Flat 4 Photography - Tampien Tandem

Steve + Breah | Engagement

2012-01-23T22:14:00.000-08:00

It's funny how some friendships start. Jordan met Steve when he was working at a sign shop before he started law school and Steve would buy his clients personalized signs for their new homes. Little did we know then that Steve would be someone we consider a lifelong friend! Let me give you a little more context... Steve is a Realtor in Spokane and is truly one of the best in the business. He has shown us numerous homes and properties in the last few years and has been an amazing friend and Realtor for us (and would still be our Realtor if Jordan wouldn't have decided to get his Realtor's license!)

Anyhoo, when Steve met Breah there was a noticeable change in him. I will never forget the first time he told us about her. As cliché as it sounds, I knew then that he would marry her. Honestly. These two are truly a perfect match. You know the whole Jerry Maquire "You Complete Me" scene? Doesn't even hold a candle to these two. And we can't wait to be a part of their big day in July!
I digress.

Steve and Breah were not only willing to brave the winter cold for their engagement shoot, they actually made it fun for me (and let's be honest, I was not warm... at all.) We lucked out and beat the big snow storm that came 24 hours after our photo session! Jordan came with us and the four of us hit some fun, downtown locations with frequent breaks to warm up and drink our coffees in the car. :) So without further ado, here are some Flat 4 favorites of the beautiful bride and groom to be!

Christmas Cheer

2011-12-23T10:58:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's almost Christmas. I don't know how it always sneaks up on us like it does, but that Christmas is one sly holiday. And even though it looks slightly different each year, I can't help but love every minute.

I am so behind on the blog, it's not even funny. I still need to post about Halloween (a Tampien favorite), Bekah and Matt's wedding in Seattle, our trip to Jamaica, our fifth anniversary and weekend getaway to Leavenworth, and our new house that we've spent every waking moment remodeling lately in hopes of moving into by January 1st. And while all of those things are incredibly important and meaningful to us, this is what really matters...

(front) (back)

It's Christmas and we are so joyful.

Just as a side note, our cards (above) were done by Mango Ink. We love this company -- the people who run it, the quality product, but most of all the mission of their business. They give so much to those in need and it really is a beautiful thing. Read more about it here if you have a minute.

With that said, we just wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2012!

Chris + Carey | Wedding

2011-12-21T16:42:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure if she knows this, but my friend, Carey, is a big reason Flat 4 ever came to be. It's true. She gave me the nudge I needed to do this thing for real when she asked me to take some 6-month photos of her adorable little guy, Jackson. Who would have thought back then that just two years later I would have the honor of photographing Carey's wedding?! Carey (and Chris) have been all over the Flat 4 blog, so you may recognize them from their engagement shoot this summer or their family photo shoot last year. At any rate, I think their wedding shoot tops them all, which is just as it should be!

The ladies started off the day with some pre-wedding yoga, and it just got better from there! Carey and Chris got married at the cutest little white church out in the fields of Davenport, their home town, and the reception was held at their home, which just so happens to be the coolest country reception location EVER. Carey and Chris own and operate the Big Red Barn Farmer's Market in Davenport, and consequently they had all local vendors, including their catering... ummmmm, seriously delish! Looking back on all the weddings we've done, my favorite ones are undoubtedly the ones that truly reflect who the bride and groom are. So naturally, Chris and Carey's tops the charts! The details of this wedding were absolutely flawless and were such a perfect representation of Carey's creativity (and both her and Chris's hard work!) It was hard to narrow them down, but here are some Flat 4 favorites of Chris and Carey's big day...

Josh + Nichole | Wedding

2011-11-16T18:02:00.000-08:00

There are so many lovely things to say about Josh and Nichole as a couple, some of which was said in their engagement post. So instead of babbling about how great they are, I'm going to jump right into how great their wedding was. :)

There is something so classic and romantic about weddings that take place at The Davenport Hotel, and Josh and Nichole's wedding was certainly no exception! We woke up the day of the wedding to rain, rain, and a little more rain, so Jordan and I made a game plan early and scoped out locations that were indoors or covered. As it turned out, not long after we started shooting, the sun popped out and it turned into a lovely fall day! Take that, Weather.com! Josh and Nichole were up for anything, which we always love, and we had a fabulous time trekking around Spokane with them.

Combine some hot gold shoes, a beautiful bride and groom, a super fun group of guests, some gorgeous bright flowers, and a classy location like the Davenport... and, well, here is what you get! Check out some Flat 4 favorites of Josh and Nichole's wedding day!

I'm Married To A Realtor!

2011-10-27T22:11:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's true! We decided our life just wasn't busy enough, so Jordan went ahead and got his Realtor's license. ;)

In all seriousness, I have never met anyone so passionate about real estate -- the man drives by, walks by, and looks up houses online all the time for friends, co-workers, family, and even just for fun. He could probably star in his own HGTV show. From flipping homes to taking a bajillion (yes, that's a number) law and business classes on real estate during his graduate programs at Gonzaga, I really could not think of a more perfect fit.

The best part? He LOVES it.

Just to clarify, no, Jord did not quit his day job. He is doing real estate in his (*cough*) spare time. By law, he has to be affiliated with a firm for at least his first year as a Realtor, so he joined the John L. Scott team downtown.

So here comes the shameless plug from a proud wife. Don't act like you didn't see it coming. If you or anyone you know is in need of a fabulous Realtor (whether you are buying or selling a home), please feel free to contact Jordan! We are trying to get the word out to our friends and family and just to let everyone know about this new adventure for Jord, and we would LOVE for you to do the same.

Oh, and while you're at it, give my man some love and "like" his Facebook page by clicking here. :)

Here is all the important info in case you need it anytime soon or would like to pass it along:

Email: jordantampien@johnlscott.com
Phone: (509) 499-2231

We are excited to see where Jord's latest adventure leads! He already has some sales in the works, one of which might be ours...

More on that to come, so STAY TUNED! There really is never a dull moment around here. :)

Tyler + Brita | Wedding

2011-10-17T19:52:00.000-07:00

I love this wedding. Seriously. Everything about it screams Brita and Tyler, whom I also happen to love. You can read more about how awesome I think this couple is (and see their engagement session) by clicking here.

Brita and Ty got married at Ty's mom's house on Williams Lake and Jordan and I did a lot of their pictures on the bluff above the lake. Think backyard wedding, but then add Brita's creativity, some A-MAZING details (most of which were DIY), a super fun wedding party, a beautiful tent for the reception, a gorgeous bride and groom... and that, my friends, is a recipe for a fabulous wedding! I just have to share some of my favorite details from the day: Brita's smokin' hot red shoes, Ty's bow tie, the colored ribbons tied into the trees above their ceremony location, the thumb print tree for their guestbook, the handmade pumpkin centerpieces... I really could go on and on!

I have one more story I wanted to share from Ty and Brita's wedding that I think paints a picture of the type of people they are. After the ceremony, the wedding party all piled into Ty's truck and went to the bridesmaids' cabin a few minutes away to have a celebratory drink. The ladies all sat in the cab of the truck with Ty, who was driving, and I, of course, hopped right in the back of the truck with all the groomsmen (sorry for totally killing the "man time" guys!) As we passed through the neighborhood, a couple guys on the street we didn't know yelled something along the lines of, "If you guys were real friends, you would have never let him get married!" And here is the best part. All of the groomsmen looked at each other and one of them yelled back, "Actually, she's AWESOME!" I know it's an unconventional story, but I think it may have been one of my favorite moments from the day.

I will quit babbling about how awesome this wedding was and just go ahead and show you. :) Here are some Flat 4 favorites of Brita and Tyler!

Ty and Brita also had our Photo Booth at their reception! To view their Photo Booth pictures, click here. Thanks, guys, for having us be a part of your big day!!

Justin + Stasha | Wedding

2011-09-09T12:00:00.000-07:00

Some couples make life as a photographer so dang easy. You may remember Justin and Stasha from their engagement shoot on a ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island, which was Stasha's brilliant idea by the way. I just love it when brides (or grooms) have fun, out-of-the-box ideas for photo shoots! So when Stasha started emailing me photos from Vogue magazine as inspiration and ideas for their wedding photography, I figured there was no better place to do their first look and some of their photos than my sister's loft in downtown Spokane that just so happens to have a roof top garden overlooking the city. We started there and went pretty much all over downtown before we headed up north to their wedding venue, Belle Victorian Gardens. You will notice quite a drastic change in scenery in the pictures -- from downtown urban to country chic -- which is really the best of both worlds, right?!

Stasha and Justin are such a gorgeous couple, amazing parents to their adorable son, Jude (who, by the way, walked Stasha down the aisle) and their bulldog, Emma (who was the "flower girl"), and overall are just so fun to be around. Jordan was my second-shooter for the day and when we were driving home at the end of the night he said, "I just really like those guys." :) Congratulations, Stasha and Justin, on a beautiful wedding day! Here are some Flat 4 favorites of the newlyweds...

Summer Recap

2011-09-04T20:53:00.000-07:00

Holy Lord. Our summer has been beyond busy -- at times good busy and at other times, well, not-so-good busy -- and I just realized I haven't even posted on anything personal since June. And just as a side note, the photos from that post got erased. I should have time to put them back up on the blog...next summer. But seriously.

I started my Masters in Teaching program at Gonzaga at the end of June and life pretty much ended after that. Okay, that's not entirely true. Between 6-hour class days, 100 pages of reading per night, Jordan staying crazy busy with his job, shooting weddings and engagement shoots, and working Photo Booth events every weekend (oh, and starting coaching volleyball at Mead two weeks ago), we have actually managed to squeeze in some fun things. ;)

Here is a quick summer recap in pictures...

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We got kayaks!

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My sissy's boyfriend, Cameron, turned 30 and she threw a big surprise party for him. And got him a pretty rad waterski!

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WE PUT IN A NEW SPRINKLER SYSTEM!!! Okay, I say "we" because I did help a little but Jordan and Bill, a good family friend, did about 99% of the work (with the help of a few other friends too!) I am clinging to my 1%, baby!

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Jord played with his law school buddies in Hoopfest and my sister and I threw the 4th annual Roof Top Party. Seriously people, Hoopfest is like Christmas in our household and we look forward to it all year! Okay, let's clarify: Jordan looks forward to playing in Hoopfest and I just look forward to shaved ice and the Roof Top Party. :)

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We got to spend four whole days at the lake over the 4th of July weekend! How did this happen, you ask? We ~~conned our poor friends into~~ got our good friends, Cassie and Steve, on board and hired them to work the Photo Booth for us. Did we mention how much we love Cassie and Steve? And not just for working the Photo Booth. Swear. Anyhoo, a couple days before the 4th, we celebrated our Uncle Richard, who passed away a couple years ago. His memorial was so special and I know it would have been a day he loved.

Yes, that is a picture of me and Uncle Richard kissing after eating BBQ ribs. Don't worry about it. ;)

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I got to attend my dear friend, Holly's, wedding! This is the first wedding I've actually attended without having to photograph it or work the Photo Booth in over two years... Unfortunately, I had to fly solo because Jord was working a Photo Booth event for us, but luckily I had Steve to be my date since Cassie was in the wedding. And I always have Nicole, my other half. I was well taken care of. ;)

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Jord got to travel to Washington DC for work! And I must say, the man did a pretty dang good job of taking pictures at his wife's request.

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We got to take our annual lake vacation (okay, "annual" minus last year) with Cassie and Steve! Check out our first vacay here. We have vowed to make this a yearly tradition because we always have such a blast and are able to just relax with the Hares! In fact, we were so relaxed that we hardly took any pictures this year, except this one of Cassie and I when we took the boat down the lake to the floating restaurant.

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And that, my friends, is our summer at lighting speed. I feel like Chris Berman when he broadcasts the "fastest three minutes" in football.

And the big gaps in between all the fun stuff? Well, here it is. My glamorous life...

The pups get pissed when I study and don't pay attention to them. And Max has frog legs. Totally normal.

I miss blogging. I know that's weird to say, but I do. It grounds me somehow and reminds me of all the fun snapshots of life when I feel like there aren't any. Unfortunately, I don't foresee many (personal) blog posts in my near future, but please know we are still alive -- most likely -- and if you think of it, send some positive thoughts and prayers our way to get us through the next few months!

