Darbi G. Photography

FAMILY: The Y fam, featuring London

2012-01-22T09:46:00.000-06:00

There is nothing quite as nerve-wracking, nor as flattering, in the photography industry as being asked to shoot a fellow photographer. I know right away, I'm dealing with higher expectations, but also individuals who trust me at the same time. It's sorta empowering, though I do get really nervous.

Cara Bresette-Yates has been my assistant in the past for a wedding (and might be again soon!!!)...and in the small world we all live in, is neighbors out in the country with my dad's best friend's family.

She has been so sweet and thoughtful during my pregnancy....I got a random card from her while I was going through a particularly hard part. She understood all too well because she herself was blessed with a cute lil' stinker last winter. It's particularly heart-warming to hear from recently new mothers because it underscores what I already know....any pain I go through now will be worth it in the end. And just LOOK at London....that is enough! But to interact just sends the joys of life over the edge...

My husband came along on this shoot and played the fool behind me to get London's attention. He and I were both giggling the entire time at the faces she makes. Chuck and Cara are definitely lucky parents....and their love for their tongue-sticking-outer is VERY VERY CLEAR. (And I think the holiday card I got from them using some of these pics is definitely an all-time fave...Cara sure knows how to put photos to use. Gotta love fellow photogs!!!)

When Cara booked a mini session with me, she made it clear that she wanted to get some pics of just London and her since, being the photographer of the family, she is rarely in the pics herself. I think I will be feeling that very thing soon.....

Enjoy... :)

As your lil' one turns one... may you find her soon-to-be found mobility exciting...and I hope she continues to fill your days and nights with the inescapable need to smile. xo

LOVE: Finding a muse in my friends....

2012-01-15T10:12:00.000-06:00

I will attempt to not get too sappy in this post, which will be a challenge given that at 9.5 months pregnant, I cry when anyone says something genuinely nice to me or even at those cheesy forwards my mom keeps sending me in email. You know, the ones that aren't true....but give you a bit of hope for mankind? :)

Anywho...Audrey is one of my best friends. We commenced our friendship back in junior high, and solidified it on the school bus after sports practices...singing songs from the Dirty Dancing soundtrack, without a care in the world, knowing full well that Gary, the bus driver, was enjoying every minute of it. We stayed close through high school, and made so many memories...some worth sharing (such as getting to drive a porche convertible of her cousins for TWO days in San Diego...at the age of 17!!!) and ones that only she and I find amusing (like drawing eyes and a nose on each other's chins and having one of us lie upside down so the "faces" would talk...and we'd lose it and just about die laughing.) We also were the friends who would hang out and just take naps...eat Oreos....sit around... talk.... read magazines in silence. It has always been a special friendship to me.

We fell a bit out of step in college as we took very different paths, but somehow, we reunited toward the end of our collegiate journeys. And I think we're even stronger today. She is a beautiful person on the inside. She often talks too loudly and laughs even louder. She eats candy and leaves the wrappers everywhere, but giggles when you accuse her of it. No subject is taboo with her. And she's always willing to give a hug, even if she doesn't know you very well.

She has taken her sunshiney-ness to the classroom and is now a kindergarten teacher. It's a rough job, but Audrey is one of those teachers who has the power to make a difference for the young kids. I am so proud of her for finding her niche.

She has been so supportive to me over the years as I branched out through pursuing my own passion of photography; her approval, her pride for me, her constant encouragement have played a huge role in getting me to where I am now...and where I will end up.

And let's talk about how darling she is on the outside. It's hard to be around her and not be drawn to her charisma and she is so incredibly photogenic. She married her best friend a couple of years before I married mine, and I am so thankful she found someone as cleverly witty and genuinely kind as Aaron is. Aaron and Neil are very similar in a lot of ways, and I do so wish that we lived in the same city because the four of us would have a blast together ALL THE TIME.

When I held mini-sessions in October in Omaha, I was THRILLED when Audrey & Aaron decided to book one with me. The only "good" photos they have of them together are from their wedding day. So they brought their stylin' selves...and their warm glow.... in front of my camera, and honest to gosh, something clicked (not just my shutter...thank you very much.) They inspired me from deep down and rekindled my own love for taking photos. I have a crush on them now, photographically speaking.

Here are just a few of my favorites....I hope you enjoy them at least half as much as I do.

And lastly....a photo Aaron snapped on my camera of Aud & me....(we used to be called the SUNSHINE TWINS in church back in high school. I was always so incredibly flattered to be linked to her .... someone so freaking cute and fun and lovable.) ANd I love this photo...and that I'm pregnant in it. Because she has also been so amazingly supportive during the pregnancy...even from far away. Last week, she came to stay with me for a few days during her time off, just to help distract me from my discomfort, and it warmed my heart to see her tear up when she'd feel the baby kick. She is a sentimental ball of joy, and she's going to be a great aunt to my son. I just know it.

Aud & Aaron, I hope you cherish these images as they should always remind you of the couple you are at the foundation---you fit so well, you flatter one another, and you have an intangible bond that is so fierce to the onlooker it can give others the chills. Please hold fast to that...and know that you're beautiful apart, but even more so together. I love you both. xo

FAMILY: coming together for some pic-chas

2012-01-09T07:45:00.006-06:00

This Omaha mini-session is brought to you by faithful clients of mine--one of my sister's best friends, Brandy, and her husband, Luke. They are no strangers to Darbi G. But this time, they brought with them Luke's brother, Josh, and his wife, Alison, and their three kiddos, Drew, Emily and Taryn. But they didnt' stop there....also along for the ride was Luke & Josh's gorgeous sister, Kelly...and then the three sibling's parents, the two who started it all... John and Nancy.

I thought working with such a large group with little kids in a short amount of time would be challenging...but honest to goodness, this family is not only good looking, but well-behaved (well, Luke and Josh were naughty on and off, but what can you do?? haha)

At the end, the three kids donned their Halloween costumes... so cute!!

It was wonderful to spend some time with the entire clan...hope you all have a GREAT 2012!!!

New life: The O family & Baby Harper

2012-01-05T13:41:00.002-06:00

Another special shoot for me..... Sara and I grew up together....we met in preschool and bonded over Reese's Pieces and falling off chairs during fire alarms. We used to pretend I was her pet monkey, and we taught my brother and her little sister craft projects. The memories really don't stop.....

Her family has remained a close family friend to my own, and I love that we're both becoming mothers within 4 months of one another. Because our babies won't be living in the same city (she's up in Omaha), they won't go to preschool together, but we can now tell them later in life that they knew each other from birth on. Even LONGER than Sara and I have been friends. That's kinda cool.

When I held mini sessions in Omaha, I made an exception on location for Sara because her family is so dear to me. They had just had their baby girl...Ms. Harper Quinn...and sure as heck didn't want to venture to a park in the chilly weather when she was brand new.

Harper was wide awake for the majority of the shoot, which of course makes the sleeping-baby poses very challenging. But she just didn't want to miss anything! The photos we got with her eyes closed were actually taken during long blinks. hahaha Just kidding, she was "lightly" sleeping, so we had to act fast....but gosh, isn't she beautiful??? She looks so much like Sara it's crazy. Just spending such a short amount of time with Sara and Tim made me proud of them...they have fallen very naturally into the shoes of parenting and that helps me feel that I, too, can follow suit. :)

And Sara has since been a great source of support as I struggle through my last few months of pre-parenthood and pregnancy. Thank you for that, Sara!!!

And a big hug and kiss to you all..... So excited to be on this journey at the same time.... xo

To-Be-Weds: Paige & Jim {Omaha engagement photography}

2011-12-30T17:35:00.001-06:00

Engagement sessions with darling couples are one of my favorite types of shoots. I get on a high. This early-morning mini-session in Omaha, Nebraska, went sooooo well that I could barely contain myself during the actual shoot. And it's been hard to not post until now, but am trying to spread stuff out over the next month or two when I don't have any other shoots scheduled since I'm a bit too ready to pop with the baby.

Paige and I go way back....we went to the same junior high and high school, though she was a year ahead of me. Through high school, everyone liked Paige. She was a cross-country star and known for being so friendly and charming. I was so excited when she contacted me about shooting her and Jim's engagement session. isn't she beautiful? and Jim isn't so bad himself, no?

Paige and Jim...enjoy the next several months of being engaged....wedding planning...and just plain being cute and in love. SO wonderful to see you, Paige, and meet you, Jim!!!! xoxo

FAMILY: The T family {Omaha}

2011-12-27T18:06:00.001-06:00

Another Omaha mini-session with another fun and vibrant family! The head of this posse, Cathy, works with my mom. My mom warned me that Cathy was one of the sweetest, good-natured people she knows. She couldn't have been more right. And the rest of her family also matched the subscription.

Here are some of my faves from our brief time together!!

Wishing you all a fun-filled 2012!! Xo

Wishing you the merriest of holidays....

2011-12-23T12:13:00.000-06:00

No matter what holiday you celebrate this time of year... I want to wish you a wonderful one.

This is my last Christmas without a kiddo...next Christmas, things will be soooo different. I'm both looking forward to it and already feeling the fleeting sense of nostalgia of when it was just Neil & me. And our cat.

'Tis the season for merriment...so

Here are some festive pics of my good friends' lil' ball of joy...who shall surely be best friends with our son because they will only be 6 months apart, and darnit, we're' going to force them to like one another. hahaha

We didn't send out holiday cards this year as we'll be doing baby announcements in early 2012.... but here is our cyber greeting for all!! And for all a good night. (Our maternity pics done by Leigh Miller. She is fabulous.)

FAMILY: The M family {Omaha}

2011-12-21T08:00:00.003-06:00

For the second year in a row, I held minisessions in my hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. And once again, they went fabulously. I have lots to show you from the weekend I spent in BIG RED territory....but we shall start with this family. Ella isn't even 2 yet but talks like she's nearly 3. Her ornery smirk and her playfulness were a delight to work with.

And get this... things I found out AFTER they booked a session...Brad ends up being a huge STEELER fan (like my husband and now, me...) AND his brother's wife is good friends with my aunt Traci back in a super small town of Stuart, Nebraska! SUCH a small world. :) (oh, and Brad's wife is Tracy!! The coinky-dinks were insane!)

Ella and her parents were troopers too because this was the only session that weekend that wasn't exactly...dry. But they stuck with it... and we got some good stuff! A special thanks to my husband because he joined me for the shoot and was able to get Ella giggling. And he carried my gear. haha

Enjoy....

Brad, Tracy & Ella...thank you for braving the drizzle and coming out to Chalco Hills. Ella is truly a doll and I hope you had a wonderful holiday season with her. Enjoy your 2012!!!

To-Be-Weds: Ruthie & Eric {downtown KC engagement session)

2011-12-18T19:02:00.002-06:00

Another special session for me.... this one features my beautiful first cousin and her handsome husband-to-be. Ruthie and Eric are darling together. They have great senses of humor, an endearing eagerness to enjoy life and both are clearly so smitten for one another. Ruthie describes Eric as her "Real-Life Prince Charming." And Eric says of Ruthie that he would be lost without her.

Ruthie's dad is my dad's brother. (I shot her brother's wedding in 2009) And Ruthie lucked out and got the "Gibson blues" for eyes...She is such a beautiful person, and because I know Eric treats her incredibly well, I am so excited to shoot their wedding next September in Fremont, Nebraska.

And when it came to their session, they won extra points because they gave me guidelines as far as the mood they wanted in their photos (romantic and fun) and from there, they let me take the reins. So we ended up just exploring a bit of downtown Kansas City, starting with the new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. And we ended up on a rooftop park.

so with that, I present to you... my cousin and her beau. :)

Ruthie and Eric, thank you once again for traveling all the way down here and spending an evening with my camera and me. We BOTH adored working with you. Hugs and kisses....!

Maternity leave & baby news update

2011-12-15T10:11:00.077-06:00

I am going to use this post as a running update on news for potential clients and current clients regarding the status of my maternity leave, spring/summer availability for lifestyle sessions as well as 2012 availability for weddings.

LAST UPDATED 12/28/11

MATERNITY LEAVE

As of now, I am still slated with a due date of Jan. 24. After the baby is here, I will be taking 3 weeks completely off. After that, I will answer emails and phone calls as well as hold consultations at my home (since I will have a baby with me until he starts daycare in late March.)

AVAILABILITY

If you are interested in holding a lifestyle/boudoir spot officially, I do need a signed contract and half of the balance paid. I am not listing lifestyle/boudoir session availability beyond the summer as I won't book that far out anyway for those. Weddings are a different story as they can be booked up to 15 months in advance.

MARCH:
Weddings: Booked
Lifestyle sessions: Booked

APRIL:
Weddings: Booked
Lifestyle sessions: 4 more spots available

MAY:
Weddings: I can take ONE wedding (in either Omaha area or Kansas City) on May11-13 weekend or over Memorial Day weekend--May 25-27)
Lifestyle sessions: 4 more spots available

JUNE:
Weddings: I am available for either June 8-10 OR June 15-17 wedding if the wedding takes place within an hour or so of Kansas City area.
Lifestyle sessions: 6-7 spots available

JULY:
Weddings: All weekends are available, though several inquiries in the works. I am open to take ONE wedding out of the Kansas City area.
Lifestyle sessions: 6 spots available (recommended morning sessions with small children due to heat)

AUGUST:
Weddings: Available for 1 more wedding (in the Kansas City area only) on either of the following weekends: Aug 3-5 or Aug. 10-12.
Lifestyle sessions: 6-7 spots available (recommended morning sessions with small children due to heat)

SEPTEMBER:
Weddings: Available for 2 more weddings (only in Kansas City area) of the following 3 available weekends-- Aug. 31-Sept.2; Sept 7-9; Sept. 28-30.
Lifestyle sessions: Inquire about availability in June.

OCTOBER:
Weddings: Available for 2 more weddings of the following 3 available weekends-- Oct 5-7; Oct. 12-14; Oct. 26-28
Lifestyle sessions: Inquire about availability in July.

NOVEMBER:
Weddings: Available for 3 weddings, one of which can be outside of the Kansas City area.
Lifestyle sessions: Inquire about availability in August.

DECEMBER:
Weddings: Available for weddings in Kansas City area only on any weekend other than Dec. 22nd.
Lifestyle sessions: CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON

And 2013 is wide open, but I am holding to the policy of traveling only once a month away from Kansas City.

FAMILY: The D family {Kansas City area}

2011-12-14T08:32:00.000-06:00

This session was a long time coming. Mandy is from Omaha, and I went to high school with her. When she first set up a time for her family to make it down to Kansas City, she wasn't even pregnant. The original session was canceled due to nasty weather (and it was NOT going to be worth their drive down here.) So we bumped the session time to this past fall, and by then, there was a new member of the family! Newborn Greyson (dubbed Grey) was absolutely precious and braved the chilly weather like a champ. Speaking of champs... the other kiddos, Devyn, 8, and Skylar, 2, also sucked it up and pretended to enjoy the feeling of chilled bones. (This was an early a.m. session, to boot!!)

It was so great to see Mandy again...and to see that she ended up with a guy who looks like Christopher Meloni (so sad he's not on LAw & Order SVU anymore!!!). Not surprising though since she herself looks like Amy Smart.

So enjoy their darling family... and know that the pics of Devyn being all big-brotherly...that is EXACTLy why I wanted a boy first. hahaha

Mandy & Dan--thank you so much for trekking down this way. It was GREAT to see you again, Mandy...and meet your brood. ;) Have a wonderful holiday season!!!

Hitched: Danielle & Andrew {Kansas City wedding photography}

2011-12-02T12:02:00.001-06:00

Holy wow, I am so behind with blogging. My sincerest apologies! Unfortunately, at the end of busy season, it is crazy enough but add to the fact that I've been working a bit less due to some back issues that don't enable me to sit for longer than 2-3 hours at a time (thanks to the bambino I'm incubating), I have had to prioritize in a major way and put at the top of my To Do list fulfilling client needs in terms of getting them their images. Blogging, more so a marketing tool, has fallen by the wayside. But I only have a few sessions left in the hopper to edit, and after that, I can set up several blogs to post over the course of the next few months while I'm on maternity leave. So yay that I have a good stockpile to keep the blog fresh through the mundane winter months.

So here is my last wedding of 2011... bittersweet. But I couldn't have asked for a better one to end the year with.

Danielle & Andrew...thank you for your patience. Actually, thank you for more than that. Let me tell you, this couple is so completely understanding and accommodating. As a wedding photographer, I am very aware that a wedding day is about the bride and groom. What matters is their happiness. When I get brides and grooms who go out of their way to check on MY comfort, MY well-being, then I am absolutely blown away because for them to be the reason I'm there, yet for them to be concerned with how I'm doing, I know that those are the clients with whom I will stay in touch. I must admit, I get several of these clients a year, but with Danielle & Andrew, they were beyond caring because I was very pregnant when shooting their day, and they themselves just went through it this past winter. In fact, when I met Danielle for a consultation, she was ready to burst.

and now they have a deliciously precious little girl named Peighton, who you will see lots in the below photos. She is the center of their world and it was so beautiful to see her partake in the day that her parents sealed the deal.

Amber Cutler, for what may be the last time as she is moving to California in February (WAHHHHH!!!), assisted me. So sad to see her go...though excited to visit her in LA!!! Anywho... we said several times through the day how welcoming both families were. The October Saturday was beautiful weather...and from beginning to end, Danielle's touches could be seen. Danielle was so proud to be a full-blown DIY bride...with a Pinterest page that reflected her goal...to have a romantic, rustic and autumn vibe throughout the day. She even made the flower girl dresses. I squealed out loud every time one of the lil' flower girls (peighton being one of them) came into view. Like balls of fluffy cuteness.

I now ask that you sit back and enjoy the day's photos....

In Danielle's words...

