Wedding photography is about so much more than just pictures.  It’s about relationship.  When my clients are comfortable with me and we enjoy each other’s company, it shows in the pictures.  You can relax and be yourself.  You don’t mind so much that I am going to stick my big ol’ camera in yer face and ask you hold your fiance in unexpected ways.  Photographic art becomes something that we create together through an enjoyable experience.

Case in point…Krissy and Brian.  These two are more than clients to me.  I truly consider them my friends.  Hopefully it’s mutual…guys, what do ya’ say?  So, while it is a bit unusual, I’m posting their wedding album proofs on the old blog because I want to share these guys’ photographic story.  It’s that special.  By the way, the song that you hear in the background was the song from their first dance.  They discovered it from a posting on this very blog!  Love you guys!

Click this link for their wedding album proofs.  Oh, and for you super-critics, these have not been touched up or color corrected.  : P

I had the honor of shooting this young couple’s wedding.  The bride’s father happens to be someone very important to me and my family; he is our Pastor.  So, I’ve included a few more pictures than usual in a single post…hope you enjoy!

The wedding had a winter theme which is interesting because they both just graduated from the University of Hawaii.  How do they even know what winter looks like?  They grew up in the Tri-Cities, of course.

Yeah, they grow in trees!

The sweet flower girl getting ready for the ceremony.

Here are the groomsmen folding Origami trying to properly fold the handkerchief.

One of my favorite parts of the wedding day is the first look.  I love the anticipation!

She stopped his heart!

Love in an elevator!

Dive, dive, dive!!!  You can’t get the garter unless you give 110%.

Aaron Pelly was kind enough to second shoot for me.  He did a great job…here are a few of his photos.

Blessings to you guys and your families!  It was such an honor to be a part of your day.

About a month ago, this wonderful family braved the chilly weather with me and we got some fun family portraits.  We photographers are like the Post Office (but nicer) - we’ll work through rain, sleet, or snow.

Everyone say, “Squeeze!”

Get close, stay warm!

Who, I ask, can resist a good pile of leaves?

The happily married couple…good looks begets good looks.

Happy Winter, everyone.  Stay warm.

Our friends from Seattle came to town and we were able to schedule a family portrait session.  They are such wonderful people and their baby girl is the sweetest thing.  She was so bubbly and well-tempered.  I was surprised to learn that she is usually even MORE smiley than she was the day of our shoot.  So, without further adieu…

This first portrait was an important one.  Baby is wearing an heirloom dress that has been in the family for six generations.  All the daughters have been photographed as babies wearing this dress.  What a wonderful job I have…being invited to take part of truly significant traditions like this one.

It’s a joy to see parents look at their children with wonder and love.

Baby giggles. Baby tongue. Baby feet!

Cool intimate moment between Daddy and his sweet baby girl.

Beautiful family.

With this portrait, I wanted to capture what happens to a person’s life when they have kids.  Our children become everything to us and we put them before our own needs.  We’re happy to fade into the background while we lift them up and encourage them.

Thank you for making the trip out from Seattle and for choosing me to be a part of your family portraits!  Blessings to you and your little one.  May you be graced with MANY more! ; )

Not too long ago, I had an opportunity to second shoot for one of my favorite local photographers, Ali Walker.  I was in Seattle, when I got the call, so I jammed back to the Tri-Cities, grabbed my camera gear and then headed to St. Joseph’s Church in Kennewick.  I only wish that I could have made it back sooner so that I could work the wedding ceremony.  Here are some photos from the reception.  You can check out more photos from Ali’s Blog.

I like to call this first one “Before and After.”  The photo in the background is one taken by Ali during the couple’s engagement session.

Yes, he has her lip…with his teeth.  Grrr, baby.

The night was full of dancing.

This tradition is a hoot.  The guests form a long line and run frantically around the bride and groom, who are standing on separate chairs.  The guests try to knock the bride and groom off of their chairs.

Shake your money maker!

I have lots to blog about, I just need the time to do it.  First off, our good friends’ grandparents just celebrated their SIXTIETH anniversary…count ‘em up.  The flowers and ribbon in the picture below were from their wedding!  I tried to compose a picture of the flowers/ribbon at the base of a huge tree as a special symbol of just how much their love and devotion has founded.  As they say, it’s about the roots.  Do you have stories of lasting love that you can share?  Hit the comments if you do.

Our friends are very fortunate.  They have a great family and it was a pleasure to be a part of some very significant family portraits.

Here’s the whole crew.  The five children (including their spouses and children) put together an intimate party to celebrate their parents’ anniversary.  The celebration was held in the back yard, which is where, for the most part, the five children grew up.

Here are the five children…a good-looking bunch.  Their parents have much to be proud of.

Here are the Mean Girls grandkids.

Congratulations and may God continue to bless!

I am always looking for good and encouraging ways to leverage my photography for the benefit of others.  And, thanks to some friends who are involved with a local MOPS group, I have a cool opportunity in the works.  Stay tuned for details VERY soon…

Today was gloomy and rainy…up until the scheduled time for our E-Session. What a blessing for us! I like to think that God loves marriage and that He is happy to push aside the clouds and shine a little light for two crazy kids willing to commit themselves to one another in love. Brea and Tyson were a dream to shoot because they are so dang good-looking. Have a peek at some early favorites from today…

Brea and Tyson, I’m looking forward to your big day!

How does a photographer celebrate his son’s third birthday? With photos, of course. Here’s how we roll…

The birthday boys’ favorite ladies get prepped and primped…

Set up the party room to receive a throng of toddlers and infants, who happen to be Lucas’ favorite people under three feet tall. Feed them lots of sugary goodness in the form of cake, ice cream, and smoothies. Arm each kid with paint…

Voila! Hand-crafted picture frames for each kid to take home. (I provide pictures from the event with which to fill the frames and memorialize their glucose-induced glee)

Sing Happy Birthday to my sweet boy.

Happy Birthday, Lucas. I love you!

We recently found out that a friend of ours had just finished writing a children’s book! She and her husband are parents, counselors, and now authors/publishers. We, of course HAD to go to the book signing event.

The book is entitled, When Goldfish Chew Gum and Blow Bubbles.

The kids couldn’t wait for Yolanda to start reading it. They wanted to hear part of it right at the store!

We were so excited to have a signed copy! Here is Jennifer Hill, the author, giving us her autograph.

The illustrator, Kelcey Brower, was on hand as well. Such a talented young lady. I’m sure she has great things in her future.

We had Jennifer and Kelcey describe how they met and how the book came together.

My boy loves his copy. The whole ride home, he would not let go of it. Here he is getting into it before we even left the booksigning.

If you have kids, or a kid’s heart, do youself a favor and get yourself a copy. Leave me your request in the comments and I can arrange for you to get a signed copy! If you miss out on this opportunity, I guarantee that for a long time, “your brow will be knit together and your smiles will be drooping low.” Leave me a comment and get yours now for only $16.