Alberto + Jazmin: Love in the trees

Alberto and Jazim were married in May of this year, and I had the pleasure of capturing their day. It was a day full of families and laughter and dear friends. A warm spring day with sweet moments and wholehearted interactions. These are my favorite images from our portrait session in the park. The light was perfect.  

I put together an album for them as a gift, and the coolest part of Shutterfly is that I can share on here too. I loved putting the story of their day together in something they can hold and look back on for years to come. 

Click here to view this photo book larger

2014 has been such a thrilling year for me behind the camera. I can't wait to see what else is to come. 

Intimate Leavenworth Wedding: Gerie + Brandon

She is strong and sweet and openhearted. He is kind and giving and a firefighter. I was honored to be their wedding photographer. And I'm grateful to call them friends. 

Their special day was earlier this year in Leavenworth, WA. They booked a huge house for the occasion and their family and closest friends were invited for the weekend. Everyone all got ready together and the house was full of laughter, some country music and at one point, the Macarena. 

I will never forget showing Gerie the picture I took of her shoes...she got tears in her eyes, and in that moment she became a bride. A stunningly beautiful bride. 

We casually walked around the grounds taking some portraits of the bride and groom. They never stopped smiling. And then it was time to make it official. They didn't really have a plan for where they wanted the ceremony, so they just asked me what would be the best for pictures. It had begun to rain a little, so I suggested the back deck. We set up a few chairs and their dear friend officiated the bringing together of their two families. As they said their vows the sun pierced through the clouds and the rain stopped and it was magic. 

And then we ate, and danced and everyone took a turn speaking to Brandon and Gerie's love and friendship and hopes for their future. It was such a special, personal, intimate day, and I was so privileged to be involved. 

Maddie & Brandon–Ephrata Wedding

I am so excited to share some of my favorite images from Maddie & Brandon’s wedding that I was asked to assist Bre with. It was such a gorgeous day for photos, and I had a chance to be a bit more creative in my angles and poses since I was the second shooter. I thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon.

I love photographing people in love.

It renewed my spirit and my dreams

Saturday was one of those days you wish for as a creative. One where you feel like your feet are standing exactly where they're supposed to be, and you smile because you love it.

I can't stop smiling. I feel at home here, behind my camera...helping others feel just as at home in front of it. I'm passionate about capturing real moments and real emotions.

I was invited to second shoot at a wedding super last minute, and I instantly jumped at the opportunity. The main photographer was Bre Millard of Bre Rachelle Photography. She’s a local friend of mine and when she moved to California earlier this year, we stayed in touch following each other on Instagram. And then on Friday I went to get coffee, and there she was, moved back to town. We started talking about getting together to shoot sometime and she stopped and asked “What are you doing tomorrow? Want to come second shoot a wedding with me?” And, unbelievably, I was free and able to go.

And it was like coming home… getting back behind my camera again. And not being the main photographer allowed me to be more creative in my angles and posing ideas. Bre and I worked really well together, and I hope to shoot with her again in the future. I have some gorgeous captures from the wedding day to share soon, but for now, here are some behind-the-scenes pictures Bre took of me during the day.

 

I ended the day on such a high. A creative, inspired, exhilarated high. And I can’t wait to do it again!

Saturday was one of those days. I’m never going to forget it.

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.

Taking pictures again

Today I am headed to the city for my friend Kirsten’s wedding reception. Her and her now husband Rob got married in Cabo San Lucas on June 12 and are having a large reception for friends and family that weren’t able to join them on their wedding day. We were excited to go and be a part of the celebration but just a few days ago Kirsten asked me if I would be willing to take some pictures of them and their family at the reception. I am so honored that she always thinks of me when it comes to photography and her family. I photographed them as a family a couple years ago and last year did their engagement photos too. I’m so happy to continue the tradition and take pictures today too.

So I’ve been pinning ideas for posing and getting excited to be behind the camera again. Its been months since I’ve taken pictures of anything other than our daily life. Hopefully my body will manage the trip okay and I’ll be feeling good and able to do a great job for my friends. I’m so honored that they thought of me and asked.

Have any tips for working with large family groups?
What is one “must-have” wedding reception picture?

invitations and a little peek

We are back from vacation and while I'm wading through editing pictures from the wedding and our visit to New England, I thought I'd do a little peek here on my blog.  I did a morning after brunch slide-show and these are three of my favorite images I shared with the small group of friends and family that the bride and groom had invited.

It was a beautiful day full of love, friendship and gorgeous weather... literally the nicest day Halifax had seen all summer.  This group was a blast to get to know and hang out with while taking pictures and in the days just before the wedding.  Chris and I were completely welcomed and we felt like part of the gang in no time.

Since the wedding is now over, I would also like to share today the invitations that I designed for this wedding.  They're quite non-traditional, but I think they match Katie and Cody perfectly.

