Emily and Ross, February 20th 2010
I’m very excited to share this next set of wedding photos with you! Ross and Emily’s February 20th wedding was an incredible, action-packed, emotional, fun-filled, joyous event that I can only begin to describe in photographs. Going back through the images, it’s hard to believe that their wedding took place in the middle of February in Portland, Oregon! The weather was glorious and it hinted that Spring is just around the corner.
Ross and Emily’s day began downtown at the Hotel Lucia and was followed by a photo session at the Benson. We then headed to Couch City Park for photos with the wedding party. At 7pm, Emily and Ross married at the Temple of Beth Israel in NW Portland with a reception following at Bay 13 in Portland’s Pearl District. The day was truly picture-perfect in every way. Emily and Ross, we thank you for choosing us to document your beautiful wedding day. You and your family were so gracious and kind; it was a pleasure to be a part of this amazing beginning. We wish you both the very best in life and love!
Best of Wedding Photography
I’m very excited to announce that I was recently selected to be a member a new international wedding photography organization, the Best of Wedding Photography. This organization was founded by some of the most talented, well-respected photographers in the wedding industry, many of whom I’ve admired for a long time, including Anna Kuperberg, Ben Chrisman and many more. The Best of Wedding Photography “employs a unique system of peer-review to ensure that membership standards remain uncommonly high. We look for photographers who are leaders in the field – both in terms of the quality and style of imagery they produce and their level of success and recognition by brides, fellow photographers, and others in the wedding industry.”
It’s truly an honor to be listed among such amazing group photographers who are not only skilled and professional, but who care deeply about their clients and their craft. If you have a moment, please check out the BOWP site for more information.
Rebecca and Shawn, January 30th 2010
Warm. Kind. Charming. Magnetic. Spirited. These are just a few words that Rebecca and Shawn’s friends and family used to describe them as individuals and as a couple on their wedding day. It’s no surprise at all. The first time we met Rebecca and Shawn, I was immediately struck by their wit and sense of humor. We spent our entire meeting laughing! It was evident to me and Lincoln that this couple was not only very much in love, but they are surrounded and supported by the love of their family and friends. Congratulations to Rebecca and Shawn! May your life together be just as sweet and meaningful as your wedding day.
Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone. Remember that you are loved.
Danielle and Kevin Featured in Spring 2010 Issue of Portland Bride & Groom!
I’m thrilled to announce that Danielle and Kevin’s wedding has been featured in Portland Monthly’s Bride & Groom Spring 2010 Issue! If you follow my blog regularly, you may remember Danielle and Kevin’s absolutely breath-taking, August 9th 2009 wedding at Kruger’s Farm. Everything about their wedding was so lovely: the couple, the location, the food, the DIY details. I just love thinking about their wedding day because it pretty much encompassed everything that I enjoy about my job, Portland in the summertime, and the incredible people that we’ve met since moving here in 2005. Thanks again, Danielle and Kevin, for giving us the opportunity to photograph your wedding day.
To see photos from their day and find out more about their wedding, please click the link below or pick up a copy of Portland Monthly’s Bride & Groom on newsstands now!
Professional Portraits with Beth
A few weeks ago, I was contacted by Beth, asking if I would take a few portraits of her that she could use in her professional field. Of course, I said yes! I love having the opportunity to do any type of portraiture. Even in business portraits, I strive to create relaxed, approachable images that could be used for both your professional and personal life.
Beth and I agreed to do the shoot at my office building, the Olympic Mills Commerce Center. The OMCC is full of great backdrops of tons of natural light; a photographer’s dream. The talented and oh-so-lovely stylist, Jennifer Rand of Face Body Beauty, joined us to do Beth’s hair and makeup, which looked gorgeous and gave a polished look to the Beth’s natural beauty. I really love my job and all of the fantastic people that I have the chance to work with along the way. Many thanks to Beth and Jennifer for a truly enjoyable Saturday afternoon!
Erin and Eric, January 2nd 2010
Erin and Eric are truly one of the sweetest couples that we’ve had the opportunity to photograph. When I met them last November for their engagement portrait session, I knew that their wedding was going to be amazing.
Amazing, it was.
