A little R&R...

I'm officially leaving for a full week of vacation with my man! We are celebrating the fact that I have two free weekends and are heading to Isle Mujeres. Jarrod has requested the following...no laptop, no iphone, and my cameras are getting fresh clean sensors while I'm away. So I guess that leaves me with my hunny, the warm breeze, and the deep blue sea. I think I can handle that.

Thanks to Jen Fields for taking the time to bless Jarrod and I with some family portraits. Your work is such a treat:)

Distance makes the heart grow fonder...

This sweet couple spent a good majority of their engagement apart...Nate's job took him to San Antonio and only had weeks back in Kansas City before the big day. Then, after being married less than a few weeks he had to go back to San Antonio and has been there ever since. I can't imagine...what a bummer. Jessica has been a trooper through it all. Stay strong Jess- he'll be back soon!

I loved shooting this wedding, and spending the day with Jessica and Nate...here are some of my favorites:

Weddings galore!

I've had a wedding every weekend since the beginning of april and no time to blog about them...so here we go! I leave to head out of the country with my husband in three days, and it's my goal to blog a wedding everyday until we leave:)

This first wedding was such a treat. I knew from the minute I met Andy and Melissa that they were going to be great to work with. Let's just say this...they play on an intramural dodgeball team, Andy laughs like Mufasa from the Lion King, and Melissa is straight up Brazilian. They keep things entertaining and fun, and I had a blast shooting their wedding. Here are some of my favorites from their day:

Melissa getting ready at their loft downtown:


Andy and Melissa seeing eachother for the first time on the rooftop of their loft...the Western Auto building...





a bridal party isn't complete without a guy in an Irish Kilt:)






the sweetest grandma you'll ever meet...

life as a flower girl can be so stressful...











Andy's "Mufasa laugh" is contagious!


And finally...the party! At at Em Chamas, a Brazilian Steakhouse in Parkville...quite appropriate for the Brazilian bride:)

we all need somebody to lean on...

Jon and Alissa Shirley are exceptional people. They love people...they love dogs...and they have a heart for social justice. They pour their lives into their ministry at Heartland Community Church (where my husband and I met). They live life abundantly, and I love it that my husband and I can call them dear friends. Three years ago, Alissa was my matron of honor. She stood beside me while Jon officiated Jarrod and I's wedding ceremony. These two have played an integral part in our life ever since.

I photographed these two recently as they were closing a chapter to their life and beginning a new one...moving from their cute house to a new one...a house that will have room for their first baby! Sweet friends, we are so happy for you...enjoy these portraits and get ready for some more because baby shirley is on the way!

Don't mess with their watchdog pups...they have little dog syndrome like you wouldn't believe:)

lots of love for Faye and Ese!



This is the "Jon just said something wildly inapproapriate...Alissa laughs unapprovingly" moment...classic.



If there's a couple to demonstrate this well, it's the Shirleys...



me with Lis...just a couple of silly girls.

a rocker/indie combo.

Ashley and Chris are a fun and fashionable pair...Ashley works in the fashion industry, and Chris...well, he just likes fashionable clothes:) We shot their session with hopes of capturing the two styles and personalities: their "indie/layed back" mentality and their "rocker....we love 80's hair bands" side:) If you can imagine, we had a good time. And for the record, this was the shoot where I fell victim to the pigeon poo. That was a good laugh...

For the love of beautiful babies!

I'm finding it so interesting how drastically different one baby is from the next. Sure, they all share common traits...which I don't need to get into here:) BUT how fascinating to observe that even at 3 weeks old, there is no denying that every baby is carefully and wonderfully created...with personalities so unique. Baby Reece has one heck of a personality. While most babies are content to sleep through their photo sessions, she took took a more active role...smiling, stretching, and observing this great big world.

If couples could be superheroes, these guys would be it....

A couple of things to know about Colleen and Josh:

1. hands down, the most creative, fun proposal I've ever seen..I cry AND got the goosebumps everytime I watch it. The video is SO worth watching...

2. Josh, a fantastic photographer himself, and Colleen gave me complete creative freedom to do whatever the heck I wanted, which was so refreshing. Thanks guys...I had so much fun.

3. Collectively, these two have more talents, interests, and skills than I can possibly get into. They both embody a dangerous combination of ambition and faith, a sure-fire formula for crazy amounts of success in life. I find this inspiring.

3. Let's be honest, these two belong on America's next top model. I'm sending a few of these to Tyra :)

Here are a few of my favorites from the day: