Amanda and Bryan Photography: Blog

Baby Luka's at Home Newborn Session

(Amanda and Bryan Photography) — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 19:45:22 GMT

It's our privilege to introduce you to baby Luka!

Luka was born to Jaz and Briana at the end of December, weighing 6 pounds 10oz and measuring 19.5 inches long. Bryan and I went to meet him and take his pictures when he was just a week old. He was so content and didn't mind at all being the center of everyones attention for the afternoon!

I love how Briana decorated Luka's nursery with neutral tan and grey, baby animals, bold blue, and a bright pop of yellow. It's just a perfect little room!

I was so happy that we were able to capture some sweet intimate moments for this family of three. But I think I'm even more excited to start working on a short family film with the video clips that we took during the session! That will be a first for us- a newborn lifestyle short film!

Can't wait to squeeze sweet Luka again and see his smiling face and hear his baby coos!

Erick and Adriana's Vancouver Lake Fall Family Session

(Amanda and Bryan Photography) — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 00:30:27 GMT

What a lovely family we had the privilege of meeting a few weeks ago! They came from California to vacation and visit friends in Portland and Vancouver. I've gotta say, I'm so grateful to whoever recommended them to us, during our session we felt like we've known them forever!

Erick and Adriana's children are 15 and 8 years old and they warmed up to us so nicely. Jacob's laughter is so contagious and he has a great personality! I was so pleased to learn that Kayla, who loves to read got to explore Powell's Books the worlds largest (and quite legendary) independent bookstore while they were in Portland. I'm sure that will be on the top of her list whenever they come back for future visits to the PNW.

I really just love everything about this session... The colors, those amazing trees lining the walkway, the glowing sunlight filtering through the yellow leaves, the outfits, the poses, but most of all the people - the family's dynamic and their smiles and laughter!

Enjoy our favorites from this family session!

Jaziel & Briana's Yale Lake Maternity Session

(Amanda and Bryan Photography) — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 19:04:22 GMT

We're so happy for these sweet friends of ours who are going to become first time parents very soon! Jaziel and Briana are just about the nicest couple on the planet. I have known Briana since she was a girl and Bryan officiated their wedding 6 years ago. If any of you know these two, then you know how hospitable and giving they are... we never go to their house without a wonderfully delicious meal and boy can this girl bake! Briana makes amazing deserts and she is so creative - although she'd never say so herself. And we can always count on Jaz to whip up a great cocktail! We love being their guinea pigs for whatever new drink or desert they're trying out.

For their maternity session we drove to Yale Lake just outside of Woodland Washington. It was such a beautiful crisp Fall day, they sky was clear and we could see Mt St Helens light up as the sun was setting.

Jaz and Briana are going to be great parents and we'll have a new little baby in our lives to squeeze! Can't wait to meet their baby boy!

The Olson's Fall Family Session

(Amanda and Bryan Photography) — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 22:24:56 GMT

We enjoy this family more every single time we get to photograph them! For this year's photo session we decided on going to Ridgefield's Wildlife Refuge where even in the middle of Fall the trees and the atmosphere are welcoming. We were fortunate that the date we chose was gorgeous and sunny. It felt great to get out and walk the trails.

These two kiddos have great personality and it's awesome how they really get into the session. Also, it's quite evident how much they love each other and their parents. I just love that when I said the words "tickle fight!" they all went in to tickle mom! That's the real secret to a great family photo session - just have fun!

Sofia's Urban Fall Senior Session

(Amanda and Bryan Photography) — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 20:38:33 GMT

Don't even know how it's possible that all the factors were in our favor at our senior photo session with Sofia. The weather was perfect for a Fall day here in Vancouver Washington. No rain, perfect lighting, just a little chilly, gorgeous yellow, orange and red leaves on the trees and only a few pedestrians walking the streets of Downtown Vancouver on a Saturday... when does this happen!?

Sofia is a High School student in Portland Oregon and will be graduating with the Class of 2023. She has such a cool vibe and was so easy to work with, posing was a breeze with this girl!

In this Urban photo session you'll find a variety of background locations that we absolutely took advantage of- yellow tree lined sidewalks, stairways, black brick buildings, wall art murals, and little hidden plazas with the prettiest trees! Hope this post inspires you all to admire the cool nooks and crannies of your own city next time you go for a downtown stroll!