Here we go, fall. Let's do this.

Josh + Nichole | Engagement

2011-09-02T11:33:00.000-07:00

I am always skeptical when I hear high school couples saying they will get married someday. I mean, come on, right?! How often does that really happen? Well, I'm more than willing to admit that Josh and Nichole blew my pessimistic little theory out of the water -- they have been dating since they were 15! Not only have they beaten all the odds stacked against relationships that started in high school, they make it look dang good! In all seriousness, Josh and Nichole are so clearly happy together, have so much fun together, and are undoubtedly best friends.

Josh and Nichole LOVE Riverfront Park and have so many special memories there, including when Josh proposed, so we did most of their engagement photos in and around the park. And I personally learned more about Riverfront Park in those couple hours than I've learned in my entire life, thanks to Josh and Nichole. :) We had so much fun wandering around the park and I even got to meet Josh and Nichole's cute little doggies, Daisy and Lily! I am so excited to continue our downtown photo shoot in October when this beautiful couple gets hitched. So without further ado, here are some Flat 4 favorites of Josh and Nichole!

Megan | Senior Photos

2011-08-21T15:23:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know I said engagement photos are my favorite, but I think senior photos are breathing down their neck for a photo-finish close second. There is just something about that age -- no longer a kid but not quite an adult -- that captures me. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't re-do high school unless there was a seven-figure dollar amount with my name on it at stake, but you get my point.
I have had to turn away so many photo opportunities this summer due to my crazy schedule, but Megan emailed me before all the madness started a few months ago and I'm so glad she did! Megan will be a senior this year at East Valley High School. She is so sweet, fun, smart, and just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. Megan and her mom met us up at Knapp's Farm on Green Bluff and it turned out to be a perfect morning for her senior photos. Check out some Flat 4 favorites of Miss Megan!

Chris + Carey | Engagement

2011-08-18T14:20:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I get stuck in ruts when it comes to photography. Don't get me wrong, every shoot is inevitably unique and different (one of the many beauties of photography), but sometimes it's hard to come up with new ideas. So when Carey suggested having her and Chris's engagement photos at the Farmer's Market downtown and ending at Auntie's Bookstore, it was a total breath of fresh air. Not only one, but TWO firsts for me!

For the whole scoop on my background with Carey and Chris and how awesome I think they are (and their fun family photo session from last year), click here.

I am totally loving the trend this year with couples wanting their photos to really reflect who they are and what they love. Carey started The Big Red Barn Farmer's Market in Davenport, which is where her and Chris live, so when we were perusing through the market in Spokane during their photo shoot, I felt like I had my own personal tour guides. They not only knew the owner of the market, they also knew the lingo, the products, and which vendors would be okay with us using their booths and trucks for photos -- a definite plus! And since Carey was an English literature major in college, Auntie's was a perfect second location.

Check out some Flat 4 favorites from this fun, out-of-the-box engagement shoot with the beautiful Carey and Chris!

And stay tuned for pictures of Carey and Chris's wedding day, which is less than a month away!

Matt + Natalie | Wedding

2011-08-01T19:01:00.000-07:00

I grew up at the lake so I am probably biased when I say that there is simply no better place in the world. There is just something about the combination of being on the water, in the sun, with the people you love that nothing else can even hold a candle to. Now add in a wedding, and, well... WOW.

Natalie and Matt got ready and did the majority of their pictures at Natalie's parents' lake cabin on Priest Lake. Let me just put this out there: I LOVED this wedding. The whole day was casual yet intimate, such a fun group of people, fun and unique details, and just flat out gorgeous human beings to photograph... there, I said it. There was one point when my second-shooter, Bethan, and I were taking pictures of Natalie in the green chair and I actually put my camera down and before I could really even think it through said (out loud, mind you), "You are so hot!" Thankfully Natalie just laughed it off so it wasn't awkward. :)

They had their ceremony and reception at North of the Narrows Fire Station right on the water, and believe me, it looked more like a lodge than a fire station! Their ceremony was literally in the woods with a standing room only setup, including their dog, Hook, as the ring bearer and Natalie's grandma playing the saxophone... how cool is that?! Matt is a chef and insisted on having a pig roast for their reception (um, yum!) and they also had a live band, The Rub, provide amazing entertainment for the evening. I could go on and on but will stop there and let you see some Flat 4 favorites from Matt and Natalie's beautiful wedding day...

Casey + Trea | Wedding

2011-07-20T20:57:00.000-07:00

There is something to be said about a simple wedding. There just is. And Casey and Trea couldn't have said it better...

When Trea told me they were getting married on a butte near their farmhouse in Davenport, I actually didn't even know what a butte really was, but I am always up for a new adventure when it comes to photography so I didn't think much of it. OH MY WORD. I was more than pleasantly surprised with the gorgeous setting and intimate scene for their ceremony. Think wheat fields (I think it's wheat?), stunning views, hay bails for seats, Casey's awesome red truck, and only their closest friends and family in attendance. Did I mention the ceremony took place around 9:30 in the morning and we lucked out with amazing weather? It definitely ranks pretty dang high on my list for coolest ceremonies!

My fabulous second-shooter, Bethan Contabile, and I began the day with Trea getting ready at the farmhouse, headed to the ceremony on the butte (where Casey saw her for the first time that day), and after a bunch of pictures there, we headed to Seven Bays for their open house reception with all of their friends and family. Casey and Trea are beautiful people inside and out and their four kids are pretty rad too! Check out some Flat 4 favorites of this amazing, farm-style wedding...

Casey and Trea also had the Flat 4 Photo Booth at their reception and it was a huge hit, as always! To view their Photo Booth online picture album, click here.

Congrats, Casey and Trea! You guys are such a sweet couple and your family is so much fun. Thanks for letting us be a part of your big day!

June On Steroids

2011-06-22T12:57:00.000-07:00

June has been a circus. And it's not even over yet. I've uttered the phrase "running around like a chicken with my head cut off" about 400 times, but it still doesn't seem to do the busyness any justice.

We celebrated Jord's youngest brother, Joseph's, high school graduation at the beginning of the month. The kid's a total stud and is headed to Montana Tech this fall for college. Side note: When I first met Jordan, Joseph was a little kid, or at least it seemed like it. Apparently I am an old fart. How did this happen?!

We had the craziest weekend Flat 4 has ever seen the second weekend of June. From Thursday to Sunday, we had seven Photo Booth events and I shot a wedding. I know you're not supposed to complain about being busy when you have your own business, but seriously?! The kicker was that two of the Photo Booth events were Senior All-Nighters, which is exactly what the title implies: ALL NIGHT. I couldn't even remember the last time I saw 3 AM was without an adult beverage in my body. Jordan gets the MVP award though because he worked every single Photo Booth event of the weekend. How does it always happen that I'm the one complaining when he is really doing the majority of the work...? Whoops.

Ironically, the next weekend we had zero Photo Booth events so we naturally packed our schedule full of other things (because heaven forbid we just stay home and catch up.) We celebrated Jord's 27th birthday with a casual BBQ up at our property! We recently built a sweet little deck with a fire pit up at the property, so we had a huge bonfire, good food, and some great friends join us to celebrate my man being born 27 years ago.

As part of Jord's birthday celebration weekend, we got Tim McGraw concert tickets at the Gorge (with The Band Perry and Luke Bryan as the opening bands.) I really can't decide what I am more in love with: the Gorge or Tim McGraw. There is something about this concert venue that is seriously rad (except for the $12 beers... those are definitely not rad in any way.) Jord had never been to the Gorge before, which was simply not okay with me, so we splurged a little on good tickets and ended up having a blast. A night with good weather at the Gorge is like a sunny day in Seattle; you just can't beat it.

I wasn't allowed to bring my big girl camera into the concert venue (LAME), so I tried my best to get pictures of Tim's ~~ass~~ face with my little point-and-shoot. Going from a great camera with a zoom lens to a little point-and-shoot is like going from a Mercedes to a Kia. Not that there's anything wrong with the Kia, but you get my point.

Not that I feel the need to explain my love of country music, but I'm going to step on my soap box and do just that because I do occasionally catch some heat for it. First things first: my favorite band is Counting Crows, which is the farthest thing from country. I love so many kinds of music and don't feel the need to stick with just one. Second things second: I do not love all country songs or singers. Anything with twang (so basically any country song that is fifteen years or older) makes me want to puncture my ear drums with a fork. BUT, there is something so pure and REAL about a good country song these days that will often make me choke up in the car all by myself with the radio blaring. Most country singers are real people singing about real things. I can relate to it and I love that. I can't relate to rappers singing about bouncin' in the club drinking Cristal (although those songs are fun to work out to.) So next time I get flack for having never heard a Top 40 song by Justin Bieber or Rihanna, please just know that I am 100% okay with that. I will take a little Zac Brown Band or Tim McGraw any day of the week. I guess that's just the cowboy in me.

Moving on...

A huge chapter of my life recently came to a close. I have worked for my Dad at Home Environments for almost five years (if you don't count the five month stint in London) and I am officially unemployed until I start school on Monday. Leaving Home Environments was completely bittersweet for me and it ended up being harder than I thought it would be. I actually had a whole blog post written about it but it just didn't seem to do any justice to what I will really miss...

Okay, no, my work days did not consist of going fishing but this is the only picture of my Dad and I that was handy on this computer. I will miss going to work and getting to hang out with my Dad all day, plain and simple. I'm getting choked up just typing that. I know most people don't get the opportunity in their lifetime to work with their dad; believe me, I know just how special that was. And it breaks my heart that I don't get to do that anymore. But I know my relationship with my Dad has grown exponentially in the last five years and I am forever grateful for that and for him putting up with me as my boss... and my friend. I will always look back on my years at Home Environments and smile.

Like I said before, June is not over yet! This weekend is Hoopfest, which is like a holiday in our household. And then I start school on Monday... yikes! Time to saddle up, hold on, and get ready for the next chapter of life!

Tyler + Brita | Engagement

2011-06-08T18:07:00.000-07:00

Here are a few random things I love... 1) Green Bluff, 2) old beat up trucks, 3) dogs, 4) fun, stylish, rad people like Brita and Tyler, and 5) cute shoes. So it totally makes sense why I love this photo shoot so much!

Brita and Tyler are good friends with my sister and we have gotten to know them more and more over the last year, so we can now call them our friends too! :) I had to say "we" because my hubby, Jordan, not only came along on this photo shoot but also thinks Brita and Tyler are an awesome couple to hang out with. We are also shooting their wedding in September, which is going to be a blast! This couple is so laid back, completely hilarious, and compliment each other so well. Oh, did I forget to mention they are smokin' hot and switched into total model mode the second the camera came out?! I love it. We traveled all around Green Bluff to find some fun photo spots and Tyler and Brita also brought Ty's guitar and their two dogs, Jake and Jax. I am totally digging engagement photos that reflect the couple and the things they love!

Check out some Flat 4 favorites, which were definitely hard to narrow down...

Congrats, guys! We are so excited to be a part of your big day!!

Mathew + Stephanie | Engagement

2011-05-31T13:05:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've done a photo shoot in downtown Spokane and I was seriously craving one! So when Stephanie and Mathew said they wanted me to do their engagement photos downtown, I was giddy. Let me back up a second... Matt is my hubby's (seriously rad) cousin and Stephanie is his (even radder, if that's a word) fiance. Unfortunately, I am already booked to photograph another wedding on their wedding day, but they still wanted me to do their engagement photos. And you know me, I am a complete sucker for engagement photos. :)

Not only was the photo shoot with Stephanie and Matt super fun, it was also my first ever evening photo shoot (note to self: evening shoots are AWESOME.) The more I get to know Stephanie and Matt, the more I feel like I've known them forever. They are so down to earth, are continually making each other laugh, and so obviously ready to do life together and rock it as a married couple! Oh, and I almost forgot to mention, they brought their sweet Golden Retriever, Bella, to be in a few pics -- I love all the engagement photos with dogs lately! So fun!! Anyway, here are a few Flat 4 faves of the beautiful Stephanie and Matt...

Congrats, you two! We wish you nothing but the best!!

