Tips for Planning Your Wedding

This is more like a photographer's wish list. It's a list of things you can do to ensure that you get the best images possible. And a few side tips too!

A Variety Pack

Black and White, Color, or a vintage feel. We love to give you lots of options when we edit each photo.

All The Details

Every little detail, every side story...we capture it all. We shoot all of our weddings as though it was our own.

All the Emotions

I love those moments where everyone lets there walls down and they just allow themselves to fall into that exact moment. It's the emotional part of the story.

Images by the Thousands

We get asked all the time...How many pictures do you take? The answer...on average we take 2000-5000 images

Husband and Wife Team

We first fell in love with photography. Then many years later we fell in love with each other. We combined our passions and found a way to spend more time together. An innovative photography company prevailed.

Eddie's Blog

Eddie has his own blog too. It's another perspective on our photography adventures. You can find his blog at lyfephotography.blogspot.com.

The the Finest Dog

Posted by Unknown On Wednesday, December 30, 2009 1 comments
Dogs seem to be simple creatures who seem to focus on nothing other than sniffing an occasional heigny or chasing a ball, but when you gain the friendship of a dog you know that that simple dog is a lot smarter than you could ever know. Tigger had more intelligence than a lot of people I know. It may sound rude, but if you knew her you would understand that that is no insult. She was screaming smart and had a loyalty to her family that never failed. We first brought Tigger home as a Christmas present for my father who desperately wanted a boxer for so many years. The family had a long run of springer spaniels and the breed just wasn't cutting his need for a dog who really understood what it meant to have fun. So after years of hearing his ache to own a boxer we finally bought him his boxer. Tiggy fulfilled that need, created her patterns in our life and brought happiness to everyone in the family. She was my unjudging companion through high school and college. The one I could always count on to be up for an adventure through the country side. Tigger would swim with me for hours and never leave my side. Her consistency was expected, her loyalty appreciated, and her joy desperately needed.
We lost Tigger a week ago. It was as if I wrote a letter to God asking for the perfect ending to her life. Though the end came before any of us were ready…it was just perfect. She was 11 years old and always struggled with poor knees which led to multiple surgeries that left her struggling to do the things she loved. On this day the sky was lit up and the ocean waves were rolling in in large 10 foot swells. The air smelled of the ocean, it was warm and beautiful in every way. The entire family was there as the dogs played, chomped on sticks, and chased a tennis ball into the waves. As we were walking back to the car Tiggy collapsed. She was having a heart attack and we knew at that moment it was the end. We held her, told her how much we loved her and touched her fur hoping to remember just how soft her fur was. I grasped at her just trying to memorize every aspect of her. We were all holding on to our best friend not wanting to say goodbye to her and the memories that came with looking her in the eyes. It was such a blessing that were all together and had a chance to say good bye. The waves still crashed in the distance without a sole around. We were able to cry and comfort each other without a soul overlooking us. The end of Tiggy's life was just perfect as though I wrote to God with a request for the perfect ending. Tiggy spent her last moments playing on the beach and spending time with us. And as a best friend of Tiggy there is no better way to spend time with her.
So if you are a dog owner, hug your dog. Even if she wiggles away for something more exciting. Hug your dog, play with her, and embrace all the gifts that your dog bring into your life. For Tiggy she was constantly there for us. She had the cure for heart ache, the solution for loneliness, and she was our strength when life got hard. That is true love.
I'll miss you Tigger!!!!


Here are a few pictures that were taken the day before we lost her. She is the black brindle on the left.
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Robin + Esteban...10 Years & Counting

Posted by Unknown On Sunday, December 20, 2009 0 comments
A long long time ago over ten years in total a blond haired girl entered into high school. Without a doubt all the boys were crazy about this blue eyed beauty. Robin didn't find love all at once. In fact she didn't even recognize it as it stared at her from across the room. Esteban was sooo not her type, but that never altered his heart. As their four year tenure came to a close the blond beauty and the dark haired boy were best friends. When it came time to move out to pursue careers and look for love they became roommates as they attended school in Portland. Robin still couldn't recognize love even though it was thriving in her own home. Then one bitter cold New Year's Eve the pair partnered up on the most dreaded holiday for singles. It was that night that Robin recognized love and Esteban sooo became her type.
5 years later rain tapped on the windows of the bridal suite unraveling months of wedding plans. Amongst all the stress Robin said something that was so familiar to me. She whispered, "I just want to see Esteban." I too wanted to see Eddie on our wedding day. I felt like my whole world would be okay if I could just be in his presents. I knew that what ever stress I was having he would care about it and make it better. Esteban was that same safe loving embrace to Robin. Unfortunately he got a little lost...okay a lot lost which added a bitter sweet humor to the whole day. He had been to the venue about a million times.
Once safely in each others arms everything was just perfect. Small things came up, but were tossed aside as though nothing else compared to the story that was unfolding that day. After 10 years of falling in love Robin and Esteban finally tied the knot.
Guys, we had an amazing time at your wedding. I always love being around other couples who share a similar kind of love as Eddie and I. It's refreshing, healing, and so rejuvenating! We hope you have a beautiful marriage forever!

