Blair {baby portrait photography}

Willard, MO

One of my favorite things about my job is watching a family grow from the time towards the end of a pregnancy all through their babies first year.  It was about this time last year when I had the pleasure of being able to do Shannon & Carrie's maternity photo's.  They were definitely a fun couple to work with right from the start and I have enjoyed working with them each and every time since then.  I just can't believe it was already time to do baby Blair's 9 month photos.  

We started out inside the studio area...

I remember clear as day when we did the maternity photos, towards the end of the session Shannon and Carrie were up and ready to venture outdoors so I had them follow me out to some nearby farmland.  At one of the stops when we got out of our cars they mentioned noticing my KU Jayhawk sticker on the back windshield of my car.  Okay, so this might have just made them my new best friends because they too are KU fans!  And soooooo, guess what they brought for Blair to wear as one of her outfits?!!!!  :)

I think it makes for the THE best outfit ever!!!!  

 Time to venture outdoors...

 And then down to the park which by the way made for the first time Blair got to just sit in the grass, and so guess what she instantly became fascinated with?!!!  :)

 I so love this one!!!  Such a beautiful, beautiful family!

Okay, so in case you haven't been noticing, Blair was rather hard to make smile that day.  She was not in to my tickling by any means :)  But boy oh boy, the second Dad started tossing her in the air, holy cow, smiles galore!!!

 She is loving that beautiful mamma too!

 Another one of my favorites from the day...

Thank you Shannon, Carrie, and Blair for a wonderful time on such a gorgeous day!!!  You guys, as always, are a joy to be around, and I cannot wait for the 1st birthday photos.  Bring on the cake!!!!!! :)

In-Studio ~ Back Porch Tea House/ Village Flowers & Mercantile

Outdoors ~ Jackson Street Park

A few words I would like to share...

I am never, ever, ever, ever one to be able to say much about my personal life in any certain kind of public manner.  But as I sit here this morning looking and editing away at another session of a beautiful family, a family who like so many others have continued to come to me and ask me to be apart of special milestones in their families lives, I can't help but truly feel like one of the luckiest girls I could ever be.

And so maybe it's the long hours I have been putting in lately which have left me a bit sleep deprived, or perhaps watching the terrible and extremely devastating wreckage unfold through photographs and videos of what happened in Joplin a week ago.  Or maybe its then seeing that we as a human race can care so much for our friends, family, and neighbors as I've seen so many of us pull together to help in any way that we possibly can.  Or heck, maybe its even catching a few of Oprah's last words of wisdom for all of us this week as I grabbed yet another box of tissues.... yes many, many tears seem to have been shed this week!  But there seems to be this very heavy weight on my heart this morning, this extreme urge to want to share with all of you my thoughts and feelings for a moment to say... THANK YOU!

Like I said, I have never been one to speak of my personal life.  Mostly because I feel that we all have our past, we all have our troubles, and we all have our trials in life, with certainly some having more than others.  But I just want to say to all of you, thank you!  As some of you may know, I am now a single mother and have been for a little over a year.  Since that first day I have taken on the concept of taking one day at a time.  And have been able to do so with such confidence and courage not only because of the wonderful friends and family that I have in my life, but also because of the amazing clients that I have.  I don't even like to say the word "clients", because really truly, I think of all of you as my friends.

Every time I get a phone call, or an email, or some type of message asking to be squeezed in to my crazy calendar I am blown away.  Yes my calendar is crazier now more than ever and has been for a while, now that I am raising these two absolutely wonderful sons of mine on my own, but I always somehow make everything work.  If there's a will, there's a way, and I feel so truly blessed every time I get to add another session or wedding to my calendar!!!

Yes I work so hard on each and every session, along with each and every photograph that stands before me on my computer screen, but nonetheless, I feel so honored to be a part of your lives.  When you ask to have me be a part of a moment in your life, I realize through and through how lucky I truly am.  I get to be there for all the special milestones in a baby's first year, or be there for that one time of year you are able to get your kids and husbands/ wives to come together for those family photos, or be there as you try to pull together any kind of memorable item that will help tell who are as you about to pass the day of graduation.  And then there's the brides and grooms who allow me to be there for what is very much one of THE biggest days in your lives, and the special birthdays or amazing anniversaries you are getting to celebrate! Not one of these moments is more or less important to me than another because ALL of them are "moments" in YOUR life.   I know in a passing it can just seem like photographs to some people but I want you all to know that it is so much more than that to me and that I truly feel honored with every phone call, every email, and every message that comes before me!

Through this past year, I feel like you have all held my hand without even knowing you were doing so, and you have helped me keep my head up high and be able to keep calling this dream of mine, this thing that just started out as merely a hobby, be able to keep calling it a job.  A job that I am so lucky to have and love every single minute of it.  And then on top of all the confidence you have shown in me, you have also stayed so patient with me as well as you wait to see your finished products.  Again, you have no idea how thankful I am for this, and cannot thank you enough!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!  I  love my sons, my parents, my family, my friends, my job, and ALL of my clients who I want to all know that you will forever be a friend in my life!

