Congratulations Erik and Kristin!

Your story was incredible and full of love and beautiful imagery. I’m excited to create a unique photography session just for you to celebrate your love for one another.

Of course, we will have a photography giveaway next year at the same time and I may even have a ‘secret’ giveaway sometime before then if I have time.

Thanks to all who entered. Your stories are very inspiring.

Erik Johnson’s winning entry:

It’s hard to write a short paragraph about Kristin. She was the girl next door, we went to high school together, and we shared the same friends, the same mountains, and the same lakes for ten years. We used to backpack together, bantering like siblings, and then we learned to swing dance.

Kristin’s an incredible dancer. She’s agile, quick and light, and just a little mischievous, which is perfect for swing. When you spin her, she smiles, and if you lift her, she lands on the balls of her feet and never breaks form. It’s fun. For the first half of our twenties we’d spin each other around the dance floor on New Years, or on the beach by an Independence Day bonfire. We dance well together.

Then my old middle school called me and asked me to chaperon their Valentine’s Day dance. They knew I knew swing, and thought a simple lesson would encourage the boys to dance. I needed a partner, and I called Kristin–promised her dinner if she’d help me out. And it was odd day. I cut my hair, spent 20 minutes picking a tie, and arrived early with sweating hands to pick up a girl I’d known since I was 16. She didn’t tell me until later, but she was doing much the same thing–bought a new top, brought 3 changes of clothes in case she changed her mind. At the dance, I couldn’t banter with her anymore. I brought her punch instead–watched myself do it. And it was different dancing with her that night. I can’t quite explain it. Something had sparked, and we weren’t just friends from high school or former almost-neighbors–we were a team, we knew how to move together.

We got the middle school boys to dance with the middle school girls, and when their night was over, Kristin and I kept dancing, barefoot, beside my car under the moon. At my house we started talking about everything we never could when all we could do is banter, until she fell asleep on my shoulder.

That was last Valentine’s Day. By next Valentine’s Day, if everything goes well, we’ll be engaged. Over the last year, I’ve been able to meet her like she was someone new. I love her.

Above is the video I made for my wife after a trip to Oregon to go wine tasting. It was a few months into our dating and that weekend is the first time that I told Robin I loved her. It was right around Valentine’s day.

I want to give YOU a unique and romantic photo session. All I ask in return is inspiration from my readers.

Win a free photography session by Mastin Studio

Are you engaged? Already married? Maybe you are on the brink of getting engaged! In any case, we’d love to hear your story. Is it funny? Romantic? Maybe it’s downright crazy! Share it with us. I want to hear YOUR Valentine’s Day Story.

TO ENTER:

1. Tweet this post.
2. ‘Like’ this blog post. (both buttons are at the end of this post. It’s super easy!)
3. Leave a comment with your Valentine’s Day Story. It can be from this year or from the past.

Small print: The deadline to enter is February 28th, 2011. The winner will be announced February 30th March 2nd.  In order to qualify you need to live in the Greater Seattle Area or be willing to travel here for your session.

Life goes fast, don’t forget to capture your important moments on film. These will be the memories that you will cherish forever.

Trust me.

Now we are married and have a baby. This is how things started, a love letter in film.

I can’t wait to shoot YOUR story and it can start with the photo shoot of your dreams.

-Kirk

I was touched to read so many great stories and ideas from our Valentine’s Day giveaway contest. Thank you all for participating and I wish I could take photos for each one of you. I really do.

This year’s winner is Adrienne who sent in this letter:

“My fiancé and I are getting married in spring 2011. We both love the outdoors and some of our most romantic getaways have been backpacking trips. We love the feeling of standing on top of a mountain, alone, where we can see the whole world around us. It makes you feel alive! I want our engagement photos to capture our love of adventuring together.

Somewhere like this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shorty_jooce/3397158836/in/set-72157616101176008/ but with me instead of beef jerkey.

Although I know it’s not feasible to take a photographer backpacking, I think a great photoshoot would be at the top of a mountain, or somewhere else relatively remote where you can see into the distance. I’m going to be spending this summer in Seattle for work, and I’ve heard there’s great backpacking in the area. I’m not familiar with Seattle yet, but there must be some nearby mountains where you can drive most of the way to the top & then take a 20-minute hike to a place with a view. My fiancé can carry all the equipment if necessary — he’s great at carrying things up mountains. “

I’m excited to make some great photos for Adrienne and her fiance who will be here this summer and who share a love of the outdoors.

And watch out. I MAY take you up on the offer of your fiance schlepping my gear up the mountains!

*Stay tuned for pictures from the shoot*