Daily Shot of Inspiration | A Dip at the Downtown Seattle Library

Thank you to all my faithful readers for being patient with me while I am working on the website and branding updates! I have much to share, and will soon be resuming the 'Daily Shot of Inspiration' on an actual daily basis.   

This upcoming weekend I will be at a wedding that is particularly special to me.  After many years of bachelorhood, my little brother is marrying my high school best friend. I introduced them over 20 years ago (could it really be that long ago?!?) and now I have the honor of being the officiant at their wedding! I've never been on the altar side of the camera aside from my own wedding and a few bridesmaid cameos, so I'm excited and nervous all at once. I can't wait to see all my friends and family, and I hope that you are also able to share the Memorial Day weekend with those you love.  :)

Au Revoir, Paris!

I am back from my adventures in Paris, and it was a wonderful trip ... I met some great people, created some stunning photographs (including a few of the Eiffel Tower that I'm quite proud of), and ate more than I thought possible. I'll be sharing the images from the trip over the next few weeks, once I get caught up from my travels. In the meantime, Ken and I are busy with booking appointments for 2013 weddings - next summer is filling up already, which is exciting! 

As always, thank you for taking the time to visit our little corner of cyber-space ... our blog has been receiving an unprecedented amount of traffic lately, and I know it is from all of our great clients sharing it with their friends and family.  In case I haven't said it lately, Ken and I are appreciative beyond words, and are looking forward to an amazing year.

Daily Shot of Inspiration | An Alki Beach Engagment

This is such a classic engagment photograph, I had to share it - the warm spring sun, the city in the background, and Emily and Trevor looking absolutely fabulous.  I'm excited for their wedding already!

Daily Shot of Inspiration | Seattle Fairmont Olympic Hotel Wedding

Another unscripted moment that made me smile ... I love the contrast between the formality of the buttoned-up concierge and the playfulness of Julia & Brandon's ear-to-ear grins.

Daily Shot of Inspiration | Summer at the Voila! Wedding Show

In case you missed the amazing details from the Voila! Wedding Show at the Woodmark Hotel, I'll be posting some of my favorites over the next few weeks.  We had a booth in the "Summer" section this year, and our little group went all-out to create a look that made me crave an outdoor wedding in the sunshine. 

Daily Shot of Inspiration | A Sweet Kiss at Green Lake Park

I adore the warmth in this image, both from the sunlight streaming in and the gentle kiss planted lovingly on Christina's forehead.  So sweet!

Daily Shot of Inspiration | The Newlyweds First Sunset

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This was a completely unscripted moment, and I don't think Christina and Will even realized we were snapping away behind them as they headed to the dock for sunset photographs.  The spontaneity of the twirl was just so darn fabulous, and I loved that we were there to capture it!

Daily Shot of Inspiration | A Cherry Blossom Moment

When Andrea and Ken were married several years ago, their circumstances prevented them from having any photographs at the time.  It was always something that she wished she had, and so when I suggested that we celebrate their anniversary with wedding photographs, she couldn't have been more excited.  This is one of my favorite images from our session; it captures all I adore about Andrea - her sweetness, her unfettered love for her husband, and her gentle kindness that blesses everyone around her. 

Daily Shot of Inspiration | L-O-V-E at The Great Hall at Green Lake

I L-O-V-E this photograph!

Daily Shot of Inspiration | A Wedding Adventure in Green Lake Park

This was our first wedding in Green Lake, and I was blown away by how beautiful it was.  It has an old-style European feeling, and the tree-lined Rue de Green Lake was the perfect touch of elegance.

Daily Shot of Inspiration | A Wedding at Hotel Murano

Pure Glamour!

Daily Shot of Inspiration | Two Lovebirds Get Married

Two things I love: birds and the color blue.  Christina and Will combined them perfectly with dozens of personalized touches, including handmade wooden lovebirds crafted by Will himself.  I was so impressed with his handiwork!

I love Paris in the Springtime ...

Every year Ken and I try to schedule at least one week of international photography, giving us a chance to stretch our creative wings in a new environment.  This year Ken decided to stay in Seattle to work on some video projects, but I get to traipse to Paris, France!  I haven't visited France since the days of my childhood family vacations, so I am giddy with excitedment.

This photoshoot is a little different from previous years because it will be focused on our new Couture Portrait line that will be launched in the next few months.  I'm also working on a fine art project that will be a series of mixed-media oil paint, encaustic wax, and giclee photographic work, which will be evolving over the Summer.  I can't wait to share my experiences with you when I return. :)

Daily Shot of Inspiration | Fairhaven Village Wedding Party

This was such a fun group!

Daily Shot of Inspiration | A Walk on the Bellingham Streets

It's candid moments like this one that are often our favorites.  I love the look on Annaliese's face as she and Eric walked the streets of Bellingham.

Happy Easter!

Daily Shot of Inspiration | A Bellingham Wedding & Vintage Phonebooth

Nothing says classic like the old-school British phonebooths ... I wish we had more of them in Seattle!

Identity Crisis

Today marks the first official step toward creating a new brand identity for Azzura, and I couldn't be more excited!  Our logo and colors will remain the same (I think), but we are looking to giving a facelift to our website and blog to make them curl-your-toes fabulous. 

The timing couldn't be better, since I'm headed out to Paris on Monday for a photoshoot, and I am inspired by all things French.  The actual design of the look will be in the hands of the experts, but I have been enjoying helping with the concepts behind the design.  I'm not a graphic artist, but I did create a little inspiration snippet that I'm sending to the graphic designers to illustrate the general direction I'm hoping our rebranding will take ... feel free to comment to tell me what you think.

Daily Shot of Inspiration | An Elegant British Motor Coach Moment

I smile every time I see this photograph - the look of exuberance on Julia's face is simply fabulous.

Daily Shot of Inspiration | Adventures in the Rain

I love when our weddings decide to venture out into the rain (and have a blast doing it!)

Daily Shot of Inspiration | A Wedding at the Renovated W Hotel Seattle

We were so excited to photograph the very first wedding in the W Hotel Seattle's newly renovated space!  They finished the upgrades just in time for the event, and the wedding was gorgeous.  I have quite a few images to share from this wedding, and I am hoping it will get published in Seattle Metropolitan Bride & Groom.  Fingers crossed!