Boudoir Session in Seattle
After the fabulous maternity session I did back in late August, a lovely Ms. C came for a boudoir session. She gave me permission to post the image below. It’s less than one week before the next boudoir marathon. Click here for more information and open spots. I just had a spot open on Saturday at 6:45pm. It’s not too late to sign up!
Seattle Library Bistro Wedding
Amy and Bryce had a small ceremony and dinner celebration at the Library Bistro located in the Alexis Hotel. It was raining, of course, and so we stayed inside for their pictures. However, Amy and Bryce ventured just outside of the lobby doors so that we could get a couple photos from outside. The ceremony, dinner, and following dance were all located in the Library Bistro Restaurant.
Amy and Bryce had visited Canada the weekend prior to their dinner celebration to elope. However, just after gathering everyone together, Bryce’s father announced that Amy and Bryce decided to suprise their family and friends with the real ceremony. The above photo was their reaction to the news.
Best Seattle Wedding Photographer!
Click the image below to vote for me as best seattle wedding photographer and leave a review.
Thank you everyone!
Triple Wedding Weekend
I just wrapped up a triple wedding weekend! Just one image to preview, more to come soon…
Senior Session in Seattle
I had the opportunity to shoot a senior session this week with Stuart. Lot’s of fun!
University Presbyterian Church and the Woodmark Hotel
Grace and John were married in the Sanctuary at the University Presbyterian Church in Seattle. Grace and her girls did their final preparations in a small room in the church and then did a first glance so they could get all of their family pictures done before the ceremony. The reception followed shortly at the Woodmark Hotel in Kirkland. At the reception they played a few games and had several toasts with an emphasis on enjoying the company of the friends and family there.
In the middle of the ceremony, John suprised Grace with the song he sang when he proposed to her.
Being in this business for several years – I’ve seen just about every “exit” a couple can make. Fancy cars, limo’s, taxi cabs, and beat up cars overly decorated by the groomsmen.
Even though this is Seattle with a body of water every which way you turn – I’ve yet to see the method Grace and John used — a boat. It was a great end to a lovely summer day with a picture perfect wedding for two wonderful individuals as they sailed off into to start a future together.
After their boat ride, Grace and John returned for a relaxed mini photoshoot.
Q&A Planning Tips Comming Soon!
As the wedding season is gearing down, I want to begin sharing some answers to the many questions I recieve throughout this year. I hope this will be a helpful resource to my clients and others as well. There is a lot to consider and learn about photography when planning your dream images. Here is a partial list in no particular order of some of the questions I will answer in the coming months. Feel free to leave a comment if you have additional questions.
Q. Where are some great engagement portrait locations in Seattle?
Q. What kind of editing or retouching do you do?
Q. What products do you offer such as albums?
Q. Do we need a second photographer?
Q. How much time on our wedding day should we reserve for photography?
Q. How do I get the photos and products I want, but stay within our budget?
Q. Do you provide the digital files from our wedding? How should I care for the files? Do you have printing tips?
Q. What is a “trash the dress” or bridal session?
Q. What is a “for him” boudoir session?
Q. How does the client center work? Can I spend my a la cart credit online?
Washington Club at University of Washington
It’s been well over a year since I last had the opportunity to shoot with another photographer. So when Arthur Kim, another member of the Wedding Photojournalist Association, asked if I could shoot with him I was thrilled. I really enjoy shooting with other photographers as it gives me a chance to see another artist at work — which tends to strech my perspective and style a little. Anh and Klay had their ceremony at the Sylvan Theater and their reception at the Washington Club at University of Washington. After the bridal party preparations we walked around campus to get some shots at various locations including a nearby dock. Anh and Klay met on campus so everything around us had special meaning to the two of them.
Art and I were shooting this fairy tale picture – Anh being swung around by Klay. Clad in white – this couple looked wonderful.
But then it happened – something out of a bad Tide-To-Go commercial that makes you gasp. They fell! On the very green grass. Words I can’t repeat were uttered! However, we all know Tide-To-Go doesn’t actually work — so it appeared these two would be left with a few grass stains to serve as a painful reminder of the twirl pose.
Unknown to me though, apparently the groomsmen were all chemistry majors. It would seem they had found their calling at the wedding — no more standing around — they rushed to the task of utilizing their hard earned college education!
Why they carried certain chemicals around I’ll never know – but they tested the composition of Anh and Klay’s grass stains and measured out a few vials of liquid.
