Santa Train :: a truly Northwest experience

when you think of the Northwest - endless mountain ranges filled with towering evergreens come to mind, along with cascading waterfalls and picturesque mountain glaciers, magnificent bald eagles soaring above and the irreplaceable scent of pure, undisturbed nature. haha okay so maybe i'm a bit dramatic when it comes to my vision of my life long stomping ground but hey, it's pretty much as close to perfect as you'll get. when Dannielle mentioned she was treating us to a trip on the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad's Santa Train - i was excited both for reese and myself. the last time i road the train i was a lil' tike and had very fond memories of the experience.









trains fascinate children. i think most large moving vehicles do - reese absolutely loves trains, planes and of course, her dad's dump truck and various heavy equipment machines. there's a magic about something that big and capable of moving so fast and have so much power that's just beyond what they are used to. reese was totally captivated by being on the train and seeing the world pass by - you'd think i was posing her, these are just so perfect.





these images make the trek look much more scenic than it actually is. in the past three years the Mount Rainier Scenic Railway had to change it's route from Elbe to small (or i should say smaller) town of Mineral. the railway does not head up into the mountains as it once did but instead takes you from the old logging yard where it is based and back into the town of Mineral. along the way you pass some remarkable mobile homes where, i'm not kidding you, there were two men, sitting in lawn chairs, under a Bud Light beach umbrella, drinking beer, in the snow at 10:30 in the morning. it was amazing and made me really regret not bringing my zoom lens!





when we arrived at Santa's village, our window was the first to encounter Santa who was hanging onto the side of his train car and mere feet from ours. as the cart slowly crept next to his the girls spotted him and he gave them the weirdest wide-eyed stare ever! it was so creepy - i was dumbfounded and couldn't even muster my wits to pick up my camera and capture it. hahaa - reese then said, 'me no see Santa!' 'Santa scary!' i have to admit - he was! she then buried herself in between the seats, under my backpack.









we were at the back of the train - so we had a bit of time to kill before attempting to introduce ourselves to Mr. Santa Claus. the girls jumped from seat to seat, singing and asking questions. all the while we were entertained by the live musician that had been serenading sweet Christmas songs to the train throughout the ride. it was a very pleasant addition to the experience - especially because he sounded a bit like Willy Nelson.



one really cute feature to the Santa car was as each child entered they had to sign their names to either the Nice or the Naughty list. it was really cute and i think would be fun to apply to our next Holiday get-together.







Santa's train car was filled with plush toys, mini trees, lights and other trinkets to keep the kid's attention as they waited for their turn on Santa's lap. the girls especially liked the stuffed abominable snowman - go figure.











then it came to be our turn to meet Santa and the girls were less than thrilled. in fact, neither of them would even get close enough to take the free toys he had for them. i guess the whole, 'don't speak to strangers' thing has really been taken to heart. haha. i told reese it was okay to shake his hand and did so myself - she just looked at me like i was crazy. i'm not one for perpetuating the myth of Santa so her not taking a liking to the fat man is totally cool with me.





after avoiding Santa's jolly greeting, the girls b-lined toward the hot cocoa and cookies. we filled our pockets with more than our fair share of the chocolate covered shortbread cookies and headed out into the falling snow. it was a very light sprinkling but still counted and made our Santa Train experience whole. we took up cocoa camp right next to the abominable snowman and managed to find another train patron who wasn't scared off by my camera - who actually got my explanation of the focus point! yeah!









the train experience was one for the books! haha - it wasn't quite what we expected but still was incredibly entertaining and humorous! if you're looking for a uniquely Northwest Holiday experience i would recommend checking out the Santa Train - if anything, you get to see an old fashion steam train in action and they feed you hot cocoa! for more information check out www.mrsr.com.

family photos :: a Christmas must!

every year it's the same - we want to give a great family picture to our parents, grandparents and other family & friends yet when i start milling through the archives the good ones are either too old or non existent. then there's the rush to get a good one! luckily, i'm not the only one who hits this wall, my great friend and hair stylist extraordinaire, Dannielle Matison, is the same way. this sunday we teamed up to make this holiday must happen!





this was hilarious! all of these photos were taken in our front field at our home which means the dogs were out and about exploring right along with the kids. as reese took off with her 'bebe dog' - wilson, she ended up right in the shot with the Matisons. she looked like a lost kid and when she realized it, started to laugh and ran off. haha.





if you're doing a family portrait session with all the kids and such make sure you get a couple of you and your hunny. that's something that i always try to do at weddings - get a great shot of each couple during the family section. so once the group shot is done asking each grandparents and parents if they'd like a photo of 'just the two of them?' most times it hasn't even crossed their minds and they are very happy you asked.





miss macee was a bit uncooperative during the Nutcracker shoot the day before so we called in the reinforcements - papa! if there is one person that can always get a smile out of this lil' one it's her papa dean. this is a great trick if you have a kiddo who just doesn't want to 'make happy' for the camera. have their favorite person/people, in our case grandparents, tag along to the shoot. have them stand directly behind the photographer and coax that genuinely happy smile out of them. it may be a bit of extra work to get everyone there but i can make a world of difference - i promise!







sometimes you've got a kiddo that just doesn't want to take a picture at the moment - if all gestures fail go ahead and let them have a lil' down time. this gave shaun and i the opportunity to possibly take a nice picture of the two of us but we kinda failed. hahaa i started poking fun at shaun and before you know it reese wanted to be in the picture too.







we promised papa a few pictures with macee if he came out to help us - what he didn't know is that all the dogs would be helping too! haha the only four legged friend who isn't featured in this one is poor 'cone of shame' tony who recently had surgery on his ear and was off sniffing nature.





