Kelly Chandler

So what do you do if you want a winter wonderland wedding……put twinkle lights and crystal snowflakes everywhere!  Monica turned Lord Hill Farms into a magical setting for her wedding.  No matter which angle I shot from, the lights were magnificent!

 

Snowflakes sparkled as they hung over the dance floor from the beautiful exposed beams of the venue.

 

Even the cake was completely surrounded by lights.

 

 

These two love birds were so genuinely happy to be married.  They couldn’t stop smiling. 

Suzanne and Adam had a glorious wedding at Seattle University Chapel of St. Ignatius and Pravda Studios.  It was so fun to create their wedding album for them.  I had a really hard time choosing the photos for the book….these two are so photogenic, they simply look perfect in every shot.  I finally narrowed it down and wanted to share some of the pages of their album. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to the super talented April Greer who second shot with me on this wedding and helped to capture some of these beautiful images.

Okay, so I’ve taken beautiful photos for you, now what do you do with them?  Well, I’m here to help.  I have spent the last few days at client homes helping them discover fun ways to display their images.  Helping clients choose what photos should be grouped together, color vs. bw, canvas vs. print, what sizes they should be….what a blast!  

So if you have photos just waiting to be proudly displayed and yet you don’t know how to do it, I’d be happy to come spend a few hours at your home and help you out.  The design fee will be worth every dollar.  I’ll point you in the right direction for where to buy frames that will fit your home decor and instantly make your photos into displays of art! 

Shoot me an email info@kellychandler.com or call 425-836-0575 to schedule your home decor visit!

These two lovebirds celebrated their wedding day with stolen kisses whenever they got the chance.  They didn’t care which bus, car, or pedestrian was gawking at them.  It isn’t often that you see a bride and groom on the streets of Seattle on a Tuesday.  I even heard a few people passing by commenting that it must be a bridal fashion photo shoot.  Nope, Natania and Brady tied the knot the day before New Year’s Eve.

Their ceremony was at the LDS Temple followed by photos downtown Seattle.  After the previous week’s snow storm in which Seattle was covered in a foot of snow, we were all thrilled to have a relatively warm day and no snow on the ground.  Natania was a trouper and was willing to brave the cold for some fun urban shots despite her bare arms.  I took them inside their hotel to warm up and captured this beautiful image of Natania looking out the window.

The reception was at the World Trade Center and even in the late evening, they were willing to go outside and let me take advantage of the fun twinkle lights in the trees marking the holiday feeling on the Seattle waterfront.

Thanks for having such great attitudes Natania and Brady.  It paid off, your photos are beautiful.

 

 

When I first walked into Sahalee Golf Club, I found this dress hanging all alone on a door.  I quickly moved it to this glorious mirror and began to photograph it.  The dressing-room is always filled with ladies, bags, accessories, and such.  I knew this was my only chance to photograph this stunning gown before the room was all a buzz with people helping Teagan into her wedding gown.

I knew Teagan would be a beautiful bride….she was full of energy and amazing to work with.

 

I’ve said it before, I am all about the eyes….and Teagan has huge eyes that seem to light up her entire face.

 

Her something old was a beautiful pin that her grandfather gave her from when he was a young man.  I loved the old treasured box it was safely tucked inside.

 

Have you read Twilight?  I chuckle each time I look at this photo wondering if Anders feels like Edward…wanting a little nibble.

 

It is hard to believe that we were blessed with such a beautiful winter day in Seattle.  I had fully anticipated a wet, soggy, golf course that would prohibit us for taking photos on the grass.  I was shocked to find the day arrive with sunshine and not even so much as a damp morning dew remaining on the grass.  What a treat for December!

 

I love the romance that this photos evokes.  It is as if nobody else in the room matters. 

 

Matt & Lyndsey have been so patient with me as I know they have been super anxious to see the fun photos from their engagement session.  They booked their wedding for next summer and wanted an E-session right away before the weather turned and fall was gone.  I had no openings until January but squeezed them in with the understanding they would have to be patient as I work through processing all the holiday portraits and late fall/winter weddings.  So thanks again Matt & Lyndsey for waiting for your photos to be ready. 

