I first met Dillon and his family at his older brothers wedding (shout out to Brayden and Aeva!) he was in high school then. But I am not exaggerating when I say that this wedding stood out in my mind. Not just because Brayden and Aeva are awesome (because they are) but because their family is awesome. This translated into getting the chance to photograph Dillions senior photos. It was here I had the chance to meet Eden, get to know Dillon more, and his family. In both cases my impression of them and who they are only increased. And I genuinely loved talking with them. So when I found out that Dillon was going to propose to Eden, and that I was being asked to be there, I was so excited. Proposals are some of my favorite things, such excitement and emotion it feels so visceral.

Noe and Ellie's New York City Engagement

This would mark the fifth time I've had the privilege of going to New York City, although this is the first time in the last decade. It is my favorite major city in the US, it has culture, people, nature, and of course, it may be the most “epic” of all city’s. That said, being able to do engagement photos with two exceptional people in one of the greatest cities on earth was a huge privilege. I absolutely loved my time with these two, they were funny, easy to talk to, and so thoughtful. Their story was so good - from what I remember - although because of my location I didn’t get the chance to write it down as I normally would.

Personal: Hiking in the Mountains of North Idaho at Sunrise

Most people don’t do sunrise hikes - or have ever done them. I’m telling you, you’re missing out. While I absolutely love sunset, and I love being at weddings, and getting to know people, and capturing the emotions of people in some of the best parts of their lives, I also love this. Nature. The warm glow of the sun just before it crests the horizon. There are moments up in the mountains that can feel surreal, and you can spend the whole time just looking out going “wow”. It’s not really something that can be put into words, just as emotion always seems to be lacking a word that truly fits it.

Destination Photographer: Jacob & Allison's Airbnb Wedding

Something that has become so common this year is weddings going from 200 guests to 30 guests (or less). The number of guests at every wedding i’ve photographed (save maybe a couple) has been drastically reduced, and actually, i’ve really loved it. It’s let me get to know the people that are at the wedding even more, and hasn’t really made the day feel all that much smaller. Look no further than Jacob & Allison’s wedding, where just before their wedding the state of Washington changed the rules and required all ceremony’s to be under 30 people.

Destination Wedding: JD & Kara's Big Sky Wedding

I met JD and Kara a couple years ago at another wedding (Kara was the maid of honor). That wedding was a blast, and we had so much fun. So when Kara asked me to be at her wedding, I knew it was going to be a blast. Now, this summer isn’t quite what I expected (or anyone else) and so there were a lot of unknowns as we got closer and closer to July 4. But, true to their personalities, JD & Kara made something amazing happen. They had an incredible wedding, in an incredible place, with some truly amazing people - in the middle of a pandemic. The whole wedding was beautiful, touching, and filled with emotion and great moments. The fact I could be there, to capture it all, can only be thought of as a privilege. Now I get to share some of my favorite photos from this Big Sky wedding with you, and I hope you love them.

2019 Review: Some Favorite Sunset Wedding Photos from 2019

As a wedding photographer, i’m faced with a lot of challenges every wedding day. What type of lighting will we have for portraits, for the ceremony? What does the reception look like? Is there going to be a sunset, and if so, where will that take place? The thing is, not every venue has a great view of a sunset (some have mountains in the way) and others may end up with weather that prevents the sunset. So often we then need to ask, “is it still worth it?” For me, the answer is always yes.

The Blog

Brent Looyenga is a Spokane wedding photographer based IN SPOKANE WASHINGTON and Coeur d’Alene Idaho area. He loves people and specializes in wedding, engagement, family and senior photography. You can like Looyenga Photography on Facebook or follow them on Instagram.