Justin + Stasha | Engagement

2011-05-17T15:31:00.000-07:00

I think engagement photos are quickly becoming my favorite. You only have two humans to worry about capturing and it makes it easy when those two humans happen to be madly in love with each other. It also makes it easy when the couple is hot, like seriously HOT. Enter Stasha and Justin!

We completed our weekend trip to Seattle with a rockin' engagement shoot with this awesome couple, whose wedding we are photographing at the end of August in Spokane. Stasha and Justin live in Seattle and it was Stasha's brilliant idea to do their engagement photos on a ferry to Bainbridge Island! It took me all of two seconds (and a little self-restraint not to scream with excitement) to reply, "Ummm...YES! We are so there!" I love it when our clients come up with great ideas that are fresh and out of the box. :)

Stasha and Justin have actually known each other since high school. Side note: We all actually went to the same high school where I'm pretty sure each and every one of my good guy friends had a huge crush on Stasha... had to throw that in there. ;) There is nothing better than photographing a couple who has a ton of fun together, is REAL, and whose relationship is visibly just rock solid. Stasha and Justin have all of these things and much more. We could go on and on about how much fun we had with them (and how yummy the French Toast we ate at Bainbridge Island was), but we'll cut to the chase and show you some of our favorite pictures! And let me tell you, we had a heck of a time narrowing it down...

We are so excited for Stasha and Justin's wedding in August!

Holly + Kyle | Engagement

2011-05-13T14:01:00.000-07:00

Like I mentioned in this post, our Seattle trip a couple weekends ago originated because I scheduled two engagement shoots in Sea Town, the first of which was of Holly and Kyle! Holly and I both played volleyball at Whitworth, although we never got to play together. We actually became good friends when I was coaching her senior season at Whitworth! Holly is a total anomaly to me -- on one hand, she is one of the most naturally athletic, crazy competitive people I know; on the other hand, she is a total girly girl and LOVES pink! In all seriousness, Holly is one of the sweetest girls you will ever meet and is genuinely beautiful inside and out.

It was actually during Holly's senior volleyball season when she met Kyle, who played football for Whitworth. I remember numerous bus trips and late nights in hotel rooms during the season when Holly would gush about the new cute boy in her life. :) It was so much fun to be a small part of the beginning of Holly and Kyle's relationship and then be able to take their engagement photos! Kyle and Holly moved over to Bellevue a couple years ago because Kyle is coaching football over there. Because they wanted their engagement photos to reflect their daily lives, how they spend their time together, and who they are as a couple, we did the shoot in and around their neighborhood, which is a first for me! They have these lush, gorgeous trails near their home (which is where Kyle proposed to Holly) and a nearby park they frequent with their dog, Titan. This shoot was personal, simple, and very much a reflection of this couple, which I love!

Without further ado, here are some Flat 4 favorites of Holly and Kyle...

We are so excited to be able to attend and enjoy Holly and Kyle's wedding in July! :) And here's to hoping they'll be moving back to Spokane soon...

Sea Town

2011-05-08T14:55:00.000-07:00

I think for the most part, I am a pretty simple person. The little things in life -- think Zac Brown Band's Chicken Fried -- leave me pretty darn content. But I have to admit, there is something completely alluring about a big city that seriously quenches my soul...
I think it's the sensory overload that gets me. The frenetic sounds of organized chaos, the smell of the exhaust from buses and the subways, constantly being surrounded by the rush of hundreds of people you will never see again... Sometimes I think I was supposed to live smack dab in the middle of all of that in another life. It's not every day, but sometimes I ache for that energy and excitement of a big city.

At least a couple times a year, Jord and I make a road trip to Seattle to get our fix. Do not ask me how it happens, but we always seem to pick the perfect sunny weekend to end up in Sea Town (which, let's be honest, is not a common occurrence considering the city is cloudy 226 days a year!) I had scheduled two engagement shoots in Seattle for the same weekend, so we decided to each take a day off work and make a long weekend of it.
I can pretty much sum up our whole trip in five words: shopping, friends, family, sun, and photography. We got to spend time with so many people we love and it was exactly what we needed. And yes, Urban Outfitters does fit in to my category of "people we love" even though it's not a person. Don't judge. ;) Okay, so one of my goals (besides not getting kicked out of Anthropologie for asking to live there) was to take pictures of us and our friends. I think I got about a C- in that department. So if you're not pictured and we saw you over the weekend in Seattle, please don't take it personally. Just blame it on my lack of memory and effort to pull out my big camera and make you pose for a picture -- yes, I realize I'm a photographer and this should come naturally. I have no witty comment or explanation for why this doesn't happen.

One of my favorite things to do in Seattle is to walk around Pike's Place Market, even if I don't buy anything. I don't feel like my Seattle trips are complete unless I've walked through the Market from start to finish, usually with a Starbucks drink in hand. Only this time, we decided to stop at a little outdoor cafe overlooking the water after our market trip; just me, my love, cold beers, some appetizers, and the sunshine. Now that, my friends, is perfection.
On our last day in Sea Town, we did a morning engagement shoot on a ferry to BainBridge Island -- how fun is that?! The weather was gorgeous, the couple was smokin' hot and super fun, and we got to explore Bainbridge Island, which is the cutest little marine town you've ever seen. Oh, and we ate the most scrumptious French Toast which was actually voted the Best French Toast in the Northwest by Rachel Ray. Try not to be jealous... Thank you, Seattle, for completely fulfilling your role and big city void in my life. You were good to us and we will be back again soon.

Flat 4 Video Interview

2011-04-14T12:24:00.000-07:00

As a preferred vendor for Apple Brides, we were approached to have a video interview done about Jordan and I and this little business of ours, Flat 4 Photography & Photo Booth. I was a little hesitant at first because I am usually really awkward and uncomfortable in front of a video camera, but we decided we were all in and we went for it! And let's be honest, Jordan is a big fan of being on camera and would probably have a 24-hour reality TV show of himself if he could. ;)

The video was created from start to finish by Megan and Rob of Rogue Heart Media, who are not only an awesome duo but who are extremely talented, fresh, and super professional! Seriously, if you ever need a video team for any reason (wedding, business, personal use, etc.), you must check them out... and while you're at it, go like them on Facebook. :)

We really had no idea what to expect and we were absolutely floored by the outcome. Although there were, of course, a few choice comments from Jordan and I after we first watched the video: "Wow, I need a tan!"... "Do I really sound like that in real life?"... "The camera adds 10 pounds, right?" I guess everyone is their own best critic!

Thank you so much Apple Brides and Rogue Heart Media! Now go check out the awesome video featuring yours truly...

The Story of Flat 4 Photography & Photo Booth from Rogue Heart Media on Vimeo.

Birthdays, Belly Bands, Bones, and Black Beans

2011-04-10T16:55:00.000-07:00

Judging by the title of this post, you've probably already figured out that it's going to be one of those random, off the wall posts. And there are a lot of B's in the title. Don't be scared...

Birthdays.

I turned 27 about a week ago. It was the first year someone asked me how old I was going to be and I actually couldn't remember. I'm pretty sure the "I don't know" answer is only acceptable if you're under the age of two and can't really form words anyway or if you're over a (ahem) certain age. I remember my parents always answering that way when asked how old they were or were going to be, and I secretly thought they were either lying or trying to be funny. I mean, come on, who doesn't know how old they are?! Apparently you join this elite group on your 27th birthday...

This was also the first year where I didn't want to have a big to-do. Jordan and I had purchased a fabulous Groupon deal for a one-night stay at the Montvale Hotel downtown (I'm really not a secret spokesperson for Groupon -- swear!), so we decided my birthday was a good enough excuse to use it. We had a fabulous night out with a dinner at Catacombs, followed by lunch at The Elk with my family the next day. It was lovely and just what I needed. And I think the best part of doing birthdays this way is you get to extend the one-day celebration into a week-long string of lunches, drink dates, and dinners with close friends. Who said you don't get wiser by the time you're 27... or was it 26?

Belly Bands and Bones.

Life has thrown me a lot of circumstances lately where I'm left asking myself, "Why am I the least bit surprised by this??" You know, circumstances that most logical human beings would foresee in their future so the emotion of surprise is simply not warranted. Here is one, well actually two of those situations...

If you're still with me and haven't exited out of our blog, you're probably pondering a nice, little, three-letter acronym in your head right about now...

WTF? or WTH? Whatever floats your boat.

My thoughts exactly.

To put it bluntly, our youngest dog, Max, is kicking our ass. Plain and simple. I have never met a dog as smart as this guy is, but who would be giving us the finger about 75 percent of the time if he was physically capable of doing so. His latest phase of puppyhood (although I'm not sure you can call a dog who's 1.5 years old a puppy) has consisted of "marking" in our house. The dog is fully potty-trained, yet his instincts are telling him to mark what he thinks belongs to him. The last straw? Apparently he thinks I belong to him. Twice. Once in my Ugg boots. Okay, they're fake Uggs, but still... Something had to be done, and so a dog diaper (aka "Belly Band") actually appeared on our credit card statement a couple weeks ago. You can only imagine Jordan's excitement about that...

And the bone was purchased in the same trip to PetCo, and I simply couldn't resist showing you physical evidence of what Max can do in two months. TWO MONTHS, before and after. The picture of the bones is pretty much a direct correlation to our house, pre-Max and post-Max. Did I mention this dog is only about 23 pounds?

Oh, and as a side note, the Belly Band did not work. Max: 92. Jordan & Whitney: 0.

Black Beans (Pizza, That Is.)

Let me preface this by saying I am a big, fat copycat. My friend, Amy, posted this recipe for Black Bean Pizza on her blog about a month ago. Not only was it delicious, it also met all my requirements for sharing it with other people. Mostly, it was a recipe I could handle without sweating and swearing. Although, I have to admit, Jord helped. ;) And we both LOVED it.

Please take a stab at which picture is stolen from Amy's blog of her pizza and which one is mine...? I'll give you a hint: my pizza is ugly. Nevertheless, it still tasted good! By the way, do anyone else's cooking creations never turn out half as good-looking as the cookbook picture? Or is that just me? Okay, maybe don't answer that...

BLACK BEAN PIZZA RECIPE

Crust
Dissolve:
*2 teaspoons yeast in 1 c. warm water (let soften a few minutes)
Add:
*1 teaspoon sugar
*1 teaspoon salt
*2 Tablespoons oil
*2 cups white flour
*1/2 c. whole wheat flour
Knead a few minutes, then rest a short time (about 15 minutes). Roll out and bake @ 425 degrees for five minutes before adding the sauce & toppings.

Sauce
In food processor or blender combine:
*one can black beans, rinsed and drained
*3 Tablespoons olive oil
*2 Tablespoons chopped, fresh cilantro (or more!)
*1 teaspoon cumin
*1 teaspoon hot red pepper sauce
*1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

Spread bean mixture on pre-baked pizza crust. Add the following toppings:
*small can sliced olives, drained
*1/2 c. or more diced red bell pepper
*1/4 c. sliced green onions
*8 oz. jack/cheddar blend cheese

Bake at 425 degrees for 7-12 more minutes. Serve with sour cream and salsa!

Thanks, Amy, for the great recipe! We are actually making it tonight for the second time. Yum. :)

Slight Change Of Plans...

2011-03-23T13:16:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to write this post for a while but I was waiting until I had more solid details to share. Well, the solid details still aren't able to be shared but I'm writing it anyway...

So, remember this post? The one where I sounded so confident and self-assured in my perfect little plan? The one titled Third Time's A Charm? Well, it turns out that was just a big, fat pump-fake. It turns out fourth time's a charm. And really, it turns out God has a sense of humor that doesn't always align with mine. At least not in the heat of the moment.

After I wrote the post about going back to school to get my Masters in Teaching, I was approached with an amazing volleyball coaching opportunity at the high school level. Unfortunately, I can't really discuss the details until all of the technicalities are sorted through (not that it's really that top secret or anything.) I was completely stoked about the possibility of coaching, partly because I really enjoy coaching volleyball but also due in part to the idea of getting a foot in the door for a teaching job once I'm done with school! Don't get me wrong, I'm not dumb enough to think that having a coaching position will automatically get me a teaching job, but in this economy I truly think every little bit of a connection helps.

