Category Archives: Engagements

Engaged! Jake & Julie : Des Moines, IA

I LOVE to travel, and I enthusiastically embrace any opportunity I have to explore a new city. Naturally, I leaped at the chance to photograph Jake and Julie’s engagement session in Des Moines, Iowa. Little did I know, this Southern girl was headed for sub-freezing temperatures, snow drifts, and frozen rivers. Did you catch that? Frozen. Rivers. How on earth does a river freeze? It’s moving water. It makes me shiver just thinking about it! Luckily, Jake and Julie are Iowa natives and were not the least bit discouraged by the cold and windy weather.

We began our session at the Des Moines botanical center, where the indoor climate was humid and 80 degrees. It made the frozen midwest feel a little bit like home.

It was so warm in the botanical center that Jake and Julie were willing to wander through the streets of downtown Des Moines without their coats on. That, folks, is what I call courage!

Jake and Julie, thank you SO MUCH for inviting me to stay in your home, for introducing me to some incredible food, and for allowing me to snuggle with and love on your darling pups. I had a wonderful weekend, and it’s all thanks to you two. Oh, and Major thanks you for the homemade dog treats you sent home for him! He gobbled them up and wondered why I didn’t have any more. I guess I need to get that recipe from you after all!:)

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Engaged! Sina & Nadia : Piedmont Park Engagement

Like many great love stories, Sina and Nadia began their relationship as friends. Sina will tell you that he wanted to be with Nadia from the moment that he met her. Nadia cherished the closeness that she and Sina built as friends, and she was afraid that being romantic could hurt the strong relationship they shared. Little did she know that when she said yes to their first date, she was opening her heart to the person who would become her confidant, partner, rock, and best friend. These two care very much for each other, and they love to relax and laugh together. They are exactly the kind of clients that I love to celebrate – joyful, affectionate, and authentic. I hope these bring a smile to your face.

I showed up an hour early to our shoot so that I could scope out a few places around Piedmont Park that we’re gray and foggy. This tree was the only one blooming in the whole park, as far as I could see. Trust me, I looked!

 

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Love Letter Sessions : Sina & Nadia

If you had told my parents when I was young that I would grow up to be a photographer, they probably would have responded with a quizzical expression. If you know me personally or if you’ve followed my blog for a while, then the reason will not surprise you. While I love creating beautiful photographs, photography is not my first love. I did not grow up with a camera in hand. I spent my time painting elaborate pictures with words. I am a passionate and enthusiastic storyteller, and I spent my adolescence filling spiral notebooks with poems, short stories, and pieces of novels that I swore I’d one day be famous for. While I never developed the patience required to complete a novel, I did manage to create and share a vast multitude of fictional tales with my family, friends, and teachers. When I did not have a pen in my hand, I had my nose in a book. Reading provides me with the opportunity to connect with fascinating characters and explore complex new places in my imagination. I often find myself becoming so emotionally invested in these fictional worlds that I feel a sense of loss when the story ends.

This is one of the reasons why I love being a wedding photographer. I get so excited when I have the opportunity to meet a new couple and become immersed in their love story. The adventures and anecdotes that they share inspire the work that I create, and I love being able to document and preserve precious memories for them. As I considered how I want to build and refine my brand this year, I continually returned to a simple question. How can I capture and share my client’s stories in a way that has meaningful and lasting impact? Love letter sessions are my answer to this question.

Technology provides us with a wide range of methods for connecting and communicating with each other. We text, chat, tweet, and Facebook message each other constantly, yet we do not often take the time to speak meaningfully to each other. Our words can have a profoundly positive impact in the lives of others if we are purposeful about sharing them. So as a way to preserve my couple’s stories and encourage them to connect with each other, I am offering a new type of session. The Love Letter Session.

I met Sina and Nadia on Sunday afternoon for their session, and I could not have chosen a more perfect couple to begin this project with. They are joyful, affectionate, and adventurous, and they did not worry at all when it began to pour. They just laughed, joined hands, and asked me to take their picture in the rain. I am so thankful to them for being warm, open, and authentic with their love letters and for providing me with a beautiful example to share with all of you.

Sina & Nadia : Lauren Wright Weddings Love Letter Session from Lauren Wright on Vimeo.

Are you interested in participating in a Love Letter session? Whether you are engaged, newly married, or celebrating a lifetime of love together, I would be honored to have the opportunity to document and share your love story. For more information, fill out my contact form. I can’t wait to hear from you!

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