These are the first invitations I've designed for someone else and the process was so enjoyable.  I based the color scheme off of one of my sunset pictures and pulled grey, purple and yellow out and sent my ideas to Katie.  It worked out perfectly because she was already planning on wearing a grey wedding dress (AMAZING!) and she ended up doing the bride's maid dresses in the purple color.  I think we make a good team, and I'm so proud of what we created together.

And let me tell you, it was a little surreal going into people's houses in Halifax and seeing these up on their refrigerators. :)

I'll share much more about the wedding once Katie and Cody have seen all the images.  And look for a post all about our vacation sometime this week.  We had such an amazing time. :)

celebrating

4 years together. 

Today is our wedding anniversary.
4 years ago today we exchanged vows and rings in front of our family and close friends and became Husband and Wife.
4 years ago today I became Shaina Longstreet.
4 years ago today we celebrated and danced and held hands and kissed.
4 years ago today you took me into your arms and welcomed me into your heart forever.
I will never forget that day.

Chris, I love you to life.

staying in

today is my first day "off" all month and im doing my best to enjoy it.
i have spent the month pioneering and it had brought me so much joy  (that means that this month i volunteered 50 hours of my time teaching people about the bible).  but i got sick last sunday and i just feel worn out!  so this morning im staying home.

and spending my time sourcing photo inspiration for my dear friend katie's wedding in august.  so i thought i'd share some of the beauty i've found.  i cannot wait to be behind the camera on her special day.

source

source

source                         source

source

source

source

 for more that i just love check out my "tie the knot" pinboard over at pintrest.  man, that place is helpful!!  (okay, and addictive!)

i am so honored and excited to be creating the invitations for her wedding and doing the photography on the day of.  she's also planning to have special pictures taken of herself, kelly and me with our husbands.  i am so looking forward to this trip. 

its the 5th and i have a HUGE update to do already!! :D

my 1st was soooo much fun. my friends lisa and marta and i got together for a FULL DAY of scrapbooking. it was a blast!! its been so long since i did a group crop like that. its nice to be around people who understand the craft and can encourage and inspire. :)

i did 7 brand new layouts! just fun ones...ones i have been wanting to create. and now i get to share 'em with you too!






YAY!!!
but now i've run into a new dilemma... i'm out of room in my albums! gonna need to do some shopping. :D

so that was thursday!

then on friday i had a full day of work, and let me tell you, things were crazy!! for those of you that don't know, i work at a small payday loans/check cashing shop. and we were so swamped. we ran out of money...literally! and the bank only had 20s. seriously crazy day! and then, in the evening when i went to do the deposit, i slipped out front of the shop, which was literally a solid sheet of ice (apperently the building owner does not allow ice melt! retard!). i pretty much did the splits and then landed hard on my left knee. for any normal person this is probably no biggie...plan for a bruise, whatever. but for me its a bit different! back in 2004 i was in a pretty horrible car accident and fractured my pelvis in 3 places. and i think i've hurt it again with my fall. :( i'm really worried about it. so i've got a doctor's appointment for tomorrow afternoon. hopefully everything will be okay!!

then it was saturday!! january 3rd. our friends derek and nina were married in bend, oregon. (remember them?? chris and i were there when he proposed back in july!) it was a long trip for us. 6 hours! but so worth it. it was important for me to be there for my friend. i've known him since i was 9! chris and i had such an awesome little road trip. a couple new cd's, lots of sunshine, dry roads, and our cute little car.

and it was such a nice wedding!

the happy couple derek & nina

we did a little shopping in bend before the wedding and got chris a purple shirt to wear (cuz i wanted to match, and he is so good to me!)
then it was sunday! we got a hotel in bend for the weekend, which was cool. actually our first time staying in a hotel since our honeymoon! LOL. so we slept in, ate breakfast together, and just relaxed a bit. then we packed up and headed to the verizon store. the weirdest thing has been happening since i got my new phone. i've been getting strange, random calls at all hours of the night from a number that doesn't even look right. it has two extra digets. so i went to verizon store to see if they knew what it was, or what to do. (cuz seriously it was getting ANNOYING!! middle of the night, at least every other day, and no one on the other end when i answer). customer service decided it was probably an international number, and the only thing to do to resolve the issue was to change my number.
oh well. at least the calls have stopped!
so for those of you that would like my new number plese just e-mail me at shadylane_14@hotmail.com and i'll send you the updated number.

then we headed back to washington. decided to go through kennewick to stop and visit with nate and abi. :D had dinner with them and then went to see seven pounds. um....wow! crazy good movie.

then we headed home and it seriously turned into a BLIZZARD!!! snow coming down like i've never seen, people driving like retards.... yikes. but chris got us home safe and sound.

all in all, its been a WONDERFUL 2009 so far. :D i can't wait to see what else is to come....