Ben and Erin

I've never had a couple have to take the words 'in sickness and health' so literally on their own wedding day. The night before Ben and Erin's wedding, Erin sent me a text to let me know that Ben had become violently ill at the rehearsal dinner. This wasn't just any sick, it was so-sick-he-spent-the-night-before-his-wedding-in-the-emergency-room, sick. At 2pm., an hour before Ben and Erin's ceremony was supposed to begin, Ben was still in bed feeling absolutely terrible. Yet despite the royally unfortunate timing of the flu and the brutally hot weather, you'd have never known Ben was in pain. Nothing could distract these two from the happiness that was marrying their best friend! I truly believe it when I say I get to photograph the most incredible couples in the world. Ben and Erin's ceremony was so touching and their words so sweet and, as is a reoccurring theme with all of my weddings this year, as Ben and Erin vowed to spend forever together I couldn't help but feel truly lucky to be in attendance.

Ben and Erin (and both of your incredibly warm + loving families!!), thank you so much for your never ending smiles and your kind hearts and your wonderful hugs. Your joy was so beautiful to watch and left me with only the warmest of wishes for your new adventure as husband and wife!

Lots of love and a million thanks!! Michelle

Married!!

Ryan + Jenn

I’m being honest when I say you can tell a lot about a couple from their engagement session. I had never met Ryan or Jenn and yet from our dozens of emails exchanged I felt like we’d known each other for months. While I thought I was already excited for their October wedding at Brasada Ranch, spending the afternoon with these two made me realize just how thrilled I am to get to be documenting their big day. They’re kind, funny, gorgeous people who love each other with every last fiber of their being. True to Central Oregon form, in the 48 hours leading up to our session I sent Jenn three emails regarding the weather. Our forecast went from 78 and sunny to 52 and cloudy to 68 with violent thunderstorms. Truth be told, I gave up checking the weather report around 10 the morning of our shoot. Despite the completely unpredictable conditions, Ryan + Jenn were all smiles when we met at Smith Rock State Park. They so graciously laughed at my completely lame and ridiculous jokes and were even up for trekking down the steep and dusty path to the Deschutes River in order to find the perfect spot for photos. Couples like this are what make me the luckiest wedding photographer in the world!

Ryan + Jenn, ahhhhhh I can’t wait for October! If you could do your best to make these next few months fly by, I would be so appreciative : ). Many, many thanks for adventuring across town with me as I captured your beautiful smiles. I’m so happy this is just the beginning of our time working together!

M.

A million thank-you's to Kate Tuma for allowing Jenn's most naturally gorgeous self to shine through. Kate's a genius with hair + make-up and I'm thrilled to get to be working with her on so many weddings this summer.

After spending way too much time at Smith Rock (it was my fault, I couldn't stop taking pictures!) we made our way to Brasada Ranch to finish up the session. That big red barn?! It's where Ryan + Jenn will be saying I Do this fall!!

Lene

A few years ago I photographed Lene's wedding. And a year before that Lene's mother made my wedding dress. And even a few years before that Lene let me traipse around our college campus taking pictures of her beautiful face and her bright red shoes. Lots has changed since we walked the streets of Corvallis taking pictures. We grew up, got married, moved away, moved back, moved away again and (re)started school. Yet somehow, so many years later, we're still able to spend an afternoon together talking about life, laughing about our world, and taking pictures of us exactly as we are right now. Someday I suppose we'll start thinking about having kids and I can only hope I'll be lucky enough to continue taking pictures of these beautiful friends of mine during that season of our lives - and the season after that maybe even the season after that. But for the time being I'm happy sneaking away for an afternoon to capture our faces during this season of life. Just as perfectly stunning as they are right now.