Oahu Beach Wedding // Jaime + Darren

This wedding is extra special to me because it is my Aunt and her husbands wedding!! They live in Oahu (lucky!!) and were originally going to get married on the SE side of the island, but decided on Honolulu instead because it’d be easier with family visiting. The Royal Hawaiian is where they had their first date and Darren has been a patron for many years, so it held a special place for them… and they could get away with having the wedding on the beach ;) For their ceremony, we all met at the hotel bar for a welcome mai tai, #obvi, and then walked out and created a circle of sorts around them. They are a mellow couple so it was absolutely perfect for them to be surrounded by friends and family, but in a non-traditional set-up. After the ceremony, it was time for more mai tais, pina coladas and food!

Hawaii has a special magic to it and every time I visit, I never want to leave. But when I do, I come back feeling so refreshed and relaxed, ahhh. Oh and the water is warm enough to swim in! I wouldn’t mind another Hawaii wedding or two this year ;)

Rooftop Garden Welcome Dinner // Jessie + Shane // Brooklyn Grange

And now for the first evening of Jessie and Shane's wedding weekend! Peek their wedding here :) They had their welcome dinner to kick off their wedding weekend at Brooklyn Grange, which is a working farm on the roof of an industrial building in the Navy Yard that produces much of the produce for the local restaurants and farmers markets, as well as being a place for education and stewardship. It was so cool!! Not to forget, it has basically 360 degree views of the NYC and Brooklyn skylines. When we were planning their photo timeline for the weekend, we decided to do a few portraits of them before their guests arrived here, since we didn't do an engagement session. They were naturals and since they had this "warm-up", it made their wedding day portraits that much easier! :) We were able to walk all around and in the garden beds, just being sure to not step on the plantings. 

The dinner they planned for their guests was served family style, with guests serving each other and helping out. Community and welcoming friends and family to their home has been an important part of their relationship, so it's only fitting for them to honor this and continue this welcoming. No joke, the moment I met Jessie I felt like we'd known each other for ever. These two have the biggest hearts and have built an amazing community around them. It was truly an honor to be included!! Cheers to continuing the adventure full of love, laughter, and Presidente! ;) (The Dominican Republic is a key location in their relationship, so of course they had to have it at their welcome dinner!)

Photographer: Chelsea Dier Photography / Venue: Brooklyn Grange / Dress: Alice & Olivia / Caterer: El Nuevo Cibao / Videographer: Tom Boyden / Planner: Dame Forbes Tyson

Jessie + Shane // Urban Brooklyn Wedding // Brooklyn, NY

I honestly don't know where to start! I have just returned from an epic weekend in Brooklyn for their wedding and I couldn't think of a better wedding to kick off my new job title: full time photographer!! 

I met Jessie and Shane through a mutual friend (hi Katie!) and the moment I met Jessie, I felt like we were best friends. She has the warmest, welcoming heart and I could not wait for their weekend to arrive. They started their festivities with a welcome dinner at the Brooklyn Grange, which I'll give its own post! Let's just say there were amazing NYC skyline views, family style dinner, and chickens, all while surrounded by a working farm that produces many of the produce for local restaurants and markets. 

For their wedding, they had their ceremony at the Old Stone House in Park Slope. It was totally a city wedding! There were a few onlookers for their ceremony that were playing at the park/ ball field area and we also took a few of their couples portraits on the swings! Many thanks to the kids who let us borrow them for a few moments :) 

Post ceremony we had a short walk to the reception site and since there was a walk, Jessie and Shane decided to have their ceremony band join for the walk and create a second line. It was SO cool! Walking down the Brooklyn streets with brass instruments leading the way, it was the best way to kick off their party!! Some how J+S got just about all their guests on the dance floor for the evening and I'm sure the live band helped. They pumped up the energy and rocked it!! Oh and Jessie wore a JUMPSUIT+skirt for their ceremony, because she's the romper queen, and Shane had no idea!! See the unveiling below, mid-dancing! These two were full of surprises :)

It was such an honor to photograph their wedding weekend and I cannot believe I went to Brooklyn and photographed a wedding, ahhh!!! Thank you thank you thank you! HUGS!! Now cheers to the best honeymoon and taking a breather :) (Jessie also just graduated with her MBA a week before their wedding!)

