The moment we met Melissa and Rafael we just knew we would click and we were really hoping they’d book us for their wedding in 2014.  They were still deciding on a venue and a date when we met so it took a few months before they got that all squared away, but we were so excited when they emailed us saying they definitely wanted us to photograph their wedding!  Earlier this month we got together to get some fun engagement shots.  We had so much fun with them and their 2 year old son.  Engagement sessions are so great because we’re all able to just relax and just have fun without the fast-paced whirlwind that usually accompanies the wedding day.  This is a time for our couples to enjoy being together, experience how we work, and we just get to know each other.  This was definitely the case with Melissa and Rafael.  We are so excited to be photographing their wedding at Sienna Golf Club next spring, but before that we’ll be cheering Melissa on as she takes on her own Tough Mudder event this summer in New York and we’ll be doing some training of our own together for the Rock & Roll Half Marathon coming up this November! Didn’t I tell you I just knew we were gonna love this couple!  Check out their awesome engagement session and tell me if their little man doesn’t just steal your heart!!!

I love photographing weddings and couples in love.  It’s what we do.  But, every once in awhile it’s fun to get to photograph something different.  When my personal trainer, Ashley Onstott, asked me to take some shots for a manual her Booty Blast team is putting together, I was all over it.  So, what exactly is Booty Blast?  Booty Blast B.A.R.™ is a ballet inspired workout that utilizes a combination of ballet aerobic steps and resistance exercises to improve cardiovascular health, muscle flexibility, muscle endurance, core strength and balance.  Ok, so those of you who know me, know that ballet aerobic steps are not words you would put in a sentence with my name in it but, I did try the class once and it was super!  I’d totally recommend it!

Aside from teaching Booty Blast at Las Vegas Athletic Club, Ashley is also a personal trainer.  She offers one-on-one training sessions and group training sessions.  I take her group training session twice a week right at LVAC and I love it.  She’s really working me hard to get ready for our Tough Mudder race coming up soon!  She’s really motivational and encouraging.  If you are wanting to get some personalized training, I highly recommend you contact Ashley.  She’s amazing.  Ashley will get you ready for anything, like let’s say, your upcoming wedding…saw what I did there

You can read more about Ashley HERE and feel free to send her an email at: a_onstott@hotmail.com

Today’s blog post is like nothing you’ve ever seen on our blog before. Or well, maybe it isn’t so different.  You see, today’s blog post is not a wedding or an engagement session, but it is still a story about love.  It is still about 2 people in love.  It is still about 2 families coming together.  It is still about documenting one of the most important events in people’s lives.  And, months and months of planning still went into it.  Today, I share the story of how two people so in love decided to strengthen their love even more by bringing a child into this world.  How two people committed to live no longer for themselves, but for their child.  How a couple in love, grew into a family in love.  How two people found a new kind of love.  The love of a mother.  The love of a father.

Elias Ernesto’s journey began on a Monday afternoon, when his mommy’s doctor said it was time to meet the little man and scheduled her for an induction.  Let me just say, I felt as if I was about to go deliver this baby.  I was a hot mess, I’ll admit it!  I was flustered and anxious to go to the hospital and meet him too.  But, Elias was not ready to meet his family that day and as it turns out, the next day either.  No, he had us waiting, dying of anticipation waiting for him until Wednesday night.  That night, Veronica and Ernie were faced with a tough decision and it is here where you see what people are made of.  It was here I saw the strength of two people united.  I saw her break down and I saw him lift her up.  It gave me chills.  It made me believe in love all over again.  I saw love in action.  I saw how together, with the one you love by your side, you can handle anything.  In the end, they made the right decision for their family and they made it together.  And just like that in a whirlwind of emotions, they went into the operating room together, albeit a little nervous and scared, but together.  Elias Ernesto was born by C-section shortly after.  I waited with their family in the room.  We were all pretty quiet, just waiting.  And then, we saw Ernie, he was gleaming!  The look on his face was a mix of joy, fear, excitement, awe, and shock.  But mostly,  I saw love again.  He was filled with love for that little boy he just met.  It was love at first sight.  We were able to meet baby Elias soon after that and Veronica came out of surgery a bit later.  She was exhausted, but you could see she was happy.  She was a woman changed forever. She was a mom.

I was so honored to be able to be a part of this journey.  Veronica and Ernie are truly wonderful people.  Some of the nicest, most genuine and sincere people you will ever meet and I am so happy to have them as friends. You can see more of their pregnancy journey, HERE (baby shower) and HERE (maternity session)! xo

Katie and Brian are an amazing couple full of life and totally fun to be around.  You wouldn’t know it by these pictures, but it was a pretty chilly day and the wind was well, pretty brisk.  These guys were total troopers and worked it even in these harsh conditions!  I love that they chose locations that are special to them for the engagement session!  We had a great time getting to know them and chatting more about their wedding plans, which are coming along nicely.  We really look forward to their wedding this September at Canyon Gate Country Club.  Thanks to Makeup in the 702 for Katie’s hair & makeup!