Phoenix Band- Hillside photos

...or is it Echos of Fall?? I checked out their myspace page for the second time so I could link them to you but I guess I missed the other page last time. So which is it guys???

Anyhow- I really had fun with these guys because they were singing odd songs and had cracking me up the whole time. :0)

Anyhow, I'm off to Pinetop for the weekend (yea!!!!) But I had to post this before I left because I LOVE it!!! I'll be working on more and will share next week when I get back!


And on a side note I really have to get the commercial side of my site up and going! I have so many images that I'm not even sharing because they don't really fit in with my weddings or portraits. Now who here is gonna hold me accountable for doing it?!! :0P


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

Green Saturday- Eco Friendly Wedding Idea

I'm just starting to write about some ideas I'm finding on how to have an earth friendly wedding and I found the coolest idea I think I've heard of yet! You can actually get your wedding invitations printed on plantable paper! Check out these awesome invitations :0)




They actually have seeds in the paper that will grow into wildflowers! Now that takes recycling to a whole new level! I saw some where you can have a picture printed on it too! Wouldn't that be great for a thank you card?

They do so much more too- I'll be checking them out for my Christmas cards... that is if I get around to sending them this year! :0P

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

Rachel and Kirk's wedding at Tapatio Cliffs, Phoenix

I love shooting with Rachel- she is so fun to work with! :0)

It was kinda funny to work with a bride with the same name (although I'm sure it wasn't the first time for her!) Rachel and Kirk were married at A Different Pointe of View Restaurnt at The Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs. A totally awesome setting!

On to the photos!!!

I am in love with these bouquets and boutonnieres!!!!!


cute cute!






just having some fun :0)











And one last shot- it was so windy that none of us lasted long!


All in all simply a great evening!

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

Scottsdale/Phoenix Green Photographer

I can't believe it- I'm actually announcing that I'm going greeeeeeeeeen!!!

For any of you that already know me this probably comes as no surprise at all! hehe But I've been reluctant to call myself green. So why the hybrid driving, CFL bulbing, (that's not even a word- I know it. :0P) garbage composting (why yes, I do have corn carpet!) and pretty much environmentalist freak won't call myself green?

Because I always want to do MORE!

For some reason I didn't feel that being green in my personal life translated to my business. What kind of business practices do I do differently to qualify me to be green? It got me thinking…

It's hard to be environmentally friendly as a photographer. I want my products to last forever! I want your grandchildren to hang your portraits in their hallways and laugh over how the people in your wedding album dress so funny! But being eco-friendly is absolutely about the material and product choices I make- those that won’t need replacing. But I, in good conscience couldn't call myself green until I had even MORE green business practices in place.

• I work from home (no wasted gas!)
• I turn off all my computers and equipment each night. (This is great on two levels- it saves energy and lengthens the life of all my gadgets!)
• I have this awesome programmable thermostat that I have set to turn the A/C & heat off automatically when I’m out for even a little bit like taking the kids to school each day.
• Although I do tend to book most of my clients via email, when we do meet up it’s in my most favorite car ever- my hybrid! :0)
• I only buy 100% post consumer recycled paper and of course recycle the waste.
• I use rechargeable batteries.
• My product information and pricing are all digital so no trees were harmed in the process! :0P
• I shoot all digital- unlike film, no more chemicals are used!
• Offer only matte papers for printing. (Most lustre and gloss papers contain petroleum products.)

The more I think about it the more I realize this *is* my life... and my business. :0)

So be on the lookout for more posts from me about how to have a greener wedding. Also I’ll be reviewing green options for photographers. Hopefully this will help others in their pursuit of greeness! (Yep, another non-word, but this one will catch on, I’m sure of it!!!) hehe

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

Peter and Jill's wedding at The Sanctuary Resort

Jill and Peter had the perfect brunch wedding at The Sanctuary Resort.


They decided to meet before hand and we got lucky- this gorgeous house was not occupied and one of the staff drove us up! :0)




The guys hanging out...



The awesome music set the mood perfectly, you have to check this guy out! :0)





Love the little details!

And I have to say that the cake was the best by FAR! It was made by a friend of Jill's and it was incredible!



And thanks for inviting me to stay you two, the meal was absolutely wonderful and your guests were pretty cool too~! hehe :0)

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

Zach and Lilian- Mesa Engagement Photography

Zach and Lilian are so stinkin' cute!
I even emailed them just to say that once I got home with these images! :0)





We went to the Mesa Arts Center, a great place with lots of diverse backgrounds.




They didn't have any trouble at all posing ;0)




Thanks, I had fun guys! And I am so in love with these images!! :0)

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

Laura and Kwame's wedding at Gainey Ranch

I just had to post because I had such a fun time second shooting with Kristie! We had never met but have so much in common- we are even making sure to get our little girls together this summer!!! :0)

So- on to the pictures!!! Kwame and the guys were so easy going!


The best part about their wedding was most definitely the pictures- they were everywhere, even in the cuff links!




The ceremony was held at Gainey Rach Golf Club in Scottsdale. What a gorgeous setting!



After the ceremony we wandered around and found some cool places to do the photography!


Gotta get one of Laura with this awesome sky!


Sometimes the background isn't as important as the moment :0)



And did I mention the pictures????? :0)


They really got creative with them everywhere!



And one last outting at sunset :0)


So thanks to Kristie for having me and thanks to Laura and Kwame for letting me be a part of your day! :0)


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

Sarah and Mikel's wedding in Chandler!

Sarah and Mikel had the most beautiful wedding!

It was a rainy week but luck held out and it was a gorgeous day. Alisha with La Ruche Event Planning was the most fun and organized wedding planner ever- she even got on the dance floor later in the evening! And Robert with Just Weddings DJ had everyone gettin' their groove on all night :0)

Sarah's dress was AH-mazing...


Sparkles was the word of the day! hehe



Mikel is a photographer too, (which made me feel extra special that he and Sarah chose me!!) so he had the ceremony site set up perfectly for the lighting!

I love this shot!!



The details were all Sarah... wait, now that I'm writing this I'm not sure if Mikel helped or not but well, let's just say they have Sarah's name written all over them! :0)


And of course, my favorite- the fun bride and groom shots!!!







One of Sarah's friends made the cake- doesn't it look tempting!!

Have I mentioned Sarah is a dancer? She planned a surprise belly dance for Mikel!!!


I think he liked it... ;0)


Thank you Sarah and Mikel- you had such a memorable day and years of happiness ahead of you!!! :0)


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