tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7041251524331908512024-03-27T16:53:36.952-07:00Flagstaff Photographer & Designer Sarah NealSharing my Everyday Creative Happenings!Sarah Neal Design & Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02250466203972437485noreply@blogger.comBlogger154125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704125152433190851.post-49084934042748123452018-03-18T23:00:00.000-07:002018-03-18T23:05:21.674-07:00Ethan & Olivia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When I moved to Flagstaff almost 14 years ago, I met many new people all at once. I inherited a new family and along with them an extensive network of friends. One of them was Sue, our church's pianist. At first we would share anecdotal stories here and there in the foyer. We were more or less acquaintances. But sometime in the decade that followed she and I realized we were kindred spirits. We are the kind of friends who have to avoid each other because if we start talking, it'll be 3 hours before we stop. We saw the world through similar frames, and who doesn't feel a special kinship with people who you feel really understand where you come from. She also was one of my biggest fans. I remember her raving about my photos to someone after one of the first weddings I had done in Flagstaff. I remember feeling so validated and appreciated. For the past couple of years I have been turning down wedding photography for the most part, but I knew that if Sue asked me to do one of her kid's weddings... it would be difficult to decline. It wasn't Sue however who approached me. It was Olivia, her future daughter in law. Ethan, her son, had managed to find another kindred spirit who was impossible to decline.<br />
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Olivia has a personality much bigger than her body. She laughs with her whole torso. If she finds anything even slightly amusing her head reels back and out of her mouth comes a laugh that summons every eye to turn in her direction. And as quickly as she laughs, she cries. Not only does this make her and I a lot alike, but this is easiest type of subject to photograph. Emotionally wide open and ready to be captured. Ethan on the other hand is fairly quiet, and on a normal basis more guarded with his displays of emotion. His demeanor however takes on a decided transformation whenever Olivia enters the room. He is besotted and it was never more clear than on their wedding day. So photographing them was easy. And God knew with the streak of craziness I've had, I needed to have a day where I wouldn't have to work for any of the emotions that are in these pictures. It was special and wonderful to be a part of their day.<br />
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And to Olivia's family... I was humbled and blessed to meet you. You are a beautiful and inspiring example of Christianity and I was very much reminded to reprioritize my life to be a better wife and mom. I know Olivia will miss you fiercely, but I also know from personal experience that she will be happy in Flagstaff and there are some of the world's best ready to nurture and love her up on this mountain. Now whether our church can handle two of us roaring with laughter the way we do... we have yet to see.<br />
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P.S. I have had a few requests to do more weddings, and I wanted to just let everyone know that I really am now "officially retired" from wedding assignments. The ones you may see in the future will only be those of very close family and friends. It is hard for me because it's now woven into my identity. It's something I love doing but it consumes more time than what I have. I know with assurance that it matters more that I have time for my kids and husband right now than satisfying my creative outlet. God knows the plan for my life and He knows where he'll use my talents in the future. I couldn't have asked for a better pair to officially end this chapter of my career on and am so grateful for each person who trusted me on their big day. I will always be humbled that you chose me.<br />
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<br />Sarah Neal Design & Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02250466203972437485noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704125152433190851.post-82254535998134884782017-07-09T09:16:00.000-07:002017-07-09T09:16:23.443-07:00Eliane & Flavio<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sometimes in life when you ask for clear skies, you get clouds and rain ... and somehow it's exactly what you needed even if it's not what you thought you wanted. And the miracle? It was not the doom and gloom predicted... it was mostly dry... romantic.. and dramatic. It was perfect for the adventurous and enthusiastic pair that I had to photograph. I was so thankful my prayers were answered for the rain to stay at bay. I was so excited about incorporating the epic landscapes into their pictures and I was so grateful to be able to capture them as I pictured it. The moments of sunshine rewarding and more beautiful than a flawless blue sky. I loved watching Eliane and Flavio smile through all the four seasons that were displayed on one summer day in the mountains of Switzerland... and I felt confident that they flourish no matter what life hands them. Most weddings I have to use my "do a fake laugh" trick to oil the cogs and get everyone to genuinely smile... not this bunch. I don't have a single serious photo... they were truly happy. Beautiful people on the inside and out and probably my favorite venue to date, the Wetterhorn lodge in the Alps. Thank you to Eliane's best friend Hannah who is my cousin who connected us. I am grateful for the opportunity and thankful I was able to share your day. Enjoy a few highlights! P.S. Shout out to my awesome Aunt Christina who made the cake. It was amazing and matched the venue perfectly!</div>
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Sarah Neal Design & Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02250466203972437485noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704125152433190851.post-42373835782094037302017-05-27T14:06:00.000-07:002017-05-27T14:07:29.184-07:00Tresor and Naomi<img src="http://bikegrandcanyon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/top.jpg" />
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14 years ago an email popped up in my inbox from my friend Maranatha. She was getting married and she needed a photographer and she wanted ME to take the pictures. I immediately refused. To that date, I had only taken photos of animals and landscapes... the occasional portrait of a friend or family member... but nothing even remotely close to a wedding. I was an amateur, with amateur equipment and I was absolutely unsuitable for the job. But she said she had faith that I could do it and wouldn't take no for an answer. I proceeded with heavy caution and a warning that she may regret her decision. Their wedding was beautiful... but it was the most stressful day of my life to that point. I was shooting with film so I had no idea how the pictures were turning out. I ran out of batteries and film and scrambled to nearby stores to restock. I told myself I would NEVER EVER do it again. And then I got the photos developed. They were beautiful. Not like the ones I take now, but still the most rewarding images I had taken to that date. As you all know, it was not the last wedding I would shoot.<br />
