It’s not very often you get to shoot the wedding of someone you babysat. But that’s the case with this one. I remember Spencer when he was a rambunctious little guy who wanted to talk about nothing other than baseball. I must be getting old because now that kid went & got married & I think we barely even discussed the current horrors of the Mariners. In other words, it was pretty cool to be able to photograph Spencer & Tara’s wedding. Not only that, Since Spencer & I share a few cousins I got to hang out with Emma & Deonna a little too.

I don’t think there’s much I can say that the photos don’t other than the wedding took place at one of my favorite places on earth, Tacoma’s Point Defiance (I think I’ve mentioned that a few times before)! I loved the uniqueness of the whole day. The orange & gray colors were perfect. I love Converse shoes & the fact that they matched Spencer’s tie & even the wallpaper in his room was a nice touch.

Then there’s the Donuts. Mmmm, donuts as Homer would say. Spencer & Tara met while she was in line buying donuts for her class so they’re a pretty important part of their relationship (I wish I had a reason, any reason, to like donuts like that). These donuts were brilliantly good & they were specially prepared for the bride & groom by Legendary Doughnuts.

Since this was the third of four weddings that weekend (& the only one west of the mountains) we didn’t have time to shoot the “day after session” the  day after their wedding. So we’ll call it a “week after” session since I had a Seattle wedding the next weekend. We decided to meet up in downtown Tacoma & hang around the Museum of Glass. I loved the challenge of trying to take unique portraits in a location that’s so loved by photographers. I’ll let you decide whether I succeeded or not. Regardless, we had a blast & these two super-photogenic subjects were a great inspiration.

Photos from the “Day (week) After Session” we had in downtown Tacoma.

How about another engagement session blog post. This time it’s Katie & Justin.

By Spokane’s bravest, it’s obvious that it’s a play on Justin’s occupation as a firefighter (we shot most of these at his station) but that could apply to Katie too since she’s reading this while on a medical mission in Guatemala. In the short time I got to hang out with these two it was obvious that the world will be a much better place with these two together. Watch out.

In case it’s not obvious, I had an outstanding time photographing these two who are both complete naturals in front of the camera. It’s not every day you get to use the fire station as a backdrop.

I figured I should blog a couple of engagement sessions since I still shoot them in between all of the weddings. I’ve had to stop blogging everything I shoot out of sheer lack of time, but as a consolation, I’m still blogging every wedding.

I met up with Patsy & Kevin on Kevin’s boyhood friend’s amazing property & we wandered around taking pictures as the light went from great to amazing. How happy do you thing I was when I saw the pond & row boat? I’m thinking with a little work, this place would be a great venue for weddings (I’ve certainly seen worse). I’m thinking ceremonies in front of the barn or in the field & receptions in the barn. What do you think?

This one is a little different because I’m starting the photos off with some engagement photos since I didn’t have a chance to post them previously. Since they both flew in for the wedding, the only chance we had to take them was a few days before the actual wedding. We had a great time & only extended it a few days later when I was able to photograph their wedding at the gorgeous Beacon Hill in Spokane. We were lucky enough to avoid the weather disasters this year’s been famous for & endure the few sprinkles & have a beautiful outdoor wedding.

One of the highlights has to have been the s’mores station at the fire pit. I’m sure this equation is just as assured as gravity: melted giant marshmallows + graham crackers(kids) = great times(great photos).

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I had a great time taking engagement pictures for Michelle & Jeff. They’re a rarity because they’re one of the couples who’s wedding I’m not actually shooting. Too bad I wasn’t available, because they were so easy to work with & I know their wedding is going to be gorgeous.

We lucked out & got one of the rare beautiful days we’ve had during our especially horrid spring. I like looking for good light—much more than I like looking for shelter from rain.

Sunshine. Hiking. Mountain. Pond. Love. Laughing. Plants. Ducks. Rain. Fast hiking. Soaking. Kiss. Awesome.

I had a blast hanging out with Katie & Dan around downtown Spokane & taking some engagement photos while we dodged raindrops & sought out the good light. It was obvious from the beginning of shooting that these two just like hanging out with each other which makes my job way too easy. Can’t wait to shoot their wedding at the Glover Mansion which is coming up soon!

One of the things that is universally true about weddings is the fact that they’re a ‘live animal.’ You can do all the planning you want, but there’s no guarantee that once it’s set in motion that everything will happen just as planned. In fact, it’s pretty much guaranteed that the day’s events won’t turn out exactly as expected. The reality is that no matter how much planning you do, there will be things that just…happen.

And I love it.

Nothing during this wedding went ‘wrong.’ Other than the rain making a brief  appearance during the portraits, this wedding happened pretty much how it should have. Yet, even with that, this wedding is full of little moments that only happened once, often only for a brief second. It’s my job to catch as many of those as I can with my lens, and do so in a way that there’s a story that unfolds with photos that are interesting to look at. That’s why my nerves get going before every single wedding. I worry that I’ll miss too many of those little moments that really tell the story. Then there’s weddings like this. It seemed like everywhere I turn there’s some little thing happening—a laugh, a tear, a look that makes a brief appearance that helps me show what this day means to everyone involved.