"I think we all remember growing up and being told "You just know" when you meet your soul mate and future spouse. After our first date, I could feel my heart telling me "He is it. He completes you." Andy is my other half. He is patient, loving, care free and of course handsome as ever. He is a family man and my heart still melts each time he gets down on the floor and plays with Peighton. Seeing how much he loves her, reminds me how much he loves me. I am a very strong person and Andy loves that about me. He is always encouraging me to do what makes me happy, to strive and demand for nothing but the best and does everything in his power to just make me happy. Andy is such a kind person. He is always looking for the good in people and puts everyone before himself. I am so blessed and thankful to be able to grow old with such an amazing man."

In Andrew's words...

"Loving Danielle is the easiest thing I have ever done. Her smile lights up the room to the point that I will do anything just to see her smile. She has a warm kindhearted personality that not only makes for a perfect wife but also a perfect mother. Danielle is stunningly beautiful inside and out. She has had my heart from day one and I am the luckiest man to have her love me back. There is simply nothing not to love about her. There’s a feeling that I get when I’m around her that is indescribable, it’s a feeling that has been there since the early stages of relationship and has become stronger with each passing day. I knew she was the one because that feeling I get can only be described by one word...love."

Danielle made EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!

(p.s. black hides the baby bump sooooo well. hahaha score!)

Danielle & Andrew, high five for pulling of a wedding that was equally personal as it was beautiful. You are darling together, and I can tell you're amazing parents as well. May your creativity and love for smiles make for a wonderful life together. Have a blessed holiday! xo

WEE ONES: B family photos {Shawnee Mission Park}

2011-11-22T12:21:00.001-06:00

Jessi and Bill wanted to have family photos taken that would enable their daughter Lily to look back at later and remember how special, loved and happy she was from the minute she entered their lives three years ago. Because the three of them love going outdoors and being active, we thought it would be a good idea to go where nature is at is finest... Shawnee Mission Park.

Never before have I had such an easy-to-work-with child under the age of 4. Lily was still a kid--playful, mischievous and ornery--but her parents have raised her to also be so cooperative..... a photographer's dream.

I am positive that we achieved Jessie & Bill's goal of capturing just how much Lily means to them.

Enjoy!!!

Have a wonderful holiday season, B family!!! Hope to see you again in 2012!!

Class of 2012: Ms. Emily of West Platte High

2011-11-09T11:55:00.000-06:00

My good friend Jaime is gorgeous & fun to be around. Turns out...it runs in her family. I shot her youngest sister's senior pics recently and couldn't get enough of Emily's x-factor. Her parents and both of her sisters were along for the ride...and the whole bunch made it such a fun couple of hours. Jaime was on hand to help with a reflector...and their mom was ever-willing to fluff her daughter's hair or clean her bare feet. ;) Thank so much for the assistance, ladies!!

(in fact, here is a pic of the best darn reflector & prop holder EVER...)

I even snapped a couple of pics of all the lovelies in the fam at the very end... and you will see, there isn't a bad-looks gene in the mix. :)

Emily, have a rockin' rest of senior year! It will be over before you know it! xo

WEE ONES: D family photos {Crossroads, Kansas City, MO}

2011-11-03T12:36:00.001-05:00

I was so excited to have another chance to document the family of someone I've known all my life....and even before we were born. Our moms met in Lamaze class back in the early 80s...while pregnant with Brittany and me. Thankfully, our families have stayed in touch over the years, though seeing each other is not as frequent as any of us would like. Now that I live in Kansas City, I hope to see Brittany & Austin ... and their darling, rambunctious little girls more often. Especially with our own kid on the way. :)

Brittany & Austin as parents have already wowed me. First off, they have TWO kids and manage to at least LOOK sane. :) They keep their senses of humor, they don't kid-proof their lovely home and when you walk in their door, you aren't overwhelmed with the sense that two little girls live there because their toys aren't all over the place. This was very inspiring and encouraging to Neil and me when we visited them for dinner this past summer, shortly after we learned we were going to be parents. I am thankful that we have such a great resource on young parenting right here in town. Looking forward to hanging out as FAMILIES with them. ;)

Anyway, so in addition to all of the above...this family is cute and spunky. We roamed around a block down in the Crossroads area and though it was challenging to keep Sammie and Amelia focused on at least staying in the vicinity where we were shooting (haha), we got some great keepers. Bella, their dog, was the easiest model to work with EVER. She came when she was called and she didn't have a problem looking at the camera or following any other directions. haha

xoxo to you all!!!

Parents-To-Be: Heather & Al maternity session {Kansas City, MO}

2011-10-28T08:30:00.002-05:00

Heather & Al booked a Baby's First Year package with me several months ago. They were well ahead of the game as their lil' girl isn't due till early November. But not long after they booked, Heather decided she didn't want to NOT document these special days when their precious baby is still within her. And I'm SO glad they decided to go with a maternity session. (And a special thanks to Olivia Price for helping me out.

Heather and Al had us giggling. Heather was the epitome of a beaming mother-to-be...and Al was all jokes, but he didn't fool us. He's already head over heels for his daughter.

I cannot wait to see them again because that will mean that little Charlotte "Charlee" will be here!!! (There aren't that many B&W images with this session because I couldn't turn my back on that golden magnificent light... squeeee!!)

And you just KNOW that Charlee will be a looker. I am sooo honored to know I will be the one to document her first year of life with these amazing parents!! :)

To-Be-Weds: Megan & Aaron pt. 2 {Kansas City, MO engagement session}

2011-10-26T08:53:00.001-05:00

So these two might look familiar because I shot the first half of their engagement session back in June. I don't ever split sessions into two...but I had to this once because of two reasons... it was over 100 degrees at the time AND I was super nauseated having been just 2 months pregnant at the time. It was hush-hush to the majority of the world, but Megan & Aaron were both aware and SOOOOOO accommodating and understanding. They actually found out four days after I did (before my parents even knew! haha)...because I also wasn't feeling great for their consultation. But due to their compassion and patience, they have proved time and again that they are the exact clients I relish dearly!!

These two are still going strong while Aaron is down in Louisiana and Megan is back here in Kansas City. And I couldn't enjoy their creativity, enthusiasm, genuine sweetness and warming affection any more than I do. Their wedding is next June--and it's definitely going to be a good one!

Please enjoy Part 2...taken at Ironwoods Park in Leawood, KS.

Enjoy your fall and winter and spring, Megan & Aaron! Because next summer..it's ON again! Can't wait!! xoxoxo

BRIDALS: Carrie's post-wedding beauty

2011-10-20T11:23:00.001-05:00

Carrie married the love of her life a year ago...and before she put away her wedding gown, she decided to give life to it one more time. And she had even more of an incentive... she is pregnant. At the time this session took place, she was about two months along, and though not necessarily "showing"...she could already feel the difference in the way the dress fit her.

Carrie wanted to do the photos at her parents' house in North KC. At first, I was a little hesitant because lighting is so key to getting strong portraits, and most houses don't have lots of available light. But as soon as I stepped into the foyer, I was not concerned in the least.

not to mention... Carrie was so classically beautiful. Her dress, her overall look is so timeless. And she was the sweetest person ever...with a voice like an angel (she can sing, too!!). Her mom was on site and just as nice and ever-so helpful with holding a reflector for a few of these images. And later, even her dad joined the party--sacrificing his dignity to dance a jig or two to get his daughter laughing.

I am so honored to have met this family...and these images are even more special to me because there is a life within Carrie that will someday see these images and know that he or she was there for the making of them. He or she helped give her that glow!!!

Carrie--I wish you and your husband the best as your family grows... Have a wonderful next two trimesters and enjoy motherhood. xo

Hitched: Jennifer & Heath {York Harbor, ME}

2011-10-17T11:58:00.004-05:00

As mentioned in the previous post... in mid-September, I went to Maine to celebrate and document my cousin's wedding. Before I sound off on the actual wedding, let me divulge to you my new crush: THE COAST OF MAINE. It didn't take long before I was won over by the quaint cottage-like homes, and just-as-whimsically delicious architecture of stores. Everywhere we looked, we were pointing and oohing and ahhing. (My mom and dad and my husband were also there...and when we drove around the day before the wedding to explore Ogunquit, my mom SwORE that the windows on houses were cleaner than they are in the midWest. That is how clear and crisp everything felt... the breeze in the air, combined with the warmth of the sun...oh, it was heavenly. And my weekend craving for clam chowder, lobster and steamers was easily satiated at ANY of the places we went to eat. I will definitely be back!!!

Just a few views of the day...

As for the wedding... imagine a day that is perfectly warm, but refreshingly cool... where the bridal party is all smiles and super chill....where family members are giddy and appropriately nervous...where the bride and groom are laid-back and glowing...taking place in a picturesque setting above the coastline...at Stage Neck Inn. Imagine homemade, heart-felt vows exchanged under full sun...in front of onlookers who giggled and teared up along with the bride and groom. Imagine a photographer who was so excited to be there, watching a very special cousin, marry his dream girl, and growing our family by one AMAZING woman!!

Lucky for you, imagining isn't entirely necessary as I can show you all of the above. So enjoy!

(the top pic, if you look closely, Heath and his best man/brother, Ryan, are getting ready to fish. They caught nothing...but did bring back a starfish, which is featured below.)

(and I'm out of order a bit on this... the pic of the bride & groom with moi is at the bottom of this series rather than the bottom of the entire post. ooops! And also please note the look on one Luis's (one of the groomsmen) face as he apparently doesn't get why Maura, his wife, is tearing up. ha! Made me giggle.

The reception was over by evening, just in time for some romantic portraits of Heath & Jen...sigh. (And thank you to my husband for tagging along/carrying my stuff...)

In Jen's words:
I love Heath because he is truly my best friend. We bring out the best in each other and are really better when we are together. Heath is one of the most driven individuals I have ever met and even though I don't like to admit it too often, I really look up to him and look at him as a mentor. He always gives me good career advice and advice about life in general. I am so proud of the man he has become. We have so much fun together and everything we do feels like an adventure - we could be hiking through Tuscany or sitting on the couch watching a football game. I truly cherish every moment that I spend with Heath and could not imagine my life without him. When I met Heath, I finally understood the definition of a soulmate because I knew from the very start that Heath was mine!

In Heath's words:
We were made for each other, and thank God we found each other. Jen and I were cut from the same cloth and while we grew up 1300 miles apart, we were brought up in very similar ways. We met through a mutual attraction, but quickly found that we also had the same interests. Within a few months the two of us became inseparable. Jen and I enjoy just being together, whether doing everything or nothing at all. We often joke that we are the same person. We finish each others sentences, can read each other’s minds, and call each other the same nicknames. Neither of us is very funny, yet we laugh at each other's jokes. I love her for her caring and thoughtful approach, fun loving ways, positive attitude and competitiveness – she has even let me win an argument from time to time. :) Jen is my best friend and my soulmate and I can’t imagine my life without her.

Thank you, Heath & Jen! It was such a special weekend with you two. And I can't wait to hear all about your adventures in your new home of NYC! Definitely expect us to visit. Love you both!! xo

To-Be-Weds: Heath & Jen {York Harbor, Maine engagement session}

2011-10-14T08:30:00.004-05:00

It's not often that I shoot a family member's wedding. In fact, I think I've only shot three of them...my sister's in San Diego WAY back before I shot digital...my cousin's in Aurora, Nebraska....and then my brother's a year and a half ago in Louisville, KY.

I was THRILLED when my first cousin Heath and his fiance contacted me to shoot THEIR event...ON THE COAST OF MAINE!!! There is nothing like new locations to inspire a photographer. Their wedding post will come next week...but first, is their engagement session that took place two nights before they sealed the deal.

It was an overcast evening, but that works well for lighting so I didn't mind. And Jen and Heath were giggly and shocked me with how comfortable they were in front of family being all lovey-dovey.

I am so happy that one of my favorite cousins found the love of his life. I remember back in college, Heath and I used to talk on the phone a few times a month. This was back before either of us had found THE ONE. And then I also remember when he started dating Jen...and how happy he was. I never got to meet her until just a year and a half ago because the two of them met in Boston, where they both went to school.

When I did meet her, she proved to be very approachable, friendly and DARN CUTE! Score for Heath!! And heck, any girl who can put up with Heath's antics is worth high-fiving. ;)

A note about the location. I LOVE the coast of Maine. There is just a wonderfully fresh feeling in the air...and knowing that you can walk into pretty much any of the local restaurants and get a delicious bowl of clam chowder, steamers or lobster is way too exciting to handle for THIS girl. The houses are quaint and actually have character...which is a welcome change for me since I'm so used to seeing suburbia. And not to mention the BEACH... even though it was slightly chilly there, the beauty warmed me. And I loved that my own love of my life was there to experience the state himself. (Special note: Neil had been to 47 states before he met me due to his old days touring in a band; now, after this trip...he has been to 48! NExt up: HAWAII AND ALASKA. Weeee!)

So anyway, enjoy these images of my cousins...!!

Check out this UNBROKEN sanddollar! They said in all the years they have been looking, they have never found one in pristine shape. Until their engagement session. I think that is a sign, no?

xoxo to you both!! Can't wait to show your wedding. :)

Hitched: Amy & Tom {St Louis wedding photography}

2011-10-12T09:10:00.001-05:00

Because Amy was in one place on the East Coast and her fiance, Tom, had been in another...I never got to meet Amy & Tom until their wedding day. Amy was referred to me by a friend of hers, as well as by a friend of her mom's whose very unique wedding I shot a couple of years ago. I actually talked with Amy's mom before I talked with Amy...and her mother was so sweet and genuine that I knew her daughter would be the same. I was right. :) And I did get to know the happy couple a bit beforehand through emails. Their telling of their story cracks me up!

The two met on Match.com four years ago, despite the fact that Amy nearly had taken her account down. But in one last search, she noticed Tom's photo (I think the monkey on his shoulder in it helped...) She made the first move--via a "wink" through the site. Tom recalls thinking, "Ooh great, somebody who meets my strict expectations of education and doesn't look weird--what a relief."

Does that not sound like the beginning of a forever-type of relationship? haha

Their relationship progressed from emails to an in-person meet up (in Auburn, AL, where Amy was living at the time.)

Seeing one another in person is very different from what your mind envisions through email and shared photos. So their first impression of one another at that date was this:

Amy : "Thank goodness, he's not short."
Tom: "Awww, she's very beautiful, and I'm just tall enough."

Amy found herself feeling like Tom could be the one after one date when Tom told her she had strawberry seeds stuck in her teeth after downing a smoothie. She was embarrassed, yes, but that sort of honesty is something she highly regards in a significant other. Not long after, on another date, Tom said words that would make just about any female swoon. He told Amy, "This feels like home."

SIGH. SIGH. SIGH.

So it really is no surprise that the two sealed the deal after a romantic proposal in the mountains of northern Georgia (the ring was at the bottom of a mimosa!!)... they picked a date and ended up with one of the most popular ones of the year--09.10.11!

And the entire day was such a joyous occasion. It all started out with the threat of rain, but just in time, the skies cleared and they had a wonderful, personal ceremony and reception at the Hawken House in St. Louis.

Tom is half Thai, and the day before their traditional wedding, Amy & Tom were married in a Thai Buddhist temple with their close friends and family as witnesses. I heard it was a beautiful ceremony, and that theme only continued the next day. For starters, the bridesmaids got to rewear the traditional Thai garb that was made by Tom's aunt. I was stunned at how beautiful the orange and golden dresses were, and they definitely added an authentic feel.Not to mention the bridal party was just downright awesome. They had me giggling all day.

And what made the day even better for ME was having such a talented photographer as my assistant. Michelle Ross of Under Grace photography in St. Louis was awesome to work with (and I'm still very grateful for the DELICIOUS chocolate chip cookie she brought me!!).

So let's get on with the photos of this amusingly refreshing couple...

In Amy's words...
"Tom is the sweetest man's man I've ever met. I was first drawn to him for his warm skin and his dark hair and eyes, but as I got to know him he made my heart melt. He is so caring and compassionate, but also has the guts to stand up for what he believes. For me, Tom strikes a perfect balance between his loyal, comforting personality and his edge that makes him interesting and drives him to challenge himself. He works hard at everything he does, a trait that I'm so very thankful for. What is more, he supports me in my goals and makes them as important as his own. I love Tom most because he is my loyal teammate who I can always depend on. "

In Tom's words...
" Ever since our first date when I spent the bank's money and time to take her on dates during the week in Auburn, I have felt whole with Amy. She sees through my faults and does not try to change who I am. I am very lucky to find my Amy, a person who has a lot of compassion, beauty, and smarts to match my 'smartassness.' I truly love Amy because I know that her love for me is as passionate as mine is for her, and that we are a team....team Tamy."

I didn't mention above that Amy & Tom are hard workers with high educational goals. And clearly they also had a high goal of planning a wonderful wedding. Mission accomplished.

Best wishes, you two!! xo

WEE ONES: S family photos {Kansas City}

2011-10-07T12:08:00.001-05:00

I was warned ahead of time by Valerie when she contacted me to shoot her family session that:
1. She is incredibly unphotogenic.
2. Isabelle, who is approaching 3, can be shy around people she doesn't know; she likes to headbutt her brother and push him down.
3. Her husband will look good even when he's making a monkey face.

She was wrong on the first two. (I never really got to see Jenya's monkey face, but judging from the other faces he made while he was the kids' playtoy, I think I can go ahead and confirm that assertion for Valerie. haha)

Valerie herself is GORgEOUS and one of those women who just can't be convinced of that fact. Despite having a husband who she admits is a hunk. Despite having two kids whose cuteness is undeniable. Despite making me, the photographer, so ecstatic to work with her when I met her.

