Here is Sara and Ben. If you are a regular reader of Essential Stuff, they might look familiar. Last summer, we spent a warm afternoon in Pullman, wandering around WSU, even going down on the turf of Martin Stadium, taking engagement photos. Now, this summer, it was their turn to get married.

Their ceremony was at Camden Ranch in Elk, Washington, both a Christmas tree farm and event venue, out in a meadow surrounded by trees. We had lots of time for a long, festive portrait session, which included adorable kids, walking through forests, wild dancing, and a little football.

Sara and Ben’s wedding ceremony included a wonderful set of vows, which they wrote, that had people laughing through tears. And then, after the kiss, the bogeyed up the aisle together.  The reception had some lovely dancing, a bit of frosting on a nose, home-made jam, and some dandy Mickey Mouse ears.

The result of all the fun and excitement was that I had far more wedding photographs to edit than usual, but it was definitely worth it.  To take a look at the day, click through to the wedding photographs.

One of the cool things about having been in business for a while is photographing the weddings of friends and relatives of former brides and grooms.  Such was the case a few weeks ago at Katie and Bret’s wedding.  Just last summer, I had been the photographer for Katie’s sister Danielle when she married Ryan.  There is a picture of both happy couples together at the right, Ryan, Danielle, Bret and Katie.

This day, however, belonged to Bret and Katie. We started with some portraits at the park (and field) near the childhood home of Katie. She had played there as a little girl.  After a fun portrait session, we ran off to the church.

It was a beautiful ceremony, complete with joyful singing, and was capped with a very cool first kiss. Cheers all around.

Then it was on to CenterPoint for a reception with lots of friends, family and good cheer.  It was another perfect wedding.  Here is a gallery of photographs from the wedding day.

Kandace and Andre had their reception covered, but they wanted a photographer for portraits and the ceremony; happily, they selected Essential Moments Photography.  The day started with a first-sight and portraits in Riverfront Park.  Their wedding was on a Tuesday, so there weren’t a ton of other people in the park, even though the weather was gorgeous. The blue sky (and blue bridge) went nicely with the blue wedding dresses. After a small crisis regarding flowers, everyone was relaxed and had a good time.

Then it was on to Dance Street Ballroom just up the street for the ceremony and reception. The ceremony was very well-attended, and elegant, and Andre and Kandace were fun to watch.  Connected, looking into each other’s eyes, and very much in love.

Leaving before the reception was a bit unusual, but all accounts are that a good time was had by all, and from facebook pictures, it appears that the Hawaii honeymoon was spectacular. Click here for a gallery of the wedding photography by Essential Moments Photography.

Natalie and Jake’s wedding was awesome for so many different reasons. The setting, overlooking Priest Lake, was gorgeous. The ceremony was filled with personal touches, such as the children bringing Natalie flowers and the guests taking part in the vows. The ceremony was tender and heart-felt, the highlight perhaps being when Jake sang “The First Day of My Life” to Natalie.  (And the bonus was the bald eagle gliding overhead.)

They extended the personal touches to the reception. Natalie and Jake have traveled the world together, and lived together overseas, so each table was marked with a flag of a country they had traveled to. And they incorporated wedding traditions from different cultures, including a flower-lantern ceremony on the water.

I had been looking forward to their wedding for personal reasons, too.  For one, I had photographed their engagement session, and watched them a bit via facebook as they finished their teaching in Viet Nam, so knew they were fun, bright people, and I looked forward to seeing them again. Secondly, their wedding was the first where I would be joined by my new partner, Eric Ashley, in addition to our assistant Deborah.

Above all else, what made the day awesome was Natalie and Jake. Their warmth and generosity set the tone for the entire day, and their kindness and compassion was reflected back to them from their family and friends. Most of all, their love and support for each other was evident in everything they did.  If this was the first day of their lives, then it couldn’t have gotten off to a more perfect start. Click here for a gallery of Natalie and Jake’s wedding.