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Now, one and a half decades later, I stepped off the plane in Montreal to photograph her baby sister's wedding. Ironically my life has taken many twists and turns and I feel like it may be one of the last weddings I take on because I have so many other commitments. But I am grateful I was wrangled into this family to shoot their weddings because in the past 14 years I've had the opportunity to travel to awesome places, grow as a person and an artist, and fellowship with amazing people. Naomi and Tresor were no exception.<br />
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Naomi is a born and raised Montreal native. Tresor is an African immigrant living in Paris. Both are amazing artists and musicians. Naomi is my age, 35, and she gave a beautiful speech speaking of God's love in her life when He gave her Tresor. How he numbers the hairs on our head, and knows before we do how we will spend our days, and who he will place in them to share them with. It was wonderful to see how God placed them together... and a reminder that he has someone perfectly suited for everyone.. and through trial and tribulation.. He already knows the end of the story, and if we are supposed to be with someone... God will make a way.<br />
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Naomi's and Tresor's faith was so evident at their wedding... even down to her confession that ALL WOULD WORK OUT with the details of the day. There were many miraculous things that happened down to how God intervened to get me to the wedding on time. Everywhere we went beautiful light followed... and when they agreed to take their shoes off a descend half way down a cliff face to get photos in front of a waterfall... they were greeted with a rainbow. I pray that for the rest of their life, that when they decend into valleys... when times get rough or challenging... that they embrace it the way they did the cliffs on their wedding day. With no fear or hesitation. With excitement for the results that would follow the challenge. And with God's love ever present and highlighting each part of their lives like that rainbow did.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #525252; font-family: "helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>Le Dieu vous benit Tresor and Naomi! </b></span>And thank you to the Fergusson family for always believing in me (especially you Maranatha). You're a big part of my journey and I will always be thankful and grateful for you!<br />
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Here are a few of my favorites of their day in Shawinigan, Quebec!<br />
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<img src="http://bikegrandcanyon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/strip2.jpg" />Sarah Neal Design & Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02250466203972437485noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704125152433190851.post-31814283048459390982015-04-27T22:12:00.000-07:002017-05-27T12:44:39.609-07:00Danny & Ali in NJ<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here is the abbreviated version of the love story of Danny and Ali: unattached tech geek with sports obsession meets not-exactly-single design student at a party. It's not a "love at first sight" kind of thing... more of a "hey you're pretty awesome...ok see ya later" kinda thing. But coincidentally at a later date when designer Ali has conveniently become "detached" from her former love interest, they meet again at another party and find out that they have all the most important things in life in common: a love for Seinfeld, a deep life-long commitment to the Yankees - and they're in the same field of work. I mean.. really... match made in heaven right? Well anyway... that's how they saw it. And clearly when you look at them together... they really are just made for one another. Usually when I put a blog post together I have a handful of photos of the couple amongst everything else going on during the wedding festivities... but with these two there are just dozens and dozens of photos of them staring at each other and they trumped the other pictures. And not because I told them to either. Ok... some are.. :) ... but many are not.<br />
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This makes me so happy because I've known Danny for a long time. I worked remotely from Arizona for graphicd-signs.com in New Jersey till last year. I was a web designer. Danny was the programmer. So i got to know about this sweet, humble, selfless, talented man via messaging, emails and phone calls. And I always wondered when he talked so highly of Ali, whether she was awesome as him. Turns out she was. So much so that when I finally met her after she started working at the same company, I told them if they ever got married I would fly out to do their wedding photos. And that probably was highly inappropriate to say at that stage of the dating game.. but thankfully last weekend I got to make good on that promise. And the bonus? My sister flew out with me for the weekend to be my AMAZING second shooter (many of these photos are hers!). Thank God she was there. For a week I researched ways to make the impending stormy day into creative and moody rain clad occasion. Through the week prior to the wedding the chance of showers climbed 10% every day until it hit 90% the night before the wedding. When I saw Danny that morning he had optimistically declined to buy umbrellas and hadn't looked out the window at the rain. He (and my sister) were both faithfully proclaiming that the skies would open up, the sun would shine down on us and everything would turn out ok. I'll let the photos tell you the rest of the story. :) I was so very thankful to God for helping us out!<br />
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I will pause here to say that the reception venue was "The Palace at Somerset"... and I could probably point out many highlights about the venue but the thing I will compliment them on above all was the most phenomenal food I've had at any wedding - it was outstanding. Ok... moving on...<br />
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Thanks Danny and Ali for giving us an excuse to take a mini vacation to NYC. I got to hang with my cousin and brother AND sister in the big apple. I feel SO blessed to have been given the chance. I pray your life is blessed abundantly... and that all the storms on your horizon turn into a beautiful day like your wedding!Sarah Neal Design & Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02250466203972437485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704125152433190851.post-48226125691248401932015-01-17T09:00:00.000-08:002015-01-17T20:18:18.086-08:00Dustin & Hannah at The Wright House<img src="http://sarahnealphotography.com/blog/hannahdustin/5.jpg" /><br />
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Hannah's Grandfather said it best. Hannha is shy and introverted. But behind her quiet eyes is a great thinker and observer... a great sense of humor...and a free and joyful nature that few are let in on. Dustin saw it. And he took no chances. Young though they may be... he found his "one" and she found hers. They were married, and I was honored to be there to document it. At a beautiful old Victorian style house in Mesa - <a href="http://www.thewrighthouse.com/">the Wright House</a> -they said their vows under giant trees that looked like they belonged in the South-East instead of the South-West. After the wedding we went to do the formal photographs in a nearby garden and after the nerves of the wedding were gone, and the day was almost completely finished.. Hannah walked across the lawns and without being prompted twirled around and around and around in her dress. "Look what this dress can do!" she said. And in that moment I also got to see the other side of Hanna. In that sense I'm so lucky at weddings... if I do my job properly, people start to forget I'm there - and they are just their uninhibited self. And I get to see couples as they really are together... and I can tell that these two adore one another. They are great examples of humility and grace and christianity. Congratulations Hanna and Dustin - glad I got to meet you and I look forward to seeing how you bloom in life. P.S. I'm working on trying to compile posts into one page. Sorry for the length. One of my 2015 goals is to be more selective and brief.. didn't succeed on this one!<br />
