The best laid plans...
I consider myself a life long lover of learning. So it's not surprising that I'm constantly taking classes, breakout sessions and reading books about photography to enhance my art. Recently, I was enjoying just such a breakout, which included an assignment to "style" a photography shoot.
Winter is not the time of year to be styling anything outdoors, so I decided to come up with something indoors. Since the holidays are in full force and I love doing crafts with the kids, it came to me...gingerbread house decorating. Things quickly changed! While scouring Pinterest for inspiration, I stumbled on a gingerbread house decorating party. When I showed it to my daughter, who just happens to have a December birthday, my styled photo shoot morphed into my daughter's all time favorite birthday party. Oh well, I'll have to come up with something else.
Of course I still took photos though...
Nikki is a senior!
Today I want you to meet Nikki. Intellectual, fun loving, big sister are the words that come to mind when I think about this young woman.
When her mom contacted me to shoot her senior session, I found out that her aunt is a photographer in California, so the stakes were pretty high. :)
Mother Nature was bound and determined to put a halt to the session, but I wasn't going to throw in the towel. It rained like cats and dogs right up until session time, but once we got going everything went great. Beautiful glowing light and a rainbow as we loaded into our cars at the end. What else can you ask for?
Jaimi and Joe got hitched!
Let's give it up for one amazing couple, who just so happen to be newlyweds. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson!
I absolutely loved photographing Jaimi and Joe's wedding at Raccoon Creek Country Club and their beautiful Barn.
I met Jaimi and Joe for the first time at another wedding and then more officially when I took their engagement photos at 17 Mile Marker House in Parker and we hit it off instantly. They are so authentic and playful, so it was a perfect match!
Who else would let me take a photo like this?
Their wedding day was perfect! They went for a rustic/country style wedding; complete with wood platters for the cupcakes that Joe made himself. By far, my favorite moment came when Jaimi read vows she'd written to her new stepdaughter. There wasn't a dry eye in the house (mine included). Everything about the ceremony was so touching and genuine...just like Jaimi and Joe!
I wish Jaimi and Joe many more years of love and happiness!!
Capturing Holiday Cheer
It's that time of year again. The holidays are upon us. I think my family and I do more in November and December than I do all year. As a photographer, I know the struggle is real when it comes to photographing these special moments. One of my favorite photography websites published these tips for capturing holiday photos. Definitely check these out!
I also invite you to try and take more unposed, candid shots of your holiday. Have you ever gone back through your photos and noticed that most of them are of your family lined up like pickets in a fence standing in front of something (Christmas tree, grandmas fireplace, holiday display in your town)? Maybe try something different.
The kids wanted to make cookies yesterday, so I grabbed some detail shots of the action. And yes, at one point I stood on top of my dinner table. Just don't tell my husband.
Beth's 2015 Holiday Session
Oh how I just adore the family I'm blogging about today. I'm lucky enough to say I've been photographing Beth, Georgia and Lily for 2 years now! I truly can't believe how much the girls have grown and changed since I first met them.
Georgia is still an avid reader and probably reading more intellectual stuff than I do. Lily is a firecracker, but she's growing up so fast! That baby face of hers is so grown up looking now!
And, it goes without saying, Beth is such a dear friend! It's hard to not become friends with someone like her, she's so grounded, honest and (best of all) tons of fun.
When Beth was ready to do their annual holiday session, I immediately began counting down the days to our session!
And as for the day of the shoot, we had to do a little rearranging to avoid putting them in snow drifts, but I think Cheeseman park worked out even better than my original location. We laughed, ran, climbed trees, played in leaves and just generally had an amazing time.
Okay, enough text. Check out this awesomely beautiful family!
