Category archives: Weddings

Elena + SamMuseum of Glass WeddingTacoma, WA

A while back I had the grand opportunity to hang with my talented friend Daniel Usenko to photograph the beautiful wedding of Elena + Sam. Check out Daniel’s post to see his perspective, scroll down to see mine.  Thanks for the opportunity friend!

We were blessed with a beautiful day while getting ready at the Tacoma Courtyard Marriott Hotel right in the heart of downtown.  The wedding ceremony was held at Tacoma Central Presbyterian Church while the wedding reception was at the Tacoma Museum of Glass.  I loved that venue and would be very into shooting there again… Hear that future brides?

Tacoma Wedding - Guys getting ready at the Tacoma Courtyard MarriottTacoma Museum of Glass Wedding - Informal portrait of groom and groomsmenTacoma Museum of Glass Wedding - A groomsan with crutches takes a break to textTacoma Museum of Glass Wedding - The Korean American groom in some candid momentsTacoma Museum of Glass Wedding - The groom and groomsmen under the Bridge of GlassTacoma Museum of Glass Wedding - Earring detail of a brideTacoma Museum of Glass Wedding - Informal wedding party image and bouquet detailTacoma Museum of Glass Wedding - Bride in profile with bouquet detailTacoma Museum of Glass Wedding - Bridal portrait and bouquet detailTacoma Central Presbyterian Church - Korean American wedding ceremonyTacoma Central Presbyterian Church - Korean American wedding ceremonyTacoma Central Presbyterian Church - Korean American wedding ceremonyTacoma Central Presbyterian Church - A grandmother during a Korean American wedding ceremonyTacoma Central Presbyterian Church - Father speech during a Korean American wedding ceremonyTacoma Museum of Glass wedding - Bridal portrait and bouquet detailTacoma Museum of Glass wedding - Bridal shoes beside a father and his infantTacoma Museum of Glass wedding - Bridal party walkingTacoma Museum of Glass wedding - Bridesmaids and bride next to graffitiTacoma Museum of Glass wedding - Portrait of bride and groom in parking garageTacoma Museum of Glass wedding - Portrait of bride and groom in front of green garage doorTacoma Museum of Glass wedding - Bride and groom portrait on the Spanish StepsTacoma Museum of Glass wedding - Bride and groom portraitTacoma Museum of Glass wedding - Bride in carTacoma Museum of Glass wedding - Reception details of tables and cupcake towerTacoma Museum of Glass wedding - Reception table decorTacoma Museum of Glass wedding - Reception details of cake and cupcakesTacoma Museum of Glass wedding - Best man speech at receptionTacoma Museum of Glass wedding - Best man speech at receptionTacoma Museum of Glass wedding - wedding rings on Crayola markersTacoma Museum of Glass wedding - First bride and groom dance at reception

Heather + JinNorth Bend Wedding PhotographyNorth Bend, WA

It was a beautiful day in North Bend, WA at the Moon Mansion tucked deep into the Snoqualmie River Valley and standing in the shadow of Mt. Si.  Heather and Jin’s wedding smoldered like a forest fire and I was there to catch some of it thanks to my friend and fabtastic photographer Kristen Tourtillotte, or www.iamkristenmarie.com.

While writing this my pal Kristen is in Cambodia doing important work. Whilst there’s no doubt that the villagers that are experiencing her love and hard work are loving her to death, we back home are missing your spirit, wicked humor and phenomenal talent.  Do your thang, but hurry home Miss!

Jocelyn + PeteDetroit Omni Hotel WeddingDetroit, MI

I’m great friends with Jocelyn’s parents and was honored that she and Pete came to me to do their Pike Place Market and Olympic Sculpture Park Enagement Session last August. We had a great time and it was fantastic getting to know both of them better while learning about their unique love story.

Fast forward a few months and I was overcome with joy when they notified me that I would be their wedding photographer. Photographing a wedding for anyone is a monumental privilege, but it carries extra meaning and responsibility when it is for friends and family. Game on.

Jocelyn and Pete planned not one, not two, but 5 different versions of a nice summer wedding in Seattle. Venues fell through, job situations changed, budgets were retooled and through it all they kept their eyes on the prize and never got bent out of shape. Their trials and challenges were easily shrugged off and they never lost the plot or what the point was. God love ’em.

