I'll be in California, more specifically L.A. and Malibu between July 28 and August 9 for two weddings.  I have a couple things planned, but I'd love to set up some more shoots while I'm there and am offering a special rate.  So, if you are thinking about an engagement, beloved, or family session please drop me a line at nicole@nicolepolkphotography.com with the subject CA portrait shoot.  Please spread the word!

I met Rachel through the contest I ran last summer and we instantly clicked.  Turns out we have a lot in common!  Though she and James are currently living in Santa Barbara, she grew up in my neck of the woods.  We swapped stories about both the Philly area, Santa Barbara (where my Dad lived for a bit), studying abroad, and even found out we have a mutual friend from our school days.  I was so excited to find out I'd be shooting her wedding to James after becoming fast friends with her.  I got to go out to Santa Barbara for a day on the tail end of my Vegas trip to shoot their engagement.  I was so happy to meet James and hearing his perspective of their meeting and engagement after hearing everything from Rachel.  Their pet tortoise, Morty, even came out for a cameo appearance!  Spending a day in Santa Barbara wasn't too shabby either.  A beautiful day with beautiful new friends :)

PS - Rachel rocks! She sent me a surprise gift over the holidays - a Smores Kit with a little hibachi burner!  Yum yum! 

I'm forever catching up on blogging, but in the meantime, here is a teaser from my session with Rachel and James and their beloved tortoise, Morty!  Such a scene stealer that Morty!  More to come this week!

Up next, part 2 from Sarah and Tom's engagement session shot at Bear Creek Mountain!  Before we got geared up for playing in the snow, we took some time to get some images in the parking lot of the resort.  I'm so glad we were able to make this winter session work!  With so much snow & rain this winter, and available days at the resort while still open, it was starting to look a little grim.  I can't imagine their session any other way now.  So looking forward to your September wedding!

Every time I meet with a couple and we talk about the engagement session, I always throw out little ideas I have - bowling, rides, snowboarding, etc.. for their session.  I got so excited when Sarah told me that she and Tom wanted to do their engagement session on skis!  Funny enough, we actually had too much snow for their originally scheduled date of the shoot.  The roads were an absolute mess and didn't think we could make it to the Poconos and back.  Luckily, these big winter storms left us with plenty of snow to play with later in the month.  We were able to get a beautiful day and some yummy post shoot waffles at the waffle hut on the mountain.  Nothing is yummier than fresh waffles out in the cool winter air. First up, Sarah and Tom on skis.  Tomorrow - Sarah and Tom in the parking lot.  Yeah, that's right, the parking lot.  It's good stuff, I promise ;)

 

Ok, I still have other things to blog before this shoot, but I got so excited to shoot out in all this snow I wanted to share a quick image I was working on to help get rid of my winter blahs.  Shoots like this will help me get through till spring!  Next week I have an e session with a couple on skis!  No need to wait till things are blooming for an e session with snow like this  :)