10 on 10 - October 2014

This month, the 10th kinda snuck up on me. It's been a whirlwind of a month. Luckily, I had my camera in tote a few weeks ago for a good friend's 30th. A true, unplanned, day in the life if you will. Before we get into the festivities though, make sure to check out all the other 10 on 10ers. As always, they are sure to have lots of good stuff for ya.

Shaw Photography

Twinty Photography

Anya Elise Photography

Button Media

CLB Creative

Brittany Conner Photography

Here in Portland, we have had a pretty incredible summer. I mean, it's hard to beat a summer in Portland on a regular year, but this year, our beautiful, sunny skies have stuck around without much rest, and all the warm, summer weather with it. 

As part of our fall/summer festivities, we celebrated Jeff's birthday. If I have learned anything in my 20 some years, it would be that another year older does not necessarily mean any of us have actually grown up. Most of us went to college together. Then spouses and other friends were added here and there, but when we all get together again, it's like no time has passed. It was like freshman year again in a few different ways...

If you are in Portland and haven't had a chance to try BrewCycle, go schedule it now. Some inward facing pedals on a wood and steal frame, music on the overhead speakers, and three stops of your choice. A pretty nice little Saturday. Our stops were Pints, Old Town Pizza, and Deschutes Brewery. There are a few seats that don't have petals, and those of us who were really smart took their turn on that seat when we were headed up hill. Mwahahaha. Suckers!

 

Thanks for being born and having a great 30th birthday celebration Jeff. Cheers to many more gatherings together for many years to come!

Until next time...

Ahna and Jeff's Engagement Photos

Guess what?! Two of my very good friends are going to be getting hitched this fall! Guess what else?! They asked me to photograph their wedding!!! I can't even tell you how excited I am to be able to be a part of their big day.

A few weeks ago we had a great engagement shoot at a few locations around town. I love hanging out with these two in the first place, but put a camera in my hand at the same time, and I'm in heaven. The best part about the whole shoot was that I didn't really have to tell them what to do. They are so lovey-dovey and excited for the upcoming nuptuals (...and nervous about the big glass eye staring at them watching their every move) that they just got into place and started giggling. You know me, I'm a sucker for giggley, lovey pictures.

We then left the forest and headed to a small neighborhood park in Beaverton. It's funny because Ahna and Jeff put an off and house and it was accepted the week after this shoot. Their new house is only a few blocks from this park! I didn't even plan that. It's like it was meant to be. Now they will get to stroll through their beautiful neighborhood park on summer nights and reminisce about their super fun engagement shoot. 

I realize that these two look very romantic, but one of my very favorite things about them is their sense of humor. This is Jeff's seductive face. ...and this is Ahna not able to control her laughter.

And then Jeff threw her overboard.

Luckily she dried out fast. ;)

When we thought that we had wrapped up the shoot, we found a beautiful clover field. We couldn't help ourselves. There were bees all up in there, but these kids weren't afraid, and it was worth it in the end. ...and there were no casualties.

A little side note, I've started to add make-up and hair to all of my engagement photoshoots. Make-up and hair (for Ahna) for this shoot was done by Julie Senders.

Until next time...

Meredith and Andrew's Engagement Session

A few weeks ago, I met up with Meredith and Andrew for a mini engagement photoshoot. I love working with these two. They are all giggles. I mean, I'm sure it was mostly the awkwardness of being in front of a camera, but I love it when couples start laughing instead of standing there staring like a deer in the headlights (maybe a bit of an dramatization). Laughing always makes for great, playful photos.

The more I shot with these two, the more excited I got for their wedding. It's so fun working with engaged couples because they are still in that, lovey-dovey, hands all over each other phase. Don't get me wrong, I love being married, but it's always fun to be around young love.

Seriously, I don't think you can get any cuter. I love that they just love to be around each and make each other laugh.

Andrew and Meredith, thanks so much for letting me shoot such an incredible and fun milestone in your life. I can not wait for the big day! Amazing, backyard, barn weddings are my fave.