And Isabelle was not shy. She was a handful, yes...as that age usually is, but her style made ME jealous, and her smile melted my heart. She never turned violent with her brother, either. ;) Cameron, the lil' bro who is about a year and a half, was ever-curious and independent--always roaming off to explore on his own.

And lastly, Jenya... indeed a good-look man. He giggled at his kids and fawned over his wife and did whatever he could to appease me. A keeper!! :) Valerie is from Belarus, former USSR, and Jenya was born in Ukraine. But they both met over in these parts, though they still speak Russian and the kids can, too!

All of this made for a very high-energy shoot with a family that was as fashionable and adorable as it was fun. Enjoy some of my faves from our session!

Thanks, Val & Jenya! It was so much fun getting to know you four. And running my pregnant bum around after your kids. ;)

WEE ONES: L family photos {Kansas City area}

2011-10-03T09:46:00.000-05:00

Colleen & Brian have their hands full with their boys, who are both July babies! Jacob just turned 5, and Ethan, 2. They had me running around playing peek-a-boo and laughing at their silly antics.

We shot at Antioch Park, which was a great setting, and the boys found many sights to distract themselves with. Ethan was in heaven with having ducks around since he loves to "quack, quack" at them. Too bad we didn't run into any dinosaurs, because his mom says he is also a fan of the "roar!!!" As little brothers often tend to do, Ethan was always on the heels of Jacob, though rumor has it, being younger hasn't stopped him from beating up on his older bro.

Jacob was fearless when approaching the pond at the park. No wonder, too, since he just finished swimming lessons!! He is in the generation that is already familiar with the "fun" of technology... and apparently is into Angry Birds, the Wii and watching good ol' classics likes Willy Wonka, Goonies & E.T.!

So what do these two balls of fun look like? ;) Enjoy...well, let me show you!!!

Colleen & Brian--it was a pleasure meeting you and hanging out with your super-cute family! I loved staring at your kiddos and thinking about how I'm going to have a boy myself here soon...and I can only hope he is as cute as your blondies. ;) Take care!!!

Hitched: Kate & Jeff {Kansas City/Nebraska City wedding photography}

2011-09-29T10:17:00.000-05:00

After shooting Kate & Jeff's engagement session this summer, I seriously anticipated their wedding like no other. Couples surely have chemistry if they are getting married, but the chemistry being strong enough for the camera to pick up? THAT is rare. And cherished. ;)

And that same chemistry spilled over to their family and friends. They were a hugging, laughing, dancing, dynamic bunch....and i was lucky enough to have James Bitz of Lincoln at my side for the big wedding that took place in Nebraska City at the Arbor Day Farms. He provided a fresh perspective (being a male AND being someone I've never shot with before--which I always love!!)

If you recall, or if you do not know... Kate was our travel agent for our Italy trip. And I adore her... She is bubbly and wholesome, but flirty and genuine at the same time. Oh, let's not forget that she is stunning. So for a girl like that to be getting married, she must have found someone who is equally as amazing, right? RIGHT. Jeff's smile alone can woo anyone...and he is so sweet and thoughtful, too. So enjoy the wonderful wedding that resulted as a celebration for these two crazy kids who chose a location in between both of their families. (Shout out to their families and friends for taking up the challenge of annoying detours due to the massive flooding to get to the event.)

And oops, this might be the longest wedding post in a really long time. Too much good stuff.

In Kate's words...
"Jeff is the most compassionate and loving person I have ever met. He is always to help out someone in need, regardless of how big of a favor it is. I love that he is like grown kid; always excited by the little things. That passion for life is completely infectious, and anyone who spends enough time with him starts to get the same gleeful enjoyment. I am constantly reminded that he is the most fun person to be around; while driving in Ireland we were lost looking for a castle (the locals decided it would be funny to point the arrows in the wrong directions), and I cannot believe how much we were laughing while driving in circles. He reminds me that life is all about the journey, and no matter how corny that is, I am so excited to take that journey with him."

In Jeff's words...
"I love Kate because I never have a dull moment with her. We could be in Ireland or shopping at Walmart and it's guaranteed to be a good time. Her smile soothes me, her laugh refreshes me, and she listens. No matter what amount of flak is thrown at me in a day, I know there's always Kate. She's beautiful, smart, and seriously hip. After almost 5 years of us being together, I still sometimes step back -- and just for a moment -- imagine the instant I fell in love with her and appreciate her again to the fullest."

So ladies, who is with me... don't you think it must suck to be a beautiful bride like Kate...who looks absolutely gorgeous when she laughs, and just as pretty when she cries. Who has a just as handsome husband who loves her sooo much. And then add to it that she's a trooper and a half, not letting any blemish in her wedding day affect the overall mood--Jeff has scored with this one.

Case in point... her wedding cake. Before the ceremony, we received word that the table where the wedding cake was put on had faltered, and the cake went crashing to the floor. Much of it was lost. While everyone stood their guard, waiting for Kate to throw a fit, Kate did just the opposite. She laughed. She shrugged. She said, "Well, there's nothing we can do about it now." And then she grabbed my hand and said, "Let's get a picture of it with all of us acting sad."

So who gets the award for the most laid-back, easy to work with bride of the year? Uh. Kate. Hands down.

Just a few quick photos we grabbed when the light was at its goldenest.

And then it was party time! ;) Starting off with moving toasts, slideshow and a one-of-a-kide narrated bedtime story about (Sidenote: This was the first wedding I'd shot since finding out we were having a boy. And oddly...I actually teared up during the mother/son dance. For the first time ever!! :)

And another note about a few of the pics in the middle of this series--see if you can spot them... the groom's side initiated something that got everyone actively watching, and several people participating. Rather than the traditional charade where everyone circles up and watches one person dance like a goof in the middle, then swaps out with someone else... the one in the middle pretends to have a ball of some sort. Any make-believe type of ball will do. And then the one in the ring manipulates said ball to the beat. Some kicked it... some juggled it...some dribbled...some swallowed it (ahem, JEFF!!) and extricated it later... then to get the next person out in the middle to do the miming with an invisible ball, the one in the center somehow creatively passes it to someone else on the sidelines who is cheering and waiting expectantly. :) It was so much fun to watch! (But I'm glad I had a camera in my hands because I am too chicken to do something like that on the spot. hahah)

And of course...a very worn-out me (it was a 10-hour wedding, with traveling, and I was four months pregnant, so please forgive how winded I look...haha)

So yeah. A long post, for a gloriously amazing wedding. Jeff & Kate--you two couldn't have had a better day, with better weather, with better guests. Hugs to you both!! Hope your honeymoon to Ireland was fliptastic!

WEE ONES: The S family returns {Kansas City family & children photographer}

2011-09-22T12:48:00.000-05:00

I love familiar faces. And personalities. Especially when it means that past clients come back for more!!

Landon and Brigham are now 3 and about 1.5 years old--and they are still handfuls. Ornery, too. And as challenging as it is to get them to settle down or follow directions (all kids this age are like that... I have yet to meet one who proves me otherwise! haha), they are just as cute, so I enjoy "the hunt"...and "the capture."

We met one evening in August in Lee's Summit, but the session was cut short when little Brigham got sick in the middle of it all. Poor guy. So we met up again for another half-session a few weeks ago...and his health was restored! The first set is from the first night, and the second is from the most recent one.

Have a wonderful rest of the year, S family! You all are dears and am so glad to be able to document this adorable time in your lives!! xo

Hitched: Whitney & John {St. Louis, MO}

2011-09-19T10:32:00.001-05:00

When I think back to Whitney & John's late August wedding, I see soft, blushing romantic hues--which created an ethereal warmth that lasted all day long. And I'm not talking about the temperatures. I'm referencing the undeniable fact that the bride and groom have impeccable taste...from they loved ones they surround themselves with, to the color palette...to the bling-of-all-blingiest shoes...to the TWO extraordinarily glamourous dresses the bride donned...to the super posh, chic venue of the Palladium..to the fantastic and scrumptious spread of eclectic food stations to the super-dreamy honeymoon location of Italy's Amalfi Coast... I'm telling you... they nailed it all!!!

I was fortunate enough to be assisted by the darling Kellie Carter of Kentucky (she was also my assistant at my brother's wedding in May 2010). We both agreed that it was easy to be smitten with this wedding because the bride and groom were beautiful AND sweet, the wedding party was not lacking in the fun department, and the planning that went into the event was to-die-for, as you'll see. And the cherry on the top is that I am friends with a few bridesmaids and guests! Can't beat that!!!

So let's get on with it...right?

(oh, and let me just say...definitely one of my fave dresses I've ever photographed...and it might have helped that it was on one of the most enchanting brides of all time!)

As for what seals their deal... ;)

In Whitney's words....
John is the total package -- he's incredibly smart, funny, sweet and athletic. He's also one of the most fun people I've ever known. Whether we're watching TV on the couch at home, running 5ks, or snorkeling in the Mediterranean together, I always have a great time when I'm with him.

In John's words...
Whitney is obviously beautiful, which is what I first noticed about her when we met in law school. But now that we have been together for 6 years, I love that she makes me laugh every day and is the most caring person I know, almost to a fault. I love how much she loves our dogs and knows exactly what to say and do when I have a bad day at work. I'm excited to be able to now come home to her every day.

Do you see why Kellie & I were head over heals for these details?

Spot her darling reception dress? It is BCBG she said...and I want it. Now. Actually...yesterday.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/darbig/6163056330/" title="WhitneyJohn-comp007 by DarbiG, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6174/6163056330_68fa71e25f_o.jpg" width="850" height="4041" alt="WhitneyJohn-comp007"></a>

Oh yeah, and we can't forget the ending photo of the wiped out photographer and the beautiful newlyweds!!!

Whitney & John--your wedding will go down as one of the most beautiful ever! And you two are surely set for life with such a wonderful group of friends, family and strong love for one another. Enjoy your marriage....and all the memories that will come with it! xoxo

OUT OF THE OFFICE :)

2011-09-14T15:08:00.000-05:00

HEADS UP:

I will be on the coast of Maine shooting a very special engagement session and wedding... and won't be back in the ojavascript:void(0)ffice until Monday, Sept. 19!

Here is one pic of what is to come on Monday....

May you and yours have a wonderful next few days...enjoy this beautiful midwest weather!! xo

A decade of healing, but a wound to never forget...

2011-09-11T13:24:00.000-05:00

The following is a post as part of Project 2996, in which I originally participated two years ago. I have decided to post it for the third year in a row because doing so underscores how much I think it is important that we don't forget there are faces, there are stories, there are left-behind loved ones to every name of every victim that was taken from us on that fateful day TEN years ago.

I've tweaked it a bit, after having received a book called "REQUIEM: Images of Ground Zero" in the mail from Gary's sister, Christine, who read my 2009 blog post. (Christine, if you ever read this, thank you sooooo much for sending it to me...it had gone to an old address of mine, but it ended up getting to me a bit later!!!)

In the decade that has passed, so much has happened in this country. And to each one of us on a personal level. We should always keep in mind every day how very fragile life is. I would appreciate all of you to read below and think for a moment about the man whose name I was given in the original project efforts, and the 2,995 others whose names are just as important, including those on United Flight 93 that went down by Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania, near my husband's hometown of Latrobe.
--------------------------------------------

Ten years ago, the nation was rocked to its core. At the hands of hateful cowards. At the cost of nearly 3,000 hearts, minds and bodies. 3,650 days have passed, and so easy it is for many of us to move on. To focus on the patriotic spirit that rose out of that grim, ill-fated September day… to harness our own hatred in the name of the U.S. of A. and aim it at the sources of evil.

But it has not been easy for those who were left in the wake of the tragedy, left to deal with a senseless loss of someone they loved, someone who loved them. Time might heal, but healing is hard to do when the loss always feels like it just took place yesterday. And time doesn’t bring back any one’s father, mother, sister, brother, husband, wife or best friend.

As part of Project 2996, I would like to shine a light on one man of whom, until Sept 10 of 2009, I had never heard…but now after reading about him and hearing the memories of those he left behind, I understand how important it is that he is remembered. That he is honored. Now, 10 years later. And thereafter.

His name is Gary P. Geidel, and he was a fireman for New York City Fire Department. He was one of 10 in his company who died in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks. He was 44.

Firefighting was in his blood. His father had walked before him; one of his brothers walked beside. All three Geidels shared a rescue company, Rescue Co. 1, which dates back to 1915 as the first rescue company to be established in the United States. Unfortunately, Gary was no stranger to responding to terror attacks; when the Twin Towers were bombed in 1993, Gary and his company were there, eager to save lives and help others.

His retirement from public service was a mere 20 days away when the calendar turned to September 11 in 2001. He awoke that morning, ruefully told his wife of almost 11 years that he put in for overtime and headed to the firehouse. But not before returning to give the love of his life another kiss and hug. His last kiss and hug.

Gary was a 6 ft. 2 romantic, avid birdwatcher, Eagle Boy Scout, former Marine and a member of neighborhood softball and football team. He could fix parachutes, sew costumes, whittle gifts for loved ones and make toys for his daughter, Tillie. (Since I posted this the first time, Tillie has contacted me through blog comments and on Facebook, and each time it has warmed my heart that she has been touched by this small shout-out to the noble acts of her dad. Tillie, thank you for reaching out. And best wishes to you and your family!!)

I’m glad I’ve come to know Gary P. Geidel, who some called “Mule Bone.”

Many called him a friend.

Three called him a son.

Three called him a brother.

Some called him an uncle.

One called him a husband, a best friend, a soul mate.

One called him Dad.

And I know am not alone when I call him a hero.

Please remember Gary P. Geidel.

(B&W photo originally posted by jessica_foley62; other photos from Gary's sites.)

Sources:

http://www.9-11heroes.us/v/Gary_Geidel.php

http://www.silive.com/september11/lr/index.ssf?/september11/lr/geidel.html

BIG NEWS: There is a bun...in my oven...

2011-09-07T12:56:00.000-05:00

That's right, though most of you know if you follow me on Facebook... Neil and I are expecting our first bambino in late January of next year!

As of this week, we are half-way there.

Pregnancy has not been amazing and all things warm & fuzzy like I know it to be for some lucky people. It has also not been as horrific as some women have to go through.

But feeling sick on and off during the first trimester is no walk in the park, considering I work 60 hours/week during wedding season. And feeling up and down mood-wise didn't help. Luckily, now that I'm in the middle of the 2nd trimester, the nausea has been kicked to the curb...but in its place is another obstacle to working... arthritis. I have a bad back due to scoliosis to begin with, but add that to the fact that I'm growing a creature within, it's pushing on the part of my spine that gets the joint pain, and I would say I'm dealing with significant aching at least 4 days a week, and another one day a week of HORRIBLE pain for several hours.

But oh the joys of bringing a human into the world!! I'm excited to get the room together...and to see what our creation looks like (the one in the womb is what I'm referring to here).

So, kids change lives. So how will this affect my business?

I am taking off December, January and February from shooting, and possibly half of March, depending on how everything goes.
Other than the two weeks following the birth, I will still answer emails for inquiries during that time.
All consultations during this maternity-leave window of his birthday through March will have to take place at my home.
I have decided to limit myself to 15 weddings a year, so that I can still shoot boudoir, family, children and newborn sessions as well. But those will still be limited at two per week.
As is now, weekends will be reserved for weddings or my family. No lifestyle sessions will take place Friday-Sunday.
I will only be traveling once a month for weddings. This is a hard step to take considering how much of my clientele is based in St. Louis, Columbia, Omaha and so forth, but it's something I need to do so I can fully prioritize my No. 1 priority: my family. So this means that once I book one out-of-town wedding in a month, I'm not taking on any others. (This rule begins in March 2012.)
I am holding off on booking any sessions from Nov. 15-Nov. 30 because I am not sure how my body will be feeling due to the bad back as described above. But I should know by mid to late October... and if I can shoot, I'll probably be able to take on some mini sessions for last-minute holiday needs. Stay tuned for that.

Here are a few photos of the recent progression of the belly bump.

If you're really interested in following along with the pregnancy journey, leave me a comment in this post and I'll email you a link to my baby blog. Otherwise, just send positive thoughts my way as we eagerly away the arrival of our baby boy!!!

To-Be-Weds: Erica & James {Kansas City/Leawood engagement session}

2011-09-01T16:22:00.000-05:00

Erica & James's session will live in Darbi G. infamy. Yes, they are darn good-looking, fun to work with, and very much in love...but during their session, little did all three of us know...we were being attacked by chiggers. If you've never heard of them, or had them, count yourself lucky. I'd had some chigger bites on my ankles when I was growing up...no big deal. But I can't even tell you the places on my body that served as dinner. All I know, is I will do whatever I can in the future to avoid getting them. I'll take mosquito bites ANYday!!! And I think Erica & James will agree. ;)

So let's chat a bit about who Erica & James are. They are getting married in Omaha next May... she is the little sister of one of my own sister's friends. I shot her family last fall, and was so excited when she came back to me for her wedding and engagement photos.

Erica is currently in med school, but her husband-to-be is one step ahead of her. He's a doctor, in internal medicine, as of last May. They've been together for nearly three years after a made-for-TV back-and-forth subtle flirtation that started when Erica made fun of James wearing flip-flops with his dress slacks. He thought she was a bit outspoken, and couldn't quite get a read on her. She developed a crush on this lad who perhaps needed a few styling tips. Then one evening at a celebratory happy hour with fellow med school students, Erica mustered up enough courage to let James know she had a thing for him. He, naturally, was blown away because he thought her ridiculing him had proven just the opposite. But poor taste in foot attire aside, they hit it off... and he proposed at the "med school prom" IN a photobooth!! (How cool is THAT???)

And as the lifestyles of those wanting to be doctors go...they aren't sure they'll even be living in the same city the first year of their marriage as they have yet to find out where Erica will "match"....but judging from the connection i witnessed during their engagement session, I have no fear they are strong enough to endure long-distance if needed.

