After an iffy spring, Jasmine and Ryan’s wedding on the first day of summer seemed less Woodinville and more Napa Valley. Thankfully, a steady, cool breeze gave the formal dressers what they needed to be outside, away from air conditioning and outside, on this day, is where you’d want to be. The grounds at Willow’s Lodge this time of the year is stunning! Their perfectly maintained paths and well-cared greenery of the grounds and raised gardens were not to be missed! It complemented all the right touches the couple brought to their special day, from Erin Skipley’s makeup, the beautiful arrangements and altar decor provided by Miki’s Flowers, the stately and tasty cake from New Renissance Cakes, and the tunes that rocked the house from dj Leslie of Seattle Parties. A dynamic duo of planners - Keri from Bliss Events and (day of coordinator) Kelly from Sweet Pea Events arranged the day to effortless perfection!

I know, I know…..it was SUPPOSED to be Jennie & Jason’s engagement shoot but who can concentrate on them when there are 3 cute and funny dogs yearning to be the stars of the shoot? Yes, we did spend much more camera time on the couple but the rest of the family was just as compelling! Well-behaved Darby, Lewis and pint-sized Bruno examined every part of our backyard and indoor studios and pronounced it fit and fun for others of their animal ilk. We love it when families bring their “significant animal others”!

We’re looking forward to Jennie and Jason’s wedding in August, though sadly, D, L and B won’t be part of the celebration. However, as the human part of their family grows, maybe the whole family will visit us again for new family photos. We’ll certainly need our yard reinspected by that time!

Our nephew on Oahu graduated from high school early this month and let’s just say it’s a REALLY big deal there so we turned it into a week-long, Ohana-reunion-vacation to make the most of it. This post is for them.

While the Maryknoll graduation and hanging with the family were the reasons to fly there, Jennifer and I had an agenda that included swimming/surfing/boogie-boarding, shaved ice (snow cones are NOT the same!), island foods from any ol’ drive in (Zippy’s, Keneke’s, L&L’s, etc.) including of course, spam dishes, malasadas, anything grilled, waking up late - each and every day we were there. It was hard and sometimes difficult to maintain that rigorous schedule having lingered longer on some than others so sad to say, we weren’t successful! But, as we always do, we had a fun and memorable time and even got in a couple of great hikes.

Mom’s artistic touch. She creates amazingly beautiful arrangements using not only color but depth and height. Then we grilled and served it with shoyu (for non-islanders - soy sauce). Kidding!

Did we say the graduation was in HAWAII? (Note the clever nametag sign!)

Ellis actually had two formal celebrations - the graduation and an award ceremony in which he and others received plaques and certificates of honor and note. Yeah, we’re proud of him. And…ok, so are his parents!

Some of this WAS grilled and served with shoyu!

Ellis serenades.

It rained only once or twice though unlike the icy cold ones we get in Puget Sound. Zarah proves Hawaiian drenchings are harmless…..and soothing!

We also like to get away and act like tourists though we did stay with relatives at the end of the trip. Our cottage on the beach in Waimanalo gave us easy access to 3 things on the daily list - a beach, an ol’ drive in, and shaved ice!

Did we mention the beach?

Arden. All cute and athletic.

The only child of sister Jeri and husband Al; the well-loved and respected member of the ohana - Boscoe!

I dare you to lay your face on that surface!

The trick is to get to the sea life sanctuary, Hanauma Bay, before all the OTHER tourists!

It’s called “shave ice” (w/o the d) in Hawaii. It’s that pidgeon-english thingy that gets in the way sometimes. What doesn’t is how the snow-soft ice gently holds the syrups, allowing it to slowly settle into the dollop of vanilla ice cream and sweet beans below. It easily calms the nerves and cuts through late morning 90 degree heat and saltiness in your mouth from surfing Portlock across ’shark-channel’…

Our Ohana. We love and miss them.

It’s been 5 years since they married so this makes it 5 times we’ve photographed the Jiyamapas - the first two without the youngest and next time, in the fall, their still-growing family of 5! We love the family. Michelle and Dan are themselves so natural and affectionate in front of the camera (veterans of so many sessions) they set the stage for son, Christopher, who is truly a standard for being an older, loving and responsible brother to cute and precocious, Piper. We photograph many families. Maybe 60+ every year and they, like the Jiyamapas, give us the chance to focus not just on situations and backgrounds and smiles and posture, but on the relationship with each other and themselves in every photo. Our job, we feel, is to bring as much of that to the photo as possible.  We’re thankful for the intimate opportunities to do so.

