Jared Birt Photography

About ten miles south of Cannon Beach is a beautiful secluded little surf beach called Short Sands. On Sunday morning we loaded up the Element and headed out to spend the day there with Justin & Austie Eckley. Our main objective was to be complete goof-balls and spend most of our time in the water surfing. As it turned out the waves weren't so great that day so instead we played football, took lots of pics, ate enough junk food for the whole year and had one too many laughs. The weather was so warm which was great because as most PNW folks know, the Oregon coast tends to be a little cold and cloudy. It was such a perfect, warm day. I can't wait to make it back there sometime this fall when the waves are big.  Thanks Justin and Austie for coming along and for having so much fun with us.

Saturday was my 29th birthday. I have to say that it was the first time I really thought about my age. For those of you who know me, know that I am a "kid at heart" so I guess I never have to worry about getting "old." The truth is I am actually very excited for the next ten years and to be getting a little older. I think the thirties are really going to be the best time ever. So many great things happened this last year with getting my first studio, traveling to places I never thought I would go, growing closer with my wife, developing my art and moving into our first home. The list goes on and on. I have a lot to be thankful for and need to stay thankful even during the hard times. Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes. I wish you all a great rest of the summer.

Rebekah took this head shot of me to commemorate the day.

Why do I photograph weddings? There are so many great reasons. One big reason for me is that I strongly believe in marriage, what it means and what it stands for truly. Today is our third year wedding anniversary. We celebrated it last weekend by heading to the coast to relax and getting are anniversary date tattooed in roman numerals. This year has been amazing and I have been so blessed to have my wife as my best friend. I think we will make it a yearly tradition to write each other hand written letters and get tattoos :) I love you Rebekah you are one amazing person and one amazing wife.

This year for Easter we went down to Beka's parents house in Dallas. We spent the night playing games on the Wii and watched Slumdog Millionaire for the third or fourth time. On our way home we took a long detour along the oregon coast and up to Cannon Beach. The drive was so beautiful and relaxing except when I almost ran into a big milk truck passing through Tillamook. When we got to Cannon Beach it was so cold and raining we seriously walked out to the beach took a photo and ran back to the car and headed to a coffee shop. Sadly our favorite Sleepy Monk coffee shop was closed. It's always worth the drive and crazy weather to go to the coast. I am so thankful we have it and I will never get tired of going.

The first camera I learned taking photos on besides my cheap 35mm pawn shop film camera was a Hasselblad medium format camera back in Spokane, WA. I had the opportunity this week to go all out and get a Hasselblad 503 that is in very good shape. Besides having a classic old school way of shooting beautiful black and whites I really wanted this camera for our upcoming trip this summer to Italy. There is just something different about shooting film in this style and format that you cant get from a digital camera.

A few days ago right before the snow came piling down Rebekah and I escaped out to the Gorge for some outdoor falling snow photos and to enjoy the beautiful winter elements. We love it how the contrast of the snow make the bare and beautiful trees pop off the ground. Finding the most out of all four seasons makes living here a real blessing.

This year for our christmas cards we wanted to do something creative and inspirational that was a little different than a normal christmas card. My wife wrote this amazing reflective piece of writing that is simply beautiful. I am very proud of her for putting herself and her personal writing out there for people to read. I hope you are as blessed by it as I am. Have a wonderful holiday everyone and Merry Christmas.

Writing by Rebekah Birt.