Wow, you’re almost here and we are so excited to finally meet you.  Your dad and I have been waiting for you for 9 long months and pretty soon we’ll get to see you, touch you, and gaze into your beautiful eyes.  I’m especially looking forward to holding you in my arms and nuzzling your sweet smelling head.  Let’s spend hours together just cuddling, nursing, sleeping, and enjoying life together.

I can’t wait to be your mama.  I’ve been preparing for motherhood since I was a young girl and I feel so ready to welcome you into my life.  I’ve studied everything I could about how to be a good parent, how to help you learn and grow, and how to be the best example I can be for you.  I’ve even practiced by taking care of lots of other babies and kids, but really it was all for you.  Taking care of you and teaching you how to take good care of yourself sounds like the most fun and rewarding thing I could possibly do in my life.  Thanks for helping me fulfill my life’s purpose.

Just wait ‘till you meet your dad.  He’s fantastic.  I just know he’s going to be such a wonderful daddy to you.  When I was choosing a husband I decided to choose the man with the biggest, most beautiful heart I could find.  And that’s your dad.  He cares so deeply, and shares himself so openly.  I love his honesty and the way he has trouble keeping a secret, even when it’s a fun surprise.  I completely trust him to take exquisite care of all of our hearts, which is really the most important task of all.  And on top of all that, he’s hilarious!  With your daddy in our lives, we are sure to have lots and lots of laughter and fun.

My friends keep telling me that you’re “one lucky baby” and I agree.  I’ve always thought of myself as one of the luckiest people I know.  And I’m so happy to pass on my good fortune to you.  In fact, there’s no one else I’d rather bless with endless good luck and the ability to appreciate and enjoy it.

One of my deepest hopes is that we can always communicate openly with each other, that no matter what’s happening, you know you can always come to us, share whatever’s on your heart and we’ll always love you no matter what.  There may be times when we don’t like each other very much, but even then, please know, that we love you dearly, deeply, and without conditions.  And even in times when you think you don’t, we’ll remember that you love us too.  Because that’s how it is in our family, we practice unconditional love and acceptance no matter what the circumstances.

So, welcome to life on Earth, and welcome to your family.  May you be surrounded by love, inspired to learn and grow, and always know that you are deeply cherished.

Love,

Mom

Shelly and Kevin,

We sure cut it down to the wire but I hope you find these images to be a late lasting memory of pregnancy!  You’re SO beautiful!  Thanks for trusting us and for being adventurous even at 2 weeks to your due date!  It’s been an honor to document your journey from engagement, to wedding, to baby   Lots of love to you both and congratulations on your new addition.  I hope everyone found the tissues because I sure was grabbing them reading your powerful love letter!

All the best,

B + W

This is a classic shot – nothing that’s totally unique but totally special.

I LOVE this giggle, Shelly…it’s like Kevin was tickling you!

One of our total favs from the day, has all the right unique elements with magical smiles from you both and still shows your belly. – YUM!

A fun daddy shot

Who knew you could be so sexy at 8.5 months?!!  Grarrrw. Love it – Wendy

This feels lonely yet a totally surreal with you and the baby.

Beautiful soft focus on the hay and grasses – like a hidden moment.

Love the connection between a single, growing organism with the grass in front and a single, growing organism with the baby in the back.

Love these belly portraits – WOW!  Color pop is lovely.

One of my favorite portraits, love the lighting on your face and belly.

At the end of the session, Wendy spent a little time alone with Shelly for these more intimate shots.  We fell in love with this one and are thankful Shelly and Kevin let us post this beauty.  Capturing the body at this stage in life in true form.  Shelly, you’re GORGEOUS!

I want to express to you how much I love you and am over the top excited to marry you! We have been together for a long time, but I still feel the great anticipation of this big step. It means a lot to me that we are ready to make these personal commitments and vows to one another, and to enter into this partnership for the rest of our lives. Our time together over these past five years have been the most fun, passionate, and life changing for me and it is all because you.

Since meeting you in class all those years ago, you have been an amazing teacher and friend. You are such a wonderful person, kind, patient, and understanding. I am such a lucky woman to have your love and respect. Meeting you has started one of the best adventures of my life and I can’t wait to grow with you and learn from you for the rest of my life.

There are so many reasons why I love you and want to be your wife, I couldn’t possibly list them all. I am so honored that you want me to be your partner in life; to be that person you choose to hike with, to camp with, to snowboard with, to play cribbage with, and someday to raise children with. August 28th will mark the beginning of our new adventure together, and I can’t wait!

Love, Katie

—

Katie + Brian,

May you revel in each other for all the days to come and remember this moment of joy and playfulness.  I know ‘adventure’ is your middle name, so here’s to the grand adventure that lay ahead!  We’re so thrilled to share in your upcoming wedding!

