Boone and I are excited to showcase James and Allison’s wedding here on our blog. Earlier this month, their wedding images were featured in Seattle Metropolitan Bride & Groom magazine. We worked with an incredibly talented group of vendors, please check out their links below.

CEREMONY AND RECEPTION - The Annie Wright School
WEDDING DESIGNER AND FLOWERS - Steven Moore Designs
WEDDING PLANNER Married and More with Michelle
VIDEOGRAPHER - Edit 1 Media
INVITATIONS - Chris Griffith
CATERER - Gallucci’s Catering
CAKE - Celebrity Cake Studio
RENTALS - BBJ Linen, Pedersen’s Event Rentals
HAIR AND MAKEUP - Salon Maison
FORMAL WEAR - The Tuxedo Club
RINGS - Larkin Jewelers
RECEPTION MUSIC - Second Wind
HOTEL FOR GUESTS - Silver Cloud Inn, Hotel Murano
REHEARSAL DINER - C.I. Shenanigan’s

I was invited to attend a luncheon at UGM Portland’s LifeChange Center yesterday.  Chatting with so many people at UGM totally refueled me.  I was encouraged by hearing stories of lives completely transformed, and being in the presence of new and old friends who exhibit the most incredible faith.

This past summer I photographed a big party at the Portland Union Gospel Mission.  My friend Rob at UGM told me that it would be a time to honor their guests, the people they serve, and really enjoy life together.  Tillamook cheese donated 500 grilled cheese sandwiches in honor of their 100th anniversary.  The UGM wheeled in music and drinks.  It all went down right off Burnside and 3rd.  I love that these photos are in color.  That they show the joy and character of people who are too often avoided and forgotten about.

I mentioned last week that we recently had our annual family company picnic!  This year was a fantastic, amazing year filled with great people, beautiful places and meaningful time spent together.  Our meeting was a time to look back over what worked and what didn’t, and to spend time celebrating together.

Year end meetings can be a tricky thing for a small business.  Especially if you’re fighting the good fight all by yourself.  I can’t stress how important it is to take the time to ask yourself honestly some tough questions, and if possible get a trusted friend or two to sit with you during the process.

Every year we ask ourselves a few simple but poignant questions.

- Define what success and failure is individually and as a company.
- In what did we succeed?
- In what did we fail?

These questions are huge.   The majority of our meeting centered around them.  Really considering what success looks like is critical for knowing where you’re going and if you’ve accomplished anything.  It’s easy to adapt a worldly stance that leans more towards riches and fame.  While tempting, we realize that to be sustained in our craft, we only fail when we don’t always strive for a clear vision, stretching each other creatively, growing in friendship and realizing the unique qualities of incredible clients we are blessed to build relationships with.  We succeed when we find ourselves surrounded by true community and can spend time investing in meaningful relationships.

I am especially thankful that the four of us are all comfortable enough with each other to speak up if needed and also to receive constructive criticism well.  We’ve committed to a plan and to keep each other creatively and professionally accountable.

thanks to sean flanigan for this shot of jacqi and i

Over all we’re feeling super pumped about 2010.  It’s good to recalibrate with the team as a whole, to motivate each other in creativity, and to check in with everyone to make sure our work continues to fill us with life.

Mustache Frame

Over some nice wine and cheese, the four of us (Gabe, Myself, Ashley + Jacqi) got together last night to sit and share ideas for the future - something I would definitely recommend for every small business.  Even if you’re in it by yourself, find people you respect to mentor you and meet with you.  Later this next week  I’ll be posting some things that have helped us in these meetings and tips for others in the creative industry looking to do the same.