most of the events of the day took place at the historic bishop’s house in boise. i was in love with its soft, antique-ish, pastel palette

carrie’s dress was absolutely incredible in its simplistic beauty. i believe she designed it herself and had it made. i can’t imagine a dress more delicate or more perfect for carrie.

the ladies got ready in one of the charming little room’s in the bishops house, and i’ll confess right now: girls getting pretty and enjoying one another’s company is one of my favorite things to photograph. there’s a magic in the anticipation.

so sweet, carrie’s sister in law was tearing up as she saw her in her dress.

everything about carrie is so adorably feminine and her shoes were no exception.

i just love the timelessness and feel of this shot.

some final touches.

i try to ask my brides to close their eyes for a moment and take a deep breath. i am in love with carrie’s serene beauty here.

getting a little emotional

gasp, carrie, you take my breath away. seriously, who has such  natural grace?

okay, get a load of kev’s super excited face.

i am totally a proponent of a first look before the ceremony. where else would we get teary, sweet moments like these?

cannot handle carrie’s cuteness…

we headed out for some portraits in the hot hot hot sun. but sun? you’re not quiiiiiite as hot as kevin.

in case you were wondering, they needed just about NO direction.

love the shot above on the left. this was martin’s perspective while we were working with carrie and kev.

kevin was such a gentleman. again, totally not directed.

fyi, seven bridesmaids and six groomsman might suggest that people like carrie and kevin, ALOT.

loved the little touches at the bishop’s house.

carrie and kevin’s dog got a little side tracked when it was his turn to walk down the aisle. carrie, however kept her eye on the prize.

how firm do you think this handshake is between kevin and carrie’s dad?

they were so, so happy.

how could i not have gotten a portrait of that dapper young man in the suit coat and tie. i hope his mother sees this.

toward the end of the night i couldn’t help but steal carrie for a few more portraits. i am so happy she not only obliged me but then proceeded to ROCK the camera.

see, in this very moment, all was right in the world.

thank you again carrie and kevin. as my four year old myra would say, you make my heart happy.

this is jill and joe. crazy in love, major laid back cool, and sharing moments that are astonishingly beautiful. they got married on a mountain top and it suited them.

i love her tiny baby bump

SOME MODELS FOR THIS

WEEKEND’S WORKSHOP

CHANGE THEIR PLANS AND

NOW WE NEED TO FILL IN THE

GAPS! LOOKING FOR A FEW KIDS

AGE 4-9, AND ONE BABY AGE 6-12

MONTHS.  MODELS MUST BE

AVAILABLE THIS FRIDAY

FROM 3-5 AND ACCOMPANIED

BY AT LEAST ONE PARENT.

PLEASE SEND A RECENT PHOTO

TO photography.yan@gmail.com.

THANK YOU!

i’m telling you, this field of yellow flowers was the stuff dreams are made of. and so when i went back with another wonderful client the day following this shoot, only to find the  each and every yellow flower plowed and churned into dirt by a ginormous tractor, i was angry, sure, but i also thought “you were too good for this world yellow field.” hahahhahahaha.

and i know. you’re not just, “whoa, get a load of that field.” you’re also kinda thinking, “whoa get a load of adorable sebastian,” and of course, “get a load of sebastian’s drop dead gorgeous mama.” how could you not?  =) they are even nicer on the inside than they look on the outside. i feel so blessed to have such wonderful clients.

one other thing you should know – kollin MIGHT be the kind of guy that goes in monthly to get his haircut by a girl he has a crush on for an entire YEAR before they ever get together. and all that time steph thought he was just diligent about hair maintenance.

looky here heartshop attendees, this session is shot at the very location where you’ll be hanging out for a few days! not only did we want to show you the studio, we wanted to show you images that make our heart sing. these images are like more heart healthy for me than cheerios! why? because 1. they have MY girls in them. =)  (though wrennie, the little squat bucket, only survived the first half of the shoot) 2. they have my girls in them being their silly selves 3. when i look at them i’m reminded of more than one reason as to why life is so, so, so good.

thanks for looking!

p.s. if this shoot had audio, you’d have to cover your ears. otherwise they might explode from a giggling overload.