dean's newest addition to their family is this two year old german shepherd pup named Bear. he's a good companion and has a very funny personality - when i speak for him it's always in a doopy, fun loving tone because every part of him exudes that. wilson immediately took to bear - following him around throughout the property and wanting to play with someone bigger than a cat. the two were really getting into it when they decided to crash our mini session - it was awesome and really got macee laughing!







we were in quite the rush this morning seeing as we'd been up way too late the night before and had to make the Santa Train in Mineral by 10 am. we were planning on starting this shoot at 8 am which turned out to be more like 8:30 by the time we got everyone out to the fields. the whole mini shoot took less than 15 minutes and most of that time was spent running dogs out of the photo or looking for my husband who thought he had time to start the wood stove in the shop before the shoot - really hun? haha. we wanted to make sure we got 'the one' of the matisons so we did a few more although macee wanted to stay with papa - so cute!





throughout the last part of our time in the field, dean started promising the girls a special treat if they would smile. we all thought he was totally joking with them but when we finished and he took off with the girls toward his truck we realized, 'whoa, he actually has a treat and wasn't just pullin their chains.' haha - turns out papa had stopped for special Christmas donuts on the way out getting two red & green sprinkled maple bars for the girls.





this is awesome. as soon as my sister saw this she exclaimed, 'that's a mommy face!' i don't know - you decide! hahaha. oh and just in case you can't decipher, that's me on the far left. hahaaa!





tomorrow we'll continues this day's adventures by rushing off to the Santa Train in Mineral. this was not quite what we were expecting but was absolutely entertaining! stay tuned for more holiday fun!

Nutcracker :: a holiday tradition

welcome to the last full week before Christmas! a time to kick that holiday cheer into high gear by doing all things in the Christmas spirit whether that's shopping, playing in the snow, singing along with Bing Crosby in the car (by yourself - haha) or carrying on a family tradition - it's all done in the true spirit of the season. since reese came into our lives we've refined what this time of year means to us as a family focusing in on the experiences we create for our children because those are the things they will remember in the years to come. one specific event i remember as a kid was going to the Nutcracker with my sister, mom and grandmother. it was always one of the highlights of Christmas - getting all dressed up, going out to eat, seeing the show and spending time with some of the most influential women in my life.









this year, we decided it was high time reese got that experience and after showing her and macee Youtube videos of the performance i was sold! the two of them clapped, pointed and starred at my mac display in amazement as the flawless ballet dancers floated along to the sweet sounds of Tchaikovsky. minutes later i purchased third row seats for the four of us.









i knew we wanted to make this a big deal for the girls - something they'd remember for quite some time. both reese and macee have grown to love all things girly - don't get me wrong, they still cut it up outside but they're wearing tutus along with those muddy rain boots. we've embraced this fascination with encouraging dress up, kitchen creations and the occasional foray into makeup artistry. for this special event, some new additions to the wardrobe were in need such as sparkling tights, glittering ballet slippers, fashionable headbands, bracelets, necklaces, earrings and of course, a new handbag.





oh this was so random but awesomely cool! as we coaxed the girls into endearing smiles (or at least attempted to) this man stood behind us observing the situation and laughing. he then suggested an idea he had that would make them smile and proceeded to play his Australian didgeridoo. the girls watched intently and then reese started to laugh. you never know who you're going to encounter when shooting on the streets of Tacoma!







i also couldn't resist getting reese a new dress and pea coat. the 1920's inspired ruffle tiered dress in deep purple was acquired at a recent side trip to H&M (one of my favorites for kid's clothes). it was one of those items you see and just must have - i knew she'd love twirling around in it and although clothes are just another distraction in life - they sure are fun! haha - so a new dress was added to the list of 'Christmas Gifts Reese Will Be Receiving Before Christmas.'







one compliant i've heard over the years from moms is that they are never the ones in the picture. inn most cases they are the storyteller of their children's adventures and hardly ever included in the visual storyline. knowing this and taking into consideration it's what i do for a living, i make an effort to be part of the action from time to time. for this occasion, i called upon the skills of my trusted and ever faithful assistant, Becca who was more than happy to help out. i can't thank her enough for spending the time with us to capture moments like this. i love you becca!











just yesterday i came across a video of reese when she was just about a year old. it was Memorial Day weekend and the three of us had been working in the yard all day - needless to say, reese was covered head to toe in mud. after stripping off her clothes and bathing in her kiddy pool she took off across the lawn wearing only her muddy socks. as she ran without a care in the world, frolicking with her boys (our two boston terriers) i followed along with the camera. her squealing was pure joy and i remember thinking, 'i hope she never looses this feeling.' in a very short time she's grown up in so many ways and i am so thankful to be able to experience this journey with her.





as anyone with kids knows, getting them to cooperate for a somewhat organized group picture is near impossible. haha - even with the best behaved tikes you're still going to have the excitement brewing and short attention spans. these two had been anticipating the Nutcracker for weeks and we're finally less than a few hours from it's start - their excitement was spilling over!











sometimes a bit of convincing and the occasional bribe is needed in order to render some form of cooperation. we were minutes away from our reservation at the Over the Moon Cafe so promising a delicious cup of hot cocoa was one card i was willing to pull. it still didn't convince mae mae to take a picture with her mom but then again that strong constitution will pay off in the years to come - or at least that's what my mom used to say about me. hehee.









wow! there are some facial expressions that your kid makes and they just stop you - and all you can think is 'wow, she looks just like her dad!' haha and you know it's true when all your friends see it and say the same thing. reese has always made a few signature looks - these are a few of my favorites. hahaa.