Rodolfo & Jocelyn's PNW Fall Engagement Session

(Amanda and Bryan Photography) — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 19:43:13 GMT

What can I even say about this magical, glow-y, romantic engagement session that isn't already so evident in these pictures?

Any time we get to drive through the Columbia River Gorge for a photo session its a good day for us. The views are always spectacular no matter the season or the weather... what made it an amazing day are these two cuties! Rodi and Jojo are the sweetest couple. We had an amazing day with them wondering through trails and taking in the views along the river.

Bryan and I can't wait for their upcoming Spring wedding!

Brigette's Cedar Mill Senior Session

(Amanda and Bryan Photography) — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 23:46:20 GMT

Today's post is all about Brigette! Brigette is a Class of 2023 High School Senior in Vancouver Washington. She is currently taking a forensics class that she finds fascinating, especially because her future career choice will be in phlebotomy.

Brigette has a passion for art in many forms and she finds it fun and expressive. She enjoys sketching, crafts, listening to music and baking. Brigette also loves the outdoors which includes analyzing rocks and interesting looking sticks. She goes camping and mushroom picking with her family whenever they get the chance to go. (One of theses days Bryan and I will get to go mushroom picking with them... we've never been!)

Knowing all of this about Brigette, it seems only fitting that she should choose her portrait location to be at the Cedar Creek Grist Mill. This is one of the beautiful attractions in Woodland and we love it too. We've been visiting it regularly ever since we moved to this area well over a decade ago. Here's some info about the Mill that I found on the Mill's website:

"The Cedar Creek Grist Mill is a working museum, showing visitors the inside workings of a grist mill of that time period.... The Mill rests on a steep and rocky slope at the bottom of the narrow gorge of Cedar Creek. It is the only grist mill in Washington that has maintained its original structural integrity, mills with stones, and is water powered. A covered bridge spanning Cedar Creek was completed in 1994 and continues to draw visitors from all over the United States."

We have known Brigette since she was a little girl and we've known her mother since she was Brigettes age! So of course, Bryan and I were very exited for this session. This girl is amazing. We love the young lady she's turning into and we just know she has a wonderful future in store!

Emmanuel & Claudia's Chambers Bay Wedding

(Amanda and Bryan Photography) — Sat, 12 Nov 2022 00:37:06 GMT

Claudia and Emmanuel's wedding day was so beautiful! They got married on one of the most gorgeous days in October at the Environmental Services Building on Chambers Bay in University Place.

After a busy morning with her sister, cousins, and family, Claudia was ready for her first look with Emmanuel. She walked to side of the building where there is a tree lined bridge where Emmanuel was waiting. He was so happy to see her, and was quite taken aback when she called his name and he turned around! We took advantage of just about every beautiful spot on the premises for the bride and groom, bridal party and family portraits.

This ceremony location had breathtaking views overlooking Washington's Puget Sound. It's got to be one of the prettiest spots around to say "I Do" to your best friend!

I loved Claudia's choice of blue hydrangeas in her bridal and bridesmaids bouquets which overflowed onto the table centerpieces for the reception. The blue paired nicely with gold charger plates and other gold accents in the decor.

This couple has the sweetest family, they were so kind and generous to their guests. They went above and beyond to make sure everyone was enjoying themselves during the reception. Emmanuel and Claudia are a couple who LOVE to dance! They danced to almost every song, including the songs played by the Banda. We practically had to peel them away from the dance floor to capture their husband and wife portraits before it got too late. We just had to take advantage of the beautiful light that was setting on these fall colored trees on the opposite side of the building. 100% worth it!

Hope you enjoy our highlights from this wonderful day!

Alondra's Vancouver Lake Senior Session

(Amanda and Bryan Photography) — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 20:28:09 GMT

Introducing: Alondra! A lovely senior High School student in Vancouver Washington. This girl is more than just beautiful, she is sweet, goal oriented, hard working, and thinks of others more than herself.

Alondra is really enjoying the schooling she is receiving to be a certified nursing assistant, she loves learning new skills every time she gets to interact with people who need help. The medical field is something she is passionate about, but she also has other goals that will allow her to serve others. As a Jehovah's Witness she wants to make herself available as much as she can in the Ministry and LDC (local design and construction) work!