And then came a serious family health issue. Waiting until late late summer no longer was a viable option. Enter wedding plan #6. Two months sooner than originally scheduled. On Father’s Day.

While I like to believe that I have a unique connection with my clients and that our relationship pretty much means that they’ve decided that they couldn’t possibly work with anyone else on their most important day, I was not sure if Jocelyn and Pete would be interested in toting me along to cover their wedding at the new location in Detroit, Michigan. Yep… The Dirty D.

I am pleased to show you the images from their intimate wedding at the Detroit Omni Hotel from a 92 degree, humid Midwest day. The whole experience has been humbling and something I will never forget. The lessons learned on this trip will make me a better person, a better photographer, a better business and friend to my clients and better at traveling as a photographer. Thank you guys… Much, much love.

Let’s start with an image of Pete’s super stylish shoes and a lovely gift from his bride to be…
Black and white mens wingtips with a Rolex watch that was a gift from a bride A groom getting ready at the Detroit Omni Hotel A groom posing with his brothers and groomsmen after getting ready at the Detroit Omni Hotel Portraits of a groom before his Detroit Omni Hotel wedding ceremony Detail photos of shoes and wedding gown at the Detroit Omni Hotel

Here Jocelyn’s mum Martha is sewing on a button from her wedding gown.  A button from her mom’s dress.  Cool?  Yes.The mother of the bride sewing on a button from her wedding dress for her daughter to have on hers A bride looking out the window with mom in the background at the Detroit Omni Hotel Mother, bride and bridesmaid share a laugh while bride gets buttoned into her dress at the Detroit Omni Hotel Bride slipping into her 4" black heels at the Detroit Omni Hotel while getting ready Casual portraits of the bride before her wedding ceremony at the Detroit Omni Hotel Wedding ceremony decorations of L-O-V-E at the Detroit Omni Hotel The grandmother of the bride smiling and waiting for the wedding ceremony at the Detroit Omni Hotel The bride and groom join hands after a father has given his daughter away at the Detroit Omni Hotel The bride and groom depart their wedding ceremony at the Detroit Omni Hotel Bride and Groom are sent off in a row of streamers after their Detroit Omni Hotel wedding A grandmother pushes her grandchildren along the river at a Detoit Omni Hotel wedding A bride and groom pose for a casual portrait outside the Detroit Omni Hotel after their wedding A bride and groom pose for a casual portrait outside the Detroit Omni Hotel holding a Thank You sign after their wedding A bride embraces her new husband outside of the Detoit Omni Hotel A bride and groom share their first dance at their Detroit Omni Hotel wedding reception Wedding details of a cake and table centerpiece from a Detroit Omni Hotel wedding reception Details of a heart shaped cake topper and dinner entree from a Detroit Omni Hotel wedding recpetion A photo of Champagne glasses prior to the toast at a Detroit Omni Hotel wedding reception Details of an ice cream dessert and wedding favor from a Detroit Omni Hotel wedding reception A bride and groom look on during the Maid of Honor speech from a Detroit Omni Hotel wedding reception The father of the bride holds a family heirloom silver goblet that he's about to present to his daughter The best man and brother of the groom stand in the foreground and listens to a toast from the groom's father at a Detroit Omni Hotel wedding reception Two young men from a Detroit Omni Hotel wedding reception The father of the bride and his daughter dance at a Detroit Omni Hotel wedding reception Portraits of two older couples from a Detroit Omni Hotel wedding reception An infant girl with a ribbon on her head looks out a window at a Detroit Omni Hotel wedding reception A bride and groom stand outside the Detroit Omni Hotel at the end of their wedding day

Because we could, which in this case means we should, we made some frames whilst strolling around River Place adjacent to the Detroit Omni Hotel.  The Day-After…A bride and groom the day after their wedding at the Detroit Omni Hotel on a fire escape A bride and groom post in front of a red brick wall at Riverplace next to the Detroit Omni Hotel A bride and groom share a kiss while holding Fuji Instax instant photos of themselves in the foreground of Riverplace in Detroit, MI Bride and groom at River Place in Detroit, MI Bride and Groom in front of a red brick wall at River Place in Detroit, MI A bride and groom stand with foreheads touching at River Place in Detroit, MI A bride and groom holidng a Champagne bottle and glasses the day after thier wedding at the Detroit Omni Hotel

And finally, here’s one of me with my peeps taken by the officiant at the end of the family formals. I’m 6 feet tall people. Just sayin.
Seattle wedding photographer poses with the bride and groom from a wedding at the Detroit Omni Hotel

Melissa + NathanBallard Wedding PhotographySeattle, WA

Sometimes in life you run across certain instances of intense emotion and incredible people that take you by surprise and leave you wiping your eyes.  I have a dear friend named Kristen that invited me into the incredible wedding of Melissa and Nathan.  You should check out her post here.