So let's see the pics already, right? ;)

this top one happens to be my fave...but I also think this is where we were served up as the lil' un-seeable mites' dinner... All great things involve some risks, right?

Erica & James,
So glad to be working with such a great couple with a great love story. You two were so much fun...and I can't wait till next May!! Have a wonderful fall... ;)

WEE ONES: Lil' Adelyn {Kansas City area}

2011-08-23T16:31:00.000-05:00

Laura & Chris just moved here from Atlanta several months ago with their now-9-month old daughter who loves peek-a-boo, Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" and watching other children running around and playing.

Thanks to the horrid heat that this summer dropped on us, we moved their family session to the morning. It was a GREAT decision-- even though it was still humid, at least we didn't melt on the spot.

I couldn't get over a) how darling Adelyn was...and b) how obvious who her father is. She is the spitting image of Chris... as you'll see. Though I think as she grows older, more of Laura will show up.

I know many parents are so bent on getting their kids to smile the whole time, but I have proof that not smiling can be just as cute. Adelyn's serious faces are so cute...and I couldn't help notice how many times she she pulled off a discerning, adult-like expression....and I think her conclusion after mulling it all over was that the photographer was a wacko. And that she wanted to mess with me. As soon as I'd put the camera down, she'd get this devilish glint in her eyes. I distinctly remember telling Laura that I do not trust her daughter. hahaha

This first photo, seriously??? Can she be any cuter? She has puppy-dog eyes, and their color was only intensified by the matching window trim. DELICIOUS, I tell ya!

What better summer symbol than WATERMELON??? It was hilarious watching her get a grip on it. She tended to go for the rind more than the fruit. We were giggling... (we played peek-aboo with her for a bit when she got a bit fussy, hence the B&W pic and then she cheered up again when we told her the session was over. hahahah)

Laura & Chris--she is delightful. DELIGHTFUL. And I enjoyed our conversation, Laura. You are a lovely family and I hope you are enjoying your new home. Welcome to Kansas City!!!

FAMILY: The H family {Kansas City area}

2011-08-19T11:31:00.000-05:00

If you don't read this introduction and skip straight to the photos, you might think I was shooting photos for a dental ad. Beautiful models? CHECK. Dashing smiles with perfect teeth? CHECK. CHECK. CHECK. CHECK. CHECK. (One for each family member...I can't vouch for the dog's teeth...I didn't get too close. haha)

Jennifer, the lovely in the aqua cardigan, is to thank for this session. Last Christmas, she had the wonderful idea to purchase a gift certificate for a lifestyle session for her parents. WHAT A GREAT IDEA, right? I think her parents would agree...(though they would not comment about whether she is now the favorite child... ;) much to Joe and Julianne's relief. haha)

It was a sweltering evening... but they were troopers..even with multiple layers and long sleeves for a few of them!! We met at their picturesque home and had at it!!!
(I just know my mom is going to see these pictures and want to hire someone to do our family...and I can't blame her!!!)

Starting with the two who get credit for the amazing genes they passed on to their BEAUTIFUL kids!!

Dennis & Joan-- It's clear that you have done such a wonderful job raising three good-looking, but also such well-mannered "kids"! Thank you all for being so welcoming...fun...and photogenic! :) Happy rest of the summer...

Hitched: Heather & Jän {Kansas City wedding}

2011-08-17T14:10:00.000-05:00

It is a pleasure to once again feature such a smiley couple on my blog. Heather & Jän (Note how I've learned the ASCII code on a mac for Jän's name!!) emanate joy. And love. And compassion for those who love and support them.

Their wedding was intimate, fresh and fun, which is exactly what I expected after I've gotten to know Heather over the past several months. She has this energy--it is is contagious, yet calming...and when she gets around Jän, the giggliness surges. It is so clear how much she has fallen for him... he is a country boy, with a quirky, goofy sense of humor that creates so many laughable moments for all of us. (My sidekick Amber Cutler and I were rarely with a serious face because of the groom's antics. ;)) And Heather's mom wants to point out that her daughter thinks "Jän's tractor's sexy." ;) But as Heather attests to later, he has this way of looking at her... the adoration is so completely discernible, that if it doesn't make you warm and fuzzy, you're not of the human species.

So on to the pics...
One of Heather's bridesmaid's has two daughters who are essentially nieces to Heather. They were along for the ride and were much help all day long.

Do the colors of summer not just make you swoon? Especially when there is a smitten couple at the center of them??? S.I.G.H.

In Jän's words..."Heather is the person I want to wake up with every morning, and give a hug to every night; she makes a bad day turn good; she's the one I want to spend time with; she's my love and my best friend and the one I want to spend the rest of my life with."

in Heather's words...

"Jän is my big kid and goofball with a side of seriousness and the greatest work ethic, who treats me like I am his very own princess. My dad even said something about the way Jan was looking at me while we said vows and throughout the night - dad said he liked it, as did my mom, "the way he looks at you..." as if she is puzzled, amazed, happy, in awe. The level of comfort between us is amazing, and the smile that comes across his face when he sees me every time is as if he is seeing me the first time, and he is always so excited. We do everything together and enjoy it so much -- I help him work, he helps me garden, we do fun things together but just being together makes anything good and worth doing. He has affected me as no one has; I found my best friend in him."

Despite very high temperatures, and an air conditioning that didn't work until minutes before the ceremony started, Heather & Jän were troopers and didn't let it stop them from sealing the deal. And check out the send off favors....they were ribbon sticks!!! Heather and her pals made them! DARLING.

The fresh & vibrant color palette continues...

When we walked into the reception at Terrace on the Green, we were floored with how elegant and beautiful it looked! (SPECIAL SHOUT OUT: As a photographer, I have tasted many wedding meals....so I would say I'm a good judge of what is good. ;) And this food, by Baber Catering, was THE BEST I've ever had. The brisket was delectable to the point that I almost became THAT vendor who went back for seconds. haha)

Their friends and family were NUTS on the dance floor. And it was just too much for Amber...she joined them several times. Can you spot the photo of her in action? I believe this was the song FOOTLOOSE that had her going at it. The last photo is me with the couple of honor...and on my right, are Jenny & Joe...a couple whose wedding I shot nearly a year ago in Omaha. (Jenny & Heather work together at Union Pacific)... Apparently U.P. has lots of fun people there--and Darbi G. LOVES fun people! ;)

H&J... I now that you've got to start out your marriage with a physical distance between you both. But your love is no doubt strong enough to withstand it...especially with so many friends and family members there to root you on! xo to you both... and enjoy that sexy tractor. ;)

New Life: Baby Carys {Omaha newborn}

2011-08-05T08:48:00.000-05:00

Within two days, two of my close friends had babies in their lives. Baby Evan (two posts back) was one of them. Now you're going to meet Baby Carys (pronounced Care-iss). Carys is the much-anticipated, and much-earned ball of goodness that was bestowed upon dear Lara. If I thought any of my friends were born to be a mother, Lara is it. She is so nurturing... she does so much research...she is a fountain of information, but also deep compassion. I went to visit her and her husband and their 12-day-old beauty. I fell in love. And of course, Lara being a photographer herself, we just had to play around with Carys... here are just a few of the keepers...including one of ME with the babes.

Chris & Lara, no one needs to tell you to treasure this time in your lives. If anyone "gets it"...it's you both. You've been down a long road, but I think I speak for everyone when I say that you've made us all proud with your resilience, your commitment to one another and your strength. Carys is a work of art. And I cannot wait to see what a wonderful young citizen she becomes thanks to her role model parents... xoxoxoxoxo for life!

Hitched: Brittany & Tyler {Lawrence, KS}

2011-08-03T16:16:00.000-05:00

When it's hot out, like...really really hot...as in... the temperatures of this dastardly July... clients commonly ask me, "will my sweat show up in the photos?" The answer is no, for the most part...unless there are literally beads of perspiration rolling down foreheads, cheeks, etc... or sweat stains.

I have to admit, when I showed up for Brittany & Tyler's wedding (all of which was outdoors other than the ceremony) I was worried this would be one of those times that sweat would be very apparent...I mean, it was nearly 100 degrees out!

But oddly enough, as hot as the bride and groom were, and as hot as the wedding party and guests surely were, everyone looked so beautiful...and the heat created a surreal glow. (Though I do think they'd be glowing regardless because the entire day was just surreal!!)

Brittany & Tyler were once again beacons of gooey delight on their wedding day. Brittany's bridesmaids were her three sisters (can you imagine raising FOUR GIRLS???) I was so amused watching them interact because only sisters have that dynamic where they can be playful, firm and loving at the same time. You could feel their strong bond...and Brittany didn't want photos of just her with one of them at a time..she said there is no point because all of them are so close. Made my heart melt. And let me just say...they all look like sisters, too.

Tyler's man posse consisted of his brother and his best friend. Both of them were so charming and dashing... so personable!!! So fitting for one of the most friendly grooms I've ever worked with.

Brittany took on a lot for this wedding. She put together her own bouquets, and she and her sisters baked the bundt cakes you'll see toward the end. From beginning to end, this Lawrence, KS, wedding was oozing with things that were important to the couple... and at the center of that, you could tell was their own love and friendship.

Mike Tsai of 4Honor Photography here in Kansas City was my assistant...the first time we've worked together and let me just say, we made a fabulous team! A huge thank you to him!!

The girls got ready at the Oread Hotel at the end of the KU campus.

Featured below (in Tyler's hands) is one of the most valuable things I now own thanks to CVS. The misting fan. I bought it for myself originally, but this bridal party sure got my money's worth! Definitely recommend it!! And check out Brittany in her solo pics below...she had told me she wanted to emulate a more natural Taylor Swift look with her style...and by golly...I think she NAILED IT!!!

The colors had us going shutter-crazy!!

Their ceremony was at Danforth Chapel... and their families were so incredibly warm and inviting. The photo below of two sisters trying to fix Brittany's dress...is actually of them using that wonderful misting fan to spray on her small wrinkles. haha

Tyler played a song he wrote for Brittany during the ceremony. I had chills. And tears in my eyes. His voice was amazingly clear and smooth...one of the best songs I've heard at a ceremony ever.

Now begins the series of photos that I can honestly say are some of the most favorite photos I've ever taken. EVER. I was so hot. They were so hot. It was so hot. But we were all troopers, and then when we saw the euphoric spots of evening light coming through the park... we made magic. Abracadabra!

(Her dress, btw, because I know fashion-savvy browsers will want to know...is from J. Crew. And I think Brittany's photos alone should be used for their advertisement...just sayin'... )

In Brittany's words...
I love Tyler's goofiness and his ability to make me laugh in even my worst of moods. His optimism is contagious and I am grateful that he never lets me lose sight of my goals and aspirations in life. I love his caring and compassionate personality, and the way he understands my thoughts and emotions and knows what I am going to say before I say it. I love Tyler for too many reasons. I love Tyler for being Tyler.

In Tyler's words...
I love Brittany because she completes me in every sense. She is my biggest critic, but also my biggest fan. She supports me in everything that I do and wants nothing more than for me to be happy and healthy. If I loved her any less than I do, I would probably think that she is crazy for caring so much about me, but because I feel the same way about her...it all makes sense.

Their reception was held in one of Tyler's family friends' yards... the simplicity of it all was so perfectly summer.... and the BBQ for the meal was scrumptious. I especially enjoyed the pickles.

Brittany is THE prettiest laugher I've ever photographed. If she laughed, I shot a photo...because it was like one of those photos of cute sleeping babies... you just have to get ONE more...and another...and another....

And some final photos of the lovebirds in the garden. And them with me...looking absolutely spent and bloated from all the salty pickles. hahahahahah

Brittany & Tyler, Mike and I truly enjoyed you, your families, your vision and your celebration. The intimate affair made us feel like we were more than just photographers... and both of you are amazing people inside and out. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! xo

NEW LIFE: the first of many shoots w/ Evan {newborn photography}

2011-07-29T09:35:00.000-05:00

Remember this gorgeous mom-and-dad-to-be? Well remove the "to be" because they ARE officially a mom and dad. To a DARLING DARLING DARLING little boy. Baby Evan was born on July 8, weighing in at a whopping 10 lbs, 5 oz, 21.5 inches... (just an aside, I was 10 lbs, 8 oz when I was born!) So he holds the record for the largest newborn I've ever photographed.

These photos were taken when he was 13 days old. And I just couldn't get enough of his plump cheeks, his stylin' hair and his pursed lips.

And it's so crazy to see Gina and Zach slip on the parenting shoes with such ease. Zach is so protective already, and Gina is so nurturing. I enjoyed just watching them with Evan...

(A thank you to Troy, my brother, who found this pear crate in his garage and gave it to me to use specifically for newborn sessions. I think Evan broke it in nicely.)

The top left pic is a shot of his nursery in the adorable motif... the one on the right was when Gina was just trying to soothe him when I peeked in. Then she passed him off to Zach and she and I talked for a bit. On my way out the door, the bottom pic is what I found. They both were snoozing...didn't even simmer when the click of my camera went off. Sigh.

Gina & Zach, already I can see the wonderful life you are going to give your first-born. Evan is so incredibly lucky, and once again, I cannot express to you how excited I am to watch him grow up. I love you all!! xoxo

Hitched: Katie & Nate {Nebraska City wedding photography}

2011-07-25T08:22:00.000-05:00

I must take a moment to begin this post and thank the bride's good friend, Ashley, for finding me...and for convincing me to break my "no more traveling" rule for 2011. (at the time I got the inquiry, I was already booked with so many out of KC weddings, that I had started declining anything requiring me to drive longer than an hour because I needed to focus on the Kansas City market, and my husband and cat...haha). But Ashley urged me to reconsider. She said...it's a beautiful venue...and a BEAUTIFUL couple who is so much fun. So I agreed to talk to Katie and I immediately wanted to work with her. So cool, calm, sweet and witty. So THANK YOU, Ashley!!!!! ;)

Even major flooding and the heckuva detours that came with it couldn't keep Katie & Nate's friends and family away from the day they sealed the deal along the Missouri River in eastern Nebraska. The day promised rain, but the moisture held off (other than the humidity... ;) ) and Amber Cutler & I were enamored not only with the surroundings of the beautiful grounds of Arbor Lodge in Nebraska City, but the giddiness of those there to cheer on the bride and the groom.

If you recall, or if you're interested in seeing it, their engagement session last fall is one of my all-time faves. I learned then how good-looking they are as individuals...but also how well they fit together and use the chemistry they have with one another to make the chemistry with the camera SIZZLE.

So anywho...on to the pictures telling the story...

Their dogs, Memphis and Bear, were the ring-bearers. :)

Check out how cute and cool their wedding party is. They were all so much fun...! Such good sports. About the gnats that wouldn't leave us alone (seriously, it was insane--I swallowed one, one got in my eye, and Amber somehow ended up with one in her camera...like...she could see it in h er viewfinder and on the LCD screen, but it didn't come out in any of the pictures...so we have no idea where it was, even after a thorough inspection of the camera's inner parts...haha), about going along with any crazy ideas that came up and about making sure the bride and groom were having the time of their lives.

Speaking of the bride and groom....They love one another. Duh. And here is why. ;)

In Katie's words....

Nate is the one because he always has and always will stick by my side through the good and the bad. He is compassionate about life, and has big dreams. He always knows how to make me laugh, and he helps me cook and clean. :) I love Nate so much because he loves ME, even when I'm crazy.

In Nate's words....
I love Katie so much because she loves to be active and do anything at a moment's notice. She likes to hunt, fish, play sports and basically everything else I like to do. She is the greatest cook on earth who can make any ordinary dish extraordinary! She is a loving and caring person who would do anything for our family...and by family I mean our dogs Memphis and Bear. There is no one I would rather grow old and spend my time with than Katie!!!! I love you.

I gasped. Sighed. Squealed. And wanted to do somersaults after the combination of her gorgeousness and the lighting I can't get enough of came together...

The reception took place in the barn, and included some pretty funny shenanigans.And some delicious decor....

Katie & Nate, I wish you both a marriage that is just like your wedding day--full of laughter, picture-perfect memories, support from friends and family, and reasons to dance!! xo

-------------------------------

VENDORS WHO MADE IT ALL COME TOGETHER

Wedding planner
Adessa Grundman - Lied Lodge

Hair/makeup
Liz and Krystal

Bridesmaid-dress designer
J. Crew

Florist
Kathy Wortman (the bride's aunt!!)

Videographer
Shrameks Video

Cakery/baker
PJ's Babycakes, Butterfly Bakery

To-Be-Weds: Kate & Jeff {Lawrence/KU engagement session}

2011-07-15T06:41:00.000-05:00

This engagement session would not have been possible if it weren't for the fact that Neil and I went to Italy. Because Kate, the bride, was our travel agent. (she is AMAZING btw, so if you are looking to plan your own honeymoon or just a getaway like we did, drop her a line and you will not be disappointed!! Email me for her contact info!) She and Jeff are getting married over Labor Day weekend in Nebraska City. And though they both live in the Kansas City area, they took me to yet another destination for the engagement session--Lawrence, KS. I had to leave my stripes at home (go, Mizzou!) to set foot on Jayhawk soil. But I must admit, I had a wonderful time with these two and the campus of KU proved to be rife with dreamy light and locations.

I hadn't met Jeff until the session, and he charmed me right away. It was clear after just a few minutes how much fun he and Kate have together--tailgating for their favorite teams, traveling to various places, barbecuing, camping or just hanging out with friends. Where Jeff is goofy, Kate is sweet and giggly. With them together in front of my camera, they were like a four-course meal... and still left me hungry to keep shooting. See why....

(the first pic is at the World War II Memorial Campanile, where legend has it, if you kiss someone you like there, you will end up marrying that someone. Kate and Jeff are proof!!)

How springy does this look (though it was in the summer... LOVE LOVE LOVE Kate's dress...)

