The Bride & Groom Fed Cows! Samantha & Joshua’s Country Wedding

This Saturday, Christine & Tatiana traveled to Haue Valley for Samantha & Joshua‘s wedding — and this venue can boast something none of the others can:

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Yes, they were able to feed the cows!

We almost got the Bride Mobile stuck in the mud on the way there, but hey! We made it, and it was totally worth it for the shot! This next shot was also taken in the cow pasture:

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Christine first met Samantha at a bachelorette party for a mutual friend (who was also a bridesmaid in this wedding)! After a few glasses of wine, they decided they were best friends and that there was no one else better suited to photograph this wedding!

Thanks, Sam!!

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And let’s take a moment to drool over her gorgeous dress and bejeweled shoes:

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Sam & Josh have an adorable little girl named Genevieve, who was the cutest little flower girl in the wedding!

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Mr. Luke was also pretty down for this adorable cousin hug, too!

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It was a whopping 36-degrees … but everyone was a champion about being outside:

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Haue Valley is a 246 acre farm — which is readily availble for the bride, groom, photographer, and videographer (hat tip to Applause Weddings for being amazing to work with!) to explore in the Bride Mobile. We’ve already mentioned the cows, but there is a pond, a silo, and several photo hot spots on the property.

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Plus, there is a spot absolutely perfect for the first look. There is a gorgeous wooden sliding door where the groom can wait to see his bride.

As long as one of the groomsmen doesn’t pop out of it before the bride can …

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Don’t worry, Sam go her time to shine, and Josh was an elated groom to see this stunning woman he was about to marry:

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It had snowed the day before, but not much of it stuck to the ground. However, there were some gorgeous spots where the Fall colors and snow blended perfectly together for photographs.

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The bridesmaids also found that shots of vodka helped keep them warm for the photos! 🙂 I personally think that was a fabulous idea!

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It was a wonderfully perfect day for Samantha & Josh to tie the knot. Thank you for letting Kansas City Photography be a part of your day!

 

Apple & Lemonade Stand Sessions! Pumpkins Are Next!

Last Sunday, the St. Louis branch of Kansas City Photography set up its lemonade / apple stand for some adorable mini sessions!

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Christine has two signs. One says “Love & Lemonade,” and the other says “Appes & Ale.” She’s getting a third sign that says “Pumpkins & Potions” to use in October! The talented Crafted by Danyelle helps her make the different signs for her stand.

First up, Miss Elena! Her mom, Alyssa, fell in love with the stand when Christine got it this summer, and had to have the lemonade sign!

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Then, we moved onto the Apples & Ale minis because ’tis the season! Our own little Harry Potter fan, Jaxton, was all about those apples, let me tell ya!

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Next up, some of my very favorite people — the Nelson clan! Lochlan and Aislyn were rocking the apple stand! And Aislyn was all about eating those apples, too! Maybe the reason the stand was such a hit is because kids love apples?!

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We also snuck in some family photos!

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We will be using the stand for “Pumpkins & Potions” mini sessions next! Stay tuned to our Facebook page for the latest!

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Themed Photoshoots: Worth It Or Nah?

At some point, you’re going to ask yourself: “Should I do a themed photoshoot?” Maybe you’re the one behind the camera, or maybe you’re the one who’s going to be in front of it. But either way — is it worth all the hassle?

But before we dive in, let’s explain exactly what a “themed” photoshoot is!

It could be something like our upcoming Harley & Joker photos. It’s a photoshoot with a specific theme. Everyone at this shoot is going to be dressed as Harley or Joker.

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The shoot doesn’t necessarily have to be cosplay related, it could just have a “theme.” We’ve done Southern Belle shoots (with a lil’ cowboy for good measure):

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A lot of times, a photographer sets the theme and makes a day of it. But sometimes clients come to us outside of one of our specials and ask us to help them with a theme they personally want in their photos.

These photos below were “Disbound” Belle & Beast. When we get requests like this, it’s an opportunity to find new photo locations that fit, too!

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From a photographer’s standpoint, themed photoshoots are fun. They’re apart from the every day family or maternity session — which, of course, we still love — but themed shoots are a great change of pace.