To make sure my bases were covered, I met with the contact at Whitworth... you know, just to double-check coaching would be doable with my school schedule and what not. Truly thinking there would be no issues and giving myself a silent pat-on-the-back for being so responsible and considerate to bring the situation up at all, I awaited my "yes, of course, no problem" answer.

I didn't get it.

To make a long story short, he said "no" and there were a few reasons why. To make another long story short, I was pissed and didn't like his answer.

In true pissed-off-Whitney style, I walked out of his office, sat in my car for about 10 minutes, drove back to work, and emailed Gonzaga. The cool part? They were amazing and completely willing to work with my coaching situation. I think his exact words were, "That's life. Things come up and you make it work. And not to mention you're an adult and can make the decision whether or not you want to do both." Thankfully this conversation took place over the phone because I probably would've kissed him.

Don't you just love people who get it?

Anyway... The last couple months of my life have consisted of jumping through about a million hoops, doing paperwork, emailing a million people, and making a ton of phone calls. There is finally a spec of light at the end of the tunnel. It's faint, but it's there. And I'm excited to say that I'm going to be a Bulldog!

The irony of the picture above is that I tried on this shirt at Old Navy and texted Jordan this picture about two weeks before the whole thing with Whitworth came crashing down. Just for the record, I am not one of those girls who texts my husband pictures of myself on a regular basis -- this was actually the first time that's ever happened! I'm sure he was really turned on by the hat line on my forehead and my greasy hair...

So there it is. My plans have changed, yet again. I know this may not sound like a big, earth-shattering change and if I was honest with myself, I'd probably agree that it's not a huge deal. I think it was just one more (and hopefully one LAST) big curve-ball and, well, it threw me off. And it made life complicated. And it made me question this plan, again. But the weight of everything is beginning to lift and I am feeling like maybe I was supposed to be at Gonzaga all along.

I'll keep you posted on the coaching details as they come, but for now, GO ZAGS! :)

Changes

2011-03-15T16:39:00.000-07:00

I have been absent from the blog lately. I know. I could bore you with a list of legitimate excuses, but whatever. You get it. And if you don't? Well, maybe we shouldn't be friends. ;)

We are revamping our blog to make it better. There are reasons behind this, I promise. I'm really not that into myself to need a bigger and better blog without a purpose. :) More to come on that. Anyway, please be patient because there will be some changes (and probably some trial and error) to occur in the next couple weeks.

Until we get a real, cool post up, here is something pretty to look at...

A Few Fantastic Finds

2011-02-06T15:44:00.001-08:00

This might be the most random post to hit our blog, so fasten your seatbelts...

I hate January. I apologize for the bluntness of that comment or if your birthday is in January. It's just a dreary, depressing, nothing-to-look-forward-to month for me. Christmas is over. There's a strange pressure of starting a new year. Spring is still far away. It's STILL cold. I could go on and on but I will stop there and move on to a few things I discovered over the last month that I just couldn't help but share and made January suck less. :)

And it's February now. Praise the Lord!

Discovery #1: Crockpot Lasagna

I have become completely consumed and obsessed with crockpot and casserole recipes lately. It's partly due to the fact that I get home at 6:30PM, which doesn't leave any time to actually cook a meal (other than Mac & Cheese, chili out of a can, or eggs and toast, which to most people don't qualify as "cooked meals" anyway.) But let's be honest, it's also due in part to me just wanting pure, good ol' comfort food during this gray season. :) I have found numerous recipes that my three-year-old nephew could probably make successfully -- they are that easy -- but that are also GOOD! We made this one and it turned out awesome... and who the heck knew you could make lasagna in a crockpot?! Not this girl!

1 lb. ground beef

29 oz. can tomato sauce

8 oz. package lasagna noodles, uncooked

4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1 1/2 cups cottage cheese

1. Spray the interior of the cooker with non-stick cooking spray.

2. Brown the ground beef in a large non-stick skillet (add seasoning if desired.) Drain off drippings.

3. Stir in tomato sauce. Mix well.

4. Spread 1/4 of the meat sauce on the bottom of the slow cooker.

5. Arrange 1/3 of the uncooked noodles over the sauce. You can break them up to fit better.

6. Combine the cheeses in a bowl. Spoon 1/3 of the cheese over the noodles.

7. Repeat these layers twice.

8. Top with remaining sauce.

9. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.

BOOM! Done! Easy peasy! Yummmmmmyy.....

Discovery #2: The King's Speech

We don't go see movies in the theater very often since it's so expensive, but every once in a while there will be a flick that sparks my curiosity enough to bite the bullet. I planned our date night this week and made dinner and went and saw The King's Speech. Brilliant, I tell you! When a movie can combine history, culture, and humor with an interesting story line and phenomenal acting, I am an instant fan. There are too many movies out there lately where you feel dumber after watching them and it feels like you just wasted two hours of your life -- so annoying, right?! If you need a great movie to watch or a date night to plan, welp, here you go!

Discovery #3: Unconventional Ways to Save Money

I am not a huge coupon queen, although I wish I was better at it. I know people who are crazy about it and save hundreds (and even thousands) of dollars. Maybe one day I'll get there...

This one is kind of cheating because I discovered this a few months ago, but if you have not yet heard of Groupon, I suggest you look into it and sign up! Here is the rundown: you get a daily email with a local deal of up to 90% off a product or service, you can either purchase it or delete it, and that's it. I end up deleting them more often than not, but I have purchased quite a few that were just too good to pass up. Examples:

I spent $25 to get $50 to Nordstrom Rack.
I spent $12 to get $25 at Fringe & Fray (vintage clothing store).
I spent $5 to get $10 to Kalico Kitchen.

You get the idea...

And another quick discovery I made was finding discounts/coupons for monthly prescriptions, completely unrelated to Groupon. I can't take credit for this one -- my Mom told me about it because I was whining about how much my birth control (sorry it that's too much information, but whatever) costs me each month. Even with insurance, I pay $50 every month. It's a conspiracy, I tell you!

I digress...

By simply typing "NuvaRing Coupon" into Google, I found a legitimate $15 off coupon through the first website that came up. So every month I am now paying $35 instead of $50. Not earth-shattering, but still better than nothing! My Mom got one prescription down from $50 to zero each month.

Discovery #4: Another Great Blog to Read

I am really weird when it comes to my daily routine. Almost every single morning I will check my email and then check the list of all the blogs I keep up with and read new entries if I have time. Most of the blogs I read are authored by people I know, but some aren't. I think this totally freaks my husband out. "Why are you reading about someone's life when you don't even know them? Isn't that creepy?" Well, baby, in sickness and in health, right?! :)

I randomly came across a blog called Enjoying The Small Things which is written by a gal down in Florida with two little girls. Her second daughter is a year old and was born with Down Syndrome. Kelle, the author of the blog, is so real and genuine with her story and her day-to-day life... it's so inspiring to hear someone be that open and honest and REAL about being a mom. And let's be honest, we've all asked ourselves and talked about it with our spouses: What if you had a child with Down Syndrome? Or special needs? How would you deal? Or another fun question: Are you a horrible person if you want to know beforehand whether or not your unborn baby has any of these issues? Kelle wrote the most unbelievable birth story of her second daughter -- read it here -- that actually brought me to tears. TEARS, people. Unbelievable. So unbelievable, in fact, it made me think about wanting to be a mom someday. If you know me at all, that is a monumental statement.

I am a sucker for a blog with excellent photographs, but an even bigger sucker for a blog with real, talented writing. Kelle's blog has both. And seeing that the blog is close to reaching 7 million views, I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in this new obsession. If you need something beautifully authentic to read and view (or you're just bored at work), you must check out this blog.

If you managed to make it through the random vomit-of-thoughts I just had, well, good for you. That is one fine accomplishment! I promise my next post will have some structure and meaning to it. I've just been feeling like life is much more enjoyable lately when I find a great deal, a thought-provoking movie, an inspiring read, or an easy recipe that doesn't taste like feet. So I thought I'd share those glimpses of sunshine in case February is to you as January was to me. :)

Bekah + Matt

2011-01-26T14:04:00.000-08:00

I'd been dying to visit my good friend, Bekah, in Atlanta ever since she moved there for PA school three years ago. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to make it work and then... BAM! It happened! The stars aligned and Jordan and I spent an awesome few days hanging out with Bekah and her fiance, Matt, exploring Atlanta, eating great food, and doing their engagement photos all over the city!

Bekah and I have been through life together... literally. We went to pre-school through college together, always playing on the same volleyball team and even living together for two years in college. This girl is my sister and I truly cannot imagine my life without her in it! She also happens to be crazy smart (she is officially a doctor now... a DOCTOR, people!), an amazing volleyball player, the funniest person you will ever meet, she is a beautiful singer... I could go on and on. Truly, Bekah is the full package deal and one of those girls who everyone just loves. And then she met Matt who is SO perfect for her in every way and just an all-around solid guy.

I was a little unsure of what their engagement photos would turn out like because these two are always laughing and being silly together, so I figured we would have some crazy, off-the-wall photos... I WAS WRONG. Don't get me wrong, we laughed and had fun with the pictures, but the second my camera came out Bekah and Matt both turned into foxy, smokin' hot models. Seriously. And the funky backgrounds in Atlanta only enhanced the sexiness. :)

Check out some Flat 4 favorites of Bekah and Matt in Atlanta! Click on any of the photos to make them bigger.

Third Time's A Charm

2011-01-24T12:54:00.000-08:00

The older (and supposedly wiser) I get, the more I realize how many times in life things come full circle. It's a strange but comforting phenomenon.

I have decided to go back to school to get my Masters in Teaching.

You are probably thinking to yourself, "Wait, haven't I read this post before?" To answer your question, yes, you have. Maybe twice. Like I said, life has come full circle.

There's the short version. If you want the long version, keep reading.

I was originally going to start the Masters in Teaching program at Whitworth in June 2008. Yes, I realize that is a whopping three years ago. Full circle, I tell you! I deferred my acceptance when we decided to live in London because I obviously couldn't do both... and who chooses school over living in London for five months? Maybe some scholarly, responsible, goal-oriented person. In other words, not me. :) The plan was to begin when we got back just in time for June 2009. I actually applied to Gonzaga's MIT program that spring because I found out it was a part-time program, allowing me to still work full-time. At that point my income was our only income with Jordan still in law school. It was the perfect plan until Gonzaga decided to completely change the schedule, making it impossible to work while doing the program. I just didn't feel comfortable having both of us in school without any income (responsible, right?!); so alas, I deferred my acceptance to BOTH Whitworth and Gonzaga that year... again.

At that point, my confidence in my plan to get my Masters in Teaching was completely shaken. Was this really what I was supposed to do? Too many things just weren't falling into place. About a month or two later, I had the epiphany of starting our photography business and I ran with it while the school idea fell by the wayside. Little did I know it would actually be pretty successful... and then came the Photo Booth... and, well, let's just say we haven't really come up for air until now.

It was at some point late this last summer when I realized that I just could not make wedding photography my full-time career. And let's be honest, besides the Photo Booth, that's the only thing around this area you can make money doing in the photography world. Logistically I could do it, but emotionally and physically I was hanging on by a thread. It got easier and I began to really enjoy it, but the thought of doing it FOREVER as my career was daunting. And not to mention my summers and weekends would be gone and I would be on a completely opposite schedule than Jordan.

That's when it all came full circle...

The Masters in Teaching programs that had fallen through twice led us to start Flat 4 Photography, which has opened up so many doors for us and really been a huge blessing in so many ways. At the same time, the stress of photographing ten weddings this year while working full-time and running the Photo Booth too... well, it brought me right back to square one.

I will be starting Whitworth's Masters in Teaching program in June. I am so confident God has led me back to this starting block for a reason and this is where I'm supposed to be. Third time's a charm, right?! :)

Does this mean I'm done with photography? Absolutely NOT. But I will be limiting myself quite a bit. I am only allowing myself to shoot one wedding per month this summer and fall, and I will be outsourcing most of my editing (which is the most time-consuming part of photography anyway.) We are still rocking the Photo Booth and will continue to do so as long as we possibly can! I will definitely have to be more selective with photography sessions due to my schedule, at least until I'm done with school. And that's the beauty of being a teacher -- I will be free every summer and weekends to pick and choose what I want to do with photography. :)

Oh yeah, the details of the MIT program. In case you're interested...

