Meet Kelly. The quintessential Montessori teacher. I have never met a person more *perfect* for their job. Calm. Cool. Collected. Her voice just exudes peacefulness. Perhaps that's why I love being around her so much. I need a little peacefulness! :)
Bryan was my favorite before I even met him. I love the way he spells his name!
My best friend in grade school was named Bryan. He died of a brain tumor in 1st grade (along with another little boy in my class who died a year later of Leukemia). Bryan got to wear a hat to school because he was going through chemo. The other children used to steal his hat and run around the playground with it. Keep in mind that as an adult, I am 5'2" and weigh a tad over 100 lbs. I'm a peanut. Especially back then. So it was surprising when I started kicking butt on the playground and beating up the bullies stealing his hat. I lost all recess privileges for the entire year. I spent my recesses in a supply vault with colored paper and a ditto machine. But I learned at an early age about love, death, right from wrong and being a voice for people who need it. I eventually got sent to the catholic school so the nuns could "guide" me. But I'd do it all over again. Bryan's family moved away but I still keep in touch. My something "borrowed" for my wedding was the Christening hanky from his Baptism. I wrapped it around my wedding bouquet when I got married. I've always held on to his memory and the lessons that I learned early on. It was only fitting that I held on to a memory of him on my wedding day too.
So any "Bryan" makes me smile. THIS Bryan was no exception!
Their session started out in the evening, but it was still a little hot out. We took cover nearby and tried to stay cool.
We then headed over to the park for a little pink champagne picnic! So much fun! I love the feel that the rest of the session held. Laid back. Casual. And fun. Just two people having a little intimate picnic (with a 5'2" banned from the playground photographer). This epitomizes what I am always striving for my sessions to be like. I want the clients to have fun. Enjoy the day. BE IN THE MOMENT. If I can put people in a good setting and give them a little bit of leadership the rest can play out beautifully without them feeling like they are "posing".
I started my photography business inadvertently. It was just a hobby and I took black and white film images of my friends weddings. I was a bridesmaid and just brought my camera with me. My images spoke from the heart and captured this:
"friends having fun...the love of friends...the relationships of family...the beauty in the moments that happen naturally"
So this is what I try to do. I try to be a friend. I try to melt in to the wedding party, or couple or family and make them feel as if I were a friend just along for the ride. And usually I do a pretty good job fitting in.
And then?
That's when the magic happens.
The next one is my *favorite*!! Kelly and Bryan....you are Beautiful!!!
So in the end...Kelly and Bryan had a sweet little picnic at the park. Oh. And knocked out their engagement session too! :)
Kelly & Bryan ~ I wish you a wonderful wedding in California wine country. May your marriage age as well as fine wine and may you enjoy it as immensely! :)
Love it! Thanks so much for the wonderful pictures capturing one of our many evenings spent in Forest Park:)
Posted by: Kelly | Jun 08, 2011 at 10:48 PM