On January 2nd 2010, Erin and Eric were married at the Treasury Ballroom in Portland, Oregon. Winter weddings are undeniably romantic; Erin and Eric’s wedding was no exception. The weather outside was damp, gray, and crisp. The atmosphere inside, at their wedding was warm, cozy, inviting and exciting. It was a fabulous way to start off our 2010 wedding season! Erin and Eric, we’re so happy for you. Wishing you the very best in 2010 and beyond!
Kicking Off 2010!
Hello and Happy New Year! I know this post is a little belated, but we’ve had a wonderfully busy start to 2010! In the last eleven days, we’ve photographed Erin and Eric’s beautiful wedding at The Treasury (photos to come later this week), launched a new website, participated in our first bridal show, the Art of Weddings, and I finished up the busy week with a portrait session. Whew! We certainly hit the ground running in 2010. I love it!
I’m excited to introduce to you our brand new website for 2010! As promised, there are larger images, more galleries, and it’s even visible on your preferred mobile device. The best part is that it’s completely integrated with the blog, so you can navigate from the website to the blog fluidly. The blog format is a little different, and I’m hoping it’s more user-friendly. I’m introducing a gallery feature to the blog that will allow you to click through the images rather than having them drop down under the post. We’re still tweeking the site and adjusting the content, so if you have any questions or comments about the new site or blog, we welcome your feedback! Many many thanks to my amazing husband, Lincoln, for all of his hard work on the site. I’m lucky lady to be married to such a talented photographer and web designer.
As a way to familiarize you with the new gallery feature on the blog, I thought I’d post a few images from the Art of Weddings bridal show that we participated in on January 7th. The Art of Weddings 2010 was held at the Gerding Theater at the Armory and featured some of the very best local wedding vendors. It was such a fun event and we were thrilled to be a part of it! Many thanks to Alexis Achten of Jasmine Photography. Not only is she a talented photographer, she’s also the creator of the Art of Weddings and did an amazing job putting on a great show.
Bianca and Ant, December 13th 2009
I’m very excited to post this next wedding. Although I thought that we had photographed our last wedding of 2009 in October, it turns out that we had one more in store for us: the wedding of Bianca and Ant! Bianca is a friend of mine, a talented hair stylist, and one of the very first people I met in Portland. She’s also one of the coolest and funniest people I know. A while back, she made a trip to England and met the man of her dreams, Ant. They fell in love and decided to get married. Fancy that! And get married, they did. Bianca and Ant said their vows in a private studio at the Oak Street Building in front of a group of close family and friends. Afterward, they dined on a delicious, home-cooked meal that had been prepared just hours before. It smelled divine! After dinner, Bianca, Ant, their friends and family headed to the East End in SE Portland for a cake and champagne reception with more friends and loved ones. It was a wonderful evening and a true pleasure to document a such happy occasion for a friend. Bianca and Ant, here’s to years of continued happiness, love, music, and adventure!
Seasons Greetings!
Lincoln and I send you our very warmest wishes for a happy, relaxing and safe holiday season! 2009 has been an amazing year for our little wedding and portrait photography business. Many thanks to all of the wonderful people who have trusted us to document their most important moments in life. We are grateful for the continued care and support of our clients, family and friends. Here’s to many more great memories made and remembered in 2010 and beyond! All of our very best to you and yours.
- Lauren and Lincoln
The Art of Weddings, January 7th 2010
Are you engaged to be married? Perhaps know someone who is in the midst of planning their nuptials? Or maybe you just love weddings? Whatever the case may be, I invite you to come join me on January 7th at The Art of Weddings Bridal Show!
This boutique bridal event will be held at the Gerding Theater at the Armory in the Pearl District of Portland, Oregon. The Art of Weddings 2010 will feature some of the very best local wedding vendors including Francoise Weeks Florist, The Art of Catering, Duchess Custom Clothier, Westcoast Event Productions, Jennifer Rand Makeup Artistry, La Jaconde Bakery, Uncommon Invites, and many more . Come mingle with talented chefs, photographers, videographers, stylists, bakers, florists, and event planners while you sip on sake and enjoy a bridal fashion show that will feature the work of local designers. Fancy!
Did I mention that there will be giveaways from vendors? Visit our table and pick up a lovely gift; we’ll have one for everybody. In addition, Lincoln and I will also be giving away a FREE wedding album to a lucky 2010 wedding client.