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<img src="http://sarahnealphotography.com/blog/hannahdustin/4.jpg" />Sarah Neal Design & Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02250466203972437485noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704125152433190851.post-69483376665085079712014-09-20T14:26:00.001-07:002014-09-20T14:28:09.459-07:00Shelby and Trent: Portraits and Reception<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sarah Neal Design & Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02250466203972437485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704125152433190851.post-68314501492003753802014-09-19T12:08:00.002-07:002014-09-19T12:09:42.930-07:00Shelby and Trent: The Wedding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I learned a lot from this wedding. I learned that sometimes strong conviction, fierce determination, unrelenting love, and unwavering devotion comes in tiny blue eyed, blonde haired packages like Shelby. And I learned that sometimes the softest of hearts and the warmest of genuine tears come from giant men like Trent. I have heard via the grapevine through the years of Shelby's ability to stand up for anyone who has been left out or threatened. I watched as she uncomfortably took the spotlight and accommodated the attention hesitantly.... all the while not seeming to be aware of the fact that pretty much no person on planet earth could have outshone her beauty on her wedding day. Then I saw Trent sob... yes... literally gasp back tears as he not only watched his bride approach him... but even as his friends and little brothers entered the isle!!! I witnessed both she and Trent, whose appearance could have warranted feeling a little elevated than the rest of us... be very humble. Very grateful. Very unaware of anybody's eyes but each others. And I have enormous respect and admiration for both of them. And I wish them nothing but a blessed and happy existence. God Bless you guys! Here are my favorites of getting ready and wedding pics and we'll post the formal photos tomorrow including some by very talented second photographer for the day Caitlin Buchanan. You totally made my day! :)<br /><br />
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Sarah Neal Design & Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02250466203972437485noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704125152433190851.post-36829226471860053622014-07-02T15:06:00.001-07:002014-07-02T15:06:35.347-07:00Sophie and Ben in Italy: The Reception<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Like most of us do, I sometimes find my family weird.. which explains perfectly why I am weird. And if you asked any of the extended family they would all agree without insult that we're... quirky. That's a good word. But for all our quirks... I have to say... I'm pretty sure I belong to one of the coolest families on the planet. I enjoy everyone's company. Genuinely... from my little cousins to my oldest grandparents - I actually can have a thrilling conversation. I can find common ground with all of them. I sat back and and enjoyed a piece of American cake (amazing!) under an Italian sky... and observed 3 generations of Bussells & Taylors join with Chengs. How strange that time has not changed anybody's energy level. There I watched my uncle dance along side Sophie's new father-in-law Terrance and thought "weird... he's so much like my Dad"... which I don't think very often about anyone. I felt exhausted just watching these two families. Is everyone this full of spunk and vitality or was this the pivotal common denominator that Sophie and Ben share? My grandparents in their 80s danced and chatted till 2 am. Well... specifically my Grandfather danced- his counterparts more or less swayed... he got DOWN! And then like some impossible miracle everyone showed up sober and smiling at the next day's brunch. If genetics count for anything... I have no excuse for being jet lagged 2 weeks post Europe return. I am lucky to be tied to such a crazy and incredible bunch. Sophie and Ben - may your lives be as wonderful as your wedding!! It was stupendously beautiful! As much as the venue made it what it was... I think your family and guests were the real stars of the show. I cannot wait to see the chaos that ensues when we all try to do christmas together one day. I digress.... I love you both. Thank you so much again for giving me the opportunity. Photographing such wonderful people in such a stunning location will always be remembered as a highlight of my career. And Chengs... I feel like I've known you forever already. Welcome to the family!<br />
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Sarah Neal Design & Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02250466203972437485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704125152433190851.post-28363843016936232352014-06-28T09:41:00.002-07:002014-06-28T09:44:20.931-07:00Sophie and Ben in Italy: The Portraits<a href="http://www.sarahnealphotography.com/blog/chengwedding/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sarahnealphotography.com/blog/chengwedding/5.jpg" /></a>Shooting in this location was Downton Abbey meets Under the Tuscan Sun. Seriously. There was virtually no way to not get gorgeous portraits. Castles and vineyards and perfect golden light. It drizzled in the morning and I was pumping everyone up for moody dark skies (I love those too) but I'm grateful that we got that beautiful sun as cream on the top of an already unbelievable location to shoot in. From a photographer's perspective it was every bit as wonderful as I imagined it. Thank you Sophie for lugging that dress down a dirt road to that vineyard to satisfy a wish I'd always had.... you guys are super awesome! :)<br />
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Sarah Neal Design & Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02250466203972437485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704125152433190851.post-26653287271028785022014-06-27T15:14:00.002-07:002014-06-27T15:33:16.804-07:00Sophie and Ben in Italy: The Ceremony<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sophie called me months back to ask if I would photograph her wedding. As previously mentioned, she is my cousin. My throat developed an immediate knot in it. Many emotions all at once. It was very flattering to be asked but I stalled with hesitation for some reason... it made me more nervous than usual. She hung up and called my other cousin Hannah in panic - "everyone has such high expectations of this wedding! Sarah was actually scared to accept the job!". We were all soon to find out that there was no need for concern that anyone's hopes would be dashed. Sophie and Ben kept their venue a secret. It was somewhere near Florence... that's all we knew. Show up for the bus on the right day, and you would be granted passage to some undisclosed location where none of us were quite sure what to expect. The day before the wedding a lucky few were allowed to see "the spot" and the minute the giant front gate swung open, I knew my own ideas would be exceeded. Surreal was a good way to describe it. The wedding turned out to be at Castello di Vincigliata - (see http://castellodivincigliata.it/it/castello.php), a castle atop a Tuscan hillside, surrounded by vineyards with a magnificent view of Florence. The ceremony was in the gardens. I found the sermon to be somber and serious, yet uplifting and heartfelt... the poetry and scriptures read were reflective of the real challenges that a marriage and a life faces and the sometimes hard reality of God's expectations of our relationship... and I felt nearer to the creator when it was finished. That part I wasn't expecting... it was the real surprise of the day for me. And after my initial hesitation it turned out that the wedding was so photogenic that it would have been hard to mess up. God gave us perfect weather and lots of raw emotion. What more could a photographer ask for? I just hope for those that weren't there (my immediate family unfortunately among others missed it) that I was able to capture the essence of what this day was for you to see!<br />
