Today, I wanted to give a shout out to some talented people who have been some good friends to me! I wanted to shed some light on all their talent and give back in a way.

All of these individuals have more talent in one arm than I think they know what to do with. It has been awesome to watch them all grow, collaborate, and inspire others with their passions. I know that each of these people inspire me to go after what I love with each day that I am given. I am thankful for how they have enriched my life, so I will give you a little synopsis on these amazing people .

I am not sure why, but I felt it was appropriate to make all these images black and white. It felt perfect for this series for some reason!

Lerin working on recording

Meet Lerin….this girl is a saving grace to me! She has a voice that is as beautifully unmatched as her heart. Currently, she is working on recording several songs with Andrew (later mentioned). Lerin loves the sea, night adventures, anything with ships, and singing about the man in the moon. The two words that encapsulate Lerin would have to be contagious and genuine.

She might just kill me for attaching this, but I had to give you guys an idea of her talent. The other night in the basement of their apartment building, a few of us sat and heard Lerin play this. This song is so beautifully written. It is my belief Lerin’s talent is a well kept secret, only seen by the special few in a basement laundry room. So maybe this gives you all a small glimpse into the beautiful music that lies behind the walls of a 1930′s apartment building. Stay tuned for more images of the process in making Lerin & Andrew’s EP to come.

Meet Jonas (above working on sound)! Jonas is a master at music production. Having been around music and production for quite some time, I definitely enjoyed watching Jonas solicit the vocals and atmosphere to truly set the stage for each musicians talent. Check the studio out here and the many clients Jonas and Jupiter Studio works with.

Next, meet Andrew (above, playing violin)! He is a very talented violinist who has been playing for 22 years now. As a person, Andrew is kind and inviting. As a musician, he is extremely gifted and has collaborated with several musicians recording and live. Learn more about Andrew here and stay tuned for more with his and Lerin’s project!

Meet Noah & Abby Gundersen! These two come from a long line of amazing musical talent. Their siblings have a band called the Le Wrens. Just recently, all of them sang together at the Seattle Rock Orchestra. Take a listen here .

Abby is one of those people I can talk with for hours about anything in life and end the conversation with stomach pain from laughter. She is a humble, beautiful soul. Lerin and I like to call Abby’s voice “buttery”. She is an exquisite violinist as well. Abby actually inspired me to learn violin, but don’t ask me yet how well that is going . I know this song is a cover, but i feel it showcases Abby’s voice. In my mind, this song sinks in much more coming from Abby.

As for Noah, most would begin by talking about how incredibly talented he is as a musician. However, I find it more appropriate to talk about him first as a friend and person. Noah in a lot of ways is a caretaker of those he cares about and is very giving. It’s not easy to truly enter his thoughts, but underneath his sarcasm and wittiness is a man with a lot of depth that very few know. He truly looks in the mirror each day and tries to do right by all around him. I think this song in particular encompasses this thought. Musically, Noah is gifted in writing songs that are raw and stripped of all the unnecessary elements. His lyrics take you back to a place of meaning. They don’t bury themselves in a mess of instrumentation that shouldn’t exist. Instead, his lyrics give your mind an idea that stays and gets turned over time and time again.

Check out Noah & Abby and buy their music!! These two are currently in Texas (my homeland) recording a new record, so stay tuned for that as well! Here is there website, have a looksy!!

Meet Niah! He is my talented and ridiculously fun dance friend! Niah brings life wherever he goes and to those around him. He just recently performed with the Gundersen family at the Fremont Abbey. He is a part of a group of dancers known as Project29. The images actually come from their performance that night, which was titled “Ode to Exhalation and a Spark”. Dance in many ways portrays images and ideas that bring about emotion in people. This particular piece in my heart brought about questions and hope. To watch some of the dance from that show, check this out. Also, their facebook page is Project29. Follow them and their shows to come!

This last image is of the Gundersen Family at the end of the “Ode to Exhalation and a Spark” show. To check out the other siblings in the Gundersen Family go to Le Wrens facebook page here.

Thanks for reading friends!!! It is my hope that you all have others around you to enrich your lives as these people have mine. Always surround yourself with people that push you to grow and get out of your comfort zone. For out of the comfort zone is where true growth exists.

Hey Ya’ll!!

I felt it was only appropriate to begin this blog post in that fashion!!

Meet Janie! This girl is full of joy and smiles. She is the type that warms your heart and brings a smile to your face. I am so glad I got to meet her and take her senior images while I was back in Texas.

There are so so many from this session that i loved. Usually in Texas, I hate the wind. This day was something for the record books. I actually embraced it and missed fighting it for good images. Leave her some blog love!!

this is my favorite from the session

Here are some sneak peeks of Brittany & Janie!! I shot these a few weekends ago in Texas!

The wind was at an all time high and somehow the rain followed me to Texas that weekend. However, I think we managed to work the wind in our favor. These two ladies are amazing in every way and I am so excited to show you the rest from each of their sessions!!

