One thing my husband and I have in common is a love for potential. I think that is why we dream big….and have been for almost 10 years! sheesh! I love the potential of a new business venture, a new vacation, a new house or even….a new kid! Don’t worry…not having any new kids in the next 9 months!

So, the other day, we took a little trekk around some property and saw its potential…through my lens! I am not sure if its going to all come together…but I still love the potential of it all! Big decisions to be made in the next month!  Big things could be coming for Eylander Photography and I’m excited to share….

Drew and I had so much fun on New Years Day capturing the wedding of Kelsey and Travis. These two are a hoot! They seriously are a fantastic couple. They both have fun, hilarious senses of humor and really get each other.  It was such a gorgeous day at Echo Falls Golf course, we could have had the wedding outside and no one would have complained! It was like 50 degrees! Fabulous for pictures too. I love my overcast Washington Days!

Here are just a few of their pics….Tons more on the way!

Sneakerheads aka. shoeheads aka people that like to buy lots, and lots and lots of sneakers.

Wikipedia says: A sneakerhead is a person who owns multiple pairs of shoes as a form of collection and fashion. It is a hobby often manifested by the use and collection of shoes made for sports, such as skateboarding or basketball. The birth of sneakerhead culture in the United States came in the 1980s and can be attributed to two major sources: basketball, specifically the emergence of Michael Jordan and his eponymous Air Jordan line of shoes released in 1985, and the growth of hip hop music. The boom of signature basketball shoes during this era provided the sheer variety necessary for a collecting subculture, while the Hip-Hop movement gave the sneakers their street credibility as status symbols.^[1]

Meet Angela & Travis. Apparently, they (he) has been collecting shoes since he was a teenager. When I asked how many pairs of shoes he had right now, he said, ” Not very many, maybe 40 pairs.”  I, too have an obsession with shoes, boots really. I bought 8 pair this fall and winter and am always on the lookout for a great leather or suede pair.

We got to hang out at Lincoln Park in West Seattle. What a fun park with a beach that is!  This was such a beautiful place for an engagement session! These guys didn’t stop laughing the whole session…I always count that as a great sign! 10 years into my marriage, I find my husband funnier than ever. Getting each other’s sense of humor is one of the best things about finding the love of your life!

I can’t wait for their wedding at St. James Cathedral,one of my favorite places in Seattle. What I really can’t wait for…is the shoes.

Enter the shoes.

Wow! These guys just really rocked the funbooth! Peeps from all ages….My favorite is Kelsey’s Grandfather and his cane! What a super fun bunch of people….who like to get down!

To view Kelsey & Travis’ Full Wedding Gallery when it is available, click here.

If you would like to to have a fun booth at your wedding…you should! Email me at Kaylee@eylanderphotography.com or visit our contact page!

One of my main goals in 2011 was to be able to find more balance in my work/family life. Owning your own business is not the easiest task while still wanting to be a great wife and mom to the greatest family in the world. In 2010, I shot 36 weddings and decided that in 2011, I only wanted to shoot 20 and ended up with 21. I have to say, that I’m so happy that I was able to hit that mark and have a fabulous summer to spend with my family.

One of my favorite things in the world is to take my kids to the beach…mainly Kayak Point….and this past summer, I was able to do that alot. Something about being near the water just centers me and keeps me sane. I love it.

I have to say, that starting out 2011 on the beaches of Kauai was one of the best ways to start a year! Here are some of my reflections on 2010. Looking at this view was a great way to start the year. Thank you to Justin & Morgan for helping 2011 start off on an amazing note.

Shortly after our great trip to Kauai, I designed a new blog and website in one! Powered by wordpress, it has amazing SEO power…and it looks  just as great. Photographers…if you are looking for a blog and website in one…this is the one for you!

in February, my husband and I headed to WPPI in Las Vegas for a great jump start and photographer’s convention. If you are a photographer and have never been to this amazing convention, get your booty there this year! I actually won a free ticket from my awesome blog creators and not only was the trip so exciting and fun, it was free!

Another one of my favorite  things about 2011 was that I found some amazing products, music and games that brought a ton of enjoyment to myself and my family. Here are just a few.

The Ipad. what was I thinking by not buying on of these amazing devices and using it for my business…or just to keep my kiddos busy on a road trip to eastern washington?

Canon 50 1.2 Lens. wow. You rock my world and I’m so happy to have you in my life.  Your buttery bokeh just makes my heart sing and all though you will never take the place of my Canon 35 1.4, you do have a special place in my heart.

Toms Toothpaste. yep. it has revolutionized my teeth’s world! At the end of the day, I never have jackets on my teeth.

Suave Dry Shampoo. Its a quarter of the price of the spendy stuff and it works the same. If you haven’t read my post on why I don’t shampoo any more (otherwise known as No Poo!), read this post all about it! I use this once and a while and if gives my hair tons of body and texture. LOVE!

Ratuki- A super fun game that my 4 and 8 year old can play and we all laugh and have a great time with this one! Its hard to find games that both my husband and I and my kids can play and love…this is one of those games!

