One of those moments.

I'm in awe of my job nearly every day, but there are some days, some moments, when I'm just completely dumbstruck but the awesomeness that I get to be privy to.

Like this.



As I'm editing Stephanie & Mike's wedding as fast as I can, this photo came up on my screen and I welled up with tears.

Mike is just about to kiss his bride, to be pronounced husband & wife, and he knows it. He's excited and proud and maybe still a touch nervous, but mostly excited and overjoyed. And while I was quite a bit away, he looked up and right into the camera and shared it with me.

It's an amazing feeling to experience that trust and comfort in one of life's larger moments. And I got to be there. Completely dumbfounding.

constantly humbled, ~melissakoren

Did you know?

MKP on Facebook! The spot is open for my 100th fan - could it be you?



And just in case you were wondering what goes on, this about sums it up.



I'm so excited to share shots from the weddings of Kristan & John, Kim & Bryan, Stephanie & Mike, and Heather & Chris as well as more of Rachel & Jason's engagement shoot and other things that have been going on! More to come soon! (no really... )

~MelissaKoren

Just a Sunday Hello

I'm off to pray to the rain gods and shoot Rachel & Jason's engagement photos - and have some yummy Ice House!

But before I go - here's a hello from Avery. She's such a peanut - we never have tiny babies in our family and it's so fun to see something so little! I can't believe she's already 4 weeks old tomorrow. May was a blur. A complete blur!!



Well I'm off while the sun is till out! More posts coming soon!

~MelissaKoren

A Beautiful Day!

After all the rain yesterday, this morning is a wonderful surprise! Warm and lovely!
The weekend forecast promises to be even better, and that's just fine with me because I have two weddings this weekend!

I'm going through wedding withdrawal and SO excited to get back in the saddle in the next few weeks. Kristan & John, Kimberly & Bryan and next weekend Stephanie & Mike! I'll have all sorts of new shots for the blog so check back often! I'm also going to be overhauling the website and seeing if I can summon my inner web designer to rock it out!

I've also been getting in touch with my inner boxing superstar. I'm addicted to cardio boxing on our Wii! Hopefully it will help keep me strong and agile for darting around ceremonies & receptions in stealth mode!

And since posting with out a picture is unheard of, I leave you with this shot I grabbed after a family portraits shoot last summer in Prescott Park. It was just so perfectly the embodiment of warm weather - and a great re-purposing idea!!

Enjoy your day!
~Melissa Koren

How to celebrate a birthday

Part 1: Let them eat cake.

Cake? Cake you say?


I like cake -and being nearly 2 I can feed myself with a fork. Small bites are for babies.

You know what else is for babies? Forks. I don't need no stinkin' fork, it's just not working fast enough.

Aha! See, I've done it! I've become one with the cake!!

Not to be outdone on her birthday, Nichole decides this is a good idea and she requires a faster method of eating the cake also.


Now that was great fun, haha, posed for the picture.


but wait - - - while i was taking the picture, my brother and my cousin got up from their seats and came around to her side of the table and with lightning speed....

WHAM!

Admittedly the pictures are blurry, but you must forgive me because I didn't see it coming and once it happened I was laughing so hard I couldn't breathe, but still trying to take pictures.


Her clearly indented cake. (p.s. Best Cake EVER - Coldstone Creamery's Cake Batter Confetti)

After we cleaned them up, my cousin redeemed herself by presenting Nichole with her fabulous birthday gift: The Snuggie (the child is only our nephew, we had to give him back)


Part 2: Eat, Drink & Be Merry

Our very very good friend Allison helped me plot and execute a 6 course wine dinner for Nichole's birthday. We cooked and one of our other good friends Annie helped with the wine.



Allison-tong-hands. She was tending to the pork roast.

Course 1:

Annie talking about the accompanying wine.

Course two:


And here's where I failed. After course two was the risotto, which I was in charge of. So for 30 minutes I stirred and stirred and stirred and I made BRILLIANT risotto, however, Annie had topped off my glass repeatedly and my focus got ..er.. distracted, and I forgot to take photos of the rest of the courses as I was too busy eating amazing food and having a great time with our friends. I very much regret not having photos of everything, but I can't be too upset because that was the only thing that went awry!

