The other weekend, I headed to Seattle’s downtown Red Lion to capture a few “getting ready” shots of Meg and Brian on their special day. I know Meg through my sister-in-law (who was a bridesmaid in the wedding!) and she contacted me to snap some candids of her gals and groom before they headed to St. James Cathedral for their official wedding portraits. I had a blast hanging out with the girls during the morning…there was lots of giggling, makeup, hairspray, champagne and “ooohh’s” and “ahhh’s” as Meg put on her veil. It always makes me laugh how different guys are from girls! As I left the Meg’s bridal suite and headed down to the guy’s room, I was warmly welcomed by Brian and his groomsmen. While the girls had been up since the early hours of the morning primping and prepping for the big day, the guys had been lounging, watching TV and I’m pretty sure one of the groomsmen hadn’t even showered when I arrived.

Meg’s dress from La Belle Elaine’s had the most stunning train…and I loved her sparkly Enzo Angiolini shoes.

I’d say Brian did a pretty good job with Meg’s ring, wouldn’t you?

Meg and Brian both graduated from Gonzaga University, so it was only appropriate that her garters were from their alma mater.

Maybe she hid her nerves well, but Meg was so calm the entire time I was there. And she looked absolutely stunning!

Meg wore the veil that her mother had worn at her own wedding…it was incredibly long and had beautiful embroidered detail along the sides.

All of Meg’s bridesmaids…looking gorgeous, of course!

Brian was quite the dapper groom in his grey pinstripe tux.

Some final adjustments…

They clean up so well!

Meg and Brian, thank you for inviting me to spend morning of your wedding day with you both. I wish you the very best as you start your married life together and hope you had a fabulous honeymoon in Mexico!

Happy September! Can you believe that August is over?! On one hand I’m excited for the cooler, brisk days ahead that call for hot cups of tea and comfy sweaters. But on the other I am in disbelief that summer has almost ended! I’m still getting used to these Seattle summers and the fact that it never gets really hot, so I think the ending of this season always catches me by surprise!

However, I do have an exciting September announcement! This month I will booking portrait sessions to help grant wishes for women with stage 4 breast cancer. For each portrait session I shoot this month, I will be giving $100 to Get Hitched Give Hope, a wonderful non-profit that raises money for breast cancer patients.

I know few people that haven’t somehow been impacted by breast cancer – a mom, an aunt, a sister, a friend. Over 40,000 men and women will lose their lives to breast cancer this year in the U.S. alone. Yet, it takes an average of only $4,000 to grant a wish for one family who has been given a terminal breast cancer diagnosis. So, please share this with anyone you know who might be interested in a portrait session this month – and in helping make a wish come true for someone suffering with breast cancer.

And to all brides and grooms, make sure you get your ticket to the annual Get Hitched Give Hope event on October 28th where top Seattle wedding professionals will be exhibiting their services and products, with silent auctions, raffles, and a live auction! Visit the Get Hitched Give Hope website for more details.

Finally, I wanted to leave you with a sneak peek from a great family session I had on Sunday. Such a fun, sweet family! The full blog post is coming soon.

Jonas is the sweet one-year-old boy of our dear friends Essie and Eric. I have known Essie and her family for years. Our little brothers became best friends when they were in third grade and our families have been in each other’s lives ever since. However, it wasn’t until Pat and I moved to Seattle three years ago that our friendship really started to grow. They were so welcoming and gracious as we settled into our new city. Since then, we’ve shared countless glasses of wine and dinners, family stories, car rides back to Spokane and hours and hours of laughter.

We knew the past few years that a little addition to their family was likely and so when we found out they were expecting, we were thrilled. Jonas celebrated his first birthday earlier this month and it has been so much fun seeing this little tyke grow over the past year! What started out as this tiny peanut has turned into the most adventurous and genuinely happy boy you’ll ever meet. And I’m convinced that you have not fully lived until you see this guy’s “strong man” impression. Funniest. Thing. Ever.

This sweet family has many exciting adventures ahead of them. Last week, while bittersweet, Essie, Eric and Jonas packed up their home and their Seattle memories to relocate for a great job for Eric. We will miss them dearly, but know that this is a wonderful opportunity for them.

Although he is no stranger to my lens, I was able to snap a few shots of the speedy little man before he left Seattle.

This first image may be a bit fuzzy, but I feel like it’s so representative of this ball of energy. I’m not kidding, this kiddo is always on the go…and completely fearless.

He’s also curious and fascinated by all that surrounds him…

He has the most infectious laugh. You can help but smile when he erupts into giggles.

And those eyes! So much life and sparkle shining through them.

Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday!

I had the pleasure of shooting Jennifer and Edsel’s wedding in Spokane last month. I met them in November for their engagement session (before I launched my website, otherwise I’d link to their photos!), and I knew right away that their wedding day would be a blast. Jennifer is such a sweet and warm hearted person and Edsel is a big teddy bear who is not afraid to let his goofy side show. It’s always a good time when you find yourself laughing throughout the entire wedding day!

Jen got ready at the historic Davenport Hotel in downtown Spokane and then we headed up to North Spokane for their first look. Despite the 90+ degree temperatures during their photos, they didn’t complain once and we continued to joke around as I led them through tall grass and around trees. Such troopers!

Jen and Edsel, thank you both so much for allowing me to capture your special day! I hope you had a wonderful honeymoon and I wish you the very best as you start your married life together.

Earlier in the wedding season, I had the privilege of accompanying the great Matt Shumate for BriAnna and Chris’ wedding, and I’m so glad I was able to tag along! I met Matt at WPPI in Las Vegas earlier this year. He has been incredibly generous with his wealth of photo knowledge and I’m looking forward to shooting another wedding with him next month.

