I’m still here … staying adrift in the crashing sea that is wedding photography season in September.  I do love it though.  How lucky I am to make a living making photos. Every day it blows my mind — maybe in part because of the non-linear journey I took to get here — to block-out the outside noise and to finally listen to myself and cultivate my gifts.

I have a Japanese garden wedding to show you within the next day or two.  Until then, sit-back and watch and listen to this beautiful video from a surf photographer.  It’s a short story.  I think it’s simply amazing … what he says, and the footage that accompanies his words.

“If I only scrape a living, at least it’s a living worth scraping.”

“I never want to take this for granted so I try to keep motivations SIMPLE, REAL, and POSITIVE.”

And another quote I ran across today reading an interview with the stylist for AVEStyles on Promise Tangeman‘s blog (I love interviews!) that really resonated with me: “I finally feel like myself because I risked. Sometimes I wonder how different the world would look if people chose to be honest, to be themselves and to do what makes them feel most alive. Would we be more innovative? Would there be less conflict?”

I won’t even get started on my obsession with the American Southwest, except to say that I am, well, obsessed with it.  I have similar feelings about Christina and Paul’s wedding.  The setting at Juniper Well Ranch in Skull Valley Arizona, the rustic details, the creative floral arrangements, the pies, the mountains and horses and vineyards, the wedding party attire, the honey favors, the lace and burlap and linen decorations, the window frames, the everything.  This wedding simply made my heart sing.

To top it off … the details and the beauty of this wedding weren’t even the best part.  Christina and Paul have hearts of gold.  I can’t believe that I met them only hours before their wedding … I adored them from the start.  Likewise, their friends and family were all exceptionally warm, kind, awesome and wonderful to be around.  But I’ll stop obsessing and let you have a look for yourself.

Christina and Paul had a cigar lounge for their guests.  Love it.

Adore these two!!  So glad we got a photo together.  Taken by the awesome Katy.

Speaking of Katy, I need to give her a little shout-out because she was hugely instrumental in me shooting this wedding.  Because of her, I was able to shoot two of my favorite weddings this season.  She’s an amazing wedding planner.  Even though that’s not her profession, I kinda think it should be ;) Thanks, Katy!!

Christina and Paul … wow, thank you thank you thank you for flying me down to Arizona to shoot your wedding.  Some weddings are simply magical and yours most definitely was.  Congratulations — you two are beautiful!!

Vendor shout-out//  Event coordination: The amazing and friendly Fetu, Clay and Angela with Starstruck Events; Catering: Jube’s BBQ; Pies: Rock Springs Cafe; Flowers: Flowers by Request; DJ:  Paul Hurt of Prescott DJ Service; Hair: Erin Fink for Sachi Salon; Dress: Lea Ann Belter; Shoes: Love by Enzoani; Ceremony music: Phoenix String Quartet.

What a beautiful day!  Lindsay and Ty had great weather for their rural Wisconsin wedding.  Everything was gorgeous — you could tell extra time and thought were put into the details.

Only three people max could be on this dock or it would sink…

Lindsay was so gorgeous.  Give me a happy bride willing to have fun for the camera any day!  Most of these photos are straight-out-of-camera.  That’s what shooting in great light with a great bride will do.

As soon as the sun starting setting and the tent was filled with orange glowy light I sorta freaked out in a good way.

Lindsay and Ty’s day came together flawlessly with the help of Bill’s (The Wedding Guy) day-of coordination.  Everything looked so good and Lindsay was gushing when she walked into the tent for the first time.  Austin from Juke Box Bandstand did an awesome job with the music and was also so fun to work with.  I love great vendors!

Lindsay & Ty — congrats!!  You are a beautiful couple and I’m happy I was able to capture your day.

Does it feel like autumn where you are?  It’s starting to here.  Off and on — last week more than this new week.

I’m listening to Amy Seeley right now.  Answering emails before diving into photo edits and album designs.

Last week Troy had some days off and we went down to Mermaid Cafe for lunch and hot cocoa.

We read the Sustainable Times and the TOAST catalog.

Troy did the crossword himself.  We used to always do it together — ever since we started dating.

I haven’t done a crossword in a while.  I’m too busy.  But really, that’s not true.  It’s easy to make time for the things you love doing.

I love doing crosswords with Troy.  He’s so smart and we make a good crossword team.  I like the wit and word play.  And he knows every random fact in the world.

So exciting!!  If you’re a bride, you know about Style Me Pretty.  If not, you need to head over there for mega doses of wedding inspiration pronto.

I’m honored that Haley and Danny’s wedding is being featured as a cover story on Style Me Pretty today!  This wedding was personal and gorgeous with plenty of eye-catching details and the nicest people ever.  Go check it out HERE.

You can see my original blog post about Haley and Danny’s wedding HERE.