Last Saturday I spent the day second shooting Lauren + Michael’s wedding for my friend Tanner of Today Might Be Photography. I love working with this kid. He has lots of energy and tons of creativity, which means his mind can be all over the place. I’m a bit more grounded and have a completely different shooting style. But I can’t even express how much I appreciate shooting alongside someone who balances me out and gives me a different perspective on things. It was a fun day for sure!
I spent the morning with Lauren and her bridesmaids as they got ready. I heard all about how Lauren + Mike met. We laughed and talked. It felt like we were friends just hanging out. Then we headed to the church where Lauren put on her beautiful white dress and did the finishing touches on her make up. Lauren + Mike’s first look in the sanctuary was so incredibly sweet. The ceremony was simple and full of family members and friends who have played important roles in Lauren + Michael’s lives. Outside in the church courtyard was the reception, with lots of details and perfect sunshine. That was followed by some bubbles as Lauren + Mike drove off. We then got to spend some more time with them at the park taking photographs. Ending it all with a private dock, the water front, and some sweet sun-flare.
Sunday morning I woke up and rolled out of bed, still completely exhausted from 12 hours of work from the day before. But no matter how tired I was, all I wanted was to play Saturday all over again. That is how much I loved photographing Lauren + Michael’s wedding and being a part of their special day. Pretty sure I have the coolest job ever.
Here are some of my favorite frames from the day! And don’t forget to stop by Tanner’s website here.
I’ve decided that first looks are definitely my favorite part of photographing weddings…
Lauren + Mike’s wedding was full of details galore. I loved it. But I might have come home with too many photographs of details. Oops!
Or maybe my favorite part is seeing the bride right before she walks down the aisle. I love that too.
I’m so glad we took a few minutes to photograph in the library. Beautiful light!
Their getaway car…a Bentley!
And don’t forget to add in some bubbles…
After the reception we headed to the park for some more portraits. They also brought a stereo along so that Lauren could dance with her father.
Lauren + Mike took some time to dance in the park too. So sweet.
Favorite frame of the day…
some days it’s nice to be your own boss. the other day i dropped my little sister off at her summer theater program and headed back home to work. along the way i got side tracked. well somehow i let my 10 minute drive turn into an hour in the car. oops! the whole time i kept giving myself a hard time about it and thinking that i needed to go home…but i kept driving.
just me. with starbucks in hand. my favorite ipod playlist of planetshakers, hillsong, and jesus culture blasting through my stereo. thinking. talking. praying. singing. its the only way to start off the morning. even if it does put me an hour behind schedule.
i’ve finally come to the place where i am okay with giving myself a bit of a break. putting more of an emphasis on resting, relaxing, and being healthy. it’s a nice change of pace from the crazy school season where i am pulled between school, work, family, friends, and church. i’m teaching myself how to say no to things, and how maybe an hour away from my computer and phone might help my sanity more than finishing that last project. it can be done tomorrow. rest + work. i’m finding a healthy balance of both.
as you are reading this, i’m probably in the car with my friend nerissa driving to montana to visit erin and her family. i can’t wait!a whole week off from work. i even considered leaving my computer, but i caved and brought it with. i did want to be able to upload and run through the photos that i take at YELLOWSTONE! yes, yellowstone. i’ve never been there before. it’s going to be awesome!
a few blog posts have been scheduled to hit the blog this week while i’m gone, including an awesome wedding which you won’t want to miss. and at some point i might post pictures from montana. i may or may not answer email (let’s just assume that i won’t). but i’ll be back in a week. so until then i’ll be resting and reading and frolicking with friends. and just photographing life as i see it. it’s going to be fantastical. and i hope your week is just as great.
this is the car i wish i was driving to montana. pretty much my favorite ever!
A few weeks ago miss Dorothy Huynh asked me to come with her to Portland to second shoot. It was a fun little road trip full of Passion Pit, video making, lots of laughter, and even more photographs. Christie + Chris’ wedding was at the beautiful Mormon temple just outside of Portland. That building is just ri.dic.u.lous! I think my jaw fell open the moment we drove up to it.
Our time with Christie + Chris was pretty short. We spent about an hour and a half at the temple in Portland taking family portraits and photographing just Christie + Chris. Afterward Dorothy and I had a few hours to venture around Portland before heading to the reception. We checked out Powell’s, (which is most definitely my favorite place in the world!), grabbed lunch, and hit the road. Christie + Chris had the reception at their home church in Olympia. It was a fun day, and I’m so glad I got to be a part of it.
Here are a few frames from the day. And go see it all through Dorothy’s lens here.
Favorite frame of the day.
Sun-flare? Yes, please…
That 100mm macro lens does beautiful things…
And of course, the ever so lovely Dorothy Huynh…
31. that’s how many days i have left in seattle. and then i’m off to denver with dorothy to visit some friends. from there i’ll be on my way to dc, where i will be living until the end of the year. yikes. that’s a lot to take in.
as i’m approaching this last month before i leave, all of the preparation has started to pick up. i have a lovely packing list which i’m slowly adding to. it’s difficult trying to figure out what i really need. and even more fun thinking about how i’m going to fit everything into one large duffel, my camera bag, and a purse. i’m only allowing myself to take 3 books and promising to get a library card the first week i get in town. it’s comforting to know that there is a public library on the same block as my apartment building. perfect!
i have to start getting used to dressing nice. my typical seattle wardrobe of jeans, a t-shirt, and TOMS won’t make the cut in the office. this means shopping, which i am dreading and putting off until the last minute. this poor plaid-loving, sweatshirt-wearing, toms shoes-addicted girl is not going to know what to do with herself in a city full of suits and high-heels.
i’m making a little notebook that has a list of different ideas for meals. it sounds silly, but i’m sure i’ll use it a lot the first month (at least!). it’s all meals that are easy for poor college students to make. because if i don’t have some ideas, all i will eat is spaghetti, vegetables, fruit, and rice. maybe throw in a granola bar and soy yogurt. but really that is all i know how to make. if you have any suggestions for meals, let me know.
people keep asking me if i’m ready. up until a week ago i would shrug my shoulders and reply with: sure, i haven’t really thought about it much yet. and then i realized that my time in seattle is limited and there is so much to do before that plane takes off. and truthfully i’m a bit scared. it’s going to be a big adventure and i already know i’m getting in over my head. but all of my fears aside, i’m determined to do it. and succeed. i’m set on coming home at the end of the year with new skills and knowledge or just more experience because of this. and it will be good. this i know.
so here we go. 31 days left…
and for you…a quick preview of the wedding that will hit the blog tomorrow morning.
by Mandie
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