Posts Tagged ‘Kansas’

playing catch-up

Friday, September 17th, 2010

I felt like before I could blog about my cross-country move, all the delicious vegan restaurants I have eaten at across the country and MY WEDDING! I should get a little caught up on actual photography posts. I’ve had so much going on the past few months that it has been nearly impossible to remember my own name- let alone update a blog that I am not sure anyone even reads! But, I know my mother reads (Hi Mom!) and so I am updating this for her- and anyone else who still checks in.

Laura and TJ- Trying to convince a 2 year old to sit still and look at a camera=impossible.

The Franklins- Super Mommy Extraordinaire (Holly) with 2 of the spunkiest children I’ve ever met. I love this family with my whole heart.

Dacey and Justin

Heather and Ryan- Holly’s little sister and new brother-in-law

The Mabe Family

Sara and Junior- Elopement wedding in Key West

Baby Kathleen- My first Colorado shoot

(back to Florida)

The McGhee Family- They’ve been with me since I first started my business and I love them dearly

Jodi and Cory- A rainy day, Kansas wedding with a high school friend.

Gabriel- Who I’ve photographed since he was in his mommy’s belly.

(Mom bought a large gallery wrapped canvas print of the right image. LOVE)

The Weiblinger Family- I’ve also been photographing baby Nate since before he was born. :)

Savannah- A very photogenic senior.

Heather- Again, this time with a sunrise bridal shoot.

Linda- A goodbye shoot with my  ”hair lady” of almost 4 years.

JD and Matt- A New Jersey Wedding

Phew! That is all for now! I am off to Utah for the weekend to shoot a maternity session and hang with some ultra-cool and very talented photographers.

frida from norway

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

Needless to say, these shots  were NOT taken in Florida- but in Kansas. The day of the session was bitter cold. The temperature was in the 30s but the wind was fierce- with the windchill in the single digits. After being gone from Kansas for so long, I forgot just how bone chilling the wind can be. I quickly learned how hard it is to manipulate the controls on a camera with fingers that are frozen! When I move to Colorado, I’ll most definitely be investing in some gloves that will allow me to shoot while keeping my hands warm.

Frida is a foreign exchange student from Norway and her host family gifted her a senior portrait session for Christmas (yes that is how far behind I am!). Frida loves horses and rides all the time in Norway, so it was only fitting that she be placed with a family in America who loves horses as well. It was important for me to be able to incorporate this into her session. Several weeks before our shoot, Frida was thrown from her horse- breaking her ankle. Thankfully it was healed enough by the time we met that her cast had been removed and all that was left was an air cast that she could manage without for a few hours.

To get the right angle for these pictures, I had to be on a horse as well. It has been YEARS since I’d been on a horse. I assured the horse keeper(??) that I had ridden before and knew what I was doing. Only I got up on the horse and definitely did NOT remember what to do. I whispered to Frida “Hey, hey.. Frida how do I get her to stop once we start?”. “Whoa,” she says. Oh, right- how could I not know that? It isn’t easy taking photos while sitting on a horse. 1-the horse wouldn’t stand still and I had to hold myself sturdy on the horse with no hands while taking the pictures and 2-I am constantly moving all around trying to find the best angle- it isn’t so easy to get a horse to go EXACTLY where you need it to be.

We did a little clothing switcheroo and Frida put on one of my dresses. I know braving the cold wasn’t easy- but she did great. We kept my car running with the heat going full blast. It was so cold that after every few shots we had to run back to the car to defrost before continuing. I am so thankful that I have clients who are willing to do whatever necessary to get good pictures!

Snow makes for a natural reflector of light that is perfect for picture taking. I really love the pop of red in these two.

These speak for themselves. We had a lot of fun playing with the camels.

lilah louise | 3 days

Monday, March 8th, 2010

I almost missed her. I scheduled my trip to Kansas in December around Lilah’s due date, but with newborns it is NEVER that easy. When Lilah still hadn’t arrived on her due date, I decided to change my flight in hopes of getting the timing right. Even that nearly flopped. Lilah finally arrived at 5:51 am on Sunday, December 27th-weighing just over 8 lbs and 18.5 inches long.

