Tracy & Ryan! Pickering Barn!!

Tracy & Ryan were married on August 31 this year! I especially loved this shot below from the Bellevue Gene Juarez because of the motion and expressions on everyone's face as they see Tracy's transformation into a bride. I can hear the gasps as I look at it. . .

Tracy chose The Pickering Barn in Issaquah as her wedding venue. The history is amazing. The Pickering Barn was part of a dairy/farmlands and built in the 1890s! Eventually the barn and farmland was donated to the city in 1997 and the barn was restored/remodeled. It's so cool to have been there, and then to see the images of it from a century ago... I posted one below. It has Pickering Place retail center to one side across the street, but acres of undeveloped wetlands to the other. If you are looking for a venue for your wedding, you have to check this place out!!



The Pickering Barn Today.......

The Pickering Barn 100 years ago (from the other side). . .


Ryan didn't get a glimpse of Tracy until she walked down the aisle...and both had waited a LONG time for that moment! They have been a couple for EIGHT years!! Just wait until you see his reaction below...

But first, a cool fisheye shot of the hall. . . .

and I loved Tracy's details-- elegant, simple, gorgeous.

Okay here we are; Tracy's Grandpa walking her down the aisle. . .

And Ryan seeing her. . .

OH it just makes my heart split in half, do a spin, and stick back together when I see a moment like this. . . sigh. . .

Lots of laughs during the ceremony though!

A couple of my very favorite shots....

Congratulations Tracy & Ryan! I wish you all the BEST in your life together! Thank you SO much for asking me to be a part of it!! See Tracy & Ryan's wedding slideshow here!

Our Anniversary!!

Here you are seeing a photograph from our wedding, taken 10 years ago today! We were pretty young, 21, but this also signifies the experience that led me to become a wedding photographer. Technically, my photographer had some cool ideas, but was very much old school and didn't get emotional, feminine, and stylish shots. And this one above is just plain weird...lol! I got my first digital camera a year later and the rest is history!

So Happy Anniversary to us! It's been an amazing ride...we hope to have an engagement shoot this season and I'll post those when we do!

Nominated!

I am so excited! I was nominated for King5's Evening Magazine "Best of Western Washington"! How cool is that? You can still go HERE to leave a comment about me and my photography, and I would LOVE it if you did!


Consider yourself "hugged" for leaving a comment, just like Tracy is hugging her new Mother-In-Law right here! Haven't seen Tracy & Ryan's wedding yet?? It's coming soon!

Vienna--4 Month Portraits!

Here are a few shots from Vienna's 4 Month old portraits. Big during the forth month are things like playing with your toes and sucking on your fingers, wearing tutus and generally loving life and learning something new every minute. . . .

Vendor Spotlight! DJ Tony!

I worked with DJ Tony at Eldri & Jerry's wedding this past summer and I wanted to let you all know that I highly recommend him.



Number one, vendors don't have to be nice to other vendors when you are working at the same event...lots of vendors just worry about the client and that's it. But Tony was really friendly and easy to work with. What really made an impression on me was his respect for what photographers' duties are, and how he can help make our job easier. In turn, we photographers can make the DJs duties easier by staying in contact with them throughout the event so that the DJ never has to wait to "find the photographer" before he/she announces the bouquet throw or other reception event. When the DJ and photographer work as a team, it's the coolest. I love looking across the room at a DJ, and then giving "the nod" and knowing that the DJ and I are on the same page and ready to make the reception FUN and keeping the pace up throughout the evening. Plus, DJ Tony has this really cool huge inflatable, portable screen for viewing slideshows! It was a huge success at Eldri & Jerry's wedding, and everyone had a great view (something hard to pull off with a smaller screen). How awesome is that?!

My Recycling Achievement!!

So I just had to share this, even though I have many great clients and images to blog about right now.

My recycling achievement.