When Alondra isn't busy with these things she spends time with her sister, her family and her friends. She also plays the violin, and loves reading books and enjoying the beautiful fall colors, it's her favorite time of year!

Kevin & Kayla's Pacific Coast Vow Renewal

(Amanda and Bryan Photography) — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 19:14:18 GMT

We've been photographing Kevin and Kayla and their sweet girls for some years now, so we were so happy to capture their 10 year vow renewal this Summer! Kevin and Kayla got married on Cannon beach in the Summer of 2012 so this area in the Pacific Coast is very special to them. They wanted to return with their daughters to celebrate the occasion with a simple and fun private backyard ceremony.

The girls opened the ceremony by spreading flower petals down the aisle in whimsical ballerina style. Kayla then met Kevin at the end of the aisle and the whole family participated in a Unity Sand Ceremony where they each had a vessel with colored sand and combined the grains into one representing the union of their family. Vows were exchanged, Kallie read a poem and Katie had some words that she wanted to share. They ended with music and a fun bubble exit which was definitely a hit! No celebration is complete without pizza from Fultanos and delicious cake!

The evening came to a close with a stroll on the beach. Even though it was too foggy to see Haystack Rock on Cannon Beach, Kevin and Kayla were happy to spend this day on the same sands that they were on 10 years ago, to just be grateful for the life they have had together and ready for whatever the future will bring!

Zander's Urban Vancouver Senior Session

(Amanda and Bryan Photography) — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 20:18:15 GMT

Meet Zander, a High school senior from the Class of 2023.

He requested an urban setting for his senior photo session and since Zander goes to a Vancouver Washington High School, Downtown Vancouver seemed like a perfect fit!

Bryan and I had so much fun scouting the streets and looking at all the cool wall art before his photo shoot. Zander had his pick of awesome backgrounds and we loved every one that he chose!

Apparently there are over 40 murals in Downtown Vancouver, so if you ever want to take a walking tour or want more information about them head over to Clark County Mural Society. They are on a mission to transform public spaces by keeping Vancouver beautiful and vibrant, all while creating an appreciation for historical roots, landmarks and events. It's wonderful if you ask me!

Hope you all enjoy scrolling through the highlights from our session with Zander, he is a really cool guy and we are now suggesting he take up modeling as a career choice! ...or at least embrace the fact that he rocked his session!!

Lizmarie & Edward's Moulton Falls Maternity Session

(Amanda and Bryan Photography) — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 23:54:17 GMT

This Moulton Falls maternity session was so dreamy! Bryan and I have scouted out this location a few times for possible sessions and we finally got to shoot here! We had so much fun adventuring with Edward and Lizmarie climbing up these smooth rocks and around the small pools on Moulton Falls located along the Lewis River near Yacolt Washington. It was so calming watching the powerful water flowing through the tree lined canyon.

This sweet couple is expecting their first baby soon and they are so excited for her to come! We can already see how much love they have towards their baby girl! Lizmarie is wearing a gorgeous pink gown that somehow perfectly compliments and yet contrasts the grey volcanic rock formations. What a romantic and whimsical maternity session... I just love everything about it!

Gerardo & Adriana's September Wedding in Vancouver

(Amanda and Bryan Photography) — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 19:31:45 GMT

Gerardo and Adriana got married in early September and their day was absolutely perfect! I just love all the pinks and blush colored details that were featured throughout the day, not to mention the elegant bridesmaids dresses!

Adriana got ready in her apartment with her sister who did the honors of buttoning up her wedding dress. What a beautiful bride Adriana made! Afterwards, we headed to Officers Row near Fort Vancouver where we met up with an only mildly nervous groom. Gerardo and Adriana shared their first look and were mostly smiles for the rest of the day! These grand Victorian homes with their old world elegance and tree-lined sidewalks made for the most romantic portrait location!

Gerardo and Adriana were joined in matrimony after a spiritual talk and ceremony at their local Kingdom Hall. They signed the marriage certificate in front of family and friends - all who were present to witness this special occasion. In true Mexican fashion, the day wasn't over without a hearty traditional meal of birria and dancing to your hearts content!

