Laurel Creek Manor Wedding: Matt + Jamie

I just loved spending time with Jamie and Matt on their wedding day - what a fun couple! Their wedding and reception was held at the Laurel Creek Manor, of my favorite wedding locations. It was a beautiful September day, a little hot for the guys in suits, but perfect in every other way.  Matt & Jamie wanted to save their first look at each other for when Jamie walked down the aisle....I think that is so romantic!  Here is one of my favorites of Jamie - she is gorgeous inside and out! Don't you think she looks like Kerri Russell?



While I was with Jamie, my fabulous friend and second shooter, Kim Preston, was capturing detail images.  I love this bouquet image!

Isn't Jamie gorgeous? Oh Matt.....you are such a lucky guy!

What is not in the following picture is the window right above the girls - where Matt and his guys were in seclusion, so that Matt wouldn't get a glimpse of Jamie!

Then I let the guys out of the room and brought them to take pictures with Jamie. The guys obviously had no complaints about this.

Oh how I love a bride that can "ham" it up and have fun! 

Matt was patiently waiting for his turn while Kim captured some great images of him!

I especially love this image......Kim is such a fabulous mom and has a knack for capturing great images of children.

This next image I totally love too! Thank goodness for second shooters! Matt got to spend a little alone time with Mom before the ceremony. I converted the image to a black and white to bring out the emotion... I love it.

After whisking Jamie into her bridal suite, it was my turn to play with Matt and his guys. They were hilarious and I enjoyed every minute goofing around with them.

Okay it is only fair to say, Jamie is one lucky girl!!

Here was the moment that was so important to Matt & Jamie.....the reaction to seeing each other for the first time!  Kim and I did our best to capture both reactions at the same time........I love the result!

I love the way Matt is looking at Jamie.....and I love that gorgeous sunshine streaming though her veil!

I love this image that Kim captured, right after the ceremony......it is their first moment alone as husband and wife....well, almost alone!

Sometimes some one's camera flash is an unexpected and welcome addition to images.

The bubble exit....and so many more images to see. I will have the gallery ready for friends and family this week.



I Competed in My First Triathlon and I am Hooked!!

Often after trying/doing something new or traveling to someplace I have never been - I think to myself  "I should write down the things that worked and the things that didn't  - the things I loved, and the things I was not a fan of."   So the day after competing in my first triathlon - I am going to take the time to do that.  It's really a post for me to refer back to, but if helps someone else out there - even better!

First off - I am hooked!!  Triathlons are a lot of fun and physically and mentally challenging!  I loved running a marathon (over 11 years ago) and honestly thought I would do more - but I haven't and now I would much rather focus on future triathlons!

What I loved about the triathlon:

• The variety!! I loved pushing myself in three different events....that was exciting!
• The transitions - it was fun in the water one minute and the next minute on a bike!
• It's a group race - but you are really competing against yourself for the best possible time.
• The Sprint was the perfect distance for me to start at - very doable......you can push your self hard and then still have energy to function for the rest of the day.

 

What I was not a fan of:

• Getting knocked around by other swimmers.
• Trying to take off my wet suit as fast as possible while exhausted from the swim.
• Realizing that my ankle timing chip was gone - just as I was about to leave the transition area....GRRRRR...having to run back and strap that on was a serious bummer.
• People passing me on the bike....that was no bueno.
• The transition from bike to run.....the first 1/4 mile was brutal on my calves!

 

What I would do differently:

• Get a better fitting wetsuit that only comes down to the calf (mine was about 4 sizes too big and when I came out of the lake I brought about 4 gallons of water with me!
• Get better at swimming while keeping your eye on the buoy - I am sure I added at least 20 yards to my swim.
• Invest in a road bike with a mileage/speed indicator
• Focus training more on biking and then add speed/spring drills to running routine.

 

What I think I did right:

• Choosing the Bonney Lake Tri for my first. Great Triathlon!
• Having pull lace shoes - that I wore for the bike and run....no socks....saved a ton of transition time.
• Having my number attached to a runner's belt instead of jersey that I would've had to pull on.
• Having family/friends come to cheer on.....that always gives you extra energy!
• Even though my wetsuit was too big - it still helped me to stay on top of the water and that really, really helped in my swim.
• My husband Paul let me borrow his Oakley Thump sunglasses and they were AWESOME!! They allowed me to have music that keep me going and focused on something other than my side ache, cramping calves, and off and on nausea. :)




By far the most important thing at my first was having my family there to support and cheer me on!!

   

My great kids!!  Missing older brother, Ayden, but I thought of him often while running!

Barb, Stuart, Jessica, Martin, Karin, Karen, Fred, me and my Dad, Keith.

{Seattle Wedding Photography} A First for me - Lacing a Bride into her Wedding Dress!

I met Yadira at her home to take some pictures of her getting ready.  For most brides - there never seems to be enough time in the day.Yadira was a bit rushed to get ready and get to the church on time!  I was so thankful to have my good friend, Kim Preston, as my second shooter for this wedding because it ended up being the two of us lacing Yadira into her wedding dress. It was quite an honor to be helping Yadira on her wedding day.....having a daughter myself, I started to feel "Mother of the Bride" emotions!

I noticed this 8x10 picture of Yadira displayed on a side table. I couldn't believe my good fortune! Yadira explained that she was 3 in this picture.  It was sweet to watch her reflect on it.

Okay, getting down to business...the bridal shots.  Like I said, we had about 5 minutes to take these pictures because we needed to get Yadira to the church on time!  I should really start taking pictures of the rooms I photograph in - to give perspective.  For the next few images - we faced Yadira to the light coming through the window.  All of these images are with natural light only.... I love the effect.

Oh, those Spanish eyes!!! I love them!  They remind me of my Maid of Honor's big, beautiful eyes!  The next two images are taken at Saint Thomas Roman Catholic Church.  Yadira is in the church office waiting to go down the aisle...again, I faced her toward the window and shot both all of the images using only natural light. 

Getting ready to walk down the aisle, always a tender moment for the father.

Ceremony to come....

Alki Beach Sunset HS Senior Session

What a fabulous evening at Alki Beach! I sure don't take days like this for granted and am so glad I got to spend some time with my toes in the sand while taking pictures of the fabulous and fun Paige from Kentwood High School.  The warm glow of the setting sun was exactly what I was looking for.

I love the light in this image - I felt like I was in Southern California photographing a California girl!



  This little black dress was perfect and drew a bit of attention as we walked along the beach! :)


 When I shoot on location I never know what I am going to find and I LOVE that!

  I absolutely love that Paige was "game" for this image! Again - my sessions, although I do prepare beforehand, are so much about the "Now" and what we will find to use!


We were just about to have Paige change into her next oufit when I spotted these doors.. I just had to have one more image!


I love, love, love mother/daughter pictures! Often times mom's join us on our session and I love that because I put them to work as my reflector girl!!  Don't they look great together?