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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.

They seriously take my breath away!

Look at those cheeks!

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

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

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

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!

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.

Couldn’t resist.

The second pose was his idea. So we went with it.

My favorite 2 of the bunch.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

I couldn’t resist another ring shot before heading out the door

Chelsea and Tony opted for a “first look”- so we headed to the Emporia State University campus.

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.

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.

Perspective

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I love Chelsea’s face

and the bubbles too

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.

Aww how sweet, the first dance- and then BAM return of the P90X body. Just look at her back, shoulders and arms!

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.

Chelsea’s brother gave the sweetest speech that brought tears to my eyes- and everyone else’s.

The most dancing I’ve witnessed of all the weddings I’ve shot to date.

Love it! Especially Sarah’s (gal on the far right) expression.

and finally, I leave you with this. The chick who caught the bouquet (just look at her fly) and Sarah’s disappointment.

Thank you Chelsea and Tony for flying me all the way to Kansas to photograph your day. Your relationship is beautiful.

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!)

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.

And here’s the whole gang!

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.

..you don’t know the sky, you can’t know the sky

..the bold prairie sky is clear, bright and blue, Though sometimes cloud messages give us a clue. Monstrous grey mushrooms can hint of a storm, Or painted pink feathers say goodbye to the warm. If you’re not from the prairie, You don’t know the sky. If you’re not from the prairie, You knot know what’s flat, You’ve never seen flat. When travellers pass through across our great plain, they all view our home, they all say the same: ‘It’s simple and flat!’ They’ve not learned to see the particular beauty that’s now part of me. If you’re not from the prairie, You don’t know what’s flat. If you’re not from the prairie,
You’ve not heard the grass, You’ve never heard grass. In strong summer winds, the grains and grass bend And sway to a dance that seems never to end. It whispers its secrets–they tell of this land And the rhythm of life played by nature’s own hand. If you’re not from the prairie, You’ve never heard grass.”

I’m off to Kansas for a long weekend of shooting-and quick back to  AmeriCorps service on Monday!

I’m hoping for safe travels and no rain for Saturday’s wedding!