Kate McElwee Photography

Vacation Pics Part One: Dorset

Kate — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:54:31 +0000

I’m finally getting around to sorting through my vacation photos - I actually didn’t use my camera much, as I wanted to take a really good break from work and everything related, but I couldn’t resist taking a few pics of some of my favorite places in the world.

After London, I headed west to Dorset where I grew up. I spent five wonderful days staying with my best Dorset buddies Alex and Jems, gorging myself on traditional British food (yay bacon butties! Yay Eccles cakes! Yay cottage pie and stew!) and feasting my eyes on the hills and valleys and cows and sheep that are pretty much the only things I miss about England apart from my people.

Anyway, on a hungover and grizzly Saturday afternoon, I headed out for a hilltop walk on Bulbarrow with my best friends in the world, and sheep-a-plenty. These photos make me smile …

Hello, Strangers …

Kate — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 02:00:29 +0000

I’m back! I’ve been back from Europe for two long, sleepy days, in fact, but what with Thanksgiving and jet-lag I’ve been out of the office. Don’t worry, I’ll be officially back to work on Monday, but I figured I should let you all know that I’m alive and kicking, and gearing up to post lots of vacation snaps over the next week or two. Yay!

In the meantime, here’s a gorgeous sunset from my last night in Exmouth, Devon, where Josh and I spent a few days with my parents. See you soon …

Trashing the Dress, London Style

Kate — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 22:26:49 +0000

Last Sunday, as well as a mini couple session with Chris and Gen, I took a few shots of Gen in her wedding dress. I was excited to show off the architecture of her dress against some of my favorite European architecture, around Bank and St Paul’s in the City of London. We didn’t get the best weather, but when you have a beautiful bride and amazing buildings to work with … well, it doesn’t really matter! Here are a few teasers … and now I’m back to vacationing and hanging with my best buddies in Dorset. Holiday snaps coming soon!

Couples Portraits: Chris + Genevieve

Kate — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:52:25 +0000

As many of you no doubt know by now, I’m officially on vacation for three weeks! I’m currently back in London where I lived before moving out to Seattle, and it is so nice seeing family and friends, ogling the gorgeous architecture and shopping at all my favorite old haunts (Topshop, I missed you so!) Of course, I had to bring a camera and a couple of lenses with me, and yesterday I met up with my good friends Chris and Genevieve for a quick trash the dress session (which I will hopefully post in the next week or so) and a mini couples session.

We grabbed a couple of shots in their very cool flat in the east end while Gen was getting her wedding dress, then at the end of the afternoon we braved the rain and gloomy clouds for a few shots in a square off Roseberry Avenue before heading into a pub on Exmouth Market for a quick pint. Thank you guys for a really fun afternoon and I hope to see you both again before heading home!

A Winter Wonderland: Jody + Aaron

Kate — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:41:17 +0000

My last wedding before vacation was a picture-perfect winter wonderland with Jody and Aaron. I started the day at The Greenlake Church where throngs of family and friends were decorating and preparing for the day ahead, and Jody was excitedly prepping in the small bathroom downstairs with her bridesmaids and lots of little ones. The atmosphere was perfect - busy and buzzing.

The ceremony, just after sunset, was beautiful. The church was covered in candles, and gorgeous flowers made by Jody - she even made each bouquet by hand, and they looked amazing. It was emotional, but also fun - I love the shot of Jody turning around and flashing us all her beautiful big grin, while Aaron is bent over double with giggles!

After the ceremony we braved the torrential rain and headed down to Court in the Square in downtown Seattle. The decor was, again, beautiful - and Aaron and Jody pulled off a grown up elegance while still catering to the many kids who were there to celebrate with them.

After some good Mexican food and lots of crazy dancing, Fiona and I set up the photobooth lighting against one of the brick walls - what a great backdrop. We had a lot of fun working with Aaron’s daughter Morgan as she helped us with the ‘booth’, and she even took some of the photos below - she did such an awesome job!

Thank you all for a fun and love-filled evening - I went home feeling very much at peace with the world. Enjoy your teasers!

Fall Magic at Lord Hill Farms: Nathan + Jenna

Kate — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 03:04:56 +0000

The second of last weekend’s magical weddings was out in Snohomish at the beautiful Lord Hill Farms. It was a long, crazy, beautiful day, full of laughter, tears, long embraces and cupcake stealing … although the less said about that, the better!

I started out the day with Jenna in the teeny tiny dressing room. Emotions were running high, and despite the ugly lighting I love the moments we captured in there. Jenna looked serene and beautiful throughout - such a perfect bride to photograph! We held Nathan & Jenna’s first look just outside the barn, then moved on to the formals and wedding party shots. I couldn’t resist playing with Jenna’s amazing veil in the breeze that had picked up - and the wedding party was definitely game for some fun.

