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As you've all recently read, I photographed Shannon and Greg's wedding in San Diego on January 11, 2009. Shannon and Greg's wedding was moved up in the schedule due to Greg's battle with Stage IV cancer. He was diagnosed about two months before their planned wedding date, and was aggressively fighting. They moved their wedding date up a few weeks to accommodate his battle and upcoming radiation treatments.
The day I returned home from their wedding, I contacted my wedding album vendor. KISS WEDDING BOOKS has been my exclusive album vendor for sometime now. They have a great product and excellent customer service...pretty simple to understand why I use them.; I wrote Kevin, the director at KISS, to ask for some help. I wanted to get Shannon and Greg an album as a gift. It wasn't something I'd discussed with Shannon previously. I just figured that an album was the last thing on Shannon and Greg's minds at this point, but thought that it would be a valued gift. I explained the situation to KISS. Greg's health was not good, and that time was a concern for me.; I really wanted to get this album to them as soon as possible. Not only did Kevin offer help...he and his staff became angels. Kevin said "Katie, you tell us when you want it and we can make it. If you want it in 2 days...we'll do it. You just let us know." And then he did something amazing...KISS offered to make this incredible album (in record time) as their GIFT to Shannon and Greg. I got the design done the next day, and sent it to KISS for production.
Unfortunately, Greg passed away on January 17th, just 6 short days after his wedding. Shannon called me a few days later with the news. Shannon's friend said 'Greg was hanging on for this wedding. He was hanging in there to marry Shannon.' And, I am absolutely convinced of the same. Greg's services are this weekend. I will be going down to San Diego this weekend and delivering the album. If a photo speaks a thousand words, I hope that the album and photos can say the countless (comforting) words I will want to say to Shannon, but undoubtedly will fail to speak in the moment.
I am touched by this experience beyond what I can describe here. I want to thank Shannon and Greg, their friends, and family for their personal warmth and embraces. And, I also want to thank KISS wedding books for gifting such an awesome thing as this wedding album. Without a doubt, that gift will be treasured. When I read the insert that comes in the album's shipping box I was struck by the words "We hope you appreciate this work of love, as every book is hand-made by our passionate staff". I can assure you without a doubt that this is a work of love and will be most appreciated. Thank you Kevin, Shaun, Mark, and Rachel!
The day I returned home from their wedding, I contacted my wedding album vendor. KISS WEDDING BOOKS has been my exclusive album vendor for sometime now. They have a great product and excellent customer service...pretty simple to understand why I use them.; I wrote Kevin, the director at KISS, to ask for some help. I wanted to get Shannon and Greg an album as a gift. It wasn't something I'd discussed with Shannon previously. I just figured that an album was the last thing on Shannon and Greg's minds at this point, but thought that it would be a valued gift. I explained the situation to KISS. Greg's health was not good, and that time was a concern for me.; I really wanted to get this album to them as soon as possible. Not only did Kevin offer help...he and his staff became angels. Kevin said "Katie, you tell us when you want it and we can make it. If you want it in 2 days...we'll do it. You just let us know." And then he did something amazing...KISS offered to make this incredible album (in record time) as their GIFT to Shannon and Greg. I got the design done the next day, and sent it to KISS for production.
Unfortunately, Greg passed away on January 17th, just 6 short days after his wedding. Shannon called me a few days later with the news. Shannon's friend said 'Greg was hanging on for this wedding. He was hanging in there to marry Shannon.' And, I am absolutely convinced of the same. Greg's services are this weekend. I will be going down to San Diego this weekend and delivering the album. If a photo speaks a thousand words, I hope that the album and photos can say the countless (comforting) words I will want to say to Shannon, but undoubtedly will fail to speak in the moment.
I am touched by this experience beyond what I can describe here. I want to thank Shannon and Greg, their friends, and family for their personal warmth and embraces. And, I also want to thank KISS wedding books for gifting such an awesome thing as this wedding album. Without a doubt, that gift will be treasured. When I read the insert that comes in the album's shipping box I was struck by the words "We hope you appreciate this work of love, as every book is hand-made by our passionate staff". I can assure you without a doubt that this is a work of love and will be most appreciated. Thank you Kevin, Shaun, Mark, and Rachel!
