Doug & Amanda were married on May 25,2013 at The Portland Temple. To capture even more of their beautiful love, we had a pre-wedding session a few weeks before... which is my new favorite thing ever. :) I think you guys will understand why pretty quickly here... Doug & Amanda, like I told you, I just really like you guys, and I'm happy you decided to be married. Thank you for letting me be a part of your story together, and I hope you are having an incredible honeymoon!!
I just can't contain it. Our first 2013 wedding was a huge success (they got married! How could it not be?). And while I never do blog posts of sneak peeks, I just really didn't want to keep these to myself anymore.... Jordenn & Josh, thank you SO much for asking me to document your day! I was absolutely blessed to spend the day with you lovebirds. Enjoy your honeymoon!!
I've been receiving more and more questions recently about my business and work, which is really flattering and a bit overwhelming! So I thought I'd start posting responses for all to see. :) Today's episode: What's In Your Bag?
Camera: Canon 5D MarkII (and Canon 7D, used as a backup)
Favorite Lenses:
-50mm f/1.4 - It's great for almost everything! From details to large shots including a lot of environment, and intimate close-ups (but not too close, it causes quite a bit of distortion since it's a shorter lens). It's super versatile and really light. I love it :)
-70-200mm f/2.8 L - Talk about gorgeous images! The compression on this bad boy is soooo yummy.. and the zoom capability is just wonderful. I LOVE this lens! I use it on every single shoot and all throughout wedding days. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous.
-135mm f/2.0 L - This lens is really fast, really crisp, and really creamy. I don't use it as often as the other two, but when I do, I adore it. Being a prime lens at 135mm, I am limited to using it when I have enough space between me and the subject. The bokeh is lovely, the creaminess is amazing, and it's got really pretty compression too. It's overall just gorgeous! If I could use it all the time, I might. :)
-24-70mm f/2.8 L - The versatile lens. I used to say that I could use this for an entire wedding, and that's probably still true. It's awesome for family and group shots, dancing, and other wider angled things. Wide-angle looks are not totally my style though, so I don't use it all too often. I only take it to weddings.
-100mm macro L - RING SHOT!!! It doesn't get much better than this lens for rings and details that you want to highlight in macro. Yummy.
Flash/Lighting Equipment:
-Love me some speedlites. The Speedlite 600EX-RT is my flash of choice, and the 580EX was fabulous until it died on me (I got a LOT of use out of it though!). When on my camera, I use the flash for fill light or bounced light off walls and ceilings. Unless it's on the lowest possible option, I wouldn't ever flash straight on to my subject. That's just gross. :) AND that's why the flashes included on your camera should really just never ever ever be used. Just don't do it.
-Photoflex Octodome, with a stand. My not-so-secret weapon. I pair it with my Pocket Wizards (the Mini TT1 and the Flex TT5) for off-camera goodness. I'll also pull out my Tiffen Neutral Density Filter to stop down the light and allow a lower aperture with off-camera flash, even in the brightest sun.
-Reflectors! The Westcott Illuminator Reflector set. My rule of thumb: Never gold, always silver! Unless you prefer the overly fake n' baked look. ;) And the diffuser is great for portraits in a bit of patchy light. It's best to just avoid patchy light whenever possible, but hey..sometimes you've gotta do it!
Th-th-th-th-that's all, folks! Comment here and let me know what YOUR go-to equipment is, or what's next on your wish list! :) I hope this has helped!
A year ago on May 5th, I had the pleasure of photographing Dan & Maddi's wedding day at the Green Villa Barn in Independence, Oregon. On their anniversary, I was still on Maui shooting a wedding with Anthem Photography by Maria Lamb. The fun thing is, Maria second-shot Dan & Maddi's weeding with me! So we celebrated together ;) As a special congrats to D&M on their first anniversary, I thought I'd post their wedding to the blog! Who knows why I didn't the first time.
Maddi and I are now dreaming of & planning a destination shoot for the two of them... here's hoping! :)
Dan and Maddi, Happy 1st Anniversary!! Thank you so much for letting me be a part of your day..it was beautiful; as is your love for each other. :) What a pleasure to document it! You two are awesome...many blessings for all the years of your marriage.
Danielle is graduating from Walla Walla University this year, and will continue on to be a nurse; hopefully for the NICU. (Thanks in advance, Danielle, for all the lives you will touch and be a part of saving!) And WOWZA, is she going to rock the world!!
This girl is stunning (which takes about .0008 seconds to figure out), hilarious, and a very quick friend. She is going places, I tell you!
Check her out. :)
Danielle, I have had a little too much fun working with you and getting to know you. Not one second of it has felt like work...just having a grand ol' time with a friend. You have blessed me! Thank you!