Posts in Love
Andrew & Ashley | Mt. Adams Engagement Session

Ashley + Andrew /// These high school sweethearts took me to Mt. Adams for their engagement session. And let me tell ya, this kinda thing is what I live for. There's a reason I don't charge my wedding couples extra for "adventure sessions" or anything extra for the distance. I want to take the time and hang out, to shoot in new places, to go to places important to them.  In this case, a mountain they've spent quite a bit of time on and the place he proposed to her.  I want to leave the session better friends than when we entered it. Spending 12 hours together for a shoot is a reeeeeal good way to do that - even if that means spending the entire day together after a double wedding weekend. :)

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Kendra & Sean | Anniversary Session at Ruby Beach

I don't think I've ever blogged so many images from a portrait session, so sorry about that in advance (not). It was so hard to hold back with this one; this is some of my favorite work of my career and there's so much variety within this one location. I had the pleasure of shooting their gorgeous PNW backyard wedding last September, and I was so stoked when she asked me to shoot an anniversary session for them. We've had this session in the works for *months* and it did not disappoint. I am always so excited to go on an adventure with my couples and shoot in a new place. Spend the day together. In this case, catch up and hear all about their first year of marriage! 

ok ok ok y'all. More anniversary sessions please (any excuse to get dressed up in your wedding dress again #amiright) and don't be afraid to ask about a location that's on your heart. Because odds are I'll always say yes. ;) 

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Ben & Emily | Hurricane Ridge Engagement Session

Ben + Emily. We spent a gloomy day at Hurricane Ridge and it made for a seriously dreamy engagement session. I am so thankful for the adventure day I spent with these two! I can't wait for their wedding!

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Alex & Courtney | Olympia Wedding

Venue: Albee's Garden Parties; first look/portrait location: Tumwater Falls 

The Grussings! This wedding was so fun and special to be apart of. Courtney is one of my friends from college and barista days, and her wedding day felt like a reunion. So many wonderful friends and people supporting these two. Rain was on the forecast for the whole day, but instead we got sunny skies and dreamy clouds that rolled in during the ceremony. 

This wedding is a really great example of what a difference a good getting-ready space can make. Courtney got ready in our friend Brenna's home near the venue and I was in photographer heaven. Big windows, lots of natural light, neutral colors and tones... this was the perfect space to get ready in and resulted in stunning images from that part of the day. I always try to encourage my couples to find places to get ready with lots of light and a clean space, because it's SO worth it.

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Whitney and Dan | 3 year anniversary session (it's my anniversary too!)

About 4 years ago, a friend from church asked me to shoot her wedding. At that time, wedding photography wasn't even on my radar. I had been doing makeup at weddings for years, but never had any interest in wedding and portrait photography. At the time I was studying photojournalism at Western Washington University, mostly doing live music photography and working for music blogs and small publications. For some reason, I said yes. Now looking back that seems crazy - if I knew how hard wedding photography is and how in-over-my-head I was, I probably would have said no. I had never even second-shot or assisted anyone, I was going in totally blind and completely just following my intuition on how I should do things. Luckily, I had about 9 months to prepare, so I spent that time learning everything I could about portrait photography and working with couples. I shot their wedding, it went great, and people saw those original images from their wedding and I ended up booking more weddings. And all of a sudden I was a wedding photographer. 

I feel extremely lucky for that opportunity and for their trust. I know photographers who try for years and years to book their first wedding. Trying to get a couple to trust them with that task. I always kind of joke that wedding photography happened to me rather than me pursuing it. I feel like I owe my whole career to Whitney and Dan. If it wasn't for them, would I have become a wedding photographer? I have no idea. Maybe wedding photography still would have found me one way or the other. But the way I see it, I owe it all to them. 

I took them out to their wedding venue on their 3-year anniversary, set them up with a hair and makeup team, created a bouquet for her, and re-created some wedding portraits for them. To celebrate their love and give them the wedding portraits I wish I knew how to create back then. Also as a celebration for me - that day was also my anniversary! The anniversary of my first wedding. And that's a huge day for me. There's no other way I'd rather be celebrating that than shooting with these two: the two who started it all for me. 

Thank you, Whitney and Dan, for seeing something in me that I didn't see in myself back then. For giving me my start and trusting me to capture your most intimate moments. I owe my career to you. 

Huge thank you to Shannon Mercil Makeup + Jamae Wiederhold hair  for coming along and being my dream-team glam squad. Thanks to Jeremy Millar for coming along and assisting! He also got some gorgeous images of the day, check out his work to see what he created.

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Jordan & Kevin in Pioneer Square

Kevin and Jordan. Two good friends of mine who got in front of my camera for a little personal shoot in the city. Sometimes I just have something in my head I have to get out, and this was one of those shoots. Thankful for friends who are willing to wear leather jackets and black sweaters on a rooftop during a 90 degree Seattle evening. These two are the best! 

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Kenny & Olivia | Bellingham Wedding

Kenny+Olivia // What a LOVE filled day. The way Kenny looks at her... omg. I lose my mind. They have such a sweet and authentic love and the support from their friends and family was unreal. Such a fun day to be apart of!

Hair+makeup for Olivia and her bridesmaids by Leila Halbert

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Cody & Susannah | Winthrop, WA Engagement Session

I took a little road trip to Winthrop, WA with Cody and Susannah. I am so thankful for couples who let me into their world and allow time like this for their engagement session. Who aren't afraid to have a slumber party with their wedding photographer they've met one time. Who care to develop a relationship with me as much as I care to develop one with them. This weekend was the real deal and I can't wait for their wedding this fall!

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Chase & Kelly | Anniversary Vow Renewal + Portraits

I can't think of a better way to spend your anniversary: dressing up like it's your wedding day again and renewing your vows in front of your closest family in your church. They did the whole huge wedding thing a few years ago and wanted something more intimate to represent and include their faith that is a huge part of their relationship. Kelly took her original wedding dress from two years ago (awwwww) and altered it to fit the new occasion. I am obsessed with her whole bridal look created by Ceann Cherry; the vintage waves, the dark vampy lips... she looked AMAZING and it was so inspiring as a photographer to capture her elegance. 

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