Lately I’ve been attending some really great networking events here in Seattle, and at one of those events I had the good fortune of meeting personal trainer Kindra Reid. She was looking for some headshots and lifestyle shots for her business. I don’t normally do a lot of these types of jobs, but Kindra and I hit it off right away, and she was all about letting it be my vision. Her friend Donna came along and let me tell you these ladies are ripped! Intimidation quickly set in, but I was quickly put at ease because both of these ladies couldn’t be nicer, sweeter individuals. Kindra has a great blog documenting her fitness adventures, and provides great tips for after work out remedies. If you live in the Seattle area and are looking for someone to whip you into shape she is your girl! I know we are all thinking about summer being around the corner and trying to fit into those “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikinis”…..and on that note…..I’m going for a run:)

Here are a few of my favorites from the gym portion of our shoot:

Filed under: Portraits, gym, headshots, peronal trainer, Seattle, shape, workout | 2 Comments

Here are some things that have made me smile lately……..Enjoy

Yellow tulips……loving that Spring is on it’s way:)

Birdie salt and pepper shakers from Pier One….only $3.00!

Mini fake plants….impossible to kill:) Metropolitan Medallions, very dangerous!

Orange star fish….love…..love…..love.

New shoes by Indigo, I feel like a hip “Seattle lite” when I wear them:) Plus they’re super comfy.

Wedding season is slowly starting up again, and we all know I love me some girly detail shots:)

And of course it wouldn’t be a favorite things blog if I didn’t include……….

My boys!

Filed under: Personal, bird, bouquet, boys, chandelier, cookies, fake plant, flowers, medallions, puppy, purple shoes, salt and pepper shakers, Spring, yellow tulips | 3 Comments

Jenn and Christian’s wedding was held at the Seattle Yacht Club on a gorgeous October day. I’m a total sucker for anything with a Nautical theme so I was in heaven! It was a wonderfully relaxing day and both Jenn and Christian were laid back and trying to soak in all the day had to offer. Jenn was stunning….talk about a classic beauty….she found the perfect balance of looking bridal but still looking like herself. One of my favorite details of this wedding was Jenn’s father’s boat with a banner that had the names of the happy couple on it.  The whole day went so smoothly, and both families were such a joy to work with. This was one of those rare weddings were I could just slow down and really take in the surroundings. It was an incredibly enjoyable experience:) Thank you Jenn and Christian for being so amazing and I wish you guys all the love and best wishes!!

 

Filed under: Weddings, Bride, club, compass, groom, nautical, photos, rings, Seattle, Wedding, yacht | Post a comment

We have some of the best neighbors ever, Taylor and Josh, and they have this cute as a button doggy named Banjo.  We watch Banjo from time to time when Taylor and Josh are out of town, and we LOVE IT! Banjo loves to play and then snuggle, then go on a relaxed walk, then play, then snuggle some more……everything a little dog should be:) Charlie and Banjo are good buddies and love to race for whatever toy might be in the vicinity. The other day Charlie and Banjo where hanging out and Josh said,”It’s just so crazy that they come from the same species,” because Banjo literally is the size of Charlies head. We love our neighbors and we love Mr. Banjo so I decided to share his cuteness with the world….enjoy:)

Filed under: Portraits, Banjo, cute, dog, pictures | 2 Comments

Having grown up in Colorado I know better then to use the word Spring before the month of June. Countless times we would think the snow was finally over and summer is right around the corner….then it would snow….in June! Well living here in Seattle it is a different story. Tulips started to show in the yards in February, and the cherry blossom trees are in full force! I’m still in shock that it’s sunny and in the high 50’s……who knew. The greenery and lushness is overwhelming, and the whole city smells like one giant fragrant garden. Have I mentioned that I love living here:)

So this past weekend Justin and I decided to get outdoors, away from the computer screens, and go see the cherry blossoms at the UW campus. We live really close to the campus which I love because it is such a picturesque area. We brought Charlie (our German Shepherd) along and went for a nice stroll around the entire campus. I of course had my camera in tow.

Charlie drooling over some ducks……..

Our happy little house:)

Filed under: Personal, campus, Cherry Blossom, flowers, Spring, trees, University of Washington | 9 Comments

We all want to look the best we’ve ever looked on our wedding day, and I think the true “Bridal Glow” comes from knowing that their cup runneth over with love and happiness. There is nothing more beautiful then a woman who is joyful and content. Here is some of the “Bridal Glows” I had the pleasure of capturing this past season.