Jodi and Lilah made it home from the birthing center on Tuesday and I did her session Wednesday morning- hours before my plane left! I don’t think I have ever completed a newborn session so quickly and with such great results. Jodi and Cory are naturals in front of the camera and Lilah so easily soothed.

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They seriously take my breath away!

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Look at those cheeks!

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It is so easy to take wonderful photographs when you have such beautiful subjects.

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This is one of my favorite pictures of Jodi. The look on her face is so telling and it warms my heart.

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The color image on the left is hanging large and in charge in the office of the doctor who delivered Lilah. Talk about ecstatic!

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Jodi and Cory, I am so very happy to have had the opportunity to photograph all of your milestones (so far!). I feel incredibly privileged to still have you in my life even though we are thousands of miles apart. And I am incredibly appreciative of you opening your home to me just days after giving birth and the day after coming home from the hospital. I hope you cherish these pictures always.

P.S. I have film images from my vintage camera that I took in the hospital being developed right now. Fingers crossed!

Taylor | my BIG little brother

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

While back home in October, I took my Taylor’s senior pictures. This is the same pumpkin patch Jodi and I trespassed on for her maternity pictures- only this time I thought i better not press my luck. I asked for permission :) You’ll notice most (ok all) of Taylor’s pictures are of him kneeling or sitting- that would be because he is darn close to 6″6″ tall. Yea.. WOAH. All of the standing pictures looked oddly out of proportion and I could see right up his nose. I never even thought to bring a stepladder. That’ll teach me.

That cute little black fur-ball is Samantha Jean. We call her Sam-bo or Sammy for short. I think she is half blind and half deaf by now, but I love her to pieces. She pretty much goes nuts every time I go home for a visit.

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Couldn’t resist.

IMG_2150The second pose was his idea. :) So we went with it.

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My favorite 2 of the bunch.

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jodi & cory | love shoot +1

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

It is December, less than 1 week from baby Lilah’s due date, and I am just now posting images from her mommy’s session back in October. Oh GEEZ.
I’ve been friends with Jodi and her twin sister Jenna since the 7th grade. They were my first friends when I moved to a new town and new school at a time in a tween’s life when everything is chaos (or at least feels that way). Without getting too mushy gushy–I’ll just say that words can’t express how fortunate I feel to have Jodi and Jenna in my life. Even though we live a full 24 hour’s drive from each other and all of our lives are too busy to keep in proper contact, I still consider them two of my best friends.

From the moment I learned Jodi was pregnant I was plotting a way to be able to shoot her maternity pictures– and then I learned of Jenna’s wedding in October. Perfect. I was able to to knock out my brother’s senior pictures (coming soon), attend (and sneak in a few shots at) Jenna’s wedding AND do Jodi’s maternity session.

Jodi’s belly was just blossoming and the leaves were just turning. I couldn’t have asked for a better setting to photograph a more in love couple.

I’m pretty sure we were illegally trespassing on private property for the next 5 pictures with the yellow leaves. So worth it.
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And then more trespassing at a pumpkin patch that we found while hiking to shoot with the red-leafed trees you’ll see further down. Jodi and Cory just ooze love and happiness AND they’re naturals in front of the camera. Not that I can really pick favorites- but I do really love these two.

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The interaction and smiles in the next two really get me as well

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A beautiful, glowing, happy mommy-to-be. Sweet or what?

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I’d say “beautiful” again, but I don’t want to be repetitive.. so I’ll say “gorgeous”.

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These two make me giggle. I hope they make you giggle too. Cory got plenty of practice catching- lets hope he gets to “catch” the real thing VERY soon.

