There are two things I’ve learned to accept as a photographer.
Number one: I will always have a fear of the unknown — which is probably a blog post for later.
And number two: expect the unexpected.
You never know what kind of cards you’ll be dealt. You’ll never know the stories you’ll get to capture. Or the places you’ll go. I feel so incredibly blessed to have this career. I praise God everyday for such a fulfilling and unique career. For each and everyone of our couples who bring life to our images. I am so often in awe of the unexpected people, places, and stories I encounter.
One day I got an unexpected, unique request for a session from the sweetest, most cheerful girl. As cheerful as one could be through email, anyway. Pearlly emailed me a couple months ago, soon after her February engagement to Huson, and told me her desire to have engagement pictures taken in the snow and also at the Air Force Academy.
Pearlly and Huson have been dating for nearly six years and what a story they have. They both call Singapore home and met there when Huson was home on leave from his international exchange experience at the United State Air Force Academy. He attended the Academy for four years, met Pearlly two years into it, graduated in 2008, and since then has been all over the globe training with the Republic Singapore Air Force. After graduation, his career as an F-16 pilot took him to Australia, Canada, and now to Arizona. Over the last several years, they’ve managed to have a thriving and fulfilling relationship while Pearlly remained in Singapore. Only recently did she join Huson in his journeys in Arizona and this past February, he popped the question.
They are planning a New Years Eve wedding in Singapore and in the meantime, their first step was to get some engagement portraits done in Colorado where Huson spent so much of his time and Pearlly often visited. But these aren’t your typical engagement session. First, we broke up our time together into two days and three different sessions. And second, in the Singaporean culture, it is custom to get casual and formal portraits done to have on display at the wedding banquet — very similar to what we know as bridal portraits, but with the groom too.
We started our time together in Keystone, Colorado where these two hit the slopes (and Pearlly once broke her wrist!). After a few casual portraits at the basin, Pearlly and Huson changed into some beautiful formal wear for an adventure on top of the slopes.
Stay tuned for part II’s Air Force Academy session and more about who this couple is and why I love them so much. :-)
With joy,
René
Our gondola ride was picture perfect!
The views at the top were even better.
And because these two love snowboarding, I knew I had to recruit a boarder to help me get this shot for them.
Ugh, I love this shot! Pearlly, you are so gorgeous. Period.
Love!
Just wait until you see part II!