Seriously, Robin you are so gorgeous. I also suggest finding a bridal suite that has large windows. The natural light falling on your face was just so perfect.

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Robin's hair & makeup artist canceled on her two days before the wedding. Luckily she found two gals that did an amazing job. I'll get their information and add it to this blog.

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The things we do to look good!

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I loved the theme of this wedding. Nothing too obvious...just bright colors and a vintage/eclectic flair. How can you go wrong.

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We never had a chance to capture formals of the bridal party so we were so lucky that everyone was willing to break away from the reception to capture some fun photos. If you know us, you know we love action shots. I guess it can be a little cheese, but honestly I just love how it tears down all that stiff awkwardness.

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This was the first night that we had been around a photo booth. Everyone was trying on costumes & wigs and then running around sharing the photos. What a great idea. It was so fun that we have decided that we should look into getting one. Hopefully we will have one in the next few months.

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Dancing like no one else is there.

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A sweet serenade from to very precious friends.

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Robin + Esteban got married at the Majestic in Dallas, Oregon
The Majestic
Beautiful dance hall with bridal suite. May not be the best place for ceremony, but they took a last minute reservation and gave a discount. Great people.
976 Main St.
Dallas, OR
www.TheMajesticDallas.com
OldVictorian@msn.com
503.623.3371

Navarra Gardens, Original Wedding location...used just for bridal suite and picture location.
This was one of the first weddings held at this venue. The grounds were gorgeous and ran right along a river. Great place to capture pictures and would have been a beautiful wedding had it not rained.
23090 Yamhill River Rd.
Willamina, OR 97396
www.NavarraGardens.com
503.876.7961

Amanda + Nate..Together Forever

Posted by Unknown On Friday, December 18, 2009 0 comments
Fall was well on it's way. The days were colder and wetter as they normally are in these parts. Rain fell without a brake for hours as everything inside quietly kept pace. Everything was calm, joyous, and filled with laughter as Amanda wait for the moment to take Nate in her arms and call him, "my husband." She wanted nothing more than to see his face and be in his warm and loving arms. The time ticked by as she waited, sitting and pacing. Then the door opened to beckon her to the alter. With a little dance and a squeal Amanda ran off to marry her best friend and lover.
Amanda, it isn't very often that a wedding day includes an hour of downtime to just sit in silence and meditate on what is about to happen. It was such a pleasure to be in your bridal suite with you during this precious time. You were not only radiating, but you were a gracious and joyful bride. Thank you for letting us be a part of your big day and we will be praying for blessings on your marriage!!

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Multnomah Falls

Posted by Unknown On Thursday, December 17, 2009 0 comments
It's crunch time for LYFE photography which means long hours, tired eyes, and crazy discussions late at night. I often fall asleep on the couch with the bright glow of the computers shining down on me...it's actually a great place to sleep. I close my eyes to the sound of a million mouse clicks as Eddie continues to edit photos late into the night. It reminds me of when I was little and would take naps while listening to our neighbors mow there lawns. It makes me feel so snugly.
All the hours spent in front of the computers can be pretty rough so we decided to take a trip to Multnomah Falls. We have always wanted to see the falls frozen, but never had the time to get a look. It was gorgeous!!

These are a few pictures that Eddie took.

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My sister in law posing for a shot with Ben (Eddie's brother.) Eddie took advantage of the pose as well.

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We ended the day with a little shuffle board and pizza while watching Couples Retreat. I love the Kennedy School.

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Binding Us Together

Posted by Unknown On Friday, December 11, 2009 0 comments
We are always looking for new ideas and creative ways to display our photos. Maybe we get a little antsy or maybe it's just that we really want the best, but it's something that we take very seriously. We recently found 2 completely awesome companies that make these fabulous albums. We adore the albums that we have now, but we are always wondering if there is something out there that is just plain better. The albums do cost about as much as a new T.V. depending on the size, but they are completely worth it. Some of the new features that we love are...
They lay flat...meaning that if you were to lay it on a table the pages would lay flat for viewing instead of curling like a rainbow. The look is so classy and great for sharing with guests.
They offer a ton of cover options...whether you like leather, hard bound image wrap, linen or a clear plastic cover they have it all.
Page quality...they offer matte finish, photo paper and metallic which gives a dreamy pearl effect to the photos. The pages are super thick which not only help them endure dirty fingers, but also show distinct quality.

We are so excited about our new albums. We are still offering our original albums for all weddings that were booked prior to this January, but if you would like to upgrade to this new option we will give you a good credit towards your book.