Emily and Mike were married at the Glover Mansion in Spokane, Washington, which is always one of my favorite places to shoot. Gorgeous hardwood floors. Rich wood paneling. Lots of architectural flourishes. And nifty overhead views besides.

I had photographed Emily and Mike’s engagement photographs, which is always nice, since it gives us the opportunity to work together before the wedding and get to know each other better. So when I saw them both getting ready for the first time, it was great to see them again.

The wedding itself had lots of personal touches, including a homily that told the story of their courtship. Apparently Mike knew right away the Emily was the one for him; it took Emily a bit more time than that. But since then they have become best friends, and it was fun to watch them engage with each other.

My favorite part of the day was sneaking away from some sunset pictures, with a view of Spokane and some good color in behind the clouds, and just the three of us (plus a few), very much like that first evening when we took the engagement pictures together, except, of course, with a little more excitement and joy.  A gallery of wedding photographs can be seen here.

This is Sherry and Denver, and they are awesome. From the first time Sherry contacted me, I really was excited about the possibility, and then reality, of shooting their wedding. It had awesomeness written all over it.

First, the idea: almost kind-of an elopement, but not really, since there was nothing hasty about it.  Really just a small wedding.  How small?  The two of them, the minister, and me and my assistant.  That’s all. And no one else knew.  Not the parents (though they had been warned that it might one day happen), no friends (who had had a brunch with them that very morning, and didn’t suspect a thing), no distant relatives. It was a ceremony as small and simple as small and simple can possibly be. A wedding completely on their terms, by their design, the wedding of their dreams.  And it was awesome.

Second: the location.  Cataldo Mission, about 30 miles east of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. I had been there once before and had been struck by its elegance and rustic beauty. It’s a gorgeous building with a deep history, nestled in a perfect setting.

Third: somewhat foolishly, when I had pictured the wedding, I had kind of imaged how the grounds looked in the summer, when I had visited it before.  In other words, I was surprised when I drove up and there was 5 inches of snow everywhere. It took a moment of readjustment, but in the end, the snow was so much better than dead winter grass. Fortunately, Sherry had thought ahead and had brought warm boots; she was ready and willing to go traipsing around in the snow in her boots and bare-shouldered wedding dress, and that almost guaranteed an awesome portrait session.

So how did it all go down? Perfectly. I had worried about doubling the attendance by bringing an assistant, but she proved very useful in the putting on of the dress. The ceremony was probably about 15 minutes, simple but meaningful, with a very kind and thoughtful minister. The interior of the mission was a perfect setting (if not a bit cold). And Sherry and Denver are as nice as people can possibly be. Connected, fun-loving, joyous, and did I mention nice? Really, really nice. And, it ends up, Denver and I went to the same small college!

And for the portraits, we not only had snow, but dramatic clouds swept through a deep, rich blue sky. And we all wandered around in the snow, Sherry and Denver giddy (and maybe a bit in disbelief!), just enjoying the moment.  The only bad thing about it was that Sherry and Denver wanted to tell their family and friends in person, after their honeymoon in India, so I couldn’t post the pictures until now, but, really, that’s not so bad.

Check out the photographs from their wedding right here. As one of the only witnesses (and this was the first time I had been called upon to sign the marriage certificate), you’ll have to trust me:

it was awesome.

This is Avery and her parents, Kelly and Andrew. They work at the Veterinary Hospital at Washington State University, and we arranged for a shoot of Avery in their Garfield, Washington home. I gave my usual instructions: wake up the baby, give her a bath, feed her, then when I arrive, she’ll be calm and contented and ready for a little sleep.

Avery didn’t get the email, apparently. She was calm and contented, but not so ready for sleep. After several different attempts, using all the methods known to new parents, Avery still resisted sleep with a fierceness that probably means her folks have their hands full.

But no matter, sleeping or not, Avery was beautiful, such a lovely, alert little human being.

Well, since they just got married, I thought maybe I should post a few Jenessa and Collin’s engagement pictures! Yes, I’m a bit behind on posting engagement sessions (this one was from last October). Jenessa and Collin drove up from the Tri-Cities just for this session, which we had scheduled quite a while earlier.  When the day arrived, it was drizzly and glum. We did some text-brainstorming for alternate plans, but then, once they arrived, the rain stopped, and we were able to shoot the session in dry (though coldish) weather.