Don't forget to scroll to the end - the sunset was GLOWING as we took Gerardo and Adriana's first portraits as husband and wife!

Cosette's Class of 2023 PNW Senior Session

(Amanda and Bryan Photography) — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 16:58:57 GMT

This was an epic session to end the Summer with. Cosette is enjoying her Senior year in High School and she is a lovely young woman!

She came to our little town of Woodland Washington for her photo session. We started out in Ridgefield where we just love these overgrown open fields dried out by the lack of rain in the Summer. The Queen Anns Lace and pink wild flowers were blooming and made for a dreamy foreground in Cosette's pictures!

Because Cosette loves the water and walking on sandy beaches we next headed to the Columbia River beach front here in Woodland to finish up her session. It turned out to be an amazing sunset with yummy pastel shades of blue and pinky-orange!

Wishing this girl the best and most amazing senior year! Hop you all enjoy these gorgeous images of Cosette's Class of 2023 Senior Session!

Emmanuel & Claudia's Rose Garden Engagement Session

(Amanda and Bryan Photography) — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 15:25:44 GMT

Today we are sharing a bloom filled engagement session that we shot in Tacoma a couple weeks ago. Claudia and Emmanuel are getting married next month and we're so excited to be there on their special day! Even though we already knew Claudia from her senior graduation pictures a few years ago, we were really looking forward to meeting Emmanuel in person and shooting them together for this special occasion!

We met at Point Defiance, a beautiful 760 acre Park in Tacoma that we are very fond of especially in the Springtime. A special treat was in store because even though it's already September, the rose garden and the fuchsia garden were both in full bloom! After strolling through the gardens we visited the nearby ponds and then headed to the Pagoda. On the way to the car we were forced to bring the cameras back out when we saw a group of deer grazing in the lawn! It was a spectacular experience for Claudia and Emmanuel to be so close to wildlife, and for us to include them in their engagement pictures!

Enjoy these beautiful blooms and this lovely couple!

Rony & Jany's Family Beach Session

(Amanda and Bryan Photography) — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 17:36:52 GMT

Rony and Jany have the most squishable little boys! They had so much fun playing in the sand and they love each other so much! We've been planning this beach session since their baby was just a couple weeks old. So glad we waited until August and got to have a perfect summer day on the Oregon Coast.

Rony & Jany are celebrating 5 years of marriage this Summer! They welcomed their first born in 2020 during the pandemic and now have a second happy baby boy to complete their puzzle. Jany and Rony feel so blessed and thankful for their little family! Cant wait to watch these little ones grow up!

Mike & Jhoanna's Maui Maternity Announcement

(Amanda and Bryan Photography) — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 03:35:05 GMT

Mike and Jhoanna are expecting!!

We just love these two! They are the happiest and most easygoing couple. I think Bryan and I have discovered their passion: Hawaii. Although they live in Cali, some very exciting things in their lives have happened in Hawaii. They got engaged in Hawaii, they got married in Hawaii almost 5 years ago now, and they visit Hawaii just about every year. Guess its only natural that they announce the next biggest chapter in their lives in a place they love so much!

We met Mike a few years ago at a wedding in Oahu that we were invited to photograph and Mike was the videographer! It was an awesome experience working with Mike and his team, we hit it off! Here's some of his work on his website and travel vlog on his YouTube channel, once you're on the vlog, look for their 'through the years' compilation to get a glimpse into Mike and Jhoanna's story!

For this special occasion we chose a location on Maui that featured some iconic tropical vibes and of course we had to go to the beach afterwards to catch the sunset!

Congratulations again you two, can't wait to meet that little one!

Gerardo & Adriana's Pacific City Coast Engagement Session

(Amanda and Bryan Photography) — Tue, 02 Aug 2022 19:49:16 GMT

Gerardo and Adriana are engaged! This is that shy cute couple (you know the type) that has known each other ever since they were about 13, who have had an ongoing crush on one another without the other knowing but too nervous to say anything when they were together. This is the guy who remembers the moment he first clapped eyes on her and every detail about it... even what she was wearing! Were so happy for them!

Side note: You might recognize this beauty from her Senior session a few years ago.

