cindy cieluch photography . blog

More to come soon from tonight’s sparkling wedding in Cascade…and last week’s in Great Falls…AND the one in Washington D.C.  Wow.  I’ve got some crazy catching up to do!

I LOVE my clients.  I really do.

This evening, The Bleskin Family stopped by my house to introduce me to their new puppy Gunnar.  They saw Sam on my blog (see post below) and knew that they better bring their baby Golden over pronto!  I’m in love.  Matt is so scared that I’m going to bring another doggie home soon.  How can you resist this face?!?!?!?!

THANK YOU for your visit, Bleskin Family!

I’ve got a thing for babies.  I’ve also got a thing for Golden Retrievers. So this session made my day.

Sam (the Golden) may not be the youngest baby in the house anymore, but he’s still a big ol’ baby!

Gavin wasn’t the only one crying.  Sam had to be held down for this shot!

Gavin is so alert at only 2 weeks old!  We tried doing the whole sleepy baby thing, but he was too busy checking everything out.

What a beautiful little boy…

Grandma was visiting and helped keep Gavin calm.  I love how proud she is…and how small he is.

Brandi came with me and grabbed this killer shot.

Dad had to run back to work after the shoot.  A man in uniform + a newborn…..yeah, makes you MELT.

I used to make Brandi pose for me nearly 10 years ago during my college photography classes, while I was still rockin’ my Canon Rebel 35mm.  She had *IT* then…and she’s still got *IT* now.

But this girl isn’t just another pretty face.  She’s a dear friend who was my UCA cheerleading camp sidekick (I used to lift and throw her around), Austin roommate (during my long-distance days with Matt) and photography buddy.

Yep, Brandi is also a photographer! She’s based out of San Antonio and has this raw, beautiful talent and true love for photography.  I believe her vision for others stems from her intense passion for her family (she’s married to her high school sweetheart and they have the 2 cutest girls EVER).  It’s been a pleasure watching her photography grow with each session into her own style and flair.

I had the honor of taking some new headshots for her…and then Brandi did some for me and Jeff.  Who’s Jeff?  No, I didn’t give Matt the boot!  HA!  But we do have a new addition to the CC Photography gang!  A new website is on the way very, very soon and it’ll explain.  Stay tuned!  I’m still catching my breath after last Friday’s wedding and preparing for a wedding in Cascade on Saturday.  Until then…here’s Brandi and her beautiful self.  THANK YOU for flying up here to visit us!!!!!!

P.S. Brandi just posted some pics she took of me. Ahhhh!  Thank you girl!

Matt + I celebrated our 4 year anniversary on Friday in Glacier National Park with Jared + Trish…….AND A GRIZZLY BEAR AND CUB!  The story is scary, funny and better told by Trish.  Check it out on their blog!

I don’t get the opportunity to do sister-only shoots that often…and I hope that changes.

We laughed a ton, got bit my psycho mosquitoes, almost ran out of gas, randomly ran into their dad and had an absolute blast!

This was taken on their family farm.  Sweeeet car.

I LOVED how Taylor was always looking up to her big sis.

They wanted to dress alike because they always did as little girls.  Too cute!

It’s impossible to express how much this girl and her husband mean to me.  Seriously…how in the world do you write a few paragraphs about a friend who’s been by your side for nearly 2 decades?

Like I mentioned over & over in my wedding toast (but felt like I couldn’t quite emphasize enough), Stephanie is a TRUE friend.  She has ALWAYS been real with me.  She knows all of my quirks (tardiness, open-mouth-insert-foot syndrome, non-stop candy eating until I get a cavity problem) and loves me more for them.  She turns a bad situation (speeding like mad women from New York City to Baltimore all because I read the wrong flight information) into something that we both laughed at hysterically.  She never let me sleep in as a teenager (she would sneak into my room and jump on my bed) because she wanted to hang out so badly.  She always told me that our Korean house smelled “yummy,” even when my grandma had been cooking stinky squid and kimchee all day.

I could go on and on….and on about Steph.

You’ve probably seen her name on this blog a million times because she’s constantly leaving comments.  Steph told me that she’s “obsessed” with my blog and can’t wait to see my latest work.  Well, I’m obsessed with our friendship!  After spending a week in Alaska with Stephanie, Adam and their family and friends from around the country…I’m even more in love with this best friend of mine.

I could go on and on…and on about Adam too.

Like Steph, Adam is genuine, confident, adventurous, emotional, hysterical and can tear up a dance floor!  He’s also got this soft, gentle spirit that instantly puts you at ease.  Yep, all 6′9″ of him!  Adam lets Stephanie be herself…and vice versa.  They are strong individuals and amazingly stronger when you put them together.

Yep, Steph is pretty much the same crazy “homie” who I met 19 years ago…but she’s even better now.  Steph has made a transformation that is hard to describe in words.  She’s finally met the man who appreciates, supports and completely digs everything about her.  Simply put: she is in love.

To Stephanie + Adam: “May you love each other til death do you part” — our morbid inside joke.

I love you both until death do us part!

Their children are destined to be dunkers.  Mad skills!!!

When Adam snuck off for a few minutes, I snuck this one of Steph in.  STUNNING.

Alaska = ridiculous beauty.  This is right off the side of the Seward Highway, which is only 15 minutes away from downtown Anchorage.

At first glance, I thought…”Ahhh…Steph looks so cuuute.”  Then my eyes moved over to Adam.  Hello handsome hunk!!!

I wish you could hear Steph laugh.  I’m telling you, this girl will make anybody with a pulse crack up.

Like I said, MAD skills.

Congratulations!

Have a blast in Australia!!!

P.S. I only have the *day after* shoot up because I was busy on the wedding day doing my bridesmaid thang!  Matt took a ton at the wedding, as well as the fabulous photographer they hired!  I’ll post more from Alaska when I can!

Meet the newest member of our family.  Kodiak…Kodi for short.

EDITED TO ADD: KODI DID NOT COME HOME WITH US.  (darn it!)  MY SISTER JESSICA STILL HAS HIM IN SAN ANTONIO.  AFTER READING THE BLOG OVER AGAIN, I THOUGHT — OOOOPS!  I MADE IT SOUND LIKE KODI WAS OURS!  SO, JUST TO CLEAR THINGS UP…DUNCAN AND BOERNE ARE STILL OUR ONLY DOGS. 

My sister Jessica’s Yorkies Eaven & Coco had a litter last month.  Unfortunately, only 1 out of 3 puppies survived…so Kodiak is our little angel.  He is a chunk and looks like a teddy bear, so Jessica named him after Kodiak, Alaska (home of the Kodiak bear).

Speaking of Alaska…Matt and I are headed there Monday morning for an entire week!  We’re going to Stephanie and Adam’s wedding.  This crazy girl has been my best friend since the 6th grade, so we are PUMPED to be able to spend so much time with them!!!  I’ll be busy with my matron of honor duties, but will sneak in as many photos as I can!  Interesting…Anchorage is actually warmer than Great Falls right now!