The hubby and I are taking a well deserved vacation to NYC for the next week or so.  Please stay tuned for some exciting things to come on our blog.  Upon our return, we’ll have a special Apple iPhone post of the The Big Apple, a special segment we started after our Chicago trip last September.

Our bags are packed and as you can tell, Chewy has already helped us with airplane reading material (he knows I wanted photo inspirational magazines).  We’re so ready for yummy food and beautiful sites.  And oh, fun factoid about C+C, Chris told me he loved me for the first time infront of the McDonald’s Time Square.  :)  So NYC holds a lot of meaning for us.

We’ll miss you all and we’ll see you in a few days!

Always,

Cindi+Chris

I don’t think I truly started to understand the definition of a beautiful woman until I picked up a camera and looked at her from behind the viewfinder.  Not to say I’m an expert at defining beauty, but I have a whole new perspective I’d like to share.  You see, when I was young, I found many girls pretty.  In high school, I would be extremely intimidated by these pretty girls because well, I wasn’t one of the pretty ones.  I know I know, some of you reading this might think, “Awww…!!” but really, I know I wasn’t.  At least not based on how I defined it then.

That was the “past Cindi”.  Present Cindi is a much more mature and wiser person from past Cindi.  When I step back and look at all the women I’ve photographed, I bucket all of them into one category: beautiful.  Even though they all look different.  Different race, different height, different size.  They are all stunningly beautiful.

Diana is no different.  Past Cindi would call her pretty.  And she is.  In fact, past Cindi would have been intimidated by past Diana if they attended high school together.  But last weekend as we hung out in the Presidential Suite inside Hotel Deca, I got to know Diana in a totally different light and she is indeed a beautiful woman.  She’s obviously beautiful on the outside, the pictures don’t lie!  But it’s the small things despite what can be phyically seen that makes Diana one of a kind.  It’s the way she wrinkles her nose mid-shot because she’s trying to relax her face, it’s the willingness to do anything I tell her to do with the sweetest smile, it’s the way she chuckles when she realizes she’s being silly.  It’s all these things that make her the amazingly beautiful woman she is.

As women, we always are our own worst critic.  As we mature, we learn to put most of our insecurities away and live life in the moment.  I’ve learned that youth comes and goes REALLY quickly and we should focus on the little beautiful quirks that makes us who we are.  Boudoir or beauty portraits is a way for me to help capture you at your best.  It’s an opportunity to freeze this time in your life, when you feel the best you can ever feel about yourself and provide you with something tangible you can look back years later and think, “WOW, I am beautiful”.

If you are interested in boudoir of beauty portraits, give me a ring or send me a note.  Let’s make beautiful things happen!

This is by far my favorite one from the shoot. Diana looks so soft and romantic here. It's just dreamy!

I'm not sure other photogs experience this, but oftentimes my best shot is my last shot. Might you agree?

You can find everything you need on Amazon.com, from ‘A’ to ‘Z.’  And for J+J, that included their 1 and only.

Jackie and Justin first met while working at the tech giant, and it couldn’t have been a more perfect fit.  She’s a spunky go-getting firecracker who makes things happen.  He’s a laid back go-with-the-flow box of mystery, intrigue, and hilarity.  Together, they’re a harmonious balance of fun, excitement, sexy legendary good times, and love.  Oh, the love!

Leading up to a wedding, we typically work more with the bride to make sure we see her vision for the big day, and plan how to capture it best.  As we’ve gotten to know Jackie more over these past few months, it’s become very apparent how nurturing, caring, and welcoming she is.  This is the girl that will take you to coffee happy hour on your first day, play tour guide when you visit her city, or walk you to that hard-to-find-whatchamacalit when you find yourself lost.

We get more and more excited as we learn more and more about what Jackie+Justin have in store for their big wedding this September.  And knowing how friendly, hospitable, and absolutely fun Jackie is, we have no doubt it’ll be one smashing shindig.  We cannot wait!

Congrats you two crazy kids. <3 C+C.

See more of their engagement session in their slideshow below.  If you’re on an iPad or iPhone, you can catch the video here.

