I’m heading out to the beach once again with my family for “vacation.” But it’s different this time…. because my job goes with me wherever I go. It’s going to take effort to leave work at home and remember what it’s like to make the beach my world once again. So I’m off…. to read, sleep, eat, laugh, think, surf, get a tan…. and vacation…

And to tide you over until next week, here’s a shot from my recent Lubbock, TX trip to visit Betsy. This is my new friend Claire… she was gracious enough to model for a spur of the moment shoot…

John, Liz, and I had a BLAST hanging out and shooting their engagement pictures! Seriously…. Liz and I could chat for days and not get tired of each other… and John is SO FUNNY. Here’s some shots from the “urban-y” part of the shoot at Orange Circle….

Liz… you are just TOO CUTE…

Okay… and I have to tell you all. I have found a NEW favorite place to shoot at Orange Circle… this little back area was so PERFECT! The light bounced off of 3 different white walls… I’m pretty sure I jumped up and down with excitement like a little school girl.

John is a a reader of this blog…. and was quite inspired by Billy Jack’s model escapades…

After a quick wardrobe change, we made a beeline for Irvine Regional Park to take some shots as the sun was going down. John and Liz changed outfits while I scoped out the park… and I was surprised to find no one around. No joke… it was completely silent besides the sounds of nature…. soo peaceful! John brought out his baby…. his Martin Acoustic Guitar and strummed softly as the sun’s rays softened into yellow velvet across their faces….

After some shots in the park, we went exploring into the creek bed… and the light was GOOOOD.

Fact: John’s a quiet and reserved person… until he gets a guitar in his hands. I’m pretty sure at least a third of the shots I got of John rocking out on the guitar are blurry because I was laughing so hard…

I couldn’t help myself…

We ended the evening with some good old fashioned fun… and Jonas Brothers Jumps…

John and Liz. You rock my socks off. You’re so fun to be around, you’re both gorgeous people inside and out, and you like sushi. I’m glad we got to spend the evening together and I’m super excited to shoot your wedding next April.

Not only was their wedding a beautiful and ridiculously fun day, but it was quite sentimental. Billy Jack and Alissa are the rare type of people who are DEEPLY vested in their relationships. They care about people. They thrive off people. Looking out into the faces of everyone at the ceremony, I saw family….. in the biggest sense of the word. And throughout the day, tears of immense joy and gratitude streamed down just about every face… including mine. And as we drove away from the reception, I heard Alissa say over and over…. “This was the best day of my life. Seriously.”

There’s so much I could say about these two… so many stories and fond memories of how they’ve touched my soul and helped mold me into the person I am today… but, for your sake… I’ll just stick with the pictures.

The day started at the Se San Diego Hotel… hands down the COOLEST hotel I’ve ever had the privilege of setting foot in. I LOVE that place! Alissa spent the morning getting all prettied up for the big day… and by the time she was done, I had to take deep breaths to keep from crying… she was so beautiful. Every detail was perfectly “her”… and they all came together to make one BEAUTIFUL bride!

As we waited for the car to arrive, Alissa and I spent some time taking these breath-taking bridal portraits… and they’re easily my absolute favorites from the day… I think you’ll agree…

While Alissa and the girls were getting ready, Billy Jack and his party were waiting at Presidio Park… eagerly awaiting his first look at his beautiful bride. Christopher and my good friend Regis hung out with these guys and took some sweet shots while they waited for us…

Alissa and I finally arrived at Presidio Park and he finally got to see his bride…. it was such a touching moment!

We took a few group shots and then made our way to the ceremony site– Solana Beach Presbyterian Church…

This look is one of the main reasons I do what I do…. I have the privilege of capturing the look on the grooms face when he sees his bride walking down the aisle on the day they promise forever to each other. This look is the one every girl dreams about her whole life… and, I’m not even kidding, I cry EVERY TIME. Billy Jack was sooooo happy…

During the lighting of the unity candle, their friend Molly Jenson performed a poignant rendition of Joshua Radin’s “Today”… Molly… you’re amazing!

This is another one of my favorites… they are SO HAPPY walking back down the aisle as newlyweds!!! Hooraaay!

This cracks me up every time…

At the end of the night, I rode with them downtown in Lance Haynes’ 1929 Deluxe 4-Door Durant… and we took some “vintage Las Vegas” style shots with the car. There are so many good ones, but they’ll have to share them with you

Boom.

Billy Jack…. Alissa…. you two rock my world. I’ve been so blessed working with you and being a part of your wedding day was a highlight of my career. I hope you’re having a blast in the Mediterranean and I can’t wait for some hang out time!! Many thanks go out to all the spectacular vendors who helped make their day perfect… and Regis… friend…. I LOVED having you along to shoot with me! Thank you so much!

Flowers: Diane Reichenbach of Whimsey Florals

Caterer: Ki’s Restaurant

Chauffeuring: Lance Haynes

Officiant: Greg Fields

Videography: Steven and Michael of Lomaland Productions

Cake: Grove Pastry Shop

Music: Molly Jenson

To View the Slideshow, Click Here.

This is Alissa on the day she proclaimed and promised her love to Billy Jack forever.

She told me it was the best day of her life.

