Elk Cove Wedding: Lauren + Will

They’re both PhD’s, love the outdoors, and quite the fan of internet meme’s and Star wars.
To say we had a ball at this wedding would be an understatement. Everyone was dressed in their Saturday’s best, the view was to die for, and all the guests brought their dancing shoes.<3

Thanks to all the amazing vendors that made this wedding a smashing success!
Coordinator: Sweet Dreams Weddings & Events
Floral: Floral Sunshine
Venue: Elk Cove Vineyards
Cake: Beaverton Bakery
Caterer: Culinary Artistry
Music: NW Mobile DJ Service
Makeup: 77 Salon

Oregon Bride Best Of 2013!

If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen last night that I shared a picture from the Oregon Bride Magazine Best Of 2013 of me accepting an Editor’s Pick award for Best Up-and-Coming Photographer. If not, well…I’m telling you now!

This year’s party was held at The Atrium at Montgomery Park and it was the perfect complement for the “all white” theme! The room was full of beautiful people dressed in all white. Of course, I had to jazz my white up a bit so I DIY ombre dip dyed this white blazer. I absolutely love it and was so happy with the way it turned out. Plus, it made it pretty easy to spot me in a sea of all white [;

Anywho! Make sure you check out the new issue of Oregon Bride Magazine which is currently on stands to see all the AMAZING talent in this state and the rest of the winners. You can see my award and read a sweet little paragraph about me from the editor on page 104.

Me up on stage accepting my sweet award!

The awesome winners of Oregon Bride Best of 2013 Photography Studio in Portland! My two dates for the night! Love these two<333

Here’s our post party dance session after everyone left.

FINALLY! Here’s the Magazine in all it’s glory!

BAM: A Trip To The Oregon Coast!

This past weekend Jason and I took advantage of the lovely weather and made it out to the Coast! I hadn’t been in a year and was really itching for a change in scenery and a lovely backdrop to take some pictures. I bought this lovely (petite size for us short girls) maxi dress a couple of months ago, and YES! It’s the perfect length if you’re not super model tall and are looking for one! It has been begging to be photographed on the beach and I finally got a chance to do so.

Emma-Lou absolutely loved her first time on the beach. Frolicking through the sand, chasing birds, running through the water, and cuddling up next to the bonfire.

I’m already itching to get back out and photograph a couple on the coast so seriously, hit a girl up! [=

BAM – Playing In The Rain

Today after my shoot something funny happened — Funny for Portland, at least…it rained.
Now, before you go spouting off that “wait, didn’t you say PORTLAND?!” keep in mind that although it rains quite a bit here, it’s more like a constant drizzle. Almost annoying like the sprinklers you walk through at amusement parks. But today….today it RAINED.
The skies opened up and a downpour ensued upon us.

When I lived in California it very rarely rained and when it did it was always in the winter, windy, and freezing cold. Even in Portland the few times it rains hard are in the winter and you’re terrified if you go outside you will turn into an icicle. I haven’t really experienced a rain that was warm since I left South Carolina circa 2006 and even though it was a breezy 55-60 degrees outside, that was enough for me!

So, after our shoot this morning I made sure to take a quick 5 minutes to play in the rain and honestly for those couple of minutes, I felt like a little kid again. I didn’t care that my hair was wrecked, that my clothes were slowly getting soaked and I had a 45 minute drive home, or even if people were watching. I just laughed, danced, and felt happy.
Everyone should play in the rain, it should be a requirement<3

Bella Via Wedding: J’aime and Mark

This past winter I had the pleasure of assisting an awesome photographer from Florida on a wedding at Bella Via in Sherwood, OR. It was cold, grey, and rainy outside. Definitely the complete opposite of Florida, but J’aime, Mark, and their friends and family didn’t let that stop them from having an awesome time!

 

Big thanks to Jaclyn of Three Brooklyn Photography for bringing me along on this wedding<3

WPPI Head Shots: Teresa O’Brien Nguyen

My next installment of the 10 minute WPPI Head Shot series features Teresa O’Brien Nguyen of Teresa O’Brien Photography!

Teresa has a smile that is literally contagious and the most AMAZING hair! (All natural, believe it or not)
She can bust out dance moves that would make MC Hammer jealous and has style that puts gap models to shame. I really don’t think I could have had a more fun time with Teresa than we did. She has such a huge personality and an even bigger smile, but I don’t need to tell you that. All you need to do is look at the photos and you’ll see for yourself<3

Be sure to check out my FACEBOOK this evening to see another sneak peek!

Brasada Ranch Wedding: Ben and Brianne

Here’s a little something sweet for your Valentines Day!
Ben and Brianne were married this past weekend at the absolutely GORGEOUS Brasada Ranch in Powell Butte (about 20 minutes out of Bend)

Honestly, I was a little nervous for this wedding. It was my first wedding after the “winter break” of wedding season and I had never even been to Bend or any of the surrounding areas, let alone photographed a wedding there! However, when I arrived to the venue and took a look around all those fears completely melted away. I’ve become quite the city girl these past couple years and don’t often venture out into solitude or isolation, but there was just something about being in the middle of no where with sweeping views of that beautiful landscape for miles and feeling the warm sun on my face shinning through the slightly hazy sky and emitting a soft orange glow that took my breath away. I knew this day was going to be perfect.

