I had a fun session this morning with a family in the Wedgewood area.  Should have the images up in a handful of weeks but here's one of the three sisters that caught my eye while uploading to the mac. So cute!

This wedding was really something special.  Beth and Chris booked me a year in advance while living in Mumbai, India, and did a good deal of their planning on the other side of the globe.  We kept in touch via email and I read their blog for updates on their overseas adventures.  They said the wedding would be held on family property on Orcas Island, but I had no idea how beautiful and expansive the property was or just how welcomed and loved their family and friends would make me feel.  I'm not a writer and I'm not sure my words could adequately explain how I was so taken with the day and Beth and Chris' love for each other.  Hopefully my photos can. Get ready folks, this is a long one.

Beth had her dress custom made in India.  It fit her perfectly.

We walked out to "Shell Island" during low tide for portraits.  Beth took off her shoes and we all did some rock climbing to get these shots.

There are so many unique and colorful parts to the property.  Chris' late grandfather collected various tools, signs even found flip flops and displayed them outside on a wall by the garage of the main house. Inside, there are custom cabinets inlayed with a map of the San Juan islands. 

The ceremony site also featured some of his found art; three concrete circles overlooking the water.  Yes, that's Shell Island in the background.  Good thing we did photos pre-ceremony!

Chris' grandmother is a smart, funny and fiercely independent lady with a deep knowledge of Orcas history. She worked in the kitchen at Doe Bay while in her late teens and later ran a resort nearby.  I wish I was able to spend more time with her.

I love the excitement in Beth's eyes.

That's her brother, marrying them.

It fits eventually;)

One of the Jewish ceremonial traditions is called circling, where the groom walks around the bride, establishing a new familial commitment.  Beth also circled Chris, then they circled each other. The symbolism was beautiful and the way they shifted positions while still remaining so connected was intense. 

Mazal tov!

Mom gets a kiss in

so happy

San Fran wedding photographer Lydia Danniler

the moms

the dads

Toasts and dancing

Beth slipped into something more comfy

More dancing

The crackling bonfire was a perfect backdrop to the evening.

Beth & Chris - thank you for a wonderful weekend full of love and family.   I look forward to hearing of your new Canadian adventures!

This post is long overdue, and it's always my family that ends up waiting the longest for photos.  I flew down to Fresno for a weekend this summer to visit my parents and Megan, my best friend from high school who just had her second bambina.  I lived in Fresno for 4 years, from 89-93, and stole away back to NY every chance I got.  2 days after high school graduation I left for good but my parents weren't so lucky.  They stayed to see my sister through school and work until retirement.  With both out of the way they are finally prepping the house to sell and move back east.  I approach each visit knowing it may be the last for awhile.  Don't worry, Meg, I will travel anywhere for you.

Milk mug assortment.  Note the Cezanne still life from high school ceramics:

Proof my parents are married.

Their getaway vehicle.

On the way to Meg's

Teaching Mollee how to bathe her lil' sis.

snuggle time!

 

Robin and I are in the Fall/Winter 08' issue of Seattle Bride Magazine.  Page 58, I think.  Thank you to Bradley Hanson for the gorgeous photos!

Robin and I have adopted an 8 week old multi-generational Australian Labradoodle (Labrador Retreiver & Poodle cross) from Manor Lake Labradoodles up in Bellingham.  Simone is the mellowest, sweetest chocolate muffin ever.  She follows us around wherever we go and rolls over on her back for other dogs and people.  I can barely take my hands off of her to take a photo she's so soft and snuggly! 

As of Tuesday, she's 4lbs but she'll grow to weigh about 35lbs and be 19ish inches tall at her shoulders. 

here she is running after me in our backyard.  this is her big leap from the patio area!

Junebug Weddings has a post today with tips about including chiidren in your wedding.  Halfway down you'll see one of my images from Breanne & Jimmy's wedding where the ring bearer plopped himself on the floor in between them and pulled out his toy car - a moment I won't soon forget!

Have I mentioned my mom is kinda TV famous in Fresno these days? She's in a commercial for Fairwinds Woodward Park, a Leisure Care retirement community in Fresno, CA. She's the one waving goodbye from the convertible, toasting with white wine, getting a pedicure, doing water aerobics and generally being the bad-ass she is. Don't worry, she doesn't really live there. She's still living her retirement years with Joaquin (dad) in their house, knitting away, drinking diet coke and scotch and watching the Yankees, Mets, Jets and Giants on their 5 TVs with the volume cranked.

I grabbed some still shots during an airing while visiting earlier this summer. I apologize for the poorer than usual quality but they are what they are - images of the television.


see the whole set here.

Puppy comes on Sunday!
Tipping my hat to species equality, here's my sister Jodi's snowball bunny of a cat, JJ:

I'm back and still trying to catch up on sleep. Acupuncture & massage at the Union Center for Healing this afternoon should help speed the process along. The wedding was awesome. My first ever hurricane wedding (Hanna). The base to one of my flashes was broken by a flying tent wall but otherwise everything went smoothly. Sara, Matt, Jessica, Chris, Leslie, Hannah, Christy - thank you for treating me like a rock star. Come visit your new Seattle friend soon! On the way from NY to Rhode Island I stopped by my cousin's house in Connecticut to visit for a few hours and break up the drive. I arrived just in time to see her daughter Holly off the bus, fresh from her first week of kindergarten.

Their cook models the ultimate fashion accessory.

I'm off to shoot Sara & Matt's lobster bake wedding on Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island (hell yeah) and will have limited email access over the next 7 days (uh oh).

I leave you with a snapshot of our new multi-gen Aussie labradoodle awaiting pick-up in two weeks. Two weeks! We've been plagued by puppy dreams ever since meeting her.

Sorry so short - gotta pack!

Jennifer & Demetre are getting ready to add a little boy to their family and I jumped at the chance to do some maternity portraits with them about a month ago. If either of them sound or look familiar to you it may be because Demetre, Creative Director at Wonderful Union, is responsible for designing my "Photography by Jenny Jimenez" logo or you've been to Halo Salon in downtown Seattle where Jennifer works the chair next to Robin. If the boy will be anything like them, and science says he should, they're going to have one sweet, creative and good looking baby in their hands in a couple of weeks!