Kalaloch WA Coastal Elopement on Film + Digital

As winter sets in in the beautiful PNW, I’m sitting writing this with rain pouring down my windows and a cup of coffee I’ve reheated at least three times. Covid living is a temporal mystery, with hours stretching into full afternoons and many toddler requests on repeat. I’m grateful for our health and safety, but very ready for a sense of normalcy to return.

With this year looking so incredibly different than most, I’ve been able to harness my creativity and explore new worlds that previously I just didn’t have the time for. My biggest and most exciting foray of the last 12 months has been in introducing film to my work. I began my photography journey just as the industry was making the switch from analog to digital, and I feel like I missed out on the foundational darkroom training that was such a rite of passage for many photographers. Though my analog journey takes me only so far as sending rolls off to a lab to be developed and scanned, I’m excited for the vastness of this unexplored medium and the incredible addition it’s bringing into my work.

For as long as I can remember, my mission has been to invoke some magic of human connection in my work. Whether it’s between the subjects in the frame, or a direct and subtle communication from me as an artist to my viewer, I want my photos to reach people at a soul level, not to just simply document. Film has brought a new set of tools in invoking nostalgia, embracing imperfection, and giving up an element of control in a tech-heavy world. I plan on using analog 35mm film in all of my wedding work (and likely lifestyle work) going forward. It’s the blend of digital and film that is so magical in telling a full story.

The shoot I’m sharing in this post was born of a need to create freely. I first met Sammy & Alejandro, the “models,” when they reached out to me for an engagement session earlier this year. I loved working with them, witnessing their love, and knew it wouldn’t be the end! They’re planning a destination wedding and I asked them to come out to the coast to create with us, and I’m so glad they agreed. Shooting a creative editorial is such an opportunity to dig into new ideas, work with a talented and like-minded vendor team, and push yourself into new growth. It wouldn’t be the same if the models weren’t truly in love or actually getting married, it really makes a difference.

We set our location to Kalaloch Beach on the Washington Coast. It’s a truly magical place for me, as I’ve been going yearly with my husband to camp. It’s just down the road from the more-popular Ruby Beach, but since that area gets so much attention, we wanted to celebrate the beauty and solitude that Kalaloch has to offer. We stayed in their beachside cabins and truly immersed in the environment to create this shoot. A highlight memory was a bonfire overlooking the darkening ocean and sky after the shoot with the team.

The team:

I did the planning, along with my friend Marnie Cornell, who also did makeup. I did the hair! We wanted to keep it simple and easy, wanted to sip coffee and chat together while getting ready, and make it an experience for all of us to enjoy.

The florals: Colibri Blooms

The stationery: Sablewood Paper Co.

Dress: Lulus

Groomswear: H&M

Venue: Kalaloch Beach & Kalaloch Lodge

Film (Fuji & Kodak) developed by Indie Film Lab

The following is a mix of digital, film and instant film:

 

And a few personal shots from that weekend:

 

 

 

 

Multicultural Home Micro Wedding in Seattle

Daniel and Jessica are the kind of couple that instantly make you feel included, like their joy is yours to share in, and that they’re really and truly just present in the moment. Which is why, even at the end of a very intimate wedding, I felt the same rush of energy that I would feel at 200-person weddings, just an air of absolute celebration.

I’ve written a bit about the joys of the micro-wedding this year, but truly, seeing it play out in different settings and avenues just continues to show how magical small weddings really are. Their day still held the traditional elements of getting ready, a church ceremony, portraits and a gathering, but when pared down to such a small group the energy is immediately calmer, simpler and I’ve noticed how present the couple can be with each other and their guests. I love big celebrations, too, but I’ve really come to embrace the limitations that Covid-era weddings has brought upon us!

We kept the timeline simple, super-simple, but I still urged them to make time for a 20-minute stop at one of my favorite little forests just north of Seattle for some quick portraits. I love this time of the day because I get to connect with just the couple, really get a wavelength going and document their love with open creativity and freedom. I brought both film and digital to their wedding and, as usual, the film holds the magic for me!

