Mr. & Mrs. Kalebaugh | Oregon Wedding Photographer

Just four short weeks ago, this beautiful, young couple was joined by family and dear friends as they shared a special day of committing to each other…for a lifetime! Sydney and Tobin became husband and wife and I don’t think I’ve seen a couple that has wanted that more, that were more committed and excited to join together as one! Of course, I must admit, I’m a tad biased as Sydney is my niece, my brother’s youngest and I was so excited to be able to share in this very special day with all of them! They were married on a hot day in The Dalles, OR, but it certainly could have been hotter and there wasn’t much wind (which can be a problem there), and there weren’t any fires (they came two weeks later)…so it was obviously a very blessed day for them to have such great conditions and to have so many people be able to share in their amazing day! Sydney is a bit social, well okay, a LOT and makes friends with just about everyone she meets…hence, 12 bridesmaids! 😉 Although the largest wedding party I’ve ever photographed, it was probably the most fun group, they were laughing and giggling most of the time and the whole group was willing to do just about anything…I had such a great time with this wedding party and love going through all of the photos – it really was a blast! Sydney and Tobin are now settling into married life in Moscow as Sydney returns to finish her last year of college and Tobin applies to Vet school…and I know that life ahead of them has great things in store…there will be bumps and turns they might not expect and challenges, but that is what commitment is all about, learning how to navigate these things together, working to grow your relationship and make it ever stronger! I’m so excited to see where they will be in just 5 short years…and can only imagine the stories they will have to share from their adventures together! (WARNING: there are a LOT of photos here…I just had too many I wanted to share. so you are warned to settle down and get comfortable while you go through these!!)
storyboard001storyboard002storyboard003storyboard004storyboard005Laundry day!! Pretty nice looking laundry, isn’t it! storyboard006Sydney actually had two wedding dresses, both were custom made in the Philippines earlier this year when she was living over there…the one on the left was worn at the reception…both were stunning on her!!storyboard007storyboard008storyboard009storyboard010storyboard011A little prayer before everything began…storyboard012storyboard013Such a gorgeous bride!!!storyboard014storyboard015storyboard016storyboard017Okay…on the count of three, girls, PINCH someone’s butt…ONE TWO THREE….GO!storyboard018storyboard019storyboard020Talk about a veil!storyboard021Beautiful mother of the bride, Betsy, has a little time with the girls before heading to get things done!storyboard022We were lucky enough to take the wedding party photos on my brother and sister in-laws property, over looking the Columbia River and this one with a view of Mt. Adams in the background.storyboard023Absolutely gorgeous…Sydney was glowing!!storyboard024First look…Tobin had to come find Sydney…it was very touching!
storyboard025storyboard026storyboard027storyboard028Talk about a GREAT looking wedding party!!storyboard029storyboard030storyboard031storyboard032Proud (and emotional) dad…he’s truly blessed with two amazing daughters!!storyboard033storyboard034storyboard035storyboard036storyboard037Do I really have to let her go?! 😉storyboard038storyboard039Ha…if you know this family at all, you would know they like to have fun and goof around a lot, this was all in jest and we had some fun with these “shots!” LOLstoryboard040storyboard041storyboard042storyboard043storyboard044storyboard045Last minute details…one of the maids of honor, big sis, Sam, gets flowers ready for the flower girls!storyboard046The reception was help at The Dalles Readiness Center, a brand new facility, which was perfect for this large event and we had some amazing views from the deck outside…what a great location!storyboard047storyboard048You might notice the cake in the center of the table…each table had their own cake, each made by mother of the bride (Betsy)…a lot of work and let me tell you, it was DELICIOUS…and what a great way to keep the tables together for a nice visit…during the evening!storyboard049Testing out the dance floor before the ceremony…looking great!storyboard050As I said…great views!!!storyboard051Adorable flower girls and ring bearer…and all so sweet!
storyboard052storyboard053storyboard054storyboard055storyboard056storyboard057Sydney and Tobin are blessed to both have amazing and supportive parents!!storyboard058storyboard059storyboard060storyboard061storyboard062storyboard063storyboard064Here comes the bride…storyboard065storyboard066storyboard067storyboard068Wow, look at everyone!!storyboard069storyboard070storyboard071storyboard072storyboard073storyboard074storyboard075storyboard076storyboard077storyboard078storyboard079storyboard080storyboard081storyboard082A peek at their “getaway” car before they head in to the reception…it’s pretty spectacular!!!!storyboard083storyboard084And a special cake for the bride and groom!!storyboard085storyboard086storyboard087storyboard088Very proud dads….
storyboard089storyboard090storyboard091The first dance…storyboard092storyboard094Anniversary dance…and the winners, Mel and Jackie Schmidt…married 55 years (I believe!)…and dear family friends!storyboard094astoryboard095Oh my, it really was a blessed day with a sunset like this!storyboard096What a fun reception…Tobin’s dad called for some swing dancing and the room was all up moving!!storyboard097storyboard098A little uncertainty about who really caught the bouquet…so just share it…four more weddings ahead?!?

