Sara Gray Photography Portland, Oregon

Well, it’s true, isn’t it? I discovered that everyone loved pie when I met my love, Eric, who doesn’t like cake. But he does love pie.

I love to bake and I thought I would take a moment on the blog before the weddings start coming like crazy all summer to introduce you to some of the yummy things I bake. I keep a separate, fun blog where I store my recipes and while I don’t have a ton, I do have a fun little collection that continues to grow. If you want to see what I do when I’m not photographing weddings, this is a good spot to see that.

Today, I made a strawberry-blueberry tart. It was so delicious, and although it was unintentional, it’s also a little bit patriotic, which is so fitting for this weekend.

Feel free to check out Everyone Loves Pie for the recipe and make it this 4th of July weekend for friends!

I had trouble sleeping last night, and I’ll tell you why. When I come up on the brink of my wedding season opening up and letting loose, it’s like the top of the first hill on a roller coaster, just waiting to ride it down the big, pit-in-your-stomach-inducing freefall drop. I am so excited for all the fantastic couples whose weddings I’ll be photographing this summer, and also sort of nervous with them. I remember what it’s like to be a bride, trying to sleep well and take care of yourself and also finish 8,000 DIY wedding tasks and deal with your family and your nerves and parties and congratulations and fitting into the dress. It’s a big deal.

But there’s nothing better than watching the ride as details fall into place, couples remember why they first fell in love and declare it to everyone they know, tears of joy come at the most unexpected moments, and at the end of the day, two people are husband and wife and they ride off into the sunset together.

To all my brides and grooms this summer, HERE WE GO! Hold on tight. Summer is here, and your weddings are right around the corner, whether that means this weekend or into October. The ride is going to be good, and I can’t wait to be there with you.

You saw Kim and Curt’s engagement photos on Wednesday. Now check out some video from their session, including behind-the-scenes creation of that save-the-date series that I love so much.

Kim & Curt from Sara Gray on Vimeo.

Enjoy, and happy Friday!

Kim and Curt are the sweetest. And patient. I know they’re patient (I’m talking truly patient) because we had to reschedule this engagement session four times because of the ridiculously rainy May and June we had here in Portland. Finally, we got together early this week and we had so much fun!

Portland’s waterfront park is a special spot for these two — Curt proposed to Kim there. They’re getting married in January.

I love how much they laughed during this session. It was so genuine and made everything more fun.

Aren’t they the sweetest couple? I just about died when I saw the photo below.

They also brought along a bunch of bright letters and numbers, and we created a series for their save-the-date cards. They’re so funny!

Thanks, Kim and Curt, for being so very patient and, in the end, totally fun. I love working with you guys and I can’t wait to work with you more! Come back on Friday to see a little video action from this pair and their session.

I seriously have the best job ever. I love meeting couples in love and getting to work with them to get great photos. One of those couples is Veronica & Bret. I just did an engagement session for them over the weekend and it was so fun!

I love how in love Veronica & Bret are. They’re getting married in February in Portland.

In case you’re wondering, yes — I do regularly risk my life during photo shoots doing things like taking couples into the middle of the street.

Thanks for coming out, Veronica and Bret! It was so nice to get to know you better and I wish you guys all the best!

Earlier this week, I had the chance to do something really fun. I’m a wedding photographer, but it’s so fun to be able to work on something new that stretches me as an artist and lets me try things I only dream about. I got to shoot FASHION. Like, with real beautiful models and gorgeous clothes and crazy shadowy light. It was a total blast. Here are just a couple of photos so you can see what fun I had.

Be looking out for the whole collection when Portland’s own WeMa Designs introduces their fall line!

Awhile back, I made a post on my Facebook page with a teaser to an article about how to save money on a wedding. One response I got totally made me laugh — Joan, who is the mother of my good friend Katy and my former bride Jody, said, “You mean E-L-O-P-E?”

Well, let’s be honest. Money is a little on the tighter side these days for some folks, and it’s true. I think a lot of people are choosing to elope or hold small, intimate weddings. What I love is that I’m seeing people do it with great style. For example, did you see this completely fabulous city hall wedding featured in Martha Stewart Weddings in the latest issue? Here’s a little sneak peek.

(via Green Wedding Shoes)

There are a few of you who are taking a different approach this year — whether that’s tying the knot at city hall in style, taking your family and close friends for an intimate ceremony on the beach or having the ultimate Portland experience and getting married at Voodoo Doughnut.

I get that, and I want to be part of it. So I’m offering a special elopement package, with a smaller price tag for your smaller (but no less stylish) celebration.

Eloping? Ask about it by filling out the contact form.

(Photos of me by Missy Bachmeier, Take 5 Photo)

I write on this blog and share photos three times a week, and I love knowing that people come and read it and (hopefully) enjoy it. But sometimes I get to wondering, who are all those people coming to the site and reading the blog?

So today, on this crazy Friday, I wanted to do something totally different and turn things around to you, the readers. What I want to know is, who are you? If you don’t mind terribly, come out of your dark blog-reading corner and introduce yourself. Tell us who you are, what you do and how long you’ve been reading the blog or something you’d like to see or read about here. Are you a bride-to-be or past bride? A member of the wedding industry?  My mom?

Hi, I’m Sara. Who are you?

I mean Jennifer Rand Walker, of course. She’s the face and the talent behind Face Body Beauty, and she’s the most talented makeup and hair artist I know. She’s also generous with her knowledge and savvy in the ways of business and relationships. In short, she is someone you need to know.

Face Body Beauty is just about to start work on its fifth wedding season — Jennifer does makeup and hair for brides, but also does tons of other stuff, from teaching workshops and lessons to makeup for boudoir photography and special events. She really enjoys teaching, she told me: “I teach everyday women how to do their makeup in a way that will enhance their natural beauty. Seeing them stand a little taller or walk more confidently after experiencing the difference makeup can make is extremely rewarding. I love any opportunity to help women feel more beautiful and confident.”

When she does work with brides, Jennifer said she loves working with each unique bride to create a look that works with her and the wedding.

“I love working with a bride from the beginning and talking through her vision for her wedding, her dress, her style and of course her makeup and hair,” Jennifer said. “Talking about all the details helps me put together a style and often, a plan for bringing that style to life. We come up with a plan for skin care and hair care that ensures that she will be glowing and gorgeous on her special day.”

Jennifer’s number one piece of advice to brides? Getting together with a hair and makeup artist early. When Jennifer works with a bride from six months to a year in advance, she’s able to come up with a plan for skin and hair care and make adjustments before the wedding.

I highly recommend Jennifer to brides and anyone looking for a flawless look or hair and makeup advice and lessons — check out her site here and get in touch!

You guys know the conundrum: You want to put your best face forward and make an impression on your Web site, Facebook profile, Twitter account etc. But do you actually have a current, fantastic photo you can use to communicate to the world who you are and what you do? I think very few people actually do.

Enter my new side project: I’m offering contemporary business portraits for think-outside-the-box professionals. That means graduate students, small business owners, people in creative fields and more traditional ones. For all of you who make your first impression on the Internet, it’s time to get a fantastic photo of yourself.

I’m nice, I try to be funny and my camera doesn’t bite. If you make a weird face, I promise to delete the photo forever and not tell a soul. Sessions are easy, very quick (20 minutes) and reasonably priced. You get 10-15 fully edited images in a digital format and all the rights to use them online, in print and on billboards. All for 200 bucks.

Visit my business portraits site to find out more and to get an appointment on the calendar!

Pictured above, from top: Allison McCormick, Erin McGovney, Reece Marshburn & Karen Stott.