Enjoy, dare you to try not to grin ear to ear.

 

University of Washington Center for Urban Horticulture Wedding | Mai & Jake

The UW Center for Urban Horticulture is seriously a secret gem for wedding venues in Seattle. It’s tucked way up on the north side of the campus by Laurelhurst, and beware, on a game day is SCARY HARD to reach. Mai, the bride, and I were attempting to get there in different cars calling each other back and forth to report this road closure and that one. We finally made it but we had to be quick and rearrange the timeline on the fly.

It actually all worked out super well (thanks to their amaze attitudes and extra padding in every timeline I work on). You never know what’s going to happen, and it’s always good to have a backup plan for your backup plan on a day as big as your wedding. I take this part of it all really seriously, and never just show up on a wedding day to shoot. Being a huge part of the planning process allows me to build trust with my awesome couples and to ensure there’s a plan for when things don’t go according to plan.

My favorite part of the day was all of it. Ha, but seriously. There’s a great little bridge there and a row of trees making it a great place to get the first look and a great series of portraits. The Center for Urban Horticulture is a dream for photos because it’s so well curated and kept. Everywhere you turn will work. So instead of having to make sacrifices for background because of light obstacles, you just get help narrowing down the beauty. I loved the light in the field behind the venue, and the beautiful enormous trees with the bridal party photos were all a short walk. You get a great variety of photo options at the Center for Urban Horticulture, making it one of my favorites to work with.

My advice to all brides is to get a donut truck! OMG! They hired Mini the Dough-Nut Truck and it was such a great highlight, forgoing the traditional cake (I’m always excited to buck a tradition or two), and making it a separate chapter for guests to escape the dance floor for a second. The cinnamon-sugar donuts were delicious. Yeah, I ate them while one-handing my camera.

Another piece of advice I have is to re-think the grand exit. Honestly, it doesn’t always work to do it at the end of the night. A lot of people have left (bye, grandma) and it’s a bummer for special people to miss out. Also, sparkler exit + alcohol = danger. I have stories. Lastly, you seriously don’t need your wedding photographer to stay through all of the dancing. You’ll get an overwhelming amount of photos back and it’s not worth shelling out the cash to have me stay all the way to the last second. We did a fun human arch tunnel to welcome them from their golden hour portraits into their reception and it was so fun! And best of all, nobody missed out.

If you have the Center for Urban Horticulture on your list for your Seattle wedding venue don’t hesitate to ask me more about what it was like! And if you’re a photographer, hit me up if you have questions on shooting, etc.

Vendors:

Venue: UW Center for Urban Horticulture

Dress: Tadashi Shoji (BHLDN) via Brides for a Cause

Alterations: Andra Bose

Suit: J Crew

Florals: Woods Creek Florals

Catering and bartending: Wich Came First

Donut truck: Mini the Dough-Nut

DJ: Oren Artlip of Karr Productions

Rentals: Sweet Buffet Lady

 

Whidbey Island Elopement on Digital + Film | Seattle Wedding Photographer

When I first met with Marcela + Max, I felt instantly connected to their outlook and plans for a very intimate wedding with just their immediate family. Marcela, also a talented photographer, has a passion for film too, so I knew I could bring more of it into this gallery in a creative way. I had some rolls of expired Fujifilm that a previous groom had gifted me, and it was so fun (scary?!) to experiment with it and see the result. I love the sepia vibes that those frames add to the sun-soaked ceremony.

The wedding took place at Max’s parent’s house on Whidbey Island, one of my favorite places in Washington. Just a short ferry ride from Seattle, it feels drastically different with small towns, incredible mountain views, and lots and lots of beaches lining the shore. It’s also where one of my favorite movies ever, Practical Magic, was shot. (Don’t judge me!)

I met the couple at The Inn at Whidbey where they stayed, and we took some quick portraits there before heading out to a private beach for the rest of their photos. 2020 has given me so much appreciation for these simple and sweet days. No overwhelming timelines, all the connection, and so meaningful. I feel so much freer to create and love to enmesh with the families.