There are so many reasons I love photographing weddings. To be able to capture one of the most important days in a couple’s lives is such a privilege. To be trusted to do so is an absolute honor. To be able to feel the love, connection, and excitement through my camera is exhilarating. But one of the reasons I love photographing weddings is one that I didn’t expect when I first started… getting to know these fabulous couples and consider them friends when all is said and done is such an added bonus to the whole experience for me. I form a different connection with each of my couples. One of the reasons I do engagement sessions is to develop a relationship with both the bride and groom before the wedding.
From a selfish perspective, I get a preview of how the couple interacts, what makes them smile, what brings them joy, how comfortable they are showing intimacy in front of the camera, how they make each other feel. I feel like I further get to know them through my editing process because I spend hours staring at their expressions, their postures, their never ending gazes into each other’s eyes, and of course their apparent love and adoration for each other. By the time the wedding arrives, I feel confident I will know how to pose them and get them to look completely natural and comfortable in front of the camera so that they fall in love with each and every photo of their special day.
From the couple’s perspective, they get to know how it feels to have a camera in their face while they’re expected to act like no one is watching. They realize how the photographer they chose has no problems telling them exactly what to do, down to simple little things like how to touch a face or where to point a toe, so that they don’t have to think about a thing other than each other. They see how much joy I get from capturing a photo that makes me simply stare with wonder and amazement because of how a single image can make me feel. And they realize that I’m a pretty pleasant person to be around… kind of important when I will be on them closer than their shadows on one of the most important, exciting, joyful, and arguably stressful days of their lives.
It’s a win-win situation.
I love my couples.
Julie and Steve are no exception.
I met up with Julie at a Starbucks during the winter to go over the contract, how it will all work, details about her wedding, stuff like that. She and I instantly hit it off. You ever start talking to a person you just met and you feel like you’ve been friends forever? That’s how it was. I love it when that happens. I have no idea how long we sat there and talked but I just thought she was a true pleasure. I didn’t get to meet Steve until the engagement session, but we hit it off right away too. We met up at the Riverplace Hotel where their reception will be this summer. We had to reschedule a couple of times because of all this dark, cold, wet weather Oregon has been giving us. We made a last minute call to reschedule our session that morning to catch on of the clear 71F days we got this month. When I showed up they were enjoying a nice drink on the porch. They looked so comfortable together, like being together was just easy. I mean, does it get any better than that?
Julie sent me a note the next day. I hope she doesn’t mind me pasting what she wrote.
“I just wanted to share with you that last night was awesome! We were both so nervous to have so much attention focused on us in such a public place but you made it so easy! You put us both at ease and managed to make the whole thing really fun! Steve and I were both very impressed. Can’t wait to see the pictures and to work with you on our wedding day! Thank you for everything 
.”
I love getting notes like that. Of all the things I love about photography, making my clients happy takes the cake.
Now, enough words… let’s get to the good stuff. The photos.
That blue sky is fake. There wasn’t any detail in the sky in the photo I took because I was using natural light (no flash) and would have had to underexpose to get any detail in the sky. Pretty nifty, eh? Love my photoshop.
I love seeing the marina with all the boats in the background. Her boots are pretty freaking awesome too, don’t you think?
What you don’t see is what happened between the photo on the left and the photo on the right. They told me at the beginning that there would be no tongue all session, meaning dry pecks on the lips only. Totally cool. Most couples aren’t down with full on making out in public. However, the tongue did come out in between these photos. Julie stuck it right in Steve’s ear. I got a photo of it but I dare not post it.
This was a fun photo. We wanted to get the Riverplace Hotel in the background. Funny thing was that all of a sudden the dock filled up with people because they were doing dragon boat races on the river.
This is one of my favorite photos. Its so peaceful.
I love her ring. Gorgeous and elegant.
Congratulations Julie and Steve! I can’t wait for your wedding!!!
Tags: Beaverton Oregon Family Photographer, Beaverton Oregon High School Senior Photographer, Krissy Allori Photography, Portland Oregon Baby Photography, Portland Oregon Child Photography, Portland Oregon Engagement Photographer, Portland Oregon Family Photographer, Portland Oregon High School Senior Photographer, Portland Oregon Maternity Photographer, Portland Oregon Wedding Photographer
i love their smiles!! these are great
I totally agree with you about how great it is to do an engagement session before the wedding! I can see why they wrote that to you. They look totally natural and like they had fun:) My favorite is that shot of them together sitting on the bench with the bridge in the background. Nice job on these:)
Gorgeous couple and gorgeous work Krissy!! I love how her dress adds that perfect pop of color. They look so happy together! Well done!
These are gorgeous! What a fabulous couple. Love the tones plus her dress!
They are going to be BEYOND thrilled! Love these, Krissy!
What a great session!! They are a gorgeous couple. . .love all of the pics!
Cute couple! These are really fun, they show a lot of personality. I liked reading your commentary, too. The shot on the bridge with the other people moving around is awesome!
These are awesome! I think the last shot is actually my favorite. I love her dress!
Very beautiful, as usual Krissy! I LOVE how you’ve captured their emotion!
Lovely and very natural. I can’t wait to see the wedding pictures, also. Great photography!
these are gorgeous!! You captured the love they have for each other beautifully. And I agree, her dress is soo cute!
What a cute couple! Love all the variety you captured. They look so happy and in love.
what an adorable couple! i so love what you do with your couples – you can actually feel the love that they share!
Such a beautiful couple! I love your location and the posing and just everything! Awesome work.
These are great, Krissy! I love the “after-tongue-in-ear” image. The genuine laugh-smiles made me smile too! You captured their connection so beautifully.
Such a fun, gorgeous session! I love all the variety and how you captured their relationship, you can tell they were so at ease with you.
Lovely photos! They look so happy and in love.
Gorgeous couple and photos! I love the urban setting and how you used it! That river walk shot with the people is sooo cool!
beautiful session!! lover her boots! love the variety and the locations!!
These are absolutely fabulous! I love them, but I especially love the one with the blurred people in the background. What a great capture!
I always adore your engagement sessions, Krissy! Amazing variety, they look so comfortable and connected–just such a wonderful session overall!
These Pictures are Priceless !! The couple tell a story without words. What treasured memories !!
LOVE LOVE LOVE
(love julie & steve)
Gorgeous couple and captured so well. So perfect I wasn’t sure if they knew they were being photographed. Love ‘em!!
They look so in love!
Gorgeous couple and you did such an amazing job!
Just wanted to say your work is awesome/beautiful!
What a cute couple and as always your images are top notch. I can totally see why you get love notes from clients….they know they are lucky to have hired such an incredible photographer!
I bet you can’t even take an ugly picture if you tried! Great session!
Ahhhhh! Gorgoeus couple! My fave, fave from this set is the one on the dock – love the action around themI love her boots, by the way – what style!
Awesome session, your work is just perfect – you are suited well for weddings and I wish you oodles of success!!!
Krissy, if I was getting married in your area, it would be an absolute no brainer for me to hire YOU! WOW! The variety you get, the creativity in your shots, the locations, everything. You just rock.
I love this session so much!
[...] can see Julie and Steve’s engagement photos HERE. We took them earlier this year down at the waterfront near the Riverplace Hotel, where their [...]