Sometimes mother really does know best. We don’t always like to admit it, particularly not to her, but the unavoidable truth is made clear time and again. The proof is in the pudding. Case-in-point = Sara and Ryan. They met many many years ago without even knowing it. Their grandmothers and mothers are close friends and have been since high school. As children they played together, and after meeting them I’ll wager they were fantastic, imaginative, giggly adventures all those years ago.

Their paths unknowingly crossed again many times throughout the years. They grew up in the same area, attended the same university, and ultimately ended up working for the same company, he as an engineer and she coordinating them. Soon enough, their mothers started putting the pressure on them to reconnect. As it turns out their mothers must know these two pretty well because they had so much in common. All it took was one date, they were hooked.

I met Sara and Ryan for the first time at their new home when we met for their session. Instantly I knew if the weather would cooperate this was going to be EASY. They were warm, loving, and laughed easily.  We set out on a mission to Kirkland, the scene of the official “unofficial” first date. YES the umbrellas came out and we played a bit in the rain, endured the cold, then watched in awe as the sun broke through the clouds giving us the most gorgeous yummy winter light you’ve ever seen. A true Seattle day. The best day.

Sara and Ryan, thank you so much for sharing your love with me! I had such a blast getting to know you. I’m bummed that I’m not the one to photograph your wedding, especially after hearing you detail your tasting. :-) Driving home last night I had a perma-smile on my face. I just feel like I gained two really great friends. Let’s make that burger and beer happen sooooon.

With Love,

Laura

*****Beautiful hair and makeup experience provided by the lovely and very talented Jenny Bowker. Thanks Jenny!!!

“We’re getting MARRIED!”

“CUUUUUUUUTE!”

To view more from their session check out their slideshow here.

Get in touch or view more work.

Tuesday was a hot hot hot day here in Seattle. I’m really not that pleasant in the heat, when Billy does an impersonation of the “hot me” I sound like I could star in the Exorcist. No joke, that’s really what I sound like. We live in the Northwest mostly because he was tired of dealing with me in California.

I stepped outside the door on Tuesday to head out to meet up with friends Jamie Delaine and Tira J and almost turned around and headed for the safety of my cool house.  I didn’t though, I braved the elements… and it’s a good thing I did because I had the most fantastic time talking shop and adventuring around Seattle with two of the loveliest ladies around.

Because Jamie came down from Vancouver BC, and she planned to stay the night we decided to organize a shoot while she was down! I love shooting with other photographers, I always learn so much by looking at what they see that I didn’t. It’s also great to have someone just to bounce ideas for posing, locations, and lighting off of. It was so awesome to shoot with Jamie, I love her work. It’s a true reflection of who she is as a person: strong, warm, genuine, beautiful, and fun. She’s the most driven and ambitious 18 year old I’ve ever met, and when I was picking her brain about her path in life I asked her if later she might have regrets that she didn’t live it up while she was young. You know what she said? “Being productive is what I’m meant to do, why would I regret that?” Ummmm who does that sound like? I’ll give you one guess, me. Scary! I was the 10 year old who wanted to organize a community play, write, direct and star in it.

My beautiful friend Renae and her boyfriend Adam volunteered to be our subjects. Well, they might have been talked into it a little bit. And I borrowed that SWEET copper bike from my friend Evan Christie who collects vintage bikes. Yeah the bike matches her hair…. I planned that. Thank you Adam and Renae for coming out in this weather, you are hotter than this blistering day was.

I just LOVE the way they look at each other and laugh and laugh and laugh. Renae is so cute I just want to pinch her cheeks and coo at her every time I see her.

Holy GORGEOUS eyes!

I could go on forever but OK! I’ll stop, the rest will be on Facebook in a couple of days.

My brother is a good man. And I’m not just saying that because I’m INCREDIBLY biased. A shapeshifter, he’s one of those people who can walk into any situation and fit in. Everyone likes him. He’s unbelievably smart, and considering what I know about the kinds of things he did in college I’m pretty surprised. I kid mom, I kid. His sense of humor is much better than mine. In fact, he’s made me laugh so hard I’ve peed, I mean REALLY peed. He’s handsome…. so handsome. I’m not just saying that because he looks like me with no hair. Other women have told me he is. I SWEAR. He is driven and successful, but grounded and real. He can fix stuff and build stuff and clean stuff.  He’s trustworthy and honest, so honest that growing up if he did something wrong most of the time he would admit and apologize before my parents were even on to him.

Last summer he was living the single life and then it happened. A mutual friend introduced them, and for Walt it was an easy decision. Amanda was the one. He found his counterpart in an amazing, successful, gorgeous, and good woman. He wants every possibility for her, and she for him. Their love story is only beginning and I’m so excited and impatient to see where their lives will take them. I hope it involves lots and lots of pretty babies. Clarification: Not like the Duggars‘ lots, but enough to carry the gene pool. They will marry in an intimate ceremony this summer at Broken Top in Bend, and I am blessed to be the one to capture their day.

Here are some of my faves from their engagement session. It was so hard to narrow it down because we must have shot for 5 hours, the time just flew by.

Walt and Amanda, I just love your faces off.

See what I mean about the gene pool? SHEEEEESH.