The photography blog of Carissa Uribe, an international wedding photographer based out of Park City, Utah and Conroe, Texas.

Mountain, Beach and Bowling Engagements: Marissa + Zac (Part 1)

They met over the sound of balls rolling, pins flying, music, laughter, and greasy bowling food. Zac had simply been expecting a fun evening at a bowling alley with friends, but when he saw Marissa, sparks flew. He made it a point to talk to her, and they flirted their way through a few games. By the time the last ball was thrown, they were both pretty smitten. And like a scene right out of your favorite chick flick, as they went their separate ways that night, they both paused to look back at each other. Smiling to herself, Marissa knew she had just met someone special.

But it almost ended there. Almost.

Zac didn’t get Marissa’s number. When a few days had passed, though, Marissa realized she couldn’t stop thinking about him, and she decided to take things into her own hands. She went through a few friends until she finally got his number. And when Zac saw a message from the cute girl at the bowling alley, some might say that was the end for him. Or rather, the beginning. The beginning of the rest of their lives. Together.

These guys came up to Park City earrrrrly in the morning to start off their engagements. Despite what it looks like in these pictures, it was actually quite cold to begin! But they totally rocked it out, as you can see :)

Love.

Zac is hilarious. I’m pretty sure I was laughing as hard as Marissa in this shot…

Seriously guys?! You are so beautiful together.

SO cute.

These next ones. Love ’em all.

Stay tuned for an epic Part 2 post tomorrow!

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Kelly - June 25, 2012 - 11:27 am

GORGEOUS light!!! :) These are all really beautiful.

Mike Holtkamp - June 25, 2012 - 3:30 pm

Damn,that Zac sure is a handsome guy. He obviously takes after his good looking Dad!

Debra Joyce-Gomez - June 25, 2012 - 7:27 pm

Having a man in your life who can make you laugh, is SO important. I cannot wait to meet Zach and see Missy, since it has been so long. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these pictures. <3

Couch Days and Encouragement

Last night as Jake and I exhaustedly crawled into bed, he looked over at me and said, “We need a couch day.” I nodded vigorously in agreement.

Yeah, you know what a couch day is. A day where all you do is, well, nothing. Except sit on the couch. Maybe read a little and watch some TV. Bathroom and food breaks are also acceptable. Couch days are the perfect way to re-energize and take a break from responsibilities. At least, they are for this girl.

Unfortunately, the to-do list says a couch day is not allowed. Fortunately, I’m going to stick it to the man and have one anyways. Oh yes. I’m even going to put it on the calendar. So TAKE THAT.

(I really need a couch day.)

Anyways. Here are a few encouraging things I found this week, and I thought I’d share!

Last but not least, a little video on the creative process called “Ira Glass on Storytelling” (from David Shiyang Liu on Vimeo). I first saw this in college, but the Youngrens played it a few days ago at their workshop (more on that next week!), and it’s an excellent reminder that no one starts at the top, and we all have to take our own journey to get where we’re going. Not to mention the typography is pretty great…

Happy Weekend everyone : )

P.S. I want to say an extremely heartfelt thank you to those of you who reached out and sent their support for my mom. I was honestly blown away by the amount of messages, comments, and texts from all you kind and wonderful people. I appreciate every single sweet word. Thank you!!

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Samantha - June 24, 2012 - 2:43 pm

Love you so much! We’re praying for all of you.

A Post I Never Wanted to Write

Friday started off wonderfully. I woke up next to my husband, officially married for two years. We had spent the day before celebrating. A bit of shopping, eating at the Melting Pot for dinner, staying at the Grand America. We ended our celebration with a little breakfast before heading home just in time for me to pack Jake’s lunch and see him off to work. My phone rang while I was packing his lunch. It was my parents. I figured they were calling to see how our anniversary had been, and since I was hurrying I decided to call them back after Jake left.

Jake left, I called them back. But what was said is almost a blur… Mom went to the doctor…. a lump… not the results we were hoping for… Breast Cancer. I sank to the ground, my eyes filled with tears. How bad?… We’re not sure… waiting for MRI test results… researching doctors and treatment plans… I shook my head my head in disbelief. Not my mom. Surely they’re talking about someone else. Not my sweet, loving, unconditionally giving mom.

But it is. Cancer. My mom has cancer. Just typing those words makes my eyes fill to the brim with tears. It’s still hard to believe. Sometimes I feel like it’s not real. But every time I hear it said, every time I have to say it, it sinks in a little more, stinging as it settles.

