10 Things That Make Me Happy

When I moved to drizzly Portland, OR from sunny Florida, I knew the weather patterns would be an adjustment. And so far, it hadn't really bothered me, until.... well, now. It's May and it's been raining for as many days back as I can remember. So, I've decided today I need to find the sunshine from within and focus on the things that are full of light and joy. Here are 10 things, on this rainy dreary day, that DO make me happy! :)

1.) A painting from a friend.


2.) The sound of Matt's footsteps on our creaky old wooden floors.


3.) Mailing a small unexpected gift to a friend.


4.) Homemade throw pillows.


5.) Smiling faces of loved ones every time I open the fridge.


6.) Juggling Balls that taught me to sew (still working the juggling...)


7.) Noticing the wear on my snowboard bindings, reminding myself that I really DID get to tear up the mountain all spring.


8.) Playing the Piano


9.) Booking more photo shoots and feeling so grateful to do what I love so much for a living.


10.) Seahorses!

Jenee & Jonathan.

Rain.
Originally uploaded by SYeakle

I had a perfectly Pacific Northwestern engagement shoot over the weekend: in the RAIN! Jenee and Jonathan kept such a positive attitude and came prepared with an umbrella. We had a lovely time snapping away between the little spurts of sprinkling water from the sky. You'd think the bridge would have helped keep us dry, but no such avail.

Lucky for us, the rain DID seem to keep away a lot of other park-goers. I'm looking forward to taking their wedding photographs this fall. :)

What To Wear to an Engagement Shoot?

Stephanie from 'I Plan It Right' asked me answer a question she had been receiving a lot lately from new brides-to-be. "What do I wear to my engagement photo shoot?" So, she asked me to write a guest blog entry for her on the topic. I really enjoyed doing so! Check out my reply here or over on Stephanie's website http://iplanitright.com/


"What to Wear to an Engagement Shoot? "

This is your big chance to play stylist; embrace it and show your personality! To ensure your photos endure a solid shelf-life, try to stick with classic looks and avoid being too overtly trendy.

Don't be afraid to embrace color and texture. While I'm not sure who decided "classic" was a black or white shirt paired with jeans on the beach, I do know the look is looking pretty dated these days. While it's important to match, this does NOT mean you have to wear the exact same outfits. Compliment one another's outfits with the color palette you chose by dressing with each other's choices in mind.


Also, don't be afraid to bring extra options. Sometimes a change of clothes and going right around the corner can create a whole new photo shoot! Always discuss this with your photographer first, as some may charge a fee for outfit changes. This fee is likely far less than the photo shoot, and typically a good deal. You essentially can get two completely unique photo shoots for the cost of one + the fee.

You can't have too many photos or photo shoots; there are endless fun and creative ways to utilize your engagement photos. Save-The-Date magnets, custom thank you cards, a personalized guest book for the wedding day, and fresh photos for your Facebook profile or wedding website are all great ways to put those new photos to use.

The following are a few shots from recent engagement shoots I've done with couples who styled themselves beautifully and thoughtfully. They used the clothes to express their personal style and create a vibe for the photo session. For more examples, please head over to see more of my photos at http://www.SoManyMoments.com