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Sarah Neal Design & Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02250466203972437485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704125152433190851.post-75221078180892377862014-06-26T09:23:00.000-07:002014-06-26T09:44:26.038-07:00Sophie & Ben in Italy: Getting Ready<a href="http://sarahnealphotography.com/blog/chengwedding/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://sarahnealphotography.com/blog/chengwedding/3.jpg" /></a><br />
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It's odd to start this post with a photo that could have been taken on any street, in any place on planet earth. You wouldn't know by looking at it but we had an italian castle to our right and a spectacular vineyard to our left. But I loved this photo because all through the wedding day there were mentions of the journey Sophie and Ben had taken to meet one another and a road is the perfect metaphor for their relationship. Not just their journey but the journey of their parents. Ben... son of a chinese immigrant to America who met a beautiful chinese girl visiting with her family on vacation and swept her off her feet. Sophie, daughter of a South African immigrant to England who married his British born sweetheart and then relocated to Switzerland. And yet Sophie and Ben met in none of the previously mentioned places. They had left their respective hometowns to take jobs in Singapore. They only met because each had been a companion to a friend who was supposed to be "set up" with the other's. The relationship that was supposed to be setup didn't work. But Ben and Sophie discovered quickly that they enjoyed each other's company. It wasn't that instant spark kind of thing either. It was the slow awakening to the fact that they had found something amazing... a kindred spirit. And it's a lesson that we should all trust our journey... that God sometimes has plans so poetically unpredictable that one can only marvel at Grace that knows what's good for us more than we know what's good for us.<br />
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Sophie is my cousin. As an adult she is a spectacular example of confidence. She has a commanding presence. A sophisticated and exotic beauty. A laugh so big that it'll stop any passer by in their tracks. I lived in South Africa when I grew up while she lived in Switzerland but we shared many family holidays together and ever since I laid eyes on her (probably when she was 3 years old) I adored her. We shared a strange genetically inherited sense of humor that often only we get. (and Ben...) We didn't spend enormous amounts of time together if you were to add it all up... but if you consider that you've shared most of your craziest mosquito ridden journeys into desolate parts of the world together... you understand why you have a bond. And you understand why you've had those heart to heart talks about who you would want to marry one day. Like how they would be older, wiser, well traveled and defineately not American.<br />
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Sophie will be moving to Texas soon. Like me she will be an american. I have to laugh. Just like she swore she would never be. But in exchange for swallowing her words she gets an awesome guy - just crazy enough to be willing to call all of us family and sweet enough to love Sophie and her raucous laugh like I do. I am SO happy I got to photograph this wedding. It was a dream come true! Let's start the posts with some photos of everyone getting ready in the Montebello Splendid Hotel in Florence.<br />
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<a href="http://sarahnealphotography.com/blog/chengwedding/gettingready.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://sarahnealphotography.com/blog/chengwedding/gettingready.jpg" /></a>Sarah Neal Design & Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02250466203972437485noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704125152433190851.post-29835301213809080392013-10-15T10:23:00.002-07:002013-10-15T10:23:19.028-07:00Tyler and Kelly's Wedding<img src="http://www.sarahnealphotography.com/blog/rebers/2.jpg" /><br /><br />
You can tell a lot about someone by attending their wedding. I knew Tyler because he's my brother in law's oldest best friend. I knew Kelly because her Dad owns the river company that my husband worked for for 8 years. I've watched them grow up from a distance. But I learned more at their wedding that I could have seen from afar. I learned that Tyler and Kelly have seen all the places on earth that I want to go which takes wisdom with money and lots of planning. I learned that they have families that adore them and friends that think the world of them. They have classy taste and a beautiful wedding but were really relaxed especially when I guided their photographic decisions to a farm(thank you for trusting me). Most of all - I learned that they are respectful. I can tell they have a deep respect for one another in the way they interact with each other... a respect for their parents... and in turn I could see a unanimous respect for them from everyone. People spoke of their selflessness, friendliness and the willingness to turn to both in a time of need. I think these are two truly good people... and I think that'll make for a wonderful life together that'll bless many more people in turn. It was so lovely being a part of their day. Thank you to the Coates family who allowed us to use their farm for pictures before the wedding. You guys are awesome and your farm is so photogenic!! Here are a few of my favorites from the wedding.<br />
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<img src="http://www.sarahnealphotography.com/blog/rebers/1.jpg" /> Sarah Neal Design & Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02250466203972437485noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704125152433190851.post-5483593952460610372013-10-02T15:06:00.004-07:002013-10-02T15:06:50.888-07:00Monique and Jay's Wedding Part 2<br />
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I'll start this post with a reading they had at their wedding that I thought summed up well how they feel about one another:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">“He’s not perfect. You aren’t either, and the two of you will never be perfect. But if he can make you laugh at least once, causes you to think twice, and if he admits to being human and making mistakes, hold onto him and give him the most you can. He isn’t going to quote poetry, he’s not</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">thinking about you every moment, but he will give you a part of him that he knows you could break. Don’t hurt him, don’t change him, and don’t expect for more than he can give. Don’t analyze. Smile when he makes you happy, yell when he makes you mad, and miss him when he’s not there. Love hard when there is love to be had. Because perfect guys don’t exist, but there’s always one guy that is perfect for you.”" - Bob Marley</span>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><img src="http://www.sarahnealphotography.com/blog/moniquejay/3.jpg" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;" /></span>Sarah Neal Design & Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02250466203972437485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704125152433190851.post-23256305952520754232013-09-27T09:17:00.000-07:002013-09-27T09:31:13.040-07:00Jay and Monique's Wedding Part 1<img src="http://www.sarahnealphotography.com/blog/moniquejay/2.jpg" /><br />
