I loved everything about this wedding… and that has been my downfall. I’m proofing my little heart out and can’t cull any photo from this set. I love every. single. one. To show you how difficult my job is, I’m showing just one out of over 2,000 taken that day…
*sigh* I love my job.Â
Doug & Laura are phenomenal people. If you want to have a rockin’ party, they are the people you should invite. If you want to be cheered up, they are the people to see. If you need help, they are the people to go to. Do you see a pattern here?
Doug is one of my favorite cousins. Only 7 months older than myself, we have pretty much always been close, although we have rarely lived in the same state. He’s part of an extension of my immediate family… another brother, if you will. He’s a fantastic human being with a heart the size of Texas. And he’s finally met his match in Laura.
After going through some hard times, Doug found Laura. And though he knew she was a gem when he met her, they took it slow. She worked in a hospital and busy shifts made it hard to date. But somehow, they were able to get to know each other. And fall in love. And build one of the strongest foundations for a marriage that I have ever seen. Laura is just pure goodness. One of my favorite stories about the two of them is about when they had a disagreement. And instead of stewing over who was right and wrong, Laura turns to Doug and says, “Okay. Now let’s hug it out.” Obviously, she won over Doug’s entire family and then some.
Laura getting ready at the Indian Summer Country Club in Olympia, Washington.
Details, details… while Laura and her bridesmaids were finishing up their hair and makeup, I scoped out some details. In the bride’s room…
And in the reception hall…
Then it was time to get ready…
Laura made a stunning bride!
Doug and Laura decided to see each other before the ceremony and get all the formal photos out of the way so they could spend more time with their guests later. Always a great idea!
While they didn’t really want traditional portraits, they did want to make sure to get photographs of their families and favorite people. I think we achieved that goal.Â
And then I stole the bride and groom away for some photos of just the two of them. The golf course had some amazing landscape…
Doug and his brothers are really close. I love this casual shot of them hanging out before the ceremony…
The backdrop for the ceremony was beautiful. The setting sun was really intense, but once they drew the shades, the light and the tree silhouettes were so cool.
Married!
The toasts were heartfelt and had everyone torn between laughing and pulling out their handkerchiefs…
And then Doug’s niece, Anthea, wanted in on the spotlight and stole the show!
Dancing rounded out the evening as the bride and groom had their turn on the floor, and then everybody had to jump in…
I was so happy to be able to photograph this wedding. It was beautiful and heartfelt and so, so right. Congratulations, Doug and Laura. May you have a lifetime of happiness, laughter, and hugs ahead of you.Â
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Back in October, right before Halloween, I was asked if I would be interested in a session with the cutest bumblebee in the world. Mom and Dad bought Brinn an adorable Bee costume and wanted to get a few shots of their daughter all dressed up. I loved spending time with Brinn and her family and seeing how much she has grown from her last session, when she was tiny enough to fit in her father’s hands.
We went to the park by their house and had fun playing in the sunshine and the grass. While I think Brinn had a good time, she was so curious in everything around her, she had no time for the three adults trying to get her to smile.Â
Thank you for letting me spend an afternoon with you guys at the park. Can’t wait for our next session!
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Sometimes, we should really listen to our parents.
When I was a teenager, I was the type of person who heard her parents impart some wisdom and then went off to do exactly the opposite. I mean, what did my parents know, right? I was a complicated, independent, almost-adult who didn’t need to be hovered over by protective parents. I was sure I knew it all.
Luckily, Jared and Christiane realized that Jared’s dad, Rusty, might be on to something when he told Christiane, “You really need to meet my son.” And instead of doing exactly the opposite, they decided to trust “Pops” and meet each other. So, they met. They spent time together playing music. They bonded over their love for the beach. They hung out with each other’s families. And somewhere in the course of having fun and getting to know each other, they fell in love. I had the pleasure of photographing Jared and Christiane for their engagement session, on a beautiful autumn afternoon. (On the beach, of course.)
I can’t wait for the wedding next year!Â
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The fun part of photographing Sarah and Gene and their children is that we have history. I’ve known Sarah for several years as she once gave me a fantastic haircut. And then we were in a haircut relationship and we’ve lived happily ever after. (Seriously, if you are in need of a good hair-stylist and are in the San Diego area, look no further. She rocks.)
Anyway, since that fateful haircut, I have photographed her family several times… as a family of three, maternity photos, newborn photos and now as a family of four. Those kids grow so fast! I love to see how they have changed and how their personalities emerge and how they are truly awesome little people. Besides all that, Sarah and Gene make beautiful, beautiful babies. With four gorgeous people and that awesome Southern California light, my job is just plain easy.Â
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