From the perspective of someone who participates in a themed shoot, it’s a unique opportunity, and you know the photos are going to be one-of-a-kind.

So, are themed shoots worth it? Our opinion is a resounding “YES!!!”

They’re much more work than regular photoshoots, but the fun makes up for it!

And just to prove it, we will be announcing our Lemonade Stand Mini Sessions later this month!

 

Look forward to it! And make sure to follow us on Facebook to keep up with our latest shenanigans!

Their House Has A Water Slide! A Dullard Family Reunion

Before she flew in from Florida last week, Kaitlin called me to make sure I could make it down to Lake of the Ozarks for family photos.  I jumped at the chance to catch up with her, her family, and that sweet water slide.

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I needed to be down there by the 4th to make sure I could get everyone (Kaitlin has two sisters) before they scattered off back into the world.

Lindsay lives in Chicago with her hubs, Alex.

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Mickey is currently a flight attendant (maybe she’ll find that plus one while on her travels)! 😉

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While Kaitlin, Michael, and Mia live in Florida!

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Their parents, Dana & Rob, usually only come to the Lake for a couple weeks a year. They travel around to some of their other properties during the rest of the summer/winter months.

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There was a small window of opportunity to capture them all together. Success!

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Plus, we got a lot of other shots. Like the obligatory mama and her girls shot (hey, and a 3-generation photo!):

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And, of course, while I had all three sisters there — we had to recreate this gem!

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Glorious, right? Next time, I will make Lindsay and Kaitlin rock those pony tails again.

Next up, we had to convince 10-month-old Mia that it was a good idea to smile for photos.

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She could be swayed. There was a lot of jumping, funny faces, and weird baby toy noises going on in front of her, though. #WorthIt

The blanket you see in this photo below is one that Mia’s Great-Grandma had made for Kaitlin when she was a baby!

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But Mia wasn’t all smiles and sunshine. She gave mom and dad a peek of what she’s gonna look like come age 13 or so:

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So, adore those smiles while you still can!

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Thanks, Dullard clan, for letting me capture your beautiful family! Hope to see you next year!

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Sass And Sassafrass: A Newborn & Toddler Photoshoot!

Tessa was full of sass, but she couldn’t stop me from catching some of her sneaky smiles! But let’s start with the sass, and this shot, which may actually be my favorite from the entire shoot:

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At this point in the shoot, Tessa was walking away from us, and kept looking back to make sure we weren’t following her.

But let’s start from the beginning.

I was able to meet up with our friends Katie & Johnny last week, who just so happened to welcome a new little one into their family. Of course, a photoshoot was in order!

World, meet Cecilia!

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She has the tiniest little toes and fingers. Big sister Gwen couldn’t get enough!

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It’s Tessa’s first time into the world of being a “big sister,” but she was rocking it! She kept making sure her baby sister was comfortable, and giving her lots of kisses!

Big, big sister Gwen is already a pro in the world of big sisterdom.

And both she and Tessa are getting so big! Just look at this comparison shot from last year:

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And if this next set of shots doesn’t convince you how important it is to take family photos every year, I don’t know what will.

The one on the top is from only last year. The one on the bottom was just taken last week — just one year apart!

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And now, there’s a NEW baby in the house!

Tessa has gotten so big!! She wasn’t quite in the mood to smile and pose, so we had to get a little creative. We’d let Gwen take a solo shot, and then ask Tessa if she wanted to take a photo just like big sister.

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It worked … sometimes.

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Thankfully, Cecilia isn’t old enough to do anything but let me pose her. 😉

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Sometimes it’s the small victories.

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Although, she’s already workin’ on her sassy face for me. Maybe next year she’ll have it perfected!

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Thanks for letting me capture your troop, Katie & Johnny!

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Top 9 Photoshoot Locations In St. Louis


Hooray, you’ve booked the photoshoot! The next question: “Where do we go?”

We get asked this by photography clients a lot. So, here’s a list of our top 9 in the St. Louis area — all with photos we personally took at these locations!

Also check out our list for the Kansas City area!

9. Augusta Wineries / Klondike Park

It would be higher on the list if it weren’t such a drive! But, it’s definitely worth it. The wineries in Augusta have the beautiful, rolling hills — which make for a perfect backdrop.

