STORIES. WE ALL HAVE ONE.
i was exhausted before this wedding even started. pregnancy, wedding season, traveling back and forth to boise -- utterly beat doesn't even begin to describe it. but.
somehow by the end of candace and eric's day, my energy came back. something about their love, the excitement of their friends and family, rejuvenated me. i seriously drove home asking myself how in the world that just happened. and for that i can't thank them enough.
i had a good feeling about this shoot. from the minute i talked to kollin and stephanie on the phone i could sense we were all on the same wavelength. especially when they said they had a secluded "wildlife," location tucked away in the middle of stephanie's neighborhood. double especially when they said they had a golf cart to take me there. good thing they saved the harmonica as a surprise, if they had told me about it before hand, i might have paid THEM to let me photograph their love. one other thing you should know - kollin MIGHT be the kind of guy that goes in monthly to get his haircut by a girl he has a crush on for an entire YEAR before they ever get together. and all that time steph thought he was just diligent about hair maintenance.
by the time a couple leaves my clingy grasp, i'm completely attached to them. in the case of these two, well, we went through a lot together. namely getting my van stuck in the middle of a salt flat and having to call a two truck to rescue us before this groomal shoot even began. most embarrassing photographer moment ever! but you know, michelle and brian took it in stride. brian cracked jokes, michelle successfully held back the tears, gulp. hahahahahahaha, oh man, i'm so sorry guys, but i have to laugh thinking about it.
still, that wasn't the most tragic thing about our time together. the most tragic thing was that after photographing Michelle and brian's engagements (why didn't those ever get blogged, oh for the same reason the half dozen other sessions still waiting for blog time didn't- my life is crazy), and their groomal session, i missed their wedding day. its not what you think! it was no fault of my own! i sadly happened to already be booked for their date by the time they contacted me. i was so flattered that they wanted to go ahead and do pictures together anyway. racing the sun after our unwelcome tow truck interruption, this is what we got.
as soon as i saw courtney that morning, i could tell she had that "glow."
seriously. so gorgeous, without even trying.
i love how her veil is floating perfectly around her in this shot.
courtney's mom was seriously AMAZING! she worked tirelessly to pull off a flawless and beautiful day. i love this moment between the two of them.
we were all squished into this teeny tiny room (i apologize for any unintentional elbows i may have thrown into unassuming faces), but the light in there was dreamy.
while i was tied up with the ladies, good old uncle marty spent some time with the men in an even TINIER ROOM, or so he claims. here's hunter showing us all how to become dashing.
one of my super cool mentees, kelli, got to tag along with us for the day, and she spotted this room in the building that was under construction. UH HUH. we were all over it! i love the unconventional setting it creates, and again, there's that soooooft window light.
a few more of the gorgeous bride.
we got to head out before the ceremony for some shots of hunter and courtney. didn't i say courtney's mom was amazing? she scheduled a great slot for us for picture taking!
courtney pulled off some lovely smiles for me, but just look at the eyes she has for her man.
oh, a barn? why yes, yes they can work it with the farm setting, thank you very much. =)
the bottom right shot is marty's version of "american gothic." i dig. i dig a lot.
just some more lovin' and courtney's dress...
love their chemistry. courtney, one word, fierce.
some details.
the ever so charming wadley farms.
almost official....go for it courtney!
and finally time to simply relax and party. it was such a lovely reception.
congratulations you two, and thanks for such an amazing day!
yesterday, on my mysterious bottom half post, i recieved the following comment on my blog: Is it your brother? Because I'm dying to see those photos."
and we all know that i aim to please. and maybe we don't all know this, but i have GOT to get caught up on giving my couples some blog time.
so erin jo, here you go (how i enjoy the ring and easy rhymability of your name). =)
and let me just say a word or two about brett and paige. brett, as i'm sure you've caught on by now, is my brother. brett is a happy guy, doesn't complain much, always life of the party. but i have NEVER seen him as happy as he is when he's with paige. together they laugh, and kiss more than the casual observer might be comfortable with. when brett first started dating paige, i believe every one of my family members begged him individually to NOT MESS THIS ONE UP. luckily paige doesn't scare easily. i feel extreeeeeeeemely blessed that brett was able to land himself the heart of one of the most sincere and kind girls i have ever met. whew, for awhile we were all sweating there for you bro. =)
(see erinjo, this is what segmented parts of brett and paige look like).