Jeff is into film-making, so he's got himself an eye of composition and lighting and all the other good stuff. He is the one who noticed a building was serving as a GIANT reflector at the top of the hill. It was heavenly... you'd think I was shooting INTO the sun, but no, I was shooting away from it. MY FAVES!!!

And though this wall is famous in photography because it's so darn photogenic and perfect for engagement sessions or wedding photos, I myself have never shot there, so we had to do our own thang with such wonderful colors and poignant graffiti. ;) (and at the end, that is Jeff and his goofiness going to town by smacking his woman with love.... she is well-trained and looked like a pro in a fighting movie as she dodged the impact. haha)

And closing with more faves... they had so much chemistry at this point, I actually had to put the camera down because I felt like I was invading. Way to go, JEff & Kate! ;)

I am soooo looking forward to working with you two again in just a month and a half. You are darling and so much in love, and you make my job as easy as it can be!! THANK YOU!!!

Hitched: Kylie & Kyle {Jefferson City wedding photography}

2011-07-12T16:12:00.000-05:00

The world would be a better place if all wives had a husband to look at them like Kyle looks at Kylie. I can't tell you how many times on their wedding day (or even during their engagement session) that I would catch Kyle gazing at Kylie with this little boy smile on his face. He made me swoon on the inside.

And the wedding that Kylie planned made me swoon just as much. She aimed to sparkle, in more ways than one, and it is clear that she succeeded. If her whole realtor gig doesn't work out, I'm pretty sure the wedding industry would relish having such a fabulous visionary on board!!! ;)

Courtney Tompson out of Moberly was once again my assistant. They did their first glance in the shade of the Capitol...

Everywhere I looked, I would see a smile, a cute gesture or tears! Photographers...we love us some crying!!! So much emotion as the families and friends watched these two make their love official.

Hello gorgeous couple. Hello, hello, hello!

In Kyle's words...
"First off, she is so beautiful with or without make up or fancy clothes on. She is so smart and brilliant, and she has such great planning skills she could plan anything for anyone and it would be perfect. And she takes very good care of me. Plus she can cook good and clean LOL. I love her so much!"

in Kylie's words...

"He is a such a hard worker, super kind always willing to lend a hand, and a true family man! I absolutely love his big smile and dimples! His curly blonde hair is cute too!! Believe it or not he does has a sweet, loving, side to him! I feel he can always take care of me and make me happy! Kyle loves to have a good time and I'm glad we can share that together! He and I love to stay busy making plans with friends and family to have fun, laugh, and drink a drink or two!! Let's not forget that he puts up with my crap--my control freak and OCD like behaviors, my shopping habits, my occasional bad attitude or crankiness, my constant need to remind him of things that need done around the house, my over the top dreams and plans and all because I know he truly loves me!"

And of course, this dashing couple has dashing friends to boot!

Kylie & Kyle--thank you for showing us a good ol' time! You two fit each other so well and are so lucky to have so many friends and family members who cherish your relationship right along with you! xo

Hair: Kerri Mertens
Make up: Stephanie Stokes
Wedding-dress designer: Maggie Sorterro
Bridesmaid-dress designer: Alfred Sung
Church/officiant: St. Peter Catholic Church/Fr. Brendan Doyle
Florist: River City
Videographer: Chris Kennison
Cakery/baker: Heather Huhman
Caterer: Argyle Catering
DJ/Band: Bill Farr, Around the clock DJ service and Robby Bax, Guitarist

Il bel paese: PART 3 at last--Rome, Italy {travel log}

2011-07-07T09:00:00.001-05:00

It's taken me way toooo long to post the final leg of our Italy adventures. Probably for two reasons: 1) I've been busy, darnit! Wedding season hit me hard when I got back. 2) I wasn't motivated to get through the pics of my least fave part of the trip.

Rome. I've heard such amazing things about it. I've watched EAT, PRAY, LOVE and thought the city would charm me, too. And it did. The first night. It was sunny, beautiful weather, and only a bit crowded. We really liked the hotel where we stayed, Capo d'Africa, which was just a few blocks from the Colosseum. I had my favorite wine at a cafe down the street...although the pizza was good, I wasn't a fan of how they didn't distribute the toppings a bit more evenly.

After dinner, we sauntered down to the behemoth edifice that everyone everywhere recognizes. we were planning on just browsing from the outside, but decided to buy the tickets to get us in to both that and the Forums. Our only regret was not getting a tour guide to go with it. We didn't spend that much time there as it was late evening and the sun was going down...I wanted to get into the Forums before the golden hour ceased. And the last pic is one of the public restrooms so you can see what was the "norm"...though this one wasn't half bad considering it was in the Colosseum. Pictures do not do the Colosseum justice. It is so awesome. So large, and brimming with a sordid past of so many years ago that I can't even relate.

Some other pics from the Colosseum..and the ominous guards outside it.

I was in love with the trees there. Something from movies...of Africa? I have no idea where I've seen them, but wish they had them in the midwest. I kept looking around with the architecture, the crowds, the mediterranean climate and the beautiful scenery....and saying that Rome was the secret lovechild of San Diego and New York City, if they had existed thousands of years ago and mated. ;)

I loved the Forums. Unfortunately, our tour through was cut short because my darling husband had taken on the bladder of a pregnant woman there and had to pee EVERY 30 MINUTES!! I am not even kidding. We'd buy water and it'd be gone in 1 minute and then 29 minutes later, gee, who has to go AGAIN? And the public restrooms in the Forums were under construction or outside ofthe exit.

This first photo...Neil is standing under the arch..but you can hardly see him. The lil' cars had to be snapped because, duh! they're MY colors!!! And the last pic is our view from dinner that night when we were dining at an outdoor cafe.

so yeah, we were off to a good start. But Saturday, we awoke to cloudy skies and a chilly drizzle. And overcrowded streets and tourist attractions thanks to the fact that the week before (so WAY too late to change our travel plans) the current Pope had decided to begin the benediction for Pope John Paul II on THE weekend we were there. So every extremely devout Catholic or overly into history buff flocked to the same city where Neil and I had hoped to cap off our Italy trip with wonderful memories.
But I was cranky. Everywhere we went, we felt like we were in a line. We were wet, cold and exhausted. The tour bus we booked wasn't very helpful as it seemed to go by places we had no interest in getting off...and lots of streets were blocked off thanks to the influx of religious tourists that infiltrated the city's core.

This first set...the top left is of Vatican city...now this was before it was heavily inundated with all the pilgrims. But look how long that line is... we heard it would have taken HOURS AND HOURS to get into the cathedral.

This next set...top two on right are the Trevi fountain. As you can see, it was a zoo and a half and i was in no mood to be there. I had put on my Cranky Pants. The next two pics are just two things on the same street I saw that creeped me out (though i really wanted to get the boxers for Neil's brother!!!)...the window display is of children mannequins stylishly selling bread. Yeah, I have NO idea why. The next two pics are the Spanish Steps...the most disappointing thing we saw that day. We had gotten lost getting there and when we got there, what a let-down. They were just steps! With lots of people! I bet they are kinda pretty without gawkers, but we weren't impressed. The Lamborghini headlight was more attractive. And the bottom three pics are just other shots on our tour bus...to show you how many people were just EVERYWHERE. (the far left was a busy intersection, so if it looks empty, it's because traffic was going through and people can't walk in those streets!)

And the last pic is of our dinner at a place called CRAB. The food was delicious, but to read my review on how it turned sour, go here. (that is grilled baby squid on the left --so good!!--and spaghetti with clams on the right. We also had Italian lobster --a bit diff from american...it was okay)

So yes, Rome wasn't our favorite. I was ready to go home after that...though parts of it were indeed wonderful that first night....I would probably never go back, which is the opposite of how I feel about Venice, Lucca or 5Terre.

Either way... if you're interested in purchasing any prints...you can do so now that I have all the photos online.
Go here.
And use the discount code Italy11 in the next 30 days to get 15 percent off of your order!

To-Be-Weds: Kylie & Stephen {Kansas City/Shawnee engagement session}

2011-07-05T08:30:00.009-05:00

I stared for awhile at my hands on the keyboard, trying to put this post into words. But it proves difficult sometimes to be whole-heartedly honest, especially when parts of the whole heart are not exactly elated. Now, don't go thinking this is a sad post...by no means is it. But my feelings about the people in this post are bittersweet.

Kylie is one of my best friends.... I met her my sophomore year in college when she lived down the dorm from our other now-mutual best friend Cara and me. Early on I was attracted to her laid-back attitude and sarcastic comments. She didn't seem to get absorbed by petty stuff like so many other girls can do.

Kylie was a bridesmaid in my own wedding, and one of the reasons I was very excited to move to Kansas City. She is unlike any of my other girlfriends in that she is so chill, hard to rile, and doesn't get grossed out easily (She is a nurse in the burn unit!!!). She is my go-to girl for things many others would consider too dorky to do... all while wearing our pajamas---puzzles, board games, eating chocolate, playing cards, croquet and her favorite--Dr. Mario. (She is so crazy good that I shudder with frustration just thinking about playing with her.) She is one of reason. She is loyal. She is playful. She is a good sport. She is athletic. She is beautiful.

She sounds like an AMAZING catch, eh? Well, she IS. Stephen, the guy she loves, can attest to that (Right, Stephen!!!??). They are getting married this October (and I am a bridesmaid). Of course I am so happy for them--that they have found one another and that they are (finally!!!) sealing the deal.

So why start out this post with the voice of Darbi Downer?

Because this wonderful friend of mine is moving. Far. Away. To Santa Fe.

+Do you know the way to Santa Fe?
You know, tumbleweeds ... prairie dogs+

(lyrics from RENT's Santa Fe)

Her wedding signifies the end to her Show-Me State days. I know I will not be alone in the mixed tears or joy and sadness on that beautiful occasion in the fall. I know I will not want to stop hugging her.

But I also know she is going to do wonderfully in such a beautiful town, with Stephen as her partner in crime. And I know I am already looking forward to visiting them...and going horseback riding through terrain that is foreign to this Midwest girl's eyes.

So I am incredibly honored to have been able to give one of my best friends these photos--of her and her love, in normal attire, just being themselves....in magnificent light. I hope they cherish these, and never forget the warmth and scents of where much of their first chapter together took place.

(All photos where taken at Covered M arena in Shawnee Mission, KS, where Kylie takes riding lessons; a big thank you to the owners there for allowing us to trod on their grounds!!!)

And then the sun came out. And gave us a huge wet kiss on all of our foreheads.

FAVE at the top!

Kylie & Stephen... no other engagement session has ever been so satisfying, personally AND professionally. I better see a bunch of these framed when I come visit!! xo

Hitched: Kristen & Jason {St. Louis}

2011-06-29T14:45:00.000-05:00

It was a day of springy colors and lots of laughs. Of the bling-iest wedding dress. Of a glorious house where the girls got ready. And of a bridal party that were hilarious through and through.

It was cloudy, with a threat of rain, but everyone stayed dry. It was a day that unfolded in beautiful locations, with beautiful details...and centered around a beautiful bride and handsome groom, whom I have now seen at a total of THREE weddings!! (I love referrals...thanks to Katie & Brandon and Eric & Caroline.)

And I was so excited to work with Shelli Alred of Alred Wedding Consultants who is so organized, such a visionary and so great to work with!!
I gotta give a big shout out to Kim Nehrt, who was my assistant for the day! She is the SWEETEST assistant I've ever worked with... :)

I'll let the photos do the rest of the talking!!!

Other vendors of note:

Hair/makeup
Chrissy Stojan, Makeup - Debbie Watson

Wedding-dress designer
Priscilla of Boston

Bridesmaid-dress designer
After Six

Church
St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church

Florist
Randy Shamel/Artistry Florist

Cakery/baker
Sarah's Bakery

Caterer/Reception location
The Country Club of St. Albans

DJ/Band
Downtime

To-Be-Weds: Megan & Aaron {Kansas City engagement session}

2011-06-24T08:46:00.000-05:00

For this session taking place during a dreadful heat advisory, I have to give mad props to Megan & Aaron for looking soooo cool. From the colors, to their natural ease with one another...to the glorious lighting that enveloped the grounds of Nelson Atkins museum, I couldn't be happier with how these turned out.

And I couldn't be happier working with anyone else. Megan and Aaron are so genuine and so genuinely into one another. They have already withstood some of the most trying years--they've been together since Megan was a freshman in high school, and Aaron was the "older" man...with keys to a Mustang and donning a letterman's jacket. Any girl's dream! ;)

(Side note: I have had SO many high-school sweethearts!! I wish I'd been counting. I just didn't think it'd be common!)

They also were neighbors, living only a few blocks away from one another. Which is quite different from their current setup--Aaron is working temporarily in Lousiana as a financial analyst for a company whose helicopter is accredited with being in the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden,(Textron, btw...), and Megan is back here, still in school for marketing (Another JAYHAWK!!).

They have no idea where they'll end up when Aaron's southern stint is up, but neither one seems very concerned. They actually seem excited at the prospect of the adventures they'll surely embark on--even toying with such faraway locations as Germany!!! Megan says, "We've traveled the world before together, so bring it on!"

But their wanderlust isn't expected to flourish longterm. They plan on raising their family "back home." (Do you hear the sighs of relief from those who will someday be grandparents???)

In the meantime, in their own lil' worlds without the other one there day in and day out, they are growing themselves individually, but staying strong thanks to the ease of modern technology.

After spending an evening with these two, it is clear that no distance will come between them other than the physical sense. They ADORE one another...with Aaron's puppy dog eyes and his nearly tangible adoration for Megan...and Megan's giggly and honest affection... my camera was giving ME high-fives as we went.

See for yourself.... ;)

Megan & Aaron--your wedding next June is sure to be a grand event that marks the end of keeping you two apart. I cannot wait to share in it! :)

Hitched: Katherine & Brian {Kansas City wedding photographer}

2011-06-21T17:56:00.001-05:00

Katherine & Brian, two sweet, fun and delightful theater teachers, were married on a beautiful early June day, slightly too hot, slightly too humid, but we were just thankful it was rain-free. When I arrived at the Par Exsalonce salon in Overland Park, I was greeted with such a welcome crew. Katherine's mom was smitten with her daughter and the day that was laid out ahead. (She gushed to me how proud she is of Katherine and how because of Kat's superb planning skills, the whole event was not stressful for her--the mother of the bride.) And Kat's friends? Equally as warm! They chatted it up with me and made me feel so comfortable. That is so invaluable for us photographers!!!

Meanwhile, my sidekick Amber Cutler was covering the boys... who were calm, cool and collected.

I LOVED her dress...and the grey tuxes. Aren't Kat & Brian TOOOOOO DARLING for words?

Kat & Bri (ha!) opted for a first glance. It was a warm day, with bright overhead sun, so we escaped to the sidewalk across from the church so we could at least be in shade. Then we headed indoors to where we could chill out a bit, but finish the photos. Thankfully, good lighting wasn't hard to find.

And looks alone indicate how great of a fit these two are together....but I teared up several times while reading what they had to say about one another. Please note the underlying theme of 'best friendship"..."faithfulness,"... "growth"..."God"...and the ability to have fun together. (And I dare you to not end with a moist eye!! ;) )

In Katherine's words

"Brian is my best friend. I love that he calls me his best friend too. I love how passionate and determined he is. For example, when I gave him every reason to give up on me after he chased me for a year, he still stood beside me as a friend and waited. In that time, I saw Brian as my friend, and I began to see the man he was becoming. Most of our time together in college was spent in the theatre. We built so many memories there. In fact, that's where our journey first began: It was my first day of technical theatre class, and there was this boy, and he was wearing a t-shirt that was cut off above his belly button with a dirty pair of sweatpants. You can imagine the first impression that gave me. Even through the awkwardness at the beginning of our friendship...and up until now, I have never questioned his faithfulness to me as a friend. I've always known he would be there by my side if I needed him. My relationship with Brian has grown and matured so much over the past 4 years. He never fails to make me laugh. I can't imagine being bored around this guy...it just seems impossible! I've seen him take on a variety of roles as a teacher, a friend, a fellow actor, a leader, and now, a husband. Most of all, I absolutely love his heart. I love how even though he is 23, in his heart he is still an adventure-seeking, goofy little boy. I love that he seeks to form our relationship on the solid foundation of Christ, and is constantly pointing us back to that. The more I grow closer to Christ, the more I grow to love Brian. I am so excited to begin this life-long journey with him."

In Brian's words

"Saying what I love about Katherine Ann is an easy one. I love that she is my best friend and has been close to me through so much of my blooming adult life. Even before the romance began, she proved faithfulness to me in friendship. We've seen each other in the best and worst. Stressed and freewheeling. We've been side by side on many challenging projects and we've always seemed to see things from a similar angle. In several productions at Jewell in the Theatre Department I felt like she was the only sane person out there. Her friendship with me even withstood the damaging awkwardness of me trying desperately to start a relationship with her before it was our time. I couldn't scare her away. The next thing I love about her is her beautiful heart. She really cares about the important things the way I want my lover to care about. A lot of that has to do with our shared faith in Christ. The closer I see her get to God and grow in her faith the more beautiful she is to me. Lastly I honestly believe she is my soul mate. It’s like we had to end up together. This evidences itself in silly little ways like thinking the same thoughts, saying the same things, color coordinating on a weekly basis without communication. But for all intents and purposes, she is my other half. We complement each other almost perfectly in our similarities and our differences. With Katherine Anne I feel free and grounded all at once. She redefines love for me everyday. She is a mystery. What more could I want?"

Brian and Katherine surround themselves by people who are just as lovely--inside and out.

Ceremony time!!! Complete with a poem that Brian wrote, that a mutual friend turned into a song. BEAUTIFUL.