My Omega Juicer:
 I use this….well…when ever I feel like it! If you feel the need to get a jump start on your fruits and veggies…this juicer is amazing. I love it. I go in spurts, but it really is something that we use a lot. I usually do a kale, celery, carrot, lemon juice…and it just tastes like carrot and lemon. Its packed with vitamins and is a great way to start the day.

Those are just a few of my faves from 2011….I think I’m going to have to do a whole separate post on the rest!!!

Its Engagement Season! If you have gotten recently engaged, Congratulations!!! This is one of the most exciting times of your life, and it only happens once, so try to breath and enjoy every second of it! It can be pretty overwhelming to look at the list of things you will have to do while planning your wedding…but try not to let it get the best of you! When you start crossing things off your list, you will feel better and better. Here is a great wedding planning tool that can help you on your journey to your wedding day. Wedding Wire’s Checklist .

One thing that will relieve some stress from your wedding planning anxiety is having an engagement session with your wedding photographer. When I talk to brides, one comment that I get alot is that they don’t really feel comfortable getting photographed. I’m going to to let you in on a little secret…MOST couples don’t really feel super comfortable with a camera in front of their face! I know that I don’t either….and this is exactly why engagement sessions are so important!

Here’s a few reason why booking an Engagement Session with your wedding photographer is so important:

1. It will help you to relax on your wedding day.

2. It will let you see your self on camera and through your photographers eyes.

3. It will reassure you that your photographer is a right fit for you and your fiance and allow you to make a change if you need to.

4. You will have awesome pictures to use for your wedding day!

5. It will help you see how your photographer works and what is expected of you (will I have to pose? will I have to smile the whole time? will my photographer be funny?) ( anwers with me..( no, no, yes!)

6. Its a super fun way to capture your love and relationship!!! There is no better time to capture your love than when you are newly engaged! There is something special about new love…and it photographs so great!!!

Some of my favorite Engagement Sessions:

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Camano Island Engagement Session

Camano Island Engagement Session

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Bellingham Nautical Engagment Session

Bellingham Nautical Engagment Session

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Lake Washington Engagement Session

Lake Washington Engagement Session

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Space Needle & Seattle Seahawk

Space Needle & Seattle Seahawk

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Snohomish Engagement Session

Snohomish Engagement Session

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Golden Gardens Engagement Session

Golden Gardens Engagement Session

Because I think engagement sessions are so important, I’m giving them away with all weddings booked in January! Email me at Kaylee@eylanderphotography.com for more info! I can’t wait to hear all about your wedding!

During this time of year, a lot of couples in love get engaged! So, after the dust settles and things calm down, the questions remains…what do I do now? Where do I start?

1. Decide on a time of year to get married.  Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall? All you gotta do is start thinking about what time of year fits your needs and desires  for your wedding. If you would like a good pumkin pie and hot cocoa for your wedding reception, fall or winter might be a good fit for you. If you are thinking yellow dresses with daffodil bouquets, Spring might be a good time. If there is a certain flower you want to include in your wedding, it will be less expensive if it is in season.

2. Decide on your budget. Who will be paying for your wedding? You and your fiance? Mom and Dad? The sooner you figure this step out, the sooner you will have a ball park for what you will be spending as far as price points go. Wedding Wire has a great wedding budget tool that can help you to start looking at finances for your wedding day.

3. What kind of wedding do you want? What do you want your guests to say about your wedding as they are walking to their car? It was personal, thoughtful and lovely? Vintage, crafty and Romantic? Formal or informal? A celebration or party? Fun? Serious? An Expression of you as a couple? Choose a few adjectives to help you with a starting point to help plan. This list of adjectives will also help you decide what to NOT include in your wedding as well. If you want to have an elegant wedding, you might not want to include the beer cozies with your initials on them. But….if you are going for a redneck wedding…go for it! Its your wedding….do what you want to do!! The more personal your wedding is, the more memorable it will be!

4. Book your Wedding Photographer. Wedding Photographers book their dates up to 18 months in advance, so if there is one that you have your eye on, email them as soon as you book your wedding venue and see if they have the date available. If you don’t have one in mind, ask family and friends if they have referrals for you. Then check out their websites and blogs and see if they seem to be a personal fit for you and your fiance. Since they will be with you most of the day, you will want to book someone who’s work you love, and personality you like to be around!

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One day last year, I was listening to NPR and on comes Fred Armisen. He is one of my favorite actors from SNL and he was talking about his new show, Portlandia. I thought it sounded interesting, especially because Seattle and Portland have a ton of similarities.  I found it on demand on the IFC channel and my husband and I were totally hooked! Its one of the funniest shows we’ve ever seen.

Whether its the hipsters, the dumpster divers, the punk rockers, the bikers, the musicians or the techies on the show…the humor and timing is some of the best on television.

If you think these clips are funny….you and I will be fast friends.

New Portlandia Episodes : Fridays at 10 on IFC. You will thank me.

I had fun hanging out with the Baze family a few days ago….their little girl was super duper smart…and had so many fun expressions, I just couldn’t stop clicking. Her big blue eyes just sparkled in the chilly weather out side! The whole family were troopers, though…we got some great ones!