Gerardo and Adriana recommended we go to a place that they love visiting to take their engagement pictures - Pacific City on the Oregon Coast. It ended up being a perfect oasis to escape the heat of a 90 degree day in Portland. We were welcomed by a cloudy mist right on the cape, covering the distant rock formations and creating a moody backdrop between us and the horizon. Even so, it was such a breathtaking view! Another thing that took our breath away was the strenuous hike up the steep sand dune to reach the very top of this sandstone headland. We were absolutely rewarded with the views of how the powerful waves pummeling the rocks have carved out and sculpted the entire scene before us!

Don't know about you guys, but we're in love with these! Hope you enjoy our faves from this Oregon coast engagement session.

Steven & Ciny's Lakeside Gardens Wedding

(Amanda and Bryan Photography) — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 18:10:57 GMT

We are so excited to share Steven and Ciny's elegant wedding day!

Lakeside Gardens located just outside the city of Portland Oregon was the perfect location for this dreamy event. With tall cedars, weeping willows, lakes, islands and bridges there is gorgeous scenery at every turn! Steven shared a private first look with his bride on the island with a beautiful grand water fountain on the lake beyond. We were all wowed by Ciny's epic bouquet featuring the prettiest blush colored florals and cascading orchids!

Their outdoor wedding ceremony in front of the Upper Gazebo was beautifully decorated with drapery and floral arrangements. The bridal party entered through a pergola tunneled with hanging wisteria and walked down the isle, lined with flower petals. Ciny's mother placed her daughters hand into Stevens in front of a wonderful group of family and friends that came to share this moment with them!

Steven and Ciny made their grand entrance into the reception hall followed by the White Lotus lion dance team. The traditional lion dance is performed at weddings to bless the couple in order for them to have a long and happy marriage. It was definitely epic and an exciting highlight of the evening! There were so many wonderfully thought out details in their reception decor, and a deliciously elegant dinner spread! The couple, along with their parents greeted each table of guests and toasts were shared with all in attendance. But, the evening didn't stop there, as soon as the DJ opened up the dance floor it was a non stop party until the last song! If anyone there didn't already know, it quickly became clear that Steven is a breakdancing master! Not only did he wow the crowd but inspired others to break out their dance moves as well. This party was not complete without a proper send off!

Wishing these two the best! Hope you enjoy this beautiful wedding day as much as we did!

Venue, Coordinator & Catering: Lakeside Gardens Events

Flowers: Silk and Blossom

DJ Joshua Fields

Cake: Fat Cupcake

Daniel & Aly's Vineyard View Wedding in Scott Mills Oregon

(Amanda and Bryan Photography) — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 23:46:17 GMT

When we met Daniel and Aly last year they told us what their ideal vision was for their wedding day: a big and romantic celebration; an elegant backyard event based around laughter and dancing. Well Daniel and Aly, I believe that's exactly what you got and so much more! What a beautiful day it turned out to be. The warmest day in June with a delicious golden sunset sendoff with views of the Willamette Valley!

Vineyard View Celebrations was the ideal setting for Daniel and Aly's wedding vision, with forested pathways, cascading ponds beneath a canopy of evergreen, views of Oregon Wine Country and a relaxed atmosphere.

Highlights for the guests were hands down the Giddy Up Mobile Bar cart with personalized drink creations, and catering by Sanchos Tacos and Grill taco truck!

To describe this wedding day we'd say it was a perfect fusion of culture & family, of laughter and romance! Even we felt the support of their family in so many different ways. Aly's sister officiated their union. Daniels parents were the last to linger after the ceremony ended and shared a touching embrace. As Aly's mother helped her get ready, I witnessed a most beautiful, raw, emotional moment pass between the two of them. And I can't leave out mentioning their first dance which made me feel like I was on a Disney movie set! I could go on, but see for yourself!

Enjoy our favorites from Daniel & Aly's Wedding day!

Venue: Vineyard View Celebrations at La Bastide

Planner: Debbie at Events Planned Perfectly

Catering: Sanchos Tacos and Grill

Drink Cart: The Giddy Up, Mobile Bar co.

