HAPPY HOLIDAYS

This has got to be one of the most creative and humorous light displays we have ever come across, therefore we thought it a befitting image to post for our holiday wishes. Take a good look ... yes, that is an alligator with a deer clutched between its jaws :-). Hilarious!!!

We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday!!!

ALISON AND DEREK WEDDING

How's that for a view?

Alison and Derek approached us a couple of months ago about photographing their wedding. They had decided on an intimate affair at a private residence in Sedona with only their closest family and friends in attendance. Of course we agreed ... we love small weddings! They are so much fun!

The house was simply amazing! Known as the "Lighthouse" due to its myriad large windows, it sits atop a bluff overlooking Cathedral Rock. It's architecture is truly unique, blending harmoniously with the surrounding red rock environment. It even sports a giant, solid slab of crystal which is set into a hole situated just in front of the family room's fireplace - how very Sedona-like :-). The surrounding grounds are exquisitely landscaped. Originally we had planned on taking a side trip to take photographs at Red Rock Crossing, but after laying eyes on the grounds we quickly realized there was no need to travel anywhere ... which Alison and Derek had already tried to tell us :-).

Because the wedding was so small, our services were only required for a few hours, but it was unbelievable how many opportunities this house presented in that short time frame. Alison and Derek implemented many creative aspects into their ceremony which we just loved! From having a sunset ceremony in front of a crackling fire, to presenting the rings on two slabs of red rock covered in sand, to using sand gathered from sentimental California beaches for their sand ceremony, their ideas proved to blend perfectly with the spiritual and natural aspects that make Sedona so famous.

Alison and Derek, thank you so much for allowing us the opportunity to take part in your wedding day! Both of you were amazing to work with and to get to know. We also loved your german shepard, Desha (sorry ... we probably mutilated the spelling of her name.) She kept things interesting :-). We hope you enjoy the photos and have a wonderful holiday!

WHY WE LIVE IN FLAGSTAFF

Our client's - and friends - often ask us why we choose to live in Flagstaff when over half of our yearly weddings are located in the Phoenix area. The reason is simple ... just look at the photos we have posted. These were all taken in our yard! We had our first major snow storm of the season last night and today, leaving us with over one-and-a-half feet of the white stuff. We love the seasons, especially winter and snow, so today we rushed outside to grab a few shots of our new winter wonderland. The bonus was, while I was setting up the camera and tripod, Kevin looked at me and said "Tina ... there are elk right behind you!" Oh my god, they were so beautiful!!! Need I say more?

SUPERSTITIONS AND ZOO LIGHTS

Yesterday Kevin and I went to the valley for some early meetings. With those meetings over by 2:00PM, we figured we would take the rest of the day and spend it as a day out, which we have rarely had the time to do as of late. Our first destination was on the far east side in the Superstition Range. If you read my blog a few weeks ago on conducting Cynthia's and Daniel's engagement session there, you will know that I have formed a deep love for this place over the past five years, making numerous pilgrimages through it. This time was really fun due to the heavy weekend storms that Phoenix experienced. The desert was awash with the sound of running streams. This presented a perfect opportunity to capture some reflection images of saguaro-studded mountains at sunset - simply beautiful!

Afterwards we headed back to central Phoenix. We got sidetracked by an accident and headed off onto a side road where we encountered a strange sight. In the middle of a complex of neighborhoods, on this four lane road we saw what we thought were a couple of dogs making a daring crossing. They actually turned out to be a mother javelina and her small baby. The mother was desperately trying to get her young one across the street safely. They panicked though and halfway through made an about face to head back in the direction from which they first came. They had traffic at a halt while they tried to make a clear decision. I just couldn't help myself, I had to turn around and make sure they were alright - Kevin and I just love animals and can't stand to see them hurt. Just as we drove by, we noticed they had made another beeline for the other side and this time they completed the cross, on very fast little hooves I might add. We hope the rest of their night was less eventful.

