Melanie, Todd, And A Beautiful Afternoon

We couldn't have asked for a better day in this late October Saturday. It has been sunny and warm the whole day. By late afternoon, when Melanie and Todd emerged from the Seattle Temple, beaming as a newly web, the Sun was in the West and created beautiful backlight. We had some great time taking pictures around the Temple.

We then moved to the New Castle Golf Club to catch the sunset and for the reception. The reception was one of the most elegant, sweet, and laidback ones I have ever been. There were only four big round tables to host about 50 or so guests. Each table has its own cake, and was decorated beautifully. Melanie and Todd made it easy and clear: let's having a great time! The DJ was Ben from B&G Production who filled the evening with nice music. We even exchanged some Chinese! How interesting! Melanie's sister Aimee has three darling daughters. Oh, how many pictures we took of them!

It's a sweet and almost pressure free wedding! Thank you Melanie and Todd!

BTW, Melanie did her make up in the morning at the Bridal Reception room at the gold court. The make-up artist, Kitty, brought her six-month old baby girl with her. She was a little sweet and cut girl!

A Weekend Off

I was in a wedding last Saturday. The difference was that I was not commissioned to photograph. So I got a rare chance to relax, had a cold beer, and watch other working! And then when the music came, we hit the floor!

Sunday was sunny and warm. We called our friends Holy and Shawn and their two lovely daughters Tiffiny and Allison and went hiking at Rattle Snake. With our two -year old Anton, we only walked around the lake. But with all the rocks, it was not an easy walk. With a constant supply of pop corns, our son handled it pretty well!

Some Thoughts About A Coyote

It's kind of spooky. Even though it was on the news a few months ago about a coyote jumping on a two-year old, and I saw one joggling in front of my car a block away from my house, it was still like "Man! I have never seen a coyote this close!"

It was a Sunday morning and I was sipping my coffee at the kitchen, when this coyote walked right pass our glass kitchen door. Thinking about the attacking incident before, I immediately bang on the door to scare it away into the woods. We have a two year old and I didn't want this wild animal feeling too comfortable around our house.

I thought about telling the police but later decided against it. There is no use. We live by a greenbelt and I remember the game official mentioned that there are probably a dozen or so coyotes live in the eastside of Lake Washington. To be fair, it is our humans who have forced the wild animals to live with us. There are deers, raccoons, tons of rabbits. Maybe the coyote can bring some balance. I just need to be more alert while taking my son out playing.

Oktoberfest In the Northwest

So we went to the Oktoberfest in Puyallap (those two names don't sound good together, do they?), not a whole lot going on, if you don't count drinking beer! But it's nice that our son Anton could run around and he was fasinated by the big pumkins. I certainly welcome an opportunity to have some beers in an afternoon!

Kam And Gregory in Thornewood Castle

It's a delayed 'Thank You!' for Kam and Gregory. Two weeks ago, Jeff LaPlante and I photographed Kam and Gregory's wedding at Thornewood Castle by American Lake just south of Tacoma. It was a fun and almost stress free event because the couple themselves were so relaxed. Both Kam and Gregory are artists. Kam designs fashion cloths and Gregory does killer webs. The highlight of the night has to be Gregory's remote cousin from Germany. She cracked everybody up!!!

I called my wife around 8:30 PM that evening and told her I was almost home. She said that early?

Thanks Kam and Gregory!

Issaguah Annual Salmon Run

Mike Colon, Paparazzi

"Oh, look how pretentious this bride is! She hired so many photographers to follow her around!" An old lady sitting in the open air restaurant commented as we walk by. Click, click!

We laughed so hard! True, there were fifteen of us with big lenses following the bride and groom around along the street of Laguna Beach in southern California, but the couple (Carolyn and George) were models and we were in Mike Colon's four-day wedding photography workshop! ;-) We were out in the field in that sunny afternoon.

Mike was awesome. Given his fame and status, he is probably one of the most humble, down-to-earth, honest, and fun person I have ever met. In four days, I have learned a lot from both inside the classroom and out in the field. Mike represents the new school that believes the more you give and help others, the more your business will grow. I was also so lucky to meet so many talented photographers/ fun people, like Tiffany from Toronto ("Ni Hao!"), Penny from the Bay Area (Penny you finally drove your D20 out of commission!), the two ladies Bradie and Jen from Phoenix (who often complained being too cold! Sigh), and Todd from Kentucky (go get some sushi, Todd!), and more. They were just fun and nice people to hang out with. Oh, and thanks to Pictage for picking up the tag for our big dinner!

It's a memorable four days that I would never forget! Thanks Mike!