As dawn broke on this cold February day, the brisk southwestern wind whistled through the surrounding woodland, and the first light of day filled the tree house cabin with its warm good morning rays. Stephen started the morning by making Dagger Mountain Coffee pour-overs, and he and Kaity enjoyed the warmth of their mugs as they cuddled on the corner couch. The rest of the day was filled with music, worship and a little bit of forest dancing.
Read MoreOctober is Iceland's storm season, especially the Snæfellsjökull Peninsula on the west coast--it's known for the worst storms on this island nation. When we first read about Icelandic Octobers, we imagined just a lot of rain--"oh, we can handle getting wet"--we were (so very) wrong. We learned that when Icelanders talk about storms, they're referring to the incredible winds.
Read MoreA wondrous mist, along with eerie, hovering and constant moving fog filled the air above the over-worldly landscape. Like an unwound watch, it was like time ceased to move forward. There was a quietness, almost to a silence, and it was mystifying. With drenched hair and chilled bones in the fight against the sky's continuous icy tears, we still felt this volcanic land's symphony of peace and it warmed our hearts with awe.
Read MoreAtop Mount Tamalpais, Juilee and Rishabh stood quietly and in embrace, in awe of the surrounding majestic beauty. The wispy fog blew over the rolling green hills and birds took flight, and as Rishabh hugged his soon-to-be wife on the edge of the pacific, the salty sea wind blew Juilee's black curls across her face.
Read MoreThe last half of our session together was down in the Valley for sunset. What I love most about these images, is how relaxed they both were--at this point, it didn't seem like it was about getting the perfect photo, but rather, being present to and loving the moment that they were in. Josh and I both loved these moments with them and the entire day. In fact, our time and adventure with Amin and Nuraini was one of the most fun times we've ever had during our photography career.
Read MoreSometimes it's hard to find descriptive words that are not cliche, but the more I think of it, the more I realize that words only becomes a cliche when they're proved over-and-over-again true. And that's what we found with Chase & Kasey: With hearts to inspire and help the next generation, they're truly best friends of more than seven years, and the perfect, balanced match.
Read MoreThe two most important technical aspects that Sam and Kyle wanted for their session was a sunset and to use smoke. At the reservoir we found a beautiful pine grove, and because it was after 7pm, the sun was low enough to create harsh directional, horizontal light and shadows. After taking a few shots, we decided that this was the perfect spot to use the smoke. I positioned Kyle and Sam in a light streak between two shadows, and then Josh lit a green smoke stick and ran around them. As the smoke moved through the air, Kyle and Sam embraced and connected; and I photographed my back lit subjects, taking one shot after another. It wasn't until I looked through my playback that I saw what we just created together. I showed Kyle and Sam, and we were all ecstatic. You'll see those images at the bottom of this post. In summary, the smoke illumined the sunbeams that were already shining in between Kyle and Sam's embrace. The true beauty, to me, is their beautiful connection--the sunbeams and smoke just actuated it.
Read MoreEngagement session at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California
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