Katherine & Matt: Formal Wedding Photos at Zilker Botanical Gardens

  Now some of these photos might seem familiar from the wedding highlight slideshow I posted recently.  Katherine and Matthew (or "Kat" and "Matt") are both friends that I have known for a loooong long time.  Coincidentally, they have also been dating a loooong long time.  How long you say?  How does since middle school strike you?

It's been a wild ride as they've dated on and off, and throughout the whole remained the best of friends.   Though if I had a nickel for every time someone said "I am so excited y'all are  finally getting married"... well I would have a lot of nickels.

Thomas and I flew down Thursday before the wedding, which was a grand two-day affair on Friday and Saturday.  We managed to catch a flight early enough in the day that we were able to do this bride and groom pre-shoot at the Zilker Botanical Gardens.  We got some individual bridals as well as some photos of the two of them.  After the shoot we headed on over to Katherine's home for some pre-wedding day barbeque and some music, where I sorted and edited like a madwoman on my laptop so that we could order some enlargements for the reception on Saturday. (On a side-note, anybody going to Austin that wants great bbq MUST go to Rudy's.  It's not optional.  But I digress...)

Matt and Katherine both looked fabulous, and had that glow that only those on the brink of the best day of their life really can show.

Having moved out of Texas before I really started shooting professionally, I had never taken photographs at the Botanical Gardens quite the same way before.  I used to come here all the time, but I never realized the wealth of photo locations this place has.  It's chock full of beautiful spots like this one below...

I've known Katherine forever, and she's one of the sweetest, most outrageous, talented, and "out there" people you will ever meet.

  

Katherine is a playwright, and has directed many a play (she and I even ran a theater camp once-upon-a-time, but that's another story).  So of course, we had to show off her very official director's chair.

There will be more to come of these two as I finish up the photos from the wedding day in San Antonio and the reception in Austin.  We'll probably have to break it up over several days, because a LOT happened, and there was so many cool things that I wanted to share with y'all.

Sneak Peek: Austin Texas LDS Wedding Photography

  As I mentioned the other day, we were back in my hometown in Austin TX shooting a wedding over the weekend.  Here is a sneak peek of some of the photos from the formals shoot that we did on Thursday at the Zilker Botanical Gardens before the wedding, and some photos from the wedding day itself on Friday at the LDS Temple in San Antonio.  They had their reception on Saturday at the Vineyards at Chappell Lodge, so I had some time to quickly go through and get a few of my favorites from the two shoots for this slideshow.  We ran it for the wedding, and one of the coolest things about it (aside from the awesome photos, of course)?  The song is actually the bride singing!!!

It's a song she wrote for her (now)husband a year ago about their relationship.  You can actually buy the song on itunes- her name is Katherine Gee and the song's title is Sunshine and Rain. She is fabulously talented!  In fact, her entire family is unbelievable as well... the whole wedding process was like a big broadway musical, with spontaneous poems, musical performances, and some really awesome dancing.

I'll definitely be posting more pictures from the wedding later on in future posts, but I just had to share a couple now so y'all can see what I was up to.  I had so much fun, and was so honored to be a part of it.

Joelle and Brett- Formals at Salt Lake Temple

  Call them what you will, bridals, groomals, or formals... pre-wedding day shoots are where it is at.  Joelle and Brett were great to work with, and we ended up with some photos that they were super excited to enlarge for the reception.   Here are a few favorites...

  

Joelle did some photography back in high school, where she focused on black and white photography.  So we had to get a couple b&w's to show them off as well...

Joelle and Brett will be married at the end of this month in the LDS Salt Lake Temple and will have their reception at Magnolia Grove, so check back later for more pictures!

Heidi and Steve- Sleepy Ridge Wedding Preshoot

  So this last part of the formals shoot is proof positive that when you don't cancel the shoot because of massive impending thunderstorms, that good things can happen.  We got some gorgeous sunlit shots at the Sleepy Ridge Golf Course and the Reception Center there, and then it was time for the sunset.

  

As a photographer, I am so happy Heidi and Steve decided to go with Sleepy Ridge for their wedding, because the place is so dang elegant.  The building is absolutely gorgeous, and for bridal shoots and formal pre-wedding photos you can get some amazing skies in the evening.  The golf course and the grounds are so open and well done that you can really go crazy with pictures.

When I got the prints that we ordered for their reception last week, I felt like it was Christmas.  We did 20X30 metal print of this one above, and a 30x40 of the one below.  It went on the massive mantlepiece in the Garden Room there at Sleepy Ridge, right behind where they had the receiving line.  So awesome to have something like that, and in a size to do it justice.  Heidi's mom had to keep pointing it out to all the guests saying "do you see this amazing photo?"  Gotta say, it's one of the best feelings in the world as a wedding photographer to hear something like that over and over.  Thanks guys for an awesome shoot, and a fantastic wedding day!

Rain, Rain, Go Away

  Heidi and Steve are the type of people don't don't let a rainy day get them down! When we met Heidi and Steve outside of Tahitian Noni the storm clouds were already rolling in. By the time we got to the gardens its was trickling and soon it was pouring. We were able to get a few shots in before we had to run for cover for fear of ruining Heidi's gorgeous hair and dress.

