#spruitlovevang

[simplejoiephoto]

It’s still pretty cool outside but I’m excited to start getting some engagement sessions on way before the busy wedding season! Here’s a pic of two of my favorite people! Still can’t believe we shot this epic photo on a parking ramp! #engagementphotos #engagementseason #engagedlife #spruitlovevang #engagedlife #fiance #gettingmarried #marryingmybestfriend #engagement #thisisus #pdxweddingphotographer #pdxweddings #pdxcouple (at Simple Joie) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpVlbTKPNNM/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[simplejoiephoto]

Five years ago, my sister and jumped into my car from Fresno and headed to Portland to visit our aunties for a girls weekend right before Labor Day. We had a wonderful time and at the moment we both had the craziest idea to pack up our lives and move there because she had lived there before for several years and loved the city but we both new we would have the time of our life growing old together. In between jobs and with nothing to hold her back, when we got back home — she immediately started packing and looking for work. I started applying for work too but said I’d only move if I found work. As fate would have it, I met a guy... who knew if it was going to lead anywhere then but I had a gut feeling that I couldn’t let this one go and so I let my sister head up by herself as I figured things out. And that guy I met those many September’s ago was... Deth, and life has been so beautiful since for me. As for my sister, if she hadn’t made that impulsive move, she would have never met her husband. Life has a funny way of leading you exactly where you need to go so I just know good things will await us on the other side of this pandemic! 📷 Photo I took at my sisters Hmong Wedding. #hmongwedding #blendedbliss #hmongamerican #lifeisgood #unexpectedblessings #lifeislikeaboxofchocolates #helloseptember #quarantinelife #livetgroughthis #spruitlovevang #pdxweddingphotographer #pnwweddingphotographer #traditionalwedding #culturalweddingphotographer #culturalweddingtraditions #weddinginspiration #loveauthentic #brideandgroom #bridalportraits #hmoobtshoob #tshoob #interacialcouple (at Sherwood, Oregon) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEnXz2hDYUL/?igshid=17uwtuw134u0f

[simplejoiephoto]

Last year round this time we gathered from near and far to celebrate a weekend of festivities for my sister’s wedding! Just looking back and missing the family because we’ve all been quarantined for the last half of the year. I can’t wait to celebrate with friends and family again! I hope everyone is doing all they can to keep safe! Thinking about you all! #missingweddingseason #missingfriendsandfamily #thinkingaboutyou #celebratethelittlethings #spruitlovevang #thongsovang #weddingday #thevangfamily #mysisterskeeper #loveissimple (at Zenith Vineyard) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDW2WDLj3wr/?igshid=yvpyba2wcdjn

[simplejoiephoto]

They say you can’t choose your family but you can choose your friends. I’m so blessed that my sister also happens to one of my best friends. It wasn’t always rainbows and sunshine but through the years, we’ve realized that no matter what, we want this relationship more than winning any argument or disagreement we had. Glad we had each other first to learn from and now building our lives with our partners is easier. Told you I didn’t take any photos from her wedding because I wanted to embrace the day the way I tell my couples! So excited to finally get to share some from their wedding! 📷: @prettygeekyphotos #pnwweddingphotographer #pdxweddingphotographer #spruitlovevang #thongsovang #thisisus #lifeisbetterwithyou #zenithvineyard #vineyardwedding #portlandweddingphotographer #loveissimple (at Zenith Vineyard) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5gWlm8jlam/?igshid=n81llun625v4

[simplejoiephoto]

My regular wedding and pretty things’ feed will be interrupted by this beautiful photo of my sister today because it’s breast cancer awareness month! You ladies should always be on top of it because you’ll never know unless you’re doing self checks or getting regular checkups - I thought I’d share a little about my sister’s journey because no one knows how it’ll be until they’re already there. It all started with just some minor pains in her breast area that sat against the bra wire - and like every woman ever, that does not raise any flags. The pain eventually became more unbearable because her husband and her changed their diet to Keto. What some might not know is: most cancers eat sugars. So to her it was weird that her pain was relieved when she snuck in a treat here and there so she went and got it checked and sure enough - it she has cancer. Thank goodness they caught it early on and she had started her chemo treatments this summer (yes.. right before her wedding) but you can’t cancel a wedding for this!!! Like anyone with a severe cancer might tell you “you must keep on living not knowing how many more days you have left!” So they moved one of her treatments to the week right after the wedding and she was indeed glowing on that day! And @makeupbymin_ did an amazing job with her wig and makeup so you wouldn’t even have known! In her most recent checkup, they are already saying that the tumor has shrank to almost nothing so let’s just keep our prayers coming! We snuck in this shot of her during her bachelorette weekend here visiting me. She had a wig and everything but my brave sis said she wanted me to document her the way she is right now because she knows she’s going to get better and this will have been but a brief moment in her life. Like any haircut, it takes a moment to eventually appreciate it and now that a few months have already passed, I know she’s finally feeling good in her own skin. It is not easy - I’m so proud of anyone who is going through the same thing. Like and share for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. #breastcancerawareness #breastcancerawarenessmonth #susangkomen #toughenoughtowearpink #pinkforcancerawareness #spruitlovevang (at Portland, Oregon) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3ElNazjkQb/?igshid=9ynlisbtfc3j