We are optimistic, though. There are already a myriad of things to be grateful for about the situation. My mom actually found it herself, and we seem to have caught it early. This type of cancer is usually very difficult to detect, so the fact that my mom found it at all, let alone early, is a bit of miracle. The prayers, love, and support we have already seen pouring in from people are so uplifting. And prayer is a powerful thing.

So we will get through this. My mom is strong. She is a fighter. It is going to be a very long, strenuous road, but I have faith that, God willing, she will make it through. And she will come out even stronger.

” ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord. ‘Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.’ “ Jeremiah 29:11

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Joe Jr. - June 18, 2012 - 7:20 pm

Riss-
This is a post that none of us want to read. I have been thinking about this a lot lately and it does come back to the why do bad things happen to good people (in this case an amazingly GREAT person). There is no other answer other than God wants us to feel His presences and we can become stronger from it.

Also, think about your favorite sunrises or sunsets. I would be willing to bet that most of them included clouds, think of those clouds as troubles in life… Things can look great without them but because of those clouds it can become so much more beautiful.

Love you guys (my second family)!!!!

Ashantai Yungai - June 18, 2012 - 8:58 pm

My dear friend I am very sorry to hear about your mother’s diagnosis. It is certainly not anything any children wants to hear. But as you said, and to quote Paolo Cuelho said in The Alchemist: The secret to life is falling down seven times and getting back up eight.” =)

Minnesota Barn Wedding: Samantha + James

They both love music. (They’re both pretty incredible at it, too, I might add.) In high school, they met through a mutual friend and started a band together. And James? He knew he saw something special in Samantha from the get go. Samantha, on the other hand, was completely oblivious to his advances. She wasn’t looking for love. So James waited. And waited. And waited a little more. Until four years down the road Samantha realized there was something special about James, too…

James offered to help her do some weeding at a neighbors tree farm. While Samantha thought he was maybe a little crazy for voluntarily giving up his time to weed, she wasn’t about to turn down the company. And as they sat working together, weeds might have been pulled out, but something else started growing, between the two of them. It grew strong and it grew thick, until finally a few years later, James got to watch that girl from his high school band walk down the aisle to become his wife. And I’m pretty sure James would say it was worth all of that weeding, and then some ;)

This is a very special wedding for me because sweet Samantha is my cousin!! I flew out to Minnesota to help out and photograph her wedding, and it was such an honor for me to be a part of this celebration. I’ve known James for quite a few years now, and I’m so happy they found each other! Enjoy some of my favorites of the wonderful couple’s day.

Samantha started the day getting ready at La Grande.

Meanwhile, James was back at his house getting ready with his best man.

Samantha then headed to our Grandma’s house to finish getting ready.

That’s my sweet Grandma in the middle :)

Samantha, you were breathtaking!!!

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again… I ADORE First Looks. So glad Samantha and James decided to do one.

So sweet.

After a few moments to themselves, we headed out to take some more portraits.

Samantha’s family owns a few horses, so we brought out pretty Windy Day to join us for a few pictures. Lurrrve these.

James, you made one handsome groom.

The totally awesome and super fun bridal party!

The girls all picked their own yellow shoes. Loved the variety!

After bridal party photos we headed to the church for the ceremony.

Married!!

One little fun fact, this barn is on the property of the tree farm Samantha and James weeded together :)

They let me sneak them off for a few sunset photos during the reception, and it was SO worth it. Nothing makes me more excited than soft, buttery light…

Favorite :)

They sang to each other during their first dance :)

LOVED their ribbon wand exit.

Congratulations again you guys!! I love you both and I’m so happy for the new journey you guys are embarking on. Welcome to the family James :)

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amy lashelle - June 14, 2012 - 10:35 am

what a perfect location for the first look! Such a gorgeous wedding & images :)

Cindy Davis - August 2, 2012 - 6:50 am

I absolutely love this! Pictures are so amazing, what a wonderful way to remember the most important day of the rest of your life together! God bless both of you!

Announcing Boudoir Sessions

Boudoir photography has always intrigued me. The idea of taking a woman, putting her in some pretty lingerie and a soft setting, and making her feel beautiful and comfortable in her own skin… Self confidence is so important, yet it’s so lacking in too many women today. So I am now offering boudoir sessions. If I can be a part of helping someone recognize how gorgeous they are, I don’t want to pass that up. Plus you’ll have a wedding/anniversary gift that I’m pretty sure your husband will love you for ;)