alright grandparents - here it is, the one i know you'll want framed and on the mantle. Merry Christmas!





photographing kids can be very trying - hahaa. if they do not want to do what you suggest then you just have to keep trying until you find something that works. in macee's case, it was a game of hide and seek. i crept up behind her as she sat at the top of the steps and continued to joke with her - when she turned to see me she flashed this grin which is just the one i was looking for!







at this point in our mini session (mind you, all these took place in less than a half hour) the girls were done with their moms and decided it was time for a sit. the perched themselves on the window of the cafe and talked amongst themselves. despite every attempt we made they were done - and when a kid's done with a shoot your only option is to feed them and try again later. haha.











when i gave reese her new items my mom was on the phone with me - as i handed reese each glittering surprise from the shopping bag she exclaimed, 'for meeeee! tanks mommy!' my mom couldn't stop laughing and commented countless times on how precious reese's response was. i have to admit giving your children gifts is much easier when they are truly grateful for them. surprising reese with special gifts throughout the year is something i love - from a cocoa date with mommy to an unexpected trip to the book store to pick out a new fairytale adventure. she knows she's loved in many ways but these times make her feel it that much more - kinda like coming home late from work and finding your husband's made dinner, cleaned the house and put the kids to bed. it doesn't take a lot of money just time, effort and that showing of love through giving of the gifts you have.



as we waited on our delicious entrees from the Over the Moon Cafe, i realized we'd had our coats on for the entire shoot. of course, the temperature was in the low 30s which would call for wool coats but still - our dresses were so cute so we had to run outside for a few more.





we had less than 45 minutes to eat and get to the show - and were able to do it thanks to the impeccable service at the cafe. our waitress catered to our every need quickly and with precise care such as preparing specialty hot cocoas for the girls with just a touch of half & half to cool them off and of course, whipped cream on top. i love the cafe for business meetings and romantic dinners but fell in love all over again when i saw how gracious they were to our group of five including two exuberant toddlers. thank you Over the Moon Cafe for making our night that much more special!

the show we beautiful and reese was truly taken by the falling snow of the sugar plum fairies and the multiple dancers in the parade of nations. it was a memorable night me and and i'm certain for the girls. tomorrow we'll continue our Christmas season adventures with a few family photos followed by a trip on the Santa Train - stay tuned my friends!

sandra + marland :: lets celebrate!

sunsets in the fall are some of the most gorgeous sights to savor here in the Northwest. the way the colors fade from bright orange and red to purples and blues could not be better depicted in a fantastical painting. this scene provided the perfect mood for a night of enjoyment.



many couples are finding different ways to showcase the guests at their weddings in comparison to the traditional guest book. sandra and marland chose to do a serving platter with guests signing their names and leaving a message.





you know you're in trouble when grandma takes the mic! haha - marland's grandmother shared some telling tales of the young marland that gave insight into his character and charm. she was a riot and got the whole barn rolling.



i have to be honest - the smashing of the cake in each others faces is my least favorite tradition of the wedding day. that comment probably comes from a bitter place though - because my husband pummeled me with cake on our wedding day messing up the hair & makeup i'd been so careful to preserve throughout the day. ehhh - it brings back my disgust and feeling of revenge every time but i'd probably like it if i were the first to strike - way to be sandra! haha!



the barn was adorned with glittering white lights from top to bottom when sandra and marland took the floor for their first dance as husband and wife. the warmth of the old wood pillars and glowing lights created the perfect romantic mood for these two - just stunning.









thank you sandra and marland for allowing me to tell the story of your wedding day. each experience is unique and special - it truly enjoyed the time we spent together!

get out there and enjoy the holiday season this weekend! we're starting this weekend off with a family trip to Fantasy Lights in Spanaway tonight, then the show Reese is over the moon about - The Nutcracker on Saturday. this is going to be extra special because we're treating Reese's best friend, Macee, and her mom to a girls only photo shoot and lunch before the show. then Sunday we're going to attempt family photos and traveling to Elbe for the Santa Train to Mineral Lake. it's a full weekend jam packed with holiday adventures and i absolutely can't wait!

sandra + marland :: i do

the moments right before you walk down the aisle are like nothing you've ever experienced before. sandra was alone, waiting in the bridal suite before her father came to get her. it was quiet and i'm sure allowed for a few much needed moments of peace before walking down those steps, out the door and onto the carriage ride that would take her to the biggest decision of her young life.







the horse drawn carriage rounded the property, made it's way down the beaten driveway and to the double doors of the barn where everyone was awaiting her arrival.







sandra had wanted an outdoor ceremony because of the natural surroundings and beautiful light but i believe this was truly the next best thing. this historic barn lent warmth, character and a romantic light cast behind them from the fading autumn sun.









after their vows the couple paraded out of the barn to a fitting tune and were whisked away by the carriage for a few moments alone. what a perfect time to take in what just happened and celebrate together before welcoming all the guests.









when they returned, the couple was greeted by a showering of bubbles produced by their guests which was a great way to transition people from ceremony to party. the break gave the venue staff a chance to change up the barn and got everyone in the same place, ready to welcome the newlyweds.





tomorrow we'll finish up this adventure with some food, dancing and kind words from those closest to the couple. stay tuned!

sandra + marland :: those who mean the most

who you choose as your bridal party is an important choice because those are the people that help you prepare and aid you throughout the day. they should represent a collection of individuals that have shaped you into the person you are today. the siblings and close friends sandra and marland choose were both lively and willing to join in whatever antic i suggested.









