Charlie + Ronika: Tucson Palo Verde Desert Wash & Sunset Bike Ride Engagement Session

Charlie & Ronika are so chill and made my job was painfully easy. I realized that much of their ease would allow me to hush up and let them breathe together. Pre-wedding craziness is at a high and this evening together seemed to be progressively more of a detox "i-love-you-so-much" interlude. And the reminding grace that "oh-my-gosh-i-want-to-be-with-this-person-forever" seemed to wash over them in moments of sweetness and sunbeams...sunset bike rides. I am beyond excited for their wedding at the Tucson Museum of Art. Game on baby. | lkm

EDIT // I asked Ronika for some of the backstory for her and Charlie's wedding day and she gave the sweetest proposal story that i had to add...

Its beginning: The modest rumble of a triumph motorcycle, led me to you that night. I made my way to the door to thank you, Charlie, for the two colorful assorted bouquets. I found you at the end of the steps looking hesitant but sexy in cowboy boots, fitted jeans, button down gray shirt covered by a brown vest. I walked toward the man who I had desired since a young girl. By our third date I realized he was the face I had tried so hard to imagine, a man full integrity, love and a need for adventure. I opened my arms and you embraced me, I felt the slightest trembling running through your skin. You grabbed my hands and looked up at me with a big determined grin and said, “Ronika a year ago today I asked you to hangout and today I wanted ask if you would hang out with me for the rest of your life!” . The man of my dreams took one knee and asked me to marry him. I was altogether beside myself unable to keep tears of happiness from ruling my entire face. My dreams had become a reality this is a moment I shall always remember....Shall we always to choose to love.

Matt + Marcy: "Alice in Wonderland" Whimsy & Snapdragons, Agua Linda Farm Wedding | Part Two

(If you missed PART ONE of this "Alice in Wonderland" Wedding, go HERE.)

This incredible spring garden wedding was like stepping into a fanciful rabbit hole full of sparkle, dancing and laughter. To continue with some of the back story behind Matt & Marcy's special day, I asked Marcy if she could share a few of her highlights...

• My dress! It was exactly what I wanted, fun, whimsical and a Mexican Alice in Wonderland feel!

•Beautiful flowers! I didn't think I was a "flower" kinda girl and was going to go with fake flowers, but the arrangements of real flowers blew me away! Giant antique roses, hydrengias, peonies, and so many more! what a wonderland!

•Cake and candies! Beautiful cake with cascading peonies and the candies kept all the little ones happy! I love french macaroons! Too cute!

•Friends and family! It felt so special to have loved ones enjoying with us!

•Dance floor! It was well worth the rental! Everyone cut rug!

• The world just stopping as I walked down the aisle looking at Matt. so handsome! Everything just disappeared. we were both in happy tears. beautiful harp music playing

• My Dad and my dance...my Dad really showed his funny personality and we got down! 

• I remember (LKM) was about to take pictures of us right before the cake cutting and everyone rushed us like paparazzi. You just disappeared in the swarm (and let family do their thing). You and your team were just great! You were so good with the crazy dynamic of our families! You guys felt more like welcomed guests! (We felt the same way!)

A few more details and vendor shout outs:

Venue: Agua Linda Farm // Wedding Coordinator: Laurel Loew of Agua Linda Farm // Personal Wedding Coordinator: Deb Tenino // Tucson Wedding Photographer: Laura K Moore Photography // Linens were by La Tavola out of Napa, California // Flowers: Debby Larsen // Party Rentals: Tucson Party Rentals // Bridesmaid's Jewelry: Forever 21 // DIY materials: Joann's

Matt + Marcy, your wedding goes down in my books with so much creative sparkle that I still talk about it! I wish you many more dreamy, whimsical garden picnics, happy dancing, funny memories and enough laughter to fill your tea cups to overflowing. For. ev. er. Happy First Anniversary! | LKM 

Matt + Marcy: "Alice in Wonderland" Whimsy & Snapdragons, Agua Linda Farm Wedding | Part One

What do you get when two artists/graphic designers get married?