This is a great example of just how sturdy the pages are.
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How great is this for viewing. Makes it so easy to view the images just as they are without a ton of glare and curling.
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This album as a clear plastic cover with a leather end binding. This is a beautiful option that I would have never picked if I hadn't seen it. Plastic...really?
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This is the books that we have now. They have the beautiful image wrapped cover, hardback, with 80 pages of content.
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To view more information about our albums you can visit our page deticated to these important books on our website.
Albums Page

Mud Pies to White Chocolate Creme Brulee

Posted by Unknown On Wednesday, December 09, 2009 0 comments
As a child I grew up in a very creative household. Instead of watching TV my father always encouraged us to go outside and explore, build forts and just get in trouble...as long as it wasn't serious trouble. Every since I was very little I had a natural talent for drawing and sculpture. If I just whispered that I wanted to try something like watercolor or photography, my father would find a way to get me the things I needed to do just that. At the time my brother could be found going off jumps on his bike, getting in peach fights, and finding that thing called trouble. Seeing that I was the "creative" one everyone expected me to do something amazing with art. I am still working on the amazing part with our photography business, but I think it's safe to say that I am at least going down that creative road. My brother on the other hand was a huge surprise when he decided to go to culinary institute in Sacramento. Apparently building forts refines your creative skills just as well as watercolor, because my brother has become one of the foremost chefs in Northern California greatly because of his creativity. He creates these mouthwatering dishes from around the world so good that you would think he had been working on the dish for years. He's incredible. He recently got a 4 star review which means that he created a flawless meal for the best critics in Sacramento. He is currently the executive chef at the Slocum House inFairview, CA. so if you are in the area you should definitely go in to try some of his latest creations.
I am so proud of my brother for all that he has accomplished. From skinned knees to the best chef on the planet...that's my personal review, he has really pushed the envelope on creating incredible cuisine. I will keep you posted as he goes on to conquer the world.


The photos below are images that have been captured by anonymous photographers for the newspapers where they featured his reviews and personal articles.

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I can't say that I remember too many times where my brother was being serious so some of these pictures really crack me up. Stoned faced just isn't him. Someone must have posed him for these.

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Junia + Ben...Said I Do

Posted by Unknown On Wednesday, December 09, 2009 0 comments
It was a gorgeous site looking over the corn fields and seeing the large oak tree that shaded the spot where Ben & Junia were soon to be married. The wood chairs were poised and ready for the guests to arrive. In a farm cottage near by Junia slipped on her dress, kissed the babies being fed in the next room and spent a quiet moment with her mom. The bridesmaids sundresses flowed around their legs as they ran around taking care of extra errands. The girls picked their bouquets the from the fields the day before and the feather hair pieces were designed by Austie who is not only the maid of honor but a genius when it comes to makeup and decorations.
Ben & Junia met almost 6 years ago and though they are two very different people their love prospered against all odds. They went to great lengths to design a wedding that was really special to them and completely unique from anything they have seen. When the time came to walk down the aisle Junia took a hay ride to the shady spot under the oak tree. The sun blazed through the branches lighting them up like a warm spot light. Honey sticks, fresh berries, and twinkle lights decorated the reception area and set it a glow. The kids chased each other around in the field as the sun set upon them and the entire evening.
I will always remember Ben & Junia's wedding because of just how personal it was. They truly understood what a wedding was about and they celebrated it with private moments, special decorations, and great friends and family that loved and supported them. Ben & Junia, you are a gorgeous couple and we were so excited to be a part of your wedding. Congratulations and we love you!

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Junia's mother is such a gorgeous woman. I can see her being an amazing friend that you can not only laugh with but get fashion tips from. She is adorable!

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Eddie took this photo and it just melted my heart. He gets so nervous around kids since he has never spent anytime with them so to think that this little girl gravitated toward him is pretty hilarious. I bet he took up his camera and took a picture just because he didn't know what else to do.

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Kruger's Farm
is a goregous place to have a wedding. The sunsets are amazing and the fields are great to explore with two love birds and a camera.

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Junia, you are so incredibly gorgeous! Seriously every picture we took of you was a snapshot of your beauty. The two of you lit up so perfect under the sunset.

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Their little boy was showing off his pipes while everyone caught the event with their iphones.

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Ben & Junia got married at Kruger's Farm on Sauvie Island in Portland, OR
What a gorgeous location and a photographers dream.
17100 NW Sauvie Island Rd.
Portland, OR 97231
503.621.3484
www.krugersfarm.com

Flowers, makeup, and overall design by Austie
I would love to work with Austie again. Not only is she amazingly fun, but I just can't wait to see what she is going to create next. She did a great job taking ideas to reality.
503.481.4443
Austie.Eckley@Gmail.com
www.ArtistryByAustie.com

Music by Kelcema Productions, Ray Aberle
This is the second time that we have worked with Ray and he has played great music both times. He is great at annoucing events and figuring out what music will keep the guests dancing all night long.
425.218.3171
Ray@Kelcema.Biz
www.Kelcema.Biz