Okay, there, phew, I said what I have wanted to say for so long now!!!  :)  And now I must get back to work!!!!  I hope you all have a wonderful and fabulous Memorial weekend, and please, please, please, stay safe!!!!

J.R. + Kerri {St. Louis Wedding}

St. Louis, MO
April 29, 2011

Once again, this Springfield, MO gal  had the opportunity to venture up the interstate to St. Louis for another absolutely fabulous wedding.  Kerri came to me back in the fall after I had done their friends wedding.   I cannot begin to tell you how absolutely delighted I was to be asked back to St. Louis again.

And so the planning began between Kerri and I as the details were coming together.   And as the date got closer, the more excited I became.  I think one of my most favorite emails was Kerri asking me if I had seen the news on the announcement of Prince William's wedding date.   Yep, turns out Will and Kate and had declared to marry the same date as J.R. and Kerri!!!  : )

I of course was up bright and early around 4 AM along with so many others in this world (whether they want to admit it or not) watching the historical royal wedding unfold as I began getting ready for the day and finishing up my packing before getting on the road to photograph J.R. and Kerri's wedding.  Oh my goodness, it was by far the best way ever to get myself motivated and become super excited for such a big wedding day!!!

Now yes, the royal wedding was of course beautiful in so many ways, but they had nothing on J.R. and Kerri!!!!  The love between these two was all that was needed that day!

I think this might have been one of the sweetest moments I have ever captured (well, okay, I have a lot of favorite moments, but STILL, this moment was ultra sweet).  The bridal party had a large room in the basement in which to get ready.  As it was about time to head up the steps for the ceremony, the girls were all gathering their things, including myself, scurrying around with smiles and giggles galore.  And then as I started to walk out the door I turned around and there was the oh so sweet and wonderful Kerri.  Being perhaps the calmest that I have EVER seen a bride moments before she was about to walk down the aisle.  Just waiting patiently as if nothing else was going on around her, no noise, no chaos, nothing, just complete and utter silence as she stood at the front of the doorway gently grooming her bouquet of flowers ever so delicately.  Just waiting so patiently for the moment she has been waiting for, the moment to finally marry the man of her dreams.  *sniff sniff* beautiful Kerri, absolutely beautiful!!!  

One of my most favorite ring bearers, and such a GOOD boy!!!  He walked so proudly all the way down the aisle to his daddy!  And that flower girl, not only did she look like a princess, but wow can that girl dance (more to come on that one later)... 

Awwe, always some favorite moments to capture, the groom as he sees his beautiful bride for the first time, and then those last steps of a father with his daughter...

This actually was my first time photographing a Catholic wedding and I soooo LOVED every minute of it!  The ceremony, the newly renovated and oh so gorgeous church, the lighting, oh my goodness... I could go on and on, but bottom line, love, love, loved this ceremony!  And then when I sat down to process and edit the photos, I am not kidding when I say my eyes filled with tears of joy all over again as I remembered all of the special moments.  I know, I know, could I BE any sappier.... HA, holy cow I sincerely hope not!  : )

This is one of those types of shots I "thought" I had captured but wasn't completely sure that I had done in just the way I hoped for, until I saw it on the screen before me... and when I did see it, I got goosebumps!  The maid of honor is also Kerri's sister and the love between these two is so wonderful and as I see Kerri look at her sister in this photo it definitely reminds me of the bond I witnessed that day...

This was another "moment" during the ceremony that I remember so well.  J.R. and Kerri had just finished up their portion of the communion.  And as the Priest passed by and moved his way to the aisle to begin the process with all of the guests, Kerri and J.R. looked right at one another with a HUGE sigh of relief, followed by warm laughter, as if saying "phew, we made it!"...

Now for the kiss!!!  And just as the royal couple had shown on the famous balcony that morning, it was a quick, "hope you got that" style of a kiss.  Phew, thank goodness I was fast!!!  

Looking over to the Bride's family with the "We did it" look!  

Once the ceremony was over and the wedding party loaded on to their party bus, we jetted off to a gorgeous nearby park!  Kerri had thought of the location months beforehand and it was P-E-R-F-E-C-T!    The scenery, the privacy, and wow, the timing of the sun in the sky... are you kidding me???  LOVED it!!!!!  

Kerri, I know I told you this a thousand times that day, but you are SOOOO beautiful!!!

Another email I remember receiving from Kerri, was the one where she let me know she would be having, uh... nine bridesmaids!  I without any hesitation let her know this would make for the largest wedding party I've ever photographed, but that it wouldn't be a problem!  It just wouldn't!  We could make it work no matter what.  And then when I saw many familiar faces within the wedding party thanks to previous weddings, I KNEW this would be the best group EVER!!!!  And sure enough... it was! :)  Thank you, thank you, thank you to each and every one of you for making my job not only easy, but super fun, full of laughs and oh so enjoyable!!!  Love you guys!...

My personal favorite of the gang....