Hmmm… what to say about Chelsea…. She’s everything a lady should be. She’s one of the only nurses I would want if I were in the hospital (she recently finished her Nurse Practitioner’s degree and rolls with the big dogs now ). She’s gorgeous. She has a smile that could make glaciers melt. Her quiet, yet quirky sense of humor never fails to have me in stitches (no pun intended…)…. and the list goes on and on. She’s someone I would want to be like when I grow up.

You can imagine the look on my face when Chelsea first asked me to be her wedding photographer…. well, basically I had a blank look of complete and utter shock on my face. I’m beyond honored Chris and Chelsea have chosen me to be their wedding photographer… and I couldn’t ask for more perfect clients and friends than them! We had so much fun shooting at the Orange Circle and Peter’s Canyon… and I’m SO excited for their November wedding at Strawberry Farms! Here’s some shots from our afternoon…

By the way… Chelsea claimed to “not know how to ‘work it’ “…. riiiiight.

Chelsea cracks me up… she’s so darn cute!

After we spent some time exploring around Orange Circle, we took a quick drive down Chapman and ended up at Peter’s Canyon… another one of my favorite places to shoot. The hills were painted a gorgeous spring green and as the sun set, we enjoyed the vibrant colors all around. Seriously… the whole time, Taylor Swift was singing “Today was a Fairytale” in my head… because that’s what it looked like.

Okay…. I couldn’t help myself. I HAD to shoot some of the details… because they were so good! I ADORED Chelsea’s dress from Anthropologie and the cute bouquet of flowers she brought along….

I was also a HUGE fan of her cute yellow strappy sandals from Nordstrom. (And I have to admit… I saw them at Nordstrom and almost bought them…)

Chris certainly brought “man-ness” to the shoot with his studly cowboy boots.

This was one of my favorites from the day…

Another “couldn’t help myself” moment… the sun flare was just so cool!!!!

Chris brought his truck… yay!

Passion.

Dear Chris and Chelsea,

You rocked my world with this shoot.

Not only were you easy on the eyes, but you were a breath of fresh air to my soul.

I loved getting to know you both better and I can’t wait for your wedding day.

I might cry. This is fair warning.

Loooove,

Kate

Before I begin any engagement shoot, I always tell the couple this…. ” I know it’s a wierd thing to have your pictures taken… on purpose. It’s wierd because, unless you’re a model, people look at you funny if you act like one. Today, you have full permission to not feel ridiculous showing me your best fierce face. You have full permission to be “love-y-dove-y”… in face, I encourage it because those are the pictures you will love. Have fun today. Let yourself feel sexy…. let yourself feel in LOVE… because that’s what these pictures are for… to help you remember that time in your life when you were so in love you chose to take the next step and prepare to pledge your lives to each other. Enjoy it!”

Well… I didn’t really need to tell Billy Jack and Alissa any of that… because they BROUGHT the fun….and the sexy…. they BROUGHT the love. And it was soooo fun to share this amazing time in their lives! Their friendship and their love comes natural. I was inspired and left the shoot that night with a big smile on my face knowing that two of my very good friends had found the love of their life. They’re truly happy. They truly bring out the colors in life. And I’m so honored to be able to spend time with these two, and documenting “them”! Here’s some of my favorite shots….. (there’s a TON… I had a hard time narrowing my favorites down)

Alissa….. you are smokin’ hot woman!

Billy liked Alissa in that pose so much… he thought he’d try it too….

This was one of my absolute favorites from the day….

When we stopped for a quick coffee break at a bookstore, they both saw the giant checkers board and ran to play a quick game before we continued with the shoot. I love this about them… they love to play

Poor Billy got cold…

Thanks again you guys! I had a blast hanging out with you on Wednesday and I can’t wait to shoot your wedding in May! You guys rock my socks off….

*2009 was the first full year since my YWAM adventure that I’ve been home in Orange County with an income.

*I started off 2009 working at It’s a Grind, but 3 weeks into the year, it closed due to economic reasons and I was catapulted into full time self-employment… and it’s been a crazy journey.

*I never thought I would have shot so many weddings and portraits in my first full calendar year in business. God is GOOD.

*I had the opportunity to travel to four places I’d never been to before… Brentwood, Portland, North Carolina and Wyoming.

* I almost quit pursuing my dream of being a wedding photographer at least 3 times this year because I was so discouraged. But I didn’t. It’s because of His grace and strength I don’t possess.

*This is the first full calendar year Christopher and I have been dating… and I never want it to end. <3

*I’ve developed so much in my own style of photography, art, and personality… I’m not who I was last year… at all.

*This is what I blogged last year… click here.

This year will be exciting…. I just know it. I have no idea what adventures it will entail, but with all that happened in 2009, I can’t help but be anxiously waiting to see how God is going to move in mighty ways in 2010. I proceed with confidence because just as He provided all I needed last year to do great things, He will continue to be my source of security this year as well. Jesus, thanks for being God and thank you for teaching me (continuously) to see with your measure of beauty.

Without Further Adieu, My Favorite 9 (technically 13 because I couldn’t narrow it down to 9) of 2009….

Many thanks to Brian for inviting me to come play and shoot with you… and Congratulations to Craig and Winnie! May your marriage be long and blessed!