You’re Important: A New Project

**To skip the long reading and go straight to what the project is about, scroll to the bottom…but you’ll be missing out on truly understanding what I hope to accomplish with this**

It’s been a month of ups and downs to say the least. As some of you may have heard, earlier this month my brothers girlfriend of 3 years unfortunately passed away at the tender age of 18. She was at my house the night before she died celebrating Jason’s birthday and I was lucky enough to snap the last picture ever taken of her. As much as it hurts that she is gone, I find slight comfort in that fact and that although the photo was taken with a cell phone and is technically speaking nothing great, it is the photo that matters, the photo that is important, and the photo that will be forever treasured as it shows what a true beauty she was.

I don’t want to get super depressing on this post, quite the opposite actually. If Marisol’s death taught me anything it was
A. To strive to be a nicer, more all around beautiful person like she was and
B. To cherish the people we love and take the time to document that love

I’ve photographed a couple wedding’s since this happened and I’ve noticed that I’m more in tune with the people there, their relationships, their love, and just how important they are. I’ve been focusing more on getting their portrait whether it is ideal lighting, ideal pose, etc or not because it’s the photo that matters. They are all getting together probably for the first time in many years and traveled from afar to celebrate. You have no idea what will happen tomorrow, but that photo I take will last forever and it could very well become a cherished photo that will mean more to you than you ever thought possible when it was taken. I never thought a cell phone snap shot of Marisol would mean so much to me, but the next day it did.

I have been thinking all month of what I could do to commemorate that idea, to celebrate love and the people who matter the most to us, that you shouldn’t just get together on a special occasion, and that we should document and take photos of the people who are important now because we might not get the chance later. I took a short mini vacay back to Southern California this past weekend to visit family and my goal was to get a photo of my grandma, great grandma, and one of us all together. The women in my life have always been so important to me and have really shaped who I am today. They’re such simple photos, but as I look at them I can’t help but feel a sense of warmth and happiness. And so the YOU’RE IMPORTANT project has officially began. I’m opening up my studio to anyone and everyone. Free of charge. That’s how passionate I am about this and the message.

PROJECT INFO:
I’m inviting you to come to my studio with the person or people who are most important to you. I’m limiting it to 5 people each shoot just to keep things intimate and meaningful, so put thought into who has made an impact on your life, who you treasure, and who is important. Not thinking about “Oh, if I could just lose XX pounds…then I’ll get my photo taken” or anything else. Only thinking about what’s important: the people, the love, the connection, and the photo. Documenting that love and documenting that person or people will mean more in the long run.
For now I’ll just be doing this project during the month of August to see how it goes. The photos will take place at my studio in SE Industrial Portland and there is no sitting fee charge. You will be able to select 2 final images for high-resolution download.
If you’re interested in the project and passionate about documenting the person/people who are most important to you, fill out the form below. Even if you don’t participate in the project, think about the words I’ve said and take the time to document life, love, and not only the special moments, but the moments in between as well<3

Your Name(required)

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Who's Important To You?(required)

Why Are They Important To You/Why Do You Want To Participate In This Project?(required)

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Wednesday Wedding Do: Nostalgia Chest

This week for my Wednesday Wedding Do I’m doing something a little different. It’s not necessarily an idea FOR your wedding, it’s an idea for AFTER your wedding, but still every bit as fabulous!

I just got my sample chest all ready to offer and show to my clients and I just love it, the idea, and what it represents SO much I decided it needed a blog post!

This is my new Nostalgia Chest and if I dare say so myself, it’s perfect. I’m offering these to 2013 and future couples and I think it’s something everyone should do for after their wedding.

The box itself is handmade Amish wood and oil rubbed. The sample I have in my studio and the one pictured is the smallest and simplest chest. It holds three vials which you can put anything in, but I recommend a piece of your bouquet, dirt from where you were married, a button from his shirt, cologne he wore, etc. Literally the possibilities are endless! There is also a small compartment where you can put the champagne cork from your toasts or any other little nick knack that has special meaning. This box also fits up to 100 4×6 prints wrapped up and kept safely in a piece of fabric.

I think this idea is so wonderful for weddings. It’s a lovely little box that can be kept forever and your children (and their children) can open the box and see all the wonderful things from your wedding. The larger boxes have more vials, leather satchels that wrap the prints, and more room to add other things such as his tie, your necklace, etc. The boxes can also grow with you. Add more special prints in when you have your first child. Dirt from your first home together. Literally all the big life events will be kept safely in a lovely handmade nostalgia chest.

Want one for you wedding? Contact me and schedule an appointment to view it in person and hear about the larger boxes!

