David & Amy : Time Cherished Before Lieutenant's Deployment

When David spoke to me on the phone about his session request, I choked up a bit.  Both Amy and him are from Reno.  He is a lieutenant in the Army and was going to have 4 days leave in Seattle before deploying to Afghanistan for ONE YEAR.  Naturally, Amy followed David to Seattle to soak up any remaining time she could with him.  Being positive about the situation, they made it quite a vacation together enjoying the theatre, getting massages and exploring the lovely (and unfortunately very cold at the time) city of Seattle.  He thought it would be nice to have some photographs taken with his sweetie.  I couldn't have agreed more!  

I am not a fan of war, but I am a huge FAN of military families.  They are the definition of strength.  The life of every family member is affected by military needs and (unfortunately) that means splitting up families during deployments.  As a photographer, I think about all the holiday and celebration photos where one member of the family will be absent.  I think about the one less plate at dinner, the one less cupcake eaten at birthdays and the unopened Christmas presents under the tree waiting for their recipient to come home safely.  

When photographing David and Amy, I didn't see all that.  I got lost in their gazes to each other.  I got lost in the sweetness and calmness they radiated.  They were simply happy to be with one another -- to live in the moment.  We should always live in the moment.

Thank you, lieutenant, for your service to this country!  We wish you safe travels and look forward to your return.  We support YOU and your FAMILY!

Lay Family : A Saturday Together at Home

It is so special when a friend asks me to photograph their family and even more exciting when it is a friend I haven't seen in a long time.  This is my friend Lindsey and her cute little family.  We spend all of junior and high school playing sports together.  Unfortunately, we hadn't made the time to get together in recent years.  On a Saturday afternoon, I spent a couple hours at their home photographing their nearly 2-year-old, enjoying catching up with my friend and seeing the life she has made for herself with her husband, Andy.  They are renovating an old home (amazing), enjoying time with friends and family and being awesome parents to this little 2-year-old that kept me on my toes and firing many frames.

This is a session where I photograph life as it is happening - no major posing.  I let the family interact together and just be themselves.  Looking back years from now when their life is different, they can see the dance of their life at this point.  I let Lily show me her world - her stick horse, baby and favorite books, stuff animals, yard and doggies.  She ran the show just like she is running this home.  I love two-year-olds.  :)

It was a nice little Saturday at home with the Lay family.  Loved meeting this sweet little girl- it won't be long and we'll be going to her basketball and volleyball games.  :)

Little dinosaur stamps on the feet from gymnastics - little girls love painted nails and stamps.

Allison + Bryce = Fabulous Phoenix Wedding!

I was just a guest at this wedding of my family friend Allison and now hubby Bryce.  It was a fabulous Phoenix wedding and one of the few getaways my hubby and I have had without kiddos.  We enjoyed the weekend to warmer weather in the middle of a grey Seattle winter.  I get why people 'fly south with the birds' when winter comes!  I was smiling in the sunshine the whole weekend.

Unfortunately for my husband, I bring my camera everywhere.  And I am addicted to photographing weddings.  So I find myself as a guest going crazy with my camera AND LOVING IT!  I leave my husband with the other gents and their beer and I go play with details and dancing!  But because this wasn't a job, I had fun with some photo treatments- trying out some vintage flair on a bunch of these photos. 

I like the feel of some grain in photos - gives a feeling of being around for awhile and been through experiences - just like love should be!  Give your own love a bit of grain!  Congrats Allison and Bryce!

My ultimate favorite dancing picture so far!  My husband is getting down with some pretty ladies - our friends from Portland!

Allison and Bryce had a wonderful wedding photographer - Tara Keator Photography of Phoenix.