The oldest brother of this family is definitely the oldest brother. (And I mean that in the nicest form of the word!)

Patrick is the one who organized the shoot, interviewed several photographers, and came to my consultation to help me learn about the family so that we could design a shoot that would be fun for everyone. And while he gave me a bit of background about himself, his parents, and his four younger brothers, one theme became crystal clear: This family is tighter than rush hour traffic, and ain't nothing getting between them.

This only became more obvious when Jake and I had the chance to meet everyone in person the night of the shoot, and we were hooked from the beginning by their smiles, their laughter, and their super positive energy.

In a nutshell, here's how it went down:

1. Kick off shoes
2. Uncork the wine
3. Toast to family being together, when currently living across states
4. Brothers tell funny stories of each other, everyone laughs & unwinds
5. I stole Mom & Dad for a little walk along the beach. Because I love my mom & dad and know how much I cherish every photo I have of them. And parents holding hands? Even sweeter.
6. A few nice family shots
7. A few crazy family shots
   
8. Chill out, watch the sunset

Sounds a bit nicer than those old, formal family photos, doesn't it? I sure think so ;)

Enjoy a few shots from our shoot below :)

There is a lot to be said about choosing the right photographer. But, what you may not realize is that we also go through a process of making sure we are the right photographers for our clients.

From the beginning, we knew Liz and Jeff were going to be a great match for us and our work. Already excited about our photography style, at their Engagement Shoot they gave us their complete trust & confidence, which was exactly what we needed most. And because we had such a magical shoot that day, we then earned their trust for their wedding day. And, if I do say so myself, we completely rocked it once again :)

When a client gives us their trust it allows us total creative freedom. Rather than feeling like we are trying to match somebody else's vision, Jake and I get to read the couple and create a new vision entirely for them, and this is what creates our photographs. This is where the fun and the mystery is. I am always so excited to shoot a new couple. I always am confident that I will love the end result, but discovering what kind of shots we will get is so suspenseful. The adrenaline the hours before a shoot feels very much like Christmas Eve, wondering just what will come of the next few hours...

Liz and Jeff, what can I say? We love you guys for the couple that you are, for they way that you celebrate your love for each other, and for giving us such great inspiration for our work. Thank you for your vote of confidence in us time and time again.

Also, a huge thank you to all the vendors Liz & Jeff chose - your work together created an unforgettable wedding for us to photograph and we simply couldn't have done it without you.

Bridal Gown by La Belle Elaine's Bridal
Bridesmaid Gowns by Voletta Couture
Bridal Makeup by Shannon Mercil of Blush, Inc
Flowers by Flora Nova
Ceremony by Patricia of A Heavenly Ceremony
Live Ceremony Music by Daniel Kamas
Music by Sean Wheatley of Seattle Parties
Videography by Cory of Bogle Productions
Cake by Mike's Amazing Cakes
Getaway Car by British Motor Coach
Photography by yours truly

And a very special thank you to Holly and her staff at The Plateau Club in Sammamish. They did such an amazing job coordinating Liz & Jeff's wedding. Everything flowed seamless throughout the entire ceremony and reception, and everyone there was so friendly and helpful. Truly wonderful!

They've lived on the East Coast and the West Coast, but when it came time for their wedding they made plans to be married in Zandy's hometown of Bozeman, Montana. The perfect spot? The ski park where Jason proposed. While there was snow on the ground then, the Deer Park Chalet at Bridger Bowl made a perfect spot for an outdoor Summer ceremony.

Surrounded by bright green grass, and bathed in the warm afternoon sun, the Bride and Groom's first look was at the ceremony.

Jake had his lens on Jason as his bride walked down the aisle, and caught one of the most genuine and loving looks I have ever seen. A look that was meant just for her.

The night continued with a full Montana-style celebration with a live band and some of the fastest dancing I have ever seen. It was so entertaining, and we were so happy to be a part of it.

Zandy and Jason, we can't thank you enough for including us in your wedding. We are so happy you've moved back home and hope to see you lots and lots from now on!

Some families move around a lot, for military, job promotions, or whatever various reasons. Not us. I lived in the same home from the time I was born until I was 17. And then we moved. Across the street.

I consider myself really lucky. To live in the same town and grow up with the same neighbors and friends is comforting... is safe... is familiar. I have a certain bond and connection to these people that has never been matched by anyone I have met later in life. Whenever I see anyone from the neighborhood I feel instantly warm... happy... like no time has passed at all. These friends and neighbors truly are like family.

The Millers are part of my neighborhood family. For 17 years, I grew up right next door to them, and at age 17, we moved right across the street from them. Their two sons, Trevor and Todd are close to the same ages as my sister and I, so our parents are close as well. My sister, Shelley, even still has a mark on her face from a snowball fight with them when we were kids :) Ah, the memories! Though all of us have since married and moved out, my parents and Judy & Leroy (the joyful grandparents shown here) still live in those homes.

I was so honored when Judy said that the whole family would be together, and asked if I would take some family photos. Joined by 3 grandchildren now, I knew this would be an adventurous shoot. We only had a day to get this done, and after days and days of sun, a storm decided to roll right on in and threaten our sunset shoot. Luckily, we were able to move the shoot to earlier in the day, and everything worked out perfectly. I just love myself a little bit of stormy textured sky too :)
 

Annie and Jyun had one of the most intimate wedding ceremonies I have ever seen. Just the two of them, their two friends & witnesses, and enough love and excitement to warm a thousand person crowd, had there been one.

At a Japanese Shinto Shrine, these two declared their love, exchanged rings, and made secret promises to each other that no one else could hear. Annie, whose first language is French, even whispered hers in Japanese, Jyun's native language.

I felt so honored to be part of such a private ceremony. I knew these photos would travel the world reaching family and friends in Japan, Montreal, and everywhere in between so that everyone could enjoy Annie and Jyun's love story.


I loved this photos - out of nowhere, Annie grabbed Jyun's hand and exclaimed how excited she was to call him her husband. She was so excited, and it was so romantic. She was practically jumping up and down.