I love Matt’s face in this photo.  You can almost read his mind…..”I’m one lucky man!”

Toward the end of our session, Lyndsey’s feet were starting to hurt.  I guess when you are a good foot shorter than your man, you need to wear heels often.  Matt scooped her up like a little doll and hiked her on his back as we strolled through Pike Place Market.

 

Smiles and lots of cuddles flowed easily between this adorable couple.  I can’t wait to work with you in August ‘09 for your wedding!

 

Andy and Carol were such fun during their engagement session that I could hardly wait for their wedding day.  This laid back, super cool couple was so relaxed on their wedding day.  They gave me all the time I needed to capture their beautiful downtown event.  We started outside the Mayflower Hotel….I love urban settings like this where the background gets lost and my subjects become so foreground.  Seattle’s fall weather has been amazing and they were blessed with a glorious day.  The lighting was spectacular. 

 

 It can get tricky shooting downtown and avoiding all the people in the background.  The hotel exterior offered some interesting details in the background for these shots.  I love the way the wind caught her dress here.

 

Andy stole a kiss in the elevator.

 

We were off to the church.  LOVE these fun red doors.

 

My favorite look that Carol does so well is this subtle smile…so sexy.  Andy just kept snuggling in and loving every moment he could be close to his bride.

 

 

 

The reception at the Palace Ballroom was ROCKING!  The Michael Benson Band always keeps the dance floor on fire.  They played at my wedding 12 years ago and every-time I get to see Michael it is a treat.  If you want to insure your dance floor is never empty at your wedding, Michael Benson is the man.

 

 

Over at the bar, I caught the fantastic MOB and MOG…that is Mother of the Bride and Mother of the Groom…toasting to the marriage of their kids with a Tequila shot.   

Andy and Carol, it was an honor to be your photographer.  Thank you for everything!  You are dream clients!

 

 

Okay, get ready to do a whole lot of scrolling.  This will be the longest blog post in history.  I flew with my husband and 2 kids to Hilton Head Island, SC in early October for my cousin Ashley Fronczak’s wedding to Richard Tamayo.  We stayed at the Disneyland Resort on Hilton Head Island.  Richie is the “Director of Fun” at the resort….he has a more proper title but his “cast-members” that he oversees clearly adore him.  From the moment we checked in at the resort, we were treated like family.  I figured we wouldn’t be spending much time in the room so we just got a studio with a pull out couch for the kids.  When we arrived at our room, Richie had upgraded us to this AMAZING 2 bedroom suite with a living-room, kitchen, a view of the marsh and it’s amazing wildlife.  Wow, what a treat.  Thanks Richie. 

We spent the first day on the water with a dolphin cruise.  Here Ashley is cuddling up with Brooke (my daughter on the left) and my niece, Alexis. 

 

It was so fun to see wildlife that we would never see in Seattle.

 

The dolphins swam all around us.

 

My nephew Dominic watches as Dalton (my son) shows off a crab claw.  They pulled up a crab pot and caught a fish on their tour. 

 

Back on land, the girls follow Auntie Carolyn on a bike ride around the resort. 

 

Cousin Sarah brought her horse Niko home from Georgia so the kids could ride.   Brooke felt totally comfortable riding Niko bareback. 

 

Dalton rode with Sarah but he also loved leading Niko around by a rope.  Here Niko nudged him and almost knocked him over. 

 

Meet Onyx, Sarah’s ENORMOUS dog.

 

Aunt Brenda and Uncle Gary (Mother/Father of the bride) have a beautiful home on acres of waterfront just off the island.  We went to their house for a low country boil.  Richie took the kids riding around in the John Deere tractor.  When they left, Richie was driving.  Somehow 20 minutes later they returned with my son behind the wheel and Richie running behind trying to catch them. 

  

 

I loved the table decor.  It felt so island-like.

 

Sunset on the dock.

 

The evening was beautiful and once we all got bug spray going…..we were in good shape.  I loved this shot of Brenda and Gary’s home and the evening sky.

 

ON TO THE WEDDING DAY…….. 