I know I mentioned it before but these sisters are amazing!  Truly the most amazing, and the best of friends that sisters could be.  Maybe I get a tad jealous of siblings like this so easily because I am an only child, who knows.  I did however, somewhat jokingly, but yet somewhat seriously ask during the family photos if I could join them for Christmas this year.  Okay, I'll be honest, if I got the invite I would totally be there in a heartbeat!  Sarah and Kerri, you two are the best and so lucky to have each other!...

And because of the coincidence of wedding dates, J.R. and Kerri decided they couldn't let it go unnoticed when it came time for the wedding parties entrance into the reception...

Of course the love between the sisters would seem like no surprise if you had the chance to witness their father's speech.  Serioulsy, grab the tissues!  Are you ready?...  He loves his family so very much and I will never forget his speech (and I KNOW, crazy right, I'm not even a member of this family.... I swear I am not an orphan, I love my own family but I instantly became so drawn to these people you would have thought twice about that, lol).  I remember he spoke about the fact that the most important thing to Kerri about the wedding was having all of her and J.R.'s family and friends there.  And then there was a long pause as he glanced down the very LONG table to which 20 members of the wedding party sat...phew, seriously, it was a REALLY long table, lol!  He said she could have asked for sooooo much more, and he would have given her every last bit of it, but she didn't do that, she just cared about the people that mean so much to them.  And THIS photo... *sniff sniff* I truly hope that I have at least shown within it, even just the slightest bit of the emotion that was within this father's speech, and the love he showed to his daughter through his ever so kind and sweet words!...

When it came time to cut the cake, this little man was front and center!  Like seriously, I had to ask him to come stand "next" to me so that he wasn't in front of the bride and groom in the shots.  I have to admit little guy, you and I were thinking very much alike that night!!!...

Another personal favorite....

And J.R.'s mom, soooo cute!  I don't think I ever, not one single time that day, saw her without the biggest smile on her face!  ESPECIALLY when she would look so proudly at her son!...

Oh boy, these two also happen to be great at singing!!!...

And last but not least, the amazing flower girl!  I have seen my fair share of show stopping young dancers at some of the receptions I have had the honor of attending but this girl, holy cow!!! Wow, are you kidding me????  I would give anything to be able to have even just a fraction of her dancing abilities!

J.R. and Kerri, there is not a single doubt that the love between you two will never fade, but rather, grow stronger with each passing day.  And I wish you nothing but the best and a life full of happiness!

J.R. & Kerri

St. Charles, MO

Ceremony:  Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

Reception:  Heart of St. Charles

Wedding coordinator:  Ashley Bleazard

Florist:  Schnucks

D.J.:  Rob Puhse

And now for a little Q&A....

How did he propose?

J.R. proposed at our home at 8:30 in the morning.  He woke me up by fluttery roses in my face, I woke up to him down on one knee with a ring box open.  It was just us, in our home, very intimate, romantic and perfect.

What was your favorite memory of the day?

All the stress that led up to the that one moment of a boy watching his bride walk down the aisle.  And the bride looking at her future husband

What was the funniest memory of the day?

When we did our grand entrance J.R. stepped on my train and ripped it... he the day couldn't be perfect.

What was your favorite detail of the day?

Flowers

What was your favorite wedding purchase?

My dress and the Picture Booth at the reception.  The picture booth is great for a large wedding.

If you could do it all over again, is there anything that you would change?

I wouldn't change anything at all, it was a dream come true.

Andy advice you might have for future Bride & Groom's?

Don't sweat the little stuff, it's just about you and your significant other.  Everyone else will be in the background on that day.  

Where did you go for your honeymoon?

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Any favorite memories you would like to share about your honeymoon?

Beautiful Island, no one speaks English, make sure to relax and do things you wouldn't do at home and make sure after a booze cruise to get on the right bus home, otherwise its a long night with you and your partner!

For the first time I was lucky enough to have a photo op with the Bride & Groom, thanks to one of the wonderful guests :)

About a month prior to the wedding, I spoke with the mother of the groom who's wedding started this wonderful train of weddings for me in St. Louis.  Turns out her and I were thinking very much alike because we both wanted to make sure that we got a photo of all of us together and so here it is.... starting to the left, the beautiful and super, super sweet, Geri Perry, and then her son, Brett and his beautiful wife Tori (Brett's phone call trying to sell me services with AT&T is what started it all!!!! WOW, I never would have seen that coming and a lesson learned to ALWAYS answer your phone even if it is a sales person!)  And then to my left is Brett's beautiful sister Shannon and her husband Adam Rockey.  I got a call from these two just a few months after completing Brett and Tori's wedding.  

Each time I have packed up my stuff and gotten into my car to head back to Springfield I have felt so sad because each one of you have shown me such gratitude when the truth of the matter is that I am the lucky one, and the one that is truly so grateful.  You have all asked me to be a part of one of THE most important days in each of your lives in hopes to try my best at capturing each special moment that passes by throughout the day.  Thank you so much and I mean it when I say I hope to see you all again VERY soon!