Pilar and Matt: Engagement Portraits

It's that time of year again when we get really caught up in weddings, so it was refreshing to take a couple of hours to relax with our clients Pilar and Matt while taking their engagement portraits. We met up in Point Defiance, and really enjoyed introducing them to the park for the first time. We got lucky with an absolutely gorgeous day, and despite a minor delay in finding each other (we were detoured into the park because the main entrance was closed in preparation for the garden show), it all turned out wonderfully. Here is one of my favorites from our time on the beach with Mt. Rainier peeking out from the background.

Hannah and Mike in Tacoma

It's done! Our good friends Mike and Hannah have finally tied the knot. We had a great time at their wedding, balancing photography and partying with old friends, many of whom we hadn't seen for years.

In a nod towards Hannah's Japanese-American heritage and with the added benefit of introducing all of their out-of-state friends to the beauty of the Northwest, Mike and Hannah decided to have their wedding at the Japanese Pagoda in Point Defiance Park. The weather turned out to be absolutely perfect, the decorations were gorgeous, and much fun was had by all.

As part of their reception entertainment, I prepared a slideshow with their childhood and dating photos. It turned out great (am I allowed to say that myself?) and I got an almost embarrassing number of compliments on it during the wedding. I think it's safe to say that we'll soon be offering reception slideshows as a service to our clients!

With Hannah and Mike being such good friends and all, we couldn't pick just one photo to share. So here are a few that caught our eye, with many more to come later.

Congratulations Hannah and Mike!

Dustin and Kandice Take a Close Second

For those of you not following The Amazing Race, we have the final update for you. A few minutes were all that separated our 2006 bride Dustin and her teammate/bridesmaid Kandice from a million dollar prize for winning the Amazing Race All Stars reality show. But even though they didn't win, it seemed like, more than any other team, they had a great time racing around the world. We had fun watching them these last few months.

These photos are of Dustin and Kandice in wedding and globetrotting attire, taken probably six months apart.

Kyle's First Flight

My nephew Kyle had his first airplane trip when my family came to visit us in Tacoma in March. He did great during the flight and staying at our house, even though we were without kitchen and well into the remodel demolition!

Fiona, my sister, has told me more than once that she feels lucky to have professional photographers in the family. She's probably right on that one, but the downside of having photos taken for free is that you then have to wait far longer than a paying client before you get to see them! So yes, even though they came to visit in March, I only just finished processing the photos. Here are some of my favorites ... enjoy!

Joanna and Garrett in Seattle

I'll admit that, because a lot of our clients book us a year in advance of their wedding, we sometimes have a hard time remembering the nuances of each couple. This is one of those times — I'd forgotten how much fun Joanna and Garrett are! Judging by the look on Garrett's face all day, it's obvious that Joanna's the absolute light of his life, and we know she feels likewise. They made a beautiful couple on their wedding day and we wish them many more years of joy. Here's one of our favorites (one of the more unusual photos) from their wedding; we'll share more soon.

Orion in the Park

I've had the opportunity to photograph Orion on five separate occasions now, and he just keeps getting cuter! I met up with Orion and his parents at Point Defiance Park for his 1-year portraits. Usually a charmer who smiles at first sight of you, Orion was definitely having an off day and wanted little more than to constantly be held by his dad. Even so, he had a few smiles to share, including the shy grin you see here.

Little Dane Discovers the Piano

It's been a busy month for Wallflower with portraits! One of the most fun for me was Dane, one of my Watch Me Grow clients. We first took photos when he was six weeks old and we'll have another session when he turns one. It's been so fun to see how much he has changed. Of course, he's much more interactive at six months than six weeks, and he loves to play. With the enthusiasm he threw into the piano keys, we think he's got a great career ahead of him!