Ryan + Robin

June 30th, 2017 | Colorado

A wedding that involves family AND mountains?! That's hard to beat. We were so grateful not only to witness Ryan & Robin's wedding, but also capture it! I'm pretty sure I tried to take a picture of literally every detail- it was all so beautiful & reflective of the bride & groom.

Robin is Neal's cousin & we were so happy to welcome Ryan into our family. They are both teachers with the biggest of hearts. They are so fun, down to earth, and full of life. Their day was definitely a testament to that. From Robin hemming her dress with scissors just before the wedding to their favorite pizza being served to their guests via food truck, their day was a beautiful picture of them as a couple.

We had so much fun capturing them saying "I do!" to forever. We hope & pray their lives continue to impact others in a way that makes them remember this life is a gift to be celebrated! Here's a glimpse of their first day as husband & wife! Enjoy!

-Courtney

chief hosa lodge colorado wedding photography

Jonnie + Emily

July 7th, 2017 | Ames, IA

I'm truly having a hard time putting into words the amazing gift of capturing Jonnie + Emily's state-side wedding day. An Iowa girl + a boy from New Zealand met & fell in love in the country of Myanmar. A place they ended up because of their shared love of teaching & adventure. What a story.

Their day was sweet, slow, and full of joy. It included lots of joyful reunions & introductions, tons of laughing, a few skype calls from New Zealand, songs sung by the bride & groom, hours of non-stop dancing, lots of polaroids being snapped, and a beautiful covenant made between themselves and the Lord.

We can't tell you how much we loved being apart of this day. We are still amazed at the amount of joy + awe that filled this wedding day and how much adoration we have for this couple.

We hope this is a beautiful glimpse of their day! Enjoy!

-Courtney

Washington D.C.

Last November we had a two day layover in D.C. and ever since we have been itching to get back. We took advantage of a few free days over spring break to visit some family & get back to one of our favorite places. We wouldn't consider ourselves "big city people,", but man has D.C. stolen our hearts in many a ways.

I went into our three-day trip with bigs hopes to see all the things, but soon realized that it will take years for me to fully see all the sights, learn all the history, try all the local eateries, and admire all the beauty of our nation's capitol. It's not a place you can rush through and I think thats the thing that has allowed D.C. to win a top spot on my list of places I love. It makes you slow down, reflect, question, give thanks for your past, & hope for what's to come.

Our three days spent in D.C. were just enough to remind me of those things. Take a peak at our quick trip through the lens of our good 'ol trusty film camera. We hope these photos encourage you to plan a trip to D.C., grab a history book, or seek out the history in your own backyard.

Our days were filled with lots of riding, walking, reading, and learning. I love the fact that there is a place to reflect & learn around every corner. This trip's highlights included a tour of the Supreme Court building & the Martin Luther King Jr. Monument. My gratefulness grew right along with my understanding.

We were lucky enough to arrive to lots of blooms. D.C. is famous for their cherry blossoms & I now understand why! As if those beauties weren't enough, we stumbled upon the U.S. Botanical Gardens as well. This place is full of beauty- from a cacao tree to more succulents than you could dream of. It was a quick trip through some of what I would consider the wonders of the world. What beauty we are surrounded by.

Exploring the different neighborhoods in D.C. made me love the city that much more. Colored buildings, a coffee shop with a story, & the local eateries are all it took.

Here are a few places we were big fans of:

Ebenezer's Coffeehouse, a coffeehouse owned & operated by National Community Church. They brew fair-trade coffee & their profits go towards community outreach projects.

We, The Pizza, a pizza place that focuses on community while serving up one mean slice of pizza.

Good Stuff Eatery, a classic American restaurant with high quality burgers & fries. Oh, and don't forget the handspun milk shakes.

What a place. Hope to see you again soon, D.C.!

Deaf Can! Coffee

"Deaf Can! Coffee exists to affirm young people in their identity as a Deaf person and as someone made in the image of God. Success is defined as young men and women accepting themselves, believing in their inherent gifts and talents, taking responsibility for their future and becoming a leader in their families, communities and careers. We are an outreach of HarvestCall Jamaica, a not-for-profit organization founded to obey God and love others." [www.deafcancoffee.com]

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Wayne Coyne - Waterloo Center for the Arts

Here are a handful of photos I took for the Waterloo Center for the Arts at the opening of Wayne Coyne's (of the Flaming Lips) exhibit, featuring "King's Mouth" along with an assortment of other artwork and film by Coyne.

If you live near Waterloo, I would highly recommend going to see this exhibit - simply experiencing the King's Mouth is definitely worth it!

The exhibit is set to run until April 23rd. For more info, visit www.waterloocenterforthearts.org or like the Center's Facebook Page.