The program is a 14-month, full-time, intensive program that starts this June. I have kicked around the idea of continuing to work at Home Environments (my dad's business, where I work now) on Sundays only, but other than that possibility, I will not be working at all. My goal is to ultimately teach high school English and possibly coach volleyball if it works out that way. I have one class I still have to take to complete my English endorsement before school starts and I have to retake the West-E endorsement test I already took (and already passed) since the state requirements have all changed since 2008. Annoying, but to be expected. After all, Murphy's Law still knows my maiden name. ;)

As much as I'm not looking forward to the "school" part of going back to school, I think it will be worth it in the end and I am finally starting to get excited about it. If you have any advice for me (or tips on how to land a teaching job in Spokane...), please let me know!

Joe + Megan 10.8-9.10

2011-01-21T14:35:00.000-08:00

I always get asked if I like photographing weddings. To be honest, there are goods and bads to the job, just like anything else. It wasn't until Joe and Megan's wedding, my last scheduled wedding for 2010, that I realized just how cool it really is...

Not only are you a large part of the biggest day of two peoples' lives, you get to witness so many profoundly emotional moments -- laughter, tears, joy, and above all else, love at its finest. Joe and Megan's wedding captured all of these emotions and was just so intimate, personal, and real. Their two-day wedding celebration began at Beacon Hill and consisted of only their closest friends and family (probably no more than 50 people.) The day was so relaxed and the evening ended with a gourmet, plated dinner for all the guests around one big table with wine pairings for each course. How often can all the guests at a wedding sit around one big table? See, I told you, intimate and beautiful. Besides being two of the kindest people on the planet, Megan and Joe's wedding had so many stand-out features in my mind -- Megan's lovely vintage wedding dress (with pockets!) and her awesome fish net veil, how every detail of this wedding lived and breathed "vintage fall", the perfect Beacon Hill sunset during their ceremony... I could go on and on.

I photographed the entire wedding day and a short part of the reception dinner and then headed out to Lake Coeur d'Alene the next day for the big reception on the Mish-an-Nock boat cruise with all of Megan and Joe's friends and family! It was such a fun celebration with food, drinks, and even some trivia about Megan and Joe. :) Without further ado, check out the slideshow below of Megan and Joe's gorgeous fall wedding and reception...

MySpace slideshows

Ryan + Alli 9.18.10

2011-01-04T13:29:00.000-08:00

Planning a wedding can be hard, especially when you're trying to decide on an overall theme for the big event. Classic Bavarian? Rustic farm? In rare cases, a bride can have both...

I think Alli and Ryan chose me as their photographer partly because I'm willing to do just about anything but also because we have a similar love for a certain photo location: Knapps Farm up at Green Bluff. Of course there were other details involved, but from the minute Alli told me she wanted to have her wedding photos taken up at Knapps Farm after seeing some of my previous photo shoots at that location, it was all downhill from there. ;)

Ryan and Alli had their ceremony and reception at the beautiful Bozarth Mansion in north Spokane. We started their "getting ready" pictures at the mansion, then headed up to Green Bluff for Alli and Ryan's first look, their bride & groom pictures, and their wedding party photos. It was a gorgeous fall day and, as always, the owners of Knapps Farm were so gracious and friendly. As a side note, if you haven't been to Knapps Farm, you should take your family and friends and go up there in the summer to pick your own berries -- it's so much fun! From there, we headed back to Bozarth just in time for Alli and Ryan to get hitched! These two were so laid back and down-to-earth and it was such a fun day to be a part of! And I have to give props to my fabulous second shooter, the one and only Jordan Tampien... believe it or not, a lot of these featured shots are his. He's so great! :)

Without further ado, check out the slideshow below of some Flat 4 favorites from Alli and Ryan's beautiful wedding! If you can't tell, we had a hard time narrowing it down...

photo slideshow

Happy. Merry. Joyful.

2010-12-23T14:32:00.000-08:00

We love our Christmas cards this year... partly because I didn't have to make them, but mostly because we have been wanting to do our Christmas cards through Mango Ink for a long time and we finally did! If you've never checked out this awesome, boutique card company, check out their website here. Trust me, you will not regret it!

If you didn't get a Christmas card, I promise we still love you... our bank account, on the other hand, does not. ;)

We wish you all a joyful Christmas and a happy 2011!

xoxo

Jordan, Whitney, Maggie & Max

Ross + Marlene 9.12.10

2010-12-21T11:14:00.000-08:00

If you've ever seen the movie 27 Dresses, you will remember the scene where Jane (Katherine Heigl) tells Kevin (James Marsden) that she always looks at the groom as the bride is walking down the aisle to see the look on his face. Where most people look at the bride, they both agree that the look on the groom's face tells a better story.

The way that Ross looked at Marlene on their wedding day was unlike anything I've ever seen. And it wasn't just the first time he saw her that day when she walked down the aisle; it was the whole day. There were countless pictures where Marlene was looking at the camera and smiling, and Ross was looking at her. I'm not typically a very sentimental person, but the adoration he showed for his new bride was simply beautiful. And I didn't even mention the toast Ross gave to Marlene at their reception... let's just say there were very few dry eyes in the room!

Ross and Marlene's wedding was at Elkins Resort on Priest Lake. There were so many things I loved about this wedding... how their guests all arrived on boats, the ceremony being held on a secluded beach, Marlene's gorgeous J. Crew wedding dress, the live music by Neva during the cocktail hour, the rustic elegance of the setting at Elkins, and just how intimate and personal the entire wedding was. Ross and Marlene decided they didn't want to see each other before the ceremony, so we did most of their pictures during the cocktail hour. Check out the slideshow below to see some Flat 4 favorites of Ross and Marlene's beautiful wedding!

slideshow creator

4 Years

2010-12-16T15:26:00.000-08:00

Four years ago today I married the coolest human I know. He also happens to be the sexiest, funniest, craziest, most patient, hardest working, most fun, down-to-earth guy out there.

These are definitely not our best wedding photos, but I like them anyway. And it was easier to post these than dig through our wedding photo disc that is still somehow not on my computer. I know, it's weird, seeing as I am a photographer and all... ;)

We are going to a little wine bar that we've been wanting to try out tonight for dinner and then we're headed out to the Coeur d'Alene Resort tomorrow to stay the night and have dinner at Beverly's! I'll be honest, we are doing a Photo Booth event for a company holiday party at the resort on Saturday night and the company offered to let us take advantage of their corporate room rate -- the rates were just too good to pass up! So we decided to make the most of it. :) We have always been more into doing a nice dinner and evening rather than getting each other gifts for our anniversary.

Jordan and I constantly talk about how many big things we have been able to do together in the last 4 years of our marriage...

YEAR 1: Bought our first house! Didn't kill each other within the first four months. ;) Got Maggie! Jordan started law school at GU.

YEAR 2: Hmmmmm... okay, maybe this wasn't a big year. We did work a TON to save up for London. :)

YEAR 3: Lived in London and traveled around Europe for 5 months! Went skydiving! Started our photography business. Got Max!

YEAR 4: Got the Photo Booth and grew our business into something! Bought our 10-acre property in Chattaroy! Didn't kill Max. ;) Jordan graduated law school AND passed the Bar Exam!

The funny part is, four years seems like a long time but doesn't seem very long all at the same time. As cheesy at it sounds, I love Jordan so much more now than I did when we got married. Without a doubt. I look forward to going home from work even when we have absolutely nothing to do that night. I love that he will let me rant and rave about things that fire me up and still love me at the end of the day. I feel blessed to have a husband who will help cook dinner, not care what I spend on clothes or coffee (which, really, is not very much), and is intentional in our marriage. After four years, I can honestly say I am more happy now than I've ever been. And the crazy part? I only see it getting better...

Snow Shoeing Adventures

2010-12-09T13:46:00.000-08:00

I grew up snow-skiing every weekend as a kid. We were the perfect definition of "ski bums," that is, until volleyball came along. It turns out Jordan skied a lot as a kid too -- perfect, right? A couple years ago we looked into starting back up with our old hobby, but the idea died abruptly when we found out the cost of a season pass these days is more than our monthly mortgage payment. And to our dismay, our ski gear from when we were 12 wasn't really going to work out either. End of discussion.

We had been dying to get up to our property after the first big snow to see how the views looked when everything was covered in snow. We also wanted to make sure we'd be able to make it up the hill in our car, which thankfully we did! So my Mom suggested we borrow her and Dad's snow shoes...

To be honest, I wasn't too thrilled and secretly thought snow shoes were kinda dorky. Sorry, Mom. But I am pleased to announce that I was completely WRONG! Not only is snow shoeing a lot of fun, it's also a great workout and such a fun way to take advantage of being outside and actually enjoying the snow! I know, I just said "enjoying" and "snow" in the same sentence. It's a Christmas miracle...

So we bundled up, took the pups with us and hiked all around our property! Here is Max getting ready to go. :)

Jordan blazing a trail for the pups on our future driveway... I love how the pups are both looking at me for the picture. We've trained them well. ;)

Little did we know, snow shoeing is a great workout, especially when the snow is powder! We ended up shedding some layers not long after we got started...

Ummmmm... we also didn't realize how bad the powder snow would stick to the dogs! They were such troopers and were having so much fun, but the longer we went, the more snow got stuck to them. Max got it the worst! Jordan was being the responsible one trying to help him while I was screaming/laughing and taking pictures...

I'm sorry, but is that not the funniest thing you've ever seen?! Poor guy! We couldn't get the snowballs off him so we had to wait until they melted on the way home.

Since we had so much fun snow shoeing the first time, we decided to go again the following weekend. This time we brought friends! :) Nicole, Marc, Steve, and Cassie (and their pups, Wrigley and Banks) came with us.

This time around it was super sunny and clear skies so we could actually see the views. The snow was also a lot more compact so it was much easier for the pups since they could walk on top of the snow instead of falling through it!

Our future home site view... LOVE IT!

The ladies...

The gents...

One of many wipeouts! For the record, I was the only one who didn't wipeout during our trip. Just sayin'... ;)

Jordan taking a little break and checking out the view...

I think snow shoeing has become one of our favorite winter activities! Even though we've only done it twice... ha! It is such a fun way to use our property in the winter, and it is so much more affordable than skiing. You really can't beat the seclusion of being up in the mountains with no one else around you... well, unless you invite your friends. :)

FYI: You can rent snow shoes and poles for really cheap at REI if you don't have some! And a brand new set is way cheaper than you might think if you decide you like it.

I'm pretty sure snow shoes and gear got bumped up to the top of Jordan and my Christmas list this year... hint, hint. ;)

Ben + Michelle 9.4.10

2010-11-29T13:13:00.000-08:00

I adore Leavenworth. If you haven't been there, go. If you have been there, go again. I just cannot get enough of this Bavarian town surrounded by the most magnificent mountains. It is one of Jordan and my favorite places to escape to. So when Michelle called me to photograph her and Ben's wedding and have our Photo Booth at their reception, I was thrilled!

Ben and Michelle actually live in Montana, but since their families are scattered in different cities and states, they decided to do a "mini destination wedding" in Leavenworth. They got married at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church and had their reception at the Icicle Inn. There were so many unique, memorable things about this wedding... the horse and buggy that drove Michelle and Ben from the church to their reception, Michelle being the ONLY girl in the wedding party (we had some fun with this for pictures!), the traditional Scottish toast Ben's sister gave at the reception since she's currently living in Scotland, Ben's parents sharing their anniversary with Ben and Michelle, having the guests wear our Photo Booth props all night at the reception... I could go on and on! And I didn't even mention the perfect wheat field and amazing red crates that just happened to be down the street from the church for pictures. :)

Oh yes, Ben and Michelle... we just love them. I am not exaggerating when I say that Michelle is probably the nicest person I've EVER met. And hands down the most calm bride on the planet. And Ben kept us laughing the whole day. :) They are just one of those couples consisting of two genuinely nice people. I love couples like that. And they were game for anything with pictures! I also love couples like that! Without further ado, check out the slideshow below from Ben and Michelle's beautiful wedding in Leavenworth!

photo slideshow

As usual, the Photo Booth was a hit at the reception! CLICK HERE to see the Photo Booth pictures taken at Ben and Michelle's wedding.