P.S.  We finally got the tree sap out of Byron’s shirt from this tree-climbing session – he he.

All the best,

B + W

That’s what we call magic clouds

Love this one and the candid, super sweet moment.

Don’t tell anyone the secret location of the rope swing, okay!

This is a favorite

We couldn’t help but post this fun pic Katie.  Byron was shooting from a tree limb here

This was a ‘give me some attitude’ look – Vogue style!

Love the texture of the metal here and we’re always fans of sweet kisses

Your father and I are so excited for your arrival. We have been preparing for you for many years and it’s truly amazing to us that you’ll be in our arms in just a few short weeks. Our hearts are so full of joy that sometimes we look at each other in tearful wonder that we’ll soon have the honor of being your parents. We take this responsibility very seriously, but you’ll find we are both really two big goofs, who just love to laugh and play. There are so many beautiful places we can’t wait to take you to see, play and smile as we have together. Your father can’t wait for the day to come when you slip on your first pair of climbing shoes. I can’t wait to see the wonder in your eyes on your first airplane ride or first trip to the ocean.

We promise to support and provide for you with open hearts and open ears. We promise to listen to you and hold you when you need support. We promise to give you the freedom to see and experience life through your own perspective, and to honor that you have much to teach us. We promise to role model to you patience, kindness and acceptance of others and things we don’t always understand in the world. We promise to do our best to instill in you a sense of responsibility as a human being to this planet and all the life that abounds. But above all of these, we promise to love you unconditionally and without bounds.

For now, I listen and wait for the day when you signal to me that you are ready to make your journey from the womb to the outside world. And I wish for strength and surrender that you and I will both need on that day. Until then, sleep in peace and wonder of the new journey you are about to embark. We are here for you with open arms.

Much love,
Your mother

——

Aura, you’re a gem.  We wish you and Logan the very best through the coming year of transformation.  It’s been so wonderful to be your friends, witness your engagement and wedding – continuing to document your story.  Thank you!  – B + W

This picture deserves a frame for the baby’s room

Oh, so cozy!

Who’s that cute momma-to-be?  Your eyes POP here – love it.

We love the perspective here and the light on the tops of your hands.

Does this mean it’s a boy?  Only time will tell!

Your body, your joy, your moment – timeless.

Karen + Greg (as you met in the engagement session) are a casual, fun-loving couple and this night didn’t disappoint.  Complete with passed hors d’oeuvres, full bar, king crab buffet, projected slideshow of their wedding, masterful cake and dancing all night long…it even cured Karen’s flu and made her smile ear-to-ear.

We’d like to thank the vendors that made it so seamless and beautiful to photograph: Venue and Food – The Oxford Hotel; Floral – Leaf & Petal Floral Design; Cake – Enlightened Patisserie; DJ – Star Productions; Event Design – West Coast Event Productions

All the best to you two and hugs to you both!

B + W

The official Stillwell cake

The Karen fan club!

The food was drool worthy – for SURE.

Love this shot – the sweetness of friendship

They were both great sports since a wedding was going on a the same time as their shoot!  We got to explore some new areas in a familiar location and had some fun near the cigar bar and pool table   Karen and Greg, thanks so much for the opportunity to work with you both, you are the epitome of a relaxed, sophisticated couple.  We are so excited to travel to Florida, spend time with your kids, family, and friends and capture your sunset wedding here in about a month!  Cheers and congratulations to you both…

Byron and Wendy

They look so relaxed

Okay, this is one of our favs – love your hat and glasses Karen!

I can’t get out of my head that you’re about ready to enter a snazzy Jazz bar.

Okay, so I never really noticed this hot Juke box until now!

A great headshot, Greg!  And we got a smile outta you after all

The famous red couch….

Fast forward a few days and I’m meeting Jess and Chase for a consultation.    It turns out that they not only knew the person in the band who’s images of the building I’d first seen, Chase had even lived with one of the other band members and knew about the photo-shoot himself.  Like Tetris, everything was falling into place and when they both agreed they were looking for images that were off beat, unusual and creative I knew just the place to take them.  Jess also told me about some chairs and a small sofa that they thought would be cool to incorporate into the shoot.  Family heirlooms you say?  Yellow velour?  It just doesn’t get any better!   I ended up scouting out the area the day before we did the photo-shoot and was super stoked to bring Jess and Chase out there.

