Lori Wong Photography

I have known Jana for a few years now. She is classy. She is fun aaaaand she is a catch. I was so excited for her when she got engaged.

Jana met Reed through a friend. They were set up on a blind date…which can be debated…can any date be blind any more now that we have the internet, and more so, Facebook? I think not. (;  So Reed and Jana had a date, and then another, and then another. When I was talking to the two of them about how they met and how they became engaged, I was able to see how well they fit together.

One of my favorite things to see, as a wedding photographer, is the interaction between couples. Reed is funny, but he really can make Jana laugh. And what I like most about how he makes her laugh, a lot of the time, he is whispering it in her ear, or just so that she can hear it. He is always looking at her. Sometimes I am sure I can see his thoughts. I can tell by the way he looks at her of how lucky he feels that Jana is his.

One of my favorite things about Jana, she loves yellow. One of her wedding colors of course is yellow, which I am super excited about.

We took pictures on one of THE MOST humid days in Las Vegas this year. Though it was nice to not have an extremely hot sun on your neck, it was a kind of hot I am not a fan of. Humidity doesn’t get less humid in shade. You can’t hide from it. But Reed and Jana were troopers and we made it through a sticky day and ended with a beautiful hint of sun on our last shot.

Jana showing some fierceness!!! Looooove it!

Favorite shot of the day below! Love the light!!

Check out the slide show!! More in the slide show!

The neighbors next door have grapevines that have been there for as long as I can remember. I see the leaves grow ever year, but I never see grapes. I figured it’s the weather. It is just so hot here in Vegas, it makes sense.

But then it happened, there were some grapes!!

My brother and I decided we need to try them. They were nice and warm from the sun. We decided if they weren’t good and going to die, we’d die at the same time. We popped them in our mouths, and well, they were grapes. I look over at my brother, he hadn’t bit down yet. So messed up. He left me to “die” alone!! So classic of a brother, right?!

Last week I was walking by a stack of magazines. On the top of that stack was a magazine that showed The Declaration of Independence being shredded and the question “Is it still relevant?” I stopped in my tracks and was completely heart broken at the thought at of the Declaration being shredded.

Is it still relevant? Is it STILL relevant? OF COURSE it is still relevant!!! I was shouting all of this in my head, I was in a place of business of course. I was feeling suddenly overly patriotic, that is, if you can be overly patriotic. I realized as I walked away that it got my blood boiling.The whole point of this article was to point out how much we make a big deal about the flawed Founding Fathers, over glamorizing politicians that just happen to shape our country. If this journalist wrote this article to get people going, he got me good. Real good!

I love this country. I take it for granted all the time. All. The. Time. I know this. But I am also very aware how lucky I am to be an American. I was lucky enough to go to Washington D.C. a few years ago. If you have never been, you must go. It will make you appreciate being an American that much more. There is this energy in the air, that is hard to explain. It was amazing. You just have to go there.

One of the places I was able to go visit was the National Archives. You know that scene in “National Treasure” where they show the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, Constitution of the United States and a few other important documents on display, well it looks like that, just not as well lit. It is dark in there. In order to keep the documents preserved, they must keep the room lowly lit. And I’m pretty sure if a flash would accidentally go off, the 8 or so guards that are standing around would dog pile you. I’m sure you would be forever on the black list of visiting the National Archives.  So though it was an extreme challenge to photograph these amazing documents, I remember thinking as I slowly shuffled from historic brilliance to the next, how grateful I was to be there.

It is as faded as it looks. But it is still amazing. Still brilliant and still a part of the reason why we are the nation that we have become. In that document lies one of the most perfect lines ever written. A line called “one of the best known sentences in English language”. I believe in it, because I am able to live it daily. Daily as I take it for granted. I know. I admit it.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

I think one of the main reasons why I loved being in Washington, D.C. was because I was humbled. I remember the first night there, as I was getting into my hotel bed (which, side note was one of THE best beds I’ve ever slept in), before I drifted off to sleep. I waited a few minutes to make sure I could hear my sister’s rhythmic breathing that was the sign she was asleep. Worried I would wake her, I decided to stay in my bed, under my covers. I got on my knees, folded my arms and bowed my head to My Creator. I wanted to express my gratitude for the opportunity I had to come to my nation’s capital. To view the articles, buildings and monuments that reminded me that I should not take for granted my rights and privileges that I received at birth.

