Bend, Oregon Engagement: Justin + Meghan

Justin + Meghan met at an 80's night at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland, OR, and it was pretty much love at first sight. As Meghan, herself, put it...

"I remember leaving that night after we spent the whole evening dancing and laughing, feeling like I had just met someone I couldn't live without."

And they've pretty much been together since.

We incorporated their great love for the outdoors... and their pup, Bozley... into a FUN engagement photo session in the Deschutes National Forest.

Armed with an adorable blanket, special coffee + mugs, and a favorite Pandora playlist, we found ourselves having a picnic at Big Eddy, followed by a short hike to Dillon Falls.

It was a FANTASTIC morning all around, even more so that we managed to dodge the thunderstorm that rolled through right after we were finished. (Major high-fives all around for the great timing on THAT one!)

Thank you SOOOOOO much, Justin + Meghan, for SUCH an incredible morning, and for letting me capture a few new memories for you, and I can't WAIT for your wedding day!!!

Look like FUN + wanna learn more about a lifestyle photo session of your OWN? Contact me to get started... I can't wait to see what YOUR story will look like!

---

Happy National Puppy Day from The Suitcase Studio!

As a lifestyle photographer here in Bend, Oregon, I love to capture photos of my daily life.

And if you've been following The Suitcase Studio for a while over on Instagram or Facebook, you may have noticed that pictures of my DOG seem to pop up QUITE a bit!

That's cuz Jasper is a HUGE part of my life. He's my sidekick. My favorite little buddy. My pain in the butt and my constant clown. He's been by my side during celebratory moments, and has also licked my salty tears when I'm down.

I couldn't have asked for a better companion, and I'm so very glad he's a part of my life.

I'm sure I have thousands of photos of him from over the years, but this one is STILL one of my faves.  I mean, c'mon... who can resist a dapper little dude in a bowtie?

Dapper dachshund in bowtie, photographed by Bend, OR lifestyle photographer The Suitcasee Studio

#BendLifestylePhotographer

twinning it up // fun family photos in California

This family lights up my heart SOOOO much. I've been photographing them for over 4 years now, and it's been fun to watch the girls as they grow. And add a PUPPY to the mix, and I was in HEAVEN!

We decided to take photos at Shoreline Park in Long Beach, which not only provided a GOOORGEOUS backdrop (hel-LO ligthhouse!), but gave the puppy (and the GIRLS) pleeeeenty of space to run around and play. And roll down grassy hills. And jump off benches. And all the other stuff that kids WANT to do outside. (FREEEEEDOOOM!!!)

And so, we played. And I chased. And ran up hills right alongside them. And played Simon Says. And "find the man named Bob that lives inside my camera." And all other sorts of hilarious stuff that made the girls (and their fathers) giggle and laugh and have a GOOD TIME.

Here are a few of my favorite moments captured that afternoon. I hope you'll love them as much as I do!

If your heart is SMILING, let me know! Leave a comment below or, even better, CONTACT ME for a photo session of your OWN!

the napkin note

The lunch bell would ring, and I would race to meet my friends behind the statue in the quad. But as everyone else hugged hello (as if we hadn't seen each other in YEARS and not just a period or two ago) and started to tease and laugh and flirt, I would take a moment apart from the crowd to open my brown paper bag, excited at what I'd find within.

My dad packed my lunch each morning, so I knew I'd find the usual fare... lunchmeat + cheese sandwich cut diagonally, some pringles and maybe some oreos (ummm, yeah... the concept of a healthy diet wasn't exactly a hot topic in our household). But my FAVORITE discovery was always the daily napkin note I knew would be there.

Not an emotionally demonstrative man, my dad was never short on sharing words of love as long as he could WRITE them down instead.

So each day I received a "love note" of sorts. Written in ALL CAPS in sharpie marker on a puckered white paper napkin.

Sometimes his words would wish me luck on an upcoming test, some days I'd receive an inspirational quote, and other days he simply wrote of how proud he was to be my father. And each day I would get the warm and fuzzies, simply seeing those XOXOXOs signed at the bottom of the paper napkin.

Such a simple gesture, but one that has remained with me always.