Cake: Helen Bernhard Bakery

Hair & Makeup: Blossom and Beauty

Evan & Kassandra. A Creekside Estate Spring Wedding

(Amanda and Bryan Photography) — Wed, 29 Jun 2022 20:13:41 GMT

We've had this one in the books for almost a year now and couldn't wait for their day to arrive! Evan and Kassandra are a fun, loving and adventurous couple who love running and the outdoors. Evan and Kassandra both compete in triathlons and from what I gathered during speeches, Evan is Kasandra's trainer. I guess what they say is true - a couple that train together stay together!

We got to know these two a little during their engagement session last Summer at the Columbia River Gorge - where we discovered that we both have the same fondness for the color blue, the Gorge, and we just can't resist those mountain views! You can check out their engagement session here.

Evan and Kassandra got married at Creekside Estate, a family owned boutique style garden venue in Washougal Wa. It was the last Spring wedding of this year, and turned out to be wet with passing rain clouds throughout the day. Somehow though, it stopped raining particularly when we wanted it to - during portrait time and during the ceremony! We even got a peek at some patches of blue sky.

My favorite part of the day was the first look. After seeing each other for the first time in their wedding attire, Evan and Kassandra recited their vows to each other in private. They read their love letter full of promises to each other and then sealed it with a kiss and an embrace. What a brilliant way to add intimacy to this special moment!

There were so many other things that made this day special and unique - One of the most entertaining and well thought out ceremony speeches I've heard, which catered exactly to Evan and Kassandra; gorgeous florals created by a close family friend, beautiful speeches, and so much more. It was not just the family and friends that came to support them, but also the things they did and the words they said that made these two feel so loved!

Enjoy our favorites from Evan and Kassandras wedding day!

Vendors that helped make this day a success:

Planner: Kirsten Pfeifer kristin@creekside-estate.com
Catering: Its Party Time Catering

Cake: Simply Sweets

DJ: Cliff Stanford djklyph@gmail.com

HMU: Alex & Meaghan from Glam Beauty Bar

Dress: BHLDN Anthropology

Daniel & Katrina Columbia River Engagement Session

(Amanda and Bryan Photography) — Sat, 25 Jun 2022 02:25:05 GMT

We absolutely loved our time with Daniel and Katrina last week. These two make an awesome couple and we can't wait for their wedding later this summer!

We had so much fun exploring the Historic Columbia River Highway together. We stopped at three different locations for their engagement session. Even though the Highway is littered with incredible waterfalls, we only took pictures at one of them because our focus was to get those river and mountain views! Most of you will recognize Vista House at Crown Point in the first set of images. We love stopping at Vista House any time we get the chance to because it is the best view of the Gorge in either direction.

When you have backgrounds like these, there's no need to overthink anything else for your photo session. In fact, that's one of our tips for making your engagement session memorable:

Take Full Advantage of Your Location

- Instead of planning several different props, consider what you’ll already have available to you based on your location. For example, if you’ve chosen an outdoor location, consider all the backdrops you’ll be able to use and decide whether you really need anything extra to bring your photos to life. There may be some details at the location that will provide you with all you need.

Hope you all enjoy these views as well as Daniel and Katrina's adorable smiles!

Josue & Mariel's Vancouver Backyard Wedding

(Amanda and Bryan Photography) — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 18:36:26 GMT

Bryan and I are so happy to have been a part of Jose and Mariel's journey. We've known Josue and his family since they moved into the area almost 20 years ago! Mariel was a bridesmaid in Josue's brothers wedding years 5 ago (before these two were an item). It brings us so much joy to see Josue and Mariel join their lives together and in our opinion their wedding was absolutely beautiful!

Let me just point out some of the days highlights. Mariel had four bridesmaids, her sisters and her cousins. She chose to have someone special to her - her twin sister - in the getting ready room to help her prep and step into her dress. Josue's two brothers along with a couple of friends joined him in getting ready for the big day.

Josue and Mariel shared an affectionate moment to themselves when they saw each other for the first time. It was in front of an epic field of tall green grass and white daisies, with puffy blue grey clouds above that went farther than the tree-line in the horizon.

The wedding ceremony was held at their local Kingdom Hall. Mariel's close family friend gave a beautiful spiritual marriage talk. Josue's dad performed the vow ceremony, pronounced them husband and wife and gave a heartfelt closing prayer.

