Chris and Shannon {Portland Engagement Photographer}

I am behind on blogging, I know. You should see my laundry pile. And if we have tacos one more night this month, I think I may have to start looking for another husband, as well.

This cool, rainy weather has given me a chance to get caught up on things. I had realized some time ago that in the busyness of Fall, I had never had a chance to blog about how I spent my days. There wasn't much I could do about it back then, after all, with as beautiful as Oregon gets in those autumn months, you don't waste a minute when you could be outside!

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I thought it would be fitting to introduce the couples that have the most exciting few months ahead of them. This Valentine's Day will mark their last one before they are husband and wife!

The first couple that I will introduce to you is one of the very first to ring in this summer with a wedding. And in a big way.

It'll be the largest wedding that I have shot, and maybe will ever shoot. They don't mess around with these things in Pendleton. It may be a small town, but its full of people with big hearts.

And Chris and Shannon are no exception.

The moment I met them, I knew that this gorgeous couple was meant for each other. Something about the way that their personalities complemented each other, and shared the same hearty values was the perfect foundation for what would be an amazing love.

An amazing love.

I'm looking forward to heading out to Pendleton for a few days this June. Its an honor to photograph their wedding, and just as joyous, will be meeting their parents, siblings, and scores of family and friends that will fill that small town.

Because if they are anything like these two, its going to be a simply glorious day.

Reflecting on 2010

I recently returned home from spending Christmas in California with our family. Over the course of the week that we were there, so many of them asked, "How's the photography?"

Poor family. They likely hadn't bargained for the earful I'd soon give them.

There's just no easy way to describe this year, its been amazing to say the least. I look back at the files on my computer with fond memories of everything that we've celebrated this year. Beautiful couples joining together in marriage, new parents welcoming longed-for babies, talented high school seniors ready to enter the world, and families cherishing the children that seem to grow up all too quickly.

You see, these people aren't clients, they are friends. Some of these friends I have known for the past two years, some I met just last week but feel like I've known them forever.

When I tried my hand at photography as a weekend hobby two years ago, I knew exactly what I would set out to do. I would take and edit pictures. What I didn't know, nor could ever imagine, was the amazing relationships that would come from doing just that.

I came in the door a few days ago, and took off my cowboy boots, bought after two trips to a small town 4 hours east of Portland to shoot two weddings there this summer. "I have to fit in," I reasoned to my husband, "if I ever get to go back." I slid them off with a boot jack, graciously given to me by a family I photographed days before Christmas, after commenting how handy theirs was in getting my winter-wet boots off without hopping all over the place. I turned to put the boots away, and saw Christmas cards on my entry door, smiling as I recall circumstances of the days that we took those pictures. I then read an email that night, and yet another one of these friends had inquired about my husband's job situation after he was laid off this past summer.

Talk about blessed.

I couldn't even begin to give justice to what I've been privileged to do this year. Those poor relatives would get just a speckling of what I do, but will never know how much fun it was to dodge pouring rain, sweat away the afternoon with new parents in a steamy hot house while trying to get a stubborn newborn to sleep, and the lengths that we'd all go in trying to get a kiddo to give me a real smile. They might not know that I get goosebumps the moment wedding guests stand in unison, welcoming a bride down the aisle. Or that so many of these parents are role models for me, in how I strive to raise my own children. Or that just as they are, they stand some of the most incredible people I know.

I am forever thankful that you've allowed me to share in these moments with you. I often wonder what I've done to deserve the honors of being with you throughout this year. You've treated me like family and welcomed me into your homes, all of which I cherish more than you'll know.

Thank you for making this year so special...I wish you all a glorious, blessed 2011!

Ya'll know I can't wait to see you.

Take a look at the year here

Engagement in the Orchard {Portland Family Photographer}

Its no secret that I love to take pictures. And even more so, to get the privilege of documenting a family's milestones, one by one. This beautiful family is the realization of that love: I've been blessed to photograph a glowing pregnancy, a precious newborn, and the wonder of a 3-month old baby.

Kimberly and I had excitedly anticipated the 6-month Fall portraits, planning to do them in a gorgeous apple orchard at one of my favorite farms. We discussed outfits, planned a few ideas, and set to meet at the barn on a mild Sunday afternoon.

"I'm SOOOO excited!" Her last text to me read, as I drove along the back country roads to meet them.

I laughed aloud to myself, "YOU'RE EXCITED? If only you knew!"

You see, there was just a bit more to the plan.

Just a week prior, I had received a call from Wyatt, who was wanting to surprise Kimberly in asking her to marry him. Totally unsuspecting of our plot, it was his perfect plan to propose in the middle of their family photos. Complete with her grandmother's heirloom diamond, set in a new ring just in time, he got his joyous answer, with lots of laughter and tears.

Now this would have been fun as it is, but because it was for Kimberly, I could hardly contain myself. There's no one more deserving of a guy like Wyatt than Kimberly. She's admirably selfless, never ceasing to put others' needs in front of her own. She's got a heart the size of Texas, and quite possibly, one of the most thoughtful people that I know. Her energy is contagious, in a simple email, she can turn around a day like no one can, and with nothing more than her true self. She's the friend, daughter, mom, and encourager that we all strive to be, yet can hardly come close in comparison.

We can now add bride to that list. And I can't think of any more beautiful.

Wyatt and Kim, I've loved every moment of watching your family grow. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness!

My Kind of Crazy {Portland Family Photographer}

I know, I know. I am WAAAAY behind in blogging. But I just couldn't resist this one today...on a cool, rainy day, this just seemed "fitting."

After having the privilege of photographing two beautiful weddings out in Pendleton this year, I got an email from the sister of one of the brides, whom I had greatly enjoyed getting to know. "We'd love to come to Portland for family pictures this Fall."

Charity had scheduled a date in October, one that in theory should have given us the perfect combo of the beautiful Fall colors and decent weather. When the date rolled around, however, the unbudging forecast called for 90% heavy rains all weekend, and nearly no chance of the thunderstorms letting up. Had it been a local family, we may have played things by ear, but with them living more than 3 hours away, I had figured that we had no other option but to call it off. After all, how bad would I have felt for them to drive over 6 hours roundtrip, only to have it pour rain?

Apparently, though, I forgot who I was talking to. You see, this family wasn't about to let a bit of rain get in their way of pictures.

"We're still planning on coming out," the email read. Crazy, I thought. These people are just crazy. We had hardly ventured out in the last few days at all due to the rain, let alone think of taking pictures in it. Now listen here, I understand that we live in the rainy Northwest, but not even hopeful ME would consider braving the rains for pictures.

Its a good thing, however, that Charity didn't take my "no" for an answer. Because, had she have, we wouldn't have had as much fun as we did photographing their beautiful family. We quite literally dodged the downpour on more than one occasion, laughing as we jumped over growing puddles, in search of the closest overhang that would hold us all. I was thankful to be amongst friends as we huddled in an outbuilding, dried off in the warmth of the lodge, and caught up on the last few months as we waited for the next break in the clouds.

Waiting for that 10% chance of a break in the rain wasn't so bad after all. And certainly not when spending it with some of the greatest people in the world.