A few more pics of the newlyweds...and then it was time to celebrate. and I'd like to point out here that their dance floor looked like a dance club THE ENTIRE NIGHT. And there wasn't even alcohol involved!!! This group of people knows how to have fun....Amber and I enjoyed watching it sooo much. and there's a little treat at the end... ;)

And now... I present to you the dance of the night... Brian's version of FOOTLOOSE! Please forgive my video skills...I am not one of those photographers who claims to be good at both formats. :) You might have to let it load for a bit to get it to play fully!!!

Baby-to-Be: Gina & Zach {Kansas City maternity session)

2011-06-19T15:06:00.001-05:00

I am in love with this session. For many reasons. First of all, Zach and Gina are two really good friends of Neil's and mine. We met them through mutual friends six years ago, and then they moved to Kansas City a month before we did (from Columbia, as well) and have helped us make this new city our home. We've already made so many memories together--game nights, experiencing new cuisine, watching the Bachelorette/Bachelor together (while the boys make fun of us), gossiping and the like.

And now comes such a huge step in their lives--a baby! Their little boy is due mid-July (though rumor has it he will be making his appearance sooner thanks to his already "brawny" size!) and I am so excited, so anxious and so ready to cheer these two new parents on. I've already seen how they treat their mini-golden doodle, Stella...and if it's any indication, they will be so incredibly loving and supportive of their new family member.

Gina and Zach--before he gets here, know that you two have been such an amazing couple to get to know over the years...and I just squeal with eagerness when I think that when Neil and I catch up with you someday, we'll be raising our families together. I love you both!!! xo

Now...enjoy their darlingness....

Enjoy the last few quiet days you have....and I'll be here for you when you need a break from the craziness!! xo

And Happy Father's DAy...to Zach and to all the other dads who make their kids and their wives happy!

Three years! Three years!

2011-06-14T10:26:00.001-05:00

Time goes too fast. So much has happened in the nearly 2,000 days since I married my best friend.
I just rewatched our highlight video by one of my best friends, Jennifer Yaple. And OMG, the tears are still running down my cheeks.

Gosh dang, our day was PERFECT. Our wedding was so amazing. Such a beautiful kickstart to what has been an amazing marriage, partnership and adventure with my better half.

Here are previous posts on our anniversary.
One-year post

Second-year post

And here is the wedding video I mentioned... Jennifer was a bridesmaid, so she didn't get to film everything. (And Brian Henry, a wonderful photographer --wedding and journalist!!-- up in the Pittsburgh, PA area, filmed the ceremony).

You can try to view it in full here, but I can't tell if you have to be a friend of Jennifer's on FB to see it: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=77893980510&comments

Otherwise, here it is...we had to divide the video into two parts because of YouTube requirements...

Part 1

part 2

Wishing all of you just as magical of weddings and as happy of marriages....as Neil and I have been blessed to have!
xo

To-Be-Weds: Heather & Jan {Overland Park arboretum engagement session}

2011-06-13T10:13:00.000-05:00

Heather & Jan (pronounced Yahn) are a referral from one of my lovely 2010 couples, Jenny & Joe.
And these two are turning out to be just as lovely. Heather is one of the most personable people I've ever met. And genuinely warm and sweet. She says she could live in pasture of flowers and be completely happy, and she lives her life with the motto of "do not make someone else's day worse." How darling is that?

She works at Union Pacific (claims her fave part of her job is saying "choo-choo" a lot, haha), but her real passion in life is doing anything domesticated. Yes, Jan is a LUCKY guy for even another reason!

So how did these two cross paths? Well it seems to be a growing trend, but they are yet another Match.com couple! They fell in love through reading each other's novel-like emails, and Heather blabbed to all her friends even before meeting him in person that this was the man she was going to marry. They did meet, finally, and the physical chemistry was just as strong. Six months later, Heather had a ring on her finger...and one year exactly from their first in-person date, they are getting married!

He is definitely a country boy, and the two plan on living on his farm, where they are remodeling their house, in Iowa.

For their engagement session, we incorporated nature because it is so important to both of them. The Overland Park Arboretum was the perfect choice!

How about their colors just POPPING! I hardly edited these. No lie.

Don't you just love how you can see the mutual adoration? Smitten kittens, that is for sure!!

Heather & Jan--Thanks for coming down to my neck o' the woods. LIterally. ;) You are so at peace with one another, and that makes my job even easier. Let's do it again in July, k?

xo

WEE ONES: H family photos {Weston, Mo.}

2011-06-06T11:25:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite families from last year returned this spring for more photos! I adore this family.

Finn, who is now 3, is one of THE most challenging subjects I've ever photographed. (This age is very difficult if the kids are remotely high-energy...) He is ornery. He is rambunctious. He is hilarious!!!! And he is worth the extra effort. We were lucky to get him in the frames when we did!

Here are two images that show what we were dealing with...on the left...he had been hiding behind their legs until the last minute, he'd run out like a lil' gremlin and then he'd disappear again just as fast. The one on the right, he was in his own world of playing with dirt, and he was not too keen on the idea of sitting down for a relaxing photo with his family. This was a common trend that evening.

Parker, on the other hand, was so easy to work with--so completely cooperative and just as cute! I give him major high fives for going easy on me. ;)

As darling families go... we stuck with it and I am loving the way these came out! (Mollie, I've said it before and I will say it again, if I can have an iota of the style you have when I myself am a mother with my hands full, I will be SO HAPPY!!)

(btw, Finn also has a "thing" for cleaning objects...so he started with the sign.

A special thanks to the owner of Weston Millwork Co. for allowing us to explore his property. :)

(Mollie & Chris--you giggled and felt silly, you said...but OMG...can you guys be any more smokin' together?? NO!)

So that's a wrap! Give my best to the boys! xo

To-Be-Weds: Whitney & John { West Bottoms engagement session}

2011-06-01T10:50:00.002-05:00

I have always wondered if there are two lawyers in a relationship, if the arguments they have are are always well thought out, eloquent and dramatically worded. Whitney & John would know....they both are attorneys. And their shared career goal can be accredited for them even meeting in the first place. Back in fall of 2005, while several first-year law students were stressing out over their Legal Research and Writing final, a bunch of them decided to meet up to go over strategies. (Whitney admits she was fearful that she wasn't going to do so hot, so welcomed any sort of help she could get).

And in the law library, John and Whitney laid eyes on each other for the first time.

As much as Whitney tried to stay completely focused on studying, she found herself laughing at John's jokes. And she was amazed that he was staying so calm, while inside, she was freaking out at the daunting final before them.

Two months went by before they considered themselves to be "officially dating"...
And five years after dating...came their proposal story, which makes me giggle. I hear a lot of tales about how the question was popped... and it seems like a common theme is that even with the most planned proposals, girls somehow end up thwarting their guys' efforts. Case in point: Whitney always takes the same path whens she goes running. So John set up a picnic along the route, in Forest Park (in St. Louis), and put his nerves to bed as he waited for the love of his life to come running by with her pony-tail bobbing.

He waited.
And waited.
And waited.

She never came. And unlike when he was studying for finals, he wigged out. He called her cell phone several times, he drove up and down the route to see if something had happened to her, and finally, with his tail between his legs and his proposal dreams quashed, he went back to her place to wait some more.

When she came home, he was floored. Turns out, that day of all days, she had decided to take a new route. And she was very aware of him calling her, but she didn't want to interrupt her good run. So he modified his vision and proposed right there.

Even though it didn't work out exactly like he wanted, he still ended up with her saying yes, and they will be sealing the deal in August!

So with that, I introduce to you, two of the sexiest, most loving law-practitioners ever! (One of my faves is the left B&W one in the third row down)

Would you ever guess that this session were in mid-May...AND it was sooo cold? It was in the high 40s!!! That is why I hate the Midwest! But these two were troopers and you can't tell, can you?

Love this first one on the left! The colors were so pretty!

Well you two, you nailed it... and totally appreciate you driving all the way to Kansas City for it!!! Next time I see you, I have a feeling the weather will be quite the opposite. Enjoy your summer!! xo

To-Be-Weds: Molly & Travis {Kansas City River Market engagement session}

2011-05-27T09:21:00.000-05:00

I will only book weddings up to 15 months in advance. But that doesn't mean that I won't meet with couples earlier than that so when the "date of opening" arrives, they can be ready to go. Molly & Travis flagged me down in fall of last year for their May 2012 wedding. And I am so glad they were understanding and patient with my booking policy... I can't imagine not having the chance to work with a couple that is so infectious with their silliness and so darn in love. And these cuties got mad brain skillz. :)

Science has always played a big part in their lives. In fact, they met in high school chemistry class. Molly jokes that she didn't learn much that year since the boy she was crushing on was just a seat behind her. Travis cemented their flirtations into a "real" relationship when he made her a mixed tape. They've been together ever since--even with a two-year long-distance stint during their undergrad. But like any good man will do, Travis followed Molly to Truman so they could be together.

But long distance is once again a challenge they are hurdling this last year before marriage. Travis is a toxicologist in Columbia, MO., and Molly is here in Kansas City in dental school. But even with their busy schedules so far apart, they make sure to fit in time on the weekends to cook meals together, eat said meals, and then cap off the meal with ice cream or coffee somewhere close by.

After spending just a bit of time with them, it really is clear that even if CHEMISTRY brought them together, their strong friendship has solidified their bond. And did I mention they are super cute???

Speaking of cute.... let's get on with the pics....

Usually the guy starts off the engagement session being a bit tense, and unsure of himself or the directions that are coming out of my mouth. But not Travis. He "got it"... and sometimes, the two of them needed NO direction because they fell into one another with ease.

Plus, they were darn good sports too...totally unfazed when we got 'kicked out" of the River Market proper by a rent-a-cop. (I seriously had no idea that we would not be allowed to take photos in the area formally known as the City Market.) But these first two are pics we got before that "drama" (it was actually rather lame and anticlimactic) went down. ;)
But we didn't care...cuz there were plenty more possibilities.

They were darling with the Save The Date idea... I quite enjoyed them trying to figure out what silliness to do next.

How yummy are the colors in these??? I'll tell you how yummy! I WOULD EAT THEM!!! AND ENJOY IT!! AND THEN WANT MORE!!!

The one up above on the right side...that was Travis's idea. High five. ;)

Molly & Travis--in a year, you'll be all married and stuff. Seems so far off now, but time has flown since we met for your consultation, so I know May 19 will be here before we know it. Enjoy the ride!!! :) xo

Hitched: Kristin & Mike {San Diego}

2011-05-24T10:19:00.002-05:00

Not long after I got back from Italy...like...3 days later...I was whisked away to yet another time zone, but this time, I stayed on U.S. soil. The destination was my favorite favorite U.S. city (as of yet)… San Diego. (I was just about to use the nickname that good ol' Ron Burgundy bestowed upon the city, but then I realized that could lead to some very odd hits from Google...)

Anywho I would live in Southern coastal California if it weren’t so darn cost-prohibitive for us folk who start our lives in the “cheap” Midwest. I have been there several times, the first time was when I was 12, and ever since, it has held a place in my heart. I mean, who could NOT love the flora, fauna and fabulousness that is the Golden State?

(These pics were taken when we stopped at La Jolla for breakfast. I adore La Jolla.

Now I've made even more memories in this gem of a city thanks to Kristin & Mike, who twisted my arm oh-so-not-hard to get me out to the West Coast. (I hade my trusty sidekick Courtney Tompson (from Moberly, Mo.) as my travel companion and shooting assistant, so a big thanks goes out to her!!!)

So how did I end up, a p hotographer from Kansas City, shooting a wedding in San Diego? Well, that's easy. I was hired. San Diego-native Kristin contacted me last summer after having followed my photos for quite some time (she is a fellow MU grad, though our paths never had crossed in the Show-Me State.) Woot for social media bringing lovely coastal brides to Midwest photographers!!! She has been teaching science and health at an elementary school on Coronado Island for the past 2 years.

Between then and now, we’ve exchanged about 40 emails -- so even though I’d never met her, I felt like I knew her. And because she apparently likes to type/write, I learned lots about her groom, too!

Mike is a gentleman with a penchant for saying heart-warming things that get an "Awwwww!" from anyone within earshot. He is originally from Maryland and currently is a Lt. Commander in the Navy, where he’s been serving for more than 10 years. Leadership comes naturally for him, having been the oldest of five children.

Online dating can be applauded one more time for bringing these two together. Kristin usually cringes at the cliché of “love at first sight”… but she admits there definitely was something beyond special when she met Mike at the ferry landing on Coronado Island and found herself enthralled in what would be the first of countless great conversations. The first few dates were followed by several get-togethers with Kristin’s family, and she says she knew he was the one after he fit so perfectly with the ones she loved the most.

Apparently, that feeling was requited. On Independence Day, about a year and a half after Kristin first knew Mike was different than any other guy she’s met, Mike carried the ring around in his pocket all day, waiting for that moment when his courage exceeded his excitement. That moment came as they were walking toward the waterfront to watch the firework display. After flattering Kristin with all the reasons he loves her (seriously, this is every girl’s dream to hear….) he got down on one knee. Kristin’s YES response was met with clapping from strangers who were watching it all go down. The rest is pretty much history!!! And one week after they were married, the two moved to Jacksonville, Florida, where---and warning, I really have no idea what this means--Mike will be qualifying on the P-3 Orion, in which he is a tactical coordinator. But Jax-ville will only be a temporary home--they are headed from there to a permanent honeymoon location--HAWAII!!! Sigh. Sigh. And one. More. Sigh.

So yeah, that is their fairytale... and the big affair that sent them off in style... is documented below. :) Enjoy!

The ladies got ready in Kristin's parent's bungalow on Coronado.

What a laugh. So infectious!

Check out THE most practical wedding day shoes I've ever seen. Kristin definitely didn't have sore feet... (and Kristin's dad was a big softy--but in a manly way, don't worry!! I always enjoyed witnessing their interactions...)

What a great idea to get bobble heads that look like the groomsmen!!!

(the ceremony was at Immaculate Conception in Old Towne.

In Mike's words...

"I was excited to express my unrelenting love for Kristin to the entire community of family and friends. Our wedding showed the commitment between Kristin and me that will last a lifetime. In my humble opinion, our marriage will affirm the love we feel right now for the rest of our lives. I know that I will have a partner from this day forward which gives me the confidence to try new things and enjoy life to its fullest."

In Kristin's words...

"We are the perfect complement to each other. During the last couple weeks before the marriage, I kept expecting to hit a panic moment where I would start to wonder if I was ready for a whole life commitment. I always think about people as shaking so hard they can't get the ring on, and I never had that. It's like my whole being knew better than my conscious self that marrying Mike was the best decision I had ever made. There was no fear because there was no need for it. I couldn't be happier about the wedding. I had so much fun with Mike and all of our family and friends. It's funny how I don't really feel like Mike's and my relationship has changed that much since being married, but the wedding/marriage has really helped me to feel more connected with his family and friends."

I just love (and my camera whole-heartedly agrees) when couples fit together so well that it's super natural. And I also love the pristine-ness of the dress whites and the white dress. (we were at Balboa Park for these...along with several other weddings and quinceaneras.

Court and I LOVEd their bridal party. The boys were a few good gentlemen. ;) And the ladies were heckuva lotta fun!!

The reception was at Coronado Community Center. We of course had to take advantage of the background of something we don't get to see in Missouri--boats and yachts and the amazingness of a bay!

Reception time!

I (wrongly) assumed that Mike knew what he was doing by cutting the cake with his saber. (I mean, don't they have that lesson in training camp???) But no. Not so much. As you can see by their faces when he sliced off a rather large piece of the top tier. (And let me just say...the guests were so much fun...not afraid to dance!!)

I love myself a groom who likes to claim his bride with EAR SNUGGLES!

Don't ask...but it'll do for the "three of us" pic.

Kristin & Mike--when you got married, it was clear that you have now joined forces with two families and sets of friends that are so loving, supportive and fun! You both know already how blessed you are to be in the middle of all that warm fuzziness.
Thank you so much for being great hosts to Courtney and me...and to making us so jealous of the adventures that lie ahead for you. xo

CONTEST to win postcards from Uprinting.com!!

2011-05-17T09:53:00.002-05:00

Who doesn't like winning free stuff? Especially if all you have to do to win is talk about yourself? ;)

Uprinting.com wants to give TWO of my blog readers a prize!

So here's the deal....

I find myself saying so often "If anyone would have told me when I was younger I'd end up a photographer, I would never believe them." That's because my original career goals, the ones that withstood more than a year or so, were to be a: racetrack manager (I wanted to please my dad, haha); private investigator (I loved mysteries!!); magazine journalist (I actually went to school for this).
---that's me in 2nd grade to the right!

When I had to get a job at the age of 15, I was a "dietary aide" (aka a server) at a retirement center dining room. Then I worked at Blockbuster. Then Best Buy. And in between those to make extra dough, I babysat and worked at a telemarketing place. In college, I worked at Ruby Tuesday.

Once I graduated, I started off in the real world as a communications officer for the Missouri Senate. From there I worked at Columbia College as a pr/marketing coordinator.

And now....I'm where I should be.

Soooooo.... how can you win??? It's easy!!!

Leave a comment by midnight (CST) on Sunday, May 22, telling me:
1. What you wanted to be when you grew up
2. What jobs you held in high school/college
3. What you do now

I can't wait to see the progression!

Make sure to put in your valid email address (it will not be sold!!!) so I can contact you if you are a winner. If you don't respond to the winning email within 48 hours, I will pick new winners. Winners will be chosen by random on that following Monday or Tuesday.

Here is what you will win:

100 5x7 Postcards (use them to promote your own business, or as invitations to a shower, BBQ or your holiday card, "we just moved" notice, etc!!)
14pt Cardstock Gloss
Front-Only printing
2 Business Days Print Turnaround Time
Once I have all my Italy pictures up in a gallery, you will get to pick out a 16x24 print!

