Have you ever had one of those experiences that is so beyond coincidence that the hairs on your arms and the back of your neck immediately stand up while simultaneously your jaw drops and the air is sucked out of your lungs for a second? You know, one of those encounters that can only be explained as a cosmic experience because any other explanation just wouldn’t do it justice? Let me tell you a story about what took place during the first five minutes of my session with Katherine and Adam as we walked to our first shooting location…
Me: So where did you guys grow up?
Katherine: Oh, I grew up not too far from here in Santa Monica.
Me: Oh, yeah I lived in Santa Monica for a few years when I was younger. All I remember is it was on some street called Military.
Katherine: What? I grew up on Military! xxxx Military Avenue!
Me: What?? That’s so crazy! I wonder if we were neighbors! I’m going to call my parents to find out the address of our old house. (Dialing… ringing…) Dad, what was the address of the house on Military?
My Dad: xxxx Military. Why?
(Insert hair on arms and back of neck standing up, jaw dropping and losing my breath here.)
We. lived. in. the. same. house.
After a little more investigation on the phone with my mom, we figured out that my parents sold our house to Katherine’s parents! My mom even remembered their last name and said, “yeah, I remember their little blond girl running around…”
That little blond girl, 24 years later, would grow up, meet Adam, fall in love, and hire me to do their engagement session, all the while never knowing that we used to have the same bedroom. (And just to complete the story, Adam was an intern with Sahana, a grad school friend, which is how Adam and Katherine were referred to me.) Of all the houses in the greater Los Angeles area…. what are the odds??
The fact that this happened is crazy… the fact that I even mentioned I once lived in a house on Military was so unordinary – I remember almost not mentioning it in conversation, but for some reason, I did. The fact that so many little things had to happen for Katherine and I to realize we had something very cool in common kind of makes my head spin. I’ve always believed that everything happens for a reason… and I have no idea why this happened, but I’m thinking it’s way too much of a coincidence to not mean something… right?
Anyway, aside from being part of the craziest story I have from my career as a photographer, Katherine and Adam are the CUTEST couple. They have this amazing, caring, patient relationship, and are so visibly in love. They look at each other with adoration and respect. They individually have positive, energetic personalities- they each love life and it is obvious that they love life together.
We started out with a casual vibe at the Venice Canals, which was a really fun place to shoot. This image is definitely one of my favorites from the whole day.
She has a great laugh!
Another favorite. 🙂
Then we got a little funky in the streets…
Then there was a wardrobe change so that we could bring some class to the Venice Beach Boardwalk.
Upon leaving the session, I regretted not getting a photo of Katherine and me together considering our story… but I did snap this dorky one that I couldn’t resist on the boardwalk…
After I took this, Katherine said, “That’s so us!” Love it.
A beach favorite.
Katherine & Adam – I had SUCH a fun time with you both. Katherine, since we decided that we are semi-sisters, I hope I get to hang out with you again soon! 🙂
Craziest story EVER! What are the chances?!? And, um, did you see her arms?! JEALOUS!!!
First- That story IS awesome !! such a treasure to have experiences like that !
Second- Pictures our absolutely beautiful!
Third- I couldn’t help but reminisce about our time in Venice in our photo class, it seems like forever ago and yet it was the starting foundation for our lives with photography <3, that too is also a treasure that I hold dear. It wouldn't be a post from Johanna if it wasn't a little sappy :0) love ya heath !!
Wow, the photo shoot and story of Katherine and Adams is breath taking. I am holding back tears. They are genuinely a adorable couple and both of them are glowing in each photo.
God Bless both of them and may their wedding day be all that they want it to be.
Shereta
UNUNUNUNBELIEVABLE! you guys are always surprising me with such great surprises. I just love these photos. what I like the most is that she captured the “Love” that you guys have for each other. I am so happy for you both and love you both so much!!!
These are gorgeous! :):) I love her smile/laugh. And I got GOOSEBUMPS when I Read that you guys lived in the same house. That’s too crazy! Wow.
Ooooomg these photos are unbelievable (and the story too!) Heather, what are the odds… it’s a crazy coincidence even that I felt totally compelled to show Katherine and Georgette (her lovely maid of honour) your website at Adam and Katherine’s engagement party – but the rest is just insane.
Okay, getting back to the main event – these two have always been the most perfect couple… beautiful, warm and so totally in love. But I’ve never seen it captured on film so completely. I went snap-happy and took about 400 photos when we were last all hanging out together (Adam, Katherine, Georgette and myself) – and of course they looked stunning together as they always do, but the pictures didn’t tell a story the way they do here… and I’ve never seen them look more gorgeous, happy and in love. You’ve taken their perfection to a whole new level.
You really are an amazing talent, Heather.
The last time I saw Katherine, she was about 8 years old. Your photos display her inner and outer beauty. They also made me homesick for Venice Beach. Seeing these two so in love and made me reminisce about the great times I spent there with “the love of my life”. I can hardly wait to see the wedding pictures.
Great pictures!! You’ve captured the essence of love.
I’m Adam’s cousin and the nice things you had to say about them totally made me tear up! So happy for them and those pictures are phenomenal!
They’re such a gorgeous couple! And what a small world!! That is seriously insane that you two lived in the same house!!
Great job done here! 😉