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Again, not that I can pick favorites..but I do love this one an awful lot as well. :)

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Note to Lilah: Please be kind to your mommy and I-and don’t arrive too late. You already have your first photo shoot scheduled and it just won’t be acceptable for you to miss it. :) Thanks.

chelsea and tony | emporia, ks

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

Yet another wedding with a fellow Northern Heights (high school in the middle of a cow pasture) alum. Chelsea was a grade ahead of me (her super hot cross-country, personal trainer bod is part of what has inspired my recent running spree) and was dating Tony even back then. Seeing them interact on the day of the wedding- I can see why. They compliment each other so well.

Chelsea’s dress had beautiful beading and lace detail.
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I love ring shots
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Shield your eyes for the next series-because Chelsea is just too hot to handle! I was super excited when Chelsea asked me to take a few pictures for Tony before the wedding and was even more excited when she said I could share a select few. P90X body in da house.
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Tony is such a sweetheart. He left gifts for Chelsea, her mom and his own mother. I quickly captured a few shots of Chelsea opening her lovely necklace.
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I couldn’t resist another ring shot before heading out the door
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Chelsea and Tony opted for a “first look”- so we headed to the Emporia State University campus.
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From the beginning, Chelsea talked of her beautiful veil and how she wanted a shot of it blowing in the wind. Here’s my take on it. I think this one is over-the-fireplace canvas worthy.
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Gorgeous colors, yes?
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These pictures aren’t technically anything wonderful, but they just crack me up. The bitty chair, the naked baby on the floor-and goofy Tony. The “first look” definitely helps to ease nerves.
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Perspective
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I love Chelsea’s face
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and the bubbles too
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Tony is a firefighter, so after the ceremony we headed to the station for some shots with the fire engines. I love when clients give me ideas for pictures that have meaning to them.
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I love these two!
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It was THIS big. Yes,  I am a 5th grader.
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Aww how sweet, the first dance- and then BAM return of the P90X body. Just look at her back, shoulders and arms!
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The image on the left is probably one of my favorite wedding dance images. It may not be all the way in focus-but the grain, the movement and the feeling to this one just moves me.
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Chelsea’s brother gave the sweetest speech that brought tears to my eyes- and everyone else’s.
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The most dancing I’ve witnessed of all the weddings I’ve shot to date.
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Love it! Especially Sarah’s (gal on the far right) expression.
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and finally, I leave you with this. The chick who caught the bouquet (just look at her fly) and Sarah’s disappointment.
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Thank you Chelsea and Tony for flying me all the way to Kansas to photograph your day. Your relationship is beautiful.

happy autumn from kansas!

Saturday, October 24th, 2009

Short post from my room in Kansas. I forgot how much I miss having fall colors and sweater weather! I also forgot how unforgiving the Kansas wind is. Seeing as have lived in Florida the last 4.5 years, I haven’t had a proper cold-weather coat. It was absolutely freezing the morning after I arrived and getting a coat was the second thing on the agenda (the first being my friend Jodi’s maternity pictures.. I’ll post those as soon as I get caught up!)

I wanted to share a few pictures showing the gorgeous fall colors here in my home state.

These 2 were taken in Riverside Park in Wichita- just down the road from where my friend Jenna was married today (Congrats Jenna and Tim!)

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That’d be me and my BIG little brother. He’s only 6ft 5.5in. I think every time I see him, he’s grown another inch-or two.
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And here’s the whole gang!
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sneak peek | kansas wedding

Thursday, October 8th, 2009

I know its been sooo long since I’ve last posted. I have 2 more posts waiting to go-just as soon as I carve the time. Since returning from Kansas I’ve ben running non-stop between 38-45 hour AmeriCorps service weeks, 16 hour Assisted Living Sundays, and editing non-stop every moment in between. Yea. I’m out of energy just reading it.

Anywho-this post is not about me… it’s a quick one about Chelsea and Tony. I went to high school with Chelsea back in our tiny little Kansas high school. I couldn’t have been happier when she asked me to shoot her wedding. (doing so knowing, at the time, I hadn’t booked any of my own weddings) Chelsea-you were such a calm bride-made my job so much easier and I could tell just being around you for the day how much Tony is in love with you. It’s refreshing.

Here is a quick preview of them on the bridge over Wooster Lake at Emporia State University. More from me soon-promise.

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