Thankful

2010-11-24T14:35:00.001-08:00

I have been bitter lately. And I know I shouldn't be. Okay, maybe "bitter" isn't the best word to use, but given the 8 inches of snow and subzero temperatures we've had this week, it just seemed appropriate. Ever since we got back from our vacation at the beginning of the month, an overwhelming amount of things just haven't gone our way... I know that's life, but sometimes it gets hard to focus on the positive things after taking so many hits in a row.

But it's Thanksgiving tomorrow, and I know I have way too many things to be thankful for. And even after all the hits and downers, at the end of the day I am still blessed beyond belief.

I love this picture. My mom took it at the lake a couple years ago and it is just so peaceful, beautiful, and authentically serene. I wanted to add it to this blog post because I am currently in a "I hate snow and want to move somewhere warm" mode... but this picture is perfect despite the snow; well, it's actually perfect because of the snow.

It makes me think of how I should be looking at things, even if those things seem negative in the moment.

I know it's cliché, but I wanted to make a list of all the things I am thankful for. It's really more for me than anyone else; I realize that. Without fail, every time I sit down and really think of everything I'm thankful for, the list goes on and on and I usually choke up at some point.

So here is the short version, off-the-top-of-my-head list. Of course I'm eternally grateful for my friends and family, so just assume that is always at the top of my list...

~ I am thankful to have a job in this economy that has so many incredible benefits. Being able to work with my Dad, having our health insurance paid for, and not getting fired when I'm late are just a few that come to mind... :)

~ I am thankful that both of our cars have 4-wheel drive! I love feeling safe when I'm on the road in this crazy weather.

~ I am thankful that Jordan doesn't think it's gross when I eat half of a pan of Rice Krispie treats in one night... and that he's sitting next to me finishing the other half. ;)

~ I am thankful that Max seems to be getting over the "chewing couches and peeing indoors" phase.

~ I am thankful that I get to spend the holidays (and every day, really) with my husband and my family. I know not everyone is so lucky.

~ I am thankful for our little house and to have a warm place to go home to. We rag on it sometimes and laugh at how small it is, but it's ours. And I love the home we've created there.

~ I am thankful for our hot tub. It might sound superficial, but we honestly sit in it almost every night and there's nothing better than getting warmed up before going to bed and spending some quality time with my hubby without interruptions.

~ I am thankful that my migraines seem to be slightly fewer and farther between lately.

~ I am thankful that my husband doesn't care that I go to Starbucks for a latte pretty much every morning and spend way more money than a 16 oz. beverage should ever cost.

~ I am thankful for all the amazing, big things we've been able to do in the short time we've been married. (Coming up on 4 years!)

I really could go on and on; big things and small things alike. I really don't know what I've done to deserve the life I've been given. But I am thankful, nonetheless.

Elf Yourself!

2010-11-18T14:46:00.001-08:00

If you haven't figured it out already, I am a huge nerd. I've come to terms with this fact, so it's okay.

For whatever reason, I still find the whole "Elf Yourself" phenomenon really funny... I realize I among the .05% of the population who laughs at people ELFing themselves, but whatever. I will admit, it is WAY funnier to add dogs into our Elf-pack. :) You know you're curious to watch Maggie and Max dance while dressed as elves...

I'm not excited about the snow, but 'tis the season for ELVES!

Jacob + Allison 8.21.10

2010-11-17T11:31:00.000-08:00

I have to admit, I love farm weddings. Seriously, love them. Something about them is just so relaxed, personal, and charming. Jacob and Allison's wedding was all of those things, and so much more!

They got married at Trezzi Farm at Green Bluff, which is the perfect mix between a little Italian winery and a classic Green Bluff farm. And all the DETAILS of this wedding... oh my word! Jacob and Allison had personalized cups and water bottles, fabulous summer flowers, our Photo Booth for their reception, and the most amazing coloring books as wedding favors since many of their guests were kiddos. Allison's sister owns Little Bee Coloring Books; they do personalized coloring books for weddings and events, which I thought was such a cool idea and not to mention a great way to keep kids busy during the ceremony! The illustrations were of Allison and Jacob and the details matched the wedding perfectly -- one page even had our Photo Booth on it!

Like I mentioned, the day was just so relaxed and really reflected Allison and Jacob. They did not want to see each other before the wedding and really just wanted casual, candid shots throughout the day -- so that's what we did! Allison and Jacob are both so laid-back and always smiling... seriously, always! You can just tell they are meant to be together. Oh, and a random side note, I actually worked with Allison as a hostess for about a month at Tomato Street when we were in college. We didn't really figure that out until we met up before the wedding... such a small world!

Anyway, check out the slideshow below to see some Flat 4 favorites of Jacob + Allison!

slideshow generator

Like I mentioned, Jacob and Allison had our Photo Booth at their reception, which was definitely a hit! Click here to check out their Photo Both pictures!

I also have to give props to my awesome second shooter, Bethan Contabile, of Just a Glimpse Photography. Not only is she an incredibly talented photographer, she also happens to be my cousin. :)

McMurray Family

2010-11-13T10:01:00.001-08:00

The McMurray family is near and dear to my heart. Aaron and Darcy have both played such a huge role in my life and their friendship means the world to me! I did photos for them last year as well -- click here to see last year's post, which has more details on how I know this beautiful family! And it's fun to see how much their four kids have grown and changed since last year. The twins, Keagan and Kinkade just turned 8, Lucia is 3 (and a half), and Emery will be two in March. The McMurray kids are just as awesome as their parents, and not surprisingly just as beautiful! Darcy has a great blog called "McMurray Mania" if you want to check out the life of the McMurrays.

We didn't have quite as much time for this year's photo session, but it was just as fun and I think we got some great shots! So check out a few Flat 4 favorites of the McMurrays!

Wideman Family

2010-11-13T09:43:00.001-08:00

Stephanie was one of my volleyball coaches for a few years of club volleyball when I was in high school, and I always looked up to her and respected her so much. Then I was able to coach a U-14 team with her when I was in college, which was a blast! I love how Stephanie and my relationship has come full circle -- from coach-player, to coach-assistant coach, to FRIENDS! Stephanie is one of the most thoughtful people I know. She always sends me sweet messages of encouragement about my photography and life in general; and although she's a busy lady, I know she would always be there for me if I asked. One of the things I have always admired most about Stephanie is her amazing work ethic. Not only does she work full-time and have a great career, she also is a mom to two adorable kiddos, Gavin and Lexi. She makes being a career woman, a mom, and a wife look SO easy!

Stephanie recently wanted to do some family pictures, and I was so excited to spend some time with her and her adorable family! She wanted to take advantage of the fall colors in Spokane, so we did something a little out of my normal routine of locations and went to the Finch Aboretum. Check out a few Flat 4 favorites of the Wideman Family!

Stephanie also hired us/referred us for the Photo Booth for her company holiday party in December at the CDA Resort -- thank you, Steph! You are the best!!

Our Vacay!

2010-11-09T17:20:00.001-08:00

We got back from our vacation late Saturday night and as much as there was a little added stress from getting home and having to catch up on everything, I think we finally felt rested. I don't think either of us have felt that way for a long time.

We flew into Atlanta and it was so great to finally be reunited with Bekah! Once we got settled in their cute apartment, we went out to a great restaurant bordering a huge park that has a great skyline view of the city...

Bekah and I have always been able to pick up right where we left off, no matter how long it's been since we've talked. I love it. I guess that's what happens when you've gone to pre-school through college together. :)

The main reason we went to Atlanta was so I could take Bekah and Matt's engagement pictures. We did that the next day and it was a great way to hang out and see Atlanta -- stay tuned for their AWESOME photos, coming soon! Or check out the "Sneak Peek" album on the Flat 4 Photography Facebook fan page for a preview. :)

One of the main highlights of the Atlanta trip was eating at Mary Mac's Tea Room, a famous restaurant in Atlanta known for their traditional southern cooking! If you have a minute, you've got to check out their menu... dirty good!

Just to give you an idea, my meal consisted of the best fried chicken I've ever had, whipped potatoes, macaroni & cheese, and a roll that I might trade one of our dogs for. Yummmmmmmm!!!!

On our last day in Atlanta, we went downtown and decided on a whim to ride the 80-story glass elevator to the top of the Westin to overlook the whole city. Bekah is not a huge fan of heights (okay, she HATES them!), but we all made it and it was a beautiful view. Atlanta is huge and really spread out!

It was definitely hard to say goodbye to Bekah and Matt (and their two cats, Ralph and Hank), but they are moving to Seattle soon and we are excited for them to be much closer! They were such great hosts while we were there -- thanks guys!

We flew into South Padre Island (the second leg of our trip) on Sunday night. One of Jordan's co-workers graciously let us stay in her condo for free while we were there! It was a block from the beach and gave us a great "home base," allowing us to cook some meals and just have a great place to hang out.

We didn't waste much time... day one we were out to the beach!

It was usually between 78-85 degrees most days we were there, which felt so amazing! It's hurricane season down there right now, and although we didn't experience any hurricanes or much rain, it was pretty windy most of the time. A positive side to it being hurricane season was that we pretty much had the whole island to ourselves! :)

The first day was really hard for me to wind down and just relax... I know it sounds crazy but I was having some serious anxiety at first with not having anything specific to do! Weird, I know. After the second day, I was finally able to let go and just RELAX and enjoy doing nothing, which is exactly what we needed.

A few highlights from our week in South Padre Island include:

- a lot of long walks on the beach

- sleeping in every morning and even taking some naps during the day!

- opting out of deep sea fishing (mostly because of the crazy wind) and deciding to use that money toward 90-minute massages instead :)

- being able to make our own breakfasts and lunches -- banana and Nutella pancakes and BLT with avacados for lunch... Yummmmmy!

- reading in the sun/laying in the sun/the sun in general :)

- eating at some fabulous restaurants, one of which we saw dolphins in the ocean from our table!

- enjoying many amazing sunsets

All in all, it was just good to finally let ourselves relax and be in a place that was not only warm but was "away from it all."

By the end of our trip, we were ready to come home and see the pups. The 40 degree drop in temperature wasn't that exciting, but nothing beats the feeling of being home. :)

Chris + Beth 8.20.10

2010-10-28T16:33:00.000-07:00

It is so much fun shooting weddings when you know the couple personally. I try to get to know all my brides and grooms before their big day, but you just can't beat actually having a history with them... it makes the day so fun and comfortable!

Beth and Chris are one of those down-to-earth, real, fun couples who I've had the privilege of working with numerous times! Remember this post with Beth and Chris's daughter, Megan? Or this post of their super fun engagement shoot at Green Bluff? Beth played volleyball with my sister all through high school and has remained a friend of our family ever since. From day one of working with her and Chris, I have just loved how the two of them interact together -- they are goofy together, real with each other, and just have a level of comfort with one another -- I know they are going to have a long, loving marriage!

Ah yes, the wedding... :) Chris and Beth got married at The Davenport Hotel, where they also had their reception. This wedding was beautiful, classic, and just plain awesome. After they got ready and we did their first look, Beth and Chris wanted to do some photos at The Blue Spark, which is where they met! So fun!! We made the rounds downtown and had so much fun. Check out the slideshow below of this beautiful couple...

online slideshow

Not only did Chris and Beth have me photograph their wedding, but they also had our Photo Booth at their reception! Click here to see all of the Photo Booth pictures from Beth and Chris's wedding!!

A Lot of Good Things

2010-10-27T13:52:00.000-07:00

We have had one of those weeks where things just seem to be falling into place...

First and foremost, JORDAN PASSED THE BAR EXAM!!!!!!! I truly could not be prouder of him! Not only did he pass on his first try, but he was also working part-time while he studied and working every one of our Photo Booth events to boot. What a STUD!!! This is such a huge weight lifted off his shoulders (and mine!) and it is just such a relief to know he won't have to go through that again!!

