Spokane Wedding Photographer: Derek and Stephanie's Belle Garden's Wedding

I think if I was trying to be technical about it, i’ve known Stephanie for basically her whole life - or, more accurately, i’ve known of her. You see, when I was in high school my friends Tony and Chris were in my class (Tony) or my brothers class (Chris). We played basketball together, ate lunch together, and were friends. I remember when their little sister was born, and was brought to those basketball games. So some 23 years later, when that little girl sent me an email to tell me she was getting married I was surprised and excited!

Senior Photographer: Ella's Senior Photos in Coeur d'Alene

A couple of years ago I had the chance to photograph Ella’s sister’s senior photos, so getting the chance to come back and take photos of Ella was a huge compliment. This shoot was a lot of fun too, from exploring a bit of their backyard (which is what I did with her sister) to heading downtown Coeur d’Alene (which I didn’t do) was great for variety’s sake. Not to mention we ended up with such an incredible day weather wise. This photo shoot was a lot of fun, and I absolutely loved getting to know Ella along the way.

Wedding Photographers: Daniel & Ashley's Coeur d'Alene Engagement

I met Daniel many years ago, almost 15 years, to be exact - which is kind of nuts to think about. This is a dude that's kind, thoughtful, so fun to talk to, and is an absolute stud. He's someone I would consider a friend, even though we don't get to spend as much time together these days as I'd like. So when I saw he was not only dating Ashley, but that they were engaged, I was super pumped for him. Being able to meet Ashley, but also learn how they met, was something I truly enjoyed. It wasn't just that they met on Tinder (which they did) but also the fact that Ashley was ready to move on the second she saw that they both worked at the same place (The Coeur d'Alene Resort).

CDA Wedding Photographer: Matt & Kendal's Engagement On Tubbs Hill

They met when they were around four years old. Yeah, that's pretty nuts to me, too. I have two boys, ages 11 and 8. The idea that one of the girls in their kindergarten class could be their future wife is hard to imagine, but hey - it happens. Anyway, Matt and Kendal were friends. They had always been friends, and their families were friends. This isn't all that uncommon.

Washington Engagement: Sam and Megan's Engagement Photos at Diamond Lake

Sam and Megan are two amazing people. From our time at first time meeting at No-Li Brewery in Spokane, to our time at Diamond Lake, i’ve always found these two fun and easy to talk to. This is illustrated more by the fact we never really got around to talking about their story and how they met (something I often ask at engagement photo shoots). That said, I am so excited to share their engagement photos with you, from their smiles, to the unique ideas we had at the end, this was a great shoot.

Personal: Trip To Mt. Rainier National Park With My Oldest Son

When I was a kid, my father took me on a camping trip - just him and I - when I turned 11. He did that with me and all of my brothers. So of course, as my oldest son (Isaiah) got closer and closer to that age, I was talking with my wife about this particular trip. Setting aside photographing weddings and engagements for a bit, and just spending a couple of quality days with him I felt was well worth it. I wanted it to be special, just some great times with both him and I. Consider how great of a time I had at Rainier National Park last time I went, it was one of my top choices for taking Isaiah. We ended up getting a great spot at Cougar Rock Campground inside the park, just 20 minutes from Paradise.

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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.