Photography: Chelsea Dier Photography / Planner: Dame Forbes Tyson / Caterer: Avlee Greek Kitchen / Florist: Trader Joes / Dessert: Insomnia Cookies / Dress: Rebecca Schoneveld / Suit: Trumaker / Second Line Band+Reception: Silver Arrow Band / HMAU: Glamsquad / Videographer: Tom Boyden / Second shooter: Laura Huertas / Venues: The Old Stone House + The Bell House

Trail Mavens Point Reyes Kayaking // Tomales Bay, CA

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I have been following Trail Mavens on Instagram for a while and Sasha recently posted that she was looking for photographers to join on their trips and take non-iphone photos of the trip, with the goal of capturing the feelings of the trip. I jumped right on this opportunity the moment I saw it! I have wanted to kayak across Tomales Bay and camp so this was a no-brainer. I also really love what Sasha (the fab founder) is doing with Trail Mavens in creating outdoor adventures for urban women and teaching all the skills you would need to feel comfortable going camping! The outdoors are so healing and beautiful that you shouldn't be intimidated by them. Also women led adventures rock! Definitely check out Trail Mavens... there are trips in some spectacular places all over the Bay Area and beyond!   (ending the trip with the most delicious sandwich and Sofia)  

Yosemite National Park // On Film

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Lindsey and I did 3 days of hiking in this beautiful National Park and it was amazing. She's a fellow film shooter so it's always great to explore with her because she understands the want for taking photos... and lends me an extra roll of film when I run out! Who's up for an #adventureelopement or wedding here?! I'm your gal to photograph it :)((oatmeal and coffee=camping musts))

shot on my canon ae-1 with fujifilm and portra

Cassidy + Brian + Baby Eli // Maternity Photographer // Seattle, WA

Ahhhh, my beautiful friend Cassidy and her husband (and fur baby Stella) are welcoming their first baby this April and I was able to take their maternity photos. I was able to convince them to take the ferry to Vashon for their photos, because I always love taking the ferry.  We lucked out with shooting these on the only sunny/ non-rainy day of the surrounding weeks. I cannot wait to meet baby Eli! <3 (I loooove the two photos above. So beautiful and simple ^)

Adventure Elopement Photographer

I am putting this call to action out there! As I was looking for a second shooter for a wedding I have coming up, I realized I was clicking on their blogs to get a sense of who the photographer was and to see their current work. I really need to be better about this. How does this connect with adventure elopements? Well, one of my goals for 2016 is to shoot at least one adventure elopement and if you're here reading my blog, to see my current happenings, you'll see this call to action and maybe it will be just what you're looking for! I have always said that I want to take photos and travel as I grow up. I am doing both, but I would love to combine them professionally.  In this case, travel can be in California, it's doesn't have to be a destination (but I am always up for that as well)! Let's hike, let's explore, let's find the secret nooks and crannies of the mountains and make some photos that your kids and grand-kids can look back on, and be like, "they were badass!"

Being outdoors is such an important part of my life and I always want to explore and find new hiking places. I would hike every day I am off it I could (and I definitely need to get over my fear of going by myself...). Since I moved to California from Washington, I had felt a lack of getting outside and exploring the mountains around me. It took me a little while to find my groove, but I am learning that the Bay Area has some great hikes and I just need to be open to the fact that it will be different than Washington, but a close second none the less!

So, if this sounds like what you're looking for and want to connect, shoot me an e-mail!

hi [at] chelseadier.com

#franceonfilm

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This past November we traveled to France for about two weeks and it was so great. This was my first trip to Europe so it was all new to me. I met Sean in Paris, then we went in a circle around the country - Toulouse, Lyon, Strasbourg, Paris. We will be going to Germany in September, so I can't wait to see other countries!

Images taken with my Canon AE-1 on Fuji film. There pictures are so special to me and NOTHING compares to having film photos of your travel. Love 'em!!

Updates

Yikes, I kind of neglected this space. Exciting things have and are happening though! I have been working with a wedding photographer and have assisted him on four weddings so far, with four more to go. I will be building my wedding portfolio soon so y'all can take a look. I will also be shooting my first SOLO wedding in two weekends... woah! It's going to be awesome. I came here to post a few pictures from Guatemala and our Seattle trip, which are from Deception Pass. I'm not too good with words, so I'll let the photos do the talking...

(Guatemala photos taken on a GoPro -- what a great travel camera -- compact, unsuspecting, and fun fisheye!)

 Semuc Champey -- beautiful, magical jungle doesn't those last two pictures remind you of a waterfall? 

Mexico 2013

In late May, Sean and I went to Cancun, Mexico for a week. The trip can be summed up in three "r" words: reading, relaxing, refreshments.

Aside from a day trip to the Tulum Ruins, we stayed within the resort and made ourselves comfortable on the beach or by the pool.

When we visited the Tulum Ruins, it was very hot and humid and a little uncomfortable. But, we were able to dip our toes into the Caribbean as it's the only ruins along the ocean.

Some pictures from the resort grounds below...

I took all these images on an old Canon AE-1 film camera with Fujifilm Superia X-TRA 400. ((Loving the film!!))

Seattle + Bellingham

Home Sweet Home.

I went up to Seattle (well Normandy park, if we're being specific) for a long weekend to visit my best friend who had just moved back. I also took this as a chance to see some other friends I have been missing and an excuse to get up to Bellingham.