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Dale:
Hi Katie, the story of Shannon and Greg is saddening and touching at the same time. I feel for Shannon as well Greg's friends and family.
Your generosity is heartwarming, and the gift you gave to the couple is sure to be treasured for a life.
Your images are absolutely gorgeous, beautiful work!
(01.24.09)
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Shannon and Greg booked me a LONG time ago for their wedding. We'd originally met up at a coffee shop down in San Diego for our first interview together. We ended up chatting for over 2 hours! Clearly we covered more than just photos in the discussion. I had a very good feeling about them as a couple, and their feelings for each other. I knew it would be a great wedding AND (more importantly) a great marriage. They weren't quite sure about the wedding date at the time, since Greg is in the service and he would be deploying at various times. Several months later, they booked me for a February 7, 2009 wedding in San Diego. I've been looking forward to seeing them again, and we were set to shoot their engagement session this past Saturday.
Unfortunately, life has thrown them a curve ball. Greg was diagnosed with cancer about a month ago and is battling hard. Shannon and Greg changed their previous wedding plans, and instead got married this past weekend in San Diego. I raced down to be there. Surrounded by friends and family, they got married in their backyard. Honestly, everyone was so (emotionally) close there that I think the backyard was too big...everyone just wanted to be hugging and holding each other. Sometimes personal space is a highly over-rated thing.
Thank you Shannon and Greg for everything you shared. It was more than just taking your photos this weekend...you also reminded me of the meaning and depth of the martial vows. Aside from my own wedding, I've never quite listened so intently to the words exchanged. (Of course at my own wedding, I understood the vows so well that I got BIG splotchy hives just saying them!! You, Shannon, managed to say your vows with much more beauty and grace than I did.) I can't wait till your times are "for better" and "in health". You certainly deserve them.
Greg loves classic VW vans. Shannon showed up to the ceremony in a tricked out, beautiful baby blue one.
And Greg can't wait to see her...
I love the expressions on both their faces as Shannon's sister announced during the toasts that she was pretty sure Shannon would end up as one of those "old, single cat ladies". But, luckily Greg won her over and saved her from that fate.
A word about the cake topper...Greg and Shannon found this topper online. It was perfect for them. However, they kept getting outbid on the topper...drats. While Greg was on deployment, he secretly managed to find the topper from a vendor. He shipped it home to Shannon and told her not to open it until he was on the phone with her. What a nice surprise from afar! (and...for the vendor who waived the cost of the topper because Greg was in the military...please enjoy this photo and know that it ended up on the nicest cake for the sweetest people)
Unfortunately, life has thrown them a curve ball. Greg was diagnosed with cancer about a month ago and is battling hard. Shannon and Greg changed their previous wedding plans, and instead got married this past weekend in San Diego. I raced down to be there. Surrounded by friends and family, they got married in their backyard. Honestly, everyone was so (emotionally) close there that I think the backyard was too big...everyone just wanted to be hugging and holding each other. Sometimes personal space is a highly over-rated thing.
Thank you Shannon and Greg for everything you shared. It was more than just taking your photos this weekend...you also reminded me of the meaning and depth of the martial vows. Aside from my own wedding, I've never quite listened so intently to the words exchanged. (Of course at my own wedding, I understood the vows so well that I got BIG splotchy hives just saying them!! You, Shannon, managed to say your vows with much more beauty and grace than I did.) I can't wait till your times are "for better" and "in health". You certainly deserve them.
Greg loves classic VW vans. Shannon showed up to the ceremony in a tricked out, beautiful baby blue one.
And Greg can't wait to see her...
I love the expressions on both their faces as Shannon's sister announced during the toasts that she was pretty sure Shannon would end up as one of those "old, single cat ladies". But, luckily Greg won her over and saved her from that fate.