Around 4pm, we all headed upstairs into the magnificent ceremony space. They had a traditional American service performed by one of their good friends, followed by a very fun and slightly chaotic Chinese tea ceremony. I love this tradition, and it makes for great opportinites for candids. Just before dark, we headed out for a few final couple portraits, then it was straight into a very fun reception with lots of dancing and photoboothing - huge thanks to my awesome assistant Fiona for manning the photobooth all night and getting some of my favorite shots ever! Huge congratulations to Nathan and Jenna, and thank you for introducing me to the most amazing videographers ever - Danielle & Kasey at MindCastle Studios - check out their awesome video here.

A Fall Wedding in Columbia City: Cindy + Scott

Kate — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 18:06:55 +0000

The end of fall went off with a big bang - the good kind of big bang, that is! My last October weekend was spent photographing two amazing weddings, the first being Scott & Cindy’s Columbia City event. Cindy and Scott got married at the Columbia City Theater, a very cool, crazily dark, but totally awesome venue for a wedding. There were lanterns, leaves, amazing theater lighting, live music (check out the cool pianist in the black and white shot below) and some of the most emotional and funny moments I’ve ever witnessed in a ceremony. It was delightful. And, to cap it all off, Scott jumped and clicked his heels together during the recessional - perfect!

After the ceremony we grabbed a few group photos outside the theater, then made a speedy tour of Columbia City for some couples portraits. I love how the fall colors and gorgeous afternoon light played against Cindy’s amazing red hair. Photographic bliss!

The reception was held at the Mount Baker Community Club, another gorgeous spot. There was a delicious sit-down meal, followed by lots of great speeches (my favorite being Cindy’s sister Kim’s speech which centered around the Valentine’s card that Scott gave to Cindy when they were on the high school swim team many, many years ago), and then dancing a-plenty. Congratulations guys on finally making it happen and thanks for having me be part of your totally rocking day!

Gasworks and Sculpture Park Engagement Session: Alysia + Philip

Kate — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:10:35 +0000

I’m busy busy busy right now, finishing up editing a couple of weddings and thinking about packing my bags for three glorious weeks of vacation (wahoo!) But I had to share a couple of teaser photos from Alysia & Philip’s session last week.

I met with Philip and Alysia and their doggies at Gasworks Park for some “family” shots (and one of their gorgeous doggies decided to go for a quick dip in Lake Union!) then we headed over to the Olympic Sculpture Park just as the sun was setting. The light was so crazy orange, it was really pretty. We did a quick tour of our favorite sculptures before heading back home to the warmth. Enjoy your teasers guys, and thanks for a fun afternoon!

Trashing the Dress: Misha + Liam

Kate — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 01:41:06 +0000

Wow, after such a busy week, it feels like months since I met with Misha and Liam for their trash the dress session - but in fact it was just last Sunday. It was such a glorious day - bright, breezy and sunny. Yay! We started out at the childrens’ play area of a little park in north Ballard, where we had a lot of fun messing around on the swings, merry-go-round and various other wedding-dress-unfriendly play things. The park was busy so I got creative with my shutter speeds and angles and got some cool effects. I love the ones on the merry-go-round!

After a while at the park, we headed down to Golden Gardens, my favorite trash the dress spot. I love the photos of Misha in the sand dunes - she looks so pretty and content. She even braved the freezing cold water for a quick paddle before we headed off. Thanks for being such a daring bride, and enjoy your teaser pics!

Get Hitched, Give Hope: Photobooth Teasers!

Kate — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 23:07:35 +0000

OK, so I’m suffering a little bit today after a couple of glasses too many of delicious bubbly, but it was all worth it - what a night! I’m talking, of course, about *the* bridal event of the year, Get Hitched, Give Hope. The ladies did an amazing job, and the evening was a huge success. I ran my photobooth for an hour, and met a lot of very cool people - thank you all for being so fabulous!

While we’re working on getting all the photobooth pics from my computer to the online gallery, enjoy a few teasers. I’ll be posting a link as soon as all the pics are up online so that you can all order away to your hearts’ content … and be sure to keep an eye on Jeff LaPlante’s blog as he’ll be posting his photos of the event very soon - thanks Jeff!

The awesome ladies who put it all together, clockwise from bottom left: Barbie Hull, Michelle Engvall, Michelle Loretta, Eliza Truitt, Laurel McConnell & Kelly Simants. Thanks ladies!

My buddy photographer Alyssa Evans and her boyfriend Aaron:

The gorgeous brides with Gown Diva Consulting:

Aly Medina of La Luz Photography and her lovely hubby Ben (great to meet you finally, Aly!):

Barbie and the boys:

It wasn’t just me enjoying the bubbly all evening …

Alyssa & Aaron again, this time joined by the fabulous Amanda Shea:

The awesome Kim and Adam of La Vie Photography:

And … oh, that’s me! Thanks Eliza for taking the pic!