storyboard099storyboard100storyboard102This was crazy…when it was time, they were out of there, about as fast as they could go…too darn cute!!storyboard103storyboard104Mr. and Mrs. Tobin Kalebaugh

What an amazing day it was, Sydney and Tobin, I wish you years and years of happiness and joy!

Megan from Montana | {Tacoma Senior Photographer}

What a treat and honor to have met this beautiful young woman…Megan contacted me early this summer about her senior photos…which is normal, but the interesting part is that she lives in Montana!! She attends the same high school that one of my seniors from last year, Sierra, attended…and knowing that she and her family would be visiting the Seattle/Tacoma area this month, she inquired about a senior session.  A family wedding brought them here, although she used to live on McChord, so is familiar with the area. Flattered and excited, I was eager to meet her and hopefully, capture some special photos to help commemorate her final year of high school. All worked out, the weather was wonderful (although a bit warm, as Megan will attest to!!) and we met up on a Sunday afternoon at Ft. Steilacoom Park. Right from the start, I was impressed with this young lady, she carried herself with confidence and was ready to start right off the bat! Let me tell you, this gal is GORGEOUS, and I mean truly beautiful…and so very natural and comfortable with herself that it was easy to photograph her. Her smiles are incredible and her eyes…WOW, that’s the best word to describe them! Talking with Megan was easy and comfortable and as we  made our way through the session at two locations, she was fun to be around, and really impressed me with her goals and plans for the future…I know this gal will definitely go places and the possibilities are endless with her drive and determination!

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Megan, it was truly my pleasure to meet and photograph you…I wish the very best for your senior year and whatever life has in store for you after high school…I know it will be great!

Cute n’ Cuddly Cooper | Puyallup Newborn Photography

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, there isn’t much better than meeting a precious new baby, welcomed into a family…a new little one with the promise of endless possibilities ahead in their life! Sweet Cooper was a little over 2 weeks old, jaundice delayed his session a bit, but when I met him, he looked great and was a perfect little model during his session! I can’t believe he slept nearly the entire time and even gave me a few smiles along the way…what a doll! He brought along his mom and grandma…and watching them with him was truly heartwarming as I could see they had both fallen totally in love with this little guy, but how can you not!

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And a brand new Seahawk fan!! 🙂

Keilah, you have a beautiful son…what a blessing for you and your entire family! It was a delight to meet all of you and a pleasure to be able to capture some special photos of Cooper!

BEAUTIFUL Expectant Mom | {Puyallup Maternity Photography}

This is a very special post to me because the beautiful expectant mom in these photos is our daughter, Jessalyn. She and her husband, Sean, are expecting their second daughter ANY day now!! They are proud parents to a very sweet, bright and adorable daughter, Emma, who is excited to welcome her baby sister, Harper Rae, to the family! For me, I’m filled with excitement and joy over the arrival of another granddaughter…it will make three for us and my husband and I couldn’t be happier!! When Jess was pregnant with Emma, we had her maternity photos scheduled…one day for outdoors and one for the studio, and unfortunately, Emma had other plans and arrived 5 weeks early, so the extent of the maternity photos at that time were a few photos in the waiting room before Jess headed off for a c-section. It was all a bit scary and there were a few hours of waiting until she’d arrived…and nearly a month in the hospital, but today Emma is a very normal, happy and healthy little girl who has made up and more for her early arrival! If you ask her parents, they will tell you she is a VERY active and BUSY girl who talks ALL the time!  So, I had the pleasure of getting “real” maternity photos in with this pregnancy for Jess…and three sessions at that! The first was at the end of June and the last one was exactly a month later – with the beach ones in the middle during a family vacation in Oregon. I’m so very proud of the incredible parents Jess and Sean are and so excited to see them welcome a new little one to their family…and my husband and I are blessed to be “Mimi and Papa” to such wonderful granddaughters….and anxious for little Harper to join her big sister and parents!! If all goes as planned, this will be a natural delivery for Jess…our fingers are crossed and I’ve said many prayers that this time, everything goes as planned for this birth!!

