We just wanted to wish everyone a very Happy New Year!!! We thought we’d start off this year by sharing some of our most memorable photos from 2011. I am happy to report that 2011 treated us with kindness, mostly, phewy! There were many things to be thankful for but most importantly were the new additions to the family! Babies sure have a way of bringing love and appreciation into lives don’t they? =) This past year we also had the opportunity to do some really amazing things; from hosting our very first photography workshop, to shooting in some beautifully dreamy places, to becoming godfather to a doe-eyed little boy. You see, when you look at the brighter side of things, there is really never much to complain about. yays!

Looking back on all these wonderful times gives us so much motivation to keep taking photos and creating even more memorable sessions! We hope you check back often and join us here as we share more creative portrait sessions and of course, lots of random pretty and geeky stuff as well. =d We hope 2012 brings you lots to smile about! =)

Above: We–or maybe it was just me lol–had so much fun digging through Gaohli’s fabulous shoe collection. She is so darn good looking too and has a shoe closet to die for…we hate her Millie? NO, we love her! =D She is one of the sweetest girls you could ever meet! =D

Below: These sisters were gorgeous and so great to work with. I’m always wary of a pack of beautiful girls because someone is always bound to pull a diva moment…but nope–all came with lovely personalities as well. Did I mention the parking ticket? lol, that was pretty memorable. =/

Absolutely adored this baby session. And with a face like hers–especially this cupcake filled one–who could forget?! cuteness overload. =)

This adorable little family had the most infectious smiles! My nyab had an idea for a shoot with tons of rubber duckies floating around but I asked to borrow them and she so graciously obliged. They were a hit with these two cuties! Why was it memorable? Because of these cuties, we now bring bubble gum (read: bribery) to every one of our family sessions.

Below: Little babies are so adorable, and they grow up way too fast! We were so glad to have been able to see Ty’s nephew Mattie when we was 1 month old. Here’s a sight every parent is guaranteed to love, a baby who’s fast asleep! .

We love the Baeks, they have such a photogenic family! They have been so great to us since we moved up here. =) I love this photo because it captured the kind of energy that little Baron brought to his family session.

In the trusty hands of his father, little Haven took flight!

Another couple that has made our stay here a lot more fun and interesting, Erica and Sebestian!! They are a beautiful pair inside and out. It’s one of the perks of being a photographer, you get to be around so many people in love! What made this engagement session so memorable for us were the crazy adventures together…farm animals and librarians shooshing us and light painting and all. =)

…and a romantic detail photo from their wedding day.

Every time we are in LA, I always want to do a shoot on this rooftop with it’s awesome view of the city lights. This photo is from one of our favorite shoots last year; it had everything we love rolled into one: gorgeous location, glamorous wardrobe, and a beautiful and willing model. Gemco Jewelry, we hope you guys are doing great! <3

Below: We still haven’t found our “picture perfect” orchard yet, but this one came close. It wasn’t the photo that made the day memorable, it was getting pulled over by a police officer for suspiciously circling around and snapping photos at some random field.

Above: Kay wasn’t just looking to the side to be coy… she was also on the lookout for black and white cars.

Below: Failed. =( We call it guerrilla photography… you know? shoot and run before you get caught, ahh the life of an outdoor artist. ;p

Oh how I miss San Francisco and this girl right here! The best hostess anyone could ask for. =) She looked like a goddess in this dress. <3

Kajua and John were in a wedding the previous day but they still had enough energy for a long day with us. =p We’d been wanting to do a shoot at an amusement park–especially on a pretty carousel–and finally got the chance to! These two captured romance so perfectly, can’t wait for their big day.

This was one of our favorite senior sessions, I think Mz must have been practicing her poses in front of the camera because she was working it for the camera that day! ahah

Below: It’s something we’re resolving to do more of this year, do more and share more of our personal creative projects. We found a nearby trail that led to a beautiful spot overlooking the river. Dotted along the way were camellia trees which had fallen petals that created such a romantic mood, we couldn’t avoid snapping away.

…the trail led to a hauntingly beautiful lone tree atop a cliff.

Most memorable about this family session was Caden’s big hug! Julia & Caden’s mom put them in the cutest outfits and brought along a gazillion magical balloons…we loved how their session turned out.

This family is at the top of our favorites list. Look at one of the many faces of TouPheng…adore him! <3

One of our resolutions during the past year was to take more photos of “US”. Valentines Day gave us the perfect excuse to play dress-up!

Below: What was most memorable about this photo below was how it actually happened. We were out location scouting on a balmy afternoon when it suddenly started to snow on us. It was one of the most beautiful things to experience. If only we had a magical white dress with us!

