This birthday of Danielle's was the bee's knees no doubt about it. I couldn't stop looking at all the details that were put into everything and then when everyone showed up, oh wow! All of Danielle's guest were dressed in the most fabulous outfits and it was just spectacular. I had a great time photographing her birthday bash last weekend. Enjoy!
As a natural light photographer, the one thing that really gets you excited about a day is that morning/evening light. The way it glistens off the buildings, seeps through the leaves of trees, and bathes the world in this wonderful glow. That was exactly how yesterday was. To make the day even better, I got to work with two gorgeous young women who have been best friends since freshman year! These two were so much fun, I couldn't stop smiling throughout the entire session. I hope you enjoy these photos, and trust me, though they may seem serious in a majority of these, Casey and Jessica were laughing and joking around for all of their time with me!
I honestly can't believe I am making this post. My little brother is a senior; it's crazy how fast time has flown! Casey and I shot the first part of his session in Missouri while we were visiting family and we just finished the last few photos yesterday. He's not the biggest fan of taking pictures (never has been, as I have bugged him for photos before!) but he was a trooper and put up with his big sister. Photos aside, I am so proud of him and I know for sure that no matter what Casey does in life, he will do it well. Love you, big little brother. (:
Casey wanted a full length shot of the above photo. What a shot.
Ellie and Tuffy were running around the duration of this part and decided to crash.
I think one of my favorite parts of this wedding was how Chad could not get over how beautiful Betty looked. A woman should be told she's beautiful whenever, wherever, any occasion, etc, and Chad is a man that does just that. He showers Betty in love and kindness and these two are just a joy together. I had my brother help me out that day, and I am so pleased that he did for I got even more images of these two amazing people. Betty and Chad, I wish you all the happiness in the world, and Betty, I hope Chad continues to remind you of how lovely you all for all your time together, as I hope you do the same. You two were meant for each other. You're a one of a kind couple.
Haley and Jacob have got to be one of the cutest couples on this earth. Not only are they just perfect for one another and you can practically see the love on their very faces, but they had such a sweet ceremony in a pretty area by a little creek and were surrounded by some great people! There was never a dull moment that Saturday and I am so glad I got to be there, capturing it all! Thank you for being so patient; please enjoy your images!
"Someone asked me about you the other day & I said something like she is not too tall & her hair is such & such a color. I said that, because how could I tell them you are like ...the way people smile at each other when there is nothing to hide. How could I tell them you are the way love looks when it walks through this world of ours? How could I say that to them before I spent a lifetime saying that to you?" - Brian Andreas The quote above has stuck with me since the first time I opened my email with it inside. I was editing Cheyenne & John's photos, doing as I always do, listening to soothing strings and singers crooning about their lovers, and all I could see was the love looks shared between these two people. These two were wonderful to work with and despite the wind, my heart was so, so, happy to be spending time with people who care immensely about one another. The way John and Cheyenne found each other, hands clasped, close in the chilled afternoon, was something that can't be contained in a mere photograph. I hope you both enjoy your lifetime together, and I hope the two of you always remember that special way you look at each other.
This isn't my normal portrait session, but it was just as fun! These gals have been pals since freshman year. I had a great time with these ladies, laughing and doing ridiculous poses. Enjoy!
Sometimes you have a great top in your closet and sometimes you have an amazing friend who puts up with your random requests for photos and sometimes when you combine these two things, you create gorgeous photos of said friend. And sometimes while creating gorgeous images of that friend, you get to be goofy and be reminded once again why you absolutely love taking pictures. Thank you, Holly for being that amazing friend!!
If no one knows or gets it by now with my incessant ramblings, I love love. I love beautiful love stories told either by the mouth or in visual forms. I love hearing how people met, what drew them to one another. I love that two beings found a mutual stirring in their souls and make choosing and continuing to adore and cherish that person second nature, even when they don't think they can or simply don't want to. Anyone can be in love, but it's those people who love with everything they have, express it in every feature, whether through their eyes or by touch, that capture my attention and make me raise my camera to my eye. It doesn't matter if it's Valentine's Day or some regular Tuesday in the middle of May. Love is a 365, 24/7, every breath, every moment kind of deal. It can be shown in many ways and it doesn't matter if it's your significant other, your family members, your best friend, or that stranger you smiled at on the way to class. Love is ever present in our actions. (Exhausting, yes, but isn't it great to be loved and to love others?)
And that's what I enjoyed about these two wonderful people. The affection they held for one another was glowing and I had no other word for them except cute. I don't know how many times I said it, but they are cute as well as all other synonyms of that word. Please enjoy their photographs as much as I do!!
Last year I learned a lot; not only about photography but about myself. I learned that my emotions have limitations, that personal life greatly affects my art. I'm going to be honest with you....I had moments when my creativity was stuck in this small box and no matter how hard I clawed and pried at the lid, I was left frustrated. These feelings were evident in my work. Sometimes even the color itself seemed so drained, I'd stare at my photographs and wonder, is it off?, is it the monitor? And then I'd catch myself scrolling through rows after rows of beautiful work on Pinterest until my eyes glazed over, wondering what part of the heart did these images come from? Had I lost my magic, my love of this craft in only a short amount of time? No...but I had forgotten that feeling.
