When dreams become a reality…

It all started back in April.  With a Facebook message.  And two days later, another Facebook message, followed by a blog inquiry the next day. Her name was Kristi and she was wildly excited about René Tate Photography.  She used phrases like, “breathtaking,” “you’re my style,” and, “you have a gift of capturing people’s pure love.”  She wasn’t engaged yet, but was pretty sure her boyfriend, Scott, would propose that summer.  Though somewhat prematurely, she inquired about the possibility of engagement pictures in October in her hometown of Spokane, Washington.  We dialogued and brainstormed ideas.  Inspired by her and Scott’s song, Dancin’ in the Moonlight, we dreamed of shooting underneath the harvest moon. As fate would have it, Scott proposed that summer in Spokane’s iconic Riverfront Park, with their song accompanying the evening.  Her dream became a reality.

With a ring now in place, Kristi called me the very next day to plan her Spokane engagement session.  We exchanged numerous phone calls and e-mails and eventually a friendship bloomed.  And I have to tell you, this girl gets me.  She gets René Tate Photography.  She understands what we’re all about. One morning, I awoke to this lovely e-mail:

I am so happy that I found you and am lucky enough to be working with you.
When you told me the story about how some couples book you and don’t even see you until the wedding day, and how [you won’t book those type of clients anymore], well, that just made me love you even more. I feel like most people would just want to do it because it’s another paycheck and booked event, but you are truly inspiring with your dedicated work ethic when it comes to not only becoming someone’s photographer, but someone’s friend too.
I hope that you get told enough how fantastic you are both as a person and a photographer.

I really appreciate how you asked me about my and Scott’s story, and took the time to listen to our song and come up with the fabulous idea of shooting against the moon. I know that it must have taken some research and a lot of ideas for you to come up with that, and email me right away. THAT is what a photographer should be and I thank you immensely for that!

Thanks for all you’ve done in these past 48 hours!

Love,
Kristi

Kristi and Scott, you share such a pure and sweet love.  I am the blessed one to have worked with you both and I thank you, Scott, for loving Kristi the way you do.  And Kristi, thank you for your constant encouragement and uplifting conversations.  You have a beautiful soul.  Thank you for letting me photography it.

With love,
René

We started the afternoon with some yummy pizza and then ventured to the Japanese Tea Gardens.

Kristi, you are absolutely striking!!

I can’t wait to see your kiddos. They’re going to be knock-outs too!

Then there were these flower gardens…

And they were perfect.

During a little Spokane research, I fell in love with this blue bridge at Riverfront Park and for some reason, couldn’t get the thought of balloons out of my head.

I’m not sure these two knew what to do with them, or me, at first as you can clearly see by their expressions above, but we ended up getting some of my favorite engagement images to date!

Love this one!

Absolute favorites from the day!

Wait, maybe these are… I love Kristi’s body language here.

Scott and Kristi are high school sweethearts and still support their team.

Love these reflections!

Love!

Scott was so awesome!  He had the best attitude ever and was game for anything. You’re the best, Scott!

And then there was this grungy alley…

We never got the chance to shoot under the harvest moon, but we did get the chance do these killer, moody shots.

Lifers:

K&S, you know I love you. Words cannot express how thankful I am for your hospitality, friendship, and awesomeness.