Melanie Jade: Photographer » Specializing in Wedding Photography in the Salem, Oregon area.

SO, this has been a CA-RAZY summer!  I have been so busy since the spring, that I am now the worst photographer blogger of all time!  Well, I was not great to start, but I think this span of time between blog posts is a record for me!  Among other things like losing 30 lbs, putting in a garden, raising 3 boys, seeking growth spiritually/mentally/physically, I have managed to book a full wedding season!!!  And since I am so behind, and I am going to start blogging backwards.  I will start with the most recent, and go back in time to when I started to let the entries slip.

First up is my latest wedding!  Ben & Michelle finally got married after a long engagement!  They are both super duper sweet, and I think they make a perfect match…

First of all, Michelle was very smart to hire a wedding coordinator!  Some people have the ability to be the bride AND run the show, but most of us really should be hiring that job out to someone like Shana with Sheer Bliss Wedding & Event Planning.  She did an excellent job, and I really enjoyed working with her!  She was on top of it, day one.

Next, I have to give a little shout out to my neighbors, Elegant Catering!  No seriously, they are my neighbors.  The owners live about 3 houses down from my own.  Anywho, the food was FABULOUS!

Congratulations Ben & Michelle, and thank you for letting me be a part of your special day…

Ah, love.

Last weekend I had the opportunity to visit my home town for my little brother’s wedding!  Matthew is #5 in 15 kids in our big fat crazy family to get hitched, and so far it’s been wonderful to watch our family grow.  The more our family grows, the more talent we gain, and this is why I say that…we were able to pull this wedding off for under $1,000!  The wedding was held at my Mom & Dad’s (John) home, Margret designed and made her own wedding dress, Matthew ran around like a chicken with his head cut off, I was the slave-driver/coordinator & wedding photographer, my mom made all of the girls dresses, my Dad (Mark) was a power horse and got a lot of junk moved, my uncle Paul was a lifesaver and covered the music (LIVE MUSIC!) for the ceremony and reception.  Everything else was done by the rest of the siblings to git-er-done!  I think they paid for their cake, tux, bouquet, food (cost only, the food was put together by family), some decorations, rings, and I think that’s about it!  I was just blown away with what came of everyones hard work…

Their wedding was in a 1920′s theme, so we all tried to dress the part.  Our week was full of dress making and hair piece gluing!  It was a blast…

Margret was stuck up in the loft for about four days straight finishing her dress!  She’s going to fit right in with our family, always waiting till the last minute!

She was finishing her dress clear up until the last minute…it looked amazing!  Literally sewing herself in…

Above: my grandma Elsa, talking to my Michael…I traveled with him while the boys stayed with the GP’s here in Oregon.

It was exhausting, but we survived!

The perfect red lipstick…

We rushed through a few family pictures before the ceremony, and I stole a few of my mom and sister looking fabulous in their 1920′s dresses!

Jessica, looking absolutely stunning!

Mom, radiant…

They were given a copy of The Family, A Proclamation to the World…

Our uncle Paul was AMAZING!  He and his preform for weddings and other events all the time…

Because we were so rushed through pictures on their wedding day, they decided to hang back the next day and do it all again!

They were so glad they did, so that we could get some more once-in-a-lifetime memories for them…

(plus, I got to do her make-up this time, so it was extra fun for me!)

Style me Pretty has just published their first magazine featuring their best of 2010, and I am so honored to have one of my weddings featured in it!  I don’t feel that I am anywhere near worthy enough to be featured alongside Elizabeth Messina, or Jose Villa, or Jasmine Star (to name a few), but I must say that is does give me a little sense of validation in my work.  (Which, as an artist, I am always looking for!)  I’m sure you will all recognize this one!  Kyle and Christina’s wedding has been a favorite of mine all year…I was literally on cloud nine when we left that day, and I knew it was going to be a hit!   Check out SMP’s first ever magazine online at :

http://www.stylemepretty.com/magazine/

Okay, so in my wedding package a la carte options, I offer my couples the choice of hiring a second photographer to assist me on their wedding day, right? Well, I was just in the middle of editing this wedding when I came across this! Oh my goodness! THIS is why I love shooting with two photographers! While I was in the front getting the sure thing, my second shooter was HERE with all of her stealth and ninja skills in full force. Having a second photographer has so many benefits, that I encourage all of my couples to make it possible!

For this wedding, I had the wonderful Karen Scott with Avayah Photography come along.  Thank you Karen!

Here’s another one…Karen got the shot of Brandon, and I got Christina walking down the isle with her Father.

Having two different angles just adds so much to the story…

One more for ya…

So I think my very favorite place to photograph a wedding is Gorge Crest Farms in the beautiful Columbia Gorge!  You may remember Kyle and Christina’ wedding from last year (can you believe it’s been a year!), and how their wedding just totally rocked my socks off!!  I was on cloud nine for weeks after that one.  Well I am also proud to annouce that two of the images from that wedding were published in the Town & Country Weddings issue for fall 2010!  In the way back, there is the picture of their “ceremony” sign/pointer thing, and one of Christina with the veil over her face on the very last page.  I am so excited and feel so honored to be able to see Missy and my work in a national magazine.  When I get a chance to scan the page onto my computer, I’ll post it.  But, for now my printer is down and I can’t do anything!  So sad.

Anywho, in the memory of their wedding day, and in honor of their anniversary, I made this slideshow!!  Enjoy…

This was a wedding that I was able to attend because of my good friends, Jerome & Rebbecca with A Niko Productions.  They are a husband and wife team who offer video, and photography in one!  Joshua and Bonny requested more than one photographer, so I got to tag along!

Joshua and Bonny were super fun, and every pose seemed to flow effortlessly!  I love it when a bride and groom are confident and comfortable in front of the camera.  It makes for the most relaxed portraits, and it makes my job a breeze!