Happy Friday.

Filed under: Weddings, beauty, bridal, Bride, glow, portrait | 2 Comments

I had the great pleasure of meeting Melanie Duerkopp’s family for the first time last month. Melanie is a wonderful friend from college and was roommates in New York with Justin and I. Her Grandma had come over from Germany for the holidays so Melanie thought it would be a great idea to get some family portraits done while she was in town.  I adore her Grandma, she has such a free and happy spirit. When another photographer asks you to take portraits of their family it is a huge compliment, and I wanted to make sure that the portraits would be everything she hoped for.  We spent the morning at Volunteer Park in Capitol Hill and the Asian Art Museum, and thankfully the rain held off. It was such a fun day…COLD….but fun! Melanie is also a great photographer and has a blog that showcases all her adventures in the San Fransisco area and beyond.

 

Filed under: Portraits, Capitol Hill, family, photography, Portraits, Seattle, Volunteer Park | 3 Comments

A couple of weeks ago I attended a benefit for a friend who has survived cancer but is now battling the medical bills. There was a silent auction and a live auction and surprisingly enough I actually won something!! I won this amazing flower arrangement from Juniper Flowers with orchids and a Bromeliad plant. It is stunning and is the nicest thing in my dining room:) Every time I walk by it I smile and think of my friend and the long beautiful life she has ahead of her.

Juniper Flowers has a great blog featuring seasonal arrangements…..sorry seasonal works of art….that any girl would die to own. So for all you boys out there..hint…hint….you should check them out:)

Thank you Jean Louise and Juniper Flowers for donating something to my friend’s cause and for giving me an amazing work of art!

Filed under: Personal, bromeliad, Flower arrangement, flowers, Juniper, orchid, Phalaenopsis | Post a comment

A couple of weeks ago I blogged about the pregnancy shoot I did with the Farrell family and I promised a look at their new addition, baby Holden Liam. Holden was born in November and my family and I got to meet Holden over the Christmas holiday.  Like I mentioned in the previous blog post Ashleigh Farrell is one of my sister’s best friends so getting to see Mallory meet Mr. Holden for the first time was really special. The cholic gods were on our side that day because Holden was in a wonderful, relaxed mood.  He was down right charming, giving me cute little smiles and lip curls.  Precious doesn’t even do him justice, he was beyond precious! We were all smitten within seconds.  In the McKenzie family we consider our close friends to be family. We always lived far from our other relatives so we made special long lasting connections with the “family we had around us” which was our friends. Ashleigh and Shaun are definitely family and when I get asked to capture such incredible moments in their life I feel so blessed. Days like that one remind me of how wonderful my job is.

I also mentioned in the previous post that Ashleigh is also a blogger and has a great blog that is filled with touching and funny stories about their new life with Holden. It’s a wonderful read and I highly recommend it to any new mothers out there.

Today also happens to be Shaun’s Birthday coincidentally, so a big Happy Birthday shout out to Shaun. I hope you have a wonderful birthday with your new baby boy!

Here are some of my favorite shots from the day, and even some with my parents, my sister, and yours truly:) Can I just say there is nothing sweeter in the world then seeing my daddy holding a little baby boy…..melts my heart every time!

 

Filed under: Portraits, Baby, family, Farrell, photos, Portraits | 1 Comment

Another one of my passions is food photography. I remember four years ago when I was graduating college I was so determined to move to NY and shoot for magazines, restaurants and cook books. Nothing could stop me….aw the feeling of determination of someone who had never been told no or let down before in her life…..well NY soon remedied that feeling. Plans always change, and in my opinion they change for a reason. I was trying to soak up all the experience and life lessons I could. So two big moves and four years later here I am ready to start the food photography adventure again:) First step on my adventure is to get my updated food portfolio and website up and running. Well we are very close, hopefully the next few weeks it will be ready to go, but until then I thought I’d share it with all of you. My goal is to add to it every month, even if it’s just me setting up shoots in my dining room:) When I second shoot for other wedding photographers I’m the one who is following the catering waiter/waitress trying to shoot the food….I get some funny looks:) I just can’t help myself, even at weddings I make sure that I get awesome shots of the food and the beverages. Poor Justin if I bust out my 5D one more time at a restaurant I fear he just might die of embarrassment….like I said I just can’t help it:)

Well wish me luck on my new food photography adventure. I’m excited to see where it takes me:)

Enjoy.

 

Filed under: Personal, beverage, cake, cookbook images, fish, food, ice cream, photos | 9 Comments