful to have a weekend to regroup and just be together. Oh yes, and let's not forget, we will also be celebrating Carsten's first birthday on Saturday and awaiting the arrival of our newest nephew or niece anytime  :)

Happy Friday -- have some fun. And for all my friends who don't live in Chico -- please enjoy some cooler weather for me. It looks like we are about to have another one-hundred degree weekend :)

Oh yes, and just in case you didn't know, I love this man!

Columbia River Wedding: Dante and Brittany

Dante and Brittany met in college -- both of them working as Resident Assistants in the dorm. They are very compassionate people, with a lot of similarities and their differences will only make their marriage stronger. At first, we weren't sure whether or not we could be a part of their day, but we made it work, thanks to having the best family in the whole world. We photographed a wedding in Chico on Sunday afternoon and then our sweet sister drove us through the night to Portland where we were able to photograph Dante and Brittany on Monday.

It was a backyard style wedding held at the Riverview Restaurant right on the Columbia River. And just like always, the Northwest didn't let us down. It was a beautiful September day. Dante and Brittany had so many sweet moments and they wear their heart on their sleeve, which we love.

Brittany and Dante, you are such caring and kind people. We know that there is so much in store for you both. Thank you for letting us be a part of your day. For inviting us into all of the special moments. We are really grateful.

Much Love, K and K

The first look...

Stunning...

The ceremony was held on the lawn at Riverview and began as Brittany and Dante washed one another's feet, a symbol of love and honor.

Right after the ceremony, we stole the couple away for a few more portraits. We found this amazing spot right across the street from the venue...

Brittany had put a lot of thought and time into these details... And the florist did such a good job with this bouquet. Each wine bottle was painted with chalkboard paint so that their guests could write them messages. Instead of a guest book, each guest signed a cork...

The Reception was an afternoon affair and they started with their first dance right here on the deck of the venue.

Thank you so much Dante and Brittany. Blessed to be a part of your day...

Downtown Lake Oswego Portraits: Tim, Michelle and Baby S

We are always so honored when friends from college, ask us to work with them. These two are no different. Michelle and Tim are incredible people. They are both so kind and loving towards anyone and everyone. And I know they will be such good parents. We left their session, energized and thankful. God is using these two in such big ways down in Salem. Hearing more of their story and getting the chance to document this season of their life, was such a blessing to us.

And they love to laugh -- which is so much fun for us!

Thank you Tim and Michelle. We are so grateful for you both and can't wait to see photos of your little son, so soon.

Much Love, K and K

For each other's birthay this year, Tim and Michelle bought one another shoes for their little boy...

Michelle, you are a beautiful person.

Michelle had brought a few things that she wanted in the photos -- but most of those props we can't show you -- it would be a giveaway to their baby's name. I love that they are keeping it a secret :) So here are just a few more photos from our session. They are so fun!

Willows Memorial Hall Wedding: Mike and Andrea Tease...

There wasn't an empty seat in the house at Saint Monica's church in Willows last weekend. So many people came to show their love for Mike and Andrea, two high school sweethearts, destined to be together. It was a great celebration and once again we are just amazed that people would let us be a part of their day. Thank you so much Mike and Andrea!

More soon and Much Love, K and K

And yes, she is such a beautiful bride.

San Francisco Engagement: jon and jessica

We have gotten so many amazing opportunities this year. We've worked with great people -- We really do walk away from every session, hoping that we have blessed our clients in some way, because they have blessed us more. No doubt. And that's how we feel about Jon and Jessica. We were able to squeeze in their engagement session on a recent trip to the City -- and what a treat for us. They took us to some different places -- places that will forever hold memories for them. Places like their favorite restaurant, neighboorhoods and beaches along the bay. And with each location, there were stories. And our hope -- that their stories will be stronger memories because of these photos.

Jon and Jessica, we are so excited for you. I think it is safe to say, you have a lot of gifts and you are making a difference in this world. Clearly, you love well and are loved by so many.

