I just have to say that I was super excited for Suzanne and Rob’s wedding.  They were such a fun couple to work with at their engagement session, I just new that the wedding would be twice as awesome.  Suzanne kept telling me that they just wanted things to be casual… They just wanted everyone to have fun at their wedding!  Suzanne and Rob tied the knot at the 20th Century Club in Oakley.  They were good sports and agreed to see each other before the wedding allowing me to document their first meeting.  I can honestly say that I’ve never seen a groom more excited and happy to see his bride.  The very first image I’ve posted shows Rob’s anticipation.  Once he saw Suzanne he had a grin from ear to ear and didn’t want to let go of her for me to start the portraits.  After finishing all of the formals, Suzanne and Rob allowed me to drag them to all of the most exciting locations in Oakley, including having portraits in front of a funeral home and an alley behind a restaurant that smelled of fabulous deep fried munchies.  Along the way we crossed pathes with “Magic Justin” the magician that Suzanne and Rob had hired for part of their reception entertainment.  He’s absolutely awesome, especially because he agreed to pose for some of my photos!  Suzanne had made the request of having some shots in front of the theater marquee.  I was so excited with how everthing turned out!  Totally awesome couple… Totally awesome locations… Totally awesome day!

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I have been a busy little bee over the past few weeks, and just realized that it’s been 3-weeks since my last blog post!  Well, this is the perfect time to announce that Kristin and Tom’s wedding is completely edited!  I first met Kristin, Tom and Aidan this past spring.  They are a perfect happy little family.  We enjoyed a fun engagement session down by the river at Fernbank Park, and were lucky to avoid rain that day.  At the beginning of August, Kristin and Tom tied the knot in a small outdoor ceremony at Fernbank Park overlooking the river.  They shared their day with their closest family, friends, and of course… me!  We started out the day in Kristin’s hotel room with some “getting ready” shots.  I had a little “incident” where I dropped my camera… Fortunately Sony’s are fairly resilient, and after a small heart attack I was able to pick up the camera and keep going.  Needless to say, I was glad to have that backup gear in my bag just in case! After finishing up at the hotel we were off to the park to “see” Tom for the first time, and get married.  (Kristin… not me!)  The ceremony was beautiful, the reception was beautiful, Kristin was beautiful, the day was beautiful… what more could you ask for?  As always, here are a few of my favs…

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After numerous reschedules attributed to poison ivy and horrible exams, I was finally able to get together with Tiffany and Andy to shoot their engagement portraits.  The lovely accomodating photographer that I am… (I’m allowed to pat myself on the back), I was more than happy to shoot the session at Sawyer Point upon Tiffany’s request.  We got the fabulous experience of meeting many unique individuals with colorful personalities, while we were there!   Andy waited patiently until I confirmed that the sun had set to the appropriate level for us to shoot with the river as a backdrop.  I had a great time shooting with Tiffanny and Andy, and want to thank them for bearing the heat, putting up with me feeling “off” that day, and waiting patiently for the sunset.  Hopefully it was worth it!  Here are a few of my favorites…

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About 8-months ago I made this little hot pink tutu.  Since Kevin would kill me if I put it on Cooper, I’ve been waiting for just the right opportunity to use it in a portrait session.  When I showed up at the Kock house to shoot Lucy’s 9-month session, things were a little hectic… Paige has a million and one things to do, so she just let me “do what I wanted” for Lucy’s session.  I took this as the perfect opportunity to try out the new pink tutu.  Digging through Lucy’s closet, I found the perfect little smocked tank top to compliment the tutu.  Lucy donned the carefully designed outfit, and we started shooting.   Every time I look through these images, I just can’t believe the little girl that Lucy’s growing into… Soon she’ll be a toddler!  Paige told me several months ago, that since Lucy was probably going to be the last baby for their family, that she wanted to make sure to capture everything.  I hope these images will do justice to your memories of Lucy at this age…

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I just couldn’t believe how time flies… but reality hit when Kaniah called to schedule Kaylin’s 6-month session.  What!?!?  She’s 6-months already?  One of the things I love most about First Year Plans are getting to see the little ones grow.  I become invested in their first year, and am so thankful to be a part of it!  At any rate, here’s Kaylin at 6-months… I can’t believe she’s changed so much!