They had asked, like most couples do, if I had any clothing suggestions, and, as I usually do, I suggested solid complementary colors, and I LOVED the bright green and red that they chose. It was great with the fall colors we were aiming for in the park. It was also fun to watch them just play around and be together. They danced in the gazebo, held hands on the swings, went down the slide, and took a ride on the train on the playground. It gave me a hint of how much fun their wedding would be (which is was, totally).

If you’re going to get married at 11:00 on a Sunday morning, why not make it at the Davenport Hotel?  And if you are going to get married at 11:00 on a Sunday morning, what better processional music than “All  You Need Is Love”? And staying with a Beatles theme, what better song to walk out to than “The End”?

And at the reception, why not serve brunch fare, including make-your-own-omelettes and have itty-bitty Tabasco sauce bottles available? And that’s exactly what Jenessa and Collin did. The day also included, by request, a quick Abbey-Road-style portrait of the bridal party. Jenessa and Collin had LOTS of great ideas for their wedding.

And if there were people who’d rather sleep in on a Sunday, you couldn’t tell it at the reception, which was as lively as lively gets, with a spirited tussle for the bouquet, a gorgeous first dance, and some wild dance moves later on. I’m not sure that, in the long, storied history of the Davenport Hotel, the ballroom floor has ever been quite so cut up by a pair bridal Converse shoes before. Click here for photographs from the wedding day.  (A few of their engagement pictures can be seen here.)

Update:  Voting is over. The polls have closed. And we have a winner. Congratulations to Joelle and Brad!

March isn’t the busiest month for weddings, so how about a contest?

I’ve chosen 10 bride and groom portraits from last year, completely subjectively; they are my favorites (at the moment) and not necessarily the best or the couples’ favorites.  But I like them.  Now, your task is easy; just vote on your favorite (just one). Awesome!  (And if you haven’t seen all the pictures from the wedding, just click on the picture to go to their wedding galleries.)

And here’s the cool thing: the couple whose image gets the most votes gets a free Standout Print of the winning image for their wall.  So you vote, it’s fun, and you’re spreading the love at the same time.  Then go tell your friends and have them vote too.  And while you’re at it, I’d love it if you liked my facebook page.  Awesome.

Voting ends on Friday the 18th at 7:00 pm PDST.  7:01 votes won’t count.

And please, just vote once.  It’s the kind and friendly and fair thing to do.  I can track IP addresses, so I’ll see any suspicious voting patterns, but I doubt I’ll need it.  After all, I did say please. (And if you got married last year and there is no picture up, don’t fret, because more contests are a-comin’).

So here are the ten photos, in alphabetical order by the bride’s name.  Let the voting commence.

Awesome.

My wedding photography is driven by the personality of the couples, so the sometimes images by themselves are missing context. Here, then, are little descriptions about these people, as I know them (which is sometimes in very limited ways), and some of the reasons I like these pictures.  In several cases, I also provide links directly to their portrait sessions galleries, so you can check out the rest, if you’re interested.

Beth & Ben are as comfortable in their own skin as just about any couple I’ve worked with. They were both very authentic and natural and relaxed, not the sort of people to get upset by things they couldn’t control. And I think all that comes through in this image. This portrait sessions was between the wedding and reception, but they were in no rush. Nothing could bother them. I think people who are really self-possessed have a calmness and openness about them, and this image seems to capture some of that: comfortable, natural, elegant, and in-the-moment.

Danielle and Ryan are creative, bright, whimsical people. Their attention to fun details (like creating the sign) was evident everywhere. Like many bright, creative people, they weren’t necessarily in their element being the center of attention, but it was clear that they delighted in each other’s company, all the time.  This image from a sequence of pictures that really captured their delight in each other, and I absolutely love Ryan’s boyish smile here.  : )

Put beautiful people in a beautiful setting, and it’s hard to take a bad picture. Debby really wanted to sneak away from the reception to get some portraits done in this garden. Justin liked the idea, but was a bit worried about time, and the portrait session did probably take 45 minutes in all.  But in the end, we were all glad we did it. The gardens were spectacular, Debby and Justin were relaxed as we just walked around, and then the sun started to set. And to luck out on those clouds and colors?  Perfect.

