Light & Lore:
A mountain studio that makes everything magical
A 1940's Love Story:
Berek and Gracie's Vintage Engagement Session
The Skyborne Bride:
No takeoff, no problem - magic can't be grounded!
Pedal Perfect:
The florals I still think about
The Sands of Qatar:
Adventures across the world
Elegance at the Winery
A perfectly gorgeous night at Gardner Village
Hardly Worlds Away:
Why the bountiful temple reminds me of Rivendell
Spirit of Aloha:
A Dancer's tropical splendor and heartfelt tradition
An Accidental Beginning:
A little request turned into the honoro of documenting their entire story.
A 1940's Love Story
Berek and Gracie's vintage engagement session
Gracie and Berek are the kind of couple that belong in a timeless black-and-white romance film
and when I saw them together I instantly felt like they belong to another era entirely.
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Planning a vintage engagement with all the nostalgia of the silver screen session was so an absolute dream.​
Our session kicked off in front of one of my favorite boutique home stores near the Financial District of the always charming Downtown Salt Lake City. The tiffany colors of the facade...the art deco window display, the gold chandelier...PERFECT for a retro shoot!
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Incredibly charming - must shop there while wearing heels, haha.
Miss Gracie told me how important it was to capture her love for retro fashion and nostalgic living during our meetups so I immediately began dreaming up something worthy of it — a session that felt cinematic, classic, and deeply romantic without losing that elevated editorial feel we both loved.
I wanted the evening to feel like stepping into another decade: timeless, playful, elegant, and a little bit magical just like she is!!
Berek looked at Gracie the way men used to look at women in old films - enchanted, and in awe of her.
It had been sprinkling just before the sitting. I love comforting a bride when she worries about rain.
"What if it rains??" they say nervously. I always respond with "Oh I hope so!" and explain that of all the intentional artistic decisions in any bridal or engagement session, seizing the moments that mother nature provides are often the most special.
The Financial District is a tiny downtown gem! Hidden moments waiting at every turn....endless opportunities.
With skyscrapers circling around, you have to know what you are doing to catch the light. A moody feel with depth and more shadows is as simple as a jaunt across the street for Havana-esque amor!
Gracie carried herself with all the femininity of another era...
and Berek - steady, tender with an impossibly adorable smile, and dreamy eyes from days gone by.
When those dimples appeared you could tell that Grace just melted.
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Together, they were glamour...like a scene pulled from a Technicolor romance like Roman Holiday (one of my faves).
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I mean LOOK AT THOSE HEELS!
​Together, they were glamour...like a scene pulled from a Technicolor romance like Roman Holiday (one of my faves).
....this building has all the charm of a concert hall in Barcelona...És perfecte!
Discovering layers inside a frame: the doorway glass turned this portrait into something multidimensional.
Her hand against his jaw in the reflection was the finishing touch for 360 adoration.
...a little trade secret, shhhh:
To set up a cute sequence this sequence I got them settled into position and told them
I will rapid fire some direction, so go as fast as you can without hesitating.
Then, I pause, for dramatic effect (of course because....I'm extra) and start listing off some silly actions that photograph perfectly:
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"Boop his nose, pinch his bum, blow in his ear, ok now a love slap!"
I never know where those love slaps will land but I Gracie committed
(almost too much - she is so relaxed I think she's done this before haha) and Berek took it like a champ.
The result was this great little burst of affection that still makes me laugh. So cute!
Though I'm usually a fan of color, the black and white style takes this one to a whole new level....
...and just for fun, we had to try a little romantic grain before the wardrobe change. Can you hear the big band drums playing in the background?
Are you ready for the next chapter??
As the evening unfolded we traded polished old-Hollywood elegance for something a little more playful. A quick wardrobe change, a new corner of the town and their story continued!
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The little moped may not have actually been vintage, but under the glow of golden hour the implied nostalgia fit perfectly. I was now chasing young love through the city streets, with hints of what's to come.
Darling!!!!
Could this memorial bench be any more fitting?
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It was one of those spots that didn’t need much styling or direction. So Notting Hillish!
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Sometimes less is more...
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***curse me forever for not photographing the message. C'est la vie!​​
An added perk of owning a production company means plenty of photo ready props lie in wait ready for a moment like this.
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This darling baby blue bicycle rolled across the stage in Hello Dolly! but with the addition of some pink florals it's as if it was made for Berek and Gracie, especially with her darling blue dress. The cap sleeves and pompoms created a match made in heaven. This bike had been waiting a long time to come back to life!
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Nostalgic charm, at it again.
To close out the evening, we headed toward the docks of a small neighborhood pond just as the sunset began melting into golden hour. With another wardrobe change and the water reflecting every bit of the sky, it felt like the perfect final scene for their cinematic engagement session.
Gracie's outfit choices made the evening feel so magical - even down to the white plimsoll's! And the dress feels like she coordinated with the evening sky!
...and I'm so glad the ducks got the invitation to the party!
It was the perfect 1940's day.
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THE END
Elegance at the Winery
A gorgeous evening at the historic yet modern winery of Gardner Village
Gardner Village has always felt like a place preserved between eras. Originally built around a flour mill in the late 1800s, the property still carries the texture of Utah history weathered wood, narrow bridges, old brick paths all tucked between water and gardens. And anywhere I can get fried green tomatoes after a shoot will always make my heart happy!
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Over the years it has become one of the more recognizable wedding venues in Utah, but somehow it still manages to provide new adventures around the bend. And an August evening was the perfect fit for Becky and Ryan’s wedding.
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The venue is rustic without trying too hard and elegant without really being formal.
It is the perfect place for a wedding built entirely around people and the people they love
The day began inside one of the historic pioneer homes near the center of the village where my bride (yes, I claim the brides and grooms as my own - like a little menagerie of bonus daughter and son in laws!) got dressed inside a hundred-year-old house wrapped in late summer sunflowers.
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Even the light in the room felt historic, it was bright and rustic - a photographer's dream! ​​
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Dress, shoes, perfume and all the icing lay in wait as Becky got ready. She was a vision and so calm.
Most of Becky's florals were crafted from a soft, cork-like pith - a lightweight porous material with a velvety finish,
that were absolutely perfect. These florals spoke to the rustic location and the simplicity of her day. I really enjoyed photographing them!
Gardner Village gives photographers an unusual amount of texture to work with and the pub is no exception, where Ryan was also busy getting dapper for his bride!
And then it was time! The atrium style of the ceremony floor is so beautiful. I love that light can filter in, and with just a bit of expertise the shadows are whimsical!!
Some of the smallest moments from weddings often end up being sone of my favorites, such as the helpful tip toes of the feet behind the door as our flower girl prepares for her ever so important task. Her walk down the aisle would become to moment of the day....see below!!!!​
A pedal catches on the wind....
...And floats to the most curious of places...
...and a little kiss before it goes on it's merry way...
...and the wonderment of a little one who recognizes a magical event when she sees one...
The ceremony took place beneath the glass sunroof of the outdoor event center full of charm! It was sweet and simple surrounded by their wonderful friends and family whom I found so wonderful. There was genuine joy in the air and a gratefulness to be there.