I wanted to take a picture of him holding up the letter he got in the mail telling him he passed, but he wasn't too fond of that idea. So here is Plan B for a photo (taken with my iPhone up at the property)... doesn't this look like a victory pose?! :)

A few days after we found out he passed the Bar, Jordan randomly stumbled upon an amazing deal on a car on Craigslist. Let me preface this by saying that we were NOT even looking for a new car, I promise! This deal seemed way too good to be true -- the seller needed a certain amount of cash by the weekend and was asking $2500 less than Blue Book price!! So we checked it out the next morning and by the end of the day we drove home a "new" car. So random, I know. Other than needing new tires and a few cosmetic issues with the interior, everything checked out great on it and it was more than worth the peace of mind knowing Jordan will also be driving a reliable car... finally! He has been driving my 1990 4-Runner that I've had since high school -- nothing against "Old Blue" as he calls it because it really has been a great car, but it is about time he is driving a car that doesn't have over 200,000 miles on it. :)

Okay, you probably noticed, I'm stalling. I haven't told you the kind of car it is. Before you read the next line, you have to promise you'll still be our friend...

We got another Xterra. Bahahahahaaa!! I told you this wasn't planned and it was such a good deal and we love my Xterra... okay... I know, we're lame for both driving the same car. His is a 2003 and mine is a 2004. His is black and mine is silver. So they ARE a little different!

Maybe the "Tampien Tandem" thing is getting a little out of hand... ;)

The last piece of good news might be the best news of all... we FINALLY get to go on a vacation! We are in desperate need of a break, not to mention a vacation. I was thinking about it today, and we literally have not had a break since summer started and we haven't taken a vacation since summer of 2009. It might sound like I'm complaining... okay, I'm not gonna lie, I am. :)

Our vacation plans are as follows:

We fly from Spokane to Atlanta on Friday where we'll stay with my best friend since pre-school, Bekah! She just got engaged and her and Matt (her fiance) offered to pay for my flight down there to shoot their engagement pictures... um, YES PLEASE!! I am so stoked to see her and Atlanta -- I haven't seen her since before we went to London, which was about two years ago! Way too long!!

We get to hang out in Atlanta until Sunday night when we will fly to South Padre Island off the coast of Texas. Random? Yes. I had never even heard of South Padre Island until Jordan came home a couple months ago with the great news that one of his co-workers owns a condo there a block from the beach and offered to let us stay there for free... umm, YES PLEASE!!! So we will be doing a lot of nothing in 80-degree weather until Saturday night when we fly back to Spokane.

Ummm... YES PLEASE!!!!!

I know I will be doing some work (aka: editing pictures) while I'm there, but that's just fine with me! I have a stack of magazines and books on my night stand that have been neglected for the last six months and some long overdue time to relax with my hot husband. :)

And perhaps best of all, I will FINALLY have something to post about that will include pictures of Jordan and I. ;) Wooohoooo!!!

GIVEAWAY!!

2010-10-17T19:23:00.000-07:00

I am usually really sensitive to crossing over between my "personal life" and stuff with Flat 4 Photography. I hate the idea of spamming my friends... but I feel like this is something that can hopefully cross over since it is for a good cause and gives you a chance to win a sweet prize; a prize I would want to win if I wasn't the one doing the giveaway. :)

As posted on the Flat 4 Photography blog:

We’ve all seen the NFL football players sporting pink accents in their uniforms this month. Or people changing their Facebook profile pictures to be highlighted in pink. And of course, the pink ribbons are everywhere. Does it all really make a difference?

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and we believe it makes a difference to spread the word. Too many people have fought breast cancer and lost the battle, and even those who’ve fought and won, well, it’s still too many people fighting. I saw this quote today and it made me realize the importance of this month:

“The more you know, the less you fear.”

With that said, Flat 4 Photography is doing a giveaway for all of our Facebook fans in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness. Here are the rules:

1. If you are not already of fan of Flat 4 Photography on Facebook, you need to be in order to participate. CLICK HERE to become a fan!

2. We posted a slideshow of some of our favorite Photo Booth pictures on our Facebook fan page. Find it. Under the slideshow, there are options. Click the “Share” option.

3. This will bring up a box that will ask to post our Photo Booth slideshow to your Facebook profile. There will be a box where you can write “What’s on your mind?”, which is basically giving you the option to add a caption to the slideshow. In that box you need to write something along the lines of: I support Breast Cancer Awareness and the Flat 4 Photo Booth! Okay, that’s pretty generic, but you get the idea. Mention something about Breast Cancer Awareness and something awesome about the Flat 4 Photo Booth -- be creative, or not, it’s up to you!

4. Click “Share” again in the bottom right-hand corner of the pop-up box to successfully post the slideshow to your profile!

5. Leave a comment under the Photo Booth slideshow posted on OUR Facebook page letting us know you posted it to yours. This is all based on honesty -- we probably won’t have time to check up on everybody to make sure you really did it. But keep in mind that cheaters and liars wet their beds. Just sayin’...

6. You’re done! Unless you want to be really cool and post it more than once. :) We will draw one lucky winner chosen at random on FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22nd at NOON! You can post the slideshow once per day until then for an extra chance to win, so up to five chances!! Just follow the above directions for each post. Please don’t post it more than once per day though... your friends might hate you.

Ah yes, the PRIZES!

The lucky winner drawn at random will receive... drumroll, please...

A pink, long-sleeve Nike Dri-Fit shirt (size Medium) and a $25 gift card to Victoria’s Secret!

You may be thinking this is a not a very “gender neutral” prize. Well... okay, it’s not really. But I bet any male out there can think of a lady who would LOVE to have this prize as a gift. So we better get some guys participating too!

NOW GO ENTER TO WIN!!!

A Busy Year...

2010-10-13T17:26:00.001-07:00

Every once in a while, I like to look back through our blog at random old posts. I usually end up looking at posts from our travels in Europe, but today I decided to look at what we were doing at this time last year.

HOLY LORD. We've been busy this year...

Just to give you an idea, at this time last year, I had just announced our business name and logo, Flat 4 Photography, on the blog. From then until now we have:

- photographed numerous families and random humans

- got Max, our crazy, incredibly feisty puppy

- bought our Photo Booth

- Jordan graduated from law school and took the Bar (he finds out his results next week!)

- bought our 10-acre property in Chattaroy

- photographed 10 weddings from spring to fall

- done over 20 Photo Booth events

- been featured multiple times on local bride blogs for photography and our Photo Booth

- gotten over 600 fans on our Facebook fan page

I realize most of what I just mentioned was about our business, but quite honestly, our life has pretty much revolved around that for quite some time. And obviously there were many things I didn't mention to fill in the gaps throughout the last year... but I have to say, I am pretty proud of our little business that isn't quite so little any more. :)

Jordan and I were talking about it the other day and I asked him, "Did you ever think when we started this business, it would be where it is now... just a year later?!" When we really think about that, I'm pretty sure we had no idea what we were in for. At this time last year, I truly thought this would be a nice little side business that would earn me a few extra bucks so I wouldn't feel so guilty about buying lattés from Starbucks. And don't get me wrong, it's not like we're totally breaking the bank or anything, but let's just say we never would have been able to buy our property without Flat 4 Photography!

God is so good.

Here are a few random pics I dug around on Facebook and found since I was tired of doing posts without any pictures of us. The first one is of me shooting a wedding in Chewelah and the second one is one of my favorite Photo Booth pictures of Jordan and I at our Grand Opening Party in the spring.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us -- and put up with us -- in the last year! Even though I can say this has hands-down been the busiest year of our lives, we have been blessed beyond belief.

Hopefully next year I'll be writing another post like this one... :)

Jenny + Cameron 7.31.10

2010-10-11T22:32:00.000-07:00

There are some couples who should just be in magazines. Plain and simple. Jenny and Cameron are one of those couples.

Jenny and I actually worked one event together at Beacon Hill when I was bartending there a couple years ago, although we didn't actually figure that out until after her and Cameron booked me as their wedding photographer. Crazy, small world! I love this couple for so many reasons... not only are they smokin' hot and super fun to photograph, they are high school sweethearts and Whitworth Pirates! And not to mention, they are just incredibly down to earth. I really don't think I've ever seen a bride as calm and collected as Jenny. I'm pretty sure I was more nervous than she was. Oh, and did I mention her parents were moving that weekend? Literally, as she was getting ready in their house?? Yep, moving vans and all. Talk about a stressful weekend, but you truly would not have even known.

When Jenny contacted me to shoot her and Cameron's wedding in Chewelah, I have to admit, I was dragging my feet a little. Chewelah?! Ummmm... I WAS SO WRONG. I met Jenny and all of the girls at Jenny's parents house where they got ready and where Jenny and Cameron had their first look. Then we headed over to the Chewelah Golf Course for some fun photo ops, and before the ceremony, Jenny, Cameron, and I went up to the beautiful mountains surrounding Chewelah. One word: breathtaking! I honestly felt like I was in The Sound of Music. Their ceremony was at St. Mary of the Rosary Catholic Church followed by a reception at the Chewelah Golf Course.

It was so hard to narrow down my favorites from this wedding, but I did my best! Check out the slideshow below to see some Flat 4 favorites! And remember, you can scroll over the slideshow and click on the box-like icon in the bottom right-hand corner to see the slideshow in full screen.

Guhlke-Falk Family

2010-09-29T21:02:00.001-07:00

There are a lot of people who amaze me in life. Usually they are people who have kids, or who follow their dreams, or who just work really hard until they get what they want. Sometimes, in rare cases, they are people who do all three...

Carey and I played volleyball together in college. I have been around a lot of athletes in my life, but I can honestly say without any doubt that I have never seen someone work as hard as Carey and improve as much as she did in her four years playing volleyball at Whitworth. She went from never seeing the court as a freshman to receiving all-conference honors as our starting middle hitter her senior year. AMAZING!

Then she had her adorable baby boy, Jackson, who is now over a year-and-a-half old. Remember this post? Jackson was one of my first EVER photo shoots! Needless to say, Carey is such an incredible mom -- she makes it look so easy! On top of all that, she works full-time and recently started a Farmer's Market out of the big barn in the front yard of her home in Davenport. You know, in her spare time. ;) Her Farmer's Market is already up for awards, which is really no surprise! To find out more about the Big Red Barn Farmer's Market that Carey started, click here to become a fan on Facebook. And go check it out!

THEN... Carey met Chris, who has an adorable little girl named Lucy, who is just a few months older than Jackson. These two could not be more perfect for each other. Seriously... it's kind of sickening. :) I was so thrilled when Carey asked me to come out to her farm and take pictures of them. Rustic farm equipment? Awesome humans? Cute kiddos? YES, PLEASE! Here are a few Flat 4 favorites...

Thanks for an awesome afternoon, Carey, Chris, Jackson, and Lucy. I am already excited for the next shoot, whenever that might be! :)

Joseph - Senior Photos

2010-09-22T22:25:00.001-07:00

It's always fun doing pictures of family and close friends because they are usually game for making a day of it, hitting multiple locations, and getting unique shots. Knowing that my brother-in-law, Joseph, was going to be a senior this year, I have been gearing up for a fun photo shoot for a while now!

Joseph is Jordan's youngest brother and he is a senior at Lewis & Clark High School this year. I might be a little biased since he's my brother-in-law, but honestly, Joseph is one of those awesome, well-rounded kids who is making so many opportunities for himself. Not only is he a great athlete, he is also a little smarty parts! And not to mention just a fun, easygoing, nice guy... he reminds me of Jordan in a lot of ways. :) But at the same time, it has been fun watching Joseph develop who HE is and is becoming. It will be fun to see what the next few years bring for him!

Joseph is a natural in front of the camera. He has a great smile and an even better "serious face." We had a blast roaming all over Spokane to get some great shots of him and even threw Joelle, his younger sister, into a few pictures too! Here are a few Flat 4 favorites... it was so hard to choose! Click on any of the photos below to view them larger.

Congrats, Jos! And here's to a great senior year!! GO TIGERS!

Summer? What summer??

2010-09-16T23:42:00.000-07:00

I feel like I've been posting more about other peoples' lives lately than our own, which is pretty much a direct correlation to how our summer has gone.

September always seems to mark the beginning of a new season and a new start. I can remember at almost every phase of life being asked the same question each September: "What did you do this summer?" Besides being able to reflect, I think everyone enjoys getting to brag about all the cool stuff they did over the summer. I know I do... usually.

