Situated in the Cascade foothills on the outskirts of Auburn is yet another amazing park in the greater Seattle area. Flaming Geyser State Park gets its name from an actual burning flame, fueled by a pocket of methane gas 1000 feet below the surface. That methane has depleted over time and now, well, lets just say that the “flaming geyser” won’t be sparking any wonder into visitor’s eyes anymore. The flame is gone and the hole capped, leaving nothing but a small gravel pit… The bubbling geyser, while almost as equally underwhelming at least does still emit bubbles… While it would have been cool to see that flame shooting 25 feet into the air like it did over 100 years ago when prospectors accidentally discovered it, this park shines in so many other ways, with trails, fern and moss-covered forests, open fields, and being right up alongside the Green river, it is a great place to explore.

Flaming Geyser State Park ended up being the perfect spot for a fall post-wedding shoot for Sandi, Mike, and their dog, Happy, a Sharpe/Burmese Mountain dog mix! I love including dogs! They are always challengingly fun during sessions, creating an endless source of fun spontaneity. This session was extra special because not only was it about celebrating their recent marriage, but it was also about remembering Sandi’s brother Craig (who is also father to my oldest niece), who passed away unexpectedly last April. For Sandi and her family, it has been an especially challenging year. And so, with this session, I wanted to let them celebrate what they have right here and now. And I know Craig would have wanted that for them too. Sandi brought along Craig’s favorite jacket and she put it on for a few of the photographs. It hadn’t been washed since he passed away and as she wore that jacket, hugging it close to her and breathing in the smell of her brother, we all teared up. Saying goodbye is never easy. But we can take comfort in knowing that those who have touched our lives live on inside us.

Congratulations Sandi and Mike. I had a wonderful time seeing you both having fun together and laughing. Your little leaf battle at the end still makes me bust out laughing every time I go through all of them. 🙂