You're Who...?

One thing I'm super intentional about is really getting to know my couple before the big day. After meetings, an engagement shoot, e-mails, phone calls, the whole nine-yards I'd say I genuinely know my couple. (Which from a photography standpoint allows for wonderfully intimate & personal images which is completely my goal) This is more true than what I expected when I showed up the day of the wedding. That sounded kinda bad but where I'm going with this (keep tracking with me here!) is I walk in to find my worlds totally crossed. You ever see a face that's out of context? You know that you know someone but you can't figure out where or how based on where you're at? It happens to me all the time. I've shot hundreds and hundreds of times and all of a sudden I see someone at a Starbucks, a soccer game, even the airport (True story!) and my brain starts reeling..."How do I know this face!?" Despite the many hours I've talked, met, and shot with this bride and groom it didn't click that I know the groom from outside of the photo world till I saw some of his groomsmen. (Again, the mind reeling) And then it dawned on me....I went to high school with this guy!  Now to be fair our high school was massive and we had nearly 1,000 per grade but still, it all made sense now. So do I really know my couples!? Of course I do. I may not know (or in this case remember) where the couple went to high school, what their favorite movie is, or any in the end random trival facts about my couples. But at the end of the day, what I do know, makes all the difference in the world. I know that Jessica & James are deeply in love and for even just a day trusted me with some really personal moments. And that is why I do what I do.

Genuine Love In Iowa...

I would hope that anyone that's getting married is in love but I don't know if I've ever seen such a genuine gratefulness to have someone in their life than the bride, Andrea, for her groom, Greg. She didn't cry putting on her dress, seeing her dad, or the other iconic moments. Rather, the tears rolled off her cheeks as she privately gushed to me what a wonderful man she has. To this day I could tear up just thinking about how blessed I am to have Bart in my life. (And we've been married for almost 5 years) To be honest, I feel like a love like that is rare. And I see lots of weddings!

Greg- This woman of yours respects you beyond what you can possibly know. Andrea- In both the good and the hard times remember what a wonderful man you have. Keep the Lord the center and that rare love of yours will only grow deeper each day. I can promise you that.

St. Loius Arch...

So I headed out to St. Loius for the day and spent some time in an amazing city with pretty great people.  

I often say referrals are not only how I stay in business but it's how I get to love my clients so much.  Because if my client likes the person I'm sure to as well. A good friend of ours passed along this couple to me and I'm so glad he did! We found ourselves under archway after archway (Whatta we in St. Louis or something?), finding gem after gem, exploring the city one picture at a time. I loved it!  Dan & Jaclyn are great! So much so that I'm sad they live in St. Louis. (Though I can't blame them the city is sweet!) 

Dan- Thanks for being my historic tour guide and making me fall in love with St. Louis. 

Jac- Happy Birthday darlin'... Hope it was great!

  

Joe & Erin...

It's a rare occasion for me to shoot a rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding but if I were to ever frequent them more I hope they are just like Joe & Erin's. Held at a vintage Jewish deli (Manny's) the walls are lined with headlines and celebrities (Including Obama) that swear by it. And you know what? I'm sold. They hands down have the best roast beef I've ever had in my life. 

It's an unpretentious hidden gem. 

Kind of like Joe & Erin. (: 

 

Lovin' The Cuddles...

Derek & Tatum are one of the first in our crew to start havin' the bambinos. About a year ago they had Miss Ava and in celebration of her 1st birthday we did a mini-shoot. Between the endless smiles and oh so adorable cuddles Ava stole the show.