For more information about the show or to purchase tickets online, please visit: www.artofweddingspdx.com or click on the image below.
We hope to see you there!
Holiday Wreath-Making Class with Francoise Weeks
This next post is slightly out of the realm of my usual blog posts. Normally, I write about and share images from recent weddings and portrait sessions that we’ve photographed. However, for 2010, I will occasionally be sharing blog posts about people, places and things in the wedding industry that I simply adore. As a wedding photographer, I have the opportunity to work with so many talented artists and vendors in Portland and I normally am witnessing and documenting the culmination of their talents on the wedding day. Many of these people have become friends of mine. As a freelancer, it’s wonderful to have colleagues who work in the same industry with whom I can talk to about business-related topics. It gives me a real since of community and is truly one of the highlights of my job!
To kick off this new category on my blog, I want to introduce you to Francoise Weeks. Francoise is an extremely talented florist and a really nice person, to boot. Not only does she create truly gorgeous floral pieces for weddings and events, she also offers classes where you can learn how to create these masterpieces yourself. How cool is that?! Her classes range from wedding design where you can learn to create hand-tied bouquets and table arrangements, to seasonal classes where you can make your very own holiday wreath.
This past Monday, I had the opportunity to photograph Francoise’s Holiday Wreath-Making class. Held in her very own studio, the class was made up of 8 students. We started off with a brief instructional lesson from Francoise, in which she encouraged us to be creative with our design and taught us how to adhere and attach various adornments to the wreath. Each of us had our very own fir bough wreath and access to a variety of gorgeous live plants, seeds, fruits, herbs, moss, mushrooms, orchids, etc. that we could use as decoration. The class was SO much fun! One of the best parts of the evening (other than walking away with a beautiful, hand-decorated wreath) was seeing how different everyone’s wreath looked at the end of the class using the same ingredients. It was wonderful way to spend a Monday evening and I think it’s safe to say that everyone who was there had a blast! To find out more about other classes that Francoise offers, please click here.
To view some of my favorite images from the class, please click on the photo or on the link below the photo.
Janet and Charles’ Engagement Session at Union Station and Around
Looking back through this next set of engagement photographs makes me feel happy, warm and cozy; a perfect way to feel on such chilly day as today! Lincoln and I did Janet and Charles’ engagement session the day after Thanksgiving and had yet another beautiful, sunny, crisp, autumn day to frolic around Portland. This adorable couple loves to travel and so we decided to start their session at the train station in downtown Portland, Oregon. Afterward, we walked over to the North Park blocks and took advantage of the gorgeous fall foliage. Janet and Charles are so incredibly sweet together and were really good at making one another laugh, smile, giggle; it was wonderful way to wrap up a lovely November day. Janet and Charles, we had a great time with you two and we’re looking forward to photographing your wedding!
To view some of our favorite images from their engagement session, please click on their photo or on the link below their photo.
Feel Good Friday – Family Portrait Session at Raleigh Park
I wanted to end the week on a great note by sharing this family portrait session with you. The photo of the puppies was too cute not to use as the header. Many thanks to the Sawyers and the Morrisons for asking me to be their family photographer. My sincere congratulations to all of you on all of the precious new additions to your families:)
Happy Friday! I hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend.
To view some of my favorite images from their session, please click on their photo or on the link below their photo.
2009 ISPWP Fall 2009 Contest Award Winner!
I am excited to announce that four of my images have placed in the latest ISPWP Fall 2009 Contest! The International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers, or ISPWP, is a online photography directory created by photographers in order to “to raise the standards of the wedding photography profession”. Photographers listed on ISPWP have undergone an application process that ensures that they are experienced, knowledgeable, and well-respected in their industry so that couples have a trusted resource to turn to when the time comes for them to find a wedding photographer. It’s an honor to part of such an amazing group of world-renowned photographers and it’s even more of an honor that four of my images have been recognized among such talent.
To view all of my Fall 2009 ISPWP award-winning images please click on the photo below. If you’re interested in seeing all of the winning images from the Fall 2009 ISPWP Contest, please click here.
