I'm Back Baby!

Hope you don't mind the Seinfeld euphemism (I couldn't resist!) :0)

I can't believe it's been one month exactly since I last wrote! December is always a crazy month and this year is no different! I've had lots going on and while I want to tell you all about my trip to Venezuela I have to start with the beginning! That is- before I left!

I had a great shoot with a few of the pastors from The Living Word Bible Church.

Tom and Maureen were so fun- and it was awesome to see how much they are so in love and make each other laugh!




I just kept thinking to myself- this cutie is a grandma??? :0)


And here's Scott- he was so easygoing and we had a great shoot. I love these images because he looks so natural, like he wasn't in front of a camera at all!



Thanks you guys!!! :0)


--
Laura Siivola- Photographer.
Organic wedding and portrait photography based in the Phoenix Arizona area.
laurasiivolaphotographer.com

Jason Rich Redoux

Just a quick post before I pick up the kids! I had to show you my second shoot with Jason Rich- we did a way more serious session here and went over to the Mesa Arts Center. It's a great setting because it has so many cool backgrounds in one place!

So here are a few... :0)







And I think this is my favorite from the whole day right here...



Thankfully it was much much cooler out this time around so I hope you enjoyed your stay! I told him next time he'd have to bring his girlfriend because all I heard about was Bailey!!! hehe

Love it!!! :0)

--
Laura Siivola- Photographer.
Organic wedding and portrait photography based in the Phoenix Arizona area.
laurasiivolaphotographer.com

And the Winner Is...

I'm so happy to announce that the winner of the engagement session is...

Sarah and Mikel!

WOOT! Congratulations guys! I've really enjoyed getting the comments that keep coming in. The way everyone is talking about your energy and love I can't wait to shoot your engagement session!!!

Leesa and Paul aren't going to be left out either, for sure. I'll be shooting their engagement session too! :0)

But Sarah and Mikel swooped up the grand prize! So here I am putting on my best game show voice...
Tell them what they've won!

A complimentary engagement session and a custom designed guestbook! But wait there's more!

And an online slideshow to share with close personal friends and members of your family!

Thanks to everyone who voted- it was so fun! :0)



--
Laura Siivola- Photographer.
Organic wedding and portrait photography based in the Phoenix Arizona area.
laurasiivolaphotographer.com

Engagement Contest Finalists :0)

Ok guys! I'm feeling all better after a touch of the flu and I finally get to post the finalists for the free engagement session!!!

So get ready to vote for your favorite couple simply by posting a comment with the couple's name!

I'm so excited to introduce you to (drum roll?).......


Leesa and Paul!


and...
Sarah and Mikel!


Here are their stories! :0)

Leesa and Paul
Leesa and I first met our freshman year at Central High school in phoenix. Our first class together was 2nd period photography with Mrs. Meiners. I had a high school crush on Leesa, but I was always too shy to ask her out. After high school, we did not keep in touch with each other, so 15 years went by until we were both matched on Eharmony.com. I did not know it was the same Leesa from high school, I just thought she looked familiar. It was shortly after I first e-mailed her that I saw her same picture on classmates.com. Since first re-connecting, we haven't looked back. She is my perfect match and I am hers.

So we were in Oahu on vacation. after a morning of snorkling with the sharks, I drove her to an isolated beach on the north shore where we had a picnic and then I popped the question. I got it on video. you can see it at www.myspace.com/fuzzzie1 (click on the video tab)

Sarah and Mikel

Mikel and I met for the first time in 2004. We were at a performance by the band Traveler. I, being new to belly dancing, was trying my hand at dancing to live music, and he was there taking photographs for the band. Over the course of the next 3 years, our paths crossed at various dance and music shows, where I was performing, and he was shooting photos for the event. I would always wonder if he would be at the shows, and liked it when he was. At the time, I did not recognize this as for what it was, as my life was in a very different place then. I would realize it years later that those feelings were my soul recognizing its future mate.

Then, in December of 2006, my dance troupe leader, Gazelle, hired Mikel to take photographs of our troupe. I remember that day clearly. I remember walking into Gazelle’s home and seeing Mikel. And, once again, I felt glad to see him there. The shoot ended up being a blast. And afterwards I sat and talked with Mikel for quite some time. I found my self talking to him about things I wouldn’t normally talk to anyone about. My brain would scream, “Don’t tell him about how much time you have been spending alone!!!”, but my mouth went on talking. I believe it was the universe making things as they should be because it was this giving of too much information on my part that gave Mikel the opening to invite me to attend a happy hour with his social group MEETin.

Our first get together, (it was not really a date), we met at a MEETin happy hour at Jillians. I remember threading through the crowd of people. I remember it being a bit overwhelming as I am, by nature, a bit on the shy side in big crowds. He introduced me to his friends, who were all very welcoming. Once we settled into our seats, we began to get to know each other. Later that night after Jillians, we went to another MEETin event at Chuy’s for Karaoke night. No we didn’t sing... I remember a girl asking me if I was Mikel’s date. My response was, I don’t know... How funny it seems now, looking back. It would take another week and a half or so for us to go on our official first date...

From that moment on, we were inseparable. We had many wonderful adventures over the next year. Then, in October of 2007, we took a trip to Rocky Point with our friends. It was nearing sunset as we were lounging on the beach. Mikel jumped up and handed his camera to a friend and asked her to take our picture with the sunset. I remember posing with him, for what seemed like a long time. He was fumbling around with something. I said “hurry, the sunset is going away”, all the while holding my pose for the “picture”. (To find out later she was shooting a video the whole time). The next thing I knew, Mikel had a ring in his hand and said, “Will you marry me?” In that moment, time seemed to stop, as I tried to comprehend what had just happened… I looked at Mikel, with his eyes shining and the biggest smile on his face… The only thing I could think to say was, “Are you serious?” It seems silly now, but I was so shocked at that moment. Very shortly after that, it seemed like time became normal again, and I knew, without a doubt, what my answer would be. “Yes!” I said… knowing as I said it, that things were as they should be. As I looked into Mikel’s eyes, a great sense of peace overcame me as I thought about the life we will share together.

http://sarahandmikel.ourweddingday.com/index.aspx

Thank you to everyone!! Now go spread the love and vote your favorite! :0)

--
Laura Siivola- Photographer.
Organic wedding and portrait photography based in the Phoenix Arizona area.
laurasiivolaphotographer.com

Re: Zound photos!

Before I go on about what an awesome shoot we had, I just wanted to give a little shout out for my win a photo session contest! About a week left to go-so if you know anyone who's getting married tell them to check it out! :0)

So last week I had a great time shooting Re:Zound! You have got to check out their music because it's just so good and because... well- I said so! :0P

On to the fabulous pictures! (...am I allowed to say that?) But seriously- look at this yummy color! His eyes just pop out with this cool toned reflection!



We went to the Mesa Arts Center and when we called up they were incredibly nice and even let us shoot in the lobby. Thanks!! (because it was still kinda hot outside) :0P



I think this is my new favorite image!!


So on we headed to the Living Word Bible Church for the rest of the shoot. I had never been there before and can I just say- WOW! Simply incredible!!


Just havin' some fun with these... flip you hair again!!!


Well, let me just ask you- does it look like I'm shooting inside a church???


The group is going on a mission trip to India in January and I just know they'll have an amazing time!


Ok, I admit it, I'm a little jealous! hehe


I can't wait to hear about the trip, you guys rock!!!


--
Laura Siivola- Photographer.
Organic wedding and portrait photography based in the Phoenix Arizona area.
laurasiivolaphotographer.com