The Pearl Family

I have known Lisa for almost as long as I've lived in Ephrata. She was always my go-to girl at our credit union, and we became friends during loans and transaction.  And then at her recommendation, we became co-workers. I started working at the credit union and we got even closer. We'd talked for a long time about getting together for family pictures for her, and this year we made it happen. 

It was a cold, but beautiful autumn day, and Lisa picked some great coordinating outfits for her family portraits. Her family glowed in the sun and they were a pleasure to work with...great smiles and fun interactions between siblings and parents. I'm so glad we made it happen. 

I love it when acquaintances become friends and then when I get the chance to give them the gift of photography. Capturing Lisa's family exactly as they are this year was a true pleasure. I hope these images help them remember 2014 with a smile. 

Nate & Auti - Love Session

I met Auti just a couple months ago. We're doing the musical at Masquers together this fall and we've forged a friendship. She is a sweetheart and makes me laugh so hard. Her and Nate, her husband, were just married this past June in my favorite park in Ephrata, WA. So we decided to return to "the scene of the crime" for their fall portrait session. 

It was an early Sunday morning, the air was crisp, the light was perfection and their love for each other was so evident, even on their sleepy faces. 

I am thankful for a new friendship, and for the chance to get this sweet couple in front of my camera. Here are some of my favorites from their session. 

Feel free to pop over and view all the images from their session on my Facebook page. We had so much fun together. 

Anniversary Photo Shoot

I had the honor of standing next to my dear friend Kaelah as she married her husband, Brandon 5 years ago this month. It was a beautiful summer-in-September day and their ceremony in the park was perfect. One of my favorite memories. And now, 5 years have gone by and these dear friends of mine celebrated their anniversary.

Part of the celebration was a photo shoot with me! Our plans for the day and the shoot location didn’t quite turn out, so we ended up pulling over on the side of the road and spending 7 minutes taking some shots. I think these images capture their relationship perfectly… They laugh hard and love harder.

Here are some of my favorites from our 7 minute photo shoot.

I am so proud of these two and the adventures they’re on right now, serving God in a foreign country. They are such a good example of trusting in Jehovah and relying on each other. I love reading Kaelah’s emails with all their stories and pictures. Glad to know them and call them friends.

Nate and Abi

Nate and Abi celebrated 5 years of marriage on May 9th. Chris and I were both in their wedding party, and we glad to be with them 5 years later to celebrate too. I was able to get some time with them before their party and we went to the park where they got married and shot some pictures of them. Here are some of my favorites.

It makes my heart so happy and full to see my friends so in love. They’ve made a recent move to a different city and its so good to see them thriving. I’m so glad to have them as friends.

Tracy and Jason–Couple’s Photography

I’ve known Tracy for what feels like my whole life. Our families were very close when we were growing up. And we’ve reconnected as adults and I’m glad to count her as a friend. I took pictures of her and her husband Jason just before they had their daughter, Nadine. (See some of these images in this post.) And when we were there for a visit a couple weeks ago I asked them to get in front of my camera one more time. These are some of the images we got, and I really love them. Just the two of them. See the full album here.

Thanks to both of you for opening your home to us, letting us get to know you better and for getting in front of my camera again. It was a pleasure to spend these few minutes capturing your love as it is right now in your journey together. Love you guys!

Little Mr. Kayode

I was so excited when my friend Nani asked me to take pictures of her little guy Kayode. I got to take her maternity pictures before he was born, so we thought it would be a great idea to go back to that same park for Kayode’s pictures. This little guy is just too adorable. Big huge eyes and such a sweet personality.

Here are some of my favorites from our shoot. You can see the rest of our shoot album here.

So glad for this time of the year, the gorgeous light and pretty friends.

Kip and Brenna’s Central Washington Wedding

I got a text from my friend Brenna a couple weeks before her wedding…she had a favor to ask me. Her wedding photographer was not going to be available anymore for her wedding and she was hoping I would be up for the task. I happily brought along my camera to take pictures for them.

Kip and Brenna’s relationship started out as a prank phone call…a text message with a picture of a creepy guy with a mullet and a mustache and some story about modeling for her. And what started out a little strange turned into lots of text messages and phone calls across the country and then a visit down to Georgia. He was a friend of her friend and this friend was right in thinking they’d hit it off. He’s now moved to central Washington to join her and they began their life as husband and wife on June 15.