storyboard001storyboard002storyboard003storyboard005storyboard006We had to be sure to include the older “brothers” in some family photos…now Angus and Frankie will really have to stay on their toes once they have two little ones around the house!!storyboard007storyboard004storyboard008storyboard009storyboard010storyboard011storyboard012storyboard013storyboard014It was too cute when Emma wanted a picture just like her mommy!!storyboard015storyboard016Someone was “photo bombing” her mom’s photos in the studio…it was too funny!storyboard017I told you she was beautiful……and besides beauty, Jess is an incredible teacher who also just completed her masters degree this month…she is one busy and determined woman who I’m so very proud of!!!storyboard018storyboard019storyboard020 storyboard022This was just 2 days before her due date…does she not look amazing!!!storyboard023storyboard024storyboard025storyboard026storyboard027storyboard028storyboard029storyboard030storyboard031As you can imagine…there will be an announcement and of course, photos once Harper arrives, so stay tuned.

Handsome Henry | {Puyallup Family Photographer}

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of meeting an adorable little guy who turned 6 months old just a couple of days after his session. Henry has the BEST brown eyes…deep and endless with amazing sparkle! A very sweet boy who is adored by mom and dad, Karina and Matt! It’s always a  delight to meet new families and even more so to to meet new families who are new parents…Karina and Matt are so in love with little Henry and just listening to them talk about their little guy was heartwarming…it’s truly the most precious thing to see parents who are not only in love with one another, but so in love with their new child…and this couple is truly in awe of their little guy! Henry was quite interested in all the activity at the park and watching everything…it was fun to see just how alert and observant he was…although that made it hard to get his attention…I really wasn’t nearly as interesting as everything else that was around that. With that being said…we did get some great smiles and his eyes really stole the show through the whole session…he’s a sweet little baby who I thoroughly enjoyed spending some time with on a pleasant summer morning…

storyboard001A little camera shy to start! 😉storyboard002He LOVES his bear!!storyboard003storyboard004Handsome guys…storyboard005storyboard006Mom is one lucky woman…such a beautiful sight!storyboard007storyboard008storyboard009LOVE this smile!!storyboard010storyboard011storyboard012storyboard013storyboard014storyboard015Henry also loves his dog, which was his dad’s when he was little! ♥

storyboard016storyboard017storyboard018storyboard019What a lucky little guy to have such wonderful parents!storyboard020storyboard021storyboard022LOVE~LOVE~LOVEstoryboard023And, someone was tired at the end…modeling is really tough work…Henry was great and I really enjoyed getting to know him and his parents! Enjoy the photos, Karina and Matt…more to come soon when the gallery is all ready!

Leible Family | {Tacoma Family Photographer}

This family ROCKS and I can’t say enough how much I enjoy them and REALLY, REALLY look forward to their sessions. It’s been 4 1/2 years since I met them, when their oldest, Brylee, was just born…and it has truly been my pleasure to follow their family as they’ve grown and get to know them over the years. They have become good friends and I love the girls…they are SO sweet and stinkin’ cute…and their parents are the nicest people! This is why I LOVE my job…clients become friends and even more…and being around people like this just make your day! So…on this bright and sunny day when I got to hang out with Rick, Jessica, Brylee and Ava…it was the best!! Watching the girls grow is so much fun…they are not only beautiful girls, but very sweet, have great manners and are a ton of fun!! Ava, just turned two and oh my, watching her warms my heart…such a cute and spunky personality and she adores her big sister…and the smiles just light up wherever she is!  Brylee, wow, so grown up, she was very helpful, followed directions beautifully and I loved all the stories she had to tell me…she is very bright and gives the best hugs!! Seeing the sisters together was a little glimpse into what my daughter’s life will be in a couple of years, as she’s expecting her second daughter any day…and all I can wish for is that her girls are as close and kind as Brylee and Ava are!! Of course, the two most important people in this family…dad and mom, who are the kindest people, so easy to talk to and beautiful themselves…they deserve all the credit for this girls, they are incredible parents and I just love being around families like this! Ahhh, I am lucky to know them…and even luckier that I get to photograph them as often as I do!!