I hope you see what I did as you look through these photos—a couple who shared the joy of the beginning of their lives together with their friends & family (& me!).

You might remember that I took some engagement photos of Nikki & Clayton during our last visit to Hawaii. You might also remember that we missed the light on the beach by about a half hour & we ended up playing a round of mini-golf. I figured it would be a good idea to brave the wind and looming storms & give it another go. I’m so glad we did!

Well, in all honesty it wasn’t a destination wedding in the  truest sense since Chelsey & Barry make Oahu their home, but it was for me. Although it wasn’t entirely different than what I’m used to since it rained the whole day. Let’s just say it ended up being a good thing they hired a Washington native photographer who’s a little familiar with shooting in the wet stuff.

Where to start with this one. I can’t really. I’ve never felt so at home shooting a wedding as I did 3,000 miles away on the north eastern shore of Oahu with Chelsey, Barry, their friends, & family. A common assumption would be that the rain would dampen the mood of the day. That couldn’t be more wrong on this day. I guess it’s the laid-back Hawaiian way, but everyone was in a great mood & it even made the ceremony more intimate since everybody had to gather closer due to the deafening winds that spiraled around us.

The ceremony took place on Waimanalo Beach & the reception was held across the highway at  The Honolulu Polo Field. As amazing as the day was, it didn’t get better than when the two hula dancers took the stage & captured the hearts of everyone in attendance. In addition to the hula entertainment, the couple hired local legend John Cruz to serenade their guests during the cocktail hour.

I owe a big thank you to Melissa at Let’s Do This! Event Planners for helping the day run smooth. I also owe a big thanks to my friend Komarey for introducing my photos to the bride & groom. Last but not least I owe a big thank you to Chelsey & Barry for letting me be a part of their day in such an amazing place. Can’t wait to get back there again. and again. and again. and again.

I’ve already covered my affinity for Point Defiance in previous posts. It really is an amazing place. So many places to explore. That’s why I’m excited to present another engagement session that took place at Tacoma’s crown jewel. This time it’s Kortney & Aaron’s turn. All I can say is it was one of the easiest sessions I’ve had & I had such a great time hanging out with these two for a while. I think the photos show that pretty well, or at least I hope they do.

No, a wediversary isn’t a Norwegian tradition or anything. It just seemed to fit this one. Tove is one of my favorite people in the world. We spent many hours in design class together & working as interns at Pierce Transit. One thing is absolutely true. If you spend time with Tove, you will laugh.

I was thrilled when Tove called & told me she was going to have a wedding ceremony for the family & friends who couldn’t attend the North Carolina version that happened before Jason went off to serve our country on their actual anniversary. There was a little change when the couple found out they were expecting a little one & the wedding changed to more of a party to introduce the Washington friends & family to her amazing husband & his family.

We also used it as a chance to take some maternity pictures of the super-couple & soon to be, super-family.

I love Point Defiance. There’s a strong possibility that if you live outside the South Puget Sound, you’ve never heard of it (other than maybe the zoo). There’s a reason Steve Prefontaine called it “The most beautiful place I’ve ever run.” It’s just plain gorgeous. I have much the same feelings for the place as Pre, since it was running through the forest there during my first Sound to Narrows race that I fell in love with running. It’s a place where, as a kid, my friends & I ran up & down “G.I. Joe Hill” along the water while playing army. It’s a place that was the location of a number of school field trips where we explored the tide pools. It’s a place that is so full of beauty that you never run out of places to explore. If you live anywhere close, you need to go visit.

That’s why I take every opportunity to shoot there when given the option. I was thrilled when Aaron & Alicia agreed to come down to Tacoma for their engagement photos. It was a blast hanging out during the first sunshine of the year (even though it was still colder than it should have been) with these two & making some photos that I really love. I hope you do too.

Some sessions are perfect from the beginning, and some aren’t. This one wasn’t. I started the session by locking my keys in the car—along with my camera gear. The only thing I had in my hand was a Diana F+ camera with 5 shots of Polaroid film in it & a flash (the last shot in this series is from that camera). So we had some time to just hang out while waiting for someone to arrive to break in to my car. I had a great time just hanging out sans camera with these two. And to be honest, I think it actually helped the final product be what it is—stellar. So good, in fact, that I still don’t believe that these two don’t have extensive modeling backgrounds—regardless of what they tell me.

This session is also a great example of how I like to work, a nice mix of natural light & lighting with flashes. Basically doing what ever’s necessary to get the best photo.

I had a blast hanging out with Sammie & Darrin at Riverfront Park in Spokane while carrying my camera around & snapping photos while we laughed. I dare you to look through these photos & not smile. Sammie’s laugh is absolutely contagious. While the temperatures dropped & the winds picked up (enough to hit us with a blast of river spray every once in a while) this couple’s happiness kept on shining. We discussed kids, growing up in south Tacoma (Sammie grew up minutes from where I did) & playing baseball (these two are both coaches) I got to take some photographs of two people unquestionably in love.

