Rachel Blackwell Photography

As you all know, I LOVE weddings.  I love a nice sunny, 70 degree wedding.  I think that would be the ideal conditions for any photographer.  BUT… we can’t always have those days and every wedding photographer must learn how to shoot in any weather at any time of the day.  Lets just say Melody and Rondie’s wedding in Portland, Oregon stretched me as the skies poured the whole day! Ha!  I have never been so thankful for a camera that performs excellent in low light.  Thank goodness Nikon has my back.  For any photographer that is interested I may spout out my camera settings so you can see how I shot this wedding.

With all that said…. I loved every second of this wedding.  Not only because I love the bride & her family SO much, but because I truly enjoyed hanging out with them all day. On with the photos!

Starting off with a few details.  Sparky toms and pearls her daddy gave her to wear on her wedding day.

Beautiful Dress.  Isn’t that the most fantastic mirror you’ve ever seen?
Getting Ready!  She was getting a bit nervous at this pointLots of fun putting on her dress.

So you may be thinking.  That looks like you have lots of light to work with.  I would beg to differ.  This photo was shot at f/1.4, 1/80, ISO 6400.f/1.4, 1/80, ISO 6400.

Melody’s mom helping put on those finishing touches.
Putting on those pearls her dad gave her.

Melody and Rondie chose to see each other before the wedding to make sure we would get all the pictures they wanted as time was quite crunched after the ceremony. Lots of laughing the whole day.  Melody laughs/smiles all day anyways.So you might be asking yourself… why has Rachel not moved her clients to another location?  Well…. this was the only overhang on the church that allowed for any natural light.  I am actually standing in the rain while someone holds and umbrella over me to take all these pictures!  I’ll do whatever it takes to get natural light in my pics!Love this one!One of my favs too!

Melody and her girls.  They were pretty much freezing in this picture.
Rondie with the men. So all that picture taking sparked a desperate need in Melody only a few moments before the ceremony.  STARBUCKS of course.  Just what Melody needed!
So they hurried back to the church just before the guests started to arrive.  I think that had to be a highlight of Melody’s day!
Ceremony.  This picture below might just be my favorite image of the day. Love how Melody and her dad sneak a peek at each other before he gives her away. So sweet.Love this one too. They got married at First Baptist Church in Portland, Oregon.  It looks a lot like our church in San Francisco.First Kiss as husband and wife!Off the to reception.  Don’t you love the backdrop Melody made.  She found her inspiration on Pinterest!
Love this one!Melody is a children’s director at a church in Gresham, Oregon.  So it was only fitting that she wrote a story just to read to all the children at the wedding.Lots of love from the kiddies!

Toasts!Melody enjoying every minute of it. Then  off to their honeymoon under a tunnel of sparklers!  Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Taylor!!