what country wedding would be complete without the finishing touch of a horse and carriage? it was sandra's dream to arrive to her ceremony by carriage and that became a reality on this day.



family photos are pretty straight forward - you get everyone together, make sure they are paying attention and take multiple frames hoping to get one everyone agrees on. haha. it's those moments in between that i always love - like this one, where sandra's mother was complimenting her on her dress and how beautiful she looked. when a comment was made, they burst into laughter, looking more radiant than ever.







the historic barn is by far the most impressive staple of this venue and has seen the most work with tiered staircases, lighting and a full service bar. sandra wanted to keep things simple with just a splash of her favorite colors - red and tiffany blue.





tomorrow we'll witness the ceremony and the fairytale entrance the couple made to their party.

sandra + marland :: just the two of us

the build up to seeing your soon-to-be spouse for the first time on your wedding day is priceless. no one ever really knows what to do and looks to me for a bit of direction - it's as simple as walking out that door, whispering in his ear and gently turning him around. no matter how the approach unfolds the reaction is always endearing.







marland and sandra had quite a bit to be happy about - not only was this the day they've been waiting for for months on end but it was working out just as they'd planned. the rains that had fallen in days prior were holding and we were able to shoot outside. the only element that didn't work out was having the ceremony outside because as you all know, that beautiful blue sky can turn to a downpour in seconds here in the Northwest.







sandra felt the celebration location fit the two of them perfectly. with the historic barn, small cottage and open fields creating that relaxed country feel they love.









tomorrow we'll meet the boys and girls that make up their best of friends and take a look at some of the finer details of the celebrated affair. stay tuned!

sandra + marland :: engagement

welcome to the wedding day of Sandra and Marland which took place at the beginning of September. these two were a direct referral from one of my favorite couples, Doug & Jordan Guinn, who's wedding i photographed on the luckiest day of the year July 7, 2007 (07.07.07. for all you not savvy to gambling superstitions. ahha)









the country estate was chalk full of interesting objects that added to that rustic romantic feel. although, i'm not sure having saws out in the open is totally up to code. hhaha.







inside the cottage, we found the bridal party who were quietly preparing for the day. the bridal suite is a loft style room which makes up the entire second story of the home. it glitters with bead work on window trimmings and vintage furniture all fitting the pink theme.







watching a bride prepare for her big day is very telling of how the rest of the day will go. sandra was completely relaxed and obviously letting the everything sink in. there is so much to ponder on your wedding day from the right amount of makeup to the dynamics of family members - it's way more than any one person is used. yet as everyone knows, everything worthwhile in life takes much effort, commitment and has it's share of ups and downs. the wedding day is an emotional roller coaster that marks the beginning of a grand adventure - these moments are par for the course.















tomorrow we'll beat the rain and take a stroll around the grounds with these two love birds - stay tuned!

Oliver McLaughlin :: newborn portraits

meet mr. oliver mclaughlin. this lil' bundle has been welcomed into one amazing family and by the lil' glimmering smiles that showed upon his perfect face - he knows it! in september, i visited the mclaughlin's home where i was introduced to oliver for the first time. of course, i arrived just in time for feeding time and a diaper change; so as his mother attended to him - i explored his stylish nursery which is filled with many unique items from original books of his namesake to an image of the family member he's named after.







having your favorite clients turn into great friends is one thing - watching them as they transition from blissful newlyweds into loving parents adds a whole other dimension. being there to record the stories of some of the most meaningful moments in their lives is an experience unlike any other but truly connecting with the moment they're living is the greatest blessing. the whole session i couldn't wipe the smile from my face and at times, couldn't even spurt my trademark banter because i was so wrapped up in the moment with them.







my role as photographer is purely observer when it comes to sessions like these. i'm there to experience the moment with them, take in the surroundings and tell the story as i see it - as it unfolds in front of me. in just a few short months, even weeks, oliver will have changed so much. getting all the lil' aspects of what make up his life, his parent's routine and his surroundings is quite important.



that perfectly satisfied sigh after a feeding is a sight all new moms savor. not only is their great joy in knowing you've provided your child with everything he needs but everything is peaceful and you have a quiet moment to relish the beauty that God has trusted you with.









there are times in life that you can't quite find the words to define what just happened. when a newborn baby silently opens it's dark eyes and seemingly stares right at you - you're struck with wonder. unable to know what he's thinking or even what he is able to define. it's been researched and reported that newborn children come into this world knowing the voices of their parents. i can vouch for that one - as soon as reese was placed into shaun's arms in the hospital room and said his first words to her - there was a spark, an immediate recognition that the arms that now held her were that of the man she'd been hearing for the past months. i believe they can sense so much more than we know and in turn, have the ability to open our eyes to so many new aspects of life.







i love to focus in on the size of the child in comparison to their parents. the time will pass so quickly and they will grow like beans. sooner than you care to admit, you'll be talking about how tiny they once were, how their entire body was no larger than a football and how amazingly small all their features were.







during this time is when i almost lost it. hehee. not in a sobbing fool kind of way but i felt the tears welling up. i'm not even sure why or if nik caught it but seeing these two interact and knowing in a few short months i'd be in the same situation just hit me. i let the soft silence of the moment take over and observed as nik cuddled her lil' man in closer and whispered loving reassurance to him.



just look at that lil' grin. hehe. it's amazing to me to see how bits of this lil' man's personality are already beginning to show through. it will be such a treat to see him grow over the years and see what characteristics he gains from both of his parents.





when photographing a newborn session i always like to do it in the home if it is an option. that is where the family feels most comfortable and is their natural environment. those first few weeks of having a newborn seem like a blur between hourly feedings, changing diapers and getting whatever sleep possible. capturing all the facets to that setting are important which includes the ones where your peaceful, beautiful child just won't stop screaming.



nik and ryan are truly unique individuals that appreciate life in a way that encourages others and draws people to them. whether it's hosting dinners in their home or cruising out on the lake in their wakeboarding boat - there is a zest for what life has to offer that is admirable. their son has great examples in the two of them and i'm certain will mature into a caring, intelligent, joyful young man. time will tell and i hope to be there to record the moments that will define his adventure. welcome to a world of possibility oliver - your journey has just begun!

