Web Site Renovation

We've fallen a bit behind on our blogging this month, since we've been working on updates to our main photo web site as well! We updated many of the page layouts, added additional details on our portrait sessions and wedding coverage, and updated our photo slideshows! Check out the new design and let us know what you think.

Happy New Year!

Jonathan & Carrie

Christmas Photos in Corvallis

Another outdoor family session. We were fortunate to be able to take advantage of the occasional good weather this month. (In between the snow and ice, that is!) We love how these photos came out:

Family Christmas Photos

Catching up on our family photo sessions recently... this was a fun shoot at one of our clients' homes in Corvallis! A few of our favorites:

The Perfect Way to Remember Your Wedding

Over the years, we've loved working with our wedding couples to display their photos through our custom-designed, hand-bound Signature Albums! Your feedback and ideas have been inspirational to us, and we're thrilled to have been able to create these albums for so many awesome couples.

Recently, we've been putting the finishing touches on another unique and creative way to show off your wedding images! The result is the exclusive Blue Castle Photography Wedding Box:


The Wedding Box, handcrafted in bonded leather, contains a selection of your favorite prints, which we mount in archival-quality mats with sturdy backings and wooden display holders so that they can stand on their own without frames. Also "in the box" are four 24-image cloth-bound albums, showing sequences of 4x6" wedding photos. The albums are small enough to fit conveniently in a purse or handbag, and are personalized with titles of your choice.

The Blue Castle Photography Wedding Box is available at an introductory price, discounted to $600 for clients booking 2009 weddings! Contact us to set up an appointment and see samples in person.

Photography from a Fresh Snowfall

Dawn came this morning to reveal a beautiful snow-covered scene! Of course, in the winter, one can arise at 7AM and still beat dawn by an hour or so, as I did this morning. We had over three inches of snow (which is rapidly melting as I write this), and I spent long enough out in it to nearly freeze my fingers off! But the results were worth it...


The sun just started to peep out through the trees...


... and I was able to catch the sunrise as the clouds were rolling away, giving the sky a beautiful texture:



And a message to all of you from Blue Castle Photography:

A Winter Wedding in Corvallis

Stephanie and Eric had a beautiful ceremony and reception here in Corvallis, and we loved every minute of photography with them. They were radiant with love for each other!



We love church weddings, because every building is different and we can always find a unique spot for photos!




This is at the front of the church where we did most of their family portraits, but a more unique setting of the bridal party. They were great fun to work with!


We love working as a two-person team and being able to capture sequences like this. The bride's walk down the aisle (escorted by her brother, in this case) is always a beautiful time, even though it's over in just a few seconds! By working together we're able to remain unobtrusive and still get a variety of photos of this special event.







Here's another of our favorites from the ceremony...


Then it was off to the reception at the Corvallis Country Club!




One final detail -- a cool emblem on one of the gift packages for them! This was so cute.


Thanks to both of you for allowing us to be a part of your wedding and share in the joy of your special day!

Flinn Block Hall Wedding in Albany, Oregon

You might remember David & Crista from their engagement photos that we did back in August! Their wedding ceremony was held at the First Church of God in Albany, Oregon, with a reception afterward at the new Flinn Block Hall in the historic downtown area. (If you are planning a wedding/reception in the near future, check out Flinn Block Hall! It's a beautiful facility that we loved shooting in.)

Crista chose great colors for her fall wedding, as you can see from the bouquet.


... and a great pair of shoes!


When we arrive for each wedding, Jonathan hangs out with the groom and the guys while I'm with the bride getting ready for the ceremony, so there are images of everything going on without missing any of the action! It's fun afterwards, for the bride and the groom, to see what the other person was up to.

First, David...


Then Crista...


And their adorable flower girl!


David & Crista opted to see each other before the ceremony which we always like because it gives them time to breathe and be alone for a bit before guests arrive.





Here are a few shots during the ceremony:


Both David & Crista wrote "testimonies" of their love for one another which they read aloud during the ceremony. Their personalized vows were full of tender affection and great humor.



As the guests were leaving the sanctuary, Crista & David popped into a back room to spend a "private" moment together. We captured this shot through the crack in the door. I love it!


They left the church through a sea of bubbles, after which we spent some time just with the two of them downtown for some more fun portraits!





David & Crista are both school teachers and met in their school library. We were walking past this used bookstore downtown and decided to pop in and grab a few shots among the books!



After that, it was off to Flinn Block Hall where they enjoyed their first dance as husband and wife. I love how the beautiful light coming in through the windows shows the texture in Crista's dress!




There were toasts and tender moments between Crista & her father as they danced together.




All in all it was a beautiful day and we were glad to be a part of it.

Crista & David, we pray blessings on your new life together! Thank you for inviting us to share these moments with you.