Alyssa Jul Photography Blog » Engagement

Jenny & Matt in the Pearl

admin — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:03:31 +0000

Jenny and Matt spent the entire engagement session giggling with eachother as we walked through the Pearl District. It’s so much fun to spend time with people that are so open, genuine, and 100% in love. They’re the kind of people who’s happiness rubs off on you – within 5 minutes of starting their photos I felt like I was taking pictures of friends I had known for years. Later, as I sat down at my computer to edit their session I found myself smiling all over again and was struck by how good pictures can be when people aren’t afraid to have fun and be themselves in front of the camera. Good job Jenny and Matt – you guys are a hoot and I can’t wait for your wedding next month!

Mindy & David

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:06:23 +0000

Here’s a few shots from a very fun recent engagement session that I did up at the Pittock mansion with a very fun couple. Mindy and David are two of the giggliest people I’ve met and their adoration for eachother is palpable. The softbox-like clouds made for some of the best outdoor lighting I’ve had this winter and the rain held off just long enough that no umbrellas were necessary. I drove home from the session feeling like I had just watched a good romantic comedy, and I have a feeling that Mindy and David have that effect on people pretty regularly. For their whole session – here’s a link to their slideshow: http://www.alyssajul.com/#/mindy-david/

Corey & Aaron Engaged

admin — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:15:47 +0000

Well, the wet Oregon weather has created the need for some major improvisation lately, as its been too wet to shoot at my typical favorite locations. To be honest, however, I really don’t think it would have mattered where I took Corey and Aaron last week for their engagement pictures because the camera simply adores them.

Corey and Aaron met eachother in Australia, working in the land down-under for YWAM (Youth With a Mission). I absolutely love far away, romantic meeting stories like theirs. They’re planning on a Spring 2010 wedding, but because Corey is from Canada they’ve got to wait on their fiance visa paperwork to go through before she can stay long-term. Talk about anxiety! I would go absolutely crazy having to wait for the government to do something before I could plan my wedding.

Here are some of my favorites from the day, a little wet out, but fun and portland-funky nevertheless!

Celia and Russ

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:43:22 +0000

Russ begrudgingly allowed himself to be dragged along to a Halloween party with his friends. He didn’t have a clue that the party would change his life forever. As he walked through the door in his sheriff costume, he scanned the crowd. His eyes settled on Celia who just happened to have dressed up as a sheriff too. Maybe this night won’t be so bad after all, he thought. Luckily, Celia and Russ were able to avoid a law enforcement turf war that night and instead, planted the seeds for a life-long relationship.

I am so stoked for their wedding next summer! We recently headed up to The Pittock Mansion in Portland for engagement photos. As usual, the grounds were breathtakingly gorgeous and we were blessed with some amazing lighting. Here are a few of my favorites!

Yes, Engagement Pictures Can Be Fun!

admin — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:24:53 +0000

An Alyssa Jul Engagement Session is always, always fun… But Kyla and Dax took it to all new levels. Their laughter and playfulness made the session so comfortable, and the pictures so natural that I felt like I was hanging out with friends that I had known for years. Dax is a stand up comedian in Portland, and let me just say that it definitely shows. In fact, both of them have the type of bubbling personalities that quickly rub off on those around them, the life-of-the-party type that people feel lucky to know.

I smiled all the way home from Lake Oswego after the photo session. And even now, sitting at my computer editing their session I can’t help but giggle. Take a look at a few of my favorites and see if you agree!

Engagement Photos with Marisa & Eric

admin — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:20:35 +0000

Recently I headed out to Lewis & Clark College to shoot Marisa and Eric’s Engagement pictures. I love, love, love shooting engagement sessions. There really is no better way for me to get to know a couple’s personalities and tastes before the wedding day and Marisa and Eric were no exception. They were so bubbly, fun, and obviously infatuated with eachother, making my job behind the camera an easy one.

Get this, Marisa and Eric had to plan their wedding twice! Originally the plan was to get married in Mexico but when the swine flu outbreak first started down there, they decided it would be wise stay closer to home. I can’t imagine having to re-plan my entire wedding, but Marisa just grinned her infectious grin and brushed it off.

I’m really looking forward to their wedding, they’re such a fun couple and up for anything. The reception is going to be downtown at the Bridgeport Brewery (which I’m ecstatic about), It’s a really fun place with such endless photo-possibilities!

Jen & Spenser

admin — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:03:10 +0000

I’m pleased to introduce to you to Jen and Spenser. We spent a recent evening out at Champoeg Park and then in Aurora shooting engagement pictures. Let’s just say that my camera loves these two.

Watching these two interact is like watching a romantic comedy. They’re so very obviously head over heels in love with eachother and Spenser is one of those quiet but hilarious guys that knows exactly how to get a rise out his girl. We’d be in the middle of posing, and he’d whisper something to Jen and she’d immediately throw her head back, laughing hysterically. Jen has a great energy about her and it compliments her husband-to-be as perfectly as I’ve ever seen. Her incredible sense of style and her vision for their session made my job easy!

I can’t wait for the wedding you two, I know it’s still a year away but it’ll be worth the wait!

The Pearl District with Megan and Travis

admin — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:20:15 +0000

To a photographer, Portland’s Pearl District is like a slice of heaven. I never get tired of shooting there, and I find great new backgrounds at every session. I simply love it. Megan and Travis’ engagement session was no exception.

We chatted as we made our through the busy city streets, stopping to shoot as often as inspiration would strike. The session gave me a great chance to get to know their personalities and styles a little better in preparation for their December wedding up at Mt. Hood (which I’m 100% psyched for!). I love shooting engagement sessions if for no other reason than breaking the ice. It’s so nice to show up on wedding day and feel like old friends!

I picked a few of my favorites below. I think the hand-holding shot will be finding a spot on my studio wall in the near future!

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Love is Patient

admin — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:15:36 +0000

From the moment Josh met Sarah he was smitten, and he knew without a doubt that she was the girl for him… Unfortunately for Josh, Sarah wasn’t quite so sure! Josh has been waiting patiently 8 long years for Sarah realize how perfect they are for eachother. Now that she has finally seen the light, they’ll be tying the knot this September. I just love that Josh was able to wait patiently knowing that they were designed for each other, and that one day Sarah would come around. They have such a great love story and it’s a great reminder that all things really do have a time and a season.

We did their engagement session at a little church nesled on a hillside on the outskirts of McMinnville. This is where Josh proposed to Sarah and it couldn’t have been a more perfect setting for their engagement pictures.

Sam and Ajax: Peas in a Pod

admin — Sun, 24 May 2009 17:55:12 +0000

Some people are simply made for eachother, and Sam and AJ are a shining example. Their smiles came so incredibly naturally and their playfulness and genuineness made shooting their engagement session a walk in the park, literally! I’m convinced that Sam could be a supermodel without even having work at it, and yes, if it were possible I’d steal her dimples in a heartbeat. AJ just beams when he’s next to her, walking around with the proud look of a very lucky groom who can’t wait to take her ’off the market’ for good.