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Carlos is my husband's best friend from high school. Through the years we've been to many of the Garcia family's celebrations. They have always been full of great food, raucous laughter... and dancing. From the beginning to the end. When his sister Monique got married last weekend - it was no exception. Only this time everything was exponentially louder, prouder and funnier.You see... Monique managed to find a guy with a family that can actually rival the Garcia clan for vivacious energy and downright spunk... and together it was magic! What a fun and beautiful day Jay and Monique turned out to have. They did a first look since their ceremony was at sunset and we needed to use daylight for most of the portraits. The results were gorgeous... it's one of my first Phoenix weddings (the last one I did was 5 years ago) and I had so much fun working with a different environment. The <a href="http://scottsdale.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html" target="_blank">Scottsdale Regency</a> made a perfect backdrop for these photos and I think I snapped my favorite ring shot ever!<br />
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<img src="http://www.sarahnealphotography.com/blog/moniquejay/1.jpg" /><br />
Ceremony and reception pics coming soon. Stay tuned.<br />
<br />Sarah Neal Design & Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02250466203972437485noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704125152433190851.post-64188239931402575922013-08-23T16:50:00.003-07:002013-09-27T09:31:26.791-07:00Tim and Jenna's Wedding Part 2<img src="http://sarahnealphotography.com/blog/nealwedding/7.jpg" /><br />
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This is what happens when a beautiful location collides with amazing light, lovable characters and an antique bus conveniently colored to match the wedding party. Tim chose his Dad and brothers as his groomsmen and in true Neal style... not a single photo is serious.<br />
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The campus of this school is so charming. I could have been on a foreign continent with it's quaint buildings and exotic plants. I loved this place for photography almost more than any other place I've ever been.<br />
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In honor of Tim's love of the Irish... I thought I'd wish you two away with this Irish wedding blessing:<br />
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<i>May God be with you and bless you.<br />May you see your children's children.<br />May you be poor in misfortune, rich in blessings.<br />May you know nothing but happiness.<br />From this day forward.</i><br />
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<i>P.S. You guys win for most photogenic kissers in the last decade of my photography. These two have that old-fashioned movie thing going on. :)</i></div>
<br />Sarah Neal Design & Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02250466203972437485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704125152433190851.post-27973911363694813512013-08-21T16:19:00.000-07:002013-09-27T09:31:41.936-07:00Tim & Jenna's Wedding<img src="http://sarahnealphotography.com/blog/nealwedding/3.jpg" /><br />
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Sometimes life has a sense of irony. A few years back I went to Jerome with Jenna to take graduation pictures. At the time she was a friend of a friend. :) I took photos and came home reflecting on her grace and maturity and wished her the best in achieving all her dreams. Read that<a href="http://http//photographydesigner.blogspot.com/2010/07/jenna.html" target="_blank"> blog post </a>here. Little did I know that it wouldn't be long till her heart would turn toward my handsome brother in law, who though much older, immediately fell for Jenna himself and the dreams I wished her to achieve would end up revolving around joining our family and sharing her new and future dreams with Tim. She wrangled the heart of a true bachelor and the rest as they say... is history. Last weekend I got to witness and photograph two people who gave me the privilege every photographer longs for - the chance to capture two people whose joy at being finally "each other's" transcended awkwardness and blossomed into beautiful genuine pictures. I chose the first photo in this post not because it's in the best location or because it's the most impressive... but because I felt like it perfectly captured how these two feel about one another. And hey... you can be a billionaire and not be able to buy someone looking at you like that. That makes you wealthy guys! Congratulations on your NEW wife Timmy. :)<br />
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This is their ceremony held at the gorgeous chapel of the Verde Valley International Boarding school . It is the most stunning location imaginable but an interesting challenge for a photographer with the massive contrast of the background. Even straight-out-of-camera some of the pictures looked a little unrealistic... but really... this is JUST what it looked like.<br />
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In the next few days I'm so excited to share their formal pictures. The venue and the people did not fail my high exceptions. :) Stay tuned!<br />
<br />Sarah Neal Design & Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02250466203972437485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704125152433190851.post-58457878025034558492013-06-08T17:30:00.000-07:002013-06-09T10:17:40.829-07:00Hannah and Zachary<a href="http://www.sarahnealphotography.com/blog/wallace/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sarahnealphotography.com/blog/wallace/2.jpg" /></a>We moved our house (and inherently the home office of two businesses that reside in our house), shot a handful of shoots and weddings, went for a business trip back east, moved out and cleaned up our old house as a rental and renovated half our new house in the past 6 weeks. All without taking a day off work. Yikes! Anyway... needless to say I have gotten WAY behind with work. I know these two must be dying to see their pictures so I had to at least get this post up until I could finish editing the wedding. It was beautiful and all the work and love and thought was carefully placed into each detail. It was emotional, and musical and spiritual. My friend and fellow photographer Reg Plett did an awesome job shooting along side me and some of these beautiful images are his including this first one of Zachary.<br />
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Sarah Neal Design & Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02250466203972437485noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704125152433190851.post-41901331086533827012013-03-22T15:26:00.004-07:002013-03-22T15:26:54.001-07:00Skylar & Lydia Part Two<img src="http://sarahnealphotography.com/blog/hansons/7.jpg" /><br />
