Katherine & Matt Ring Ceremony

First,  let me apologize for my extended absence.   We were supposed to have blogs posting automatically while I was gone for the holiday, but clearly I messed up!  I'll try to make it up to you with a contest for a free shoot this week!  

But back to the Austin wedding...

I have the opportunity to photograph weddings of all kinds.  Themed costumes, crazy dance parties, small family weddings, outdoor, indoor, etc.  Each couple brings in different traditions and personalities.  Every wedding is unique, and that's why I love it.  I grew up in Austin, but I've lived in Utah for almost 6 years now and started my business in Utah.  In Utah, a little over half of the wedding I photograph are at LDS (Mormon) temples.  I love the temples, taking pictures around the grounds, the beautiful architecture, and all the symbolism.  Thomas and I were married in the Timpanogos temple in Utah.  But for all the wonderful things about LDS temples, as a photographer, we don't actually take pictures during the ceremony, we just take pictures after the wedding on the temple grounds.  We don't photograph the "I do's" and the ring exchanges, so it's a different experience.

Katherine and Matt decided to do a ring ceremony the day after the temple ceremony.  It was absolutely beautiful.  (Much better than the dream I had of a vow-renewal with Thomas where he forgot to write his vows and everyone showed up late.  I must have been subconsciously jealous of this ceremony :D)

It's at a new reception venue in Austin called the Vineyards at Chappell Lodge.  A gorgeous venue with lots of land and trees.  But without further ado, here are the photos:

 

  

 

Below, Katherine's siblings singing to her.  This family is just awesome.

 

 

 

 

This is the other reason I love ceremonies:  The couple walking hand in hand down the aisle.  I'm female, so I'm allowed to admit that it made me cry... right?  They just look so happy.

Michelle and Trey: Engagement Photos on the Riverwalk

  While we were down in Austin Texas for Katherine and Matt's wedding, I had the privilege of photographing engagements for another close friend.

Trey was one of my favorite people back in high school, where we were both part of the french horn section of the Westlake High School Marching Band.  (It's true.  I was a nerd.  But a really cool nerd.)  So first, here are their photos, then I'll share a few from the good ol' days.

Because we had a wedding dinner that evening, the only time we could do these engagements was about 4 hours after sunset in San Antonio!  It was a challenge, but Trey and Michelle were amazing!  And with the cool atmosphere of the San Antonio Riverwalk night life and the help of my lighting specialist (Thomas carried all the light stands and flashes as we walked the whole way - he might say he was the sherpa, but I'll give him more credit than that), we were good to go!

  

  

Going back to Austin always makes sentimental.  I loved my high school years and it's always fun to get back in touch with friends from band (or choir, church, theatre, soccer, etc.)  When I got in touch with Trey a month or two ago, I took some time to back through old photos and it brought back so many memories!  Below are (left) 3 of us French horn players during a Westlake football game and (Right) more band nerds partying in the... wait for it... that's right.  Taco bell parking lot.  It was tradition.  And the cool place to be.  That's Trey's car we're sitting on.  It's possible that he and I took it up to 100mph on the freeway when we discovered we had taken a wrong turn that made it way late on the way to an important music competition.  That car rattled, but we made it to the competition and Trey performed so well he went on to the next round.  Must have been the adrenaline. :)

  

Keepin' Austin Weird

Some people like Christmas.  Some people go all out for Thanksgiving.  Jenn's family LOOOOOOOOOOVES Halloween.  They have got some of the coolest and most unique decorations in their house that I have ever seen.  Even the most subtle things are switched out to celebrate Halloween- to the point where you do a double-take and realize that yes, those white lace curtains actually have little ghosts in the embroidery.  So when Jenn and Jared got married near the end of October the reception in Jenn's backyard was BOO-utiful!

Bad news Future Brides- too many shots like this and I will have to abandon the wedding industry and become a food photographer (and Taste Tester!).... even looking back at these photos, I start drooling.

I love how the confetti looks in the photos, but I sure don't envy whoever had to pick it all up after everything was done!

Home sweet Home

Jenn and Jared were married in the LDS San Antonio Temple.  I LOVE the colors of the stained glass windows, and could we have found a more attractive couple to put in front of them??

My favorite thing about Jenn and Jared is how happy they look when they are together.  Their families look pretty happy too.

One of the reasons I was so excited to shoot at the San Antonio temple is because I grew up in Austin.  When I was little, the closest temple to us was Dallas, then Houston, and finally when I was about 17 the San Antonio temple was built.  I attended the open house and dedication, and it was a great experience to see that kind of growth in such a short period of time.

Austin will always feel like my hometown.  I love the culture and energy there. Maybe we'll end up there one day.