Okay, so we've got the standard 13 gallon trash can under the sink, and then outside the door around the corner is a big outside recycling can. Recycling is addictive, just to let you know. There is a certain satisfaction I get when I squash a cereal box or rinse out a plastic tub. Anyway, garbage day is Thursday and that is soo hard for me to remember. So last Thursday morning I scramble out of bed half-asleep to try to get the garbage can out to the road before the truck comes. I go outside and check the garbage can on the side of the house. Hmmm. No garbage. I check the other one. That's empty, too. I run inside and when I check the kitchen, I realize that OUR FAMILY OF 4 CREATED ONLY ONE 13 GALLON CAN FULL OF GARBAGE IN AN ENTIRE WEEK! Our recycling cans, however, were overflowing, which is cool because in our area, you get a credit on your bill for the amount of stuff you recycle.

So if you aren't recycling now, go ahead, give it a try. I know some neighborhoods make it easier than others; in ours, you can put paper, cans, AND glass all in the same can. But do what you can (lol no pun intended).

I also got some of those reinforced shopping bags, and they hold a lot more than the plastic bags which flop over and pour out on your drive home. My next personal challenge will be, "Can I go an entire week without using plastic bags from stores?" Now, I totally understand using them if you've got a bazillion groceries, but for runs to the drug store or speciality shop, I'd venture to say that you could make your life easier by just putting your stuff in your shopper bag and grabbing the receipt. It's really rewarding to not take what I don't REALLY need. If somebody else has a great tip or tries the Weeklong Bag Challenge, let me know!!

Ryan & Celeste Funky Montana Wedding!

This is Celeste, at her parents' place in Butte...

Celeste's wedding colors were "pink and leopard".

She removed the sleeves from her dress and made gloves, and it looked divine.

This is Ryan.

Well, actually, this is more like Ryan.

Look at his awesome side of the wedding party! They are way too cool for you. Just kidding!

Celeste wore these leopard print stilettos. A really long time. And never complained. I just love that about her!

Ahh, the ceremony...just look at grampa's hat dad is wearing!

The ceremony had some tough light (full sun, facing the bride) but the officiant (Ryan's Dad) was so cute (he was so emotional in the beginning he laughed about hoping he could make it through the ceremony), and the vows so personal and absolutely perfect that the sun was the last thing on anyones mind...

Oh yeah! I love this shot of Ryan seeing Celeste (for the first time) on her way...

Everyone in the wedding party was talented, creative, and full of life...see that suit? Joe sewed it himself ;) Here are some favorite shots.....

Philana wrote and performed the most incredible song personalized for Celeste and Ryan. OMG.

I feel like I've left so much out! To see the entire slideshow, click here!

The Groom, Beach Ceremony, Reception Lighting tricks!

This is Brian the Best Man & Greg the Groom. You don't need me to tell you they are brothers, do you?! I just absolutely love this shot of them. They are so adorable, aren't they?

I'm a sucker for camera tricks, so I thought it was hilarious when Greg (or was it Brian) says, "Oh! We should do 'big head, little head'!"

As guests arrived on the beach for the ceremony, the sea breeze danced by and made the California sunshine comfortable...acoustic guitar filled the air...

A union was made official. . .

I am convinced that this image wouldn't be half as good if the little boy's foot wasn't trailing off like it is...reminds me of a Norman Rockwell moment!

Recipe for Great Group Shots:

1. Spread the word! Let EVERYONE know ahead of time, several times, that they will be needed for a group shot.

2. Let them know exactly WHEN and WHERE.

3. Take several shots but not too many. I never take more than 5.

4. Show your enthusiasm and appreciation for their participation!

I've learned to embrace wind, whether it's during formals or a senior photoshoot...Predictable? No. If you respect it and work with it, it can be so dreamy. . .this is Monica's favorite shot.

But this is one of my faves. . .

And I love the tropical feel of this one. Palm trees!!

Just this summer, I began shooting receptions with an external flash mounted on a stand with an umbrella. Add a remote trigger and voila! Dramatic lighting that you just can't get if you are using the flash on your camera. . . .


Here we have it in color which is just as striking...



I'm so lucky to have had the opportunity to photograph such a wonderful group of people. Monica and Greg are truly meant to be together. They are so thoughtful. . .so tender. . . so funny. . .There are so many other awesome moments from Greg & Monica's wedding. . .to see their entire wedding slideshow, click here!