So excited to post this engagement session. I had a blast spending some time with Tiffany & Nate on a rainy & windy day that cleared up just as we left The Rocket Bakery. I guess my magical weather controlling powers work during engagement sessions as well as wedding days. Of course, now that I say that, I’m guaranteed rain for my next 10 sessions.

One of the things I enjoy is being able to really get an idea of each couple’s relationship as I spend time behind the camera. It was plainly obvious that Tiff & Nate just really enjoy being around each other—which makes my job much easier. You’ll see…

More wedding & engagement photos coming up soon, but first I have a more personal post. Over the past few weeks I’ve been playing around with some film cameras. It’s been fun seeing what they can (& can’t) do. It brings back a little of what I used to enjoy about shooting film before digital was even around—ok, it was around, but not very good. I still miss the darkroom, but I do have a great local lab so I can let that go—for now. Fortunately I have a few willing models at my disposal & enough of a back yard that I can change things up a bit.

The black & white photos were shot on a Hasselblad 501cm camera with C-41 b&w film (mmmmm square). Processing & scanning was done at R&R Custom Color. The color photos were shot with my Diana F+ toy camera with a Polaroid back on Fuji Instax film. Those were processed in camera & scanned by me. The only post processing on all of these photos were curves adjustments in LR & sizing for the web. There’s also a reason why you’re not seeing any regular 35mm film photos. It’s because they suck. Well, maybe not suck, but they don’t add anything different or better than my digital super-camera. My files from my Nikon D3 are far superior (& less expensive) to regular 35mm film.

I don’t know if I’m quite ready to introduce these in to my wedding workflow, but I definitely see myself shooting more of both cameras in the future.

I recently had the pleasure to hang out with Sarah & Nate and take some pictures of them in preparation for their upcoming wedding. I can’t tell you how easy they were to photograph. They were just so at ease with each other (& with me for that matter). It’s pretty obvious from the photos that they just look at each other in a special way. That’s not something a photographer can coach. Sometimes it’s just better to get out of the way & let the magic happen.

By the way, Sarah‘s an amazing hair stylist & make up artist. You should absolutely get ahold of her for your hair & make up needs.

These last photos are a little special. They represent the first time shooting a client on film. I think it’s something I’m really going to enjoy doing from time to time. They were shot with a Hasselblad 503cm (thanks Rick!) & Kodak c-41 film with either a 50mm f/4 or 100mm f/3.5 lens. I do love the square format the Hassie produces for portraits as well as some personal art projects I hope to find time for. Thanks to the great folks at R&R Custom Color for processing & scanning the film.

I can say that there’s no better way to spend my birthday than driving down to Lewiston, Idaho & shooting a wonderful wedding.

It was a pleasure to photograph Katie & Olin’s wedding. I’m knocking on wood, but the weather couldn’t have been better. The forecast wasn’t giving us a feeling of optimism & the days leading up to the big day were all rain-soaked as well. The warm sun shone down & it got better as we were getting set for a portrait outside the Lewis Clark Plaza Hotel the clouds started to come in, lending us some drama for the night portrait, & making me happy.

I had a great time celebrating with the couple & their friends and family which came from all over to witness the event. The prep all took place overlooking the Washington Idaho border aka the Snake River at the bride’s parent’s beautiful home. The shopping took place at the beauty supply store by Katie’s sister Ellen. I still think she ‘stole’—or allowed her sweatshirt to steal—the lost eyelash as an excuse to buy Koen some new baby shoes. We then took some portraits as we walked (!) down to the Lewis Clark Hotel Plaza where the ceremony & reception took place.

Thanks to Katie & Olin & their families for making me feel so welcome (and for the birthday cake)!

A while back I had the great pleasure of being able to take part in a special photo shoot along with some great area wedding vendors including Rachel, the brains behind the great Apple Brides Blog. The shoot took place at one of Spokane’s truly unique wedding/reception venues, Barrister Winery. It’s a special bit of big city modern in our own little burgh. I fell in love with it instantly when I shot Joanna & Andrew’s reception there last year. If you’ve never been there, you should definitely make the trip.

As a photographer, a good understanding of using your flash creatively is helpful since one of it’s attributes is the dark ambience. All of these shots have some amount of flash in them except for the first one (and it’s black & white brother near the end of the post), the close ups of the bride which were shot near the sole window while the beautiful natural light shone on us (there was a reflector though), and the flowers on the paint palette. The last photo even used a strong flash since the light outside was fading & I really wanted a strong silhouette photo.

Unlike some editorial shoots where models are hired, Erica & Tyler are actually engaged. To even add another level of realness, Tyler is an employee at the winery. He gives a great tour of the place, by the way. Thanks to Shane Savage for his help in assisting during the shoot.

Fun with shutter speeds.

I love this portrait.

The power of a tilt/shift lens.

Flash blast.

Flowers: Angela Austin, Floral Design and Home Decor

Make-up: Shasta Hankins Freelance Make-up

Hair: Lindsey Wilson (509-362-6510) of the K Salon

Stationery: Carli Marie Design

Gowns: Storybook Bridal

Headpieces/Accessories: Finder’s Keepers

Tuxedo: Tuxedo Gallery