Nathanael & Jessica's Wedding Day

We love weddings! Friday night Gabriel and I had the privilege of photographing the wedding of Jessica and Nate Bannon at North Sound Church, a quaint historic chapel in downtown Edmonds. In the church basement were several painted wall murals...the perfect backdrop for a beautiful bride.

I scouted the wedding location a few days before the big day to find unique places to photograph the bride and groom. Leading up from the basement to the chapel was a stairway, lit primarily by a small window. I couldn't resist asking Jessica to stand in the light of the window to see what images might result. I have to say, I liked how this experiment turned out.

A few steps from the church was the picturesque city center, filled with charming shops, brick walkways and interesting alleys. We walked up and down the block, stopping at places I had pre-determined to photograph Jessica and Nate. I obtained permission for a quick photo in the store window of Rosa Mundi's Antiques and Interiors, but didn't plan on Jessica's little sister Emma to provide such a poignant touch to the image.

As we walked from the city center toward the waterfront, Jessica ran into a shopper on the streets...a woman who happened to have been her youth group leader many years ago. It was a joyful reunion! Note the bride's bare feet - many of the girls opted to take off their high-heeled shoes during our walk. Unfortunately, before we were able to reach our beach destination, the skies opened up and rained on our parade, so the photo shoot had to be scrapped. Bummer.

This image was captured from the balcony of the chapel using a fish-eye lens. I loved the beautiful wood ceilings, which added such warmth and charm to the chapel.

And here is an exterior view of the church as Jessica and Nate were leaving to attend their reception. Fortunately for them, the reception was held across the street at the Edmonds Convention center.

The bridemaids gathered around the cake table for a mug shot for their friends. I thought the action was more interesting with the photographers in the picture. Cheers!

When All is Said and Done...

I have such respect for wedding photographers, especially those who do their jobs well with creativity and artistic flair. I never imagined how hard this work would be...until I started doing it myself. This is a picture of Gabriel and me on the deck of the Skansonia ferry, with the Seattle skyline in the background. Long after the guests had left, we wanted one last image to capture our experience at Natanel and Eliza's wedding. We were tired... exhausted...and content.

Rowing Away

The groom had arranged for their wedding night to be spent aboard a ship...so he guided his new wife into a rowboat and away they went into the darkness of the night. Gabriel was standing on one end of the dock with a new video light we had purchased for this event, while I was on the other end to capture the shot...and it worked great.

Photo Op

I love this image! Not because of the lighting, the technical quality, or the composition...but I love it for the joy it represents. The reception was held on the Skansonia ferry docked on Lake Union, and while waiting in line for the dinner buffet, guests would stream past the bride and groom seated at their table. What a great opportunity for a photo op!

The Perfect Wedding

Just a few steps away from the water's edge at Golden Gardens Park in Seattle, the ceremony was held in a grove of trees on a patch of sand and grass. The bride, groom, and many of the guests - myself included - decided to forego shoes and went barefoot instead. The late afternoon sun cast beautiful light on the bridal party, creating interesting patterns and effects.

In the Tunnel

A wedding day is not just a day for the bride to shine, but for the groom to shine as well. We couldn't have asked for two better subjects! We knew from experience that we would not only have fun photographing Natanel and Eliza, but that we would return home with incredible images to enjoy. A tunnel was located just steps from the wedding location, and I couldn't wait to see what images would result from the beautiful subjects and the beautiful lighting....and I wasn't disappointed.

Natanel & Eliza's Wedding Day

Ever since we learned that Natanel and Eliza were planning an outdoor wedding in April, we began praying for sunny weather - a rare commodity for Seattle in the spring. Not only were we our prayers answered with sunny weather, the temperatures reached the 70's, an all-time high for the region. With a calm breeze blowing, the skies clear, the sun shining...the day could not have been more perfect.