For your entertainment, here are the two morning show clips of us preening for charity. I’m the short-haired tall girl, in case there was any doubt. Yes, I am aware I am stupidly fidgety.

I volunteered to assist at the Brides Against Breast Cancer gown sale today and just finished my shift. I spent the day helping brides with their dresses and giving out information about Get Hitched, Give Hope. GHGH is the local charity group that I work with which raises money for the Making Memories Foundation, the same organization for which BABC fundraises. Making Memories grants wishes for Stage IV metastatic breast-cancer patients for whom the cure won’t come soon enough. A REALLY good cause.

And speaking of which, I have LOTS more news about Get Hitched, Give Hope soon to come. Tickets go on sale on August 1 and I hope you’ll join us for a fabulous party and amazing wedding details. Hell, it’s fun even if you’re already married or even single… it’s at the frikkin Four Seasons and what better excuse for a posh party do you need!

All right, I’m out for now, off to second-shoot a wedding at a location with a significant in-joke that I can’t tell anyone. Then, tomorrow we’re heading up north to visit Evergreen Gardens in Fairmont, where one of my lovely August brides will be married… and take a nice long bike ride to train for the RSVP bike race (from Seattle to Vancouver BC, 204 miles). Peace!

Jess and I have become good friends since their shoot… she’s crazy, funny, geeky, and altogether someone I can absolutely relate to. Honestly, the grand prize couldn’t have gone to anyone better! These three were nominated for their touching and courageous story: Jess and Jeremy’s little boy, Connor, was born with a rare and serious chromosomal disorder that’s given him all sorts of difficulties. He has sensitive senses (say that 5 times fast!) and isn’t really keen on new things, which posed an interesting challenge for our shoot. I was pretty amused when I introduced myself to him and he signed “No. Don’t like. Go away” to his mom. Bonus points for being assertive, little guy!

We took photos at the Olympic Sculpture Park, which allows for some nice indoor shots in the event of rain and purports to be wheelchair accessible (though the ‘accessible’ path is unpaved and gravel REALLY isn’t wheel-friendly). At the time, Jeremy was in and out of a chair recovering from surgeries he’d had to repair injuries he sustained to his legs from an IED in Afghanistan. But the last time we saw Jer, he’d ditched his chair and crutches for a pimpin’ cane and now I guess he’s pretty much done with that, too! Good thing, ’cause we’re about to do a second mini-session to make up for getting rained out at the end of this one.

Check out the photos below, and be sure to visit Jess’s blog, Connor’s Song, to read her often-entertaining, sometimes-scary posts about their daily adventures.

Get Hitched, Give Hope is a big party sponsored by and featuring Seattle’s finest wedding vendors, all of whom have donated their time and wares to help raise money for the families of women and men with Stage IV breast cancer. The evening features fabulous cocktails, appetizers, shopping, live entertainment, and a chance to mingle with the best and brightest local wedding pros. The coup de gras is a live auction at which we sell off generously donated gorgeous wedding goods at amazingly low prices… and all of the proceeds go toward the Making Memories Foundations. Making Memories then uses your donations to enable end-stage cancer patients and their families to spend some time (and money) not thinking about treatment and take a final trip together. It’s sort of like “Make a Wish” for adults.

So if you’re planning a wedding and would like to get incredible deals on what you want, all while giving back to those in need… Mark your calendars!!

The third annual Get Hitched, Give Hope will take place on October 28, 2010 at the Seattle Four Seasons Hotel.

Skip on over to www.gethitchedgivehope.com and take a peek at our brand new website, read our blogs, meet our volunteer team for 2010, and browse the first wave of our beloved vendors and sponsors. It doesn’t stop there… be sure to bookmark our site, news feed, Twitter, and Facebook page as we make some exciting announcements and highlight some of the fabulous items up for bid over the next few months. We’ll also have awesome giveaways!

Tickets go on sale in August, and we’ll even have a electronic program to download on our site with all the goods and services up for bid before the big event.

We’ve set our sights high once again- let’s raise $50,000 to grant wishes for breast cancer patients where the cure can’t come soon enough, all while getting gorgeous goods for your wedding. See you there with your party shoes on!

Hooray! Yesterday, my friends the Broke-Ass Bride and Fresh Hubby posted about Persimmon Images on their kick-ass wedding inspiration blog. These two are my long-time Wedding Bee homies, and they seriously raised the roof in Vegas… not to mention the sweet party hook-ups they got for the whole Bee crew. So, I’m really proud to sponsor their delightful blog and help pay it forward to their readers.

Head on over to The Broke-Ass Bride blog and check out the Persimmon Images post to see what’s up!

I asked people to submit their vision for their ideal engagement shoot in the Seattle/Portland area… and I got so many great responses. It was really very difficult to choose just three from all the emails I got. I was sad to narrow it down, but I eventually had to. I couldn’t just let everyone else send me something for nothing, though! So, while the winners will receive a free engagement shoot (and image files), everyone else who entered will get $50 off an engagement or bridal session and a free disc of print-resolution images (normally $200).

Here are the three winners… Congrats!

Maggie Walker dreamed of an engagement shoot on the ferry between Seattle and Bainbridge Island, where she grew up, and at some of the iconic sites along both waterfronts.

Andrea Jung met her fiance in a Portland ultimate Frisbee league and being a self-described “shy bride,” would love a Frisbee-themed session in one of Portland’s great parks and some of the iconic neighborhoods nearby.

Kate Winne has a very special engagement ring custom-engraved with her and her fiance’s favorite things. She brainstormed a shoot around these things: Books (at the Seattle library), puppies (with a canine friends), pizza (a heart-shaped pie) and hops (with their home-brew equipment).