Here Mom helps Ashley into her gown. 

 

Ashley was breathtaking.  Her gown was exquisite and she was every bit the beautiful bride that I had imagined she would be.

 

 

 

Ashley asked Brooke and Alexis to be flower-girls for her big day.

 

Brooke sees all these beautiful brides and flower-girls as I work on photos in my office.  This was her first time being in a wedding and she was so very honored.  Thank you Ashley for letting her participate in such a special way.

 

Richie also asked Dominic and Dalton to be ring bearers.  They looked so adorable in their tuxedos.  Richie, from the moment we met you, we could not have been more impressed.  Your charisma is phenomenal.  Thank you for taking the boys in as part of your family.  They LOVED you.  Dalton is doing all kinds of card tricks for his friends.  I know being a magician is just a fun hobby for you….but you truly are a magical man.  

 

 

 

 

A beautiful moment between mother and daughter.

 

Ashley and her Dad as they come down the aisle.  Uncle Gary’s face is exactly what I had expected it would be….full of pride, excitement, joy, and nerves. 

 

 

 

A quick look over the shoulder to see what mom was up to…..I love this shot. 

 

 

The details of Ashley’s dress were beautiful.  This is a hanky that was a baby bonnet she wore as a newborn.

 

 

 

 

Ashley and Richie surprised everyone with a choreographed dance that was fantastic. 

 

 

 

 

Another proud papa moment during the father daughter dance.   

 

So thats me inbetween both my cousins.  Richie is now officially my cousin. Heels and a dress with spaghetti straps is not my usual wedding photography work attire.  I changed into a dress during the reception so I could feel more like a guest.  Let me tell you, trying to keep the dress straps up and not have the camera strap pull it down was an interesting maneuver.  I don’t think I’ll be wearing something quite so fancy for next weekend’s wedding. 

 

Time to call it a night.  They left in style running through sparklers to their get-a-way car.  Unfortunately, this was it for the photography.  We had grand plans to spend Sunday at the beach doing a post wedding photo shoot in their wedding attire.  I had visions of her veil blowing in the wind with the sand dunes and ocean as our backdrop.  We were also going to get playful on the shoreline, not worry about the dress getting wet or sandy and create some edgy romantic images.  We awoke on the day after the wedding to sideways rain and winds that never stopped until the sky was black that night.  It was such a bummer.  Monday the weather was 85 and sunny….but they had left for their honeymoon. 

Ashley and Richie, I love you both.  It was so fun to capture your celebrations for you.  xoxoxo

Given the fact that we have an election in a few weeks….I thought this was a funny sign that encouraged people to Keep Right.  The sign is obviously a directional for cars on a private circular driveway.  I don’t know Dave and Sarah’s political views (nor was their wedding day a time to have a political discussion) so this photo is either really appropriate…..or really inappropriate.  Either way, I found great humor in it. 

 I loved the lighting in this shot.  We were fortunate to have a beautiful Fall day (the next day it poured rain).  Their outdoor wedding would have had a much different feeling if the wedding were just 24 hours later.  Dave and Sarah must be living right to get a day like this.

 

 

Their adorable little flower girls were smiling all day long and clearly loved their roles in the wedding.

 

 The reception menu was spectacularly unique.  There were fantastic appetizers, delicious salads and the main course was paella that was cooked perfectly by Ben at Azafron Catering.  Sarah even got in the fun and helped stir the dish.  It was entertaining to watch the meal grow more and more colorful and the resulting meal was crazy good!

 

 

Delicious!

 

 

 

I am totally behind on my blog posts and for those who visit regularly, forgive me!  I have had 3 beautiful weddings the past few weekends and I am up to my nose in processing their photos along with other client portrait work.  Here are a few favorites from Corry and Demico’s wedding at Newcastle.  I loved this spontaneous moment where Demico leaned back as if to thank the heavens for his beautiful bride.

 

Below Corry awaits the ceremony with a quiet moment on the deck.

 

 

Demico and his crew.

 

Newcastle at night…what a beautiful setting for a wedding.

Check back soon for more posts of the latest weddings.  Including a destination wedding in South Carolina.