4th Place | Bridal Party Portrait Cheryl and Andy’s Wedding at Lewis River Golf Course, May 24th 2009 Click here to see more photos…
Holiday Print Sale
It’s been a very busy year here at Lauren Brooks Photography. In fact, 2009 has been our busiest year yet! Lincoln and I want to thank our clients for contributing to the success of our wedding and portrait photography business. The support of our clients is 100% of the reason that we can continue to do what we love to do.
As a way to show our appreciation, we would like to extend a 15% discount on all print orders through December 15th. This offer is good for any print order that you, your family or friends wish to make through your web gallery. Pretty awesome, right? Beautiful archival prints of your best memories make wonderful gifts for the people that you love.
Additionally, the prints that you order during this time will be shipped in premium print packaging. Your holiday wrapping is done for you! Check out the photos below.
NOTE: To take advantage of this discount, you must enter the Promo Code in the ‘My Cart’ section of the gallery before checking out.
The Promo Code is: 2009
The discount may only be made with new purchases and cannot be applied to print credits that you may already have. Please place your order by December 15th if you wish to receive your prints before December 25th.
Please feel free to contact me at 503.467.9593 if you have any questions.
Happy Holidays!
Lauren
Erin and Eric’s Engagement Session in Peninsula Park
I really love this next set of engagement photos with Erin and Eric! The couple, the weather, and the setting were all so lovely and reminded me of how much fun Fall portrait sessions can be.
For anyone in Portland who has never been to Peninsula Park, you must go! It is a hidden gem in the heart of North Portland and it was the setting for Erin and Eric’s engagement photo session. Erin and Eric are getting married on January 2nd 2010. They met while on a student exchange in Japan and they currently reside in Seattle. However, they lived in Portland for a couple of years and both love the Rose City (and one another) very much and they wanted to reflect this in their photos. I couldn’t think of a more perfect place to capture Portland than in the city’s first formally designed neighborhood park. We had a grand time playing in the leaves, hanging out on the swings, and walking around enjoying the beautiful day. Erin and Eric, thank you for the fun afternoon! We look forward to January 2nd.
To view some of my favorite images from their engagement session, please click on their photo or on the link below their photo.
Alisha and Blake, October 17th 2009
This post is bittersweet for me. I’ll start with the sweet part: Alisha and Blake’s beautiful wedding at the Crown Ballroom in Portland, Oregon. I’m smitten with this wedding and with this lovely couple. I’m not sure that two people could be any more adorably in-love than Alisha and Blake. If you mix Autumn (I sort of have a soft spot for Autumn), a sensual yet welcoming venue, and amazing people you have their amazing wedding day. Going back through these photos I thought to myself ‘life doesn’t get much better than this.’
The bitter part: this is our last wedding for the season. It’s hard for me to believe, but we’ve photographed nearly 30 weddings this year. Wow! What a great year it has been.
Thank you to Blake and Alisha for allowing us to photograph their beautiful wedding. We definitely finished the year in style!
Thank you to all of our clients for an amazing year. We appreciate all of you so much.
To view some of our favorite images from Alisha and Blake’s wedding day, please click on their photo or on the link below their photo.
Nicole and James, October 10th 2009
Nicole and James’ October 10th wedding was so lovely that I honestly had a hard time finding the words that could aptly describe this beautiful event. The candlelit, sunset ceremony was so perfect for the setting and the season. Everything was so sumptuous and romantic, accented in lovely pinks and golds and bathed in flowers and candle light. Being there made you feel warm and fuzzy inside despite the crisp autumn air. All five of my senses were on complete, blissful overload! Nicole and James, we thank you both for choosing us to capture this incredible day. May your future together be just as sweet as your wedding!
To view some of our favorite images from their wedding day, please click on their photo or on the link below their photo.
Barrie and Doug’s Engagement Session in the Pearl
I love love love this engagement session with Barrie and Doug! Last Tuesday, I met this adorable couple at Tanner Springs Park in downtown Portland, Oregon. We had the perfect autumn evening to play in the Pearl and that’s just what we did. Their session included visit to Sammy’s Flower Shop, Cupcake Jones, Bonnet (a hat shop), just to name a few. After spending just an hour or so with Barrie and Doug, I could tell that they have fun together no matter where they go. It’s probably one the reasons that they’re getting married next summer! Barrie and Doug, thank you for the extremely fun evening. I wish you two continued happiness, laughter and good times.
To view some of my favorite images from their engagement session, please click on their photo or on the link below their photo.
