Richelle + Jeremiah | Seattle Engagement
So I have to give huge props to Jeremiah when it comes to his participation in this session.
It was the first time that I had an opportunity to meet him since Richelle had hired me back in January while he was in Afghanistan. He had just gotten home, not more than a week, before our session and due to timing issues we could only do the session on one particular night, and I could only do the session in downtown Olympia. Problem being, Jeremiah really strongly and passionately hates Olympia. And after my experience down there, I can’t say that I blame him.
With in the first five minutes of starting our session, we were followed, harassed, jeered, and had extremely rude/profane remarks thrown our way. It wasn’t because we were doing anything particularly wrong, Olympia just happens to be a crazy town. Through it all, Richelle and Jeremiah were able to keep a really positive attitude and totally blocked it all out. Maybe it is because they had been separated for so long, but they were more than willing to kiss, touch, and be with one another the entire session.
This weekend is their wedding on Orcas Island. I’m really looking forward to driving up there and enjoying a weekend in the San Juan Islands! These two are such a pleasure to spend time with – I’m sure the wedding is going to be amazing!
Caitlin & Todd’s Blueberry Engagement Session | Seattle Engagements
Concepts for engagement sessions often times just come to me, often out of the blue. I send out a questionnaire to my clients prior to their session that asks a lot of odd ball questions. I’m constantly tweaking my questionnaire, but essentially it gives me a fuller picture of the personality of the couple, what works for them (and more importantly what doesn’t work for them), how I can interact with them, and what they are ultimately looking for in their engagement experience. And every time I receive responses I always am able to pin down a concept and roll with it. I find inspiration all over the place – colors, locations, lighting, movies, music, architecture, etc – and I have a bank of ideas that I sit on until I find that perfect couple.
Every summer my husband, daughter and I pack up and head out into the middle of no-where, Rochester, WA, and pick blueberries. For the longest time I thought that doing a blueberry-centered engagement session and this particular farm would be fun. Caitlin and Todd told me that they were interested in a full flush-mount album and the idea to do a blueberry inspired engagement sessions born; as this concept really needed to be played out in an entire album. I contacted and asked the owners of Black River Blues for access to their property to do this session, which they graciously gave to me that particular Sunday evening. Since the farm is closed on Sunday we had the entire place to ourselves!
Caitlin and Todd are just a super intense and passionate couple. They are funny together and have a wit and snark to them that I personally find awesome. It’s great when I feel like I can just be myself around someone (and trust me… I’m snarky, cynical and just a little sarcastic), let loose and just let it play out. They also have a great chemistry with one another. It helps that they are both gorgeous – both inside and out. They are getting married next June at The Golf Club at Newcastle, and to say that I’m excited to shoot there is a complete understatement. It is one of my most favorite venues in all of the Puget Sound area… so I’m counting the days until their wedding!
So here is the session and album that was totally inspired by blueberries.
Leather recommendation: (Covers back, spine, and the left grey area of the cover)
Metal cover: (Left grey strip is leather)
Inside pages:
1st page:
1st Spread
2nd Spread
3rd Spread
4th Spread
5th Spread
6th Spread
7th Spread
8th Spread
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Olympia Hair Company | Olympia Photographer
A couple of months ago I got a call from one of my favorite clients, Katie Perz, asking me to come down and do some head shots for both herself and her business associate, Michelle. The new Olympia Hair Company opened recently and it is an absolutely breathtaking establishment. It’s located in the old Capital City Press building in downtown Olympia and it’s obvious how much blood, sweat and tears Michelle has put into the salon.
I love being able to help support other local businesses because we all lift one another up in our community. Additionally, Michelle and Katie totally rock at what they do… and considering my clientele (brides and boudoir), hair is always important. Want an example of Michelle’s incredible work? Check out Katie’s hair from her September 2009 Indian Summer Country Club wedding. She had three different looks throughout the night and it was just stunning!
Puerto Rico Wedding | Seattle Destintation Wedding Photographer
Jessica and Andy had an amazing wedding on the beach in Rincon, Puerto Rico. I was honored to be invited to capture their festivities starting the day prior and running through late night of the wedding day. It was an incredible and moving ceremony, officiated by Andy’s long-time friend and youth pastor. Both their families were so wonderfully welcoming; treating both Rebecca and I like we were long-lost cousins. I’ve never felt so welcome, warm and happy to share a wedding day!
Their intimate wedding included only family and a couple of incredibly close friends. It was truly a wedding to remember!
Steve and I have put together and amazing album that documents the festivities!
Leather recommendation: (Covers back, spine, and the top grey area of the cover)
Metal cover: (Top grey area is leather)
Inside pages:
Spread 2
Spread 3
Spread 4
Spread 5
Spread 6
Spread 7
Spread 8
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Ian + Kelly | Ocean Shores Engagement
Ian’s family owns a beach home out on the coast in Ocean Shores. He spent a good majority of his life going out there and enjoying family time combing the area. When he met Kelly, and these two high school sweethearts fell in love, she also fell in love with the family past time of heading to the beach.
When I first met these two, they shared with me how special of a place this was to the two of them and how they hoped to have their engagement session out there. I was more than happy to go out with them and capture their love in a place that is so special to them.