<br />I've taken a handful of photographer assistants with me through the years. I've told a lot of them that my secret to good photography is prayer. Really... you may scoff. BUT I can't count how many times things were going awry with locations or disastrous weather etc. and I told a bride or groom that it was all going to be okay because I prayed before I started that day. I had one wedding go wrong a few years back. I was a rooky. I was over-ambitious. I was kind of over-confident and ... I didn't pray. Pray being that 5 minute pause in the car before everything starts... where I take a deep breath and ask God before I even snap the first picture that I'll SEE the right pictures and that he'll help gather my scattered thoughts.<br />
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At Skylar and Lydia's wedding I was very excited because we had an hour to go to the Granite Dells near Prescott to do formal photos but when I arrived to scout at 3 pm the day before (the time the photos would take place the following day) I was bewildered to find no shade (solid light), and harsh overhead sun casting shadows. As photographers we look for shade, backlighting or front lighting - overhead light is the hardest to work with. The following day was forecast to be again a hot, cloudless, sunshine filled day. I prayed. I asked God - "please... just a few clouds". When we arrived the following day it was blazingly hot and my fair eyed subjects were struggling with the glare. Then... literally witnessed by all the wedding party nearby the wispy strips of cloud started to "grow" and a large piece of thin cloud covered the area above us. It created a beautiful softbox until we were finished and literally at that moment the sun re-emerged. By the end of the shoot I had shared with them what I had prayed and so we all laughed when it moved the second we were finished. BUT REALLY I just want to thank God for so many times where things have gone this way for me. And seriously... look at what kind of pictures that wispy cloud created - they were a wedding gift JUST for Lydia and Skylar from God. :)<br />
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And here is that gorgeous reception I told you about in that last post!<br />
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<br />Sarah Neal Design & Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02250466203972437485noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704125152433190851.post-4072121351744831972013-03-12T17:23:00.001-07:002013-03-12T17:52:20.884-07:00Complimenting something that's ACTUALLY important!<img src="http://sarahnealphotography.com/blog/hansons/4.jpg" /><br />
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The people. The vows. The setting. The food. The music. The details.<br />
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Usually one of these things stands out more than the rest at any given wedding and that's usually what my photography clings to. I look for what makes me feel and see beauty and I try to convey how a wedding felt using photographs of that particular part to underscore how a day came together. I gave a lot of thought to what I really remember and saw at this wedding. I think most people would have said the same thing who attended - the most remarkable part about this wedding was the details. The flowers ... the clothes... the carefully chosen props and lovingly crafted decor... that unbelievable ceiling.<br />
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If that sounds kind of superficial to single out the physical aspects of a wedding over the love and vows exchanged - I'll explain why it's not. Never have I ever done a wedding where I saw more of the love reflected and symbolized in each tiny detail as I did in this one. Two families from two countries came together to turn this young couple's day into an amazing representation of love and commitment. Not just a show of "pinterest" details, but full of well thought out, painstakingly created symbols of who each family is and what they bring to this marriage. Every time someone saw me turning a piece of furniture into the light or posing a bouquet for an image they told me something amazing about it. Who thought of it, created it, what each flower represented, how God and family and love was woven into each crevice of this wedding.<br />
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To start - Skylar and his family are from Saskatchewan Canada. They are farmers. They brought wheat all the way from their land to incorporate into the decorating. It was worked into the bouquets, boutonnieres, and table arrangements. Lydia is from Arizona so she picked succulents as her representative bloom. Skylar's sister and mom picked berries in Canada and made hundreds of beautiful jars of jam for guests. They used corrugated metal in their reception formed into grain silo shapes. They used Lydia's parent's antiques. Lydia's mom and sisters collected hundreds of yards of fabric and draped the ceiling with beautiful color and her Dad hunted down low watt bulbs to light the room with. I'm only describing the beginning of what transpired to make this wedding happen.<br />
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All of this to say this: when I looked at the details at this wedding I saw much more than "something pretty". I saw two AMAZING families who had come together and worked really hard to make something beautiful. I saw one family receiving a new member into their presence with joy and elation and another sending their loved one far away - but with such grace and unselfish love that on several occasions a big knot formed in my throat and I welled up thinking how my Mom and Dad kissed me goodbye and sent their little Canadian daughter off to Arizona with the same selfless sentiments.<br />
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A week after the wedding Skylar's mom wrote me a note after seeing a preview of the pictures. She told me how wonderful she thought the pictures were and encouraged me to nurture and continue using my gift. We exchanged a few texts about how I didn't want to let my career rob my time with my kids and in response she said something that was profound. Not profound because it's an unusual thing to say - but profound because I see in her family the results of actually "walking the walk" and not "talking the talk". She said the most important task you will ever have is raising your children and in particular giving them the gift of receiving Jesus.<br />
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I can post a photo on Facebook and get dozens of comments on how nice it is. People often say "it's not fair.. you're so talented". It's easy to see something like a photo and say "great" or not "great". But here's the thing... in the grand scheme of things taking a nice photo is about the most irrelevant thing one can be good at. Being a great parent? Near the top. Children can often let it go by unnoticed, unappreciated and unacknowledged and you're not likely to get nice comments where people point out your particularly great methods of child rearing. I think it's SO important that these people know what a great job they've done of parenting. So here goes:<br />
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To both the Hansons and the Wallaces. Kudos. You have raised a superb bunch of kids. I was blown away by every one of them. Each of them are funny, vivacious, spunky and adventurous. Yet they love you guys, are unashamed of their upbringing and all have a grounded and balanced love for God and a passionate relationship with Jesus. I hope I can be half as good a parent as you all are. I hope I get to shoot more weddings in your family in the future. :) And Bruce... man... one more of those poems for your daughters and I'll be reduced to sobbing. Really. :)<br />
