On to Kathryn! I’ve been working pretty closely with Emily Scott of Gem Photo over the past year or so. You will definitely be seeing a lot of her work on my website and blog in the coming months. It’s been so sweet to work with someone you respect and admire. Em is, well, she’s awesome. She’s the kind of person you pretty much want to be friends with the moment you make eye contact, and I’m not the only one who feels this way. Intro Kathryn. Em was approached by Kathryn to take some portraits of her for her website. Kathryn is a photographer as well, and a long time Em the Gem admirer. All I kept hearing from Em was Kathryn is great, she’s super sweet and I think we’re going to have fun. And that we did!

Just to give you a taste of Kathryn’s sweetness: Upon meeting her, Kathryn arrives with a HUGE smile and 2 bouquets of flowers in hand, one for Em and one for me. I honestly could not believe she had brought us flowers. I mean, she hired us – and she brings us flowers! Crazy sweet! I’m really thankful for my time with Kathryn. Em really captured her beauty and her fun personality.

Makeup by me. Enjoy!

I’m about 35 weeks and totally ready to meet this kid! Lindsey of BellaLu Photography captured our utter joy and excitement here for our maternity shoot. Both my husband and I love working with her because neither of us are comfortable in front of the camera and she makes it so amazingly easy to be natural! This was such a quick and painless shoot and look at these amazing photos! Thanks again, Lindsey, for blessing us with wonderful memories and pictures to cherish for years to come!

Concept here: No makeup – makeup. A way to look completely natural and fresh:)

Evidence of what has been going on lately…

McKenzie

Prom

These darn kids and their cell phones!

Elizabeth

The French Boudoir by Joanne Lee Photography

I met Jennifer through church and we instantly hit it off. At the time she had just gotten into a bike accident and had some scabbing and scaring on her face and arm. It was a traumatic experience in and of itself, and then add being newly engaged and in the middle of planning… Sheesh! But we bonded a little over our love of cycling and of the Lord. She warned me to be careful on the road after learning of my passion for cycling, and I gladly accepted her counsel. Thanks for looking out, Jen!

Her wedding day consisted of her hair and makeup, her maid of honors hair and makeup, and her mothers makeup. Phew… what a day! And I remember it like it was yesterday. I am truly blessed to be able to get to know women like Jennifer.

Congratulations to the Huang’s!

Here are a few dynamite photos of the two love birds by Yuliya Molitvenik. They can’t keep their hands off each other. I love it! Enjoy!

Hair and makeup by me:)

If you look closely you can see my pregnant belly;)

And for a little added measure… Here is a snapshot I took of her hair:)

The day began in the Santa Cruz Mountains, a second home of mine. Most people don’t know this about me, but Scotts Valley and Mount Hermon stole my heart at a very young age, and I’ve been blessed with great memories and warm fuzzy’s ever since. Every time I’m in those mountains it takes me back to that adventurous world where streams of water in the deepest parts of the forest lie. Where deep and rich colors of the forest and the clean smell of rain are. What memories!

OK, back to Crysta! I started on her sister Kelsey, another jewel of a person, and had the funnest time hearing stories of my dear friend as a child. This is the good stuff. I love stories! Kelsey turned out beautifully. Then onto Crysta, who was a bit nervous in the beginning but soon was put to ease by her wonderful friends attending to her. It was such a beautiful experience to watch Crysta, the bride, begin to settle into the moment, leave her nerves behind, and embrace the joy of her next step in her new life. She was so calm and beautiful by the time we got to the ceremony!

I have to say, I learned a ton on this wedding. Really, that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? Knowing what can be improved and using it to grow in each experience. Thanks Crysta, for blessing me with such a rich experience! And congratulations!

Almost 6 weeks ago I became a Mrs. It’s amazing to me how this all came about. My husband and I have known each other for about 12 years, we’ve dated for about 3, and were engaged and married within 4 months. I can’t say enough about the man he is and the man he strives to be. He is amazing and I am so incredibly thankful for him in my life.

The other part of this tale is the spherical perspective I’ve gained from this experience. I’ve really come to appreciate all the couples I’ve worked with in the wedding industry. Sheesh! What a whirlwind! As amazing and wonderful as it was I was so glad when it was all over. I wouldn’t have wanted to change a thing either.

Just in case you were guessing I did not do my own hair, but I did do my own makeup. I will post pictures when I get them! In the mean time, check out this sweet slideshow that BellaLu Photography put together for me:)

This fellow I came across this morning truly does inspire me:

December 14, 2010 at the Hotel Café.

Stellar, simply and sweetly,

unadulterated and unadorned.

“It’s all in how you say it,” reveals the Man.

And all the while, the Woman can’t stop smiling.

Her body twists in knots like a cloth wrung of water,

she contorts into all manner of angles,
giving voice to all manner of angels.
She spins and spirals with two feet planted,
abandoned but never reckless,
immersed but never senseless
rather the inverse, full of ache-and-grace
notes filling the hall, moving through walls
higher and higher
like a Saturn Five Rocket,
like balloons rising and consumed by the sun.
The bough bends but never breaks,
the heart mends and through love she makes her mark.

His steady stance serves as stark contrast to her lark ascending.

In minor ways, he swings and sways
like a metronome or grandfather clock,
tick-tock-ticking a fluid rhythm,
a silent hold, then bold string strumming, wind rushing
through the leaves of his giving tree.
Hair willowed out and descending down
over his face, deep in thought, steeped
in prayer and wicked grins, enough for all
and enough for all time.
Branches extend from a sturdy trunk,
its roots sunk deep into hallowed ground,
his voice bringing forth a hallowed sound.

Their music’s a movement of heart and soul,

a shake-rattle-roll with Love as rule,
as two forces push and pull, two heads bowed and
two hearts vowed to speak truth through music.
In merry rounds they go,
and where they stop we know they can’t stay there
for long because their song’s set their hearts a-constantly-racing,
constantly chasing a muse
who refuses to settle for anything less.
Chords laid down over miles and miles,
notes lunging and retracting in a rower’s motion
while emotion rides hard, the heart reacting to
every heat of the light and every dark of the night.

Simply and sweetly the hope speaks out,

unadulterated and unadorned the music spreads out
its arms and with its charms
romances us, takes a chance with us and
dances us to the end of love,
only to find it for us all over again.
Heart and soul all over again.

Ladies of grace and men of gentle order,

the one, the only, The Civil Wars.

[by Dominic Liang]

.

Camille Monique