Today Chris and I had a chance to meet one of the cutest little things in the world, Baby Zoey!  Wai+Tats are our dear friends and I’ve known Wai since high school.  It’s hard to believe that life has brought us here and we’re now welcoming her first little baby girl to the world.  Zoey was born yesterday morning.  She made a grand entrance, surprising both her mommy and daddy by arriving earlier than expected.  But it was a great surprise indeed because it allowed Chris and I the opportunity to meet her just that much earlier.

Zoey and Daddy. One day old.

Just last weekend though, some of us friends threw Wai+Tats (and Zoey) a baby shower.  Little did we know at the time that it would just be one short week before she’d arrive.  Nonetheless, the then to-be parents had a great time and here’s some pics for them (and you) to enjoy!

Our friend Nora made this cute sign and guess what? She hand sewn the little farm animals! She is SO talented!

Zoo animals was the theme for the shower and the favors were animal crackers. Our dear friend Marla made strawberry lemon cupcakes with zoo animals as toppers. Cute!

Our friend Jean hand folded these mini diaper necklaces for the "Poopie Diaper" game.

Wai and Jamie have been friends since the 4th grade!!! And no doubt their little ones will grow up together as well.

Babies are little so our food had to be little! Jean made mini turkey sliders and I made mini frittatas! Yummo!

Marla also made an awesome strawberry lemon sangria...for us non to-be moms.

I made a canvas for the group to write messages to baby Zoey. It's hard to see, but the monkey is actually sitting on Wai's tummy. When I was taking this picture, Wai had no idea what I had in mind for her. But it worked out great and Zoey's coming into this world with warm, welcoming messages from those that love her already!

Top: Two awesome gals...Nora and Marla. Bottom: Wai with her work girl friends.

Just...awwwww!!!

The cutest mom and dad ever! Congrats, Wai and Tats! Zoey is going to be a lucky little princess. We're so excited for you guys and thank you for allowing us to share in this happy time with you.

On a rainy winter Seattle night, Chris+I met up with Suryn+Shawn at a Seattle Starbucks to discuss their wedding in more detail.  I remember getting really amped up for the meeting because I was extremely excited about their wedding location.  This August, Suryn+Shawn will tie the knot in Leavenworth, WA at The Sleeping Lady resort.  Chris+I had previously shot a wedding here before and we just fell in love with this place.  However, after we talked and chatted over coffee with Suryn+Shawn, we fell in love with them even more.

We were definitely excited to work with Suryn+Shawn after postponing our initial shoot due to rain (Seattle…figures!).  They arrived at our first location, Pioneer Square, looking prim, cute, and super nervous.  And as luck would have it, the Sounder’s game had just let out.  Meaning…loads of people were walking around in the area.  It didn’t phase them though, and as these pictures show, they totally brought their A game.  There’s this vulnerability about Suryn that’s hard to describe in words.  But her eyes are fierce, her smile is mesmerizing so it’s no wonder Shawn is crazily in love.  And well…Shawn…I mean…just look at that smile!  These two made our job that day so easy, so we can’t be more excited to work with them again on their wedding day.  For now, take a peek at their engagement photos below.

Check out more of their engagement session below in their awesome slideshow!  If you’re on an iPad or iPhone, you can watch the video here.

Jump Jump!

In a few more years, will Kris Kross references be lost to history?  Will the Daddy Mac and the Mac Daddy be as forgotten as the 3rd crew member of the Apollo 11, Crystal Pepsi, or the Strawberry-n-Creme Twinkies of yesteryore?

I don’t know.  But I do know that it’s strange to start a thought-thread with 2 of 1992′s most prolific hippity hoppers and end with a delectable discontinued pseudo-food snack treat.

Oh yes, and we believe in fun.  That much I do know.  In fact, I did have a reason for posting today:  While finishing up edits on Kat+Jeff’s session from a couple of weeks ago, I came across several shots that I just had to share.  They were just too much fun, and deserve to not be lost to historic obscurity.

I love how this sequence just captures the carefree and fun-loving essence of Kat+Jeff. It totally came through on the shoot that day. A consummate professional, Kat even held her face and pose even while Jeff leapt right over her.

They say to find your dream job, find something you love.  To us, the other half of the secret formula is finding people you love to do it with.  Now, I suppose you could say Cindi and I get along pretty well, but we feel incredibly blessed that we have the most awesome couples to work with.  Love ‘em love ‘em love ‘em.

