Summers of Camping

Summers are for camping. And lake swimming and wet pups and campfires and good books. This year our summer is a little crazy with Colton gone for the majority of it and I busy photographing the most beautiful collection of brides + grooms. But when we have the chance, and when we have the luxury of seeing one another, Colton and I like to escape from the city and head for the mountains. Big clear lakes and crisp air and room for Conway to run free make our hearts sing. I wouldn't be surprised to find us living in Montana or Wyoming or Alaska for at least one season of our lives. We have a thing for big skies and wildflowers.

Joe + Jessie

Last week I had the opportunity to spend some much needed time in the Midwest with my mom's side of the family. I stayed at the 100 year old family farm, walked daily in the woods, saw bears and deer and turkeys and loons and spent many an afternoon in a kayak on the river. But what I was really doing, what I've been looking forward to for the past six months, was photographing the wedding of two of the most kind, real, down-to-earth and truly wonderful people you'll ever meet. Joe and Jessie, your wedding date has been written in bright colors on my calendar since the middle of January. Getting to travel to Wisconsin to watch you two become Mr. + Mrs. Marshall will most certainly be a highlight of my summer and I cannot thank you enough for inviting me to document your day. You went out of your way to make me feel like family and there truly aren't words to express just how much this meant to me. From start to finish you made me feel so valued and appreciated and for this I will forever be grateful. I know I speak for everyone in attendance when I say that the way you two love each other is so beautiful and heartwarming to watch. Thank you for being incredible people, inside and out, and for letting me share your day with you. Your absolutely perfect wedding - and traipsing through the woods with you!! - will always hold a special spot in my heart.

A million thanks and lots of love!

Michelle

After the ceremony Jessie allotted an extra generous amount of time for us to leave the city and head for the woods. We were able to spend over an hour taking bridal party and bride + groom portraits and I couldn't have been more thrilled about it. These two make the forest look pretty incredible.

Jessie planned her entire wedding while also finishing her last six months of medical school at the University of Wisconsin. Which just goes to show how incredibly talented and organized and superhuman she is!

And I'll end with this photo of Joe and Jessie's first dance as husband and wife, wishing them the happiest of congratulations on the start of forever together!!

Bo + Griselda

There were a million things that made me love Griselda from the start. Namely, she’s sweeter-than-sweet and can’t help but smile her big, gorgeous smile when talking about her kinder-than-kind fiancé, Bo. But after meeting for coffee and hearing all about her January wedding, what really struck me as wonderful was just how important family portraits are to Griselda and Bo. In this wedding world it’s so easy to be overwhelmed with table settings and flower arrangements and bridesmaid’s dresses. Hearing Griselda talk about how meaningful it would be to document her family was like breathing a big deep breath of crisp fresh air. People who love their families? They are my favorite.

Bo and Griselda, I know you were nervous about having your pictures taken but really!!! let it be known that you had absolutely nothing to worry about. You’re beautiful people whose gorgeous smiles are rivaled only by your love for each other. Your ability to laugh with one another and the way you’re so comfortably comfortable together is a joy to be around. Thank you for allowing me the honor of documenting your engagement and your wedding and this crazy exciting season of lives. Your trust means the world to me and I cannot thank you enough for letting me be a small part of this adventure. I hope you love your photos just as much as I loved walking through the hills of San Clemente with you. I can’t even wait for January!!

M.