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Here is part one of the pics.<br />
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Their awesome portraits at the Granite Dells and that crazy reception coming soon.Sarah Neal Design & Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02250466203972437485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704125152433190851.post-78586910809458388092013-01-26T22:18:00.000-08:002013-01-26T22:35:51.106-08:00Facebook and Other Pressing MattersLife is changing. Actually... what a strange statement. Isn't life just one revolving set of changes? Just when you have things figured out and you think you know your trajectory - a curve balls heads in your direction and you have to rethink your course. Those of you who know me well know we had lots of challenges in our lives regarding Silas, my 18 month old, who was born with a rare condition called Benign Paroxsymal Torticollis. See that first word? Benign? Yeah... the first time I read those words it jumped and grabbed me. It rattled me awake and told me that despite all the grave outcomes I thought were coming my way - that instead there was hope... hope that in the end everything would be OK! But it also told me that I had a special set of challenges and that I have such a short time to really share and impact my kid's lives. I was a little absorbed in things that God didn't want me so engrossed in at the time. And He sometimes has ways to get the message to you that are a little unorthodox but very effective. ANYWAY...this is all one LONG story which I will share in the not too distant future. It's just too amazing not to share. <br />
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Well - all this to say this: I took a full year off from photography to be with my son. Work with him through physical therapy and play as much as possible and give him the extra attention that he has needed through this sickness. He is slowly but surely rising out of it....has caught up physically and is now working on speech. Medical experts say it generally resolves between 2 and 3. I am looking forward to whenever that time is for us but in the meantime am actually grateful (Thank you Jesus what a victory) that God found us worthy of this trial. I made friends I would never have had, found God to be a friend like no other and will always have a burden for others in trials like this that I never could have had. Taking the time off has been SO worth it and he and Lydia and Wes will continue to be my top priority. That IS outside of God. I have found myself convicted of late that I just don't give enough time to the Lord. He has done SO SO SO much for me in the past year that I owe him EVERYTHING. I don't want one thing... work, talents, friendships, illnesses etc. to be an idol I place before him. WHICH brings me to why I am writing this post.<br />
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I'm not really sure what I want to do with my photography. I'm torn as to whether I want to continue taking on weddings or just concentrate on family and children in the near vicinity. For those of you who pray - pray God leads me and gives me discernment in this matter. I have days where I feel like maybe I should give away all my equipment and not do it at all. I'm grateful that God has gotten me to a place where this hobby is not my idol. It's just something I want to do if HE wants me to do it. I am going to attempt to do some photo work this year and just see how it goes. I still love it... it excites me and I feel like I get to reach people and communicate in a special way that God has given me. I don't have a lot of time though and blog posts take a LONG time. So I decided that I would instead use facebook for the majority of my photo posts. If you like looking at my photos and sharing/commenting etc. please head over to my facebook page and hit "like". I'll hopefully be a bit more active on there. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sarah-Neal-Photography/115983088412308">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sarah-Neal-Photography/115983088412308</a> . But again... please do keep me in your prayers in this matter.<br />
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For now Good night and God Bless you wherever you are. Thanks for your support through the years.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaj-6RXngW1V2VXJfSFTnYbZL8VdkKgjrcdqhcdf9JkSmaeqmIiko7xaKkkQvM0dXVTzWD2LxdgQnOf9I5ipeC2ntLcxGzkMxErZEG0L4PnBIhrKnZzG5mOL6zcQxWpmZCntC64WwbLE/s1600/silas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaj-6RXngW1V2VXJfSFTnYbZL8VdkKgjrcdqhcdf9JkSmaeqmIiko7xaKkkQvM0dXVTzWD2LxdgQnOf9I5ipeC2ntLcxGzkMxErZEG0L4PnBIhrKnZzG5mOL6zcQxWpmZCntC64WwbLE/s1600/silas.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaj-6RXngW1V2VXJfSFTnYbZL8VdkKgjrcdqhcdf9JkSmaeqmIiko7xaKkkQvM0dXVTzWD2LxdgQnOf9I5ipeC2ntLcxGzkMxErZEG0L4PnBIhrKnZzG5mOL6zcQxWpmZCntC64WwbLE/s1600/silas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">This is my sweet boy a couple of months ago!</a></div>
<br />Sarah Neal Design & Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02250466203972437485noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704125152433190851.post-32060158959361545442012-12-14T16:16:00.002-08:002012-12-14T16:20:52.455-08:00The maternity shoot that turned into a 2 year old shoot.<a href="http://sarahnealphotography.com/blog/brianamaternity/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://sarahnealphotography.com/blog/brianamaternity/2.jpg" /></a>Who could blame me... she's too darn cute in that red jacket to ignore :) <br />
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I went to their house on the first big snowstorm of the year before the snow had been plowed off the roads or blown off the street signs. 8:30am. An adventure let me tell you. Why? Because at 9:30 Briana thought she was going to be induced and we wanted to make sure she had a keepsake this time. We decided I would be a good element to the morning because LAST time we tried to do maternity pictures was also on a morning when I got a frantic call from Levi to say that there would be no photos - Briana was in labor. Today I had the reverse effect. She went in after the photos only to find out that no... she would be waiting through the weekend for that tiny baby to cook a little longer. I know you're disappointed Bri but hopefully your little Claire...errr... Maternity shoot pictures will cheer you up. :) Babies come when they're supposed to. :)<br />
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<br />Sarah Neal Design & Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02250466203972437485noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704125152433190851.post-44906227013178196432012-11-15T13:50:00.001-08:002012-11-16T06:01:21.121-08:00Skylar and Lydia's Engagement Pics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Skylar and Lydia" sounds a lot like "Silas and Lydia" (my kid's names). I hope my children turn out as sweet, adventurous and free-spirited as these two when they grow up. They are beautiful inside and out. And their photos were totally worth the overheating car and "off-roading" experience in a Jetta up to cow pies in Sedona. Pink Jeep ain't got nothing on Sarah Neal Photography. ;) Can't wait to photograph these two Canuck's March wedding. Enjoy a few favorites from your engagement pics!<br />