Liz and Eduardo, October 3rd 2009
Liz and Eduardo were married on Saturday, October 3rd at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Tigard, Oregon with their reception following at the Acadian Ballroom in NE Portland. Some of you may remember Liz and Eduardo from their engagement photo session at the Pittock Mansion earlier this year. You may also remember that they met at a salsa dancing class. Well, folks, you should have seen these two dance together on their wedding day. Wow. It was, hands down, amazing. Much like their first dance, Liz and Eduardo’s wedding day was beautiful, romantic, and compelling. Congratulations, Liz and Eduardo, and thank you for choosing us to photograph your wedding day!
To view some of our favorite images from their wedding day, please click on their photo or on the link below their photo
Jessica and Cole, September 19th 2009
What a perfect day this was! Jessica and Cole’s September 19th wedding at Lakeside Gardens couldn’t have been better. The weather had been somewhat unpredictable all day long, in true Oregon fashion. However, the dark clouds and rain showers cleared out just in time for their sunset ceremony. I’m also told that Jessica and Cole’s Alma Mater, the University of Oregon, won their football game that day. Talk about good omens:) And the best thing that happened that day, Jessica and Cole both married their best friend. Congratulations, Jessica and Cole! We wish you a long and happy future together.
To view some of our favorite images from their wedding day, please click on their photo or on the link below their photo.
Tiana and Philip, September 12th 2009
There is something about Summer turning into Fall that is incredibly romantic. It’s one of the reasons that September is my favorite month. It’s the perfect time of year to celebrate love, wouldn’t you say? On Saturday, September 12th 2009, Tiana and Philip were married at the beautiful Garden Vineyards in Hillsboro, Oregon. Their wedding day was both elegant and relaxed, the perfect combination for a late-summer, vineyard wedding. And what a celebration it was! Family, friends, laughter, dancing, more laughter. I could go on and on, but I think it’s best to let the photos do the talking. Tiana and Philip, a sincere congratulations to you both. Thank you, thank you, thank you for choosing us to capture your day!
P.s. You may have noticed that the blog photo size has changed – this is in preparation for our new blog site that will be launched in the coming months. Please stay tuned!
To view some of our favorite images from their wedding day, please click on their photo or on the link below their photo.
Amanda and Scott, September 6th 2009
On Labor Day weekend 2008, Lincoln and I had the opportunity to meet Amanda and Scott while photographing Amber and Randy’s August 30th wedding. I remember thinking how friendly Amanda and Scott were as individuals and also how lovely they were as a couple. Lincoln and I even took a couple of photos of them together that evening and I remember hoping that we’d have the chance to run into them again in the future. To my delight, several months later, I received an email from Scott saying that he and Amanda had gotten engaged and they wanted us to photograph their wedding. Yay! On Sunday, September 6th 2009, Amanda and Scott were married at the Oswego Lake Country Club in Lake Oswego, Oregon. The weather on their wedding day was profoundly autumnal with a mix of sunshine, rain, and clouds that led to a colorful and dramatic sunset. The rain showers truly made their indoor ceremony and reception feel so cozy and intimate. It reminded me of how much I adore Fall weddings. We even had a few sun breaks that allowed us to take advantage of the gorgeous grounds of the country club by doing a few photos outside. It was a perfect day! Amanda and Scott, thank you so much for the opportunity to photograph your wedding. We wish you two the very best!
To view some of our favorite images from their wedding day, please click on their photo or on the link below their photo.
Annie Mae and Ben, August 23rd 2009
Annie Mae and Ben love: each other, family, friends, dogs (especially their dog Mori), fun, laughter, nature, and dancing. I’m sure this list could go on and on. However, these eight things that are listed here were truly the elements that defined their incredibly personal and whimsical wedding day. Annie Mae and Ben were married on Sunday, August 23rd at Cooper Spur Mountain Resort on Mt. Hood. One fact that I thought was especially touching about their wedding date (August 23rd) is Ben’s parents and Ben’s paternal grandparents were also married on this same date. So sweet. Annie Mae and Ben, we had SO much fun photographing your wedding. Thank you for making us feel so welcome at your beautiful event. We wish you continued love, laughter, and good times!
To view some of our favorite images from their wedding day, please click on their photo or on the link below their photo.