BriAnna and Chris had a private ceremony at The Seattle Temple in Bellevue, which was a gorgeous backdrop for some of their photos. Despite the rainy weather leading up to their big day, the day of their wedding the sun was shining and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. We took advantage of the pristine grounds and took some family photos following the ceremony. After that, we drove out past Issaquah to a hidden field and forest that BriAnna had picked out for her photos with Chris. Between the sun and beautiful location and the ease with which BriAnna and Chris interacted in front of the camera, it made for a wonderful afternoon!

Matt working his magic during the family portraits…

Sean & Xia’s wedding has definitely been one of my favorites to date, which I shot alongside the wonderful Suzy Strelecky. The ceremony and reception were held on the Skansonia, an old Washington ferry boat at the northern end of Lake Union. This venue has such an amazing view of the Seattle city skyline and there is vintage nautical decor infused throughout the boat. It was the perfect location for Sean & Xia’s relaxed afternoon affair. The wedding had an old Hollywood vibe and Xia fit the part in her bird cage veil and her glamorous red lips.

And wow, these two are naturals in front of the camera! They are so head-over-heels in love, that several times Suzy and I looked at each other and wondered if they even remembered we were there! When a couple is so outwardly overjoyed by the fact that they’re marrying the love of their life, it makes the job incredibly easy. Their laid back personalities and infectious laughter coupled with gorgeous evening light, made me want to keep snapping away forever!

As you’re about to see, I had a terrible time trying to narrow down photos for this post. But not to worry, they’re both quite easy on the eyes. Enjoy…and feel free to leave some love at the end!

Today Pat and I celebrate our 3^rd wedding anniversary! I’ve spent the past few days deliberating on whether or not to write a few words about this. I love sharing my recent work on the blog and the stories of the couples and families I meet, but I’m still getting used to blogging about MY personal thoughts and stories. I must say that it can feel a little intimidating at times! But since the topic of this post is about marriage, love and all things mushy plus I am a wedding photographer, I figured what the heck!

It really is crazy to think we have been married for three years! On one hand it feels like ages ago and on the other, it feels like I was just walking down the aisle. The past three years truly have been the best of my life and I can honestly say that I don’t think I’ve ever been happier than I am right now.

We were recently talking about how we’re always thinking and talking about the future. While I’m a big proponent of dreaming big and talking about all of the possibilities the future holds, I find that in our day-to-day routine it’s always “next month” or “next year” or “once you’re done with school.” This is largely the nature of our society and our thirst for instant gratification – always searching for the next best thing. One of my goals for the next half of the year (yes, it’s already August!) is to make a conscious effort not to dwell on the past or worry about the future, but to take in the moments happening now. Especially the time spent with my husband. It has been the small, hidden moments and gestures over the past few years that have made me fall even more in love with him. While seemingly insignificant, those moments or words often mean more than any bouquet of flowers or big, showy gift. So, this evening, when we enjoy a little celebratory dinner, rather than worry about tomorrow, next month or next year, I’m going to just sit and breathe and take in the moment. A moment with my husband and my best friend.

Photo by the fabulous Nikki of Moxie Images

To end the week, I thought I’d share a tiny sneak peek from Jennifer and Edsel’s lovely weeding in Spokane last weekend. These two were such troopers during their portraits prior to the ceremony. I can’t imagine rocking a tux in 90 degree mid-day heat is easy, but Edsel did not complain!

I have many more posts hitting the blog soon, including Jennifer and Edsel’s full wedding post. Until then, have a fabulous weekend!  

The past two weeks my best friend from childhood and her boyfriend have been visiting us from Germany. It has given us the needed push to have a “staycation,” to slow things down, enjoy the sunshine and the company of each other. We have been hitting up some of our favorite Seattle spots as well as exploring all the amazing outdoor adventures the great Northwest has to offer. We’ve climbed mountains, strolled along beaches, swam in crystal clear lakes and, best of all, eaten ourselves silly with delicious seafood and good wine. Our time together has helped remind me that it really is the simple things in life that bring such immense happiness.

Last weekend we headed over to Spokane for a wedding I was shooting (photos to come soon!). It also gave us the opportunity to spend some time with family, including my adorable niece Cozette. I am blessed to have five beautiful nieces (and one very handsome nephew!). Pat and I absolutely love spending time with all of them and they make us laugh to no end. So, while enjoying the dry Eastern Washington heat on Friday evening, I was able to snap a few frames of Cozette. She is one of the happiest, most inquisitive and expressive girls I’ve ever met. Her laugh is contagious and you can’t help but smile when you’re around her.

I have many sessions and weddings that I will blogging soon, now that our staycation is coming to a close. But for now, enjoy a few photos of the beautiful Cozette…

Last month I spent an afternoon at Discovery Park with Stephanie and Joe shooting their maternity session. They are expecting their first child in just a few weeks and were brimming with excitement as we chatted about baby Audrey’s arrival. There is something so special about spending time with parents who are expecting their first baby. I’m not sure if it is the excitement, the nerves, the anticipation of the unknown or, most likely, a combination of all three. Regardless, it was incredibly sweet to see the interactions between Stephanie and Joe as we wandered through the grass and the sand. They have been together since high school (yeah for high school sweethearts!) and they have such a natural, relaxed relationship. And they are clearly overflowing with happiness about becoming parents and are anxious for their little baby girl to make an appearance! Until she does, I wish them both a few more full nights of sleep and several more quiet dinners together!

Stephanie and Joe, you will be such wonderful parents! Audrey is a lucky little girl. Thank you for allowing me to capture such a big moment in your lives!