With that I leave you with the menu card from the evening:

Happy Birthday Nichole!!!

Love,

All of your Nearest and Dearest

A Private Wine Dinner from Around the World Just for You

First Course
Mionetto, Brut Prosecco, Italy
Mixed Greens Tossed with Fresh Strawberries and Almonds

Second Course
Tohu, Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand
Seared Scallops with a Citrus Butter

Third Course
LaCrema, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Monterey, California
Risotto with Fresh Peas, Pancetta, and Parmesan cheese

Fourth Course
Candor, Merlot, Paso Robles, California
Beef Tenderloin Bruschetta with Gorgonzola Cheese,
Caramelized Onions, and a Balsamic Reduction

Fifth Course
Yalumba, Barossa Shiraz, Barossa, Australia
Roasted Pork with a Port Wine Reduction and Figs

Dessert
Grahams, LBV Porto, Portugal
Lemon Torte and Homemade Dark Chocolate Torte

And that, is how to celebrate a birthday!

MVG Animal Barn!

Part of our morning adventure when we went to the Mountain View Grand was to go down to the barn, on suggestion from our waitress at breakfast (oh, the breakfast! I still have dreams about that buffet!!)

It didn't occur to us to drive down, since we could see it from our room, but by the time we got there we realized it was probably only 10 degrees out and WINDY! We survived, and the animals were totally worth the trip.

These two were so cute!


Those eyes!!

Even the animals were c.c.c.c.cold! This poor llama was making 'smoke' with his breath!


These are the rare curly sheep - so much wool! The waitress said 'kind of like your hair!' but she meant it in the nicest way possible :)
We were much more fascinated in them than they were in us!


I LOVE the construction of barns - this roof was just amazing, I was mesmerized!

As we were about to leave we found the hot cocoa station. It made our walk back to the hotel much warmer!

I'm nearly finished with Kimberly & Jeff's wedding, I keep finding favorites and I can't wait to make a full post!!

~Melissa Koren

Christmas 2008

Christmas!! Our Christmas consists of Christmas Eve at my parents, then back here for a few hours of sleep, then we have Christmas Morning with Benjamin at our house and head back to my mothers and wind up at my Grandmothers house. 

Nichole acting as the Tickle Monster!

My son, nephew and 1st cousin once removed (what a weird family relation term). But as far as their concerned, they're all cousins. I wanted to get a picture of all the boys, but the younger ones weren't so interested in cooperating. 

Oh, no! Does he have a fever?

My brother and my son - two peas in a pod. My brother is 6'2'' and my son is only 8- yet they look about the same size. I'm in SO much trouble! :)

Ok, I'm obsessed with this face, but wouldn't you be too?

The cuteness!

Every year be gets new PJ's for Christmas, this year he got a new mood glowy thing too - he was psyched. 

My brother found these marbles with real bugs inside.  I love this shot!

Mums tree :)

My favorite part of Christmas.  Every year, since I was born, my dad has read The Night Before Christmas to us, for a book that he's had forever and was published when he was a toddler.  Boy has his audience grown!  Look at my kiddo, he's nearly too big to sit on my lap :(

Our tree, for the first year ever we decided to get a real one, I loved it!

My son is a bit of a dork, and he asked for a lump of coal from santa.  So santa, not wanting to let him down, obliged, and also sent him something a little more interesting than just a lump of coal.

I love Christmas morning hair!

We got a wii, and a wii fit, but the most exciting game for B was the Carnival games

Sophie the Christmas chihuahua

My dads Christmas consisted of guitar loot to grow his renewed obsession with guitar.

My mom's christmas consisted of whiskey.  Hmm. 

Killian in his christmas PJ's & new robe!

We got my brother the book "stuff on my cat" .. it was a hit.

Unless you're my mothers cat... 

 

Spy night vision goggles.

Sorry, its that face again.

Nichole rockin out on the mini guitar

All the technology and noises and toys in the world and this simple spider man toy was what he kept going back to and play with over and over.

...and to all a good night!