Creative overload; details galore; an "Alice in Wonderland" themed wedding that kept us jaw-dropped the whole day. Flowerbeds. Daffodils and larger-than-life Snapdragons. Pocket watches. Bronze trinkets. Antique chandeliers suspended from ivy. An incredible farm in the middle of Nowhere, Arizona with more sunbeams, butterflies and whimsy than I knew what to do with. (I was positive Anne of Green Gables was going to come out of a nook or cranny and belt poetry at any moment...)

Nearly every detail was designed/collected/hand-crafted by the bride and her ensemble of friends and family who helped create this wonderland. 

For more daffodils, daydreams & dancing... go to part two of this Alice in Wonderland Garden Wedding HERE.

{"Like" Laura K Moore Photography / Follow @laurakmoore}

Oh, and if you didn't see Matt & Marcy's engagement session, go HERE.

Bryce + Caroline: Sunbeams & Cartoon Clouds | Desert Engagement Session

Spring was sprinkled in patches, I stepped on a gnarly, dead barrel cactus, we navigated barbed wired and ragweed, and the clouds could have been painted with a disney paintbrush and we wouldn't have known the difference. Caroline's fantastic lace dress was a striking contrast against the sharp contours of the desert. We were wrapping up and heading back to our original meeting spot when the sunset hit it's prime. And despite the clutter of evening traffic and construction, they willingly frolicked into the middle of the street, let romance ooze...then dashed back averting eye-contact from the police man who had inched up behind us. We high-fived each other, waved at the friendly honks and hoots driving by, pow-wowed over a few wedding details and called it an evening. Can't wait for this couple's Scottsdale wedding next month! 

Now excuse me while i go nurse a few cactus battle wounds.

Relaxed & Natural Family Portrait Session | Upland, Ca | Lifestyle Portrait Photographer | Mikat Family

Over the years I have been a long-distance fly on the wall watching/hearing snippets of Zac & Stacey's journey as parents, business owners, servants in the church, mentors, a safe haven, an open home; open book. Even from another state, their story of faithfulness has made an impression on me. Stacey has even let me pick her brain about living in a small space, getting toddlers to help with chores, and even being a mom to each child as a person instead of just seeing "mob" "herd" "people", etc.

And speaking of their kiddos, they were incredible for this shoot. They were attentive, responded, listened and laughed. They were also silly, crazy and willing to crank out some super funny personality. I had no real agenda..though I knew  wanted to get a bit of the craziness. A bit of the maneuvering. The "herding" as well as the "loving"...I asked Stacey for some feedback after the session. I'll let her describe the experience for herself!

Wow! Looking through the pictures from our recent family photo shoot with Laura Moore brought tears to my eyes. She captured our family so beautifully and brought each personality to life through her pictures. She was so much fun to work with and kept all of the kids moving and having fun - not always an easy task with six little ones! (LKM) helped us feel natural and comfortable throughout the whole process. She didn't seem to come with set in stone ideas, just let us be ourselves, and then captured our family dynamics in her photos. Her reputation for excellence is well deserved, and I would not hesitate to use her again or refer her to friends. Thanks LKM for providing us with a way to remember a fun age and stage of our family! 

*glowing* 

Enjoy! | LKM

An Ethiopian Coffee Picnic / Desert Engagement Session | Tucson/Phoenix Wedding Photographer

We woke up early one Saturday morning, the fog was thick and there was a nip in the air. I arrived before the sun was awake and helped Rahel with some last minute wardrobe details, a few hair/makeup touches, gathered the Ethiopian coffee set, picnic blankets, a red rose, met Brandon and headed for Sabino Canyon--a local state park where they often hiked together.

This blend of opposites is a beautiful thing to watch. Rahel is a close friend of mine. We started meet up together once a week RIGHT around the time she and Brandon started dating. It was slow. Full of caution. Questions. Self-investigation. And then affection and wonder and respect blossomed slowly into this bud of romance...and now they laugh and love so freely. 

Enjoy these images. They really are a window into a love story that makes my heart smile a LOT lately. | LKM

i love you guys. so much! Can not WAIT to PARTAY in JULY! 

HAPPY APRIL! Announcing Spring Sessions 2014!

I still remember my first spring here...i wasn't in a very good spot. 2011 was wrought with painstaking drudgery and the last place I wanted to be was in the desert. And then April hit and I was driving down in a borrowed car on North Houghton, kids cranky in the back, my heart hurting and hating all things dead and brown. Suddenly i passed over a wash and nearly slammed on my breaks. There, for miles, were Palo Verde trees exploding into shades of yellow and happiness. 

