Nature | Done Brilliantly

Nature & Travel: Over the Brook and Through the Redwoods

26 Apr Filed Under: Featured, Features, Nature, Sophia, Travel

As thoughts of summer bring flocks of visitors to the golden coast, Ariane Moshayedi Photography reminded us that California isn’t just beaches and poolsides. This photo shoot in Muir Woods Park Community Association in Mill Valley, provided beautifully preserved winding mountain roads and ancient redwoods. Check out this green forest, a historic gem that President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed a national monument, that has been standing for over 100 years.

But the forest was not just filled with peace and quiet. A look at the ground revealed interesting plants that have adapted to low light levels beneath the shade of dense foliage, while above, the canopy of plants and redwood trees housed an array of animal communities. Such fauna include Stellar’s jays, banana slugs, and even clusters of ladybugs swarming in the thousands!

Thanks to Ariane Moshayedi Photography for sharing a glimpse into the green Muir Woods with us. It feels like we took a quick look around Narnia in summertime!

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Filed Under: Featured, Features, Nature, Sophia, Travel

Good for the Soul: A Walk in the Park with Your Best Furry Friends

4 Apr Filed Under: Animals, Featured, Features, Mohini, Nature

At Two Bright Lights, we celebrate all of our loved ones, from our life partners, to our brothers and sisters, to our newborns – so there is no way we could leave out our best friends! This outdoor-loving couple from Nederland, Colorado took their three beautiful companions out for a woodsy Fall shoot to celebrate their loyal pet pals. These lovable dogs couldn’t have been happier strolling the mountain trails and indulging in fetch adventures by the local river. We just love their playful personalities and the way Susannah Storch Photography captured their sweet nature. Thanks for reminding us to show a little appreciation for our furry friends!

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Filed Under: Animals, Featured, Features, Mohini, Nature

Real Engagement: Breathtaking Beauty

9 Mar Filed Under: Featured, Inspiration, Natalia, Nature, Real Weddings

We are falling in love with this breathtaking engagement shoot by Just For You Photography! The couple stood on a sand bar that was flooded in the summer by melting glaciers in Jasper National Park, in Alberta Canada, and the water was clear and beautiful. The pair grew up in a town only 40 minutes away in Hinton, Alberta, and they wanted photos in their natural playground – the Rocky Mountains. It seemed only fitting to head to the sand bar since their wedding would take place on the beaches of Mexico! But it was the beach at home where their love all started. The Canadian Rockies provided a pristine backdrop with its majestic mountains and brilliant blue lake water for this happy couple. It is simply the perfect location for any nature lover and especially for a gorgeous engagement shoot!

Thank you to Just For You Photography for submitting this gorgeous outdoor engagement!

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Filed Under: Featured, Inspiration, Natalia, Nature, Real Weddings

Saskatchewan: Summer on the Lake

3 Mar Filed Under: Featured, Mohini, Nature, Travel

Peace. Beauty. Inspiration. Up in Northern Saskatchewan, you’ll find the stuff of photographers’ dreams – and it’s the perfect place to bring the kids for some family fun! Take in the North’s enchanting lights, vivid colors of every hue, and its sense of calm – all of which moved photographer Terri Feltham to capture this stunning place on film. Her shots of the lake and of the rural landscapes depict some of the serenity that this beloved getaway of hers has to offer. Terri says the Saskatchewan Lakes offer beautiful settings for family gatherings as well as the chance to see nature at its finest. Just take a look at these striking photos for a taste of what you can experience with a trip up to this northern escape!

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Filed Under: Featured, Mohini, Nature, Travel

Travel: Inspiration in New Zealand

30 Jan Filed Under: Featured, Features, Lauren, Nature, Travel

If this Monday’s January weather has you suffering from the winter blues, head down south of the equator to New Zealand with these stunning photos from Garrett Davis! Garrett Davis Photography is located out of Claremont, California and specializes in amazing wedding and engagement photography, but when the camera came along on a trip to New Zealand, it was magic. Sandy beaches, majestic cliffs, open spaces, starry skies– these stunning photographs have us dreaming of summer! We hope that these photos inspire you as well (and that you’ll share your travel photos with Done Brilliantly via Two Bright Lights!)

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Filed Under: Featured, Features, Lauren, Nature, Travel

Lifestyle: Winter Fun in Flagstaff, Arizona

24 Jan Filed Under: Features, Lifestyle, Natalia, Nature

Just because winter is here doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the great outdoors–and also take some amazing family photographs! Michelle Koechle Photography did a gorgeous photo shoot for the Yuhl family at Buffalo Park in Flagstaff, Arizona, whose woods and mountains provided a breathtaking backdrop. The naturally white snowy background contrasted nicely with everyone’s black outfits- even their two sons matched! Michelle Koechle told us, “It was such a privilege getting to work with Kim and her family because Kim owns a local bath shop boutique here in Flagstaff, AZ called Fizz Bath Shop. Adorable couple and adorable kids!” All products at Fizz Bath Shop are all-natural, mostly organic, and freshly made. As an eco-conscious business owner, Kim truly had the perfect environment for her fun family photos!