Afterwards, they joined their guests in a private backyard reception beautifully decorated with fresh white flowers and royal blue accents. The florals and decor were put together by Mariel's mom, sisters and other members of her family. A gorgeous dance floor built out of reclaimed wood from a school gymnasium featured their monogrammed initials hand painted by Josue's uncle. And, of course we can't forget to mention the sweets table and Lego cake!

This backyard reception really did come together by a labor of love. After the weather forecast and previous week (or should I say month) of almost nonstop rain forced them to change their original plans, both families and many friends arrived the day before to set up a giant tent in the pouring rain. It ended up being a gorgeous day! By the time DJ SRG turned up the music, everyone was ready to party the night away! Even Bryan and I jumped on the dance floor after we put our cameras down. What a day to remember!

Alvaro & Kaileen's Micro Spring Wedding

(Amanda and Bryan Photography) — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 19:44:22 GMT

Alvaro and Kaileen's tiny backyard wedding was perfect! I just loved their choice of bright colors that complimented the surrounding greenery made even more radiant by Spring showers.

With close members of their family and less than a handful of friends present, we felt so privileged to capture their special day. I'll still call it a "micro wedding" even though there were well over 100 joined in via Zoom to witness the ceremony.

Kaileen got ready at the Heathman Lodge in Vancouver with her mom and grandma at hand, helping her slip into that beautiful dress and perfecting all the little details of her wardrobe. Meanwhile, Alvaro was overseeing the rest of the set up and decor for the Ceremony. Alvaros dad got him into his suit jacket
just in time for Kaileen's arrival. Tucked away from the rain and from everyone else, under the porch, they shared a very sweet first look.

The ceremony - the whole day in fact - was just as it should be, an honest reflection of their love for each other and their family.

A quick bite of cake later and these two were ready to be off! But not before a proper sendoff - a sparkler exit!

I've never seen these two happier! Just look at their smiles when they're together! Alvaro will keep Kaileen smiling and laughing for all time- I just know it!

Arturo & Leticia' Bellevue Wedding at the Hilton

(Amanda and Bryan Photography) — Fri, 27 May 2022 00:16:59 GMT

Wow! What a special beginning to our Spring/Summer wedding season this year! We had the honor to Photograph Arturo and Leticia's wedding on Saturday. It was the most beautiful Spring day we've had so far.

I joined Lety in her room at the Hilton in Bellevue where she was getting ready with her mom and her two sisters. After capturing her details and bridal portraits, we went to the nearby gardens where Arturo and Lety shared their First Look and took their first portraits together. We barely got to scratch the surface of this beautiful 53 acre botanical garden located in the heart of Bellevue before heading back to the Hilton for the most important part of the day: the ceremony!

It was decorated to perfection with elegant draping and burgundy, white, and blush florals. After a nice Bible based talk, Arturo and Leticia exchanged marriage vows in the presence of their family and friends. The rest of the day was spent with those friends sharing a meal and dancing- a true celebration of love!

We hope you enjoy seeing their day through our eyes!

Florist: Dreyer House Florals

Cake: Lydias Cakes and Confections

DJ Entertainment: DJ SRG Sergio Ramirez

Venue & Catering: Hilton Bellevue Hotel

Coordinator: Lisa

Dress: Davids Bridal

Dani & June's In Home Newborn Session

(Amanda and Bryan Photography) — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 20:22:03 GMT

Dani & June invited us into their home a couple weeks ago to photograph their new baby boy Jenoah Ulises! He was born on March 4th which made him 4 weeks new at that time of our visit. He weighed 6.5 lbs and measured 21 inches in length when he was born. Jenoah slept though the whole session and opened his eyes once to look at his Dad. What a precious little bundle of joy!

We are so happy for Dani and June, It was almost 6 years ago that we photographed their wedding in Hood River Oregon.
This is a wonderful new chapter in their lives and we could tell at a glance how much in love they are with their new baby boy! June tells me that Jenoah has a big appetite. He loves to sleep and to be warm and toasty snuggled up in a blanket. He gets cranky if he is woken up and doesn't like diaper changes or the cold. Jenoah loves listening to music records with Dani (who has quite a nice collection of vinyl). Dani says he loves the sound of Jenoah's cry and the sleep deprivation is so worth it!

Enjoy these intimate moments of a very sweet couple and their precious new baby boy!