BUT

i also have exciting news about a couple of really cool features for yan photography that happened lately.

first up, alison and eric’s love shoot was featured over at one of the best wedding resources in all of utah! the utah bride and groom magazine’s blog! if you are a utah bride i definitely encourage you to not only pick up their magazine but click around their website for the best in utah weddings.

second, i was absolutely floored and honored when i opened up my email inbox and found an email from the lovely Janie Medley, editor of one of THE most popular weddding blogs, The Brides Cafe.

Janie is so kind, and said, “what do you think about sending over a little something to feature,” and i was like, “are you kidding me, i’ll send you something every day!” But you’ll just have to click on her link to find out what actually got sent.

in the wide world of wedding photography, and to a little yan like myself, getting featured is kind of a major honor. so i have to kind of say a major thanks. =)

Is it your brother? Because I’m dying to see those photos.”

and we all know that i aim to please. and maybe we don’t all know this, but i have GOT to get caught up on giving my couples some blog time.

so erin jo, here you go (how i enjoy the ring and easy rhymability of your name). =)

and let me just say a word or two about brett and paige. brett, as i’m sure you’ve caught on by now, is my brother. brett is a happy guy, doesn’t complain much, always life of the party. but i have NEVER seen him as happy as he is when he’s with paige. together they laugh, and kiss more than the casual observer might be comfortable with. when brett first started dating paige, i believe every one of my family members begged him individually to NOT MESS THIS ONE UP. luckily paige doesn’t scare easily. i feel extreeeeeeeemely blessed that brett was able to land himself the heart of one of the most sincere  and kind girls i have ever met. whew, for awhile we were all sweating there for you bro. =)

(see erinjo, this is what segmented parts of brett and paige look like).

i really feel bad for going and getting you all worked up and concerned, because truly, it appears as though things will be just fine with our baby boy.  you see, his umbilical cord (or is it mine? not sure how that all works out…) should have three  vessels, but his only has two (way to stand out junior! you know i enforce being different!!!). also, apparently this cord is truly delinquent because it decided to implant on the side of my placenta rather than the center….both of those things increase the risk of additional birth defects (none detected thus far), and a baby that may or may not be a little on the small side.  so the dr.’s have to keep a close eye to make sure he grows the way that he should. all things considered —- namely one of my best friend’s who just lost her brand new precious little one, and another friend who sadly miscarried at 9 weeks, we are extremely, extremely lucky.

and i think that’s good to remember.

dear yan,

yesterday i did some reading on these cluster headaches i’ve been having.  the weirdest thing about them is how scheduled they are and that’s how i know they’re not migraines.  right now i’m having them at noon and 3 am.  remember in hawaii how i had them for over a month?  well, apparently that’s normal.  and it’s apparently normal to think suicidal thoughts because the pain is so intense (i must be either really tough or have a ‘mild’ case of cluster headaches although i did wish i could die once in hawaii).  i read one statement from a physician who said he believes cluster headaches cause the worst pain known to man (he mentioned childbirth specifically, but i still reverence childbirth as the pinnacle of pain).

i just want to thank you for being so sweet.  it warmed my heart that you got the medication for me this morning.  and i was so grateful that you took an initiative since a headache came on just as you came through the door.

sticking to the bright side, i’m grateful for the pain i’ve experienced because it’s taught me to work and serve even though i’m uncomfortable.  it helped my self-esteem the other day when i helped my dad lay the floor through my noon headache.  and i feel better about myself when i can still be a nice person to everyone (especially our girls) even when i’m in extreme pain.  so i’m grateful for what it’s taught me and made me believe about myself.  and i love you all the more for what it teaches me about you.  yesterday, when you said you were too self-absorbed, i couldn’t remember ever disagreeing with you so strongly.  you are the most unselfish person i know.

i love you.

marty