Our destination was the Phoenix Zoo to attend Zoo Lights. Neither of us have been to this annual event and I have personally wanted to go every year since I moved to Arizona. They lights were beautiful and there were even some animals still awake. I have to confess though to being a bit of a wimp. It was cold and I did not go completely prepared as far as clothing goes. I live in Flagstaff for heaven sake - what a wimp I am. It was kind of nice though as the cold temperatures helped to put us into the spirit of the season. Our favorite exhibit was the pink spider guarding her web, which is funny since we are mutually terrified of the tiny eight-legged arachnids - but it was a really cool display. It was a fun day and nice to relax a little.

A MAJESTIC BULL BROKEN

This morning Kevin was awoken by our neighbor with the news of an injured bull elk that was resting in a field just behind our home. He was informed that fish and game had already been alerted and was on their way, so he quickly grabbed the camera gear and headed over to photograph it. We have been so bogged down in weddings that our poor 500mm F4 lens (I lovingly refer to it as my baby bazooka) has been severely neglected as of late, sitting in a corner accumulating dust. It was nice for it to see the light of day again :-).

Kevin used the car as a blind (this often works very well when photographing wild animals) and a beanbag for support. I am usually the one who photographs wildlife and I must say I am quite good at it - better than he is :-). Not really, I am just teasing him because people see my work from Kenya and often give me a lot of the credit for our nature and wildlife work, but Kevin is an amazing photographer at this style in his own right, so I am glad to show off some of his photographs - love ya dear :-).

All kidding aside, we really felt sorry for the elk. We often have a bachelor herd of five that visits our yard regularly and we wondered if this was one of them. One of his antlers was broken and he was limping quite badly. It is possible that the rut took a heavy toll on him, but who knows what really caused his injuries. Whatever the reason, his life is definitely in peril. He was eating which is a good sign, but ultimately we will probably never know what his future holds. When fish and game arrived, the bull was scared off and limped into the depths of the forest and disappeared in the mist of a fine rain. We wish him well and hope he doesn't suffer too much.

AN ARTICLE ON LADYBRILLE.COM

Several weeks ago I was contacted by the publisher of an on-line magazine called Ladybrille. Her name is Uduak Oduok and she is both inspirational and a joy to speak with. In Uduak's words, the goal of her website and magazine is to "fuse Western and African cultures through fashion." This really struck a cord with me as Africa, its lands, its wildlife and its amazing cultures, are very dear to my heart. I have had the joy of traveling to Kenya, East Africa several times and have had the rare opportunity to spend time living with the Maasai Tribe and learning their culture. From these experiences I have formed a deep love and appreciation of this place, and I always ache to return. So anything or anyone that attempts to bring these two cultures together is great in my book.

Uduak did a month long series on weddings in Africa and she ended it with a piece on wedding photography, which she gave me the honor of writing. She was so kind in her introduction of myself and my work and I cannot thank her enough for the opportunity. Thank you Uduak - keep up the wonderful work!

To view the article and related photos, "10 Essientail Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer", or to read all the interesting information available, visit the Blogazine at www.ladybrille.blogspot.com . It is the newest posting right now, but in the future just click on "weddings" under categories.

DANIELLE AND SCOTT WEDDING

This past Saturday we went to Old Town Scottsdale to photograph the wedding of Danielle and Scott. The wedding took place at the Old Adobe Mission and the reception was held at the Kerr Cultural Center. We instantly fell in love with the church. It is currently under restoration and its architecture smacks of the old southwest - so cool! The block surrounding the Church was all we needed for formals, as every step revealed a colorful doorway or avant-garde sculpture.

To transport their guests the two-and-a-half miles to the reception location, Danielle and Scott retained the services of a trolley system aptly named Dolly the Trolley. This was such a great idea and so much fun for everyone. A special thanks to the driver who let me crawl all over the trolley throughout the ride so I could get the best photographs possible :-). The reception was full of surprises too with a pasta saute station, people cross-dressing for cash and everyone having an all around riotous good time!

Danielle and Scott, thank you so much for having us! We had such a great time and your families were so welcoming and kind. Thank you too for all your kind compliments on our photography. It means a lot coming from two accomplished photographers in your own right - we would love to see some of your work sometime :-). Have a great month in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands - we are sooooooo jealous! Let us know what it was like when you return because that is one of our dream trips that we plan on making a reality one of these days. One last word ... for those who view this, take a good look at the ring photograph - these are some of the most unique rings we have ever seen - LOVE THEM!