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 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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

..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!