A word about the cake topper...Greg and Shannon found this topper online. It was perfect for them. However, they kept getting outbid on the topper...drats. While Greg was on deployment, he secretly managed to find the topper from a vendor. He shipped it home to Shannon and told her not to open it until he was on the phone with her. What a nice surprise from afar! (and...for the vendor who waived the cost of the topper because Greg was in the military...please enjoy this photo and know that it ended up on the nicest cake for the sweetest people)
ivy:
The way you captured Shannon's expression reading the vow brought tears in my eyes. A beautiful story you told through your lens.
(01.16.09)
jill:
How wonderful to capture True Love! Good Luck to the newlyweds for a healthy happy future!!
(01.18.09)
ken kienow:
truly, truly, truly touching katie. what a blessing they had in you as their photographer. great job.
(01.26.09)
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So heart-wrenching. Our condolences to Shannon and their families. KISS is the best.
(01.23.09)Truly truly touched! Thanks for sharing.
(01.23.09)oh katie - i wanted to say something but words fail me after reading this entry. i am sure that shannon will treasure this album more than i can imagine.
a big well done to you and to the folks at kiss too - how awesome are they!?
(01.23.09)This gift you're giving Shannon is priceless, I hope you know that.
(01.23.09)Katie, I just found your blog through the KISS site and read your story. First of all , I really think that you were truly a blessing to this family, shooting their wedding free of charge and helping them so much must have been such a huge weight lifted off of them and just one less thing to worry about. And to top it off, Shannon will be able to look back at such perfect images of their special day (in a stunning album!). This story really touches my heart as my father passed away from Cancer, and its really just such a heart breaking thing to have such a close person pass away and be taken from you so quickly. But having people like you (and the peeps over at KISS), are truly angels here on earth, you are the type of people that make things like cancer a little easier to deal with. Katie, thanks for having such a huge heart and going out of your way to help. You are awesome! and these wedding images are great!! :)
(01.25.09)This just breaks my heart Katie. No words seem adequate.
(01.25.09)Great job on the images, I love the B+W,
Kev & Shaun, very noble of you guys...
(01.26.09)You reminded me why we do this! I love the book, the story everything.
(01.26.09)I simply don't know what to say. This saddens me but I am sure Greg is very thankful that you and KISS are able to give Shannon such a wonderful gift for her to look back to.
(01.26.09)Very touching...
(01.27.09)Katie, What a sad time for the family. Your beautiful work will be cherished by them at this difficult time. I am not surprised by Kiss they are simply the best there is.
Mags
(01.29.09)Katie, I found your blog through KISS. My heart broke reading this. My condolences go out to Shannon. There are no words that can make it better, but your photos will definitely give her something to smile about. You captured their wedding beautifully and thanks to you she will now have many beautiful photos of the day she married her love. Like someone else posted, you reminded me why I love photography so much.
You and KISS gave them an amazing gift.
Thanks for sharing.
(02.03.09)What a touching post Katie. Your generosity and compassion is an example for all of us. My deepest sympathies for Shannon and her family. Shannon & Greg's love is so apparent in your photos.
(02.03.09)Katie, such a great thing you all did. Love inspires all. Thank you for sharing.
(02.06.09)You are amazingly strong to be able to photograph this wedding and stay focused and creative , great work , and just an incredible story . I am saddened by his passing but inspired by their love for each-other and by your professionalism and kind heart.
(02.09.09)Wow! Not sure what to say. I have goose bumps knowing that you are just awesome!
(02.13.09)I found your link from the KISS blog. I am amazed by the way that everyone stepped up and made this happen for this amazing couple. Wow. Its really inspiring and it makes me happy to say that I am wedding photographer.
(03.09.09)So amazing! I am crying...what a beautiful gift...
(04.20.09)also just found your link from the KISS blog...I have tears from reading about all you (and KISS) did for them. My heart goes out to Shannon.
(07.09.09)hey katie
(07.17.09)just found your blog through the kiss blog and was very touched by the greg and shannon story.
such a special story and how blessed they were to have you capture their very intimate day.
i had tears streaming down watching the slideshow.
thanks for sharing!