[simplejoiephoto]

Some times you think that things are going well and then god throws a wrench in your plans... you can accept it and do something about it although it’s never easy or you don’t do anything and hope things will turn your way again... either way, life somehow always turns out as it should, good or bad. My sweet sister found out she has breast cancer earlier this year and has been so brave through it all and I’m so proud of her as well as everyone else who is going through this journey as it is never easy trying to be the strongest person in the room because you don’t want your family to feel bad for your situation or be sad because people always feel off when they feel like they don’t have control of the situation. So yes, thank goodness they discovered the cancer now when it is super small and very likely will be able to get rid with chemo and maybe a small surgery. But the chemo is never easy as it’ll cause the individual energy loss, hair loss, etc. as it gets rid of the cancer cells. Today my sis was suppose to be in the Portland to Coast relay with her husband and this was suppose to be another big milestone for her after her wedding but because she can no longer be in it because of her cancer - she asked me to take her place because her team still needed her! So here I am again, in Portland again! You hear stories about people giving up a kidney for a loved one, or say things like take a bullet for them, or something like that and you wonder to yourself how they could ever do that because that means sacrificing a part of yourself for someone else’s well being... I was never as selfless of a person until it hit close to home but now of course I’d give my last dime to make sure all my siblings are ok even if I only had a nickel left. Love works in mysterious ways but all in all - it’s simple... you love because you love. #loveissimple #hoodtocoast #hoodtocoast2019 #portlandtocoast2019 #spruitlovevang #breastcancerawareness (at Sherwood, Oregon) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1g_ODTjNg6/?igshid=1ov39jfpd4kdh

[simplejoiephoto]

Hey-o she’s still alive!! AND she made it out on the other side! Can I just say that I have a greater appreciation for all the ‘bridezillas’ and ‘maid of honor melt down’ stories. They have every right to act or react the way they do on that big day because it is not an easy day. What a production indeed!!!!!!!!! I would not change it for the world but I’ll just admit that to you that it took a good 16 hours of sleep and lounging around for me to get back to normal. Anyways I’m sorry I did not get back to anyone this past week. We were at the beautiful @zenithvineyard where there was very little phone signal, surrounded by the most amazing rolling hills and vineyards, lost in laughter and rolls of ribbons, odds and ends and never ending hues of pinks and blues... My sister’s wedding was amazing! There are no words to describe their ceremony. The food was so buttery perfect (yes Deth and I are still day dreaming of the the butter). My MOH speech was epic (says me...), and we kept the dance floor warm ALL NIGHT LONG!! AND... and, I did not get it on camera! As a wedding photographer, one of my pet peeves is when guests pull out their phones OR worse - their professional camera gear and I was not going to do that because I love love love the wedding photographers we hired for my sister’s big day (@prettygeekyphotos ) and I was not going to tell them how to do their job! So I sucked it up and was PRESENT and in the moment AND IT WAS PERFECT!!! Yes, I had the husband capture a snap here and there but ME, I just embraced the moment, ate my words, and took it all in. Confessions of a wedding photographer maid of honor: It was better that way - 100% worth just being present! In a perfect world (30-40 years ago) people showed up to enjoy these celebrations and the hired pro was the only with a camera. Boy have things changed!! Let’s take it back y’all! #bepresent #inthemoment #maidofhonor #professionalweddingphotographer #justperfect #spruitlovevang #cantwaitforthephotos #captureitwithyoureyes (at Elliston Vineyards) https://www.instagram.com/p/B07SbaLj1lm/?igshid=ezt38s789jtv

[simplejoiephoto]

OOTO. 📷 My sister Mai and I (pictured here circa 1984 in Thailand) Im off in Portland celebrating with her this wedding week! I will try my best to get back to you guys as I can - just leave me a message! Thank you all for understanding how important this is to me to be present with her! See you next week! #hmongbaby #spruitlovevang (at Thailand) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0nunVXDrbW/?igshid=d3hcq1cvosbv

[simplejoiephoto]

Feeling inspired. I wish I can do flatlays like this one for all my couples... but I still get that surprised look and get questions every time I mention to couples to collect their paper goods, any important details, jewelry, and florals... but I know it’s my fault - I have to keep throwing this out into the universe so they can find inspiration in my work collecting their own details. Simple Joie styling kit on point 👌🏻 #stylingkit #styleflatlay #flatlay #peonies #vintagestamps #spruitlovevang #macarrons #bayareaweddingphotographer #weddingphotoinspiration #sanfranciscoweddingphotographer #loveissimple #stylemepretty #greenweddingshoes (at Sunol, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bzz7y17DKn4/?igshid=hje8hph9d4op

[simplejoiephoto]

Today’s the big day for their Hmong ceremony! Here’s a quick photo from today for our families who couldn’t be here today! So happy for Mai + Neil!! #spruitlovevang #hmongwedding (at Clovis, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx5RgsrjDMf/?igshid=plba4xpxmzay