Below: Maybe our favorite personal project session of the year. Like a blackbird, we flocked around town and stopped by every scenic spot we could find. This big mossy tree was a dangerously good climb, maybe that’s why it was so memorable for us.

Early in the year we held a “Quest for the Prettiest Dress” contest. Once we saw Mylee’s beautiful classic wedding dress, we couldn’t wait to photograph her in it. We’re so glad we decided to make a stop by this group of oak trees to snap a few frames because they ended up being our favorites. We’re looking forward to hosting more contests this year as well, so stay tuned!

I’ve loved the scent of lavender since forever and was amazed to finally visit a lavender field…lace, lavender, and Lor girls do go very well together don’t they. =)

Below: Another photo snapped while location scouting (yes, scouting in a dress!). The setting sun with the springtime wild flowers made a perfect combination.

Our storyboard for our anniversary shoot…and it was free since we shot it ourselves. =p

Since it’s overcast here a lot of the times you don’t get as many gorgeous sunsets but we lucked out on this day and hauled butt to get this one of us. =)

Below: Every time we drive by those giant wind turbine things, no matter where we’re driving to or from… we always say the same thing “Gosh, would love to snap a few photos there!”. On a trip to visit friends and family, we finally stopped talking and started snapping. What made this memorable was meeting a new friend (who had allergies we didn’t know of) who was so willing to guide us to the perfect hillside spot full of wild grass everywhere!

Omg, you cannot forget a Vera Wang dress! lol, or Kimy, the owner of it. I felt like I’d known her for years when we first met…maybe it was because she had such great taste in dresses. hehe. We got kicked out of this place shortly after arriving but the stairway outside made for a Cinderella type feel. You looked gorgeous Kimy!

Mai Yer and Pheng are such an ideal couple to work with and we were so honored that they chose us to create another session for them. This one is just another example that you can’t really go wrong with a beautiful couple who are in love.

We had no idea there were wineries in MN but quickly learned otherwise. This fab foursome came to the shoot styled to perfection–even down to their Louboutin shoes! They had great chemistry together and we had a wonderful time shooting them.

Priscilla and Charles and their chihuahua made the cutest trio. Priscilla was very detail-oriented and I was blown away by how many charming vintage props she brought along for their road-trip themed session. We’re excited to share more from their session soon!

All the details that went into this shoot made this one especially memorable for us. Tasha, our Raveness, had THE COOLEST FRIENDS EVER! They made a bird’s nest in their backyard! Now how many friends do you know who would 1). want to make a life-size bird’s nest and 2). can actually do it…mad skills! =D Tasha is also a very cool cat (lover). We’re so thrilled to finally have met her; she is an awesome storyteller too!

Last summer we visited my awesome niece, Kj, in San Francisco and hit jackpot with some BREATHTAKING locations. Another highlight of the trip was meeting Chrissy and Karen! Chrissy was such a trooper while we photographed her from dawn til dusk…so happy to have met you both! =)

Below: Quite possibly our most magical session of the year. When all three things come together so well (location, subject and theme)… it makes us so giddy inside! The chilly afternoon ended perfectly with a tasty bowl of pho too!

We had a great turnout for our photography workshop…omg, yes, it actually happened! Still feels like a dream. =p I was a mess of trepidation and nerves (as I usually am when I have to speak in public) but Ty took the reigns and it turned out to be a really good learning experience for us..hopefully for the attendees as well. =p This year we’re looking to host more workshops that will hopefully get even more people to fall in love with photography.

The New Year

Isn’t it amazing how fast time goes by. It seems like I was just turning legal last year… and now i’m breaking my 30s! WTHeck? But, no matter how fast it goes by, it’s always great to look back at photos and reminisce all the wonderful times. It’s incredible the kind of emotion that a single photo can elicit. Honestly, this is one of the main reasons why we love photography so much… it allows us to capture a moment in time, whether it is of our own lives or from others. This is also one of the most important things we share with our clients and friends: Don’t just take photos… PRINT them! Hang them on the wall or put them in an album and toss them on the coffee table. When you turn them into something you can physically see and touch… you’ll be amazed at how much more you will “feel” when looking at them on the wall or flipping through the pages full of your favorite photos. Think about it this way, how many times have YOU or your friends or family seen the photos that are stored away somewhere in your computer?

Last year flew by so quickly; we just want to thank all of you for love, support and encouragement. Let’s go out and make this year memorable! We hope 2012 brings only the best for you and your loved ones.

<3 Kay & Ty

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