Ashlee and Bruce's Wedding- Newport Beach Temple + Oak Creek Golf Club, Irvine CA

Ashlee had a big ole smile planted on her face the entire day. Bruce and her were both feeling like lottery winners. Life has crazy twists and turns and sometimes wedding days really do feel like the "happily ever after" we are told doesn't exist. I, for one, am a believer. And it is couples like this that reaffirm that belief. A beautiful love and light filled day. Full of grateful hearts and lots of laughing.

A special treat was being surprised when I saw the groom for the first time and realized we were childhood classmates. So fun to see some familiar faces from elementary school through highschool.

Biggest congratulations to these two!! Can't wait to hear more about your honeymoon in Italy!!

Tristen's Bridals

I don't shoot bridals all that often...but after this shoot I am thinking I always should!

First, the location was bonkers and second, I love the fact that we get a little dress rehearsal for the wedding day.

No words to describe what a knockout the bride to be was (photographic proof) and her man to be, model material.

It was kind of the perfect early evening shoot.

(shot on the contax 645 with kodak portra 160)

 

Some Favorites from 2012

Here are a few of my favorite portraits from this last year...shots that made me linger a little longer..

Not going to lie, 2012 has been a transitional year. It has been full of really really great moments and some challenging ones. I guess that is bound to happen when it's a year you move.

This year some of my photographic goals include shooting WAY MORE personal work. I really slacked in this area in 2012. I am going to put down my phone and pick up my film cameras and shoot my own life. I think it's deserving.

I also am excited to announce some changes to my pricing which will include some new Southern California only rates for my wedding clients. I will still be available for travel (and y'all know I LOVE to travel) but clients having me shoot close to home are worthy of some perks. So if you have inquired about having me shoot your wedding in 2013 and want to take a look at some of my new options, feel free to email me (info@rachelthurston.com).

I really really want to thank all of my amazing and loyal clients AND friends and family for supporting me as a photographer and mother. It is a constant evolution of adjusting and changing to meet the needs of my family and my desires as a creative. I am going to be starting some new blog posts dedicated to being a working mother. I have so many thoughts running through my mind and sharing I know would help me and hopefully some of you dealing with similar life challenges.

I just feel blessed. Really really blessed.

Happy New Year everyone!

 

 

Jess

Photographed this beauty at Laguna Beach right before sunset.

She lives on Oahu but got married in San Diego last Saturday. I was sad I couldn't shoot the wedding day but was happy I got to capture her a week before...barefoot and in the ocean breeze.

Jess, I hope you and Dewy had an amazing wedding day. xxoo

Tradition

I thought it was really sweet that Carol wanted a separate little shoot highlighting some of the traditional jewelry her mom gave her as a wedding gift. How gorgeous is it?

I love when couples incorporate elements into their weddings that really mean something to them.

Pretty window light and "a reason why" is all you need to keep this photographer happy.

Lindsey - Old Towne Orange










I have posted most of these once before, but then took them down because the timing wasn't right. Since she and Brad were married on Saturday the timing is now perfect and I am excited to get to share them again!

Look for photos from their Newport Beach/Huntington Beach wedding day in the next few weeks.

lindsey

had a great weekend involving delicious food, time with friends, a ride on a ferris wheel, sand between my toes and this lovely bridal shoot.

I have a lot I am working on....I feel like I am racing to get on top of it all! substantial posts in the near future.

happy monday super fine blog readers.

tess's bridals














this beauty's wedding is on friday...can't wait to shoot all the mushrooms and flowers and pretty people.

(note: I typically like to do minimal editing to my images. usually just color correction and level adjustments. but this bride specifically asked for an old vintage feel...and since we didn't have time to shoot large format bw film, we used some fun photoshop tricks to desaturate and color adjust certain images. hope you enjoy! )

tess

we had a bridal photo shoot a couple nights ago here in seattle and it was AMAZING. we were going for a vintage/old look since her dress is from the early 1900's. I found a great apartment lobby and some blooming trees. enjoy this little taste. more to come.

lisa's bridals


















I've known lisa since she was in junior high. Her brother was my first love. It was one of those rare relationships that transcends the breakup and awkwardness and comes up even better than before. Chris is still one of my closet friends and I feel blessed to have him and his family as part of my life.

lisa, along with chris and family, came out to LA for this shoot. It really didn't even feel like work. Pat was buying me pizza and Rachel's baby, slade, was nuzzling into my shoulder. It was just fun.

lisa, as you can see, looked amazing. everyone keep commenting on how she looks like uma thurman, but better. she braved breaking the rules in the hotel and owned the streets of santa monica and the results...were gold.

thank you universe for letting me photograph such a stunning subject. xxoo.

lisa

I just started looking through her bridal shoot from this weekend and this image hit me like a ton of bricks.
she is stunning.
I can't wait to post more.

Diamonds Are a Girls Best Friend

So, it's clear that Nikki is a supermodel. It is also clear that she pulls off glamour without breaking a sweat.....what may be harder to pick out is the fact that it was pouring rain outside.

With great panic, because these were taken only days before her wedding and we needed prints for the reception, I improvised and took them all inside my little apartment. We used my old, trusty red couch, a lamp that I bought at a thrift store and turned coal into diamonds!!

I am giving myself a pat on the back because I was not working with what I would normally use if shooting inside on a dark rainy day and yet I was happy and I dare say a little surprised that I like these images so much. They are moody, shadowy and a little mysterious, which begs the question,"Was it really the lighting?"

Great Beauty is always a mystery, and Nikki, you are puzzle everyone is trying to figure out, patent and copy, but I assure you, you will never be duplicated.

Three cheers for my beautiful friend.