Ben and Brianne met in school (Ben is a Dentist, Brianne is a Dental Hygienist) and Ben said from the moment he saw Brianne he knew he had to somehow muster the courage to ask her out. He and his best friend stayed up all night crafting the perfect text message to send her (without sounding too creepy or desperate and just the right amount of cool). Obviously it worked and I’m glad that Brianne took the bait!

They are such a lovely couple who are completely comfortable around and with each other. Their personalities mesh perfectly, Ben is silly and goofy and Brianne is poised and elegant, and they spent their wedding day surrounded by those they love the most. The whole group whether friends or relatives felt like a family and I was honored to tag along for the ride.<3

xxoo.

Erica and Jessie: Roloff Farm Wedding Photographer

I posted a sneak peek of Erica and Jessie’s wedding at Roloff Farm last night, but now it’s time to sit back, relax, and take in what an absolute majestic beauty this wedding really was!

Erica and Jessie not only met in High School, but also went back to the location where it all began to start the new chapter of their lives! Jessie blindfolded Erica and drove her in circles so she wouldn’t know where they were going. (They live in a very small town) He lured her to the High School stadium where he proposed…if that doesn’t sound like an episode of Friday Night Lights then I don’t know what does. Needless to say, I fell in love with Erica (and her mom!) instantly. They have such vivacious personalities, were extremely excited about their wedding, and put a TON of love and effort into making it everything Erica could have ever dreamed of. They cut all the burlap themselves, hand-made all of the signs that decorated the venue, found reclaimed lumber to use as a runner for their gorgeous tables, and 100% committed to their theme of shabby/country chic.

Even though there were a ton of details all around us, you could tell that each and every one of them meant something. That Erica and her family put effort into it and that it was somehow related or connected to her, Jessie, and their love. They had pictures of them everywhere. Showcasing their lives up to this point and celebrating their new life together. I am SO SO SO SO SO SSOOOOOOOO (is it obvious enough yet?) honored Erica and Jessie chose me to help document their amazing wedding and to the Roloff’s for being so warm and inviting. This new venue is literally a STUNNER and if you are looking for the absolute perfect barn with a perfect view to get married, LOOK NO FURTHER!

I’ll let the pictures do the rest of the talking (by the way…I apologize in advance for posting a TON, I literally could not narrow it down anymore) and a huge thank you again to the amazing vendors involved who helped make this day the success it was.

Coordinator: Sweet Dream Wedding & Events
Cake: White Rose Bakery
Flowers: Country Florals
Catering and S’more Bar: Blackbird Catering
Rentals: Barclay Event Rentals
Venue: Roloff Farms

XXOO.

McMenamin’s Octagonal Barn Wedding: Krystle and Nate – Hello Kitty Galore

This week in lieu of a WWD, I’ll be posting a real wedding I shot a couple weeks ago that definitely stole my heart. I’m not a huge hello kitty fanatic, but I’ve had plenty of friends who are and understandably so. However, I don’t think anyone can compare with Krystle. She is obviously quite fond of Hello Kitty and I quickly caught on to the theme of her wedding. From the beautiful pink bridesmaids dresses, to the hello kitty veil, bags, thermos, and the bouquet (the icing on the cake) her wedding was 100% stylish with a fun touch of youthful whimsy! All topped off with an amazing desert bar by VooDoo Doughnuts and Bliss Cupcakes. Who could ask for a more perfect group of people to be around? However, the real show stopper was Krystle herself. She looked so drop dead beautiful I almost shed a tear as she walked down the aisle!
Okay, who am I kidding?! I most definitely did!

XXOO.

Wednesday Wedding Do: Photo Booths

As a photographer my job is to obviously document your day, all it’s glory, and the lovely people you choose to spend it with. As much as I try to make sure I get a photo of everyone in attendance sometimes it is just not possible or the photo I get is not the most flattering or happy/joyous depending on what they were doing at the time. Sometimes they have a cocktail in their hand, sometimes they just sitting down staring off into space, sometimes they are dodging my camera the whole night!

I always recommend thinking about getting a photo booth. Either renting one or having a DIY (SO easy to do: Backdrop, camera, props, done.) It really gives you some amazingly fun photos of your guests having a ball and celebrating your wedding. It depicts them in a fun, silly, over the top manner and makes for some great laughs for years to come. ❤

And since no post is complete without a picture: here is a photo of a super secret, super awesomesauce wedding I have coming to the blog soon! I also have really exciting news about this wedding that you’ll have to keep an eye out for next week!!!!!!!! <—(See all those exclamation points?! That means it’s super serious exciting news!)

XXOO.