KATE NOELLE PHOTOGRAPHY » FEATURED

Peter and Carol’s Engagement

knoelle — Wed, 09 May 2012 19:59:29 +0000

The sun shone brightly at the 5 o’clock hour. As we walked through the wildflowers, a soft ocean breeze gently blew through her hair and the smell of cool salty waves filled the air. He gazed at the blue horizon, his arm holding her close to his side. Picture perfect. This is how Peter and Carol’s engagement shoot went… perfect, picturesque, and utterly romantic. Their love for each other displayed itself naturally… from the way he held her hand, to the way she looked into his eyes.

I first met Carol in junior high. We were two silly kids who happened to like swimming and we decided to take a summer water polo class. I remember the first day of the class, we both realized VERY QUICKLY that water polo was A LOT harder than we thought. So in between bobbing up for air, giggling at our incompetence, and then choking on water…. we survived the class and continued on as friends through our high school years. From high school, we both went our different ways to college, we both had some traveling adventures… and sure enough we both met our Prince Charmings. And now, as Carol and Peter are nearing their wedding day…. I can’t help but be excited for my longtime friend! Here are my favorites from the evening…. I think you’ll agree that they are TOO CUTE!!

This is one of my favs!

Special thanks to Danyell Weinberg for the beautiful job on Carol’s makeup!

Kyle and Stacy’s Engagement Shoot

knoelle — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 22:51:36 +0000

Before I begin, I have to tell you that I LOVE Kyle and Stacy’s story. I really really do.

They first met at work. She was the new girl who had just moved to California from Texas. She was a brilliant blonde whose love for conversation and relationship annoyed Kyle a little bit. To Kyle, this chatty country girl wanted to talk too long as she walked by his desk, and smiled way to much for his liking. So he kept his distance and maintained a professional respect for his outgoing co-worker.

Kyle happened to be a somewhat quiet young man who prided himself in focus and hard work. He was a high achiever and had ambitious plans for his career future. Stacy just saw him as a stuck up surfer dude, and left him alone after countless attempts at conversation with him.

But, as experience teaches us time and time again, first impressions aren’t always a true reflection of a person. And THANK YOU JESUS, for that!! A little while down the road, Kyle realized he was wrong about Stacy, and Stacy realized Kyle really wasn’t mean and he wasn’t really a surfer….. and they both kind of fell in love… in the forever kind of love.

Kyle loves Stacy more than words…. and Stacy has truly found the man of her dreams. He appreciates her excitement for life… and her relational personality has brought out the best in him. For two people who came from such different backgrounds, they’ve truly found “home” in each other.

I met them at their old stomping grounds, Hermosa Beach, and we had a great time walking, talking, and shooting some super cute engagement photos. Here are my favorites from the afternoon….

Kyle and Stacy…. you were a dream to work with. I had so much fun with you two and I’m so glad we had the chance to meet and document your engagement. Thanks for sharing your story with me, and I hope our paths cross again someday. You’ve got something great in each other…. God is SO GOOD.

Daniel and Che-monte’s Engagement

knoelle — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 21:32:28 +0000

Daniel and Che-monte met dancing. How romantic is that?! They also happen to work for the same large company near Nuremberg, Germany. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her… for a good reason… she’s GORGEOUS. And she couldn’t stop thinking of that sweet young man and how he’s “not like other guys in Germany.” Somehow, both Daniel and Che-monte knew they had something special… and they’ve been together ever since.

They recently got engaged and are SEHR SHOEN (sooo cute) together! Che-monte contacted me when she heard I would be traveling to Nuremberg and we quickly set up a time to shoot some engagement photos. They couldn’t have picked better locations… a beautiful park and a beautiful castle. That’s right… a castle. And even though it was a bit cold outside, the rain held up until the very last shot of the evening.

Daniel and Che-monte, I am so glad we met. Your love for each other is something really amazing and I wish you the absolute best as you continue on your journey together. It was such an honor to capture all your sweet whispers, stolen glances, and genuinely happy smiles. Here are some of my favorites from the day…

Brian and Megan’s “I Do” | A Gorgeous Wedding at Casa Romantica

knoelle — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:29:16 +0000

There are few young couples who know the depth of love Brian and Megan do. Something happens in a love story when hardships put mountains in the way… it refines things down to what really matters and forces you to find courage from beyond yourself to make the climb. If you didn’t get a chance to read their story, you can find it here… it’s pretty amazing. So on their wedding day, they celebrated a new chapter in their love story, but they also celebrated reaching the pinnacle of a mountain. Their wedding day was a joyful triumph and such a stark reminder that love wins… always.

