Amidst the palm trees & the incredible architecture of the Stanford campus, Emily & Scott’s paths first crossed. Their dorms were next to each other & they would often see each other in the dining hall or on the way to class. After freshman year, Scott left to France for two years to serve a mission for his church, and then just a few months before he came home, Emily left to serve an eighteen month mission in Japan. During their three years apart, they kept in touch by sending letters & cereal to one another. When Emily returned from her mission, they we were once again Stanford students together…and over the course of time they began dating, fell in love & realized that they never wanted to be with anyone else.

On that same beautiful campus where they first met, Scott sent Emily on a scavenger hunt where at the end, he asked her to marry him…and she said yes! They are getting married this summer in Boston & although I’m not going to photograph their wedding, I loved being able to get to know them while shooting their engagements! They are fun, easy going & completely, absolutely & totally crazy in love. Here are my favorites from their engagement session at the Stanford campus!

I love shooting at the Stanford campus because of the beautiful architecture & mosaics…

FAVORITE.

I love all the huge palm trees there! One of my favorites…

It was one of the only Saturdays last summer where I wasn’t booked for a wedding. I was on a mini-vacation at Lake Tahoe with my family, enjoying the summer sun & the sand in my toes. While soaking in the sun, my phone rang & on the other line was a voice that asked, “Did you bring your camera to town?” I had brought my camera to town because I was visiting for my sister’s bridal shower & I had brought my camera, one lens & my flash. “Yes….” I responded. The woman asked, “Can you shoot a wedding RIGHT NOW?” Amber & Conan’s photographer had written down the wrong date for their wedding & about 10 minutes before the ceremony began, they realized that it was very likely that they would have no professional photographs for their wedding. Thanks to their fast thinking wedding coordinator, I was contacted & although I knew I wouldn’t make it to that side of the lake for the ceremony (it was an hour drive), I knew I could make it to the reception site in time to get some bride & groom photographs as well as photographs during the reception. So I met Amber & Conan for the first time on their wedding day right as they pulled up to the reception. We had some time to quickly get some bride & groom shots by beautiful Lake Tahoe before their reception started & spent the rest of the evening capturing the heartfelt toasts, the sweet dances & the fun evening that their families & friends enjoyed.

This wedding was definitely a testament to me that you don’t need a myriad of lenses to get great photographs-I literally had one-ONE lens for this wedding so there was no option for me to switch lenses. When I first started photography, I had a long, LONG list of all the lenses I needed. Sam encouraged me to get really good at using one lens & then we could build up from there over time. My first year of photography I carried one lens & now in my sixth year, I only carry four lenses. For all you photographers out there, I hope & pray you are in constant contact with your clients before the wedding day so that something like this never happens!

Amber & Conan were so laid back, easy to work with & the kindest people on the planet. I loved getting to know them a little bit & I was so glad to be able to come at the last minute & take some photographs for them to remember their wedding! It was a beautiful event, filled with laughter, dancing & a whole lotta love. Here are my favorites…

My favorite…

I loved how they turned the glass cups upside down & used them as centerpieces!

I’m always a softie when it comes to the daddy daughter dance…

I’ve had a couple of people ask WHICH lens was the lens I shot with me…it’s my favorite lens-the 85mm 1.4!

The rain clung to the petals & the leaves around the temple. The fog was heavy & it was a typical winter day in Oakland. It was a typical day except for the fact that two wonderful people were celebrating their love & happiness with their families.  I was elated to be able to document Claire & Russell’s special day at the Oakland Temple. They were married on my anniversary (best day of the YEAR!!!) & I was able to spend a couple of hours at the Oakland Temple documenting their joy. The fog & the slight rain certainly didn’t dampen anyone’s spirit. And the typical, foggy, rainy day in Oakland turned into one exciting, wonderful & beautiful day because of Claire & Russell.

I loved how modern & elegant their details were. Claire’s darling, DARLING dress (lace!! and a belt!!!), her fishtail bride & her pink shoes were adorable & modern. Russell looked dapper with a pink tie, as well! We met before their ceremony so we could do photographs outside before the sun set completely. After their ceremony, we did a few more photographs & I literally almost died when the sun went down & the Christmas lights came on at the temple! The sunset was this incredible purple color & we had a great time taking photos with the Christmas lights!

The best part of my job is that I am able to meet people who as just as lovely on the inside as they are on the outside. Claire & Russell are totally down to earth, sweet, funny & perfect for each other. This was the last of my 37 weddings for the year & I couldn’t have ended with a better wedding. As I drove home after taking their photos, I kept on thinking about how blessed I am to be able to work with people who are so incredible. Wishing you an eternity of happiness, laughter & overflowing joy, Claire & Russell! xoxo, marielle.

Look at the fog!

Definitely my favorite!