Thank you to Michelle Koechle Photography for submitting these outdoor family photos!

- Natalia

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Filed Under: Features, Lifestyle, Natalia, Nature

Family and Lifestyle: An Outdoor Family Adventure

5 Dec Filed Under: Features, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Nature, Sophia

Photo shoots can be a modest, reserved and formal affair: cue the ties, blazers and heels. But for the outdoorsy families with squirmy kids, the rolling hills and the idyllic backdrop of mother nature might prove to be less of a challenge and more of an adventure. It’s time to break out those jeans and sneakers, and get ready for some grass stains. Let the kids run loose as photographers click away to capture the organic, natural and yet special photo shoot!

The Steele family took advantage of beautiful New York autumn with this whimsical and casual photo shoot. Erica Berger Wedding & Portrait Photography says the family was “fun and active – they did not sit down once.” Instead, the boys were off scrambling over rocks and the grassy hills of the Bronx’s Botanical Gardens. Their classic matching sweaters and big enthusiastic smiles are the perfect combination to bring a sense of unity and family togetherness to the photo shoot.

Francesca and Christian are high school sweethearts who tied the knot after Francesca completed her university degree. Now the family enjoys the rustic outdoors of Italy together as a team. Les Amis Photo managed to capture the extreme dosage of excitement and energy, a level that can only come from kids, throughout the active, outdoors photo shoot. The kids are constantly moving from one setting to the next, fidgeting with fences and swinging high on a red swing. Join the family on their carefree fun romp through their brilliant green backyard!

-Sophia

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Filed Under: Features, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Nature, Sophia

Travel: Orkney, Scotland

31 Oct Filed Under: Featured, Lauren, Nature, Travel

London, Paris, Rome, Barcelona– when traveling abroad, it can be easy to let the major cities rise to the top of your itinerary. But sometimes the most magical places are those slightly off the beaten track. Last year I spent the summer living in Cambridge, England, and for a weekend we traveled up to Edinburgh. The city itself was incredible, but my favorite part of the trip was surprisingly the drive up through southern Scotland. In all of my travels, the tall, rocky crags, sheep-speckled hills, and azure coasts of the Scottish countryside were most surprising and most memorable. That’s why I was incredibly excited to see this submission fromNicki Wohland of NiXin Photography and Design. These photos are of the Orkney region of Scotland and perfectly highlight the region’s distinct and breathtaking landscape. Thanks to Nicki for sharing these with us (and for letting me indulge in a bit of travel nostalgia!)

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Filed Under: Featured, Lauren, Nature, Travel

Lifestyle: A Mother’s Love

21 Oct Filed Under: Featured, Features, Lifestyle, Nature

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and today’s post celebrates a very special mother who is winning the battle against breast cancer. Kelly Marshall adopted Eyob from Ethiopia 3 years ago. When Eyob first came home, Kelly asked Susannah Gill Photography to photograph her son and now that he is off to Kindergarten, she asked Susannah Gill Photography to do another photo shoot.

Susannah commented about the Mother-Son pair, “He is all boy, filled with a great curiosity and the love of sticks, throwing rocks and adventures- but most importantly, his Mom. Kelly is a teacher and provides Eyob with rich, detailed information to all his questions. You can see from the images his intense listening as he takes in all the information she has to offer…Kelly told me she was so grateful to have Eyob in her life as she battles [cancer], for if it was not for him she might feel sorry for herself- but with a 5 year old boy there is no time for that- life goes on. His curiosity and her courage, these two are perfect for each other.”

Thank you, Susannah Gill Photography, for sharing Kelly and Eyob’s beautiful story. They really are a perfect pair!

Photographer: Susannah Gill Photography

- Stephanie

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Filed Under: Featured, Features, Lifestyle, Nature

Lifestyle: Silly Summersaulting Siblings

13 Oct Filed Under: Featured, Features, Lifestyle, Nature

Today’s post is all about having fun and being silly! Modern Lightbox Fine Art & Lifestyle Photography had a “funny-face” photo shoot with siblings Alyannah and Shawn, and truly captured the carefree essence of childhood.

“This brother and sister duo took me on a roller coaster ride around Griffith Park. They were not afraid to get dirty, they were not afraid to show me what they found, and they were not afraid to do cartwheels and handstands in front of the camera. What did I find? I found that Alyannah can hold a handstand for approximately 15 seconds. I thought this was pretty impressive. And Shawn, like most boys, found pleasure in finding little bugs and trying to outdo his sister by locating the “BIGGEST” pine cone he could find. What I realized was how much pleasure it was to spend time with and get to know children because they see the world innocently through rose colored glasses and once in a while, I may need to keep mine on a little longer than a second.”-Marianne Sabado of Modern Lightbox Fine Art & Lifestyle Photography