McLaughlin Family :: maternity portraits

this week is turning into the 'c.pelland experience' blogs - haha. as mentioned in previous posts, i offer portrait work strictly to past clients as a way to continue that relationship that started with the day they became one, their wedding day. it's an honor to be trusted with these moments and be welcomed into their lives.





the idea of maternity photos has really caught fire within the past decade. before then the thought of taking artistic images of that stage in a woman's life was not very popular. i'm so glad the sentiment has changed because preserving the times in your life where major changes occur is so important and helps tell the story of who you are. images relay so much more than words can.





if you've been following this blog for a bit you may remember nikki & ryan's wedding last September which took place in seattle at Pike Place Market's Top of the Market venue. the day was one of the best wedding experiences i had that year and i still receive countless compliments of the images captured.



after our time in the studio, we got ryan to take a walk with us and capture just a few as the sun was setting. everyone talks about the glow a woman has when she is pregnant - i always joke that it has much more to do with sweating profusely but there's no doubt about it - women have a radiance when their growing a life inside of them that is unlike anything else. nikki is naturally a woman that brings joy to others but there was something else, something special this time around that i noticed and just couldn't stop smiling about.







a few weeks prior to this shoot, nik and her sister, jessie, and i had dinner together just to catch up on life. the two of them were both pregnant and due within months of each other. both were joking that i needed to have another one soon and that i should drink some of their water because there's obviously something to it. haha. a few short weeks later we found out that i was indeed pregnant with our second and the girls were very pleased with being able to claim it was their prediction that led to it. haha.

tomorrow we'll meet nikki and ryan's lil' man, oliver, in a peaceful afternoon visit to their home. stay tuned.

Sir Wilson :: our family's newest member

meet sir wilson, our new puppy! we've been planning on getting a large dog for quite awhile now and it finally happened. the cause of it all - because miss reese is now fully potty trained and getting a new puppy was her reward. haha, i'm not ashamed to admit i bribed my daughter, a person can only handle so many dirty diapers!





wilson is a Doodle Dane. i know you're asking yourself, 'what the heck is a doodle dane?!?' well, a doodle dane is part Golden Doodle (Golden Retriever and Poodle) and Great Dane. The story behind this strange breed came about when Amber, the great dane breeder, rescued a golden doodle. one day at work, amber received a call from the neighbor reporting that the new dog had scaled the kennel fence and was in with her female dane. a few months later VIOLA fourteen puppies!







when i saw the listing for 'Doodle Dane Puppies' on Northwest Classifies i couldn't stop myself from laughing! i just had to see what these lil' guys were all about.







that next day we stopped by the breeders home to see them in person. two of the pups had already gone to their new homes but believe me - 12 puppies still know how to make any situation crazy! the pups were going in all different directions, playing with toys, greeting reese, eating dinner, etc. etc. etc. it was hilarious but one lil' guy stuck out.







before we had reese, i read up on many different subjects concerning children and their development. i tackled it like a college assignment - searching out research papers, articles, interviews, etc. one of the topics i found most interesting is the research that has been done on the relationship between young children and dogs - more specifically puppies. all observations concluded that they are a very positive addition to a child's life teaching them compassion, responsibility, friendship and many other aspects of life. they grow together and have an understanding of each other that's unlike any other.







this image below of reese carrying wilson through the field is going to be a real treat when he is full grown! haha his father was 85 pounds and mom was 150!









when people find out we have a new 8 week old puppy and i'm 6 months along with our second child - their first reaction is 'whoaa that's crazy!' or 'you're a brave one!' haha there are definitely times when i believe them, like when we hosted dinner at our home the other night - the doorbell was ringing, new people were over, reese wanted me to dance with her, the skillet had dinner cooking (borderline burning), the boys (our two bostons) were barking up a storm and of course, wilson had an accident on the carpet! hahaa - it's a crazy life sometimes but as i told my good friend hayley the other day, 'it's a full life, but that's the only kind i want to live.'

Miss Ella Hamrick :: portrait

over the past year i've been able to refine my business so that the clients i gain through weddings get the best experience possible. there are many different ways this is achieved when going through the wedding process but it is the continued relationship that i cherish. i only offer portrait sessions to past clients because the connection is already there and is quite strong which allows me to capture the most tender moments in their lives such as preparing for a new child (maternity), the arrival of the kiddo (newborn) and their story as it continues to grow.







meet miss ella hamrick, trey and kelly hamrick's first child and an absolute doll! i shot the vow renewal of trey & kelly back in the summer of 2006 and have since been their photographer covering everything from family portraits to specialty shoots. there's is the relationship that sparked many others in my career and personal life too - i dearly thank them for having that confidence in me when i was just getting a hang of all this.





since i only do a selection of newborn shoots each year, i come into each one with a fresh vision which is completely directed by the moods of the lil' model. as any new parent knows, babies are quite fickle when it comes to changes in temperament so we go with the flow. on this warm August morning, kelly, ella and i took a stroll in the fields outside my home and nestled in for a few moments of laughter. ella was absolutely perfect - with the mesmerizing charm and beauty of her mother and the endearing stare of her father.





