AiP Creative Photography
creative spokane wedding & portrait photography
Daniel & Sierra Engagement, Spokane Wedding Photographer
Every now and then, I meet a soon-to-be married couple that make me feel as though I’ve known them all my life. That’s how it was with Daniel and Sierra, and they were so fun I was sorry to see the evening of shooting end. Of course it was really cold out, and the wind was blowing like crazy in the alleys of downtown Spokane, so it was one of our missions to stay as warm as possible (I wanted them to be comfortable and happy, not to mention it can be hard to feel the shutter release button with frozen fingers!). Some heavy coats and some hand warmers did the trick most of the time, along with a brief jaunt into the Davenport Hotel. The afternoon was an adventure, and I can’t tell you how fun Daniel and Sierra were — and they are obviously so perfect for each other. Their wedding is fast approaching, and I am honored to be a part of such their magical day! Here are some of my faves from the shoot. Cheers!
Gear Used: Nikon D700, Nikon 70-200mm f2.8, Nikon 85mm f1.4, Nikon 45mm T/S, Nikon 35mm f1.4
Eric & Misato, Coeur d’Alene Roller Skate Engagement Photographer
I had a fun mini-engagement with Eric & Misato last week. They are going to be having a full engagement session when it warms up, but they wanted some shots at the Skate Plaza for their save the dates. Misato does roller derby in Spokane & Coeur d’Alene (Misato Herdemise is her roller derby name) & Eric is a roller derby ref. They love skating, and that’s the sole theme of this mini, but we’ll branch out more in the Spring. Such fun, and to think, we get to do another full on location shot in Spokane when the weather stops being so wet and cold — I can’t wait! For these, I edited mostly in black and white or used a vintage type feel. My favorite shots came at the end of the evening, outside the Skate Plaza (in the freezing cold – my fingers were frozen during set up). I make my couples be tough for their pics! These favorites of mine also fall at the end of the blog posting. Happy viewing!
Gear: Nikon D700, Nikon 35mm f1.4, 2-Nikon SB-900′s (with shoot-through umbrella, Lumiquest III mini softbox, or standard diffuser); some kind of flash was used on every shot.
Our Booth at the Spokane Bridal Festival 2012, Spokane Wedding Photographer
After much prep and work, we finally set up our booth at the Spokane Bridal Festival. This huge event is our favorite advertising event of the year, and as usual, it was wonderful meeting all the soon-to-be brides (and a few grooms that weren’t home watching football). Thank you to all who stopped by to say hi, and a special thank you to those of you who booked us for your big day! The year 2012 is going to be the best, most fun year yet for AiP Creative Photography.
Spokane Bridal Festival, Spokane Wedding Photographer
I am so excited! The Spokane Bridal Festival is almost here, and we are READY. Huge prints are ready, lighting is ordered, new books and albums have been ordered and received, and my new tables have arrived. Thanks to Cookie for sewing the table covers! Also a big thanks to Erika for the floral display. It’s going to be lovely, and the best part is meeting all the new soon-to-be brides (and usually their moms, too). Come by and check our booth out, and be sure to stop by Stefanie’s booth for some of the best cake you’ll ever have (seriously). If you’re getting hitched in 2012, don’t wait too long to book your photographer, because dates book super fast in January. As I am posting this, it’s 5:55 on December 31st, so HAPPY NEW YEARS everyone!
Alan + Michelle, Engagement, Spokane Wedding Photographer
Meet Alan & Michelle. They booked with me after Michelle visited my booth at the Fall Spokane Bridal Festival, but this was my first time meeting Alan and seeing how much they love each other. They live in Las Vegas, but they will be getting married in Spokane, at the beautiful Beacon Hill. The first thing I noticed as they arrived at our pre-wedding meeting was how at ease they are with each other, and how calm and fun they were together. Ah, I thought, these guys are going to be a blast! And there are! They both love to hike (serious hiking, not walking around places that might resemble Tubb’s Hill) and while Alan may dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail someday, Michelle was emphatic that this HUGE hike would NOT include her (it takes months to complete). Oh, and guess how they met? Alan’s ex-girlfriend hooked them up — cool, right? As we started shooting their engagements, it was easy to start thinking about how gorgeous their wedding photos are going to be. These were shot in Post Falls, Idaho. Have fun looking!