WWD: 2013 Color Of The Year!

You’re use to seeing blues, pinks, and basically any pastel color at a wedding and for good reason. They’re soft, light, airy, and just all around dreamy. However, don’t underestimate the impact of using a bright and BOLD color in the mix. Whether that color is orange, fire truck red, royal blue, or my personal favorite (perhaps it’s because it’s my birthstone)…Pantone’s 2013 color of the year: Emerald Green! It’s not just for St. Patrick’s day anymore, pop in a little gold or blush pink/peach and you’re seriously high-class stylin’ the whole night.

I mean seriously, could these inspiration photos get anymore fab? That striped runner with the emerald glasses and napkins is my personal fave!

1//2//3//4//5

happy planning lovelies<3

WWD: Floral Crowns

Looking for a way to spruce up your veil? I’ve done a WWD on Veil Alternatives before and this week we’re going to take a closer look at a super cute alternative: floral crowns!

Floral crowns are great! They’re girly, smell nice (if they’re real), soft, delicate, and can match basically any wedding/dress.
They come in all kinds of styles: big and bold, soft and whimsical, loose and boho, or small and chic. Seriously, no matter your style or aesthetic you can find a floral crown to match it.

1:Stephanie Sunderland//2:KT Merry//3:Which Goose//4:Ciara Richardson

Plus, if you’re looking to play around and make a floral crown yourself, here’s an awesome DIY on Green Wedding Shoes:

DIY Floral Crown From Green Wedding Shoes

And then here’s one just for fun! [;

HAPPY PLANNING LOVELIES<3

Floral Inspiration Shoot: Fleur:ology Floral and Styling

Last week I had the privilege of photographing Fleur:ology Floral and Styling’s floral inspiration shoot. If you haven’t heard of Fleur:ology or seen Liz’s work you are seriously missing out. It’s simple, elegant, feminine, whimsical, and all around kick you in the pants gorgeous.

I was so excited to be a part of this shoot. I knew Liz was going to knock it out of the park with the florals, but I didn’t know that the location was going to be so take your breath away gorgeous, or that the light was going to be like soft kisses on everything it touched. It was seriously a beautiful day, but you don’t have to take my word for it. I’m pretty sure the images say more than I ever could. ❤

Photography: Brittany Lauren Photography
Floral: Fleur:ology Floral and Styling
Dress: AniA Collection
Rentals: The Party Place
Hair/Makeup/Model: Jill Yanov
Venue: Private Estate

Wednesday Wedding Do: Become A Green Bride!

Green is the new black.
Not green from sickness or green with envy. I mean green as in Mother nature’s friend, of course!

It’s no secret there has been a resurgence of the green eco trend in everyday life and a lot of future technology and innovation is focusing on being environmentally friendly. Restaurants are focusing on serving more sustainable foods and cities are implementing more green practices such as recycling (or recycling AND composting as we do here in Portland). So, it’s only natural for that to slowly start to leak its way into the wedding world.

Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life and is a huge, beautiful event. It’s also an event that can leave a lot of trash, waste, and things you just have no idea what to do with. So, here’s some of my top tips on making your wedding more tree hugger friendly:

>>1. Paper Goods: Let’s start with the invitations! Consider sending invites on recyclable or compostable paper. It’s one of the easiest and more straightforward ways of reducing waste on your wedding day and won’t sacrifice quality at all.

>>2. Wedding Dress: Consider an eco-friendly wedding gown or buying a used gown. You can almost rent fancy schmancy dresses from Rent The Runway for a fraction of the price and go for a look that’s different and unique from the average wedding. Here’s one of my favorites. I know that wedding dresses are an important decision in the wedding making process, an important investment in the wedding planning process, and a lot of girls spend years dreaming about what they will look like in their perfect dress. So, I understand if this is not the perfect tip for every bride. So, that brings us to an easy tip every bride can implement on number 3!

>>3. Bridesmaids: Rent your bridesmaid dresses or let them pick their own dress. Mismatched bridesmaids have been in style for a while and it also has the added benefit that each lovely lady can pick their own dress that they will probably wear again in your color scheme. At the very least renting bridesmaid dresses is an easy solution!

>>4. Flowers: Work with a florist who works with local growers. A lot of florist are starting to get their flowers from local floral markets or local growers and it’s a wonderful trend! A lot of flowers are imported and often sprayed with harmful insecticides and pesticides. It’s not only gross, but really bad for the planet. Work with a florist who will use locally grown flowers that cut down on fuel costs, harmful chemicals, and can often be less costly than using exotic flowers for your wedding. Using in season, locally grown flowers is not only an easy way to lower your wedding footprint, it’s a beautiful way!

