first comes love, then comes marriage...

hello hello!

it's late, but i am WIRED, just super excited for a fun weekend ahead... plus i am long overdue to share a little somethin' somethin'.

in mid-december i was fortunate enough to shoot a wedding with this gentleman, bryan rupp.


he just posted a blog from that wedding, and i (as always!) was blown away by his talent. shoot. check out the post here.

let me quickly tell you about something fun and exciting i got to be a part of last week. this past spring, i had the privilege of shooting the wedding of nick and nicole, and the day was fabulous.







guess what- these two are expecting their first baby! here are a few of the "sneak peek" shots i sent nicole's way- isn't she a stunning pregnant woman? just gorgeous! it really is a blast when i can not only be involved in people's lives once, but when they continue asking me to capture their lives and families. such an amazing thing to build relationships with clients and to see their families change and grow!





i am super excited to meet the little one this spring- nick and nicole, congratulations!

(it's personal) vol. 6

hello, hello-

i hope the start of 2011 finds you filled to the brim with anticipation. i am so glad to be here. :) it's gonna be a good 52 weeks, i can feel it deep down in my soul.

what to know how i celebrated 1/1/11? let me tell you- i was with the fam. my immediate family contains:
- mom
- dad
- cair (sister)
- jordan (bro-in-law)
- leah (cair's best friend of 15+ years and my pseudo-sister)
- joe (bro-in-law, via leah)

there are two things that are usually present when we all get together. 1) food and 2) laughter. there were times over baked french toast, orange juice, and two pounds of bacon that i was laughing so hard tears were streaming down my face. my family can drive me up the wall, but i love them with my whole heart. my siblings bring me so much joy and i can't begin to imagine life without them.

so, leah and joe. they are expecting their first baby this spring, and i am SO excited to meet this tiny little man! we shot a few photos after breakfast, and i definitely think pregnancy suits my lucy goose! check out this beautiful lady.




(from leah's last ultrasound)


new people, new starts, new possibilities. i can not wait- there is so much to be thankful for. happy new year!

there are certain moments...

... moments where i stop and remember. this is why i do what i do. this makes me feel, think, be inspired. and this was one of those times. i'd forgotten all about this shot from a late october wedding until i was just now sorting through the images and as i noticed the photo, it put a big ol' smile on my face. (again). i love life. the beginning, end, and i'm learning to love the middle. life is rich and full of amazing lessons and blessings.



merry christmas, happy new year, and thanks for sharing in my business and my life. i appreciate you!

(safe families)

today i wanted to highlight an amazing organization i'll be working with over the next several months. some of the photos appearing on their blog will be stuff i've shot, and i'm honored to have a small part in showing you pieces of the work that they're doing every single day. check out the website below- if what they offer to families in need resonates with you, i'd encourage you to find a way to get involved. whether it's time, finances, or spreading awareness- support this team that helps parents and kids make it through seasons that aren't so easy.

Safe Families (WA) blog | Stories from the Safe Families movement in Washington State

holiday cheer

so, it's christmastime.

(haha, nothing like a thursday morning post to be captain obvious. :))

christmas is a season for lots of things, including actual MAIL in your mailbox (as opposed to bills or catalogs or ads) filled with wishes of a great new year and sometimes the latest photos of families that you hold close to your heart. i love those. there's just something about a piece of real mail that brings joy to the heart.

speaking of great families. i have to show you chad and heather's brood. they are just darling.

i spent part of an afternoon with this crowd last month, and just had a blast capturing them as they interacted and played together. it makes me happy when families know how to love. these guys do. check 'em out.

jessie + mark (the ceremony)

jessie and mark.

what to say about these two? you've just gotta know them. the picture below is worth a thousand words:



yeah... that pretty much sums it up. :)
they've got personality. and it's fantastically wonderful.

these two are easy to love, and everyone at their wedding was literally rejoicing alongside them. such a wonderful enthusiasm and excitement surrounded these two on their wedding day.

check out these few shots from their ceremony, beginning with mark's first glimpse of his bride.

























congratulations, you two. i had a wonderful time witnessing the start of your lives together. all the best!

heather + michael (engagement)

a little while back, i had the pleasure of wandering around troy, ny with heather and michael.

they are fabulous. they wanted an engagement shoot that was a little retro, a little full of somethin' sassy.
we did our dangdest. :) and i'm pretty happy with what we got.

check out how cute and in love these two are:

















m + h, i'm so very excited to shoot your wedding in 2011! see you soon! :)