I haven't picked up my camera in a while. It lies in its bag, quiet in the corner. A lot of people think that the camera is responsible for what they see. The inner-workings of the device collaborate and fire off exactly when the photographer wants them to, but this does not mean the images are solely made by something manufactured in a high end company. They are created by someone who breathes life and sees beauty in the unimaginable and feels the softest of heartbeats in the still air.
They are made by people who dream in saturated colors, who see love in the tiniest of corners, hidden in the shared laughter of two beings.
And yes, they are created even by people like me, who aren't always confident in our work. We all have a rut. No matter our profession, our skill, or purpose, there is always going to be a moment when we don't feel passionate and we break everything we touch. We are all going to have a mental block and at some point in time will think that we've lost our creative spirit.
But if there is something 2013 has taught me is that I can fall out of love with something but when I find myself immersed in it again, remember what lit the fire, my affection for it strengthens and leaves me breathless, impatient with the need to capture delightful moments.
2014 is going to be a beautiful year, filled to the brim with experiences that I will sometimes choose to lift up my camera to freeze or I will ignore the need and live it breath by breath. I ended 2013 with apprehensions and fears and I'm starting 2014 with a clear mind.
I can't wait to meet all my new clients this year. I can't wait to hear their love stories, to understand what makes them smile the brightest. I can't wait to meet you.
Oh my word, this is going to be the first of many HUGE blog posts, as Bekah and Tell's wedding marks the beginning of my wedding season for 2014. These two amazing people, as you'll remember from an engagement session I had a while ago, finally got married on December 31, 2013. I was both a part of the wedding and the photographer, but I had some great help from Casey, Phil, and Nelly! I'm at a lost for words when it comes to describing this beautiful wedding. God was present that day, as He is in every day, but that day in particular was amazing. I'd be lying if there were not moments I wanted to tear up (and I was determined to make it through the ceremony without blubbering!). Bekah was the most beautiful bride; cliche to say, but it is so true. She was radiant in her wedding gown and watching her walk down the aisle, and finding Tell's face aglow with sheer happiness, was one of my favorite sights of the entire day. I wish these two many, many years of love and grace.
Last Sunday was a chilly one! This adorable family braved it though, with plenty of breaks in the warm car. Toward the end, we were able to get into the church at Nenzel, so we were most grateful for that!
We shot a little past high noon and it was a bit cold that day, but obviously these two did wonderful. They were both a little apprehensive about photos at first but as the session went on, they became comfortable with me snapping about them! Please enjoy!
If it's not already evident, I love love. I like a lot of things about this verb, noun, feeling, whatever you want it to be, but what I sincerely enjoy about it is how subtle it can be. There was this sort of undertone to the session with these two; every time I looked at them through my lens and pushed my shutter, I couldn't help smiling because of the way their love for each other was so prevalent: it was in the way they talked about their story on the way up, or in their very being as they held each other. Any session that captivates me with its essence, the pure joy shared between two people, leaves me a bit at a loss of what I know about this concept called love and this was one of those session. Please enjoy the following images.
I got so caught up in how adorable this couple is that I completely ignored small details like her scarf! She makes it work so no worries!!
I had a great time photographing Heather! She was a natural in front of the camera and it didn't take her long at all to warm up to the camera. Please enjoy her lovely images!
I love dancing. The passion, the connection, the feeling of weightlessness as you waltz or the crazy movements, the wild beat, the freedom that comes with just boogieing down to your favorite tune. There are so many ways of expression when it comes to this art form and the way two people can move in sync is beautiful. I love it so much that I asked these two wonderful people to dance in the woods and out on the open plain to the sound of nothing. Thanks for being so willingly.
I'm not going to lie - Taylor is by far one of my favorite people to photograph. No matter the theme or the idea, she always brings something to the table. Traveling up with her to Toadstool Park was great and as you can see, the location worked out beautifully. Enjoy!
So lately I've been blessed with amazing evening that are filled with this ridiculous light! It covers everything with a rich haze and makes you want to bask in the glow. When Jennie and I pulled up to the location some time ago, I instantly knew that we were going to make some gorgeous images together. Jennie is a photographer too and I hope she enjoyed her time in front of the camera because I had fun photographing her!! Jennie, you are beautiful and you are beyond amazing. Don't ever let anyone tell you different.
Jesse and I had conversed awhile ago about photos of the male variety, considering my page is lacking! I gladly accepted and, while we were at it, April, his lovely girlfriend, joined in for some shots! These two are quite adorable and I had a great time traversing about, chasing the sun for some late evening shots. Thanks for being so patient; enjoy the photos!
We had a little fun with the next shot.
Mid-hug smiles are the best.
The thing I love about photography is that it can both be a job and an outlet for me. Clients are great to work with and I love creating little moments with them that they can cherish forever, but sometimes, through all the work (trying out new watermark styles, updating the site, editing, etc), and well, life in general, I like to step away from everything and just shoot. Lauren's little session was just what I needed to relax and clear my mind. The sun was perfect, she's always a blast to work with, and I laughed a lot last Monday. Nothing beats this.
(:
