The weekend trip – or 36 hours in one place – is becoming really popular in my life. I don’t mind it. I get to see new places, I get to spend time with great friends, I get to eat really really really good food. So, I’m not complaining about whirlwind trips. My first of the year (Yes, there are more planned. Say it with me…YAY!) was to New Orleans with Adam and our friends Kyle and Laura.
Here’s what we saw: 
So, Missouri is cold right now. There hasn’t been a lot of snow, but it’s cold. Like COLD. Blake and I (and his wonderful mom, Julie) braved said cold to take his senior photos out at Watkins Mill in Excelsior Springs. Blake is super GQ — you’ll see. He’s amazingly photogenic and there were several times when I stopped and said, “You’re just so good at this.” We found the perfect pockets of light (which you’ll also see) and I tried to find some candid moments within the traditional poses. Congrats on your last semester of high school, Blake. Good luck with everything!
When beautiful light meets a pretty photogenic kid.
My last shoot of 2011 is my first blog session of 2012. The Montgomery/Colvin/Katzenberger family is delightful. Obviously you’ve seen 2 of the 4 Montgomery kids on the blog already – Bonnie and Molly – but this is the whole kit and kaboodle. Adam and I were asked over to take some groups shots while everyone was home for Christmas, but it was more fun just to interact with all of them. I’m in love with all the kidlets and felt so welcomed by everyone. To say it was just fun to be around them would be an understatement! Happy viewing.
Life is all about moments. The first time you meet someone, the first time he holds your hand, the first time you kiss, the first time you say I love you. There are all of these moment-defining times in our lives. 2011 was like that for me. Not only personally – I fell in love for the first time this year – but professionally. Last year I shot 6 weddings, this year I doubled that and snapped photos for thirteen truly amazing couples.
I love the moments, I love witnessing two people marry their best friends. It’s wonderful, really, getting to meet people and experience their day with them. I think we’re pretty lucky. We’ve witnessed some pretty beautiful, touching, funny and sweet moments.
See:
I have so many new ideas for 2012′s wedding season and I can’t wait for it to start back up! A new logo, a new editing aestheic, new packaging and just a new business strategy is to come, so get excited for that. Plus, if you know someone who’s getting hitched, as always, I’d LOVE to take their photos. So, spread the word.
Also, thank you, dear readers, for sticking with me and checking out the blog this year. It means the WORLD to me. I adore all of you! Thank you, thank you, thank you
Over Thanksgiving, Adam and I traveled down to McPherson to celebrate the holiday with my family and also shoot my cousin Kelley and Rob’s wedding. They got married at the Masonic Temple in Salina and it was filled with beautiful light, vintage furniture and an gorgeous couple. It was ridiculously windy that Saturday, so braved it for a bit and then did everything else inside where it was warm and we weren’t stuck in a wind tunnel. I had so much fun…Allison, my sister, shot with me, Adam got to meet a bunch of my family and I got to spend the day with my cousin as she married her best friend.
I’m pretty lucky.
The Colvin’s are a such a beautiful family. Molly and Dustin are adorably sweet and their kidlets – Mikayla, Chloe, Patrick and Brady – make my job so much fun! We met up on a Sunday afternoon at Union Station and played around upstairs before heading outside to brave the wind and the chill. I adore families like the Colvin’s – laid-back, comfortable in front of the camera and of course, just as sweet as can be.
(Molly is, coincidentally, the sister of Bonnie. I also snapped the entire Montgomery/Colvin/Katzenberger family the Monday after Christmas, so look for that post soon as well!).