I've been asked this simple question a few times already this month, but for the first time in my whole life I can't really figure out a good way to answer. And there's definitely not a whole lot to brag about or fun pictures (of us) to post on my Facebook page. Sure, I could say something like, I went to... uh, well... photographed a lot of weddings. Or, I went to the lake... three times. Or, I helped my parents remodel their rental house every day after work. Or I could just be that awkward, negative person who self-discloses way too much and complains about how busy I've been and how I'm not great at being a "busy person."

I'm not a huge fan of any of those answers. And I doubt whoever asked me would be either.

The more I thought about my answer, I didn't necessarily think about the things I did this summer (or didn't do for that matter); I thought about the things that got me through the summer. Here's a small list in no particular order, just to give you a glimpse...

1. My husband. I've said it time and again, but truly, Jordan gets the best and worst of me, and let's just say that not very many people would put up with my worst. It's not pretty.

2. Starbucks and Diet Coke. Enough said.

3. The property. This is a tough one because us purchasing the property is about 95% of the reason we've "decided" to be this busy, but at the same time, there is nothing more relaxing and rewarding than watching a sunset up there and being reminded why we're working so hard in the first place.

4. My amazing boss, who also happens to be my Dad. :) How many bosses let their employees edit pictures and email Flat 4 clients when it's a slow day at the office? I would be completely buried with photography and photo booth stuff if it wasn't for him being so flexible with me at work.

5. Gradual tanning lotion. Needless to say, I did not see the sun very often this summer. I can just about guarantee I was (and still am) the whitest person in Spokane.

6. My Mom. Next to Jordan, she got to hear the majority of my venting and meltdowns... again, not a fun job. And when I was about to sell Max, our crazy puppy, to the next stranger who walked by on our sidewalk, she always swooped in and dog-sat for us.

7. Dry Shampoo. If you knew how many times I went multiple days without showering, you probably wouldn't be friends with me anymore. But dry shampoo works MIRACLES, people! If you've never tried it, you should. Unless you're one of those people who keeps up their personal hygiene on a daily basis...

I know seven is a weird number to end on. Oh well. The good news (and don't hate me for saying this) is that summer is OVER and we are nearing a light at the end of the tunnel of this crazy, busy phase of life in the Tampien household! Is it November yet?!

Maybe next summer I will post dozens of pictures of us at the lake or on a great summer vacation somewhere. Or just ANY pictures of us for that matter. :)

Chad + Michelle 7.18.10

2010-09-15T17:28:00.000-07:00

The first time I met Chad and Michelle was a few months before their wedding for about 3 minutes over coffee. So needless to say, I was a little nervous and unsure of what to expect on their wedding day... Lucky for me, this couple was (and is) AWESOME! And Michelle's daughter Maia is awesome too. Honestly, if they lived in Spokane, I would be wanting to hang out and be friends with them. Yes, they're that cool. :)

Chad and Michelle live in Seattle but got married in Spokane. Their ceremony was at St. Al's Catholic Church and their reception was at The Davenport Hotel, although I only took pictures before and during the ceremony for them and then they used our Photo Booth at their reception! Seriously people, this is the way to go! Just sayin'...

Anyway, Michelle was one of the most stunning brides I have ever seen. And Chad looked great too. :) This wedding was just very classy and elegant, but still TONS of fun! See for yourself... check out their picture slideshow below with some Flat 4 favorites! You can click on the "box-like" icon in the bottom right corner to make the slideshow full screen.

image slideshow

To check out Michelle and Chad's PHOTO BOOTH pictures from their reception at The Davenport Hotel, click here!

And the best part? Some guests at Michelle and Chad's wedding loved our Photo Booth so much that they booked us for both photography and the Photo Booth for their wedding that we just did in Leavenworth. We love it when that happens... :)

Sawyer - Senior Photos

2010-08-26T16:54:00.001-07:00

I never grew up with boys. I was one of two girls, and my extended family is predominately women. So it's no wonder when I picture having kids, I picture having girls. Similarly, when I envision my photographs and photo shoots, I just always picture girls for some reason. Weird, I know. With that said, I am learning a ton about BOYS just by photographing them... and I'm loving it!

Enter Sawyer! Sawyer's sister, Nikki, was a stud volleyball player at Whitworth and actually played there when I was coaching a couple years ago. So she sent her little (well, BIG little) brother to me for his senior pictures. :) Sawyer and his Mom met me up at Green Bluff, which seems to be the requested photo spot lately! It was a pretty windy day and if you've ever been up on Green Bluff you know that the wind up there can get pretty crazy. I kept telling Sawyer I was so glad he wasn't a girl because there would be some major hair issues going on with all that wind! Sawyer is the ultimate sport-aholic -- imagine jerseys, footballs, and baseballs because that's what our photo shoot looked like. :) He is the quarterback at Colville High School and also plays baseball. Not only is he a talented athlete, but this guy is great in front of a camera! Some people just can't pull of a "serious" straight face, but I'm pretty sure Sawyer wrote the book on it... probably from all of his sports pictures throughout the years! :)

Anyway, here are a few Flat 4 favorites of Sawyer! You can click on any of the photos to view them larger.

Good luck with your senior year, Sawyer! And thank you, Nikki, for referring your awesome little brother!

Amanda - Senior Photos

2010-08-24T23:16:00.000-07:00

Some people just have it together when they're in high school. Most of us didn't have much of a sense of style "back then" or altogether a sense of who we really were. This is not the case for Miss Amanda!

Amanda emailed me a few months ago and knew exactly what she wanted her senior photos to look like -- she knew location, style, had a ton of ideas, and even brought her own props! Side note: I LOVE props! Anyway, I had a blast shooting Amanda and her great sense of style, and I kept thinking to myself that this girl could be a future Anthropologie model! She is beautiful inside and out, and not to mention super sweet. Her and her Mom met me up at Green Bluff at the amazing Knapp's Farm, and even though it was technically closed to the public that day, the owners were kind enough to let us still take pictures there... and drive us around on their golf cart for some added photo ops! Not kidding, I pretty much adore Knapp's Farm, so head on up there next time you get a chance and pick some of the fruit they sell -- you won't regret it!

Without further ado, here are some Flat 4 favorites of the amazing Amanda!

Thanks again, Amanda, for being so awesome and fun to work with. We hope you have a great senior year and (an early) congrats for graduating from CDA High School!

Hank + Mandi 6.19.10

2010-08-11T17:10:00.000-07:00

When I first met Mandi and Hank, I knew immediately that it was a perfect match... their style and mine, that is. :) In all seriousness, this couple was just flat out awesome. Their wedding was so personal, beautiful, had so many fun details (which I LOVE), and was just a perfect reflection of the two of them. They rented a lodge on Rose Lake in Idaho, and we truly could not have asked for a better day! The sun was shining, it was HOT, and they had one of the most brilliant night skies I've ever seen. EVER. Just wait until you see the pictures...

I had an awesome second shooter who also happens to be my husband, Jordan Tampien. :) Needless to say, we had so much fun shooting this wedding together and he did an amazing job! We honestly felt like we were hanging out with friends the entire day between Mandi and Hank, their super fun wedding party, and their family who made sure we had plenty of food and water the entire time. :) It was actually sad to say goodbye at the end of the night!

I am trying a new way of displaying wedding pictures on the blog -- I found a great, quality slideshow program that I'm testing out so let me know what you think! To view the slideshow in "full screen" mode, scroll over the slideshow with your mouse and click on the little box icon that comes up in the bottom right-hand corner.

So check out some Flat 4 favorites of the beautiful newlyweds, Mandi + Hank!

slideshow maker

Scheduled

2010-08-09T17:19:00.001-07:00

I've never understood people who brag about how busy they are. To be honest, I think being really busy is completely overrated. Sure, there are people who will claim they "love being busy" or who "can't sit still" if they don't always have something going.

I am not one of those people. My schedule, however, seems to think otherwise.

There are no pictures in this post for two reasons: 1) I have about two million pictures of other people's weddings/seniors/families, but I don't have one picture of Jordan and I or anything pertaining to our summer. 2) If I did have pictures of Jordan, they would be of him hunched over a desk at the GU Law Library or working a Photo Booth event; and if there were pictures of me, I would have a camera or a laptop in my face. Let's be honest, no one wants to see that!

Side note: Jordan is finally done with the Bar Exam! He'll find out his results towards the end of October.

Side note #2: We thought him being done with the Bar would give us a little more time in our schedule. We were wrong.

Saying that this summer has been busy for us is the understatement of the century. I could go into every single reason why I've only been in a swimsuit less than a handful of times this summer, but I don't want to be mistaken as one of those people who brags about their scheduled life. And besides, I'm not proud of it.

I guess the reason for this post was more to explain why we've been MIA this entire summer and will continue to be for what's left of it. It's a sad thing when it's the middle of July and you look at your husband and your calendar, and the three of you decide to chalk this summer up as a loss as far as fun summer things go. As much as we're thrilled and feel so blessed that photography and the Photo Booth are both doing really well, it's just a blessing and a curse.

With that said, there are definitely some positive, learning experiences I have gained from this summer...

I am more capable than I thought I was in terms of working hard while being exhausted 95% of the time, rising to the occasion when more often than not I feel like I'm way out of my league, and somehow just making things happen.

I am not as afraid as I used to be to ask for help. I've needed it numerous times and so many people have come to my rescue. First and foremost, my amazing husband.

I have learned to appreciate things more. Being able to spend quality time up at our lake cabin in the summer has always been a given for me -- I've always known I'm so lucky to have it -- but when you can only go a couple times in the summer, it makes you appreciate that time so much more and really cherish it.

There are certain things I need in my life that no matter how busy I get, I am not willing to negotiate on. Essentially, life is all about priorities.

No matter how hard I think my life is right now, there is always someone's life who is much harder.

So there is our life right now in a nutshell. In other words, please forgive us if we've seemed flaky or distant lately. Or if you've driven by our house and seen our really beautiful yellow lawn that we are just now starting to water. Or, my personal favorite, if we stink. I'm pretty sure Jordan and I have both chosen extra minutes of sleep over showers a few times. In fact, if you Google "running around like a chicken with your head cut off," I'm pretty sure my picture comes up.

It's an odd season of life for us, but I know we'll get through it. Hopefully alive and with our sanity. :)

The Short Bus

2010-07-09T12:50:00.001-07:00

Cairn Terriers are known to be an extremely smart breed, but...

My mom watched Max and Maggie about a month ago and she told me she hosed off her deck while the dogs were playing outside. She mentioned that Max really liked "playing in the water," but I didn't really think much of it. Of course she puts it nicely and doesn't warn me that my dog's a freak. Typical Grandma! :)

Well, I pulled out the hose today (which, by the way, has a huge hole in it that Max chewed, so forgive the white trash double-spout hose), and found out that Max has a little bit of a problem. I couldn't stop thinking that if there were doggie school buses, Max would definitely be on the short one.

Ummmmmmm........?!?!?!?!?!?!??!

Todhunter Family - Maternity

2010-07-08T13:57:00.001-07:00

You always hear about pregnant women having a "glow," and I think it's probably true of most women. Kristin, however, took that to a whole new level. In fact, if she wasn't so sweet and fun, I probably would've found her cuteness annoying. ;) Seriously though, she looked way better at 8.5 months pregnant than I look on my best days!

We did the first half of the maternity shoot at her house, which I think made these photos so unique and intimate. And not to mention that the Todhunters have the most adorable house. EVER. I contemplated asking if I could live with them, but I figured that would have made for an awkward first impression. :) In all seriousness, this house and their decorating style put Pottery Barn to shame!

And I haven't even mentioned their little boy, Creighton, who just adds to the cute factor of this family! We ended up doing a mix of maternity and family photos -- some at their house and some at a field and barn on the backside of the South Hill. Check out some Flat 4 favorites! And remember you can click on any of the pictures below to make them bigger if you want.

Thank you to Julie Jones for referring Kristin for pictures!!

At the time we did these photos, the Todhunters had decided not to find out the sex of the baby, so they didn't know if they were having a boy or a girl. Well, a couple weeks ago they had a baby girl and named her Hattie. I'm considering hiring Kristin to pick my baby names when I decide to have kids. :)

Congrats on your growing family, Todhunters!