And you would be happy if you own stock in Kleenex because everyone was BAWLING during the ceremony… Myself included.  The sting of salty sweat and tears in my eyes has ne’er been so sweet.

Have a look.  Relive the magic.  Vote for your favorites.  Leave some comment love.  I love to see what y’all are digging and what you have to say.  Much thanks.

Seattle Vineyard Christian Fellowship in the University District by Seattle wedding photographer Kip Beelman Groom and groomsmen approaching Seattle Vineyard Christian Fellowship by Seattle wedding photographer Kip Beelman Groomsmen getting ready in a Seattle Vineyard Fellowship classroom by Seattle wedding photographer Kip Beelman A friend snapping a photo of the groom getting ready at Seattle Vineyard Fellowship by Seattle wedding photographer Kip Beelman Sunday school artwork and a Papst Blue Ribbon as the groomsmen ready at Seattle Vineyard Fellowship by Seattle wedding photographer Kip Beelman A groom readying and enjoying a Pabst Blue Ribbon at Seattle Vineyard Fellowship by Seattle wedding photographer Kip Beelman Groom and best man readying at Seattle Vineyard Fellowship by Seattle wedding photographer Kip Beelman The best man pins the boutonniere on the groom at Seattle Vineyard Fellowship by Seattle wedding photographer Kip Beelman Groom with hands to God during a Seattle Vineyard Fellowship wedding ceremony by Kip Beelman Details and close-up of the bride and groom's hands during their wedding ceremony at Seattle Vineyard Fellowship by Kip Beelman The bride and groom share the first kiss while the best man looks on from a Seattle Vineyard Fellowship wedding by Kip Beelman A high perspective, wide shot of the entire wedding party with the bride's bouquet raised in the air just after the first kiss by Seattle wedding photographer Kip Beelman A wedding party celebrating with arms raised in the foyer of Seattle Vineyard Fellowship moments after leaving the ceremony by wedding photographer Kip Beelman Two perspectives for a bride and groom portrait featuring her stunning red bouquest at the Ballard Public Library by Seattle wedding photographer Kip Beelman Two perspectives for bride and groom portraits at the Ballard Public Library by Seattle wedding photographer Kip Beelman A bride has a deep laugh while her groom looks on at the Ballard Public Library by Seattle wedding photographer Kip Beelman A diptych of the groom holidng a bridesmaid bouquet and the bride holding her red bouquet by Seattle wedding photographer Kip Beelman A bride and groom being swarmed by their wedding party at the Ballard Public Library by Seattle photographer Kip Beelman A diptych of the bridal bouqet and a macro photograph of the bride and groom's rings by Seattle wedding photographer Kip Beelman The groom embracing the bride from behind with arms extended as they take in the toasts at their Leif Erikson wedding reception by Seattle photographer Kip Beelman A diptych of the bride and groom first dance along side the father daughter dance at a Leif Erikson wedding reception by Seattle phototographer Kip Beelman The bride getting down at her Leif Erikson wedding reception by Seattle photographer Kip Beelman

Thank you again to Kristen, one of the most amazing people and incredible photographers I’ve ever met.  As I write this post she is nearly on the leave of departure for missionary work in Cambodia.  Godspeed to you girl… You will be missed by many people that love you here.  And thank you to Mel and Nathan – The love of you and your family rocked me to my core… Thank you, thank you.

Megan + DavidEdmonds Wedding PhotographyEdmonds, WA

I am a lucky man to have such great photographer friends as Jenny Wohrle (via a friendship with Emily G, the best sister I never had) and getting to meet beautiful couples like Megan + David. Joining a friend and second shooting for them is something I never imagine tiring of.  Just ask me and I’ll shoot for you too.

To see the real deal Holyfield, check out Jenny’s post here and a big, big thank you to Megan, David and their wonderful families. And you too Jenny… I woulda just been sitting around on a Saturday afternoon had you not invited me along. Muah!

Holla Jenny!!