e:session - verena & matt

While we are all frolicking about in the San Juan Islands I thought it would be fun to get some pictures of Verena and Matt for a guest sign in book for their wedding. During the week I took some stealth pics and then had a mini e:session with them. It was highly amusing to take pictures of your best friend and her fiance especially if they are as goofy as these two.

This pic is the opening page in their sign-in book. I'll give you one go at guessing what their weaknesses are.

These next three images are all Matt & Verena. It started with them holding hands and before I knew it they we're flying around in the air and Verena seemed to get picked up and tickled a lot. Seems to happen quite frequently with those two.









Matt with his two loves!



I cant wait for your wedding and all its goodness in September!!!

cruising the Northwest

Ok ok, so our boat wasn't really a wooden viking ship (see last post), but we felt it was just as adventurous. It was such fun just being the four of us tuckering around all the small islands exploring and being our silly selves. I'm sure the land dwellers would have not approved our shenanigans.

Here are some pics of our life on the boat...

This is what happens when you leave Tucker to explore a beach. Currently he is ranking number one in the Olympic kelp toss.



We had a close encounter with a pirate ship, but after we snapped some pictures we luckily escaped. They were very lenient.




We had some fun on land too. Verena really wanted to see bears on this trip. Unfortunately we never spotted them, but it sure was fun taking pictures as if we did.

ahoy mateys!

How does one end up in a tiny port in the San Juan Islands? It all started with a call to my best friend in Germany asking what she will do for her honeymoon a few months ago. She casually mentioned it would be fun to be able to rent a houseboat and cruise around Alaska among several options - her fiance had spotted an advertisement in a magazine earlier that day. Within minutes it was THE option (except Alaska became Washington State.) We decided it would be doubly fun to combine our honeymoons since we are celebrating them before the actual wedding (they are tying the knot in September). It was only appropriate to do it together.

It has been such a fun experience cruising the islands with my best friend and "the boys". More when I get back......


Here is Tucker manning our seaworthy vessel...

traveling about

I will be out of the office until August 19th.
Since I will be on a small boat off the coast of Washington for a good part of the trip, there will be very limited access to my email and phone. If it is urgent please call my cell at 703-967-7777 and I will get back to you as soon as I am in range. Otherwise I will get back to you as soon as I can upon my return.
Thanks!

Please note I am phasing out my 877 number and replacing it with:
East Coast: 703-967-7777
West Coast: 510-228-4655

Jen & Aili

Jen and Aili had my favorite kind of wedding. Their closest friends and family came from all around under a canopy of redwoods to celebrate Jen and Aili with laughter, music and an occasional (happy) tear or two. After a ceremony filled with personal touches they moved into a clearing for a yummy all organic meal and some great music. And most of all they didnt mind me hobbling around on a bad foot - thank you!!!
Congratulations to Jen & Aili!








They even had a full on kid party with cupcakes, fairies and ballon animals - I couldnt tell who was having more fun the kids or the adults!





Towards the end of the evening they had a lei ceremony were they presented each
other and their parents with gorgeous authentic hawaiian leis.



location: Sand Rock Farm
catering: Swingtime Catering
florist: Boulder Creek Flowers
band: Ho'omana

running is hazardous for my health

A little over two weeks ago, one of a wedding photographer's worst nightmares happened to me. I was out for a jog when my foot got well acquainted with a storm drain. It was not a friendly meeting. I hobbled back home and as soon as I opened the door Tucker asked me how my run was. I broke down in tears. My foot was swollen, bruised and in some serious pain. The only thing that went through my mind was "what if I can't shoot my next wedding!" A visit to an urgent care clinic confirmed my worst fear - a torn ligament. I was ordered to stay on crutches, ice my foot and keep it elevated as much as possible. The likelihood of me walking by the time the wedding rolled around looked very bleak. I sent out an SOS to the SF photo community and was SO TOUCHED by the outpour of support and willingness to help. The wonderful photographers who I knew spread the word far and wide and I had many people contact me and offer to take over the wedding in case I could not walk.
Fortunately I was able to see a top orthopedic surgeon a few days before the wedding and it turned out it was a sprained ankle and I could walk on it - whew! After a few test hobbles I felt confident enough that I could withstand shooting for the day.
Calling the couple with the news was the hardest part and I left it up to them if they wanted to still use me or any of the amazing photographers willing to take my place. They decided they still wanted to have me (I LOVE them for that!). A brace, an overload on Advil and my trusty Tucker to help out - it all worked out great and ended up being a beautiful wedding (which I will blog about soon!).
It just goes to show that exercise isn't all that good for you! It also goes to show that these things unfortunately do happen, but its good to know one has the backing of wonderful fellow photographers. This way clients can rest assured that no matter what they will be taken care of.

I just wanted to give a shout out and a special thanks to the some of the folks who were so kind to me:

Lisa Neighbors - http://www.blondetulip.com/
Lisa Leigh -http://www.lisaleigh.com/index2.php
Kate Webber - http://www.katewebber.com/
Adi Nevo - http://www.adinevo.com
Lauren Cohn-Frankel - http://www.cohnfrankelphotography.com/
Sara Remington - http://www.sararemington.net/
Ann Hamilton- http://www.annhamilton.com/

my oh so sexy brace...