Jared + Kassica, Spokane Engagement, Spokane Wedding Photographer
Jared & Kassica have such a wonderful story that you might find it someday as a Lifetime movie (and I know, because my wife and daughter watch it like it’s as good as football or something!). Jared and Kassica went to the same school as kids, but they weren’t into each other all that much just yet. Let’s just say they weren’t exactly friends… Anyway, it wasn’t until after graduation that they got together via facebook (where would we be without facebook?!). Now, just look at them! They look great, they have terrific personalities, and they fit together perfectly like hand in glove. Jared treats Kassica like she’s a queen, and she adores him (you can see it by the way they smile at each other, too). I LOVE seeing that in the couples I shoot. It feels great knowing I am capturing the story of two people who completely love each other. This shoot was an adventure of its own kind, as well. I had them trekking down a steep slope to get to some awesome railroad tracks underneath a graffiti-painted bridge. Love that! I hope you love the pics we made, too. I can’t wait for the wedding!
Photographers – gear used: Nikon D700, Nikon 70-200mm f2.8, Nikon 35mm f1.4, Nikon 85mm f1.4, SB900 strobe w/shoot through umbrella
Derek + Nicole, Finch Arboretum Engagement, Spokane Wedding Photographer
I loved these guys from the moment we met! They are both so calm and serene around each other. Derek has the amazing ability to stay on a roof in the winter time (he’s a roofer) plus he’s an avid hunter who just got his lifetime moose this year! I knew Nicole was super nice, but it wasn’t until the session at Finch, when the sun started going down and the temperature dropped, that I realized that she is really tough, too! Goosebumps and all, she was ready and willing to stay a few more minutes (I kept saying that, and we kept getting shots) until I felt we were finished. Their wedding is going to be a blast at the beautiful Hayden Country Club.
Jake, Spokane Senior Photographer
I got to meet Jake on Wednesday, and then see him again on Thursday for his grad session. Very cool guy! He loves soccer, playing as defender on his team. He watches movies when he can, but he is a strong supporter of all kinds of different school sports. In fact, even though he had a good time shooting with me, he was eager to get back to Spokane (we shot in Coeur d’Alene) to cheer on the volleyball team right after. Here are a few of my favorites, especially the pics with the sunglasses. A special thanks goes out to Jake’s sister for helping me keep things going smoothly and carrying Jake’s stuff. You’re both incredible!
Gear used: Nikon D700, Nikon 35mm F1.4, Nikon 85mm F1.4
Spokane Bridal Festival, Spokane Wedding Photographer
It is almost time for the Fall Bridal Festival, in Spokane! I have had fun getting ready with lots of great prints and albums to show. It’s always fun to meet new brides, and it’s also great to visit with other vendors. If you decide to go (I would encourage you to go!) be sure to check out Cakes by Stefanie with her beautiful, delicious cakes. Also, my booth will be decorated with the amazing flowers of Erica’s Expressions. The two runway shows planned will be stunning if they are anything like last January’s shows! I am currently in California, and I won’t be back to Idaho until Thursday — just in time to gather all my things and get the AiP booth ready. How exciting! If you haven’t been to one of these Festivals, you are in for a treat! And be sure to stop by and say hi!
Micah & Sara, Coeur d’Alene Wedding Photographer, Elk Point
Micah & Sara had such a beautiful engagement shoot, that I knew the wedding would be just gorgeous — and it was! THEY were gorgeous, to be more exact. Micah looks like he’s from a rock music cover, and Sarah a fashion model. Oh, and check out the pics of their cute little girl, too! They made a wise choice in booking Elk Point as their venue, with its breathtaking views. The owners are so helpful and kind, which helps so much with a day as important as your wedding day is. Oh, and here’s something that made their day even more memorable — they had a real live dove release during their ceremony! Capturing an entire wedding day is so much more than just walking around with a nice camera. It is knowing where to be. It is knowing the proper exposure. It is know where the light is, and how that relates to where you are and where they are. It’s composing your shot so that it has interest. It is seeing the beauty and knowing how to capture it just right. Keep this in mind when choosing your wedding photographer. If you want to go cheap, it may be best just to let uncle Bob take the pics and spend your money elsewhere. If you want the day captured so that the images will take your breath away, pay for a good photographer. You won’t regret it. Here is a pretty good sample of what I captured on this magical day.
Gear used for Micah & Sara’s wedding: 2 Nikon D700 cameras, Nikon 14-24mm F2.8, Nikon 35mm F1.4, Nikon 70-200mm F2.8, Nikon 85mm F1.4, Alien Bee w/shoot through umbrella, Nikon SB-900 Speed light, 42″ reflector/diffuser.