Just as Megan planned it, the details of the wedding day came together flawlessly to create wedding day perfection. I have to say how thoroughly impressed I was at her attention to detail and her overall vision. Cori from Events by Cori was the mastermind throughout the day, making sure that everything flowed peacefully and beautifully as Megan’s pieces came together. Here are my favorites from the day….

Brian was STOKED on his wedding day…. it was hard to keep this groom from smiling! And he was so sweet throughout the day as little moments here and there impressed their “realness” on his heart. He married the absolute woman of his dreams and he knew it! Look at that grin!

Casa Romantica was such a great place to have a wedding! Not only was it GORGEOUS, but it’s cool knowing it’s such a historic location in Southern Orange County. And the balcony where the ceremonies take place overlooked the San Clemente Pier… such a great view! I highly recommend this place…

This was such a beautiful, meaningful, and FUN wedding to be a part of… and I couldn’t have done it without my dream team, Christopher and Amanda! Thank you, with all my heart, for all your help and patience with me…. I couldn’t dream for a better team!

Also, many thanks go to all the wonderful vendors who came together to make Brian and Megan’s day a dream! Wedding Planning: Events by Cori, Venue: Casa Romantica, Catering: Iva Lee’s Catering, Hair: Salon Incognito, Makeup: Makeup by Berit, DJ: Essential Mobile Music, Florist: Flower Company of San Clemente, Custom Invitations: Li’K Designs, Cake: It’s All About the Cake

A Winter Styled Wedding Shoot

knoelle — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:21:11 +0000

I don’t know about you, but winter is one of my favorite times of year…. there’s just something so romantic about it! Winter’s a time when life slows down a little, cuddles by the fire are enjoyed, and the world looks a little different. Plus, all the cute jackets and accessories can be worn… like scarves, peacoats, and cute hats! Well, Brittany and Allie over at Rooted in Love Weddings are also big fans of winter…. so much so that we decided to put together a winter styled shoot up in Arrowhead area. The inspiration for the styling was the color combination of wood and wine, combining classic wedding details with woodsy elements and DIY charm. Those girls put a lot of time into creating some super cute DIY decor, and they did a great job on the design. Kathleen Bantad of The Paper Mint Press also joined our team to create some adorable letter press invitations and recipe cards. And to top it off, we had a ridiculously cute couple model for us! Scott and Claire are celebrating over 5 years of marriage this year and they are more in love than they were on their wedding day! Jaya Loo and Danyell Weinberg did Claire’s hair and makeup. Here are the highlights from the afternoon…

Event Design: Rooted in Love Weddings, Hair: Jaya Loo, Makeup: Danyell Weinberg, Invitations: The Paper Mint Press, Silverware: BHLDN, Lanterns: World Market Cost Plus, Venue: Private Estate

Scott and Kate Akamine’s “I Do”

knoelle — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 20:14:18 +0000

The whole town of Solvang was buzzing the morning of the wedding. People in traditional Danish garb lined the streets and parade music filled the crisp morning air. As I loaded my gear into the car, I saw my family leaving their hotel to partake in the Danish excitement before the wedding began later that afternoon. The excitement was, in part, due to the annual Danish festival the town was throwing that weekend, but for myself, I think the excitement was more for the wedding day that was about to start. Scott, more affectionately called “Scotty” by his family, was about to tie the knot with his gorgeous fiance Kate. (Fun Fact: Kate’s new married name is now, my old single name… Kate Akamine. I’ve passed the baton and become a Kernutt, but I leave my beloved name in good hands.)

We arrived at Hotel Corque, seriously the nicest hotel in Solvang, and spent a good part of the morning with the ladies as they got ready for the day. The suite was full of activity and smiling faces, bridesmaids arriving and finishing makeup and hair, flower girls coloring and running around, and the two mothers happily chattering away about final details that needed attention. Kate’s details were breathtaking…. truly the epitome of gorgeous! From her amazing dress, to her glittering Kate Spade peep toe pumps, I was in HEAVEN photographing everything! The ladies of Team Hair & Makeup did an amazing job that morning with Kate and the girls as well! Here is a taste of the morning…..

The girls finished up and headed to Gainey Vineyard to await the boys’ arrival, and my very talented 2nd shooter Hanssie accompanied them to get some extra shots in. Christopher, my trusty and very official 3rd shooter, and I spent some time with Scott and the boys as they got ready to go.

A quick word about Scott…. he’s my older cousin. But more than that, he’s one of my biggest supporters and encouragers. So, to have the privilege of photographing his wedding was the greatest honor and joy I could ever wish for. With that, here are a few photos with Scotty and the boys….

This is definitely my favorite groomsmen shot of the day…

Fun Socks!

When we got to the wedding site, I got a few quick shots of the beautiful bride on her way to see her groom for the first time! Kate, you were STUNNING!

And the beautiful wedding party….