with children, the key to understanding their world is through observation. it's how i like to photograph them by simply taking a step back and letting the situation unroll. i recently completed a child's photography book for a client and found a quote the perfectly sums of the influence of children, "While we try to teach our children all about life, Our children teach us what life is all about." by Angela Schwindt













capturing the moments in life that mean the most is what i define my career to be. it's a blessing and a true honor to be allowed into my client's lives - to have them become the best of friends is just one of life's unexpected blessings.

baby shower :: mrs. jordan guinn

i have to admit, i'm a sucker for planning parties for people and causes i love. there's something about knowing how much an event means and the 'feel good' vibes it puts off that makes it all worth it. this summer, we found out that our good friend, jordan guinn and her husband, doug, were expecting a lil' one at the end of december. immediately, our group of friends started brainstorming ideas and creating excitement around the baby's arrival.





before we get into too many photos of the party - we have to start with the idea for the theme which we gained from the baby's room. jordan and doug have had the nursery finished for months now and decided on a jungle feel with hues of green, yellow and brown. from there, i designed the invites to give that playful, outdoor feel yet still giving us plenty of room to expand on the theme. they were printed on 5x5 watercolor stock from my custom color house and were marked on the back with my signature design series logo - now doesn't that sound official. haha.







okay, i promised mrs. ashley o'brien that these lil' miracles would make it on the blog - and here they are! doing a wonderful job of sticking to the color scheme, ashley prepared her turkey wraps with spinach tortillas - very clever my dear!



one element that i absolutely love and try to incorporate into every party possible is the wishing tree. we first created one of these babies last year for kelly's baby shower - i simply went out into our woods, snapped a few branches, spray painted them black and placed them in a large vase anchored by decorative rocks. this one was done in much the same fashion but we left the branches natural. hayley made up all the wishing tags and guests filled out one for baby and one for the parents. it's a perfect way to show the love!











okay, here it is - my favorite part of the celebration - jordan's sweet treats bar! i've seen this idea throughout the years at weddings and other events and it was due time to start implementing it into our parties. keeping a strict budget in mind and the desire to create something truly unique, i had the girls gather items from their homes in the color scheme of yellow, green and orange. i then stopped into Value Village on my way to brandee's home, where the shower was hosted, and picked up a few other embellishments such as the small punch cups, creamers and retro serving ware.





i found three of these leaf like serving platters at Value Village that morning - the date stamped on the bottom is 1958 and there was a piece of tape labeled 'church' which most likely was their last home. they added that vintage feel we wanted and only cost $3 for the lot of them!







when constructing the area, i decided a bit more variation in height was needed so i wandered around the Miller's home gathering items that would work - glass candle holders, large vases and bowls. it was an eccentric mix of items but that's the look we were going for.





this was the most unexpected part of the shower - jordan's 8110s. when lacie arrived to help with setup and saw that i was building a treat bar - she came over to check it out. as she's perusing the candies she exclaims, 'oh you got 8110s!' haha - i didn't know what she was talking about - she went onto explain that the small green frogs have always been jordan's favorite candy and that she even calls them by their bin number at Top Foods - 8110. haha here i was just trying to keep with the theme - it worked out perfectly!





probably the best gift i received during my baby showers was all the diapers! i honestly did not purchase a package of diapers until reese was well past 7 months old and that was such a blessing. we've done a 'diapees & wipees' drawing at every shower i've been involved with since - it's simple: you drop a lil' card in the invites that informs every guest of the drawing and poof! diapers and wipes abound! then at the party you have everyone fill out a slip of paper, place it in a bowl and draw a name or two for a fabulous prize.







jordan and doug have decided not to find out what the sex of their baby is which i am quite a fan of. we didn't find out with reese and we're not going to know with this one until the day of delivery too. it's just such a surprise and really, how often are you positively surprised in this day and age?







group shot - here's all the lovely ladies (sans Ms. Hayley Hines) that contributed to making this party a special treat for jordan.



here's jordan with her mom, gail, and sister, chelsea. i've been honored with photographing the biggest days in this family's legacy and therefore they've become so close to my heart. it is friendships like this one that remind me just how important it is to show others who you truly are, come to them with a heart of service and treat them better than your highest expectations. i treasure their friendship and am truly thankful for their presence in my life.





this was pretty darn funny! amber and reese were sitting at the sweet treats bar enjoying some candies and picking out the perfect cupcake. reese found hers and went to work - meticulously swiping every last bit of frosting off the cupcake - then a few moments later it was gone. the surprised amber asked reese where her cupcake went - and to that, reese pointed back at the plate she got it from - 'there!' haha she was finished and figured she'd put it back - just like her toys i guess. hahaaa!









throughout the party there was one other facet i forgot to mention - the slideshow of my favorite images from jordan & doug's maternity session. this was a surprise to jordan seeing as the session had just taken place that tuesday - to see a few teasers from our time together click on over to my facebook and find the album 'connection :: portraits'

a big thanks to all the ladies who helped pull this one together for jordan - i know how much it means to have friends like you take time out of their busy schedules to celebrate who you are and where life is taking you. you girls are the best and life truly wouldn't be as interesting or fulfilling without you. jordan, your most amazing journey is about to begin - i'm so thankful to be here to share it with you and doug.

candice + drew :: party time!

there are many elements that make up the success of a party - there's big ones like the people, music and food but it's the lil' ones that give it that extra flair and make it unique. one way to add a memorable touch is to have a signature drink for the night - candice and drew choose 'Pink Love' and adorned each glass with these labels.









