I LOVE Weddings!!!!! {Kitsap County Wedding Photographer}

I know I keep saying this, but I REALLY REALLY love shooting weddings :)!  There is just something just so indescribable about watching a couple go through all of the emotions of the day.  It is such a personal experience and I always feel so humbled and honored to be a part of one of the most important moments of their life.

Not to mention everyone looks incredible :)!

I was asked by a good friend to second shoot this wedding a few weeks ago.  We have so much fun together, and I look forward to working more with her in the future :)!

Kay, so it was POURING!  I don't mean it was raining, I mean it was POURING!!  We had to use one hand to hold an umbrella over our heads, and the other hand to hold our camera's and shoot.  The bride and groom were so amazing, and were such good sports about it!  The wedding was supposed to be outside, but last minute they had to chang the ceremony to the reception site.  I have to tell you how amazing this bride was, she was so laid back, and just went with the flow the entire day.  It was so much fun working with this incredible couple :)! 

So I have been thinking about this for a while now, and wanted to share my thoughts on something.  I know at first you will think I am biased by saying this but hear me out.  I truly with all of my heart think that when couples are planning their wedding the most important vendor that they hire is the photographer bar none!

Now let me explain.  Yes the location is important, yes the food and cake is important, and yes the flowers, DJ, dress, and details are ALL important, but all of those things will fade into a distant memory after the big day is done.  Five years, heck five minutes after your wedding day is over all you are left with is well, your husband of course :), but your photographs and wedding album that lasts for generations to come.  It documents all the beautiful details, and moments of the entire day.  Everything else gets eaten, thrown away, or boxed up for storage (in hopes that your daughter will someday wear your wedding gown :)).

So, yes it is so important to choose a photographer whose style you love so that in turn you love your wedding album, BUT, and this is the main reason I believe that choosing the right wedding photographer is the most important vendor decision that you make....

It is SOOO incredibly important that you LIKE your wedding photographer!  I am not just talking about their work, but someone that you actually get a long with and enjoy being around.  As the bride, throughout the day you will spend more time with your photographer than you will with ANYONE else the entire day!  Your wedding day is a roller coaster of emotions, and the one person hired to be there through it all is your photographer.  That is why I think that it is soo important that you choose someone you feel comfortable with both professionally and personally.

So meet photographers before you choose, and if you don't click with someone move on until you find someone that you do, I promise it will be one of the most important decisions that you make as you plan your wedding :)!

Ok, I think that was my longest blog post ever, and if you stuck with me to the end your amazing :)!  Enough from me, on to the pictures :)!!

I think shooting bridal parties is SOO much fun :)!!!

The BUS!! {Washington Photographer}

So for years I have been telling people the story of how my parents ended up in Alaska. So during this trip I took a few pictures to prove it :)!!

It was the early eighties, and my parents two years prior had had the most beautiful darling little girl ever to be born.....(ok I made up that part up :)), I was two years old. Anyways, my Dad had read in a magazine about an open pit coal mine that was located in the interior of Alaska. My mother had back packed with a girlfriend through Alaska a few years before and fell in love with the state. So, they decided to take a chance.

They bought an old school bus, gutted it out, put in a small stove and a mini kitchen, with a couple places to sleep, for my Dad, Mom,  my Mom's best friend, and me :)! They drove all the way from Minnesota to a small town called Healy, which is located in the middle of NO WHERE!

Once they arrived, my Dad did odd jobs until he was finally hired on to the mine where he has been working for almost thirty years.

It is always so amazing for me to think about this story and believe that my overly worried, OCD planner parents, were actually the same people that jumped in a bus, took a major chance, and went for their dream. So I guess what I am saying is I am proud to have once lived in a bus :)!

Eventually we moved out of the bus :), and into my parents dream log home.  They built the entire thing themselves.  I remember them having log shaving parties.  Like, literally their friends would come over and would help shave the bark off of all of those logs.  So here is a little piece of where I came from :)!

PS - pictures were taken on my new point and shoot :)!

My SISTER's Getting Married!!! {Port Orchard, Washington, Wedding, Engagement Photographer}

You heard me!!  My little sister is getting married!!!  I couldn't be more excited for her and Rick (or Richard, which is what I like to call him :)).  He is a wonderful man, and you might even recognize him.  I did a session with him and his two little boys a few years ago.

Lyndsay came to live with me and my family about a year and a half ago, and met Richard, who has been my neighbor and friend ever since we moved to Port Orchard.  These two caught each others eye I think day two of her being here :), and have been pretty much inseparable ever since.  Which means, my sister only lives three houses away!! How perfect is that?  I love it, it is beyond fun, and I probably walk up to their house at least twice a day :)!

I am so incredibly happy for the two them, they deserve all the happiness in the world, and I am so thankful to have both of them in my life.

I love you guys, (yes, I said it, I love you Richard) :)!

I LOVE this picture!!

Best Friends {Kitsap Washington Children's Photographer}

I have never had the pleasure of shooting any pets up until my trip to Alaska, and not only did I get to do one but TWO :)! I have to say dogs are easier than shooting some kids, mine included!!

This session was so special. It was their first offical profession photoshoot ever, and I was honored that they asked me to do it. I can not tell you what an amazing relationships these two have with one another. I hope my relationship with my two boys is just as close as they grow older :)!

Also, stop back by soon, because I recently shot my little sisters ENGAGEMENT pictures :)! Yes, you heard right she is getting married, and I can't wait to share her and her soon to be husband with all of you!!