Nara Photography Blog

After the 2012 WPPI convention in Vegas two weeks ago, I made a detour to southern California before heading back to Seattle.  I caught up with old friends, met up with new ones and also visited relatives, but the main purpose of my trip was to attend my good friends’ baby shower.  Thyda and Sam visited WA back in December.  We had originally scheduled a maternity session then, but the good old northwest only had wet and rainy weather to offer.  Of course I could not pass up on the chance of shooting in the California sun.  This shoot was a long time in the planning (well, ever since I found out about the news) and I’m so glad I got to do it in California instead.  Thanks to our friend Mikal of Lok In the Moment (also my wedding photographer!) for suggesting the Jeffrey Open Space Trail in Irvine, CA as one of our shoot locations.  All the sun made me crave for ice cream so we headed over to Laguna Beach.  It was a special place for Thyda and Sam because it was where Sam proposed to Thyda almost four years ago.  Well, we ended up having such a great time that we forgot about getting ice cream.  I’m extremely happy for Thyda and Sam and how far they’ve come and grown in their relationship.  I’m also very proud of Thyda.  She’s such a gorgeous preggo!  I can’t believe in just a couple weeks, someone who I consider more than a good friend but like my little sister, is going to be a mommy!  Baby Brayden… you lucky boy… see you soon!

Our  first engagement session of the year and we got blessed with a rare sunny February day.  Chakrya and Rob chose a small park in Seattle’s Magnolia neighborhood to start the day.  When we arrived we discovered that the neighborhood kids were also out enjoying the bright light that was beaming from the sky.  Yes, we had to wait our turns to get on the swings!  There was an amazing view of downtown Seattle from the park, but we wanted to get closer so later on we made our way to Queen Anne to one of my favorite little places to shoot.  I couldn’t ask for a more fun and adventurous pair to work with to start off the year.  I’m so excited and can’t wait for their farm wedding this summer!

I had the pleasure of photographing Gwen’s lovely bridal shower at a private residence looking out to Lake Washington.  My close friend Pearl hosted the shower and did a beautiful job planning it around a “tea party” theme.  Gwen is now a married woman as I post this.  Congrats!!

I also got to contribute to the delicious food spread.  I’ve been baking a lot lately.  The coconut meringue cupcakes and pink champagne fondant cake were made by…. me!  The hubby helped decorate the cake (he’s got the muscles to work with fondant).  I guess if this photography thing doesn’t work out, I  can always open a bakery!  Just kidding….

Penny + Danny had a wedding reception last Fall at the Asian Resource Center in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District.  When you have a huge family like these two it’s hard to find a venue big enough to accommodate everyone.  If anyone is familiar with the ARC then you know that it’s a huge gym room, but Penny and Danny’s wedding coordinator did a great job with drapings and up-lighting along the circumference of the room that it didn’t feel like you’re in a gym at all.  They had a traditional Mien wedding/reception for their families and are hoping to have a more intimate celebration later this year.  We arrived for the “western” portion of their reception and set-up a photobooth station for the guests.  Penny and Danny just celebrated their 10th year anniversary together as a couple last month so this blog post is dedicated to them.  Congrats and we wish them a whole life time head!

Penny had a convertible dress.  The bottom half zips off.  I always thought they were cool, but never actually seen one until this night.

Love her red lips!  Definitely something not just anyone can pull off.

The unconventional first look with an audience.

The wedding dress converted into a dance party dress here!

See more of the photobooth gallery on Facebook!

Did you know today is the second annual Small Business Saturday?  We’ve got a great deal going on right now.  Stuck on gift ideas this holiday season?  If not for yourself consider giving the gift of photography to love ones this year!  Perfect for family, children, couples, engagements, anniversaries, high school seniors and just because/anytime portraits.  We’re slashing our lifestyle portrait sessions fee in half, but the sale only goes through 12/31/11!

Terms and Restrictions: Session must occur between January 1  - September 30, 2012 and it is the responsibility of the customer to schedule the portrait session.  If used for an engagement session the value of sale can not be applied to discount any wedding packages.  Newborn and baby sessions are not included in this special.  Sale is subject to WA state sales tax.