There was a green dumpster outside the temple & I suggested that we use it for a background. I think Russell was a little hesitant at first but look how awesome it looks! Thanks for trusting me, you guys!

Claire, you are stunning!

It was a super, SUPER cold December day in Sausalito as I shot Janna & Phil’s bridals. With the always amazing Golden Gate Bridge as their backdrop, they cuddled together to keep warm. Phil & Janna were married in Utah last month & I was able to shoot their bridals before they went out of town for their big day. I love Janna & Phil because they are as sweet as cherry pie. I’ve never met two people who are kinder, more genuine & more in love than these two.

A bridal session can be a number of things: the bride in her wedding gown by herself or the bride & groom in their wedding attire together. Normally a bridal session takes places a few months before the wedding which gives the couple a chance to have some of their favorites from the session enlarged & on display at their reception. I’ve even shot some more relaxed bridals a few weeks after the wedding. Bridal sessions are fun, relaxing & a great way to get more photographs of you in all your radiating glory!

If I’m booked on your wedding date, I’m always available to shoot bridals or engagements, so hit me up HERE!!

Here are my favorites from their bridal session…

He would always try to catch a glimpse of Monica as she left class in high school. Jorge was in the classroom next door & he would see her every now & again in the hallway… Smitten by her good looks, Jorge was intrigued & wanted to get to know her. As time went on, they began to notice each other & through a mutual friend, they began talking. Over the summer, he got a call from Monica…they ended up setting up a date, planning on going to the movies but ended up going to different movie theaters! After they realized that they had gone to separate theaters, they met up & went for a walk instead. It was the first of many, many conversations that they would have together. They began talking on the phone for hours & hours and over the course of time, Jorge finally asked her to be his. And they’ve been together ever since! They are a dynamic duo who love to simply be together no matter what they are doing.

We met up in Emeryville for their engagements-I LOVE Emeryville because there are so many amazing backgrounds & unexpected colors everywhere. We had a great time exploring & laughing-I am excited to shoot Monica & Jorge’s wedding this year & can’t wait to see how beautiful their day is going to be! Here are my favorites from their engagements!

Monica’s ring is stunning!

This is one of my favorites of the day! Loved the light as the sun faded…

- A few weeks ago I was tucking Hadley into bed. I was wearing my (not cute) pajamas. As I was saying goodnight to her, she got a very serious look on her face. “Mommy. Mommy. MOMMY,” she said as she stared at my rear end. “Mommy-you are SO FANCY with your big bottom.” And that right there? That’s when I died! IF ONLY having a big booty counted as something fancy. I laughed when I thought how in Hadley’s sweet 4-year-old mind that having a large rear end counts as something exciting & fancy. So if you are in the fancy club with me, Happy Fancy Friday!

- I love this quote I found on Pinterest by Thomas Monson…”Don’t save something for a special occasion. Every day of your life is a special occasion.” I love this quote because I feel like every day should be fancy (the glittery & sparkly kind, maybe not the big booty kind)…every day should be an occasion to break out that glittery shirt, to eat that fancy chocolate & to vacuum your house while donning the glittery shirt & eating said fancy chocolate.

- I organize my closet by color & I’m not ashamed to admit that amid the blue section & red section of clothes that I have an animal print section as well as a sequin section. Bam!

- Thanks to everyone who voted for their favorite wedding photo of the year! You guys are amazing! The winner of the 20×30 canvas is….Shane & Tammy!!! Thanks to everyone who voted! Shane & Tammy will now have a huge fancy canvas of themselves in their home for all to admire!

Happy Friday to you all! Wishing everyone a very fancy & fabulous New Year! Here are some peeks of a few photo shoots that will hit the blog next week!

I am lucky to honestly say that I have found the perfect job for me. It’s amazing how much joy & happiness my journey as a photographer has brought me. Through being a photographer, I have met incredible people who have become my friends, I’ve been able to document beautiful weddings & I’ve been able to live my dream. To my clients from 2011, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for trusting me to capture your laughter, tears, joy & happiness.

My favorite part about the New Year is that it gives me the chance to reflect, see where I’ve grown, figure out what things I need to work on & look back at the wonderful memories & friendships I’ve made throughout the year. I am so, so blessed.

2011 was a whirlwind year & I can’t believe it’s over! I was lucky enough to be able to travel to Texas & Hawaii for weddings. I was lucky enough to have my photographs published in a cookbook. I was lucky enough to photograph dozens of families, engaged couples & couples tying the knot. Hadley started preschool, I surfed a wave in Hawaii, we visited Canada as a family & despite the amount of candy I ate-I had no cavities at the dentist. It was a wonderful, fabulous year!

