You know what I love about approaching wedding season?  Engagement sessions.  We get to talk, laugh, relax and I get to know you.  I loved getting to know Chelsie and Todd a bit more and hearing about their love story.  I’m counting down the days until their beautiful backyard wedding!  Todd and Chelsie are everything a couple should be: adoring, respectful, totally and utterly in love <3

As a photographer, I am granted a unique perspective on your family.  And you know what?  You are beautiful.  Right now, you may be living in a world of diaper changes, sticky peanut butter hands, and crying fits over milk being poured into the “wrong cup”…  But you give me something special; something I will always value and appreciate.  You allow me to see everything that fills your heart to the brim.  The moments that are actually plentiful, but sometimes unfairly overshadowed by the difficult moments in parenthood.  I get to look through my lens and see love, literally frozen in time.  And I smile as I scroll through.  I smile and feel very grateful that you’ve allowed me to see something so special and intimate.

Hi.  I’m human.  I go on vacation and stuff like everyone else and I like to take pics of my kids.  I also like to post pics of my kids because well, I’m pretty dang proud of those two monkeys and I like to show them off   You know what I don’t like doing?  Lugging 10,000 lbs of expensive gear with me on vacation.  Last year, I decided to travel with nothing but my iPhone camera.  This year, I packed 2 rolls of film and my 20mm and decided that was that!  So, here is our trip to Palm Springs on FILM.  These are the first rolls I’ve shot in about 15 years and I forgot how much I adore it.  You know what’s great about film?  I shoot, ship it off, then I’m blessed with 72 images in PRINT.  No processing or editing and I’m blessed with a stacks of prints from our vacation <3  Proof that we were there: something I can slip into a frame and enjoy year round.  I’m a lover of digital files and still firmly believe in their value.  However, this is absolutely why I always provide reference prints of each digital file.  Not only so you have reference as to the quality of color and processing of each file on your disc, but so you have a tangible product.  Something you can rotate through desk frames and hold in your hands.  There’s just something about holding a print that I find so satisfying…

For the camera nerds: Nikon F100, Fuji Pro 400H, Nikkor 20mm 2.8

Amy and Paul had traveled from Boston and extended their trip by a day to make this engagement session happen.  There was no possibility of allowing rain to ruin this for us!  The I-5 bridge holds a special significance for them and we felt so blessed that the skies lifted enough to catch a glimpse of it.  Enjoy!

When NYC photographer and author Colleen contacted me about the possibility of shooting her North Carolina wedding, I felt honored and flattered with a little touch of “that’s flipping AWESOME” thrown in.  I love a challenge.  I love walking into a situation that’s completely new and foreign to me and doing my thang.  What I *really* love are the people I meet through this job of mine.  I’m constantly amazed by just how small this world is.  Had I not been featured on a blog, Colleen would not have seen my work and we never would’ve met.  I never would’ve met Colleen or Sean or their families.  I never would’ve been introduced to a “shot in a syringe” (<still marveling at the sheer brilliance of this).  I wouldn’t have been witness to one of the funniest wedding ceremonies I’ve attended thus far.  The list continues on and on here, so before I go into what a travesty it would’ve been to have never seen the beauty of North Carolina, I’ll stop and post some dang photos already.  And if you notice LOTS-o-party shots, it’s because Colleen and Sean know how to throw DOWN!

A very special thank you to my dear, dear friend Sarah Bezila of Berrytree Photography for assisting and making the 6 hour roadtrip up from Atlanta with me to shoot backup.  Mega love for this chick.

Venue: Magnolia Manor, Highpoint, North Carolina

Photo booth shots….  You NEVER know what you’re going to get with these!  Haha!  With a fun group like this though, I should’ve expected some hilarity!

Amber Anderson Photographer Vancouver, WA Wedding Photographer