storyboard001storyboard002Beautiful girls and momma…storyboard003Dad is quite the lucky man!storyboard004storyboard005storyboard006storyboard007storyboard008storyboard009storyboard010storyboard011storyboard012storyboard013storyboard014storyboard015storyboard016storyboard017storyboard018storyboard019storyboard020storyboard021storyboard022storyboard023Rick and Jessica, you are such awesome parents and the nicest people…as I said, we love you guys and I can’t wait to see you all again!

Olson Family | {Edgewood Family Photographer}

On a beautiful summer evening, I had the pleasure of sharing some time with this great family! The couple responsible for this group is Bob and Wendy and I must tell you, they have to be quite proud of their boys, Jarrod and Chad their daughter in-laws, Laura and Kendra, and their grandchildren! All were delightful and so great to work with…not to mention all good looking….it’s obvious they have it in their genes!! Wendy, mom or grandma, is a first grade teacher at Fruitland Elementary in Puyallup and I had the pleasure of meeting her a couple of years ago when our granddaughter had her for a teacher. Now, if you have had a child at Fruitland, you know who “Mrs. Olson” is…she is one of those rare and amazing teachers who makes such an impact on her students that they will never forget her and will always have wonderful memories of their year in her class. She’s truly amazing…in so many ways! Bob, I met the day of the session, but have heard about him and how can a guy who’s married to such a fabulous woman, not be great himself!! They have two boys and four grandchildren – three grandsons and one granddaughter! Sweet little Heidi, the only granddaughter is definitely a sparkle in the families eye…and I know how much fun it has been for Wendy to have a little girl in the family, after having two boys herself!! Of course, the grandsons, Cameron, Travis and Oliver (or Ollie) are very handsome boys and all so nice and polite…oh my, what an impressive family!! It was warm and the park was busy, but we managed to get the boys to break from frisbee for a bit for some photos…of course, they’d much rather play than settle down for photos, but they were great sports and took a break! As a grandma (mimi) myself, I know what it’s like to have the connection with your grandchildren…I’m fortunate enough to have mine in the same town, but Wendy and Bob’s grandchildren (and boys!!) live out of state, so making the most of time with them during a visit is so important! Watching them with their family was heartwarming and refreshing…seeing family gather and just enjoy one another’s company is a wonderful sight! storyboard002storyboard003storyboard004Ollie is nearly 5 and a busy boy with an amazing laugh and smile…he was full of energy and hard to pin down for a photo, so holding him, upside down at that, worked quite well!!storyboard005Jarrod and Laura and handsome sons, Travis and Cameron….what a delightful family…I was quite impressed with how polite the boys were!storyboard006Kendra and Chad…and Heidi and Ollie…the cutest family and OH, such fun to be around!! storyboard007storyboard010Special time for these grandparents…having all of their grandchildren visit at the same time!storyboard008Oh my goodness, this was the cutest thing Chad did with Ollie and Heidi…storyboard009

Grandma time…priceless!storyboard011storyboard012storyboard013The Olsen men…tradition carries on!storyboard014storyboard015storyboard016Laura and her boys…wow, so great looking!!storyboard017storyboard018Ollie, as I said, he was on the go…and loving every minute of it!!storyboard019storyboard020Peek-a-boo!!!storyboard021Watching Heidi and Ollie together was the sweetest thing…they are so cute together!!storyboard022A rare moment when Ollie was not moving and I managed to grab this shot of he and Heidi.storyboard023LOVE ~ LOVE ~ LOVEstoryboard024He is ALL boy!!!storyboard025 storyboard027storyboard028storyboard029As I said, Ollie has the BEST laugh…it was contagious!!storyboard030And these eyes…OH MY GOODNESS…such a natural beauty!storyboard031storyboard032Wendy and Bob…it was a delight to meet your family and spend a little time with you! You are blessed to have such a wonderful family and I’m glad they were all visiting at the same time so we can get a session in with everyone!!