It really is incredible. Even on a few unfortunate streets around town, these unsuspecting trees take center stage and remind me that life and happiness are here. You just have to patient for it. 

So Happy April! Take your family out and enjoy the perfect weather. Embrace a little life. And possibly, just maybe, I can meet you there. (And if you're on the fence, go to my FAMILY PORTRAITS page and maybe i'll convince you there. ;) 

Go to my page with SPRING PORTRAIT SESSION DETAILS here.

Downtown Tucson Urban Family Photographer | Appleman Family

This family is so much fun. 2 years ago we did family pictures in a more earthy setting (go here to see that family portrait session at Agua Caliente. Boy have those girls grown since!) So this time around they chose to go urban, fun natural. And boy oh boy, did those little girls crank up the charm! Scott and (whom he affectionately calls) his "Appleman Chicklets" just giggled a whole bunch. I pretty much want to print a HUGE version of that picture of their whole family laughing at each other in the alley. Like Kitchen-Table Huge. Hear that Janice? K, good.  | lkm

Backyard DIY Vintage Wedding | Pasadena, Wedding | PART THREE

Jeff & Abby // Backyard Vintage DIY Wedding

PART THREE // THE FINALE

The day after Jeff & Abby's wedding day they called me. I know. I was as weirded out as you are right now. What are they doing calling me the day after their wedding? Im in big trouble. I just know it.  I picked up the phone tentatively, wincing, waiting....

"Laura, we're sitting here remembering yesterday's details. And we have come down to one thing. And we needed to talk to you about it."

I'm in SUCH BIG TROUBLE. (pause)

"Well, we've just decided that our most favorite thing about the whole day was taking pictures at sunset. It was perfect. We loved it. We would have had it no other way. We would have had no other person. You were perfect." 

Speechless. Perfect. Whelp. That's as good of a customer feedback as you can possibly get. Excuse me while i beam for 3 months afterwards. Carving out time to have pictures together on your wedding day can be a super beautiful thing. Whether it's before or after the ceremony...it just allows for THIS kind of beauty to happen...It was the finale--the beauty after the prep. The patient lull before the evening party. The time to defuse and be alone in the foothills with sunbeams, butterflies, evening gnats and an over-zealous media cohort was bliss. 

We returned to a victory tunnel and a whole mess of eager guests ready to eat, drink and be merry!

So thankful I got to be part of this amazing day! :) | LKM

If you missed J + A's downtown pasadena engagement session go here. 

If you missed PART ONE and PART TWO of J + A's wedding day, go there.

Oh! And one last SUPER important thing....SHOUT OUT to ShaunPaulCreative (videography team) for their cinematic artistry. You can go HERE to see the final wedding video from Jeffery & Abby's wedding day. I may or may not have watched in 100 times now. 

Backyard Vintage DIY Wedding | Pasadena, California | PART TWO

Jeff & Abby // Backyard Vintage DIY Wedding

PART TWO // THE VOWS

They stood back-to-back, porch door between them. The moment he grabbed her hand it was that cinematic moment where the buzz hushed, giggles muffled, mom sniffed, flower girls peaks around the corner. They giggled. They were awkward. Abby fought back tears. Jeff couldn't stop smiling. It was one of my favorite moments of their day. And the way he prayed for his bride; surrendered their expectations and their party; honored and anticipated his beloved...Guests started to trickle in and there was a cranky ring-bearer in the room, something about somebody's hair wasn't done, a mason jar broke somewhere outside, the flurry picked up once more....but something had been diffused. All was right in the world.

Abby's laughter was the centerpiece of the wedding ceremony. Jeff literally fist-pumped his way through "you may kiss the bride." Afterwards, family meandered to the front yard to catch some formal pictures followed by a good chunk of time navigating the wedding party, their ravenous hunger, the beer in mason jars, cheese and crackers, reminiscing, sillyness....so. much. bonding. 

And then the bride and groom pulled away for their sunset session in the foothills...

To check out Jeff & Abby's stellar downtown Pasadena engagement session Go Here.

To check out PART ONE of Jeff & Abby's Pasadena Backyard Wedding Go Here

Check back for the third and final part of Jeff & Abby's wedding day!