Giddy.  That is the energy that these two have for each other.  They inhabit the same optimistic, playful, dream-like universe.  They told me the other night that when they met, they didn’t have to explain themselves to each other.  They “get” each other to a rare and beautiful degree.  Eric is one of my local photographer friends whose work absolutely inspires me, so it is such an honor to get to be the one to record some pictures of these two in this momentous season of their lives.  I absolutely adore you guys!  You inspire me and brighten my day every time I’m around you!

… Read the rest

Opportunities like this do not come along very often.

The chance to be trusted with telling such a unique story while at the same time an immense responsibility to literally be a witness to one of the most memorable days in a couples life is a privilege .  We do this every time we document a wedding, but this time was different.  Pam and I literally were the witnesses at Caroline and Luke’s nuptials in Las Vegas.

Caroline and Luke came to us originally about documenting their reception in Kansas City.  When I asked where they were getting married they informed me of their unique idea to tie the knot by themselves in Las Vegas in the most cheesy Vegas way possible.  I was hooked.  One thing led to another and Pam and I found ourselves in Vegas signing the marriage license as witnesses that evening in Nevada.

We had an absolute blast with these two on that Wednesday night on the strip.  This was different for me as I had a interesting task of telling this story like I was not there.  I wanted to show it as it would have been had they done this by themselves.  I had to be the eyes for their families as no one back home would have any idea what happened that night except for 6 cookie cutter photos from the photographer and a short video of the ceremony.  Those were included in the chapel’s wedding package as well as a cameo by the king himself.  Elivs.  What wedding in Vegas would be complete without Elvis?

To Caroline, Luke, and their families.  Thanks for the opportunity.

Onto … Read the rest

My friend Ashley has had dreams of a BIG farm table to host her most beloved under the stars in her back yard.  Her husband Jeremy gave her one of many beautiful gifts I have seen him give her by building a truly BIG table with enough bench room to host a dinner party for 16.

In late September, Ashley invited a handful of women to the Big Table for a vegetarian feast, the menu all planned around the concept “bittersweet”.  As we sat down to dive into our first course, she read an excerpt from a book she had been reading, “Bittersweet is the idea that in all things there is something broken and something beautiful, that there is a sliver of lightness of even the darkest of nights, a shadow of hope in every heartbreak, and that rejoicing is no less rich when it contains a splinter of sadness.  Bittersweet is the practice of believing that we really do need both the bitter and the sweet, and that a life of nothing but sweetness rots both your teeth and your soul.  Bitter is what makes us strong, what forces us to push through, what helps us earn the calluses on our hands.  Sweet is nice enough, but bittersweet is beautiful, nuanced, full of depth and complexity.”  (Shauna Niequist, Bittersweet, 2010)

This year, two of my best friends have dealt with the loss of a parent, a few have lost their own children, several have suffered heartbreak, and I understand more and more why so many people know life to be almost unbearably painful.  At Ashley’s table that night, each of us had … Read the rest

My friends Sarah and Mat got married in September on top of Aspen mountain.  One of my favorite qualities in Sarah is her habit of gathering people together for beautiful experiences.  She cultivates community and I think one of her biggest joys is giving.  For three days, about 60 of Sarah and Mat’s most beloved gathered in the mountains for hiking, fishing, lots of eating, and lots of dancing.  And there was a palpable power there on top of the mountain.  Everyone there was affected by it.

Thank you Sarah and Mat for the gift of being a part of this beautiful weekend.  Love you and miss you!… Read the rest