top model bridal shoot with Ashley

This is the beginning of a new style of photography that Josh and I want to bring to our clients. We are now introducing "Top Model Bridal Shoots." If you have seen America's Next Top Model then you know exactly what were are talking about. It is a themed fashion style photo shoot where we go over-the-top trying to capture unique and beautiful ideas and locations with our brides. Ashley was our first bride to help us with this idea. Hopefully more will approach us in the future because this was fun!!

Two weeks ago, Josh and I took a day trip to Bend Oregon to work with Ashley one more time in her wedding dress. We photographed her and Derek's wedding in September, but wanted just one more photo shoot with her as a bride before the dress was going to get packed away. She was down for anything and it made the day interesting and we got some cool photos from the experience. We went to Smith Rock and ended up at Mcmenamins to do some shots in their Turkish Spa.

Check out some favorites... view the slideshow and leave us some comments to let us know what you think!

CLICK HERE FOR SLIDESHOW

Michael & Melissa's engagement

Last week Josh and I took a trip towards Mount Hood and met Michael and Melissa at a small place hidden away in the woods called Camp Howard. We were blown away by the beauty of the day, it was still morning and there was a haze throughout the hills as we all overlooked a valley with Mount Hood taking center stage on the horizon. Melissa and Michael chose the perfect spot for their photo shoot!

They fell in love at Camp Howard as Melissa was a counselor and Michael directed the camp. The place meant even more to them because they both went there as children. They took us to the spot overlooking the valley. This was where Michael proposed to Melissa. We loved spending the morning with them and walking around the camp. It was a unique location for us that we would have never experienced otherwise.

Melissa and Michael are such a sweet couple and we look forward to spending more time with them as their wedding approaches next summer. We are especially excited about their wedding reception that will be held at the Portland Zoo! How cool is that? Can't wait!

Enjoy our favorites from the day and don't forget to view the slideshow by clicking the link below. Enjoy!

CLICK HERE FOR SLIDESHOW

Steve & Kari's engagement

Steve and Kari were a blast to be around on their engagement shoot last week. Maggie and I had a great time taking their photos and getting to know them. We all got to do something they both loved to do and it was fun for us to visit some new places. The first thing we did was go to one of their favorite wineries, David Hill Winery. They often travel around Oregon to go wine tasting and they had just recently been to David Hill and loved the beautiful property. We did too! It was cool to see the grape leaves had changed to yellow.

Then we ended the photo shoot where Steve and Kari first met - Elmonica Elementary school in Beaverton. They went to school together through high school. It was funny hearing the stories about how they didn't like each other and hung out in different crowds. They had us laughing. It was after high school that they met again and fell in love. One cool part of the shoot was when they took us to the "kissing tree" behind the school. Of course we had them kiss under it :)

Oh and even though it stings a little, we let them wear their University of Oregon hats for a couple shots. (Maggie is a OSU Beav)

Enjoy some of our favorites from the shoot along with a link the slideshow on our website.

To view their slideshow CLICK HERE

Long & Shannon 09.29.07

While Josh was up in Washington photographing another wedding, I was here in Portland photographing Shannon and Long's wedding last month with our good friend Jonathan. I have never photographed a Vietnamese wedding so the experience was wonderful. I love to see other cultures and learn about their traditions and Shannon and Long's friends and family made me feel so welcome day long.

Things got started very early and went long into the night. I arrived at Shannon's house for the first ceremony at 7am. Shannon was nervous as she prepared for the day, but she looked amazing! A couple times, I caught her anxiously looking out the window waiting for her groom and his family to arrive so the ceremony could begin. Once Long arrived with his family and groomsmen, the day began and Shannon became so happy as she saw him for the first time.

After the ceremonies all morning, Jonathan and I headed downtown with the wedding party to snap some shots before the reception. Once the reception began, it went all night long! There were toasts and food, music and dancing... to say the least, Shannon and Long have friends that know how to party!

I had a wonderful time getting to know Shannon and Long and I am so honored to have joined them on their wedding day. I'm very thankful for the whole experience! Enjoy some of my favorites below along with a link to their slideshow.

CLICK HERE FOR SLIDESHOW

LinzMarie Designs

When we were first starting to pick up business and establish ourselves 2 years ago, we had the pleasure of booking with Lindsay an John for their 2006 July wedding. They were phenomenal people and we had such a great time with them on their engagement shoot through their wedding day. They established for us how we want to interact with clients and the fact that we don't just want to stand around and take photos and go home... we want to party and have a great time and get to know our clients as friends. It makes our work that much stronger in the end and it makes our job better too!

Lindsay is a graphic designer here in Portland and she has been working at getting her own invitation design business going for a year or so. She has now gotten a business blog going and will soon have a website. Her work is beautiful and she is awesome to work with so to all our brides and to those just passing through and reading this... check her out and hire her for your custom invitation designs!

There will be a permanent link to the right on our blog but you can click this one for now. You can always ask me for more details too!

LINZMARIE DESIGNS BLOG