Restriction: Limited to US residents 18 years old and above only.
This postcards giveaway is sponsored by UPrinting, no monetary compensation was given. Check out UPrinting online printing services for more information.

So get to it!

UPDATE!!!! I drew the numbers 1-18 (and if a person had to comment more than once due to space constraints, I lumped them together as ONE entry...). So ICF Reward Walls & Elizabeth are the winners!!! :)

Il bel paese: PART 2--Lucca, Italy & Cinque Terre {travel log}

2011-05-10T16:26:00.001-05:00

Bittersweet as it was to leave Venice, I was so excited to venture a bit farther southwest to the quaint walled city of Lucca. We opted to stay a mile and a half outside of the city walls (literally) of Lucca, at a bed and breakfast that promised whimsy and relaxation. So after arriving in Lucca by train (via Venice to Florence, then Florence to Lucca), we took a taxi to Corte Dei Foletti. And we were greeted by a man full of merriment and mischievousness himself, Maurizio. He was so welcoming, and right away, I knew I would LOVE it there. (Plus they have free wifi!!) Here are some pics of the B&B... it is decorated in a medieval-fantasy theme, and was positively delightful!

So after freshening up, we decided to walk to the supermercado that was right up the road. Why? Because we needed water, and my lovely husband is infatuated with a few things in life...one is opening people's refrigerator doors and cupboards (seriously, he's not being rude, he just loves to see what people buy to eat) and the other is to see what different supermarkets are like. (No clue why…)

I did find their selection of mozzarella and the like to be overwhelming, yet amusing.

We delivered our goods back in our room, and then we set off to the town’s main district. The ONLY negative thing to say about where we stayed is it was kind of a challenging walk--alongside rather busy streets and took about 20 minutes to get there. Now, mind you, we weren't staying in the boonies or anything. We were in what you would call an Italian suburb, but the gem of Lucca is actually within actual walls, a city dating back to 180 BC. In 1805, it was taken over by the dastardly man Napoleon, who then pawned it off on his sister Elisa.

Today it is some 85,000 citizens strong, and Neil read somewhere that the area within the walls has been tsk-ed by the Italian government because they have barred companies such as McDonalds and other corporate conglomerations from setting up shop amidst its Renaisssance-era cobble-stone streets and medieval facades. (I personally give that stubbornness a thumbs up!!)

Anyway, we were once again hungry, so we set off on foot again, excited to see what lay beyond the fortress-like barriers.

I left my “real” camera in the room, at Neil’s request. But I only agreed to if I were able to use my iPhone.
As we walked through a small tunnel into the city behind the walls, I saw this makeshift closet in the wall, with a sign in it that I’m guessing was some transient’s imploring request that no one touch their things.

gotta love hipstamatic

Once again, we were met with the now-familiar problem of picking a place to eat. There are so many places, that we never wanted to commit…always thinking that around the next bend would be something even more quaint and even more delicious. I was starting to get cranky (which is very normal when I’m very hungry)…so we finally just said we’d go into the next place we saw. We ended up at Locanda di Bacco. (But without internet in the city, we weren't able to look it up beforehand.) The lady who greeted us indicated that we were way early for dinner (it was 7 p.m.) and that we might have to wait a bit to order. We were fine with that. She offered us a glass of refreshing wine, so we took it. As we’re looking over the menu, we both decided nothing sounded all that good because we were kind of sick of eating pasta at this point. We were just getting up the nerve to let the server know that we were going to dine elsewhere (after we’d settle our wine bill) when the Italian-only owner delivered a basket of bread. We felt kind of guilty at that point for bailing, so we swallowed our real desire and decided to make the best of it. Our server ended up being so wonderful. She was a beautiful woman, in maybe her late 30s or early 40s, named Gabriella. Her patience, graciousness and decent English proved to be what we needed to unwind and shelve our anxiety over our choice of where to eat. She brought us out something to put on our bread…(It started with an F)…and when I asked what it was, she just told me to try it. So we did. I wasn’t that much of a fan, but Neil liked it. Turns out, it was chicken liver pate. Blek. ;)

I ordered maltagliatti al sugo di coltellacci viareggini (homemade pasta with local shellfish) and Neil got tortelli di patate mugeliani con zabaione di pecorino di fossa (homemade potate pasta with eggflip of aged ship cheese). Both of us said it was our favorite meal yet (actually, it ended up being our piatto preferito in all of Italy!!) Especially thanks to the service there. The owner gave us a blown-out decorated egg in a handmade tiny basket as a gift to us (his wife makes them to sell around Easter) and then of course we had to top off the dinner with a chocolate mousse. DELICIOUS!!!!

It was about dark by the time dinner was over, and our feet were tired. So we found a taxi stand, as well as a group of four Finnish people who were just as confused as we ended up being in trying to get a taxi to come to the taxi stand. We waited for nearly 45 minutes before we finally got through to the taxi service (it was one of those times where if we knew it was going to take that long, we’d have just walked, but then we kept waiting thinking SURELY this can’t take any longer…and then it did…)

The next morning, we visited a bit with Maurizio while we ate sugared croissants with nutella, and salami (isn’t that what everyone wants to eat for breakfast???no? ) and we learned he is an NFL fan… he knows all about the teams and even has a bumpersticker up from Neil’s and my favorite team…the Steelers! Maurizio admitted his absolute fave team was the Vikings…..with the “violet and yellow” colors.

Two new travelers checked in (there were already several staying there, none English) who ended up being from Wisconsin. Maurizio joked about keeping the Packers locked out for us Steeler fans. It was good to visit with people who knew our own country very well!!

We rented bikes from the B&B (and a shout out of thanks to Diana, who helped clean the B&B, because she dealt so well with my horrible Italian and I think was relieved when I turned to Google Translate to communicate with her –I just typed in what I wanted to say and let her read it. Worked so much better! Haha) and we set off to ride to town with the goal of cycling around on the pedestrian promenade, which is literally ON TOP of the wall. The 40-feet-high walls are so wide that there is plenty room for a roadway, greenery, some buildings, and even a sleeping man. (By the way, I think the bike ride was my most fave part of the trip just because it was so unique, such beautiful weather AND something so active!!!)

The original walls had a moat encompassing them, but it has dried up for the most part though there are a few places where a stream runs. We made it all the way around the walls, about a 2.5 mile distance, and then opted to lock up our bikes near Piazza dell'Anfiteatro while we ate a pizza and rested our tired bums. (The bikes weren’t perfect in terms of fitting us, so our roosts suffered…and only got worse later as we continued to ride over bumpy-as-all-heck cobblestone streets and back to the inn.)

P.S. that is Vienna sausage/hot dogs on there! YUM!

We looked around in the shops too. I want to go back to Italy with an empty suitcase because their clothing stores over there are 10x cooler than anything we have over here. But I knew I didn’t have the funding (nor the patience in my husband) to even START looking at clothes. I did buy a watch and a bracelet though!!!

The Santa Zita Festival was going on in the Anfiteatro, one of the main piazzas. I admit we had higher expectations for what is dubbed a ‘flower festival”….it just looked like a large farmer’s market, but instead of veggies, there were flowers. Don’t get me wrong, they were beautiful, but it was anticlimactic.

And check this out... who needs bike alarms? :)

We walked to the Guinigi Tower, paid $5 euros to climb to the top where there are a few trees (though that was hardly what impressed us…check out the view from about 131 feet in the air a few pics down!!!)

Two on the way up...

Make that three (this one from the iphone:

We rode our bikes home, freshened up and then took the sissy way back to town and hailed a taxi...
We dined at Baralla at the recommendation of Maurizio. I will say it was my 2nd least fave dining experience in Italy....(the worst one was a crappy panini on Burano Island)... it was OK food, but I got the tordelli, which is a Lucca specialty, just a pasta in a meat sauce. But at this place, it tasted like pumpkin pie...not sure why. And I'm not a fan of the stuff. haha

The flower festival at dusk...

We walked to the end of the city where it'd be easier for a taxi to pick us up...it was a pleasant stroll, and I was a tiny bit sad it'd be our last walk through this darling metropolis.

From the iphone:

Day 3, while staying in Lucca, we did a Day Trip to Cinque Terre. This is where I have to face one of the two things I regret...I don't regret going to 5 Terre. I regret not staying the night there. It was just too much of a hassle (and darn expensive after adding the insurance) to rent a car and drive into Riomagiorre, then park (also $$$$!) there but know the entire time we HAD to have our car out of the lot by 7 p.m.

So what is Cinque Terre? Just quickly, it's paradise. :) It's five villages along the sea, and its charm lies in the fact that the peasant farmers who first inhabited the area a thousand years ago cultivated the land and converted the steep cliffs into terraces where they now grown wonderful wine. You can hike between all villages, usually, though when we were there, a part of the path was closed due to recent landslides... or you can take a train or a ferry. After we parked the car, we meandered through the city in search of... first a restroom (we bought some focaccia at a small cafe and used their seatless toilet!!) and then a sign that would, we hoped, describe to us what we were supposed to do to get going. Instead of a sign, we found who we believed to be a high Californian who in between giggles, informed us that he'd recommend we take the train to Monterosso, the northwesternmost of the five villages, and then hike down and end up back where we started.

He said if we decided we couldn't hike anymore since we were not exactly the most fit individuals, we could stop in one of the villages and take a ferry or the train. So we purchased a train ticket and a path ticket all together for 10 Euros each ( I ended up losing mine in the middle of the path, so I had to pay another $5 euros to get back to Riomagiorre....GRRR!)...and rode the train up to Monterosso. Now, because we thought we'd be sort of rushed to get back to our car by 7 (it was about 1 p.m. by the time we got off the train), we didn't take any time to just sit in Monterosso to relax. REGRET!!! We got right on with it and hiked...thousands of stairs...and i tried to snap a few pics along the way.

(I never thought I'd see a spaceship in Italy!! ;) )

Check out the trek that we met with several times...(it was quite treacherous and I felt so bad because Neil is afraid of heights. He handled it like a champ though!!)

We saw a tree growing sideways...and it had shoes draped over the end. Neil and I might have bickered over our own theories as to how the shoes got there. He thinks someone was brave/stupid enough to climb out on a limb, literally, and put them there. I think they were merely tossed, like people do in the "hoods" over powerlines. So if the original shoe owner ever reads this, please enlighten us!!!

Here is a pic to show you how thin this path was at times, and sometimes, it was this thin with the steep cliff off to the right (I didn't feel comfy enough taking a pic at these times because the path was fairly heavily trafficked, and with a camera up to my face, I might have missed out on moving in time!!!)

It was supposed to have taken 90 minutes, but it was more like 2 hours for us...and when we saw this sight, we were so thankful because on the way we had already determined that we were done hiking. (haha) We said we'd take the ferry in Vernazza to Manarola (the path between the 3rd town, Corniglia, and Manarola was closed anyway...)

And this, my friends, is what a decadent authentic snack looks like:

My 5D Mark II on the left...the iphone on the right

We were worried about not getting dinner AND our car by 7 p.m., so we didn't rest for long in Vernazza. This is a view from the ferry of Manarola.

I was mesmerized by the striations in the rocks there....and Manarola is known for having boats lining the streets. It is not known whether most of these boats ever get used. ;)

We did think we were capable of taking the 20 min path (the Via dell' Amore) to Riomagiorre. It was a very scenic walk, and perhaps the one we should have stuck with (haha)... along the way we noticed all these little padlocks in random places put there by 'lovers"...yeah, we didn't know to bring ours. Oops.
one of maybe 30 clusters we saw:

And another thing we saw at every turn...graffiti in the form of carvings into the botanical inhabitants...kinda odd:

As we got into Riomagiorre, I saw this and it made me smile. A conked out dog. And his rubber chicken. The best of buddies.

We ate a really good dinner of stuffed sardines and mussels, and spaghetti with clams at one of the only places open at 6 p.m. in Riomagiorre (remember, Italians eat really late!!!). I do so wish we could have stayed a bit longer...

On the way out... I did make Neil stop the car for a few more snaps.

This is actually of La Spezia, a larger city, to the south east of 5 Terre.

We were tuckered out times ten when we got back to Maurizio's welcoming inn. So we turned in rather early to shower and pack. I was definitely sad to be leaving Tuscany...
The next morning we got our Packer pals to take a pic of us with Maurizio! He just makes me smile. Such a jovial, warm man!!!

I hate to say that the last part of our time in Lucca was not so wonderful... I'll suffice it to say the next morning, I had to use the restroom, but the train station's only options were the in-the-ground toilet bowls..which required restroom-users to squat and go. Because I was not exactly confident in my aim (hey, it had been decades since I'd "natured"...) i took off my pants completely. NOT A FUN EXPERIENCE!!! hahah

And on that note, I shall close... the last leg of our trip was in Rome, which started off better than expected and ended on a sour and expensive note.

Addio per ora!

(if you're interested in purchasing any prints...you can do so now that I have all the photos online.
Go here.
And use the discount code Italy11 in the next 30 days to get 15 percent off of your order! )

Il bel paese: PART 1-- Venice, Italy {travel log}

2011-05-04T09:05:00.002-05:00

Most experiences in life are hard to digest at the time the experience is occurring. As much as you look around you and try take in all the details—the smell, the feel in the air, the scenery, the colors, the way you feel—it’s not always up to the conscious part of your brain to choose which moments to indelibly embed into your memory bank. It’s not like studying or memorizing a language. It’s not about succeeding in remembering what you want to remember. It’s about feeling the experience again effortlessly, and letting what is in your mind’s eye wash over you once again when something triggers the reminiscing.

I have always been fascinated by that reality, and while Neil and I were in Italy, this was even more on my mind. I do remember several times trying to take it all in….so overwhelmed with beauty—alleys to explore, scenes to photograph and goings on that piqued my curiosity. But once again, I had no power over choosing which moments truly stayed with me. I think that is one reason I am so enamored with photography. Because when I click the shutter, I have chosen to freeze that frame in time…that scene…those colors…. In hopes of someday looking at the images again and reliving the moment I thought was worthy of reliving…even if your brain didn’t fully record it in the readily accessible way that it did others.

I will be posting a few—probably 3—blogs over the next few weeks about my trip out of the country. It was a wonderful, albeit exhausting, vacation, though it started out rocky with a canceled flight and subsequently losing 7 hours that could have been spent in our first destination—Venice.

Or Venezia as it is known “over there.” (and I still wonder to this day why the rest of the world doesn’t call locations what they are actually named..)

So yes…let’s start with Venice. (And I know most of you will just flick through this to look at the pics…but I thought I’d document the actual trip here so others who are planning similar trips can use it as a resource for either help or inspiration…and let’s face it…my mom and sister want to know details. Haha) So my apologies if it drones on and on. I think the 2nd and 3rd posts will be way shorter because many of the nuances of the culture are noted early on.

DAY 1
We got in about 5:15 p.m. Italy time (10:15 a.m. back home). After the most miserable international flight thanks to very little sleep and an excruciatingly painful butt and back from the uncomfy seats that only exacerbate my own spinal probs, we finally landed in this fascinating city. We took a private transfer from the airport to a water taxi on the Grand Canal, and from there, we were dropped off at our hotel… Palazzo Giovanelli. On the way to the hotel, I think my eyes were glazed over because as much as you see photos of Venice, and as much as I know that there are no streets, but only walkways and canals, it is so other-wordly to fully be immersed in this car-less culture.

Everything seemed so fake, but in that good “pinch me, this can’t be real” way. I felt I was on a worn out, but much-loved, movie set. The buildings are not perfectly kept up. In fact, most were downright decrepit if you look closely. But knowing this city is 1500 years old, you can easily cut it some slack, right?

I myself was curious as to how the city stayed afloat…I thought maybe it was just an island with canals dug out of it…but I guess the buildings are instead built on petrified wood piles, so the foundation is nearly stone-like and therefore decay and termite-proof. (And there are some theories that the city is sinking, but several efforts are in place to help prevent it)

The first pic I took on my iPhone upon pulling into our hotel dock. This is the church of San Stae next door to our hotel.

The first evening we got in, after we settled into our rather small hotel room, we went for a walk in search of dinner. (Osterias, cafes and trattorias are rampant; and it was refreshing to not see any chains like Applebee’s anywhere…) One of the first scenes before us had several locals and tourists cracking up. I couldn't even believe my eyes.

Along the way, my mouth was often agape (thank gosh there didn’t seem to be many bugs because if there were, I’d have swallowed a few as my antipasti), and I would find myself staring at a building, a wall, a door, an ornate fixture, and getting lost in thoughts about all the possible stories that have unfolded over the centuries within reach. The dilapidation was undeniably charming, and not just because I’m a photographer. Couple that with the natives’ décor of fresh flowers or hanging laundry, and I was seriously in awe.

There is a mystical serenity that blankets the alleys and plazas. Because the walls are all around us, sound didn’t carry far, so we felt somewhat alone no matter where we went. Alone, but not lonely.

Sometimes, we’d catch wind of a flurry of voices or laughter from down the lanes, alleys or walkways, and it reminded me of the muffled sound of fun after you step outside of a party—you know, that comforting notion that you’re being independent, perhaps clearing your head, but civilization is not far off.

At every turn, I wanted to take a picture. But thanks to Neil’s already festering annoyance (it’s rough to travel with a photographer if you yourself aren’t one!!) and my own fear that I’d run out of battery power (I left my charger at home accidentally!! And only had 3 batteries!!!), I tried to not overdo it knowing it was only the first night.