So what better way to celebrate the wonderful couples who I’ve photographed last year than with a GIVEAWAY!?!?!?!? Here are the juicy deets…

Below I’ve posted one photograph from each wedding I’ve photographed this year (some which I still have yet to blog…like I said-this year has been a whirlwind!). To vote, you must like my photography fan page on Facebook & write on my wall with the name of the couple who you’d like to see win! Easy, peasy. Comments on this blog post will NOT count as votes so go to the Facebook fan page, y’all! One vote per person.

The winning couple will receive a 20×30″ canvas (of their choice) from their wedding. Ready, set, GO!!!! The winners will be announced on Friday, January 6th.

Gabrielle & Jordan’s lovely winter wedding at the Reno Temple…

Paige & David’s beautiful & fun (best dancing EVER) wedding also at the Reno Temple…

Melanie & Brian’s fabulous & awesome wedding at the Reno Temple…

Shana & Eugene’s modern classic wedding at the Hotel Shattuck in Berkeley…

I hopped on a plane to the great state of Texas to celebrate Stephanie & Gerardo’s Dallas Temple wedding…

Definitely my favorite photograph of 2011! I loved Tammy & Shane’s lovely wedding at San Francisco City Hall…

Lupine & Courtney’s intimate wedding at the modern City Hall in San Rafael…

Katrina & Adrian’s fun & funky wedding in San Lorenzo…

Brianna & Alex’s DIY wedding (her mom made her dress!) at the Oakland Temple…

Becky & Devin’s hilarious, beautiful & fun wedding at the Tannenbaum Lake Tahoe…

ALOHA! I photographed my beautiful friend Heather & her husband Jordan at the Laie Hawaii Temple…and yes-they are so awesome that they rented scooters for the photos!

Nicole & Luke’s bright & bold wedding at the Chism House in Reno…

Megumi & Huy’s colorful wedding (look at her kimono!) at Hakone Gardens in Saratoga…

Anjali & Brian’s classic & colorful wedding at the Palmdale Estates in Fremont…

Jared & Marie’s wedding at the Reno Temple (we may or may not have eaten Taco Bell halfway through their photos…)

Brittany & Ben’s fun wedding filled with laughter at the Oakland Temple…

Lindsay & Jeremy’s fantastic wedding at the Oakland Temple…

Leilani & Kofi’s wedding was fabulous…and also at the Oakland Temple!

Jen & Alan had the best wedding cake of 2011 (lemon poppyseed!!!). Lovely, sweet wedding held at Hakone Gardens in Saratoga…

Sophie & Zack’s outdoor wedding under the pine trees at the 20 Mile House…

I hate to be partial but my sister Morgan & her husband Dallon’s wedding was definitely my favorite wedding of the year. So happy for them!

Keli & Johnny’s wedding at the Chateau at Incline was filled with joy all around…

I was hired the DAY OF Amber & Conan’s wedding after their photographer forgot about their wedding! Loved their Lake Tahoe Wedding…

Vanessa & Neil’s San Francisco Palace of Fine Arts wedding was perfect-complete with their English Bulldog as the ring bearer…

Charlotte & Billy’s wedding at the Oakland Temple was perfectly perfect…

Clarissa & John’s personalized wedding with lots of singing, laughter (and a vintage car!) at the Berkeley City Club…

Kristin & Brent’s colorful wedding at their home in Petaluma (complete with ice cream truck!)…

Gar & Lane’s personalized DIY wedding at the Oakland Temple…

Taylor & Jeremy’s wedding at the place where they met & fell in love-on the UC Berkeley campus…

Heather & David’s wedding with killer views & the dance part of the century at Heavenly Lake Tahoe…

Caitlin & Brad’s amazingly detailed DIY wedding in Caitlin’s parent’s backyard…

Erika & Brian’s heartfelt & sweet (and windy!!!) wedding at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco….

Vanessa & Silvio’s beach wedding complete with a clam bake at Half Moon Bay…

Erika & Mig’s sweet wedding at the Oakland Temple…I’ve shot so many weddings there this year!

Mallory & Jordan’s fun (and almost rainy!) wedding at the Oakland Temple…

I almost cried when the sun went down after their wedding but once the Christmas lights came on, I almost cried from happiness! Claire & Russell…

We just wrapped up the fundraiser for Cristian & my heart is filled with gratitude for those around me who are SO giving & so willing to share what they have with people in need.

After the fundraiser closed for Cristian, a tragedy struck in a young family that lives in my hometown Reno.  Through the help of my friend Nicole, I’ve realized that doing another fundraiser is a very appropriate thing to do. I know that so many of you have already given, but please read the following story about Karli Johnson:

Karli was a young, positive, loving woman who was 7 months pregnant. Last Thursday morning Karli had an aortic dissection – doctors felt it was safer to separate Bodie and Karli. He pulled through like a champ, 5lbs 1 oz 18 in. Karli, on the other hand had to get through the next 48 hours. She was so brave and courageous through all of this. As she waited during those hours, she was positive, cheerful & worried about others instead of herself. Saturday afternoon Karli was finally able to meet her sweet baby, Bodie. She held him for about a half hour & shortly thereafter she went into emergency surgery. Sadly, the doctors were unable to save Karli’s life.  She was a young wife, someone who had a passion for everything around her & someone who was so excited to be a mother. She loved Bodie & her husband Willie more than anything.