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<img src="http://www.sarahnealphotography.com/blog/lydiaskylar/3.jpg" />Sarah Neal Design & Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02250466203972437485noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704125152433190851.post-73033129609904790022012-10-21T17:06:00.000-07:002012-11-16T06:01:46.278-08:00Lil' T-West Out on the Ranch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Almost 5 years ago I headed to the outskirts of Flagstaff's rural region to the base of a cinder hill to photograph a wedding. The bride and groom were meeting at their log home before heading into the fields to seal their relationship with a kiss and a vow atop a grassy knoll in the desert. It was a day I remember well and people I remember fondly. Both are creative, (Alex is a phenomenal artist!!) free spirited and blessed with open minds and hearts and it was the first time I was released (actually encouraged) to photograph exactly how I wanted to. It showed in their photos. It turned a new page in my career. Anyway I digress... fast forward a few years and I was heading back down the same bumpy lane toward the same log house... and the same dapper groom and stunning bride walk out onto that rustic porch as I rolled in. Only this time between their legs ran a rambunctious little boy bursting with life and ready to show me his ranch. It felt like I was watching one scene fade into another on a Cameron Crowe movie... only better actors. And boy... that little guy didn't disappoint. He loved the camera and it loved him! Thanks T-West for showing me around your neighborhood.<br />
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<br />Sarah Neal Design & Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02250466203972437485noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704125152433190851.post-40267409735268152692012-10-19T16:38:00.003-07:002012-11-16T06:02:09.448-08:00Bees or Hornets or Wasps?? Oh my!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well it's been a few years since I've been shooting families, weddings, couples etc. and anyone who follows my blog knows I'm not the studio type. The more rugged and rusty, the more backwoods and earthy... the better. Nature lends itself as the ultimate backdrop for me. I've waded brides knee deep into muddy ponds, walked fancily clad couples into the dunes of the painted desert, spend too much time to quantify in the forests and dips and hollows seeking out great light and beautiful canvases for people to stand against. I've never leant a second thought to anything going wrong with all of these equations. AND ALL THIS TIME... I've never had anything bad happen. Thank God. No snake bites, no scrapes or bruises or bumps - nobody has even left with any remnant of harm besides a little dirt as a souvenir of the journey. Until last week. <br />
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I've been photographing this little family (who happen also to be friends) for a very long time. We decided to haul their kids AND my kids up the mountain to look at the golden aspens and take family photos. It went splendidly. Beautiful leaves, cold crisp air, golden light... oh that golden light. The last 10 minutes of daylight when it gets inexplicably beautiful and everything is dripping in yellow. And RIGHT when those last golden rays reached my lens I looked down to see that we were standing directly over a hornet's nest. <br />
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Ember (my friend's 3 year old) had already been stung by what we thought was a bee 10 minutes earlier but I could tell from the hole they were pouring out of that these were yellow jackets. I calmly told everyone to move slowly away but right as I said that the first stings were being delivered and panic ensued. Lydia had them stuck in her hair and tights (yeah... no idea how that happened?) already and I lurched to get my kids away from the nest. In the process I had what I think must have been 5-7 hornets fly UP MY SKIRT. I dropped my kids away from the insuing disaster and started wildly flapping at my legs. I looked up... Jimmy was staring at me yelling "are you okay?" - and I looked back in horror at him and the line of innocent bystanders standing on the ridge attracted by the screaming. At this point my mind started urgently trying to recall if hornets could sting more than once and as I leaped around the field like a pin cushion I began to conclude that evidently - they could. I knew what I had to do - my clothes were working against me - and I had no choice but to shed them. As you can imagine the rest of the ordeal turned into me hysterically laughing because the only other option was to hysterically cry and just about the last thing I want anyone to see... is what those hornets were seeing. All in all I was stung 7 times and the group combined got about another 15. I made it back to the car in my clothes, glad that it hadn't been an entire wedding party I had to disrobe in front of, or worse a bride's dress that those angry little creatures had found to borough into. <br />
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Mostly I was just thankful that between 7 of us nobody had an allergic reaction. We were too far from help to have done much about it. From now on a bottle of Benadryl will be part of my photography arsenal .I have to say that despite the whole ordeal I would choose this or any of our other beautiful Northern Arizona locations again... this beats any studio... hornets aside... don't you think? Thank you God... once again... for watching out for us!<br />
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<br />Sarah Neal Design & Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02250466203972437485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704125152433190851.post-4582490802828842632012-09-17T10:47:00.001-07:002012-11-16T06:03:33.464-08:00Dave & Katy: The Evening ReceptionI can't conclude the series of photos of David and Katy's wedding without mentioning the reception. It was a big bonfire party with great food (um... sushi!) and close friends and gorgeous dwindling sunset light giving away to strings of bulbs lighting up a big white tent. It was relaxed. It was SO much fun.<br />
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But above all the beautiful moments and clever details, beyond the big lunch barbecue and lavish spread of sushi - the thing I will always remember most about David's wedding (and I would venture to guess what will stand out for most of the guests) was one thing: Kyle Chrisholm's speech. I haven't laughed that hard in literally years! I actually saw people crying they were laughing so hard.<br />
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What to say in conclusion? Dave and Katy - I admire so much your ingenuity and ability to make so much of so little. Your creativity permeates every bit of your lives and your wedding was no exception. I love your little farm, I'm happy you'll always have it stamped with the celebration of this day. David is no longer my "little brother", but now holds a place as my "big brother" who has made his dreams come true and has such a wealth of knowledge to share with me and so much enthusiasm to guide my own ventures that I WISH WISH WISH I lived closer. I hope your guest house will be ready for our next visit - the kids loved the beach so much. May you always be humble and compassionate like I saw at your wedding. May you always be as loved as you are now! I hope I get to spend more time with your lovely family Katy! And may God always bless your lives and lead you to more wonderful things and places!</div>
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<a href="http://photographydesigner.blogspot.com/2012/09/dave-katy-portraits.html">The rest of their wedding is here</a></div>
<br />Sarah Neal Design & Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02250466203972437485noreply@blogger.com5