Amy & George on location in the Quad Cities

One of my most favorite couple’s for 2009 decided to go all out for the engagement session and bring me down to the quad cities for their engagement session.  We started at the Quad Cities Botanical Center which had  alot of sentimental meaning to them, since it was in front of the waterfall that George popped the question.

The gardens there are spectacular and it is my understanding that they are all maintained by volunteers!  Hoping to add a little of this look to the backyard next spring with the help of Nate from Belle Plaine Nursery.

What I really love about George and Amy, is that they don’t hold anything back.  They love each other so much and it just radiates from them. 

This was one of their favorites from Vanderveer Park (I hope i spelled that right!)  It will appear in their wall art they’ve selected for home.

I also loved this stone bridge and the back lighting that was happening that day.  It just seperates them from the background which is something great lighting should do.

Can’t wait to see them again in June.  We’ve really become friends over the whole process.

Leilani & Casey June 28, 2008

Leilani Smith and Casey O’Donnell were married June 28th in Cedar Rapids and we were so lucky to be a part of their day.  They are such a beautiful couple.  Inside and out, and VERY PHOTOGENIC, which always makes our job a lot easier.

We started at the CR Marriott (their reception venue), since it’s lobby had that loungy feel that Leilani and Casey both love.  It is so much more fun than a stuffy church.

I love her cathedral length veil which was “something borrowed” from Leilani’s mom, Rona.  Who has impeccable taste!

Their friends and family were incedible.  Just a really great group.  At the reception, all the parents gave toasts before the prayer that were so touching  I had a hard time focusing through the tears.  (I’m kind of a sap   )  They are so lucky to have so many people that love them.  I think that really says a lot about their character.

These are some of my favorite wedding party pics from Noel Ridge Park before the reception.  It was a very windy day!

Leilani shared dances with her Dads both real and step, and her grandpa provided some of the music with the live band cranking out My Girl.  Then Casey danced with his mom, Kathleen.  It was a very sweet end to a very sweet day.  We wish you a life time of love and happiness.  Congratualtions!

Isn’t this one beautiful?  I could look at it forever.  I LOVE THE CLOUDS AND THE FLOWERS.  It all just works!

Kirsten

We photographed Kirsten this summer and she made it so easy!  She really practiced all her looks in the mirror, like we recommend.  I love this neon look.

The one eye showing is killer! 

I love using an initial like jewelry on the image.  This was one of her favorites for wallets.

She’s a runner and softballer, so we used this grundgy technique (it’s a little hard to see due to the resolution for the blog, but it just adds this grittiness to the image.

Woody did an awesome job on her illustration!  I love the strength of the composition.

We have very limited openings for senior portraits.  The leaves are changing and time is running out, so give us a call if you’d like to become a client.

Becky & Chris June 21, 2008

We were so lucky to work with Becky Hansel and Chris Miller on their wedding day.  Becky is a photography lover and had great ideas.  We met at the Historic Black Hawk Hotel downtown Cedar Falls, the morning of the wedding www.blackhawk-hotel.com.  Becky got dressed with her mom Tina and I got some great images.

After they had seen each other for the first time, we photographed around the downtown area for a more modern, street feel.  The light was incredible that day, even though it was a full sunny day we were able to carve out shady patches to work with.  Becky’s flowers were so pretty.  The orchids and the lavendar roses were beautiful thanks to the Hy-Vee Floral Dept.  www.hy-vee.com/floral/answer_aisle.asp?artID=840

Then we were off to UNI for the wedding party, which was a lot fo fun.  Finally we made it to the ceremony site, the Rotary Reserve.  Due to the flooding in June, Becky and Chris had to make last minute adjustments to the ceremony site, but it actually came together very beautifully.

I love the angle of the middle image.  It shows off the amazing lines of her dress during an emotional walk down the aisle with her mom and dad.  Becky’s grandma performed the ceremony.  I love it when someone special is involved, it makes it that much more meaningful.

It was a great day!  Thanks for letting us share it with you.   Congratulations Becky and Chris!

It’s our 9th Anniversary…

Nine years ago today Woody and I were married in Cedar Falls.  We’re celebrating kinda low key, taking it easy at the studio today and making time to look through our wedding album, when we were both much thinner!   If memory serves me right, I told Woody after he had seen me for the first time to take a good long look, because this is the best I was ever going to look in my entire life!!

We’re so proud of the two little people that our marriage created so here’s a couple of pics of our Wyatt and Zelle, that we took in the garden earlier this week.  Now I can feel a little less guilty that I haven’t made time to photograph them this summer.

I love this one of them hugging and the pinks repeating in the flowers and her little dress.

This one just captures my “jelly bean”  She is a free spirited fun lover and I think this image says it all.  I wish I had taken a picture of Woody who had to put cigarettes up his nose to acheive this expression.  But hey whatever it takes to get the shot right? 

Zelle just put her hand on Wyatt’s cheek and it was SOOOO cute!

Smiles are great, but I think that a quiet look really lets you see their soul through their eyes.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING A PART OF OUR FAMILY!  All of you have helped us grow and reach the dreams and goals we had for ourselves and for our business.  We are so grateful for your support that has allowed us to flourish in the Cedar Valley, the best place in America to raise our kids with good values.  On this special day we are counting our blessings and thanking God for you.

Deep thoughts……

I’ve been keeping a short little diary of the funny stuff the kids say at different ages, because I know that the exact wording will be long forgotten.  I’m hoping to incorporate these quotes into the family albums I have been working on.   Someday I hope to have a  full library documenting their lives.

This was one nugget of wisdom from 9.2.08

“I wish light sabers were real.  Seriously, I do.”   Wyatt Walters Age 6 

Hoping it brings a little smile to your face.

Senior Albums YOU HAVE TO SEE THESE!

We have an amazing new product at the studio.  Senior Albums.  Our seniors LOVE so many of their images it’s agonizing to choose only a few to order from.  So enter the senior album.  It lets you have everything you love in a dynamic layout.

Here’s a couple pages from our latest album.  Hannah.

Hannah’s dad Scott is the pastor at Westminster Presbyterian, a great friend of Woody’s and someone he respects and admires a lot.  The image of Hannah praying was his favorite.  Woody made it a special project to include some of his images from his portfolio Reflections of Christ.  Which you can view at Woody’s Website.  www.woodywalters.com

Beautiful Children

Elle came in for her 4 year old session.  This here’s a couple of my absolute favorites from her session.

Little girls can’t resist a pink umbrella.  She saw it out of the corner of her eye and we had to use it.The browntone above was my absolute favorite from the session.  It just has this timeless quality about it.

Maicey and Hailey came in for a session a few weeks ago.  I photographed Maicey as part of our baby collection a couple years ago.  It was great to see the whole family again.

The eyes tell the whole story.  I love it when I get to capture a little of their soul through them.

Hailey is a girly girl and really hammed it up for the camera.  She made the session a lot of fun.