The Gift
» Posted on November 11, 2011
One year ago tomorrow. That is when we witnessed Brett marry his sweet Laura on a Coronado Beach as the sun sank down into the ocean, when we raised our glasses to living, cherishing each and every day we have together, when we celebrated their love for each other. One year since she became his wife, our sister. They were married for six beautiful weeks before he passed on, just six, and while there is no way I would ever try to articulate what she meant to Brett, I would like to take a moment to express what she means to me. Because truly, if Brett had to leave us so early, there doesn’t exist a more exquisitely perfect gift he could have given us then Laura.
Laura is a remarkable person. I have observed her putting other peoples feelings far before her own, I have seen her feel deeply, worrying that she may have caused another pain or sadness. I have seen her give up personal comforts to help a friend in need. She is stronger then anyone I have met. She suffers deeply, and despite the suffering, she is still managing to create a life of meaning. She tries hard, she is encouraging, she makes others around her want to try harder. She has a unique ability to make you feel like you are worth something.
Last year was hard, sad, dark. But not as dark as it should have been, we had Laura. On most nights, when we would have been moping, feeling down, Laura smiled, told us we were going to learn all the moves to a Soulja Boy song on dance central, or do a Jillian Michaels workout video, or make raviolis by hand. Despite her pain, she has a twinkle in her eye, she makes things fun. She is loyal, she is confident, she is lovely, she is strong. I am so proud to have her as my sister, as my friend. So happy anniversary, Brett and Laura, we love you, thank you thank you for all that you are to us and to everyone around you!
(sometimes Laura comes with me and drags around my gear for me, and poses when I need to test the light while the family is in wardrobe change!)
shoot, I missed halloween….
» Posted on November 4, 2011
I was meaning to post this for Halloween but between fall photoshoots, dressing and undressing my kids in their costumes, running drills to make sure they got as many kit kats in their buckets as possible and then sneaking the aforementioned kit kats for myself after they went to bed at night, the holiday completely got away from me! But hey, everyone still loves a good ghost photo, right? I bet most of you readers have even already seen this, but just in case I haven’t totally convinced all of you that I did indeed photograph the memory grove ghost, here it is again… She is there in the window to the right above the dads head. She is looking in the direction of the mom, who was standing to my right, wearing a purple sweater. Rumor at the reception center there is that she usually makes an appearance when the brides color is purple. I guess she has a thing for it.. The second photo is just cropped a little tighter. So spooky, right??? I double dog dare you to google memory grove ghost and read up on some of the creepy things that are floating around the Internet about this! 
Karen and Matt
» Posted on October 25, 2011
Writers block, that is what the call it. That is what I have, every time I try and tell a story about some amazing person that helped in our race to save my brother from that stupid cancer. And I feel like Karen and Matt’s story is such an exquisite testament to the hope we are all clinging to, that we are watched over, and protected. See, I met Karen through a friend of a friend about the time that Brett had exhausted all of his treatment options. She had recently lost her dear husband to testicular cancer. He had seen some of the same doctors, had most of the same treatments… And she was an angel, so forthcoming in the information they had come across, about doctors, and research and clinical trials, I felt like suddenly we had an advocate, someone who had been there, someone that didn’t just scratch her head and say “yes,well, testicular cancer is 99% curable..” Yes, I adore Karen, and her two lovely daughters, and now her soon to be new husband Matt, incidentally, a testicular cancer survivor whom she met being that same angel she was to us. I cried when they told me that during their photos, cried happy tears, because I knew, in that moment, that we are watched over, and loved, by someone, something bigger then ourselves. Karen and Matt, you are both remarkable, inspirational people, and I can’t thank you enough for being who you are. I am so so happy for you.
John and Lisa
» Posted on October 12, 2011
They opted for a First Look, a big reveal on the day we did their bridal pictures. Lisa got dressed at the capital building with John patiently waiting outside. It took a little longer then expected to get her all laced up, but he never said a word, he just waited. And as I am sure he will tell you, it was well worth the wait. I have done a lot of these first looks this year, and they are all beautiful, and I almost always get choked up, a lucky bystander, witnessing true love, but this was different. It was like time stood still, like the very air stopped moving in that moment that he turned around to see beautiful Lisa standing behind him. And then, just silence, thick with gratitude, with emotion, with love. I feel so lucky to have been a fly on the wall for that.
They wed a week later at the Draper Temple, and I was so impressed with all of their friends and family, I mean these two are surrounded with love, and they gave it freely in return. They had a lunch at Heritage Gardens following the wedding ceremony, and not only did John’s family play some very entertaining music, John himself got up and sang “a whole new world” from aladdin after some encouragement from his siblings, and I can’t lie, myself. (in my defense, his sister had joked that he could sing in perfect pitch both the male and female parts to it and I had to hear it for myself! He was great, there is a photo to prove it in here somewhere.. )
After the lunch, we all went over to their church for a reception, and I was blown away by all the beautiful decorations and the unbelievable food. Everything was lovely, John and Lisa, you are both such beautiful people, thank you so much for allowing me to be with you on your wedding day!
-
Carrie Butler
"I love what I do, I love weddings, I love dancing and I love cake. Check out my blog for recent work. You can also see some of my articles at Photography Course.
Recent Work