Until next time...

Sister Sydney, All Grown Up

You may remember my very sweet sister Sydney from one of my posts about a year ago when she just got back from her study abroad trip to Tanzania. Well, believe it or not, this girl is about ready to graduate college. Yup, you heard read correctly. Sydney is all grown up and ready to face the big bad world. ...well not quite yet. She will graduate in a few short months, and then in August she will move onto grad school. Syd was smarter than I was (or maybe she just learned from my mistakes) and she is putting off the real world for another couple years. That's right children, learn vicariously from us older folk, and avoid the real world for as long as possible. It's a deep, dark hole.

But back to my sister. I can't even express how excited and proud I am for her. This may have happened to me too, maybe it happens to every college student, but it's amazing to see how much she has blossomed in college. She went into college as a fun, charismatic young lady that was ready for a new adventure and the get out of Wyoming. She has come out as an incredibly intelligent, active woman that is ready to take on the world. I mean that literally. Syd is going on to get her master's degree in social change. She is going to be one of those people that helps form the programs that make a dramatic impact on the entire world. Her specific interest lies in working with refugees and victims of trafficking. Pretty intense stuff, but she is so good at it. I'm not sure how someone could manage to still be sweet and funny while taking on the world's problems, but Syd has managed to do it. In other words, she is pretty damn cool.

A few weeks ago, Syd came to town for her spring break. We did a lot of fun things around town, but I also got a chance to shove her in front of my lens and take some photos. Our mom really wanted some photos for Syd's graduation announcements, and I really wanted to bust out my brand new camera.

We took an afternoon to visit Cannon Beach. After practicing our Truffle Shuffle for a bit (a little Goonies movie reference for ya), and scarfing down a bread bowl of clam chowder at Mo's, we hit haystack rock for our second photo-op.

Since I was with my sister, and not a paying client, I forced her to get her feet in the water. Bahaha! What are sisters for if not to get photos like this?

But, I like to think I then made up for it, by getting some "better" ones too.

So, that's all she wrote. In just about a month and a half, I will have some actual graduation photos to share with you all. Now, please excuse me while I go cry in the corner because my cute, obnoxious, embarrassing  and weird, little sister is all grown up and is now only a few of those things.

Until next time...

Future Baby Brandski

Last weekend I had the opportunity to photograph Laurie and Mike. Ya, these two are probably the funniest couple I have ever met. Seriously, they were cracking me (and themselves) up the whole time. There were some tears that had to be wiped a way. ...and maybe a little pee too. TMI?

Anyway, one of the things that Laurie told me is that ever since she got pregnant she has had a tendency to randomly get a case of the giggles. Not a bad symptom if you ask me, and apparently Mike knows the secret button to push, because once he got her going, she just couldn't stop. Hilarious.

In addition to all the giggles and good times, Mike and Laurie are one of those couples that you can just tell by being around them that they absolutely and completely love each other. They had a hard time keeping their hands off each other, but it was in the way that just screams that they are each still crazy excited to be with the other. It was fun to be around, and I can tell you that this kid is going to grow into an amazing family.

I have this crazy premonition that may or may not ever come true (let's face it, I have a tendency to get carried away from time to time...). I can just see Mike and Laurie's kid(s) looking back at the photos above maybe in twenty five years and loving that sense of nostalgia they get from seeing what their parents were like when they were young, before their life began. Now that I am in my mid-twenties I find myself wondering what my parents were like when they were my age. That's my favorite thing about doing maternity photos. I love having couples that will let me in enough to capture that honest sense of who they are at this specific point in there life. It's so much fun to be in that moment and freeze it for their kids to find and feel later. These two are probably the perfect couple for this because they are always on point.

And seriously, look at Laurie. She's eight months pregnant and looks amazing. She wears "mom to be" so well.

Thanks again Mike and Laurie. I had such a great time. I can't wait to meet your little guy in just a few short weeks! Stay tuned everyone else, because there will be baby Brandski pictures coming up soon!

Until next time...