There's A New Trout in Town!!!

Well, it's official!!  Two big things happened in the world last Saturday (ok, ok...in MY world anyway).  A beautiful new bride (Nishelle) officially became Mrs. Trout (I love that name) and I made it past a huge milestone in my photography career and finally photographed a wedding (as a second shooter) with the terrific Shane Thompson 

(you can check out his work at the site below).

http://thompson-photography.net/blog/

Shane Thompson is a wonderful and very experienced wedding photographer and took me on as a rookie second shooter with only a phone conversation and my portfolio.  What a brave guy!!  I had the great privilege to second shoot Nishelle and Michaels's terrific backyard wedding with him last Saturday afternoon and was able to meet and get to know this great couple.  

Thank you so much Shane!  It was wonderful to work

 with you!!! 

This wedding was simple, elegant and FUN!!!  Everyone who attended was ready to party and since I was in charge of the groom and groomsmen portraits (which was like herding cats...no offense guys!) I had to step up my game to keep up with this wild bunch.  As you can see from the photos, we has SO MUCH FUN and after a few minutes these macho guys had me in stitches and I had them posing and hamming it up for the camera.  The groom was really nervous and wanted to be alone prior to his big day so we did our best to work around him but did finally manage to get him into a few shots as well (Mike...you gave me a run for my money but so glad you decided to get in some photos!!!).  

In the end, we had such fun and these photos are a very accurate representation of the big and sweet personalities these tough guys really have (psst...don't tell them I said that).  Thanks to all of you for such great day and evening!

Now, about this couple!!!  Nishelle and Michael are darling together and as you can see, Nishelle was a stunning bride.   Seriously, gorgeous!!!  Her dress was immaculate and graceful and her use of feathers in the bouquet, hairpiece and shoes was awesome and I LOVED how beautiful and creative everything was.  The bridesmaids were beautiful, the mom's were beautiful and don't get me started on the kids!  Watching Nishelle and Michael commit their lives to one another and to see their love and joy was sweet and their special day was amazing. 

I will never forget this wedding....

Thanks to Shane, Nishelle and Michael, the Trout family and to all their wonderful friends and family!!  

Cheers!!!

We had an agreement about the beer and the camera...

Love this! The rat pack returns!!!

Michael, my 5 year old daughter wants you to know that smoking is bad for you...ok?  She's worried!

Congratulations you two.  Best Wishes for a lifetime of happiness...

Angels Among Us...

We scheduled this photo shoot weeks ago.  Everyone was very excited. Plans were made, outfits chosen and all these beautiful relatives coordinated to meet at their grandmothers convalescent home last Sunday.   You see, grandma Marie (the lovely young lady in the middle) is in her ninety's and having some health problems and the family wanted to make sure and have a lovely, calm session with her and all her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren while she is still mobile.   I have known a few members of this clan for many years and it was a privilege to be asked to do this important shoot for them.

The grounds of this convalescent home are gorgeous!  Plants, tree's waterfalls and a to die for red Chinese bridge over a pretty pool...I was excited and planning the shoot days in advance.  Marie was not going to be able to walk or stand for more than a few seconds at a time but I had plans to make her comfortable and get some stunning shots outdoors.

Well as I am sure you have figured out that things went terribly awry in the weather department.  God had other plans for us that day and it simply POURED rain all day long.   This was not  shoot that could be re-scheduled  so, I put on my big girl pants, loaded up my gear in the poring rain and headed out to meet Marie and her gorgeous daughter, 5 stunning grand daughters, son and 4 great grandchildren (one is a newborn baby girl!).

This shoot was simple and pure and one of the most relaxing and fun I have had despite the indoor location and bad weather.  I adore this family and felt so much love surrounding them that tears came to my eyes on more than one occasion... 

I too have a grandmother in her ninety's.  It is such a gift.

God is with you all and angels were definitely among us on that rainy Sunday afternoon.  Thanks to all of the family members for bringing your love, light and wonderful spirits to such a gloomy day.  

La ringrazio molto Marie & famigli.  

Tanto amore!

Dio benedica...

What an amazingly GORGEOUS family!!!

"You don't quit laughing because you grow old, you grow old because you quit laughing" 

- author unknown

Six Gorgeous Granddaughters (actually, one is a great grand daughter).  Can you guess which one???..

To see the world in a grain of sand, and to see heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hands, and eternity in an hour.
- William Blake

Granddaughter and great granddaughter!

Now I know where these girls get it!  Marie loves music and dancing!

Beautiful Gina...

Tiniest member of the family...a new great granddaughter to love.

You guys kill me...so beautiful!!!

 Amazing Spirit and beauty!

The tiniest angel in the room... She is such a good baby!!!  

Precious.  

My dear friend Brenda with her beloved grandma Marie.  My personal favorite picture of the day.  The smile on Marie's face is priceless...

Brenda's Babies with Grandma Marie!

Only the sweetest boys love their Grandmothers this way...

One of my favorites... Stunning!!!

At the end of the the day, we decided to have a bit of fun with the camera.  Look out, these girls came ready to flaunt it! They don't come more beautiful than this!