Thank you so much for choosing to work with us. We are so appreciative. Much Love, K and K

Jessica, you are so pretty...

We laughed a lot during this session...

These photos were taken in the alley next to their favorite restaurant. Love it.

Green Street has some meaning to them -- and I love that we could capture this shot...

Seriously, aren't they beautiful?

Thank you, Pinterest, for this idea found by Jessica :)

And down by Baker Beach, we captured these beautiful shots...

Chico Wedding: Alex and Alicia

I remember their day so well. It was the Sunday of Labor Day and I was actually having a really rough morning. I remember being in tears on the way to their wedding, as I was overwhelmed with some things in our life. And so we stopped. We pulled off the side of the road and we prayed. Kenny gave me a pep talk and together we promised to give this wedding our best. And this wedding blew me away. The people were some of the kindest we have ever met. The families so sweet. Alex and Alicia could not stop smiling -- they are smitten and we absolutely LOVED working with them. You can just tell the spirit of the day by the people. These people knew how to have fun and they embraced us with open arms. Just amazing!

I am so grateful for this wedding day. It is days like this, that make me realize how blessed we are to do something we love together. And just like this wedding, we are inspired by our clients, people like Alex and Alicia.

So thank you both. Thank you for choosing us to photograph your wedding. We had a blast -- loved every moment and think the two of you are going to make an incredible team for life.

Much Love and Gratitude, K and K

Vendors: Venue: The Palms Pavilion Catering: Chico Catering Company DJ: Elite Sounds Makeup: The Powder Room Photographer: K Stone Photography Floral Design: Chico Florist Cake: Upper Crust Jewelery: Ashley Menza Designs

Love working with Ashley, from the Powder Room. She is the best!

The first look. Don't you just love how excited Alex is? I am telling you, they were just Smitten...

Alex and Alicia met in Chico, but live in Monterey -- so they wanted the historic Bidwell Mansion as a backdrop for some of their photos.

Such a sweet Bridal Party...

I am a big fan of this shot :)

The wedding ceremony was held on the lawn outside the Palms Alicia's parents. Enough said.

Married :)

We took some time to photograph a few more portraits before the party started.

The details at the reception were ubnderstated, and just pretty. Once again, Upper Crust, did a wonderful job with the cake.

This might be one of my favorite "cake-cutting" of all time :)

Love when we are in just the right spot for a dance move like this :)

Tualatin Country Club Portraits: Taylor

We have the best families. Both of us. And when we were in Oregon a couple weeks ago, we had the opportunity to photograph my cousin Taylor, for her thirteenth birthday. Now Taylor is such a sweet girl. And she is crazy good at golf. There is absolutely no way that Kenny or I could beat her in a game, ever. In fact, I won't even dare challenge her to a round of mini golf. She's that good. So it was very suiting for us to have her session at the Tualatin Country Club. This is where she spends a lot of time and it was fun to see her in her element.

And Taylor, you are so pretty, inside and out. Thank you for everything!

Much Love to all our families, K and K

Yes, we even found this patch of wildflowers to the left of one of the holes. She looks so pretty.

A Chico Wedding: Jarrett and Megan Tease...

Kenny and I always prepare before a wedding day by talking through our vision of the day from a photographic perspective. We think about what our priorities should be, depending on what the bride and groom have expressed to us. With Jarrett and Megan, we knew that their day would be elegant and that we wanted to capture really timeless photos. Let me just tell you, they made our job look easy. Aren't they just stunning?

Thank you so much Jarrett and Megan. We loved being a part of your wedding day! Much more soon, K and K

Bidwell Park Engagement Session: Keaton and Ashton Tease...

We never want to take our job for granted. Never. We know that couples have SO many choices when it comes to a wedding photographer. When people choose us, we are just so grateful and over the top, honored. So thank you Keaton and Ashton for choosing to work with us. You are awesome people -- the kind of people that make this world a better place.

Much Love and more to come, K and K