Another quick note: Everytime I’ve gone through these ceremony photos, I’ve gotten a little teary-eyed. It might be because I’m just so darn happy for my cousin and his bride, but it was also a very intimate and personal ceremony. Even though there were quite a few people there, it was a very close knit group.

As the ceremony ended, I snuck away with the bride and groom while the cocktail hour ensued.

We wandered through the beautiful vineyards, and took some romantic shots of the newest Mr. and Mrs. Akamine.

This is probably my favorite of these two….

The reception, and pretty much the entire day, was made beautiful by Ashley of Agape Planning, and the pretty flowers were all created by Amanda Crawford Designs. Everything ran so smooth and the reception was so beautiful!

Check out this intense cake made by Kate’s sister Jill! How stinkin’ amazing is she?!!!!

They had a fabulous live band called All Star Trio. They ROCKED!

Overall, this was the happening place that weekend in Santa Ynez and I felt SO blessed to be able to document it all. Scotty and Kate, I love you two to pieces and I’m still so excited you picked me to be your wedding photographer. I had so much fun with you two and your wedding was a perfect reflection of the fun and love you share. Thank you for letting me be a part of your day!

Venue: Gainey Vineyard

Event Planning and Coordination: Agape Planning

Catering: 24 Carrots

Band: All Star Trio

Florist: Amanda Crawford Designs

Lighting: Ambient Event Design

Officiant – Brian Marsh

Harpist – Laurie Rasmussen

Hair/Makeup – Team Hair & Makeup

Hotel – Hotel Corque

Cake – Jill Fox

Andrew and Liza’s “I Do” | A San Francisco Russian Orthodox Wedding

knoelle — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:33:11 +0000

We awoke to the sound of excited whispers and the smell of freshly brewed coffee. The pristine white walls of the cozy San Francisco home reflected the early morning sunlight…. inciting anticipation of the new day. It was Andrew and Liza’s wedding day… the day Liza had dreamed of her whole life was finally here. As Erin and I finished our breakfast, Liza, with curlers in her hair and coffee in hand, proudly showed us all her carefully selected details. From her shoes to her perfume, she was so proud of everything and she told us how excited she was that we were there to photograph her day.

Their wedding was different than any other wedding I’ve photographed…. in a very good way. This wedding was a Russian Orthodox Wedding, and everything felt rich with culture and history. I loved that the normal wedding day chatter was in Russian, I loved the ethnic family dynamics, I loved that the ceremony was so different, I loved that everyone had true Russian names (I’m pretty sure I met at least 2 Constantin’s, 4 Alexei’s, an Anastasia, and 2 Dimitri’s.), and I LOOOOVED the traditions. I’m seriously STOKED to be sharing this wedding with you all! Here are my absolute favorites from the day, but before we continue, I’d just like to take a moment to thank my 2nd shooter and good friend Erin for everything she did that day. It’s a rare thing to have your dream job, and it’s a whole different level of rare to be able to do your dream job with your dream team… and I’m so lucky to be able to say that I have, with Erin. And now, back to the images…. enjoy!

Take a look at these BEAUTIFUL bouquets done by Carol of An Added Touch Florist in San Francisco. Didn’t she do an amazing job?!

This is the special bread and salt that both sets of parents present to the bride and groom at the beginning of their wedding reception to symbolize wealth and zest in life. Here’s a great shot of Liza’s mom, Nina, preparing the bread…. Look how intricate the designs are!

This is a shot of the icon Liza’s parents presented to her before they went to the church. As in most Catholic and Orthodox religions, icons are a very important part of their worship in the church. This icon was so fancy!

These are two of my favorite shots from the whole day!

Here’s some shots of the CRAAAAZY art and decor inside the Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco. It was a huge cathedral and when I stepped inside, I couldn’t help but stare open-mouthed at the INTRICATE art that covered every inch of the place. I can see why Liza and Andrew wished to be married there!

The ceremony was definitely my favorite part of the wedding day. While it was challenging photographing a ceremony spoken in Slavonic and Russian, it was beautiful to observe…. very intimate.

Yay! They’re married!!!

From the cathedral, we went a few blocks down to the Green Room in the War Memorial where the reception was to be held, and took some pictures with the wedding party.

And, of course, we had to get a shot in front of San Francisco City Hall!

The reception was GORGEOUS!

Andrew and Liza, along with your families…..

Thank you for allowing Erin and I to be a part of your special day. It was a privilege to document your love and your families, and I wish you all the best in your marriage.

And special thanks to all the amazing vendors!