I had just seen the Washington Monument, the fairly newly (with consideration) erected World War II Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial that night. I was moved. Even though I was among a large crowd of rowdy teenagers, parents trying to keep their kids in line, and a humid evening, I was moved. I stood in front of an over 12 foot memorial that displayed Lincoln’s most famous speech. The Gettysburg Address. I held back the tears as I read the stone cut wall, I didn’t want my sister to start laughing at me. (; But I was moved.

I knew in that moment that I would pray that night, that I would express in the most humblest way I knew how to God how grateful I was for where I was, not just physically but proverbially. I was blessed. I was reminded in that moment that God was real. That great men came before me, before you, to realize that they were not happy with how their life was being lived. And though we all may have our moments of feeling that way, they knew that the only way to change that was to do something themselves. I believe, without a doubt that men like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Adams, John Adams, James Wilson and even later, great men like Abraham Lincoln, were lead by the Creator to have the guts to stand for something better.

A better that I live.

I have become highly emotional over the past month. I don’t know what happen. But when the end of June started to creep up on me (June seriously flew by right?!) and I saw that magazine cover, I knew that I wanted to express in some way how much I love my country and my appreciation for where I live.

One of the last places I visited before I got on a plane, was the Arlington National Cemetery. I am so grateful I was able to visit there. As you walk, you see row upon row of headstones. And just when you think you’ve seen them all, you seen more. It was humbling. I know I have used that word more than once, but it is the only way I can describe how I felt.  When I remember this sacred place, I also remember how much I shouldn’t complain. How I need to put myself back into check and remember that men and women died for the opportunities that I have. That are tarnish with self pity and selfishness.

Like I said, humbled.

Happy Independence Day.

Bryan and Rachel are amazing. They both have great jobs and love to travel and are charming and funny and…well, you get it. Like I said, amazing! I was so jealous of their awesomeness that I pretty much wanted to hang out with them all day and hope some of their greatness would rub off on me. But unfortunately they had to catch a plane later that day, so shucks for me.

A few years back, Bryan was in England for work. Rachel lives in England. They happen to be at the same party. They got to talking and after a great evening getting to know each other, exchanged information figuring they’d just be pen pals. Funny thing happened though…they eventually became more than pals. They both decided to take some time off working and travel together. You know what they say, you really learn about the person you are dating once you travel with them! So obviously, traveling worked out for them and here we are…Bryan and Rachel getting married!

Bryan and Rachel decided to elope to Las Vegas and I was the lucky girl to help them remember this unforgettable trip! Our first stop was to the Neon Boneyard with some balloons requested by the bride (well done, Rachel). I haven’t shot there since the renovations, and let me tell you…it is awesome! It was a bright day, but there was so awesome overcast that made the light just perfect for shooting in a place like the Neon Boneyard. Unfortunately, Bryan was having some horrible dry eye problems, which cause a lot of light sensitivity (and I felt horrible I didn’t have any drops on me to help him out). He was a major trooper and kept apologizing to his new wife and to me. Poor guy. He was so worried we didn’t get any shots and that it was all his fault…I assured him that we got some great ones…take a look.

Look closely at the sign. It says: in love!! (:

Seriously…the natural light, the sky…AMAZING!

Rachel’s wedding dress is her mom’s…ahem, I mean mum’s wedding dress!

Below is my favorite shot for the Neon Boneyard location. Above shot was a close second.

We hit up the Welcome to Las Vegas Sign of course…

And then we headed over to the Wynn where the newlyweds stayed while they were here. Bryan was so sweet, while figuring out the next pose, he took a hold of Rachel’s hand and kissed it. (collective ‘aaaawwe’, all together now!)

Went for a little vintage look…whatta think?! (:

And this has to be my favorite shot of the day.

Slideshow has a ton more shots!! Check it out below or click here for music.