There are so many people whose lives were touched simply by knowing Karli. I simply cannot imagine the heartbreak that this small family is going through right now & I’m hoping that together we can raise some money to help with medical bills & other expenses. It is better to give than to receive…Karli spent her life giving others joy. I have learned this month how much better it is to give than to receive…I know that at this point in the year we are all strapped for cash as dollar after dollar has been spent to purchase Christmas gifts for the ones we love. If you can, please make a donation to this family during this time & share in the true meaning of the Christmas spirit by clicking on the donate button below the photograph.

Any dollar amount will be accepted. 100% of the donations received will be given to to this family. The photograph of the poppies will be emailed to you in high resolution format. The photograph is then yours to print, frame, give as a gift, use as a desktop photo, etc. The photograph will not have my watermark on the image. ALL of the proceeds will be given to the Johnson family to help them during this tragic time in their lives.

God bless each & every one of you who have been so gracious to give…you are truly angels in someone’s lives this year. XOXO, marielle.

It’s a song we sing at church every once in awhile. And it’s a song that I simply cannot sing without crying. The words are so simple but there is so much beautiful powerful in them. And whether you believe in God or not, the words are so true because they apply to each & every one of us…

Because I have been given much, I too must give.

Because of thy great bounty, Lord each day I live.

I shall divide my gifts from thee with every brother that I see,

who has the need of help from me.

Because I have been sheltered, fed by thy good care…

I cannot see another’s lack and I not share-

my glowing fire, my loaf of bread-my roof’s safe shelter over head,

that he too may be comforted.

At this time of year, it’s easy to look around us and see how blessed we are. It’s also easy to look around at those around us & see that there are people who are struggling. Family illnesses, home foreclosures, people losing their jobs, those without the means to provide basic needs for their families. Life.is.HARD.

I am going to share a story with you about a family who needs some extra help at this particular time in their lives…

Cristian is a 7 year old boy-currently he’s in the second grade at school. On October 1st Cristian was complaining of pain in his right foot. As the days progressed his foot started hurting more and more, by Wednesday October 5th, Cristian woke up unable to walk & unable to use his right side. That morning his parents took him to his doctor for a check up. The Doctor sent him to the emergency room & later that day they diagnosed him with a brain tumor on his left side. They soon discovered that the tumor was the size of an orange. He was flown to the Oakland Children’s Hospital where he underwent an 8 hour surgery to remove the tumor. After the surgery Cris recovered well….and as his family was eagerly waiting to hear from the doctor regarding the results from the tumor. On October 14, they were given the bad news that Cristian’s Tumor was malignant and that we would have to do Chemotherapy for four rounds along with a bone marrow transplant & radiation.

As if this wasn’t already a hard enough time for little Cris & his family, his father was laid off from his job at the same time. Their family has six children to care for along with heaps of medical bills.

I’m hoping that you can see all that you’ve been given in your life & recognize how much others can benefit from your small contribution. Because we have been given so much in our lives, I really believe that we need to give to others & help those who have needs greater than our own.

Although our lives & the trials we are given are uncertain, there is one thing that is for sure: that there are wonderful people out there who are willing to help…and I hope you are one of those types of people!

I am holding a fundraiser for sweet family-100% of the money raised will go to this family to help them in this time of their lives.  Thanks to my friend Liz for donating the lovely merry-go-round photograph. The other photographs are ones I took while traveling in Europe. Each photograph that you purchase will be emailed to you in a high resolution format. The photograph is then yours to print, frame, give as a gift, use for Christmas cards, use as a desktop photo, etc. The photograph you are emailed will not have my watermark on the image. ALL the proceeds will go to Cris’ family to help pay for his medical bills & to help them get back on their feet.

Here’s hoping that you can see another’s need & share what YOU can with this family. Thanks in advance for helping this sweet family in their time of need. Merry Christmas to each of you!

I am hoping that the photographs will be purchased for $7 each, but I am leaving the amount blank so that you can donate as much or as little as you like. Donations will close on December 24th, 2011.

I had the pleasure of hosting a fun workshop in Nevada in October-it was a ton of fun & we covered everything from posing to lighting all the way down to interacting with your clients. I am lucky enough to have amazingly beautiful friends who were willing to model for the workshop! Thanks to everyone who came & a special thanks to Derek & KayLynne for being so gosh darn attractive! And thanks to my sweet dad who let us use his prized Corvette for the photos!

Here are my favorites from the workshop…

Holy smokes, KayLynne. You are beautiful!!!