Carrie and John's Wedding at SunRidge Canyon

Woo Hooo!!!!! Carrie and John got married! :0)

And for those of you who don't know it, Carrie is one of my very bestest friends!


I wanted to photograph the wedding but what can you do when you're in the bridal party? Hire one of the very bestest photographers of course!! Rachel Priddy was absolutely awesome and fun to work with, although I already knew that. :0)

Here's one Rachel took of all the girls. I'm to the right of the bride for those of you searching!


While I don't have any of the ceremony to show off (since I was in it!) Rachel and I worked out a great way for us to both shoot the fun newlywed images we photographers love to take!

Nibble her ear John! ...I <3 being able to direct the love scenes! hehe


So I got Carrie to myself while Rachel was with John. This is a fun trick I learned from my friend Michelle- it gets everyone laughing. It's the swoosh! :0)


Here's one Rachel caught of me while I was shooting! Check out the very stylin' slippers Carrie bought all her bridesmaids! It was perfect because it was so chilly!!!


And I juts had to show this off because it was my very favorite of Rachel's from the shoot.

Love it chicka!!! :0)


The wedding was at Sunridge Canyon Golf Club in Fountain Hills, and it was simply a gorgeous setting, don't you think??
No kissing... ohhh- John you cheated!


So by the end of the grand introduction we said ado to Rachel and I got to have some more fun photographing the reception!

The toasts were so sweet :0)


so was Carrie and John's first dance :0)


And they even included a family dance too!


some reception fun!

So at the end of the night I programed in my settings and started handing my camera off so I could be in some pictures too! I told Carrie someone had to get a picture if my one and only dance move! hehe

This is my serious look... Give me my camera back Chris!


Carrie got one look at that image on my LCD and said- BLOG! (She knows me too well!)

Carrie and John your wedding was beautiful and you two are absolutely perfect for each other! You guys are blessed! I'm so glad I was a part of your day :0)


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

Contest winners Sarah and Mikel

Since I'm going in order and the holidays got the best of me I am just now getting to Sarah and Mikel's engagement session!

If you remember, they're the couple who won my engagement session contest. The votes were so fun to watch come in! If you're curious, here's the slideshow. But of course I have to post my favorites below :0)


Having a little fun with the scarf...







I kept trying to get Mikel to laugh but Sarah was the giggly one!



Finally we ended up at the fabulous house they'll be getting married at- look at this awesome stained glass!


Thank you so much for letting me really get to know you two. I loved it!!! :0)

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

Venuesela!

I hardly have any time these days but I have to show off some images from my Venezuela trip! I had such an incredible time and met some fabulous people too! :0)

So before I get into it, if you want to see the slideshow check it out here!
Phoenix photographer Laura Siivola (moi!) at Sally and Hansel's beach wedding on Margarita Island, Venusela- WOOT!

This is Darcy (a 'la Audrey Hepburn!) We all went on a jeep trip our first night there and it took us all over the island!


We stopped at sunset to admire the view and have a few drinks! This is Cristen who amazingly can sleep sitting up while hanging onto a crowded, moving and speeding jeep! Impressive!!


We had an awesome home cooked dinner and just a few ahem... rum and cokes around a bonfire. This is where I declared that I am a camera snob and can't seem to take a "point and shoot" anywhere! hehe- but you already knew that didn't you?!!


The next day was kinda funny because we did this snorkeling tour- some of the girls stayed behind but I insisted on going! I mean, how many chances do I get to do something like this when I live in Arizona?!! So here a picture of the colorful beach. We had to wade out this inner tube boat thing (I'm sure there's a word for it, I just don't know it!) to get to the bigger boat. It was very windy and the water was choppy and to be completely honest I ended up yacking off the side of the boat. Ugh! haha So I don't have many pictures to show you from that day. But I did get off the boat and into the water a little bit and I was able to appreciate how gorgeous it was there to be sure. Everyone was soooo nice to me too- trying to help me out and asking how I was! And I still have to say that I'm glad I went. :0)



So on to the wedding day! Sally and Hansel decided to do thier ceremony after dark because people still wander the beach up until sunset and I think they wanted to have something kinda private. Apparantly people will crash about any party they can! hehe So I asked them to meet up before hand and I am so happy they did- check out what a fun time they had!!!



Found this very cool wall :0)


I haven't told you yet about the jewlerymakers that were everywhere! You walk down the beach and they will just put things on you. I bought a couple of braclets for the kids and Andy. This guy was pretty nice and asked Sally to get a picture of her wearing a ring. We were laughing and of course she said yes. :0)


Hansel bought me a Sabores to try but Sally ended up drinking it because it was soooo sweet!



and of course I had to get one of their sandy feet!!


A few from the ceremony...




And a bunch from the reception!!!




more sandy feet...



Nurse Sally!!!



And last but not least my favorite from the whole time! Hansel kept pulling his arm away so Sally would fall just a little and they were laughing and having fun. I caught this when he was pulling her back up again and I guess I just love how they are looking at each other. :0)


So the running joke was when I would ask someone if they wanted a picture Sally (or somebody!) always would say "that's not organic!!!" And we all got a big laugh out of it! hehe

But Sally and Hansel- I was more than happy to be your organic photographer! :0)


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

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