Luck was on our side once again as I got up in the morning only to find a blue bird day in front of me and the sun shining.  Normally I’d be looking for a nice diffused light rather than a harsh sun to deal with during a photo-shoot, but this is February and far from Arizona temps!  Don’t get me wrong though, this isn’t to say that we were all basking in heat since the shade was still around 40F.  I was the only one moving around enough to stay warm so thank you Jess and Chase for making the images look warmer than you might have been!!  At this point, I usually don’t know too much about the couple I’ll be working with, other than our prelim conversations, so it’s fun to see how the two interact together, how their own personalities come through and really, how creative they’re willing to be.  Jess turned out to be from Melbourne Australia, 6′ tall and Anne Hathaway could be her twin and Chase is a student/musician.  Both have amazing hearts, super fun personalities and lots of stories.  I love stories.

After spending a bit of time with them, I really have to say that they were not only amazingly fun to work with, (the whole time they just laughed and  joked with each other and it was hard to get them to not smile!), but super daring to capture something different.  I’m sure I looked a little crazy to them as I climbed, jumped and hung off this building with my camera and equipment, (ah yes, I knew my years of rock climbing would come in handy) and still, even out in the middle of no where, a few people drove past with quizzical looks.  To be standing on a crumbly concrete shell of a building that looked more at home in Europe during WWII than in Central Oregon, this cliff side shoot with the rocks/ground at least 20′ down required some focus and Jess and Chase rocked it big time!  I look forward to the fun we’ll have at Smith Rock for their wedding.  Maybe a shoot on the top of Monkey Face is in order?

Such a sweet kiss….

True adventurers – they’re like 20 feet off the ground on the ledge!

One of my favs for SURE.

A rock star shot…

A pure beauty shot….

A serenade 20 feet up

I wanted Jess to stand on the edge, (only if she wanted to!) and have Chase on the other side of the wall. I’m still impressed at how calm they both look as they hold onto each other.  Now that’s confidence!

An antique couch added to the moment for the scene – we encourage our clients to bring props (thanks to Jess and Chase for adding this awesome touch!)

We also encourage and look forward to photographing couples in unusual areas that allow their personalities to flourish!

It was great to be part of something like this.  The event was basically on the site where the facility will be built, with the tents set up at the end of a road and security super tight.  Most of the people attending, (including myself) didn’t know what business was coming until today.  I’m really amazed this secret was able to last this long…especially with how powerful Facebook is!  Excavation only began on the 130+ acre site about two weeks ago but when the GM overseeing construction drove me around to get some images, it was evident that by the beginning of 2011 they would be up and running-think, TIGHT schedule.

At around noon, Prineville Mayor Mike Wendel announced to everyone the big news and after several speeches, the official ground breaking ceremony occurred, lunch was served and within 1.5 hours everyone had moved on to their next appointment.  I love challenges, and today I got to hammer out one of my quickest photo edits to date, since one of the stipulations for my shooting the event was that the PR firm in charge of the events media distribution needed the images literally after I was done shooting.  Pressures a good thing….especially when things go right!  So here’s to Facebook for putting Central Oregon in front of the world’s eyes.  Oh, did I say again how much I love my job?!!

Big shout out to all my friends who did an outstanding day today.  This includes Heidi Berkman with H. Berkman & Associates Inc., the Marketing & Special Events Consultant-541.480.8700 who made everything go silky smooth, Pinnacle Media’s Matt and JoAnn Hand for handling the video content, and Joolz Restaurant from downtown Bend for providing the amazing food.

Cheers-

Getting ready for the fun…

Mayor of Prineville, Mike Wendel showing some of the excitement we all are feeling!

Facebook’s Director of Site Operations, Tom Furlong (brown jacket) celebrating with others that got the job done!

Three of the finance wizards from Facebook–you can thank them for making it happen.

In a few hours of shooting down at Big Eddy and Dillon Falls, I ran into 4 other photographers (tripod and all) – one all the way from Seattle – with the same idea.  We were almost vying for the ‘best spots’ without being too impolite; it was rather funny.  We’re used to working around others with cameras at weddings, “the paparazzi” Byron and I like to call them (those with point and shoots and basic SLRs) but that’s the last thing I expected with this casual nature shoot!   One photographer even took a shot of me shooting at Dillon Falls (since I was hopping on the slippery rocks to get as close to the falls as possible, hoping I wasn’t going to slip!).  If he does end up sending it our way, I’ll post an addon!  Enjoy these winter pics; we wish everyone a spectacular start to 2010.

-Wendy

I fell cold just looking at this photo   Brrrrrr…

Just a subtle bit of color to spice up this image…don’tcha think?

See those footprints?  Yup, I was out on the edge jumping from snow patch to snow patch.

All that jumping for a view like this – worth it!

I couldn’t take my eyes off of the intricacy of this tree root…weird but fascinating!

And this one’s for you – Byron <3

-Wendy