Kelly and Ian are getting married in October, on the same day of his parents anniversary. This couple is wildly romantic and I love them all the more for it! I can’t wait for their fun and crazy wedding!
Double click to zoom inside pages.
Summer Family Portrait Sale | Olympia Family Photographer
The summer has been crazy busy up to this point. But I found myself with some open times during the months of August and September. So I thought… what the heck? Let’s have a portrait sale!
For $250.00 you can have your family photos done this summer. There are a few restrictions (like your session has to take place in the greater Olympia area and are only available on certain dates), but this is $150.00 savings over the regular package, so you probably won’t mind the drive much.
Sessions are 45 minutes a piece and will be done in the greater Olympia area. Anyone is welcome to sign up though! The package comes with 15 lightly edited digital files and a personal print release. Additionally, I’ll upload and tag a few to Facebook so that you can share with family and friends. Spaces and slots are limited. I have 10 available each of these two months. It’s a perfect time to get that family portrait!
Cody + Christy Part II | Seattle Maternity Photographer
Sometimes in life you have those friends you’d do anything for. Cody and Christy are those friends to me. There isn’t much about college that I remember that didn’t involve Cody in some manner or another – he’s been my buddy for almost 13 years.
Cody bounded into my life in one summer afternoon in 1997. We didn’t know each other, but mutual friends of ours did, and we all decided to road trip to Brigham Young University for a UW v. BYU game. It was a 2-day drive there. A 2-day drive back. We were 19 and it was one of the more memorable trips of my lifetime. We got to know each other REALLY well on that trip. There are still words and phrases (too dirty for this blog) that I can’t hear without cracking up.
Over the years, he’s been the shoulder I cried on, he was the first one I told when I figured out that I was falling in love with my husband, he was in the wedding party at my wedding, the first person outside my family I told (twice) when I was having a baby…. all in all, he’s been a steadfast presence in my life.
Christy came into the picture later, but I remember the first basketball game she cheered (she was a cheerleader at the UW and Cody took note of her that first night and definitely made sure I knew exactly how hot she was!), I remember the first time Cody realized he loved her and when he was going to propose marriage. To me, there was never a question these two would spend their lives together, it simply was a given. They were always so effortless in their love together.
I really and honestly cannot put my feelings into words about how happy I am for these two special people. Having already experienced that point in my life; the hope, the expectation and the excitement of the new possibilities, I marvel at watching the two of them experience those emotions. Christy is radiant with hope and love, as is Cody, but knowing these two people like I do, I know exactly how lucky their child will be.
I don’t get the opportunity to do maternity photographs very often – so this was something new and special. Christy and Cody are expecting the new little baby any day now. I stalk their Facebook pages, waiting and hoping for the best. I wish both of them a happy, safe, and healthy delivery and baby!!
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Puerto Rico: Day 1 with Andy + Jessica | Seattle Destination Wedding Photographer
I’m in Puerto Rico right now with Jessica and Andy. Today is their wedding day and I’m so looking forward to standing out on the beach with them; capturing this amazing moment in their lives.
Yesterday though, they flew from Rincon, PR where the wedding is happening to meet me and Rebecca in San Juan. We did a session at the Castillo San Felipe del Morro in old town San Juan. Then, all four of us, piled into the car, braved San Juan traffic (by the way… I rock at driving around here. Which kinda makes me question the legality of my driving skills back home.) and make the three hour drive to Rincon.
After few hours at the hotel bar, and some time in the sand, Jessica and Andy invited as guests to their rehearsal dinner. Didn’t stop me from taking more pictures! I’m so looking forward to spending more time with the both of them and their wonderful families today!
Here is one of my favorites from our session when exploring all the knooks and crannies of the fort. We went down this long corridor that was totally dark and found this open door at the end. I quickly placed Andy and Jessica right there in the light, and I just felt like it was a little bit of magic!
Sneak Peak of Christy + Baby | Seattle Maternity Photos
It’s not very often I get to do a full-out maternity session. In fact, the last one I did was in 2008. And it’s not necessarily because I can’t or don’t want to, but it’s just because I’m not called upon very often. But when two of my closest friends, Christy and her husband Cody, asked me to do their maternity session, not only was I honored, but totally excited too! I spent the entire week preparing, thinking about all the shots I wanted, looking for the perfect location, and praying for the best weather possible.
Luckily it all came together.
Could Christy be any happier?? In this shot she is 36 weeks pregnant. This is just a little sneak peak of what is yet to come because we had an amazing session and so much fun!
Good Luck Jessi | Seattle Professionals
So I met Jessi at a baby shower two weekends ago. Our mutual friend is having a baby (her maternity session is forthcoming this week!) and when she found out what I did for a living, she immediately checked out my website and hired me to do some head shots for her. See, Jessi just moved here from Virginia and has a massively important audition this weekend for the Seattle Opera!
She is one of the warmest and friendliest people I’ve ever met… and stunning gorgeous. I don’t know what it is, but I am so thankful that not only are my clients the most beautiful on the outside, but also the most beautiful on the inside. Jessi is just settling in here in Washington and I so wish her the best of luck this weekend. I know she’s a little nervous, but I now know, if she just shows them what I saw this past Saturday night, she is definitely going to get the job.
Good luck Jessi! I’m totally rooting for you!
With head shots it’s always a tough call… color or black and white? Since we couldn’t decide on these, we did both!
