Peter + Vanessa | Southern California Engagement Session | Citrus State Historical Park | Pt.2

{Peter + Vanessa | being cute in the middle of Dufferin St. in Riverside, Ca | January 2012} ...there love story continues. :) If you didn't catch P + V's part one, go Here. And take note that after you trudge through all the gooey tenderness, at the bottom of the post you'll get to read the first-hand account of their proposal back in December. Beware though. He sets the bar UBER high. It's kinda ridiculous actually. | lkm I really would like a huge glowing canvas of that bee in the branches (image below left)Such a pretty little thing :) and oh my gosh, can they get their goof on!I don't get it either. African flossing? My heart just swells at the idea of God blessing Peter with Vanessa as his bride...a woman whom he loves, tends to, cares for, who loves Jesus and others. The innocence and sheer delight and new experiences and amazing sense of 'team-mate' ahead of them--yup, there's the grapefruit in my throat again.  My joy in my brother is unabashed. The blessing in having him include me in these plans and attempts to woo his lady is beyond me. The phone calls and questions and opinions on 'how should i do this?' made my heart swim with glee :)

So....here's the proposal story I've been gushing about. (as told by Peter)...note: at the end of Vanessa's semester abroad in Africa, Peter joined her parents to spend Christmas on safari and traveling about the country. I know. Sick huh?

Sent via facebook to all their close friends shortly after they got engaged...

She said yes! Here's how it happened: 

On December 25th, I gave Vanessa her first clue: a small silver treasure chest. The next day I gave her a silver key with the verse 1 Peter 1:22-23. The third clue was the movie Muppet Treasure Island (in which Gonzo says the line, “to Zanzibar, to see the Zanzi-barbarians!”). Fourth clue was a hand towel and fifth clue, conveniently placed on her bedside table by her dad this morning, was a photo album showing the timeline of our relationship so far. 

Last night, we arrived on Zanzibar island off the coast of Tanzania (in eastern Africa). I immediately began to scope the area for the big question, since I was planning on burying the ring in a cherry wood treasure chest I had a guy make for her. I approached “Gharib”, a local African at the receptionist desk and in a conspiratorial tone said, “I am planning on asking my girlfriend to marry me tomorrow but I need your help.” His eyes lit up. He was in. He found me a shovel and a place on the beach that was on the edge of the Breezes Beach Club property. Mr. Johnson talked to Sarah, another helpful worker to get a glass bottle for the treasure map. The closest she could find was a wine carafe—it would have to do. I then had Vanessa’s brother Aaron set up a camera behind a tree as I buried the treasure chest next to a palm tree. I made the appropriate pirate markings on the piece of synthetic leather I had burned and dirtied (for authenticity of course), and then went to pick up Vanessa. 

She had all the clues ready with the additional zebra striped bowl we picked up in South Africa. I then gave her the wine carafe with the treasure map which she untied and gazed with artistic appreciation for a few moments before looking to me for direction. “Well, follow the map, I said.” So we did. I purposely made the dotted pirate route wind through the club grounds before looping back along the beach to the chosen palm tree. She noticed the camera first and laughed. Then she noticed Aaron sulking in the shadows of the tree and laughed some more. Aaron turned on the camera and discreetly took off down the path. “Oh look, a shovel!” she said. “Well, what do you think you should do?” I asked. “Maybe I should dig in this soft dirt over here…” she jested (so maybe I’m a pirate in training and didn’t cover my burial site so well). She dug up the treasure chest, unlocked it with the key I had given her as a clue, and opened up the chest to find a journal and a small box. The journal had some words about love and stuff and then after reading John 13 I had her sit on the treasure chest while I washed her feet in the zebra bowl. I dried them with the red hand towel (4th clue) and had her open the small box. Inside was a smaller box containing a black ring box and inside the ring box was…the ring. I told her some more stuff about love and running the race alongside each other and more mushy stuff and then said, “Vanessa Nicole Johnson, will you marry me?” She said yes. We hugged for a few moments then realized how humid it was so we headed in to breakfast with Vanessa’s family. 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Hope to see you soon. 

Peter (& Vanessa)

Peter + Vanessa | Southern California Engagement Session | Citrus State Historical Park | Pt.1