These images….seriously so excited to show them all to you!! While I was back in Texas, I got to meet with Emily & Will to shoot their engagements. These two have such an ease around each other. They invite others to be joyous and laugh without regard.

Just wanted to share two frames before the main post!:)

Happy Thursday everyone!!

“Sometimes people believe without history our lives amount to nothing….at some point we all have to choose. Do we fall back on what we know or do we step forward to something new? It’s hard not to be haunted by our past. Our history shapes us, guides us. Our history resurfaces time after time after time. So we have to remember sometimes the most important history is the history we are making today”

I loved this quote and felt like it was so fitting for the final image. While shooting this session, I was inspired by the history around this house and all the memories that seemed to live in it. History was all in that house and living on into these two people. It was rather beautiful to experience and I think the idea of history and what it means in all our lives is an interesting thought.

Meet Shane & Ashley!! These two are such a fun couple and I am so excited about photographing their wedding in Dallas, TX. I just love so many of these images. It was definitely an amazing day full of creativity and pillow fights!!

I am slowly catching up on all my blog posting. It has been quite the whirlwind these last few months in traveling, so now I am hoping to show you all the images from my many trips

ENJOY!!!

Today, my heart is filled with happiness and gratefulness beyond measure. I find that every day I wake is always a new and exciting day, full of unpredictable events and amazing people to enrich my very existence.

When I have days that I can’t seem to shake whatever is holding me back. I do this:

TRY THIS:

1) Close my eyes
2) Take a deep breathe and play back all those dear to you…..let go of the things holding you…for you can’t control them.
3) Open your eyes to a new perspective….let all those around you mold and bend you as much as you do to them.

SO much of life is about going forth in courage as a bold force through fear to find what you want and truly seek it out. SEEKING is key….life is happening now at this very second, yet we are all so lost in the thoughts of yesterday that we miss it. BE PRESENT…mind…body…you are in that moment for a purpose…DONT miss it

I am so excited to share these images of the beautiful Jenny Bowker!! She is such an amazing friend and an award winning make-up artist in Seattle!! Talented is an understatement for this pretty lady!!Check her out!! http://www.jennybowkermakeup.com/

More images to come…just had to preview these!!!

Cheers

I apologize for being vacant from the blog! I am starting the new year with lots more blogging of candid life images as well as weddings, shoots, ect!!

Today was a much needed break from life’s insanity and with a great group of people! In the news department, I got my new little dog Zedey (Z for short) in Seattle. Her and I made the five hour flight back from Texas on the 29th of December. I must say that she did quite amazing on the plane rides and barely made a peep! She is loving her new home and certainly seemed to enjoy the beach today!

With the new year comes hopes and dreams of what’s to come. I know there are so many things I want to accomplish and learn in this year.

It is my wish that this blog post finds you happy and reveling in the new start and new beginnings!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!I hope you enjoy the images of dear people in my life and our awesome dogs!!

I am so excited to show you all these images!! This wedding is one that is near and dear to my heart!!

Brittany is someone I have loved and known since I was in college!! We met working at Bath & Body Works in Lubbock, TX. Those days were some of the most fun in my life. I met amazing people that are still my dear friends to this day. As for Brittany, she became a close friend instantly. We could talk about anything and pretty much spent majority of our time laughing and dancing retardedly everywhere we went. She is someone that I can always pick back up with and it’s like we never left eachother.

I have been there through the guys that came and went with Brittany. She had been through her fair share of bad eggs and all the while we were there for eachother. So when I heard about James, I was very excited to meet him. We all three went to dinner on my visit to Houston about a year ago. I knew leaving Houston that James was perfect for her. She laughed, smiled, and glowed around him. This meant more to me than I think she ever even knew.

It is actually quite hilarious that Brittany was my first model when I started photography. Needless to say, my work wasn’t what it is today . If you only saw those images! Brit, I love you and wish you nothing but a lifetime of happiness! Anyways, I couldn’t be happier to present to you Mr. & Mrs. Nickles!!!

CONGRATS AND LOVE YOU GUYS LOTS!!!!

These are just a few on the beach after the rehearsal































So fun! Everyone rode the trolley to get to the boat reception!!

Recently, my dear friend and fellow photographer had the chance to come to Seattle! It was such a joy to have Ashley here and get to spend quality time chatting, laughing, and photographing anything and everything we wanted!! It’s days like this, that I love doing photography the most. I love capturing all there is to see through my lens and with no rules.

Did I mention I loved her being here?!!?! Not getting to see my sweet photography friends in Texas for once a week coffee has been something I miss very much!!

Enjoy the images from her Seattle visit!!:)

I am so excited to show you these bridal images of Lindsey!! I have been waiting several months to post these and the day is here! Her dress was beautiful and I loved her hair piece!!

I just recently shot her wedding in Texas and will be posting those soon to the blog as well!! Check them out and leave her some blog lovin.