another great addition to the party was the photo booth which allowed guests to share a bit of love with the couple and take an extra set of the prints home with them as a souvenir. there was glue sticks, markers and other embellishments out for guests to create their own entry. this makes for a unique way to capture all the personalities that made up your celebration, allows them to leave a personalized message and your scrapbook-style photo guest book is complete at the end of the night!







in order to create the perfect dance floor, candice's father along with family and friends, removed a few trees, built a stage and constructed a light canopy in the weeks leading up to the event. the morning of, when the rain was coming down, they decided to add a roof to the dance floor just in case. the entire afternoon and into the evening was flawless with not even a hint of rain - the warmth of the scene is reflected in these images.









by far, the most popular trend i witnessed this wedding season - when it comes to the celebration - was the addition of unexpected dancing. by that i mean, father and daughter are dancing along to a classic tune when EEEKKKKKKK the music halts and a thumping dance beat blasts out of the speakers. this is exactly what took place when candice and her father, dennis, took to the floor. everyone was cheering the two on as the pulled out unexpected twists and the occasional sprinkler - it was awesome!





the band of the evening, 24-7 out of Portland, has a way of getting everyone out on the dance floor - at the band's requests everyone makes their way to the dance floor for a large group picture then as soon as the photographer is done clicking away they slip into their first song. hey - it works and kept the floor full all night long!









a mighty congratulations to candice & drew for allowing me to capture the beginning of their love story. it was such an honor to be part of a day that holds so much promise and love for the two of you and your whole family. thank you for choosing me as your wedding day storyteller - may these images help you relive the day that marked the official start to your life long journey.

candice + drew :: sunset romance

whenever i can i like to steal the couple away during the sunset - it's the most romantic time of the day with soft moody light and an essence that exudes romance. what better time to get the newlyweds out in a field and dancing to their own tune? in this case, the field with the best view of the horizon line was the neighbor's but we'll get to that lil' bit of shenanigans in a few for now we're just jumpin' a few fences - which any country girl is used to, but only a skilled lassie can do it wearing a huge wedding dress ...









breaking a few trespassing rules is nothing new to becca and i - sometimes you just have to do what you've got to do in order to get those amazing shots. besides the fact that we've got a stunning bride and groom in tow which is usually a free pass because who's going to give a set of newlyweds the second degree? oh well you're about to find out...







there is lil' coaching needed when you've got two people straight from the ceremony of the most meaningful commitment they've ever made. that feeling of FINALLY being husband and wife permeates every bit of their bodies and ignites their connection with each other. throughout our entire time in the field, candice's hands wouldn't stop shaking. she said repeatedly, 'i don't know what's going on - my hands just won't stop shaking!' it's that electric energy that love, hope and so much promise create - and it is absolute magic to witness.









there are times when all you want to do is stare at the face of the one you love. the person that has brought a completely new dimension to your life by bringing true love and complete devotion to it. it's amazing to me to think of how these types of images will impact the couple and their families in the years to come. i'm sure candice and drew will be just as dreamy eyed and excited about each other when they tell the tale of their beginnings to their children and grandchildren. knowing that these images contribute to their legacy is the reality of my work and the true reward of having my artistic abilities capture the moments that mean the most in life.







you know, i've never been a huge fan of using strobes to light my wedding couples. you can get some nice effects but i feel it hampers the mood and makes them feel more like models than a couple wrapped up in their own love. creating the right feeling is paramount and having strobes pop off here and there just doesn't add to it. it also draws unwanted attention to what you're doing as we'll soon find out ...





this image was taken after we were greeted by the land owner, his hunting 4x4 and his trusty dog. he informed us that his wife was upset that someone was on the property and that she sent him to make sure we were leaving - he then followed his forced lecture with congratulations to the couple. the exchange was rather odd and after apologizing for any offense or grief we may have caused to his wife or their grazing cattle - he buzzed off back to the homestead. it was quite funny seeing as the only thing we might have disturbed were the settling cowpies but none-the-less we were in the wrong. although after a bit of joking we decided the mrs. was more than a bit jealous she didn't get an invite to the party of the decade in this neck of the woods. c'est la vie!



tomorrow we'll take a break from the wedding adventures of candice and drew for the Thanksgiving holiday only to pick back up with their amazing party on Black Friday. stay tuned!

candice + drew :: i do

this is hands down, consistently my favorite time of the wedding day. we're usually finished up with 'formal images' and our portrait sessions - and i get the chance to slip into a truly photo-journalistic mode. scouring the grounds for all the facets that will paint the picture of this beautiful day for years to come. one of the most important - setting the scene, which couldn't have been more picture perfect.





i knew something was up when i heard the girls from the porch where i was standing - so naturally, i had to investigate! all of the bridesmaids and candice were on top of her parent's bed, peering out the window as guests arrived. it was quite entertaining to overhear their comments about outfits, dates and how people were acting.





after the procession of the bridal party, the french doors leading out onto the back porch opened and their emerged the flawless candice. with over 300 guests in attendance, you could hear a slight 'ohhh' when she stepped out onto the steps leading to the lawn. i guarantee you, it was the vision she'd dreamed of for many years - and for everyone she loves to witness it was a very magical moment.







with all the planning and preparation that goes into the wedding day one element that can be overlooked is personalizing your ceremony. there are many formal aspects to the ceremony but bringing it all together with genuine love for the couple, personality and even a few stories from their pasts - helps to show every in attendance where they've been, who they are and where they're going.