I’ve had second thoughts about Heather & John’s portrait. I’m not sure I picked the best one. We did several out in the street, and some were more fun (him dipping her, or them kissing, or one where they spontaneously threw their arms up in victorious celebration). I like this one because of the clarity of lines–how the low angle lets them (both very tall) soar above the tree-line and Spokane arena in the back. But check out their other portraits. The whole session was great.

Joelle and Brad scheduled lots of time for their portraits. LOTS.  When I arrived at the church, I noticed this abandoned greenhouse. I totally would have understood if they hadn’t wanted to shoot at the greenhouse.  It was hazardous with old boards and nails and weedy with thistles, and they might have worried about getting dirty (this was pre-wedding). They were not only willing, but joyful, excited, and leisurely (as were their wedding party).  If I recall, the dancing was their idea.

Kalen and Jameson are really, really nice people. I don’t mean that in a trite way, but as a high complement. They are very kind and open and generous. We took this picture as they were getting ready to leave, the wedding and reception over. They indulged me putting a giant light in their car (you can see the diffuser above the dashboard) and let me try several shots. If I had thought it out more carefully, I might have used a smaller diffuser, but as it is, the light caught the Spokane Falls Community College parking pass, and I really like that detail. I think you can see their kindness in their faces. : )

I’ve also had second thoughts about Kayla and Corey’s portrait selection. It was a rainy day on Priest Lake, and Kayla had the foresight to bring along these awesome matching umbrellas. And they didn’t mind traipsing out on the wet grass and out on the dock for pictures.  We got a lot of fun shots, and some might be more dramatic with more breath-taking views. I included this one over the others because there is something so striking about those giant umbrellas.

Kim and Colin married way out on the Olympic Peninsula, near the northwestern-most point of the continental US. The ceremony was on the beach, with the ocean expanse behind them. All day, a wind blew these small wispy clouds through the sky. We did just a few pictures as the sun was going down, and the sky was all ablaze with color and the dynamic little clouds. They both did a great job of pretending not to be freezing.  : )

I didn’t meet Maryam nor Alex in person until they walked into the ceremony together. I only shot for only two hours. Then I didn’t get the chance to say more than a few words to them in person before I left.  But here’s what I saw: Maryam is elegance and grace. Her dancing was absolutely fluid, and she carried herself with great poise. They were finishing graduate degrees (doctorate degrees, if I remember correctly), and they were just about to move. They are both well-traveled, bright, sophisticated. Given all that, I thought it would be cool to get some pictures that had as much sophistication and big-city feel as the first block of West Main in Spokane has to offer. You know, bright lights, small city. You can see there was heaps of snow around, and it was cold. I appreciated that they were willing to step out into the cold for a few quick shots.

I talk a lot about these leisurely portrait sessions, but sometimes they are quick and painless. With a roomful of guests waiting just upstairs, Rochelle and Jeffrey wanted fast, easy portraits. But the Masonic Temple affords a lot of great settings within a very small area, so we dashed from here to there and tried out different spots. I really liked this chair at the back of the Blue Room ballroom. It looked very regal. With Rochelle’s sparkling, sassy personality (and herprincess-dress and spacious pose) and Jeffrey’s confident, strong demeanor, I think they look like royalty.  I call this The King and Queen  Portrait (and I like the way the lights to the side cast a shadow on the wall).

All the photographs here, I hope, can stand alone on their own merits. But for me, what really makes them special are knowing the people within the frame, and getting the opportunity to capture a bit of their personalities that make each image unique. So thank-you, thank–you and thank-you again to all “my” brides and grooms. You are the ones that make my job so much fun, and infuse my photography with meaning.