It is infectious.  It can break a silence and a tense moment.  It can cross over language barriers and can make two people who don’t understand each other feel connected, even if just for a moment.  It is magnificent and pure in a way that nothing else is.  To me laughter is one of the most beautiful human expressions.  In the moment of a laugh there is no insecurity or fear, it is just a pure moment when the soul shines fourth.

I have seen others start to reflect and recap their year of 2009, and as I thought about my year I was inspired to recap my year in laughter.  I love everything about my job, but one of the things I love the most is capturing a laugh in an image.   Don’t let me fool you, I am NOT funny in any way.  Goofy and crazy and a LOT strange, YES, but not funny.  Even so, by some sort of a miracle, I have been able to capture some laughs. 

To everyone who laughed at  with me, thank you for making my year amazing.  Because I love them so much, and I hope for you they are a little infectious, here is my recap of 2009 in laughs:

Ending with my own little ball of laughter…she keeps me cracking up all the time!  Happy New Year to you and wishes for another year of much laughter!

I wondered if there would be that moment.  The moment when the groom looks up at his bride, the bride clutching her father’s arm in both joy and nervous fervor as she walks down the aisle looking at her groom, and the groom radiating with nothing but love and happiness.  I wondered if this would be that kind of wedding. I wondered if you would be able to feel the adoration and respect and passion and pure love between the two of them.  I wondered if  there would be all that, with only 7 people present standing on the cliffs of La Jolla to witness Lisa and Aaron joined as one. 

There was.  It was all there.  Every moment.

It turns out you don’t need the church or the hundred people or the elaborate candles and flowers and bridesmaids dresses to have a wedding that is exquisite.  To have a wedding that is brimming over with love and happiness and perfection.

When we met Lisa and Aaron for the first time, she told me that they were not those kind of people.  The kind of people who want a big wedding.  The kind of people who are stressed about every little detail.  “We are casual, relaxed people.  We just want a small wedding.”  And it was. And they were casual and relaxed people even on their wedding day.  And I cannot begin to tell you how honored we were to be there, to witness it, to be a part of such an amazing day and to be able to capture it for them. 

Aaron and Lisa, your day was just as flawless as I could have ever imagined it to be.  Your wedding was small, but it was lacking in nothing.   Your reception was filled with everything a reception should be filled with:  love of your families, excitement of friends, scrumptious and delectable food, glorious and stunning flower arrangements, laughter, hugs, tears of joy, and just a genuine warmth that filled the room. I now know how and why you are such warm, relaxed and casual people, because you are reflections of your families and your friends, all of whom made us feel so loved and welcome. Thank you for letting us be a part of that and giving us the honor of trying to capture it all for you. Many hugs…much appreciation…Ginette and Daniel.

Look how proud Lisa’s dad looks! I love that.

I can just feel the excitement and emotion here as Lisa hugs her sister and looks at her dad. I love that Daniel got this shot.

The “officiant” was John, Aaron’s best friend. Everything in this wedding felt so personal and intimate like that. It was incredible.

The glowing moms.

I love wedding details. Like that Lisa’s bouquet (as well as ALL the flower arrangements) was made my Aaron’s sister Trina. And that her shoes were pink. A-MAZING.

After the wedding we did the usual “formal” portraits…

Then we got to sneak away for some portraits of just the stunning bride and handsome groom. Those were the ones I treasured most from my own wedding and I was so excited to give that to them. First portraits as husband and wife!

After the ceremony Aaron’s mom opened up her home, the home Aaron grew up in, to host a slightly larger but still perfectly intimate reception for more family and friends. Every corner and detail in her home was the epitome of fabulous. LOVED IT ALL. Aaron’s family owns a floral company (Juniper’s  They do interior plantscaping services if you are in the need, and they are amazing people!) and you could tell, for the flower arrangements were simply gorgeous! Flowers graced every corner of the home, bringing warmth and joy to everything you saw. And like Daniel and I, Aaron and Lisa have a heart for great food. Lisa told us before the wedding that they were “foodies” and would love for us to take as many pictures of the food as we could. Since we also LOVE food and happen to LOVE food photography…this was a dream assignment. We were in heaven documenting all the DIVINE culinary display and heavenly floral arrangements. We snapped some shots other fun details too.

And instead of a fancy smancy wedding cake, Aaron and Lisa surprised all their guests with a doughnut vendor!! That is the best thing I have ever heard of! SO FUN!