We arrived to a perfect setting and everyone was ready - as photographers, we couldn’t miss! The big home with a large deck and circular drive sat on acres backed to a greenbelt of tall evergreens and slough. Smaller old-style buildings, a loft and cute empty storage sat strategically apart and nearby. The girls were raised here and it’s easy to imagine some 20 and more years ago, shorter trees and freshly painted fences next to the newer home sitting alone but not lonely on this country road under Mount Si. Now as adults with different careers and living apart, it was fun to watch them interact with each other. What a great family!

We highly respect the opportunity and enjoy being involved in these intimate family get-together’s, albeit for the very short time we’re with them. As family reunions go, this one was made extra special and bittersweet because arrangements for the sale of this beautiful and expansive home were being made. When we arrived, tables were set and cookies and cakes prepared for one last celebration; a huge party for family and friends was set for the evening. I’ll bet this old and picturesque Snoqualmie home was the setting for quite a few of them! And I’m sure it’ll never be the same without the Whitakers.

Theo arrived asleep and we decided–hey!–let’s get started!! Once awake, he was truly one of the funniest and ‘consummately professional’ baby I’ve ever photographed. Full of giggles, smiles, coy looks - he always managed to do exactly what we were hoping for! Such a treat to spent time with him and his family!

(Because Scott worked extensively in non-profits including 22 years managing and directing services in King County, we established for our family and Red Fish Blue Fish, the value of giving back. We feel fortunate to be able so with organizations that focus on families, education and children. Powerful Schools, Overlake Service League, Parent Trust for Children, Dow Baseball Club, and City Year, an Americorps organization, are non-profits we donate services and $ each year and Casey, David & baby Theo won one of the photo sessions from an earlier auction.)

No wonder they seem to be having so much fun - because it’s the last full day of school!! We were fortunate to be able to spend time in Kirkland this week reliving the joy and relief of the end of school, Northshore Junior High style! The fun was captured in our Studio on-the-Go portable studio, complete with lights, backdrop, fab-props and on-the-spot professional printing stations so each kid went home with a photo in a cute folder. It was a hit! But after only 2 solid hours of shooting and printing, we were beat! Though satisfied that everyone who came in for a photo left happy!

It’s always great to reconnect with a couple after the wedding and photograph their family again! Viki & Michael were married in an elegant and regal, fun, knock-your-socks-off bash on a perfect sunny day in Victoria 5 years ago. This time we had all kinds of new additions to the family to capture during their family reunion this spring - at their large, picture perfect, country-style home. We loved their sometimes shy, mostly inquisitive but enormously cute kids!

We’re fortunate to work with Viki & sister Deb’s business, RyanWenzel Events, because with their many, exclusive corporate customers, they know how to throw a party!! And as we can see, the family’s quite familiar being in front of the camera!

An incredibly special occasion at the Edgewater Hotel on the Seattle Waterfront for Bill and Robert. On a beautiful, sparkling day, touching and heartfelt vows were shared among close friends and family - a reminder that love & respect are what make a marriage. We were happy to document this for the special couple!

The honorable Speaker Nancy Pelosi was in Seattle yesterday with fellow Representatives Jay Inslee, Norm Dicks, and Jim McDermott reconnecting with key Washington constituents and urging support for the Darcy Burner campaign. At the fundraiser held at the Washington Athletic Club’s Crystal Ballroom, she delivered a “we’re in sync” message and expressed optimism for changes a growing democratic majority in both houses would bring. Congressman Jay Inslee from our district gave Speaker Pelosi a children’s book which gave her an opportunity to talk about our country’s responsibility to turn over a better, more capable and respectable nation to the younger generation.

As political visits go, agendas are full and brisk and this one was no different. She began the day at the Veterans Hospital, attended the fundraiser and made time to participate in a video for the Burner campaign - all in just few hours. Staffers for political figures get most of the credit for arranging and putting on the events - sometimes with very short timelines! They are always busy and purposeful while gracious and accommodating. Their common trait is they never forget a face and the name that goes with it!