And you know what? It worked — that grass stain came right out. Makes you wonder if you should reconsider who you’re choosing as your groomsmen eh? What special talent will they bring to the wedding day?
Someone said Klay kinda looks like Kiss, what do you think?
Urban Engagement Session with Railroad Tracks and Graffiti
Kara and Ben let me pick an urban style setting for their engagement session. We ended up down in south Seattle and took advantage of some of the brick buildings, fun architecture, graffiti, and railroad tracks. These two are so comfortable together and laughter was never in short supply.
Graham Washington Wedding — Melanie and Derek
Melanie and Derek were married on 8.16.08, which happens to be Melanie’s half-birthday. The entire event took place at Frontier Park in Graham Washington. It was such a hot day, the cake actually started to melt and Derek ditched his tux half way through the reception. Melanie and Derek did not have any other vendors at the wedding and so everything was put together by friends and family. Melanie’s Dad cooked BBQ and brisket along with salad, beans, and rolls. Wow, was it delicious!
Melanie was ready well in advance of Derek and his groomsmen, so she had to hide out in the bathroom. I caught her peeking out to see some of the action.
Note to photographers: All of the black and white and split tone images were processed entirely in Lightroom. I can’t say enough wonderful things about lightroom and the new tools in version 2.0!
Boudoir Photography
My passion and work is wedding photography and every so often, a bride will email or call and ask in a quiet voice, “do you also do boudoir photography? I’d like to do something special for Mr. X.” Well, yes I do! Boudoir photographs are tasteful, intimate portraits of yourself that can be used as a gift to your groom or even a keepsake for yourself. These images are often given in the form of loose prints, retouched digital files, or even in a small album or magazine style book.
Every fall and spring I hold what is called a “marathon” boudoir session. This is hardly a race; I reserve a luxury hotel suite in downtown Seattle and invite women to fill private time slots throughout the day. A hotel provides a natural, often sensual, environment for boudoir images that many studios cannot match. You can bring friends (and even a little bubbly) to help you feel comfortable. I have even had brides give these sessions to their bridesmaids as gifts! My assistant and I are there to show you various poses and make you look fantastic. You can bring lingerie, bras, corsets, mini skirts, jeans — whatever you feel sexy in! It’s also fun to try a “theme” and bring props such as a music instrument, sports jersey, or the like. The goal is to feel fabulous in your own skin, have a little fun, and capture your body as well as your spirit.
The next session is on October 4th and 5th – only one month away! The following time slots are available:
Saturday, October 4th
3:00pm, 4:15pm, 5:30pm, 6:45pm, 8:00pm
Sunday, October 5th
9:15am, 10:30am
What people have said…
“You made it so comfortable and fun! I’m so glad I took the plunge and did it! I can’t wait to see the book!”
“Just wanted to thank you again for doing the pictures last night. You are great at making people feel at ease and not self conscious. Really appreciate it! ”
“I have to say, you really captured some great pictures of me. I love how you made my eyes shine! I can’t wait to show the photos to my fiance. I will have to wait for a special night. Thank you for making the shoot comfortable and fun. It was just wonderful and I would do it again in a heartbeat!”
“I was very comfortable and at ease with the both of you. It was like hanging out with my girlfriends. I could tell you had put alot of thought into what you were looking for and thank goodness cuz I was rusty. LOL.”
More Seattle Wedding Photography to come!
I am very excited to post a few new weddings in the next week or so. Everyone is waiting so patiently, so please check back soon!
My husband and I just returned from an amazing vacation. After working so hard every weekend this summer, we decided to take a much needed retreat. Perhaps we should have sought some rest and relaxation? But instead we decided to go on a 17-mile backpacking trip in Yellowstone backcountry! We spent three days and two nights out in the middle of nowhere. And the best part of the trip… the ENTIRE DAY we spent by Heart Lake doing NOTHING at all. Well, we of course hiked around, basked in the scenery, and I took pictures — yet it was so enjoyable to think of nothing else but the beauty of the landscape and wildlife around us. Yellowstone is like no other place with it’s spectacular hot springs and geysers. Enjoy some photos!
Just a few miles from the end of our trip we came across these tracks. Bear tracks? We thought so! We picked up our pace, located our bear spray, and started singing “99 bottles of bear on the wall.” I was actually kind of bummed we never ran into a bear, just think of the photo op! =)