Aly and Travis just happened to get engaged a few months earlier AND got a new puppy so I knew a visit was a must. I went to college up in Bellingham, so it holds a dear place in my heart. The last time I visited Bellingham, it wasn't quite personally satisfying, so I wanted a re-do.

Low and behold, it was a success! I came back home to Oakland (wait, what? this is where I'm calling home now?) feeling refreshed and filled with love. Now if I could just convince them all the move down here, I'd be set!

PS- my Washington ID expires in one month!! Uhhhh... meaning I will become a Cali resident? Don't know if I am ready for that yet! :)

Cancun, Mexico

Sean and I went to Moon Palace Resort in Cancun, Mexico at the end of January for a vacation. We were gifted the room so how could we pass up this opportunity for a tropical vacation. We were there for a week and it was wonderful. Since we stayed at an all-inclusive resort, we didn't need to worry about much and were able to truly relax.

While we spent most of our time at the beach and walking around the resort, we did leave the resort area twice. One day we visited Chichen Itza (one of the new Seven Wonders of the World) and another day we went to Cancun proper.

Chichen Itza was an all day tour outing. It was a two hour drive to and from the resort. The Mayan ruins were amazing to see and to learn about all the numbers and their correlation with the how the ruins were built. The perimeter of the ruins are lined with local vendors trying to sell their woodworks, shirts, nick-knacks and everything between. Our guide said when TV stations or anyone who is filming come to the ruins, these vendors disperse to give Chichen Itza the "sacred" and serene appeal. Here's a good article about this and the battle between its ownership dispute. It is amazing to say I have visited one of the Seven Wonders of the World, but the perimeter lined vendors definitely distracts from its beauty and architecture.

Since we were located south of Cancun, we decided to visit the hotel zone for a few hours. Oy, were we pleased that we stayed outside of the hotel zone. Sean and I are more of the rugged, off the beaten path travelers, so being in this small area jam packed with hotels and people made us realize this even more. The beach was quite beautiful though.

All in all, it was a great vacation. We are planning our next vacation and this could include a road-trip, Europe countries and backpacking.

San Fran from the plane

I flew home to Seattle for Thanksgiving and surprise, surprise was welcomed with rain and very cold weather. Since being in SF I have really become a wimp with the weather. It has practically been sunny majority of the days I have lived here since June and maybe rained three (okay, maybe 7) days. When I was flying back to San Fran, I took these 3 pictures with my iPhone and I love them. Just wanted to share! Edited with Instagram

Hawaii

I finally was able to visit my Aunt and Cousins in Oahu. My family had been before, but I was never able to join because of school or work. I went for a week in April and it was beautiful. My aunt lives in the town Kailua, which is on the opposite side of the island from Honolulu. They are on the windward side, so the mornings were usually drizzly and grey and then the sun would break through and shine throughout the day. This trip was originally going to be a “rent a VW Vanagan and tour the Big Island” trip, but the friends who would have been joining had scheduling issues and couldn’t join. So I figured, why not visit my aunt?!

Instead of a Vanagan, we rented a car and spent the week exploring the island. Places we visited included Honolulu and Waikiki Beach, Turtle Bay Resort, Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial. We also hiked Diamond Head, saw amazing views from the Lanikai Pillboxes, and drove from Kailua to Kaena Point and along the North Shore.

The second day we were in Hawaii we decided to explore Honolulu and see Waikiki beach. Before going into the city, we hiked Diamond Head. This was an easy hike with great views. Having never visited Oahu, it was impressive to see all the buildings and hotels that make up Honolulu with the turquoise water and beach sharing a shoreline. It also offered panoramic views of parts of the Island and coast. Beautiful!

Another day we decided to drive part of the Island and see the infamous North Shore. Our first destination was Kaena Point, which is the westernmost tip of land of Oahu. We didn’t end up hiking to the end, but we drove out as far as the road would go. The beaches there were rockier, but just as beautiful. We also saw many people kite boarding because the water is pretty shallow and conducive for successful boarding.

After seeing the kite boarders, we continued along to the North Shore. Construction was happening so there was a lot of traffic, which put a slight damper on the drive. There was no driving up and down the coast to find theperfect part of beach. We didn’t see any surfers, which the North Shore is famous for, but we were able to enjoy yet another beautiful beach. Once we soaked in the sun, we continued along the coast and headed home. Phew, what a day!

Renting a car was definitely the way to go. We were able to explore the whole island on one tank of gas, score!

I enjoyed the Northeast side of the Island a lot more, as it’s more remote and not as touristy. The scenery is beautiful, the water is turquoise and clear for as far as you can see and the beaches are not crowded (visit the Lanikai Pillboxes to see all these).

view from Lanikai Pillboxes