Seattle: Couple Portrait Session

This Seattle couple was an absolute dream to photograph. Seriously. Look at them. They're #couplegoalsAF. 

As if their general adorableness wasn't enough, they were constantly laughing and giggling and having a great time during their couple photo session in West Seattle. I mean if laughter is the best medicine, then these two probably never get sick. Ever. 

After that weird June-uary, it seems summer is finally in full swing here in Seattle. If you need me, I'll be hunting down that delicious, summery golden hour sunlight every day from now until the winter chill starts creeping back. 

Winter: The Most Underrated Season

I like to joke that I'm a delicate tropical flower because I'm so used to the stifling heat and humidity of the Southeast. I usually liiiive for summer. Flip flops and ice cream and skirts and sunshine are my jam.  

Moving to the PNW was certainly an adjustment, especially in the winter. My first winter here, I decided it was too cold and fled to Vietnam for a couple weeks to get some respite from the dreary, cold Seattle winter. 

This past winter, though, I decided to stick it out and find beauty in the cold. I dreamed up an edgy, dark winter elopement photo shoot and set out to find fellow vendors who could help make my vision come to life. 

The photos below are the result of a six mile slog through snow with an absolutely amazing couple who totally rocked the wedding looks I'd been dreaming of. And ya know what, Seattle? Give me all your winter weddings, your winter elopements, your winter engagements. Because this tropical flower has acquired a taste for snow. 

Vendors:

Hair and Make-up: Teze Salon | Invitation Suite: Ink & Sable | Florals: Blooming Seattle | Ring: Delezhen | Earrings: Jewels by Madison Lee | Crystal Hairpins: Rocks and Rebels | Jacket: ASOS

Our Lady of Whimsy: Seattle Portrait Session

Sometimes, I just want to let my wildest daydreams take over.  Explosions of color and light, manifestations of the whimsical, the surreal, the odd. 

Of course, for these daydreams to become reality, you need a willing subject, someone who can enthusiastically don a halo crown made of zip ties and spray paint and prance around in a vintage prom dress. 

It takes a very special person indeed, and I'm so grateful that Tara didn't bat an eyelash at any of my crazy ideas. 

Seattle: Child Portrait Session

I moved to Seattle nearly two years ago, and I have to say I've fallen in love with this place.

The sheer variety of gorgeous, photo-shoot-worthy locations in the city alone is staggering. Want an urban feel for your engagement session? There's a spot for that. A windswept beach vibe for a family portrait session? There's a spot for that. How about a perfectly manicured garden in full bloom for a sophisticated senior photography session? There's a spot for that, too. 

For this session, I wanted a backdrop that would perfectly complement the vintage feel of this darling pinafore dress, and I think this location was spot on. 

Bonus: what child doesn't love throwing pebbles into water or climbing rocks and balancing on giant pieces of driftwood?

The essence of childhood truly comes out in those pure, unguarded moments when a child just lets loose her imagination and plays. 

During this portrait session, little Alice looked for pirate ships on the horizon and tossed pebbles into the waves to count their ripples. She ran up and down the small stretch of beach, chasing imaginary dragons up the rocky "mountains" and showing off her amazing twirling skills. 

I may not be able to literally freeze her in time and keep her small forever, but she'll always have these photos to look back on and remember the innocent joy of childhood. 

Fly Me to the Moon

"Fly me to the moon, and let me play among the stars. Let me see what spring is like on Jupiter or Mars." -Frank Sinatra

Stars and outer space have a way of catching the human imagination and sweeping our thoughts to distant planets. The sheer immensity of infinite space, peppered with burning stars and raging meteor showers... Well it would make an amazing location for a photo shoot. 

Don't you agree?

Model: Myra Dietzel

#VanLife

I've always fantasized about buying a cute retro van and fixing it up to go on epic cross-country adventures. 

Thanks to Van In Queen Anne, I got to indulge my little fantasy with a fun photo shoot. 

Give me all the retro vibes!

Alice: Spring in Seattle

Oh to be young, wild, and free again. 

Is there anything more infectious than a child's unbridled joy at the simplest pleasures? All it takes is a little sunshine and a puddle to bring out this girl's sweet smile. 

Kelsey + Matt: A Winter Engagement

When I moved across the country to the Pacific Northwest, I couldn't have imagined the natural beauty that awaited me. Rocky crags, immeasurably old forests, mossy halls, and thundering waterfalls are just a short drive away from the vibrant city of Seattle. 

It's a photographer's DREAM. 

And in winter? Well, in winter, it's magical. 

Kelsey and Matt wanted to capture some of that winter magic in their engagement session. So, we packed up our gear and set off on an epic adventure straight out of a fairy tale. 

Atlanta Portrait Session

"And the rest is rust and stardust."
-Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita

There's something romantic about old things.  It's like the rust and dust hold echoes of the past, and I almost feel like I'm stepping through time. 

Unsurprisingly, I leapt at the chance to shoot a portrait session in an old railway museum. Most of the trains are in remarkably good condition, and they made an absolutely perfect backdrop

Devin and Patrick: Georgia Wedding at Rocky's Lake Estate

"Alice: How long is forever?

White Rabbit: Sometimes, just one second!"

-Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

I'm so excited to share photos from Devin and Patrick's Alice-in-Wonderland-themed wedding in Georgia. Not everyone gets to marry their high school sweetheart, but that's just what these two did on a mild October day, surrounded by family and friends. 

Congratulations, you two!