While Ryan hails from the East Coast and Sarah comes straight from California, this charming couple now shares a home in Washington, D.C. Bright, quirky, and darling, I absolutely fell in love with these two exceptional individuals. It is my honor to share with you some images from their stunning, beyond-beautiful wedding in Lake Tahoe. Please enjoy!!


For a full-blown treat, please visit Sarah's and Ryan's slide show to view more of this wonderful couple's special day! Just CLICK HERE.

I am excited to announce the winner of my second reader-gift giveaway, an Apple Pro Training Series book that covers the ins and outs of Apple's flagship photo editing application, Aperture 3.

It was easy to enter the drawing--I asked readers simply to leave a comment sharing what camera they use. Responses ranged the gamut from Nikon D700 to Canon 40D--there was even an iPhone thrown into the mix!

I think everybody had a good time connecting with one another and learning what cameras their peers are using. Thank you to everybody who joined in the fun. Are you the winner? In the following two-minute video, my Studio Manager announces who was selected for this reader gift.



I will be offering more reader gifts in the coming months, so there's further opportunity to connect with other photographers for the chance to win some goodies. Have a great week!

Enjoy looking at photos of this fun, easy-going, thoroughly enjoyable couple!

I am excited and honored that Tahoe Unveiled is sharing my images of Johonna's and Aaron's wedding with their clients and blog readers! You can read the couple's charming story HERE.

In 1984, photojournalist Steve McCurry was in an Afghan refugee camp in Pakistan. He followed the sound of voices to a tent where he found a group of girls. "I noticed this one little girl off to the side that had his incredible set of eyes that seemed almost haunted--or very piercing," he tells NPR's Audie Cornish.

Photo Credit: Steve McCurry

McCurry snapped a picture that ended up on the cover of National Geographic's June 1985 issue. "The Afghan Girl" became one of the magazine's most widely recognized photographs--and one of the century's most iconic. To get that shot, McCurry used a type of film that has become iconic in its own right: Kodachrome.

The film, known for its rich saturation and archival durability of its slides, was discontinued last year to the dismay of photographers worldwide. But Kodak gave the last roll ever produced to McCurry. He has just processed that coveted roll at Dwayne's Photo Service in Parsons, Kan.--the last remaining location that processes the once-popular slide film.

What's on that landmark roll of film is still under wraps. It will be the subject of an upcoming documentary by National Geographic. What is known is that the first and last images are in New York City, McCurry's home base. And between those frames are photographs from India, where McCurry established his career as a master of color photography.

Although he has almost a million images spanning 35 years in his Kodachrome library, he still felt the pressure of this assignment. Every one of the 36 frames on that final roll was precious. "Am I getting the right moment?" he wonders. "Is it in focus? Is the exposure right?"

So before he took one of those shots, he used a digital camera to hone in on the perfect exposure. "To have that reinforcement, to be able to see that on a two-dimensional screen ... it was a big help," he says.

And he's got a piece of advice for amateur photographers with unused Kodachrome film lying around: Get it to Dwayne's! The Kansas photo shop will stop processing Kodachrome rolls on Dec. 30. And while that will mark the end of an era of photography, the memories created with Kodachrome--like that Afghan girl's green eyes--will live on.

*This article originally appeared on NPR's The Picture Show. You can read it HERE.

Adolescent girl and father in their home in Appalachia.

Event planner Stephanie Anderson of One Fine Day and the brand-new wedding site, Tahoe Unveiled, authored a guest post for my blog. Stephanie is a talented professional with a gift for producing off-the-charts events. Today, she addresses a couple's inevitable wedding conundrum.

Kids or no kids? How to handle inviting a guest's kids to your wedding:

Inviting kids to a wedding? A few of my brides have inquired about the difficulties of guests with kids. Although kids are lovely and can be very endearing, you may not want to hear crying and screaming on your wedding day. In addition, it can be pretty tricky to invite your friends and not their kids, especially if travel is involved. To avoid the hassle, the arguments, and any hard feelings, try one of these ideas:

1. Hire a babysitter. Inform your guests that a babysitter will take care of your kids throughout the ceremony and reception. For your slightly paranoid parents, you may want to hire someone with First Aid certification. Ask your venue if they have a spare room you can use as the kids' corner.

2. Kiddie Corner. Designate one or two tables at the reception to kids only. Garnish the table with GI Joes, coloring books, Pretty Pretty Princess, and Hungry Hippo (clearly my childhood favorites). If you are worried about the kids wandering off, hire a babysitter to sit at the table with them. But, make sure your babysitter comes highly recommended and will do more than just sit at the table.

3. Hire a magician! Kids are easily distracted, so if games won't cut it, then hire a clown, a magician to keep them entertained and away from your limelight!

Like my above image of the young girls dancing? You are welcome to see more images like these in the gallery section of my own recently unveiled website: weddings.catherinehall.net