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As promised yesterday, I’ll share some of Sarah and Mike’s engagement images from the family session.   I don’t know the whole story behind their relationship, but they certainly are a great couple!  When Sarah first booked the family session, that’s all it was supposed to be… A few weeks later she excitedly called me and told me that Mike had proposed.  She had asked if we could shoot a few engagment portraits at the end of their family session…. Who am I to refuse a blushing bride-to-be?

Thanks for waiting so patiently!  Here are a few of my favorites from the engagement session…

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Well, I have to thank the Behler family for a few things…. First, thank you so much for introducing me to Glenwood Gardens.  It’s an absolutely beautiful location, and I’d never even known that it existed if Shannon hadn’t requested we shoot there.  I also wanted to thank them for having such great personalities…. It makes my job sooooooo much easier when I get to work with people that are fun loving and easy going!  (Even Bob!)  I know that deep down, even Bob liked to having his portrait taken… If nothing else, because I’m such a great person to be around!  Rob, Lela and Miranda were a hoot as well.  I know you guys said that you don’t consider yourself to be “conventional”, so I hope you feel a few of the more non-traditional images that I captured expresses your fabulous personalties.  At any rate, I wanted to share a few images from the family portion of their session.  I’m holding out on you, Sarah!  I’ll post my favorites from your e-session with Mike tomorrow, so you’ll have to wait with bated breath!

Thanks for sharing your Sunday morning and allowing me to capture and share your family’s personality!

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I walk past this awesome fountain at University Commons on UC’s campus nearly every day.  Each time that I heard the spray of the water I kept telling myself that this would be an awesome location for a portrait session…  When Leslie called me to schedule her engagment session with John, I suggested that we shoot their portraits on campus.  Leslie is very easy going and immediately agreed to my selection of location.  Not knowing what I had up my sleeve for their session, Leslie and John met me last night to shoot their session.  I will be up front with you and say that I LOVE Leslie and John.  They have such great, fun-loving personalities, definitely an important ingredient in the recipe for a great E-session!  As usual, things started out a little slow as they warmed up.  Then I suggested that they sit on the “big leaf”.  Seriously, this is the biggest leaf you will ever see.  At first they looked at me a little confused, but then John saw the leaf, and he was all over it!  After shooting on the leaf and a few other locations around the commons, I finally suggested that they “play” in the fountain.  John reluctantly agreed, but not really happy about the situation in any way.   Leslie and I showed him the correct way to roll up the legs of his pants, and instructed him to frolic in the fountain… I can assure you, John, that you are the most masculine fountain “frolic-er” that I have ever met!  I had a great time working with Leslie and John, and I think it really these great images.  Can’t wait for the wedding!

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Yesterday, Carrie and I finally got together to shoot Nathan’s 6-month session.  Things have been so hectic recently, it’s taken this long for us to coordinate a time that will fit both of our schedules.  I got to try out some fun new backdrops and Nathan got to practice sitting up.  He surprised both Carrie and I when he sat for more than a minute at a time all on his own!  It’s so awesome to see kids develop and grow.  The last time I took Nathan’s portraits he was only 8 days old… now he can sit!  Things happen so quickly, I’m sure he’ll be playing basketball or something the next time.  Here are a few of my favorites from the session.

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I got the wonderful opportunity to shoot Kristin and Tom’s engagement/family portrait session down by the riverside at Fernbank Park.  We started off with a few fun family images with their son, Aidan, and then snuck away for some romantic images by the river.  Kristin and Tom would say that they aren’t romantic, they’ve been together for more than 5 years, afterall… But I’m telling you folks, pictures don’t lie!  I think the sparks are still flyin’!  Here are a few of my favorites…

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