They got ready in a beautiful room at McMenamins Elks Temple Hotel, and we headed down to the Spanish Steps next door for a first look. It can be a busy spot in downtown Tacoma, especially on weekends, so to keep strangers out of the photos I asked a member of their wedding party to stand just out of sight at the top of the stairs and ask passers-by to pause for a moment while we quickly got the shots we needed. As a photographer, my #1 priority is always getting the shots the couple requests - but I try to do that while minimizing disruption and the impact the photos have on the space and the people around us.

After their first look, we hopped in a friend’s car for a quick drive to one of my favorite Tacoma locations, Wright Park, for family and couples’ portraits. Wright Park was blanketed in gorgeous fall color, and I posed Martha and Keegan carefully to surround them with the beautiful gold and orange leaves. Early afternoon portrait sessions can be tricky if the sun is bright overhead, but we were just late enough in the day that I was able to use the angle of the sun to create lovely backlight and a golden, glowing halo effect that highlighted Martha and Keegan and separated them from the background. 

After the portraits, it was back downtown to Union Club Tacoma for the ceremony and reception. The venue was decorated with simple greenery and candles, with Martha and Keegan’s hard hats and work boots small crowd of family and friends looked on as Martha and Keegan shared laughter and sweet moments during the brief ceremony. 

When the ceremony was done, I asked the venue managers for permission to take the couple upstairs for a few quick portraits with the iconic Old City Hall clock tower and Mount Rainier just visible in the fading light. Then we went back down for dinner, toasts and dancing at the reception. They ended the night with a sidewalk sparkler exit and a kiss on their hotel room balcony.