This awesome couple decided to not let the storm scare them away and decided to wait for it to blow over. While we waited for the storm to pass we stayed busy photographing detail shots and getting to know the couple better. It turns out that the intern, Abby, knew Steve from their home state! (Don't make me start singing "its a small world".) Eventually the rain let up and we got some amazing photographs!!! But don't take my word for granted - check them out for yourselves!!

  

It's awesome how Heidi's shorter hair works with the high collar.  So cute!!!

  

I love the Morinda Gardens... they pack a lot of variety and gorgeous landscaping into a relatively small area.

Heidi and Steve were married yesterday; it was such an awesome day, and a beautiful reception.  We did the second half of the formals shoot at the Sleepy Ridge Golf Course in Orem, where their reception was to be.  I'll post those photos on Monday!

Kara & Chris: Formals at La Caille and Temple Square

  Kara and Chris were married today!  What a fun couple to work with.

Chris hadn't seen Kara in her dress, so we arranged a first look for the first part of the formals session at La Caille.  I love doing formals, and LOVE getting to capture moments and expressions like this.  This little footbridge was perfect for the occasion.

La Caille has this awesome private drive going up to the main buildings paved with these stones and lined with these gorgeous trees.  The whole place is full of locations that just scream out "take a photo here!  take a photo here!"

  

  

We also got a couple of night shots at Temple Square to finish out the day.

And since they were married today, here's a sneak peek from the big day itself!

  

Timpanogos Formals Highlights

  Not a ton of time tonight, so here's a few highlights from a recent formals shoot at the LDS Timpanogos Temple.

  

Grateful

  So often in the wedding business, we like to share the crazy stories.  And sometimes that's fun.  It is a crazy industry, after all.

Like the weekend we shot a wedding on Thursday, Friday and Saturday... and Saturday was in Portland.

Or The groom who broke his nose a week before the wedding.  Makeup can fix black eyes, right?

The nephew who got overheated on a summer day and vomited at the beginning of the reception.  He was much more comfortable and definitely in style after that!

The bride whose dress got stepped on after the ceremony and ripped.  Of course she still remained composed and confident!

...the couples who forget to bring the marriage license, the 103 degree weather at Salt Lake, the 9 degree weather in Logan, the wedding day that was 14 hours long without a break, the cake that fell over, etc.  It keeps life interesting, and these seem to be the stories we share.

But I've been thinking over the last week, and the reason I am a wedding photographer is not because of stories like these.  I am motivated to keep working hard because of the amazing people I get to work with.

First, my husband.  He takes care of most of the website, the contracts, and taxes.  He holds lights, lifts me up on his shoulders to get a better angle, and helps with those all-nighters before bridal fairs.  And he does all this as a second job.  He has another full time job as a financial representative, but still comes home to work with me in the evenings and weekends.  I couldn't do this without him.

   

Then, my mentors and teachers.  I've been blessed with the opportunity to shadow and learn from several photographers throughout the years, but 4 have had the greatest impact.

1. My dad.  A hobbyist, enthusiast, but appreciates photography, taught me business principles, and encouraged me as I started to work.  Bought me my first camera for my birthday, gave me my first camera upgrade as a wedding present.

2. Scott Jarvie.  He shot my wedding 3 years ago.  He's been a good example of creativity and one of the reasons I was pushed towards weddings, not other types of photography. (The photos above from my wedding are taken by him)

3. Andy Barfuss.  Not a photographer, but he taught an entrepreneurship class I took at BYU.  Not someone I spent lots of time with, but a few things he taught had a significant impact on me.  Among them are:

-The difference between marketing and advertising.  Marketing is building a brand, and is a long term and never-ending process.  Advertising is trying to find for clients/gigs immediately.  Both are important, but serve different purposes.

-"If you are willing to work like no one else will for the first five years of your business, you can live like no one else can for the rest of your life."

4. Kenneth Linge.  I took a couple classes with him on Photographing People and on learning the wedding business.  Much of his advice has proved invaluable to my business and to my skill.  He's extremely talented and creative, and he and his wife are wonderful people.  I will always be grateful for the lessons learned from them.

I'm grateful to the interns I've had.  Currently, it's Abby Alger holding the fort down.  She is an amazing assistant and does a great job with her own business also!

Lastly, I'm grateful to my clients.  I get to work with so many amazing couples.  They are good examples, and I enjoy weddings because there is an emotion, a relationship.  It's like a friend said on my Facebook wall "Your pictures make me believe in love again :)"  And it's true.  In a world filled with divorce and lack of commitment to each other, I feel so grateful to be here.  To see the honeymoon stage, to see vows and commitment, to see two people happy to be together.  Positive, supportive, and caring relationships.  That's what I've been thinking about.  I'm blessed in my career to spend it around happy people on an important day in their life as they promise to spend time and all eternity together.  And I feel lucky.

Danica & Ryan: Formals at the Secret Garden

Danica and Ryan's wedding was Friday, so we can share their formals now.  We headed on down to Provo to the orchard and the Utah Mental Health Hospital, and it was awesome!  We kept getting settings that looked like they came straight out of the Secret Garden.  The cobblestone architecture above the hospital, the orchard, all the greenery- it's such a gorgeous location.

  

Danica had such a lovely dress. I loved the embroidery!  It gave this awesome texture to it, and was just so classy.