I will end our post with a couple ring shots. I am not usually a wedding photographer, but I love when wedding photographers do the “ring shot”, so I thought I would try my hand at it. What better setting for the rings then food and flowers!

Thanks again guys! I hope you are having nothing but fun on your honeymoon!

I wanted to make out with her.  Yes.  It is true.  No, I am not in the habbit of making out with women, especially an engaged woman, but everyone gets an exception to their rules right?

I am also not in the habbit of doing engagement sessions.  It is not that I don’t love engagement.  In fact, I LOVE love.  Even more then that, I LOVE MARRIAGE. Next month Daniel and I will be celebrating our 6 year wedding anniversary, and for the last 6 years  I know that the best decision I have ever made was saying “yes!”   Sure, there are the days that I am POSITIVE that nothing is more awful or annoying then the way he closes the door or whatever small detail happens to be driving.me.INSANE. that day.  But even on those days, I know that I married my best friend and my perfect match.  I would do it again. Over and over.

When I met up with Marisa and John for their engagement session it made me feel all warm and tingly.  My heart lept in my chest.  I swooned.  There is something unique and wonderful about the way two people look at each other when they are about to get married.  I wanted to take it and put it in a bottle.  The way their eyes met.  The way they laughed.  The way he leaned in to her.  The peace on her face and his arms wrapped around her waist. The way they glowed when the shared the story of how they met.

Marisa and John are both passionate about kids.  And teaching. Two teachers that met at a teaching event and will vow next month to teach each other for the rest of their lives.    Now that is my kind of story.

So why did I want to KISS Marisa you ask?  Well, when I asked what she wanted for engagement photos, she said, “I want something unique, different.  Not your steroetypical engagement photos.”  THAT was when I wanted to make out with her.  ”YES!” was my answer.  What do I love more than love?  People who want unique and different pictures!  So I brought out the apples (for the teachers!) and asked them to juggle.

He juggled. She juggled. They juggled. It was good times. They were such good sports!

This shoot was full of laughter! I love couples who love to laugh! Especially when it is at my REALLY BAD jokes. Thanks for all the laughs guys!

Thanks so much guys for being a FANTASTIC couple and being such good sports for my crazy ideas. I had so much fun. You two are an amazing couple, an inspiring couple, and I wish you the best wedding and best marriage anyone could hope for. Blessings to you.

When I got engaged to be married to my incredible husband I had no idea how much work it would be to plan a wedding.  I remember thinking several times during the planning how if I had the money, I WOULD hire a wedding planner, STAT.  Then, what felt like a short 4 years later, Daniel and I found out we were pregnant.  I still find it hard to describe in words what a miracle having a baby is.  I can honestly say that it wasn’t until I felt that baby growing inside me that I really knew God existed.  I have never doubted it since.  Birth is truly a miracle.  

But let’s be honest, mixed in with the feelings of love and joy are feelings of insecurity and fear.  It is also a time of a LOAD OF HORMONES, aches and pains and tests of patience.  You are overwhelmed with questions, reading material, and opinions from websites and doctors and family and friends.  And let me tell you, nine months to prepare?  Psh!  That nine months FLIES BY!  I remember being  so stressed but too tired to want to do anything.  The first time I walked into Babies R Us, I cried.  Yep, right there in the store.  The tears flowed.  (Phew, never thought I would admit that to the public…but sometimes you have to own your tears)

Ever wonder what life would be like with a “Baby Planner”?  Ever think about how great it would be to have someone do all the baby planning, preparing and research for you? Well girl, take a deep breath, let out all the stress and fears, put your feet back up on the couch.  Let me introduce you to Joanne with Bliss Nine!  (yep a baby planner to your rescue)

When I walked up to Chili’s to meet Joanne the first thing I noticed was her warm smile.  Within minutes we were laughing our way through lunch.  Joanne is incredible.  She is one of those people that you just click with immediately.  She is warm and kind and full of life’s joy.  Her passion and excitement for her business is overflowing.  And I have to say my favorite part about Joanne, she is a laminator.  That’s right.  Those of you out there who are like me can truly appreciate someone who likes to be organized and laminate.  :)

I am so excited and honored to announce that I will be working with Joanne and Bliss Nine as one of her suggested photographers.  Go to her website here  and check out all the services that she offers!  (If you check out her blog page…you can see Sundin Photography featured on it!  Yay!)  AND if you book your Sundin Photography session through Bliss Nine…you can get a 10% discount.  Who doesn’t LOVE getting a discount?

Of course, I will  leave you with a photo.  Family of boots…