We found ourselves in a large square plaza at dusk, populated by tourists and locals alike, including several boisterous kids who had turned the brick beneath their feet into their soccer field. We chose a café called Cico Bar with outdoor seating and palatable prices. I ordered something crazy…. Spaghetti and Meatballs. Haha I thought I’d try something so typical the first night and see if it even compared to that which I can make myself or get at a restaurant 5000 miles away. Neil got a tortellini in a cream sauce with pancetta. Both were quite yummy, however, I feel horrible saying that for being IN Italy, I wasn’t overly impressed. It was actually a tad too spicy. Neil’s mom makes better sauce. We did get gelato (yum!! I opted for Nutella flavor!!!) that first night, as well as stocked up on bottled water. (We’d heard the tap water was fine to drink, but I dunno… I just didn’t want to risk it since we were so far from home.)

A lovely view of our hotel at night.

DAY 2

So the first night’s sleep was much-needed (we hadn’t slept in over 30 hours!!!) Because our room was on the ground floor, I could easily hear the lobby music. I fell asleep to Phil Collins. And I woke up to him, too. As it turns out (I later learned), many Italians are huge fans of American music, but tend to embrace the 80s/90s songs and good ol’ Phil is a top fave. We heard. Him. Everywhere.

The hotel had a great breakfast...and they called it the AMERICAN breakfast, which was also the same at the hotel we stayed at in Rome. We're thinking that the believe Americans eat lunch meat, cheese and scrambled eggs for breakfast.

We had a morning appointment to tour the Doge’s Palace via a Secret Itinerary tour. Now, most people know that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line (which I can’t say without thinking of Deana Carter’s HOW DO I GET THERE lyrics…). But apparently, Venice never has heard of that concept (and probably not Deana Carter either.)

There is no such thing as walking straight on a road to get anywhere, so we opted to purchase a 48-hour pass on the vaporetto (waterbus), and took that from the stop right outside our hotel (San Stae) to the St. Mark’s stop for the Doge’s Palace. The vaporetto was awesome in its convenience, and quite cool to experience, too. Look at all the prettiness we've seen along the way....

I took two pics...one on my iphone and one on my 5d Mark II. Which one do you like better? (and can you tell which is which???)

And then there was something coming at us....

as it got closer, we saw it was a kayak race. I found it so fitting that the turquoise and red ones were winning. ;)

We made it with time to kill. The Doge (translated to “duke”) was the Republic of Venice’s highest elected chief of state for thousands of years. Whomever was chosen for that position was chosen for the duration of his life, and under his rule, it was attempted to build a mini-empire. (This practice continued until 1797, when shorty-pants Napoleon took over the city.) To see pics of the actual building, click on the link below or google it.. it was so busy that any pic I got just wasn't pretty enough to do these justice buildings justice.

So we toured the buildings where these administrative offices were kept, but we went behind the scenes to the prisons and the rooms where the judges would hear out the cases. We learned about the system of justice called the Bocca Di Leone, which allowed a Venezian to write an anonymous letter, snitching on another citizen or member of authority. (This concept actually fascinated/haunted Mark Twain, which he referred to in one of his many writings.) The concept? Insert letter of denunciation into lion’s mouth and let the accused be judged. Various lions around the city were there for a range of denunciations. The main one on the Doge’s Palace entrance served as the portal to report tax evaders. (The lions are missing from the other two slots.)

The most fascinating part of the tour was learning the story of the real Cassanova. You know, he was the one who was notorious for being a seductive womanizer. Most men were not fond of him, so it was no surprise that he was in the crosshairs of the law-enforcers, but since no proof could be found regarding his dalliances in adultery, he was arrested for having forbidden books on witchcraft. But he wasn’t just good with the ladies….he had a knack for manipulating prison guards and being a MacGuyver with limited resources. He ended up escaping rather than serving out his sentence, and later was corralled by Italian government to become a spy. (I must note that I was romanced by this story so much that I wanted to know more about the man whose name still today is used so flippantly. But I was disappointed to learn that by looks alone, he was not someone who would make MY heart go pitter-patter. He must have had charisma. ) To see for yourself, be sure to click on the link in his name above.

One of my fave pics of the trip.

The prisoners walked between the interrogation rooms and the prison, and here is their last view of the world outside before they were imprisoned...the Bridge of Sighs….(which now could be renamed, "bridge of tourists who want to emulate sardines"....

After the tour, we did a quick walkthrough Saint Mark’s square...

but we were rather annoyed with the heavy influx of tourists so we bailed and returned to the less-populated neighborhoods. Even the Rialto Bridge was a mess of people...though still beautiful.

I needed to use the restroom, but all the horror stories are true, finding a decent place to do so is not easy or desirable. We learned the best way to do it was to find a bar, buy a bottled water and then use their toilettes. Well, in this one instance, I chose a restaurant that was a bit too hoity-toity and they only served very large glass bottles of water, for $4 euros (which would have been $7.) I must have looked desperate because I instead offered the guy –and thank gosh he spoke English-- $1 euro to just use the bathroom. He had to ask permission, but luckily, the answer was yes. Phew!!! So just know that is what you must do when you gotta go. :) Also here I’d like to inform you if you don’t already know…that the restaurants that DO have a toilet room, oftentimes don’t have seats on the toilet. I myself am not a hoverer (I think it’s gross and too uncomfy) so I always had to clean off the rim first, then I cloaked it in layers of toilet paper before sitting down. TMI? Haha Sorry. It’s helpful to know ahead of time!!!

We found ourselves across the Grand Canal from where our hotel was in what I think might be my favorite sestiere (neighborhood)….. Cannaregio. (Neil didn't think the neighborhoods looked any different, but he's not exactly trained to notice the finite distinctions in beauty...)

And that is when it happened. They say it is something you MUST do while in Venice. And we did it. We got lost.

Neil was not amused (it might have been my fault, though in my defense, for being a cartographer, he sure didn’t “own” the map). But do you think I cared? Did you not SEE the pics above??

Gotta love European style...

Once we got unlost, we freshened up and headed back out for dinner. We found a sidewalk restaurant that looked cozy and warm not far from the Rialto Bridge and here we had a delicious seafood risotto.

The Rialto Bridge at night...if you ignore the cluster of bumbling gawkers...is a bit prettier....

DAY 3

The last day we forwent the popular trip to Murano Island (that is where they make that beautiful glass), and instead went one stop further on the ferry and went to Burano Island. Some views on the journey...

Another dog playing the role of Captain...

Here is where they specialize in lace. I bought a scarf…and we also had subpar paninis. But the island itself is so cheerful and delightful….it’s like wandering around a maze painted by a kindergartener. We talked at length with a store owner (at a place called Marco’s) about living on Burano Island, and learned that the homes in the Venice Lagoon are so darn expensive, that the government will pay 40-50 percent of the sale price for first-time home buyers because they are that desperate to keep people living there. (Population is going down.) The catch is that you have to stick around for quite a few years to make the government’s investment worth it. He also talked about how badly the walkways flood during the winter wet months…saying their store often times is 3 feet deep in water. But he shrugged and said, “Life continues, doesn’t it?” And so it does.

I had bought noodles like these as a gag gift a few years ago...but I saw them EVERYWHERE in Italy. Do you see what it is?

Back on the main island of Venice, we walked around to our last dinner there...

Our last night’s dinner in Venice was at my favorite restaurant we went to while there, called La Patatina. I had baked mussels and clams ( LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! ) and wine! Neil had some seafood pasta. Also decadent. You’d think here is where I would tell you that we wanted to send off our time in Venice in a romantic way, via a gondola ride through the canal. But that was not the case. We contemplated it, surely. But for a 30 minute ride after 7 p.m., it was going to cost us $100-120 euros (which is nearly $200 in US funds). We decided we had walked enough and ridden the vaporetto enough to be content. I know, I know! Such a missed opportunity!!! But, “Life continues…”

The next morning, before our train to Lucca, we went to the Rialto market to see what that was like.

I was repulsed to find shredded horse meat (I couldn’t help it!!!)

and was overwhelmed with the freshness of smells. I felt so inspired to cook when seeing all the seafood, though some of it scared me, and even got a bit daydreamy about living there and going to get what we’d need fresh each day… but then I come to my senses and thought about how small their kitchens most likely are and after living in an apartment and duplex before getting my own house, I realize that enjoying where you cook is just as important as enjoying WHAT you cook. ;)

So that closes out the majority of trip in the Floating City. But here are a few other notes I filed away:

1. Italians eat really late. This proved even more so in Lucca and Rome, where restaurants didn’t even open until 7:30 or 8 p.m.

2. The restaurant and shop owners didn’t like to make change with coins, or take credit cards. If they did do it, they seemed put off by it.

3. We are lucky that other parts of the world take the time and effort to learn English. We take it for granted and I feel like English-speakers just expect everyone to know “our” language, but we don’t do the same. I just wish I could learn quickly because Spanish and Italian would be so incredible to truly master. I know Spanish enough to communicate if needed, but definitely have a way to go!

4. I saw a few markets, but I don’t know how Venezians buy toilet paper or other staples, much less the things that aren’t necessarily needed, such as board games or office supplies. I think it's sad that I don't think I could live without a Target-like store. I want choices...and cheap alternatives.

5. I found myself embittered when I’d see signs of commercialism around the city. Banners hanging from buildings advertising things. I wanted to yell, “NO! Don’t go the way of America and other countries!! Stay pure! Stay away from billboards!!”

6. When you order water at restaurants, they will ask whether you want still/natural or sparkling/carbonated/frizzante… We always ordered “still”….and then they bring it out usually in a glass bottle that you pour into glasses.

7. And for salads, there is no ranch or even Italian dressing. You get olive oil and either red wine vinegar or balsamic. (I prefer red wine vinegar….)

8. Wine is good. Italian wine is better. (and so reasonably priced!!!)

So that's it, folks. The next leg of our trip was to Lucca and a day trip to Cinque Terre. Stay tuned.

if you're interested in purchasing any prints...you can do so now that I have all the photos online.
Go here.
And use the discount code Italy11 in the next 30 days to get 15 percent off of your order!

Hitched: Caitlin & Jeff {Kansas City wedding photographer}

2011-04-21T08:34:00.000-05:00

NOTE: This will probably be the last post for a few weeks because my husband and I are taking a much-needed vacation to Italy, and then I will be traveling to San Diego for another wedding. Of course, I will have photos of our adventures, but those will come later!!! :) So please note that I will be out of the office during this time and I will respond to any emails and phone calls when I'm back in the office in mid-May.

So anyway.... I'm torn between being speechless and wanting to ramble on and on about the amazingness that was Caitlin & Jeff's wedding. As a wedding photographer, I would say I have a pretty good feel for what makes a wedding stand out from the rest. And in this case, what stood out with a blaring effect was their effort to putting their personalities in the wedding-- from the details, the color palette and the personalized vows to the uncle who married them with an iPad in hand... the wedding was so THEM!!!

And in Caitlin & Jeff's case, that is a good thing.

Add that to the fact that these two surround themselves by the friendliest, most fun and welcoming crew of friends and family... and I couldn't have asked for more. Amber Cutler, a fellow Kansas City wedding photographer, was my sidekick for the day, and she and I gushed to one another time and again about the glow that was coming from the bride and groom AND from their friends!

I'm sure I will blab more later...but let's get this party of a beautiful wedding started. (As you'll see, Cait's taste is impeccable...gives Anthropologie a run for its money...)

The pair opted for a first glance in the romantic graffiti-adorned alley next to the Hobbs Building. Cait & Jeff are so genuinely smitten for one another, that it's like Amber said..."it's palpable."

Did you see it? The raw emotion in their eyes and their laugh. Man, it took some effort to not forget I was there to take photos instead of bawling like a baby watching a love scene in (insert your favorite romantic movie here.)

In Jeff's words...these are a few of the reasons he loves Caitlin. I DARE you to not tear up.

"I love Cait's passion for living; she takes in all the small things in life and relishes in them. I love her adventurous spirit, as she always is trying new things and convincing me to get out of my shell. I love her ridiculousness and carefree attitude--the way she thinks you should dance like no one is watching because really all that matters is that you're happy! And lastly I love how truly loved she makes me feel. Never before have I felt this loved and accepted in my life. I know she loves me flaws and all. Truly."

In Cait's words...these are a few of the reasons she loves Jeff. (And she noted that the reasons really are innumerable...)

"Jeff has the most mischievous, wicked smile that always makes me to want to kiss him and find out what he's thinking about. I love the way he holds me because it makes me feel so cherished, comfortable and simply loved. :) He dances with me anywhere...in the grocery store, in the kitchen, at Target. Few people humor me and my random ideas like he does, and that makes everything even more fun and memorable. He makes me smile and feel like I'm sparkling on the inside, which is one of the BEST feelings in the world."

So is it any surprise that their friends are just as vibrant and fun? (And great sports when it's sooo windy and their skirts and ties are blowing crazily around!!)

And they brought CONFETTI! Which I LOVED...but I loved the chimp-like behavior that happened AFTERWARDS even more. ;)

Can I get an Ooooh-eee-ahhh-ahhh? Or a banana? Anyone?? Anyone?

Let me take a moment to tell you about their ceremony. One of the few things I feel so strongly about when it comes to personalizing weddings (from the point of view of a past bride who did this, from the point of view of a guest who loves when this is done and from the point of view of a photographer who gets to document the emotion when it happens...) is to WRITE YOUR OWN VOWS. If your officiant will allow you to (and you don't HAVE to get rid of the traditional ones, you can supplement them!!) then I promise on everything I am that you will evoke true emotion from not only the one you're marrying, but those there who are witnessing the occasion.

Cait & Jeff did two sets of vows... one from Dr. Seuss (something like these) and ones they wrote on their own. One set had us all giggling and the other had us choking up. Now THAT is a ceremony worth attending!!!

With every look between them, there was adoration, sweetness and pure joy.

What's more to love was that the bridal party were awesome fans...they did the wave and hooted when they were excited. Much to everyone's continued amusement, the passing train did a "hooo-hoooo" as well!

And then the touches throughout... (many of which I hear were put together by Cait's step-mom...who ROCKED it!!)

My love for cheerful colors and vintage-modern details made my heart go batty!!

The dance was pure craziness. I think Amber & I got whip lash trying to keep up with all the shenanigans that were going on at every turn.

Don't ask. Seriously. Because I have NO idea how to answer....

CAITLIN & JEFF (And their family and friends...)--thank you for reminding me of EVERY reason I love weddings and love and people IN love. Your wedding, from beginning to end, is gush-worthy. I can only hope these photos enable you to relive at least HALF of the wonderfulness of your special day. Best wishes to you as you embark on whatever ridiculous adventures come your way. ;) xo

Kansas City vendors of note who made all of the above complete:

Florist--Becoflowers
Cakery--Classic Cakes
Caterer--Feasts of Fancy (resident caterer for the Hobbs Building)
DJ--John Cissell

P.S. I love you: Abby & Justin are back {St. Joseph couples session}

2011-04-18T19:59:00.000-05:00

My camera always welcomes familiarity when it comes to much-loved past clients/friends. It has been two years since Abby & Justin's engagement session in Columbia, Mo., and one year since their beautiful Kansas City wedding. And to mark their first anniversary as married, the couple wanted to bring me up to their neck of the woods to finish out the trinity of locations....where their currently live... in St. Joseph.

And this time, it wasn't just the two of them. Their family has grown quite a bit over the years... ;)
Meet Marley on the left and Princess Belle on the right...

And then the two handfuls of joviality... Lilly and Frank. Lilly is quite the lady...well-behaved and earnest with her need to be loved. Frank is a bit more on the playful and spastic side. Never a dull moment with his puppy-dog eyes around.

Then we went off with just the lovebirds...and let me tell you, I was overwhelmed with two things... the loveliness of the byways in St. Joseph...and the romance that just naturally bubbles up when these two are around.

Warm chills...if that is possible...

And they listen so well to my directions!!! I accidentally said "chin to chin" rather than "cheek to cheek".... hahahahahah I heart you goofballs!!

And then all the people sighed....

Abs & Jugo...thank you once again for calling upon my services to document the stepping stones of your life! I can't wait to be there to do the next phase.... wink wink.... xo

WEE ONES: Brogan is 18-months!!! {Kansas City family photographer}

2011-04-14T10:32:00.001-05:00

My sister's good friends came down last week for a session to document their song Brogan at this adorable, mischievous stage in life. And it was Luke's birthday to boot! I bet that is what every dad wants to do to celebrate another year---ham it up in front of the camera when the spotlight is on his own son. ;)

We went to Antioch Park in Merriam, Kansas, and boy did we have a good time exploring. The weather was beautiful...Brogan was in a good mood and cute as ever... and Brandy & Luke weren't crabby either! ;)

He might look familiar.... his photo shoots are never dull. I am LOVING watching Brogan grow up. He's already been reserved for my niece Cailin, should she decide to pursue his love interests at a later date. So ladies, back off! ;)
And apparently, he's not afraid of me yet. ;)

They brought along the chair that beckons a camera lens nowadays, but a symbol of being in trouble when Luke was younger. If Luke, the lil' clown I know he was (haha), acted up when he was at dinner, his punishment was to sit in the dreaded red chair!!!! Which is so funny because Brogan felt honored to be sitting in it... Or walking around it. Or ignoring it all together in favor of the gazillion dogwood petals on the ground (he liked to put the petals on his head).

And if this next photo doesn't fill you with glee...then you might want to have your glee-meter checked. I think this face is a result of grandma or grandpa dancing around behind me. I know, shocking! ;)

Now there's a dashing young man!

It was a bit hazy at sundown...but it provided a warm, dewy look for a family stroll... ;)

This is the face that Brandy & Luke refer to as the evil-Brogan face. I think he's soooo cute! (But yes, looks a tad bit wicked...haha) Cute enough to close with though, that's for sure!

Brandy & Luke, I hope you had a great getaway in KC....and that Luke was able to celebrate his birthday and unwind after a grueling photo session. Thank you so much for coming to my neck of the woods!!! Kisses and hugs!!