Here are some of my favorites from their day.

This was my first time shooting a “First Look” moment where the bride and groom have a private moment before the ceremony to see each other. I love the look on Kip’s face when he turns around. So proud to be marrying her.

This wedding party was just a blast! Brenna’s sister Abi and I have been friends for years and Chris and I were actually in her wedding back in 2009. So this almost felt like a reunion! It was a blast to see old friends and meet new ones from Georgia. We had a lot of fun.

The ceremony was held at a local Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. One of the best parts of this location is that its set up for meetings in ASL so there are cameras in the ceiling and large TV screens at the front. Kip and Brenna utilized these during their ceremony and it was so neat to be able to see their faces and expressions throughout even though they had their backs to the audience. Such a great idea!

This gorgeous day is one of the best days of my summer so far. I was so honored to be asked to photograph the wedding. They are such a special and beautiful couple.

Congratulations my dear friends. May your life be full of love and happiness. Thanks for asking me to be behind the camera for your special day.

Jeff and Chelsey’s Soap Lake engagement pictures

I work with Chelsey just about every day of the week at the credit union. Her and Jeff have been engaged for a few months, but they had never got pictures taken. They are the people that take care of Gibson whenever we need a puppy-sitter, so as payment I offered to do an engagement session for them.

Jeff and Chelsey have a fun kind of love. They are comfortable together, they are friends first and their ease together came across so well. I felt so great back behind my camera and my love for photographing couples came rushing back to me. We had a lot of fun and got some amazing shots. I am so happy with this shoot and I’m excited to share.

Thank you Jeff and Chelsey for letting take your portraits and for opening up to me and allowing me to get to know you. It was a pleasure to have you both in front of my camera.

A season of loneliness

I struggle with being the type of friend that I want to be… The type of friend that I used to be.

I used to be so good at keeping in touch with everyone. But it seems like that skill (or desire even) has altered or diminished with the increase of social networking and technology. I can see what’s going on when I check Facebook, so I don’t end up actually calling them to see how they are.

I used to be the queen of pen pals. Literally… like 32 pen pals that I would write to each and every month. I still have most of my letters saved in boxes. Those were the days…when I’d write about what I was learning in school or what me and my brothers and sisters were up to. I even had a newsletter that I would include with a handwritten letter to each person. I loved it. And I loved the connections that I had with all my friends all over the place. Friends from different places in Canada, friends I met in places I would travel to, family members that were friends too.

But now it feels like if I can remember to send a text message once a week, I’m doing good.

I am struggling with how life changes friendships, I guess. I miss being able to drop everything and drive for 10 hours up north to visit my best friend Kelly. I haven’t seen her for a year and half…I haven’t even met her son yet. And that makes me feel awful! But life changes things. I have 2 jobs, a house to take care of and its payment to make, a puppy and a husband. I’m involved with the Russian group here, and have people depending on me. I can’t afford to take days off of work to spend extra time with those I love, no matter how bad I want to.

I really do try… I swing by to see people and say hi if I’m in the area. I make coffee date plans with the best of intentions. And my friends are on my mind. I wish I could schedule more Skype dates and send emails and send real letters and go see them in person.

It’s a good thing I’m married to my best friend. I can keep in touch with him.

I am struggling with what my friendships look like as an adult. I expected them to stay the same, but life and the friendships it contains all have seasons. I suppose this is a season of self-made loneliness. I miss my friends.

This is something I’m struggling with right now.

“Blog Every Day in May” challenge. Day 20: Get real. Share something you’re struggling with right now.

This is my friend Dani Lou

Dani and I have been online / blogging friends for quite a few years now. And although we’ve never met in person, she is a kindred spirit and I couldn’t imagine not knowing her. There is such beauty around her and within her.

I am struck by her love for her daughters and how she’s raising them; how she handles life’s struggles with grace and wisdom; how her soul whispers through her art.

It is a huge dream of mine to go visit Dani some day and take pictures of her and her beautiful family. But for now I will keep in touch with her through her blog and online and be thankful for the friendship that we have.

She is a gift.

“Blog Every Day in May” challenge. Day 5: Publically profess your love and devotion for one of your blogger friends.

***Portrait of Dani done by Chris Conlon for her blog header that I designed.