{Hal + Pamela Married! l Portland Queen Anne Victorian Mansion}

After my experience with my first fashion shoot and fashion show in Portland a few weeks ago, I was super excited to make the same trip the very next weekend to shoot Hal and Pamela’s wedding at the Queen Anne Victorian Mansion.  It was another gorgeous Sunday, and there were so many things that I just loved about this wedding…from the involvement of their children, to the meaning behind songs, to the raw emotion of the day, even down to the delicious vegetarian lunch that Pamela ordered me!  AHEM….the spinach and red pepper sandwich with that spicy sauce on it and the wheat bread was to DIE for!….even made me think about switching over to vegetarian.  I asked Nathan and he squashed that idea right away….oh well, I’ll just have my vegetarian fix while he’s at work.

I’ve known Hal online for about 2 years.  It’s funny how I can trace back so many jobs from different forums I’ve been on.  My goal on forums was to learn AND to contribute.  Hal was one of those who thought I had something worth saying I guess and we quickly struck up a “forum friendship” I say forum friendship because when you’re on a forum like that you mainly talk to people about photography and pictures, and more photography.  So I knew Hal in the photography sense…what he did and shot, the equipment he shot with, the different jobs he did, but that’s about where it ended.  For the most part people don’t get too personal on forums.  So when Hal contacted me in August, to be a part of the fashion show, he threw in there that the next weekend he was getting married and would I pretty please shoot his wedding for him!

“HOLD UP…..you’re getting married!?!”….I asked, a little embarrassed that I didn’t know this person that I conversed with online all the time was about to have one of the happiest days of his life…and then I realized that I really didn’t know Hal outside of photography and it made me a little sad.  I know so many great people through my photography journey, but I really only know the photography side of them.  I then promptly found out that Hal had kids too and Pamela has a daughter!  They were all included in the wedding and I was so honored to be asked to shoot a wedding without ever meeting any of these people in person!  Hal trusted me enough to document Pamela and his wedding day!  That’s what I love about my job.  It was a day that I’m sure the whole family will always remember and look back fondly on.

Here’s my favorites from the day:

a few details…..

Pam’s dressing room was on the 2nd floor of the mansion and was straight out of the victorian era.  I loved the mirror with the boa draped over it, and her cathedral length veil witht he lace was to DIE for.  Even though it was an outdoor wedding the veil was just perfect and a great change from what I normally see on brides.

Hal and his boys were up on the 3rd floor getting ready.  I first came up when they were enjoying their lunch, and Hal was talking to his sons about his love for Pamela.  It was a truly touching moment that even brought tears to my eyes, the big baby that I am.  He was explaining the music and meaning behind some of the songs.  He described how Pamela would come home from long grueling days of work and just be dead tired, but no matter what she would always read to her daughter, ALWAYS, would never skip a day.  As he was telling this story, Hal got emotional telling his own children how much he loved that about Pamela and how he would always love her.  It was a touching moment and what a great example to show your children about love and that it’s the little things that make us love people!

After the ceremony we did some quick family shots and portraits.  The 2nd story balcony had some great detail trim that I though would frame them perfectly…

and here’s their family!  Hal has two teenage sons and Pamela has one daughter.  What a great thing to incorporate them into the joining of two lives together!  I love relaxed family portraits like this….

Here’s some portraits of the bride and groom…look at those eyes on Hal!

After the family portraits, Hal and Pamela wanted to socialize with their guests on the lawn, so we waited to do some of their portraits.  I’m so glad we did because the light was so amazing for their time together.  I LOVE when the sun backlights people and there’s a little sun flare in there.  It just makes everything so glowy and magical.

~Pamela and Hal, thank you for trusting ME to capture your wonderful day.  I’m so glad that I could be a part of it.  I wish you many happy years together with your children and  your love for each other just oozes from each of you.  I’ll never forget Hal’s emotional moment with his sons, the way he looked at you Pam when he first saw you in the dressing room and you brought tears to his eyes with how beautiful you were, the way he looked at you when he was making his vows and putting your ring on your finger….it was just a beautiful beautiful day and you guys are so perfect for each other!

♥ Katie