the ceremony was officiated by the Folden's close family friend, Lance Heck - in fact, it's almost inappropriate to call Lance a friend of the Folden's because they are truly the closest thing you can find to family. the two families have been inseparable throughout the years spending countless weekends at their cabins in Cle Elum, vacationing together and even venturing into business. Lance has seen candice grow from a roll-with-the-punches tomboy to an elegant young woman - and was able to share much insight into her personality and character with his signature humor and charm. it was a delightful addition which truly made the ceremony as genuine as it could be.





these looks are my favorite - that glance you give your sweetie that says it all.







as the announcement of husband and wife was made - the two embraced, kissed and drew promptly swept candice off her feet - literally. haha - the large audience cheered the two on with a roar of clapping and whistles.







tomorrow we'll follow these two out into a neighboring field where we catch the last few minutes of the fading August sun. these are not to be missed!

candice + drew :: extra ideas

i always encourage the couple to bring in elements of their personality or ideas that they have to include in their wedding. it's even more fun when they have ideas to add to our time together while doing portraits. candice's mother made the covers for these chairs to match the rest of the wedding decor and she wanted to include them in some of the photos. we also used them in the portraits of all the bridesmaids.









drew was truly a great sport when it came to taking as many photos as we did. most guys would have tired out ages ago but he knew how important these were to candice and made the best of efforts to make it all happen. there were times when i was shooting images of the girls, that i turned around to see drew gazing upon his bride. his adoration of candice is remarkable, in every glance the love they share is conveyed and obvious to others. i love catching those moments for them to enjoy for the rest of their lives.







after buzzing through family photos and whisking the couple off into the house - i had a bit of time to concentrate on the physical representations of the vows they are about to commit to each other. i love being reminded of the significance of the ring - that it does not end and is whole because of all the elements put into it.









tomorrow we'll get to the reason we were all gathered in this place - the ceremony of these two coming together as one through marriage. it's not to be missed!

candice + drew :: just the girls

there were a few things that candice was quite insistent about for her wedding day - one of them was making sure she got plenty of photos with her girls. all of these women have played a unique role in candice's life - contributing to the woman she is today. seeing this kind of genuine friendship is rare - it was a true blessing to be able to capture this time in their lives.











the chances of you stepping on something odd when you're barefoot in a field are pretty good. on a warm August afternoon in Washington after heavy rains in the morning - you're chances of stepping on the notorious banana slug are stellar! here's what that reaction looks like! haha!





buddy shots are always a favorite with the ladies whether you're on a junior high volleyball team together or taking booth photos at the local fair. they are special because it's just the two of you and reflect the unique elements of your friendship. we try to take a 'nice one' of each and then highly encourage to 'get a lil' crazy,' - it's really fun to see how each interprets that request! haha.









throughout our time with the girls, they had a few loyal admirers who pulled up couches and enjoyed a few beverages while taking in the show. surprisingly, they were rather well behaved and helpful when asked to assist in moving props. thanks boys!





this time around, the girls got control over their transportation, taking over the farm chariot and rallying it all the way back to the house. luckily everyone arrived safely!





have a deeeeelightful weekend my friends - i'm looking forward to getting much accomplished on the ever expanding 'to do' list which includes everything from finalizing the designs of my personal travel books to creating unique Christmas gifts. on sunday, some of my best friends and i are throwing Mrs. Jordan Guinn a baby shower which is going to be sweet! last time we all collaborated on a party (kelly's baby shower) it turned out fantastic - it can't wait to see how all our ideas come together. it's going to make for one heck of a blog post! haha.

candice + drew :: all together

shooting in a wide open field is one of my favorite locations because there is just so much room to play. of course, getting there can sometimes be a challenge - especially if you're wearing cute heels but hey, that's what the ranch hands are for! haha.





candice's bouquets for the girls were delightful! the black feathers added so much drama to the bunch. great call candice!







typically, the guys are not the biggest fans of playing it up for the camera which is why i always work real quick when it comes to their time in front of the camera. it's always a test to see just how quick witted each group is - key words like 'staggered' or 'randomly disperse' can get really confused reactions - of course, that may have had a bit to do with those black cups of beverage being consumed on the way out to the field - who knows? hehe.







candice had prepared for everything including rain showers by purchasing a selection of color coordinated umbrellas in pink and black. fortunately, we never had to use them for their real purpose!









tomorrow we'll finish off the week with candice's lovely ladies - who absolutely mean the world to her. this energetic group couldn't have been more fun to photograph - heck, they even had an audience watching them the whole time! stay tuned!

candice + drew :: just the two of us

i absolutely love it when i am given more than enough time to play with the couple. candice and drew made sure to schedule tons of time for their photos which meant they were completely relaxed and under no time constraints at all. what better way to spend an august afternoon than frolicking in a forest with the one you love?





there is a fair amount of 'coaching' or 'prompts' that go into each session but the reactions are all them. there is no to tell how each suggestion is going to turn out - a kiss on the cheek can result in a shy smile or a burst of laughter - either way, it's incredibly entertaining and genuinely you!







'whoa' is usually the response when i ask a couple to look at each other when in close range - really close range. haha.





these two could easily be on the cover of a magazine with these looks but...



... this is what we were really looking for. those signature smiles that show the joy their experiencing.

















even in a field with heels on miss candice pulls of stunning and graceful as the two danced along to their own beat.



i have to admit this is one of my favorites - it reminds me of a wedding day Halmark card - so youthful, fun loving and full of promise.





when you've got a dress like candice's - that's full of layers that float around her like a cloud you've got to play with it! i asked candice to whip it up a bit - tossing the dress from side to side and spinning about. the whole time she was laughing and looking at drew - it made me think of my daughter spinning about in her fluffy tutus.









tomorrow we'll meet the bridal party - brace yourself, there's quite a few of them!