 {Peter + Vanessa | Engagement Session | Citrus State Historical Park, Riverside, CA | January 2012 } Last February  I  got an amazing series of phone calls from my brother, Peter.  It started off like this: "Hey sis. So...i have my eyes on someone." Oh my word. Was I thrilled. My brother is pretty amazing. He loves Jesus more than anything and when I heard that Vanessa was the one that had captured his attention, I choked on my asparagus.  He spoke of her heart for others, the way he loved serving with her--and then he told me about her issue with SOCKS and I was sold.  They spent nearly a year dating, getting to know each other better and then when she spent a semester in Africa with her nursing program from APU this past fall, he spoke of his incredible longing for her. My brother...a man...longing for this woman whom he wanted for his bride. He proposed in Africa by the way.... but i'm saving that story, written by my brother, for tomorrow. :) | lkm

the 'how to dip' coaching session was full of belly-laughs your guess is as good as mineThis is Peter talking to my other brother Nathan who was SUPPOSED to have come hang out for the afternoon. Peter arrived at the session, spent an hour cuddling with his fiance and then suddenly gasped and shot a look at Vanessa, "we forgot Nathan." It's kinda funny now -noitisnot- especially remembering Vanessa's look of horror and Peter's genuine look of remorse. I haven't seen Nathan in 9 months....yes, yes I am still bitter.two of my favorites from the day...I vote no glasses for the wedding. What do you think? I get another sister!!! Part Two coming tomorrow :) Along with one of the best proposal stories I've ever heard of... :)

Ryan + Samantha | San Diego Engagement Session | Birch Aquarium at Scripps - UC San Diego | teaser

 {Ryan + Samantha | Engagement Session @ Birch Aquarium | San Diego, CA | January 2012} There is a very LARGE grip-load of eye candy coming to Google readers (via LKM blog) near you. Here area few teasers from Ryan + Samantha's gut-wrenchingly beautfiul engagement session shot on the property of Birch Aquarium at Scripps College, UC San Diego. Stand by...

 

Dan + Erin | 'Vintage-Meets-Urban'-Inspired Downtown Tucson Engagement Session | Pt.2

{Dan + Erin | Vintage-Meets-Urban Inspired Downtown Tucson Engagement Session | Janaury 2012}

I thought that shooting in La Placita in downtown Tucson would be too cliche. But you get a couple like Erin and Dan to unleash, be real, enjoy each other, share a few inside jokes, laugh, trip, embarass themselves gloriously so--and you could stick 'em in front of cardboard boxes and still have a spread worth a million bucks. Oh the color!! My gosh, these two burst with such a raw, goofy delight in each other--my face hurts from smiling. | lkm

(above) check out their vert! they nailed the 'jump' on the first try. standing ovation please.  that pole little kiss moment there was purely spontaneous. Dan--you're so suave. erin's grin in these middle-of-the-street/my-photographer-is-going-to-kill-us images...was favorite. so we found this truck...kinda random. but i'm a fan. 'hey dan, grab erin's hand and frolick gleefully down the alley and then embrace each other in than corridor.'i can't get over how perfectly the tones of what they were wearing meshed with the wall...so the day was mostly overcast which is often some of the BEST natural-soft-box-style lighting you can get....but I was secretly a little bummed that we missed out on some of that golden flare when a session ends with a sunset-provided epic finale....... and yet...... there was a band playing in downtown that night. Just as dan and erin were getting into the car i knew i had to cease the moment. quickly. before we lost momentum. and boy did these two deliver :)   Dan + Erin, we love you guys. You are SUCH a treat. Lawson & I still can't wait for our double date. Thank you for trusting me with these memories. So so blessed to be a part of this special season with you guys! | lkm

Dan + Erin | Vintage-Inspired Downtown Tucson Engagement Session | Pt.1

{Dan + Erin | Vintage-Inspired Downtown Tucson Engagement Session | January 2012} Planning this shoot with Erin was a blast. There was a grip of giggly emails passed back and forth with 40s hair-dos, accessories, ideas and inspirations. We planned to meet an hour early so i could plan out the 'storyboard' of the afternoon extravaganza. We assessed our collection, kept the looks softly inspired, downed a good solid cup of blond (nods to Starbucks baristas), applied (nervously) that darn long-last lipstick stuff three times before getting it just right, touched up Erin's soft curls, oggled Dan's impressive collection of caps and suspenders, and hit the road!

these highschool sweethearts are so comfortable with each other :) I didn't even tell her to pop that heel :)Love this reflection image... I started to say something like...'Hey Dan, could you give me a flirty lean and-- and then I stopped talking because they just melted right into eachother. No instructions needed. The way she looks at him... a bit o' bliss... this whole series made me laugh so much. Dan is just so stinkin' goofy. Oh and this is just the beginning. Check back on Friday for part 2 of Dan and Erin's e-session... I know. I know. I'm mean aren't I. It's worth the wait though. If that makes you feel any better :)

Josh + Sarah | Engagement Session | Dunnellon, FL | Florida Wedding Photographer

Sarah & Josh are getting married next May and I had the ripe privilege of shooting their engagement pictures while in Central Florida last month. According to Sarah's mom, there is WAY too much kissing going on in these pictures. But I'm pretty sure Sarah just nodded and say, 'Yup! It's perfect.' Sarah & Josh, thank you so much  for letting me hang out with you two for an afternoon, get up 'in your business', ask you to smooch more often than might be healthy, and all that stuff that makes me smile about my job. We're just gonna have check and see if we get to hang out again...oh, like say, next May?! ;)