Ceremony Venue: Holy Virgin Cathedral

Reception Venue: The Green Room

Florist: An Added Touch Florist

Hair and Makeup: Karina Leontiev

Caterer: James Standfield Catering

Bakery: Burlingam Cakery

Gavin and Erin’s Holiday Family Portrait

knoelle — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 22:26:01 +0000

There’s finally a cold nip in the air, the trees are finally turning beautiful shades of yellow and red, and I can almost smell the test run turkeys cooking. Not only is this my favorite time of year, but it’s my favorite time of year for family portraits. I’ve been doing quite a few lately and I’ll be sharing them with you this next week, but I wanted to start off with introducing you to my good friends Gavin and Erin, and their pups Ella and Chloe. Not only are these two people dear friends of mine, but they’re also crazy talented wedding photographers… who just so happened to be MY OWN wedding photographers. Their friendship has meant the world to Christopher and I over the past year and some… and we’ve watched their little family grow from just the three of them (Gavin, Erin, and Ella), to now, the four of them as Chloe has joined the family. And while, normally, I do family portraits with just people, this family of four is just too cute to refuse. Here are my favs from the evening….

Ella, meet everybody…. everybody, meet Ella.

Chloe Monster, meet everybody…. Everybody, meet Chloe Monster.

Aaaand… everybody, meet the Wade Family.

After a little while of shooting with the pups, we decided to ditch them for a bit and take some of the cute couple for a bit…

We had to get a few shots with the infamous Chloe monster….

And with the pretty lady too….

Gavin and Erin, once again, we love you and we’re so thankful to have friends like you. We couldn’t ask for better workout buddies, board game teammates, and friends than you two. Happy Holidays!

And to everybody else, there’s still some time to get your Holiday Portraits booked with me. Click here to book a Family Holiday Portrait with Kate.

Zak and Katrina’s “I Do”

knoelle — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 23:17:30 +0000

Zak and Katrina are two people who inspire me. Not only are they totally in love, but their desires and passions in life fit perfectly… as perfectly as her hand fits in his. But what inspires me most about them is their ability to “do”. They don’t let work, finances, or “real life” get in the way of their dreams. And even though it would have been so much easier to set their dreams aside for more “realistic” options once they got married…. the best times of their life are happening because they chose the “unrealistic” option…. they’re now living as missionaries with YWAM in Mexico.

I originally met Zak years ago when we were both working at Forest Home, and eventually met Katrina when they got engaged. On our initial meeting, we IMMEDIATELY hit it off. And it was funny…. we ended up talking less about wedding photography, and more about international missions. Zak and Katrina’s enthusiasm for each other, as well as for missions is ridiculously contagious…. and I left that meeting feeling completely inspired to pursue my own aspirations with new fervor. In fact, I’m consistently moved by their enthusiasm as I follow their journey as missionaries.

Zak and Katrina’s wedding happened last year in Ventura, CA and their day completely reflected their personalities and love for people. It was such a fun day and it was one of those weddings that everyone left feeling like they’d witnessed true love. It was an honor to be their wedding photographer, and an even greater honor to be able to call them friends. Here’s my absolute favorites from the day….

Special thanks to my entourage for the day, Christopher, Betsy Lackey, Amanda Patrice, and Victoria Baughman. You guys rocked and I had so much fun shooting with you all! And to Zak and Katrina, thanks for being you…. thanks for loving each other the way you do. And thanks for living your life recklessly chasing after God’s heart. You inspire me to do the same.

Jon and Gabriella’s “I Do” | A German-Canadian DIY Wedding

knoelle — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 07:36:36 +0000

This post is loooooooooong overdue, but so worth it. Last year, I had the privilege of photographing two friends’ wedding in Winnipeg, Canada with my bestie Betsy Lackey. We flew in and spent time catching up with old friends, explored, and enjoyed the Canadian autumn weather. It was such a fun visit, and such a fun wedding! We originally met Jon and Gabriella when we attended a YWAM Discipleship Training School in Germany. She was the spunky adventurous girl with the dark eyes and perfect hair. He was the uber uber cool musician/photographer with a stern German demeanor and a hilarious sense of humor. Together, they were the couple all the students hoped to be like one day…. fun, sweet, super cute, AND godly. And on a gorgeous September day at the beautiful Pineridge Hollow in Winnipeg, they became man and wife with all their friends and family there to celebrate with them.

Gabriella and her mom did practically everything for the wedding themselves and it was literally one of the BEST “Do it Yourself” weddings I’ve ever seen. They arranged the flowers and bouquets, made the DELICIOUS cakes, did all the center pieces and decorations, and made all the SUPER CUTE boutonnieres….. Those women amaze me with their many talents. Here are my favorite shots from the day…. (please note that I’ve included a LOT of detail shots because they were THAT fabulous…. I hope you don’t mind.)

Jon and Gabriella, thanks for inviting me into your lives as friends. Your wedding was beautiful and your relationship is something to strive for. Betsy…. let’s do this again soon…