Meeting Kathy+Angelo was like getting together with old friends.  At our initial “potential client” / “potential photog” meeting, they invited us into their home on a typical sprinkly-but-sunny-Seattle-Sunday-afternoon, and we ended up chatting for hours on everything.

It’s no wonder our shoot went the same way.  We spent the day all around Seattle, laughing, joking, and goofing off (you can tell they like to squeeze the fun out of life, and don’t sweat the small stuff — like the threat of rain we faced all week).  We even had a lunch break in between (you can tell they also like to squeeze the food out of life, being a lot like us and planning to-do’s around to-eat’s).  It’s was just like heading out with our besties, except somewhere in there pounded out several gigabytes of photos.

Check out more photos of Kathy+Angelo in their slideshow below.  To view the slideshow in HD, or if you’re on an iPad or iPhone, click HERE.

Next to my husband and my parents, there are probably two sure things that I know for sure I love to death.  One…photography of course, and two…weekend lunches!  I don’t know what it is, but there’s something about waking up on a weekend and making a nice breakfast for the hubby and myself that just makes me really happy.

One of my favorite weekend lunches...a Bagel-wich!

I’m a food lover.  I really am.  And I really want YOU (our readers) to know this.  Because sooner or later, many of you will be asked to dinner by yours truly!  :)  I love to eat, and my thighs thank me for this everyday.  But I really do believe that people connect through the act of eating food.  If you’re one of our brides, you know (or probably will know) that I prefer to meet up over dinner or happy hour appetizers when I’m ready to deliver your photos.  I’d like to believe that I’m a pretty social person, but what I believe more is this: if you chose us to photograph you, you not only liked our photos…more importantly, you liked us as people.  So…hopefully with that, you won’t mind meeting us for some drinks and good eats.

You know those folks that are just fun?  Living, breathing, walking fun?  You know what I’m talking about.  Those people you could describe as good-times, rolled in ohmigawsh, deep fried in LOL oil, wrapped in bacon, and served on a plate of my-cheeks-hurt-from-laughing-so-much?  Yes, those types.

Those types are almost as much fun as Kat+Jeff.  2 of the most genuine people you’ll meet, who are so enjoyable to just be around.

Though we hadn’t met before the shoot, I feel like after a few quick hours we had made fast friends.

And it’s not even because Kat — the bakery manager at the uberdelicious Bliss Bake Shop – left us with tons of itty bitty cakes, or even because Jeff took us through the twistiest, turniest, funnest road I’ve been on in the Evo (Cupcakes and spirited driving?  These two really know the shortcut to my heart!).

It’s because just a few moments with these two and you’ll clearly see how loving and caring they are.  To each other, of course, but also to all those around them.

These are my kind of people.  Congrats you two, we’re so excited for the wedding!

Check out more photos of Kat+Jeff all over the Pearl District, Powell’s Books, and Cathedral Park in their slideshow below.  To view the slideshow in HD, or if you’re on an iPad or iPhone, click HERE.

Chris and I have known Suzanne for quite some time now.  Chris knows her more than I do because she was the first person to give him his big break right after college.  Yep…she gave him his first real job.  And I would have to tip my hat off to Suzanne as well because if she never gave Chris that chance, I would have never met him at work!  So you see, it felt only fitting for us to photograph Suzanne+John’s union because she was the one that first helped unite Chris+me.

Suzanne+John are truly meant to be, and deeply in love.  She’s a spunky Southern girl that (sorry Suzanne!) doesn’t always eat her vegetables.  And he’s a rugged (Daniel Craig look-a-like *wink wink*) football coach that will forever treat her like the Queen that she is.  They are tying the knot this June at the beautiful Salish Lodge in an intimate ceremony with their closest family and friends.  It was extremely important for Suzanne+John to have the people they care most be apart of their special day.  And we are humbled and extremely grateful that they’ve included us by giving us the gift of capturing their wedding.  We can’t wait for June…but in the meantime, enjoy this beautiful couple’s engagement photos!

More photos in Suzanne+John’s slideshow below.  To view the slideshow in HD or if you’re on an iPad or iPhone, click HERE.