Portland Portrait Photograher } fall in love…

I got a little note from one of my brides that was so sweet I wanted share it here. She recently received her wedding album and she writes:

It is W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L!
I couldn’t be more in love with it, the layouts, the pics and the book are all just so beautiful.
The paper lining is dreamy.

You have a great talent, thank you so much for being a part of the day and creating my dream wedding album!

I love experiencing those tender emotions with the bride on her day and again when telling her story in the album. It’s just such fun when brides love their albums as much as I love creating them for generations to cherish!

Happy Valentine’s Day. Hope you spend it wrapped up in someone special!

A couple months ago I had the opportunity of attending a beach workshop with some colleagues of mine.  Kelly, from Capture Photography was sweet enough to pose for us as a vintage bride.  We had no idea at the time that our blushing bride model would be engaged before the year was out!  Both stunning and photogenic, Kelly will make a beautiful bride at her upcoming nuptials this season!  Congratulations Kelly!

Ashley is a true California surfer girl and Tyler is an Idaho farmboy.  In his vows he looked at her tenderly and said, “I fell in love with the beach, when I fell in love with Ashley.” 

The arrival of any new baby is met with anticipation and wonder, but the arrival of a first baby has a magic all it’s own.  A couple begins in love with eachother.  Their love deepens and grows into new life, enveloping a tender new spirit when it arrives and the three become one.

For Kait’s birthday last year Erik surprised her with a romantic tandem bike ride.  It was the perfect memory to recapture in their engagement session.  The tandem makes a beautiful analogy for a good marriage, it takes two.  Both have to put in the effort to make it work.  Equality and division of strengths always yield the best outcome.  Sometimes however, one will need to lead while the other follows.  Other times, one might need to be carried for a season.  In the end it’s the journey that matters and Kait and Erik’s has just begun.  Congratulations to you both!

Every month I am fortunate enough to surround myself with other local, female artists to share our passion for photography!  This month was hosted by the lovely Melissa Tomeoni from Soul Mates Photography.  She took us on a shoot with her hubby, and while it looks like there is a lot of kissing going on, it’s really just Melissa being darling and showing us all a great time. 

I was completely tickled to be honored with 5th place in this contest.  Not only is it the first photo contest I’ve ever entered but it was judged by one of the world’s top ten wedding photographers, Jasmine Star!  Honestly, my image was in her top ten from this contest, how cool  is that?  Thanks to i heart faces, and Jasmine Star!  To see her comment on my image, and all the other great winners jump on over to here.  And, just for fun, another image of this hot couple.

I recently had the privledge of assisting the talented Missy Cochran and Kim O’ Neil at a lovely June wedding.  It was an amazing experience for me to see a wedding from this perspective.  It was also really easy to get carried away in the romance of the day and to take in the beauty of this couples union.  I have to say, for me, the little things that stole my heart were all courtesy of the groom.  When we were with the bride prior to the ceremony he called her to say he had arrived at the temple early because he just couldn’t wait to marry her.  As their day unfolded I would catch him leading her gently with his hand on her back, or taking her hand in his.  He would steal glances of  her with an expression on his face so completely genuine; a mixture of pride and awe.  Even the song they danced their first dance to was a romantic ballad from a man to the love of his life.  I could read it all over his face.  He is so in love with her, and he knows he’s the luckiest guy in the world today because she gave her heart to him.

Congratulations Tracey and Wyatt!  Thanks for letting me share in the beauty of your day.

If you know anything about the art of body language, you already know what these first images mean.  When someone touches anothers’ elbow it creates a powerful, momentary bond between them and communicates love and affection!  I was just tickled to have captured both Steve and Sarah doing it independently to each other!  One of my favorite things about working with couples is illustrating their love in ways they’ve never seen it before, in ways they never realized they were expressing it.  These two, especially, were so tender and considerate of each other.  It was easy to see that their marriage will be filled with selfless service and devotion to one another.

I am looking forward to witnessing their nuptuals, as a guest, on a lovely June day in just a few weeks!  Congratulations to you both!