Other amazing ideas included vintage photos at the Vista House in the gorge and ethereal pictures near and in some of the gorge waterfalls; a session at some of Seattle’s most beautiful, natural spots; shooting at the downtown REI; pictures to commemorate a first date in downtown Portland (including smooching on the MAX!); a snow session during ski season; colorful photos in the Skagit valley tulip fields; and iconic Seattle shoots on the waterfront and beaches, at the Market, near the troll, under the Needle, at Gas Works Park, and more!

Thank you so much to everyone who took the time, energy, and courage to share your stories and ideas. I was so glad to hear from you.

It took a lot of work, and help from my friends, but I finally decided on the winner of my “Giving is Awesome” portrait session. Buuuuuut… because there were so many deserving families nominated, I also chose three runners up. Woohoo! OK, let’s start the announcing…

The Winner: 2-hour portrait session + $800 in goodies

THE MCGUFFEY FAMILY: Jessica and Jeremy live in Puyallup with their three-year-old son Connor. Connor was born with an extremely rare series of genetic disorders and is confined to a wheelchair. He has struggled his entire life, but recently he’s been suffering from increasingly severe seizures.

Connor’s dad, Jeremy, an officer in the army, was injured while deployed in Afghanistan. His stryker vehicle ran over an I.E.D., which completely pulverized both of his heels and caused severe lacerations to his legs. He will eventually re-learn to walk but is also wheelchair-bound for now.

In the face of everything, Jessica has been courageous and upbeat, and extremely supportive of her lovely family. They’ll receive the gift of a two-hour portrait session at a location of their choice as well as up to $800 in prints, albums, or canvasses.

Jessica was nominated by her sister, Mary, who lives in Texas. Mary, if ever we meet, you have a $250 credit toward a session or prints of your own. Thank you so much for caring so deeply about your sister and her family. And congratulations to all of you!

The Runners-Up: 1-hour portrait session + a framed triptych

THE KINDORF FAMILY: A series of medical problems has had Mr. Kindorf in and out of the hospital and upset the family’s finances. His wife and oldest son are working together to raise the other three Kindorf kids, the youngest of which has cystic fibrosis. They are struggling to stay afloat after a tough year in a tough economy but will stay strong no matter what.

Thank you to Mauvia for thinking of the Kindorfs. They are blessed to have you as a friend!

THE KARR FAMILY: Kathleen is a military wife who is raising a new baby while her husband is out to sea. Kat gave birth to little Kendall three days before her husband was deployed and has raised her on her own away from friends and family for the last seven months. Kathleen could only take a little maternity leave and is now working full time to support Kendall and pay her mortgage. At a recent well-child visit, Kendall was diagnosed with hip dysplasia and placed in a body cast, where she will spend the next six months. Kendall needs new everything to fit her cast, and probably has to look forward to many surgeries. Kathleen has had a trying and painful year, but she and Kendall have accomplished so much.

Thank you, Chastity, for nominating your sister-in-law. You rock!

THE HORAN FAMILY: Therese is a single mom who moved to Seattle from Sitka, Alaska to go through ARNP school. She has just graduated and is looking for a job in a very tough market. Despite mounting bills and student loans, Therese is a wonderfully supportive mother to her young daughter. She has always made sure that her daughter’s needs are first, even when she was working through school. They are a joy to watch together!

Justin, you’re an awesome classmate for suggesting Therese. I wish everyone were so considerate!

Each of the people who nominated a runner-up also receives a $50 credit that they can use either to schedule a personal photo session or to purchase prints for the family they’ve nominated. Y’all are awesome!

Now that the giveaway is closed, my trusted friends and I wil review your nominations and try our best to pick one deserving winner before the New Year.

Thank you again… I mean it! You’re all so awesome and it warms my heart.

It’s been a tough year for me, too. Tough, but good. I’ve made a lot of hard choices about my personal well-being and my career. I started a business in a recession. I just got laid-off from my full-time job at a software company. But you know what? I’m OK. I’m better than OK. I am so blessed by the serendipity in my life, the privileges afforded me, and the feeling that I’m finally doing what I’m meant to do. I have so much that I need to give back.

So I’m doing a giveaway for a family, a couple, or an individual in need. Because, guess what? …

Do you know someone who can’t afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season? Can you think of someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family’s spirit, love, and beauty?

This holiday season, I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography…about $1000 worth, to be exact. I’m giving away a 2-hour portrait session and up to $800 in printed products.  Whether it’s canvas or albums, prints for Grandma, or a slideshow to watch over and over, it’s in your power to give someone you know the artwork they deserve this holiday season. Will you tell me who they are?

Oh, and the best part? The person who nominates the winner (that’s you!) receives a $250 session, print or album credit. So show some love!

Here are the details:

• Alas, you cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Not struggling to pay off their yacht and six vacation homes.)
• The nominee must reside in Washington (West of the Cascades) or Oregon state (Portland area only). Tell me who you know and why they qualify for this giveaway. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.
• You must e-mail me the full story of the person or family you are nominating.
• You have between today and December 28th to nominate someone you know.
• All entries will be reviewed by me and a panel of judges (my homiezzzz) to choose the winner.
• The winner will be announced on New Years Day! So get to OM NOM NOMINATING…I can’t wait to read all of your entries!

If you’re a photographer and want to give back, too, visit the Giving is Awesome website. Open your heart to someone this holiday season — and thank you, sincerely, for supporting me in my photography business and giving me the opportunity to open mine.