>>5. RENTALS!: One of the easiest, cheapest, and smartest way you can lower your wedding budget and environmental impact is by using rentals instead of buying things. Not only the common rentals for table cloths, tableware, chairs, etc. But decor rental is becoming increasingly popular. It’s more affordable than buying all the decorations and there is no waste leftover that either goes in the trash or sits in the your attic/garage. One of my favorite decor rental companies is right here in Portland! Something Borrowed

>>6. Sustainable food: Hiring a caterer who features local, sustainable food is an easy way to green up your wedding. Not only are you providing healthy food that inevitable tastes better I’m sure you are also cutting down on fuel consumption and supporting your local economy.

>>7. Shuttling: Consider hiring a shuttle to carry your guests around on your big day. Have everyone meet at the reception location, load up on the bus and go to the ceremony together. You’re cutting down massively on fuel consumption, emissions, etc, but also pending more quality time with your friends and loved ones. Or, better yet, have the ceremony and reception in the same place!

Well, those are my top tips for you brides to be out there, but it’s nowhere near a complete list. There are literally hundreds of things you can do to cut down your wedding footprint. Luckily there’s a whole website dedicated to being a green bride that you can check out for all kinds of tips, tricks, and resources!
Green Bride Guide

WWD: Drool Worthy Bouquets

It’s really another week already?!
Okay, okay, on my behalf my birthday is tomorrow and I’ve been CRAZY busy this past week (all good news, of course)!
Plus, you know how people say the older you get the quicker time goes? Well, I use to think they were crazy, but it turns out…they’re right. Completely and utterly right!

So, this week’s Wednesday Wedding Do is all about drool worthy bouquets. Spring is in the air here in Portland and the flowers are booming all around us, so I figured it was only fitting!

What makes a bouquet drool worthy, you ask?

It’s the right amount of color, texture, and style. Really it all comes down to your personal aesthetic. Overall you want a bouquet to compliment your dress and wedding. Here’s some of my favorite bouquets from the past:

OKAY! Looking for some tips when choosing your bouquet?
Of course there’s no one better to answer those questions than Mrs. Martha Stewart herself. So, this is what the geniuses behind Martha Stewart Weddings had to say:
1. Choose if you want your bouquet to be formal vs. casual
2. Think about the shape you want your bouquet to be
3. Think about the details – stems, colors, etc
4. If at all possible, go with flowers in season!
I’ll also add to think about how you want it to smell and how heavy you want it to be. You are carrying it around for most of the day after all!

To read the tips more in-depth go here.

WWD: Groom-tastic Cufflinks

This week’s Wednesday Wedding Do is once again going to the boys!

Earlier this week I was speaking with some fellow photographer ladies about how perhaps some wedding professionals focus TOO much on the bride and often leave the groom out of the picture. True, it is the bride who has often dreamed of her wedding day her whole life, but the truth is that it is an extension of both of you and YOUR love TOGETHER. Getting married is a two-way street and should reflect both of your personalities and dreams. Plus, we are living in a day and age where the stigma of weddings being all about the bride and what she wants is slowly being replaced by grooms who are just as invested and wanting to help out and plan the party of their dreams to celebrate the commitment to the girl of their dreams.

I’ve posted blog posts tailored toward the fantastic men in this world before: 1//2
but I decided that was not enough and to once again check in with my homeboys and let them know that I got their backs! [;

This week we’re going to talk about cufflinks. Brides have all kinds of ways to accessorize and be fabulous. From hair pieces to necklaces to earrings to their make up. Grooms don’t have as much leeway, but having awesome personalized cufflinks that are really tailored to your style and aesthetic is one way to jazz up any look.

So, I’ve searched etsy and found some great examples of fun cufflinks to match your geeky/hip/cool/fashionable/nerdy/relaxed/fun/quirky/outdoorsy/all around wonderful guy that you love<3

1//2//3//4//5//6//7//8//9

Wednesday Wedding Do: Should You Have An Engagement Session?

Spring is in full swing and that means most engaged couples have already booked their photographer and are well on the way to finalizing the last details of their wedding (If you’re not that’s cool…I still have a couple dates open!) [;

It also means the weather is getting nicer and it’s time to get out and shoot your engagement session! A lot of brides I meet with ask me if an engagement session is really necessary. To which I always reply, “YES!!!!!!!!” (Always that enthusiastically) Engagement sessions give you a chance to:
A. Get to know your photographer more
B. Get comfortable with the posing and style of your photographer
C. Spend some time just you and your significant other before the craziness of the wedding day
D. Get some beautiful photos of you looking normal and not so formal.
E. If taken early enough your engagement photos can be used on save the dates, guest books, etc.

