Esther & Tae Ho were half a world away from each other when I was contacted by Esther. She was serving with the International Justice Mission in India while trying to plan a wedding! Here’s a quick description from their website:

International Justice Mission is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. IJM lawyers, investigators and aftercare professionals work with local officials to ensure immediate victim rescue and aftercare, to prosecute perpetrators and to promote functioning public justice systems.

I’ve always been a fan of IJM, since I first heard about them in college. Human trafficking and slavery is a serious problem in such a larger percentage of the world. I was really thankful to know that she was actually helping in India. Tae Ho also works with people a little closer to home as he serves on staff at Renewal Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, PA where he works with inner-city youth through various programs. Needless to say, I knew I would get along with these two and I was privileged to be apart of their wedding day.

Their wedding was in La Jolla, CA. It was my first time to La Jolla and I could not get over the beauty that is California. I think if you live there, you may get desensitized to the terrain, but coming from the flat lands of Illinois, I was soaking it all in. Ok…so enough about that…on to the pictures!

The reception was a fantastic little seafood restaurant called: Brockton Villa

Thanks you guys for a great time out in California! May He continue to guide your paths as you serve Him as one! I’m looking forward to seeing what He has in store for you both!

by His grace,

Kenny Nakai

And so it is with life.

Seasons of abundance and seasons of drought,
Seasons of growth and seasons of frustration,
Seasons of love and seasons of loneliness,
Seasons of beginnings and seasons of endings.

And while we are all in different seasons of life, we can always know that these seasons, like all other seasons will pass and we have hope towards brighter days.

I have known Helen since our days at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. We both attended Covenant Fellowship Church where we share many of the same friends. Needless to say I was thrilled when she told me she was engaged! And as I love to do during an engagement session, I listened as they shared their story with me. They made me laugh and through their openness, blessed me with their testimony.

Stan & Helen: through the different seasons you have endured and are enduring may these images always remind you of this season of Love that He has brought into your lives.

We headed out to Helen’s old stomping ground…taking a stroll through Lincoln Park and North Ave Beach. It was raining all day including up to the moment I arrived! Thankfully the skies opened up and we didn’t get rained on at all! It was a blessing in disguise as the beach and park were less crowded than they normally would be on a Sunday afternoon.

These two were always joking around and laughing…and so I love this image of the two of them…enjoying a moment together-

This was a Nakai Photography first: A jumping piggy back ride! lol…for the record, this was not my idea! I love it when things just happen spontaneously! But I absolutely adore their expressions!

And if you can’t tell by Helen’s face…let me tell you that there were some serious G-Forces going on during this spin! I’m surprised her shoes didn’t fall off! =)

My favorite shot of the day-

Thanks for a great time guys and I can’t wait to head out to St. Louis for your wedding!

with love,

Kenny Nakai