And who knew I would become so like him in so many ways. I find it difficult to say the words aloud at times, and I write them down instead. Journals, post-it-notes, notebooks... papers scattered across my home. In my instagram posts. And now, here.

Because we could ALL use a little LOVE NOTE at times. A few words of encouragement, an inspirational quote, or simply something to say I SEE YOU and LOVE YOU no matter what.

So, carrying on the tradition, here's my first of many napkin notes to come.

And what BETTER time to start than on a Monday... when we could ALL use a little pep-talk?!

the big day // Bend, Oregon Lifestyle Wedding Photography

It was finally the BIG day, and she was a bundle of nerves... dancing through the house on her tiptoes, waving her freshly manicured fingernails about, and peeking around the corner at the grownups in their fancy dresses as they sat side-by-side, getting their makeup done.

A moment later it would be her own turn... with a few strokes of blush and straightened hair, today was definitely an occasion to play dress-up.

Because today was the day her mother was getting married, and she'd be getting a new step-dad, too!

Helped into her flowergirl dress and fancy shoes, she gave one last grin and flew up the stairs to excitedly show off just how TALL she was in her fancy shoes... and they even had HEELS. A few squirts of perfume, and she was feeling like one of the ladies.

With the others still getting ready, the bride-to-be turned to her daughter for assistance in getting dressed in a fancy gown of her own. And what started out as a time-saving convenience turned into a once-in-a-lifetime moment between mother and daughter.

Tiny fingers zipping up her mother's wedding dress, as her mother might be doing for HER one day. And watching in awe as the woman before her transformed from "Mom" into a glamorous bride that could decorate the pages of a magazine.

---

See, the wedding day isn't always just about the bride and groom...

There are soooooo many amazing stories happening in the background, and it's my pleasure to bring them to light.

That's the fun in being a lifestyle photographer. Seek and ye shall find... because we ALL have a story to tell.

refresh

I know it's been a while, but things have DEFINITELY been happening in the background of The Suitcase Studio. If you want to know the details through today, be sure to follow me here on Instagram.

But today found me hard at work behind the scenes again... deep in the zone working on some AWESOME new plans for the brand, and I totally can't wait to share with you all soon!!!

the PHOTOGRAPHY 101 WORKSHOP is here!

You've been asking for this for a while now, and I'm happy to announce that it's HERE! Introducing the PHOTOGRAPHY 101 WORKSHOP (aka "getting your camera to do what you WANT it to do")!

Whether it's a point-and-shoot or a DSLR, learn to get the MOST out the camera you have.

You'll learn basic creative and technical skills to help you take your camera off AUTO and get the photos you crave!

Perfect for: Moms, Business Owners, Bloggers, and Creative Types.

This 3-hour workshop will provide printed materials as well as hands-on learning, so be sure to bring your camera!

Date: March 14, 2015 Time: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Location: Timree's Paint Studio (Newport Beach location)

Space is EXTREMELY LIMITED... click here to save your space!

I hope to see you soon... and I can't wait to PLAY!

 

gotta love my Starbucks lovers...

Ever since the first time I heard the song "Blank Space" by Taylor Swift, I've been getting the words wrong.

You know the line that goes, "Got a long list of ex-lovers...?" Well, instead, I heard, "Gotta love my Starbucks lovers..."

And with that one small difference, the entire song played out differently in my head.

I saw Taylor sitting in her local Starbucks, sipping her pumpkin space latte (or whatever seasonal drink might be appropriate), and checking out the different types that wandered in the door.  Because Starbucks CAN be one of those amazing places to meet a lot of new people, right? And she picks out her new seasonal flavor (new money, suit and tie), and the "blank space" is actually that spot on the Starbucks cup where they write in the name you give them... whatever it is you want for it to be.

So, yeah... a far cry from what Taylor was probably envisioning as she originally wrote her song. But that's perfectly okay... and what art (and life) is all about... because you can have 5, 10, or 100 people listen to the same song, see the same piece of art, or even go through the same life experience, and each person will report getting something different out of it. That's how life works. It's all about where we're coming from, who we are, and how we perceive things.

That's what makes this imperfect life so damn beautiful, and what makes us all unique within it.

So, while Taylor keeps crooning about her long list of ex-lovers, I'll keep picturing that magical Starbucks where temporary dreams all come true.