So, now that you know WHY you should have an engagement session. Let’s plow through some tips:

1. Try to think out of the box for your engagement session, but keep it simple.
Go to places that are important to the both of you. A place you had your first date, a park you frequent, a farm on Sauvie Island you visit once a week to pick your own berries, the beach you go to once a year for a week to get away, anything, but make it a place you are comfortable with and will help tell your story as a couple.

2. Have a drink before the session. (Or at the session!)
It will help you loosen up, seriously. Also, it’s nice to sit together and kind of relax prior to being photographed. There’s nothing worse than feeling super rushed and crazy right before you are supposed to look casual and normal in pictures.

3. Bring a change of clothes.
It’s nice to have some variety in your outfits and take photos in two locations with two looks. At the very least bring some accessories to change it up and revamp your look!

4. Don’t worry about being silly
Actually, you should be silly. One of the first things I tell my couples is to let go of any ideas they have of what the shoot is going to be like and don’t worry about if you don’t have your Tyra Banks fierce look on all the time. Be natural, talk, do something funny. If the photo doesn’t work out or you look like poor Beyoncé during the super bowl rest assured that photo will NEVER SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY. But, more times than not it makes for some really great “in between” photos of genuine smiles and laughs or genuine looks of love.<3

WWD: Are You Ready For Your Closeup?

Nothing ruins your day more than waking up to a dreaded zit.
Now, imagine waking up to one the morning of your wedding. HORROR! I know.

Right about now I’m sure you’re wanting to slap me silly for even putting that idea in your head, but hear me out first! I have searched high and low for the best advice to make sure you’re camera ready. So, consider these tips to look great from your first glance to your last dance and hopefully when you see me next it’ll be to give me a big hug! [;

1. Drink A LOT of Water
This is obvious. Everyone knows the key to good skin, good feelings, and a rockin’ body is lots and lots of h20. However much you think you’re suppose to drink, drink more! If you have a problem drinking tons and tons of water every day, supplement it with foods with high water content: like watermelon! 

2. Don’t Pick At Your Face!
In fact, don’t touch your face at all. Oily fingers, oily hair, and gross zits clog pores.

3. Brighten Skin With Microdermabrasion
About a month before your wedding you should go get a microdermabrasion or at least use an exfoliation scrub if you suffer from dull skin.

4. Test New Products Early
If you have new products, make up, or self tanner you are going to be using for your wedding make sure to test them early. There is always a chance of having a break out, allergic reaction, or some sort of super power inducing radiation effect when using new products for the first time. Combat this risk by making sure you test them all with plenty of time to spare!

5. Get Plenty Of Sleep
This is a no-brainer and should go without saying, but you have no idea how many brides stay up into the wee hours of the night the last days before their wedding stressing about final details and making sure everything is perfect. There are things you can sacrifice throughout the day and throughout your wedding. Sacrificing your sleep however is not only bad for your skin, it’s bad for your health!

6. Break a Sweat!
Exercise not only gets your blood circulating and helps you look “fresh”, it makes you feel better all around. It pumps endorphins throughout your system and releases “feel good” hormones.

7. Clean, Moisturize, and Keep Clear!
Having clear skin on your wedding day means a daily, faithful date with a quality cleanser, moisturizer, and as mentioned above: exfoliation! It also means taking the last week or so before your wedding easy with make up. It’s hard to walk out of the house bare-faced, I know. I almost never do it, but it really does help clear up your skin. It’s true that often the people with the best skin barely wear make up. Now, whether they don’t wear make up because they have nice skin or they have nice skin because they don’t wear make up, I’m not sure. All I know is they’re not my friends (just kidding!…kind of)

8. Wear Sunscreen
Whether you are planning a wedding or not YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BE WEARING SOME KIND OF SUNSCREEN! Lobster skin isn’t cute on anyone and neither is walking around looking like a leather hand bag. It’s a good look for Marc Jacobs, not so much for you. Wearing sunscreen every day is an important part of skin health. Using a nice moisturizer with SPF is an easy way to make sure you’re protected.

9. Eat Good Foods
If you want your skin to look good on the outside, you have to nourish your insides. Be sure to eat foods high in omega-3, that contain a high water content, and most importantly are clean. Lots of greens, fruits, and veggies!

10. RELAX!
One of the biggest causes of breakouts is stress and unfortunately wedding planning is not a vacation in Hawaii. So, try to remember why you’re getting married in the first place, remember that as important as your wedding day is and as long as you spend planning it that really it’s about committing yourself to the person you love. As long as that part goes right, the entire day is a success.

sources: 1//2//3//4