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And since you’ll already be in the area, may as well hit up Klondike Park, too! It’s only a few miles away from the winery. It touts sandy, white beaches — probably due to the fact it used to be an old silica sand quarry. Plus, it has a beautiful lake! What’s not to love?

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And, I mean, you drove all that way — why not just make a day of it and stick around after the photoshoot to enjoy the wineries? You’ll already be dressed for the part! <3

8. Tower Grove Park

Since I lived in Kansas City for so long, I am a sucker for fountains. And St. Louis has some amazing fountains to tout, too! Like this one in the middle of the water at Tower Grove Park!

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Plus, there are some fun rock formations surrounding the water. Perfect for stacking a wedding party onto, right?

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The park is also historic — it was founded in 1868 and opened to the public in 1872. It has around 7,000 trees! Whoa!

7. Faust Park

This is one of my favorites to whip out. With so many great parks in St. Louis, this one oftentimes gets overlooked, or in some cases, never heard of!

Faust Park has the perfect architecture for those rustic shoots — just look at this amazing barn!

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If cowboy boots are going to be involved in the shoot — this is where I suggest. It has that look and feel, and flows seamlessly.

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Faust Park also has a “Historic Village” section with buildings from 1840 to 1910! It is also home to The Butterfly House, so there is something to do after your session! It also has a park right next to it for any kiddos to run and play during or after the session.

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No one expects to find historic barns in Chesterfield. It’s 200 acres of hidden glory in the heart of Chesterfield — just waiting to be discovered!

6. Castlewood State Park

Nestled in Ballwin, this park boasts wooded trails, and a backdrop of the Meramec River!

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Although, this section of the Meramec is very turbulent, so there are a ton of signs warning you of “DEADLY RIVER!” Most access points are blocked off, but it’s possible to walk onto the beach and get photos still.

Right near the overflow parking area is this huge, open field. I can’t wait to see it in the fall — it’s going to be just as stunning!

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Along the trails are several ancient trees. I can tell because they are literally bigger than several humans standing side-by-side. This one below was Redwood big!!

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The only downfall of this park is that if you go on a weekend — it can be hard to find one another.

5. Downtown Eureka

If you’re wanting that cute, hometown feel — downtown Eureka is the place to go! It has cute, colorful buildings (I found this one in a little alley when Tatiana was taking our family photos) —

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It also has brick walls, decorated buildings, and the best little hometown feel to it! Make sure to check out Sarah’s Cake Shop when you’re there!! My youngest is obsessed!! (I swear I didn’t get paid to promo that, I just freakin’ love their cupcakes!!!).

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They also have this adorable pagoda! It is kinda out in the middle of a parking lot — but hey, it works!

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4. Myron & Sonya Glassberg Conservation Area

This beautiful park is also hidden in Eureka, down Highway FF. It’s 634-acres of woods, trails, and even includes a 3-acre fishing lake.

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Along the trail, you’ll find a stream that runs along it. Your entire walk you can hear the trickle of water and the chirping of crickets.

After walking a short while on the trail, you’ll see this gorgeous miniature waterfall.

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It’s a perfect picture opportunity. Plus, the trail is flat, so it’s not a hard walk. Perfect for nature lovers. It’s very easy to get a shot here without a ton of people in the way.

And, you’re surrounded by forest on all sides, so it’s just beautiful!

3. Lafayette Park

This park is a hidden gem. Until a client recommended it for their shoot, I had no idea it even existed! I ran the location by one of my lifetime St. Louisan friends, and they also had never been there!

Historians have called it the oldest urban park west of the Mississippi.

It has this stunning bridge, that’s surrounded by ornate flowers, and even a willow —

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If you walk just slightly past the beautiful water / bridge area — there’s this standalone building with ornate oval windows, bricks, and wood.

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There’s also a pond with a fountain, and a walking trail that goes around it. If we venture in the spring, you will also see all sort of baby geese, swans sitting on their eggs, and tons of little squirrels running around!

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And if you have kiddos — there’s also a park located right there as well! It’s a hidden gem, and never extremely crowded, which is another bonus!

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2. Forest Park 

Of course, the iconic Forest Park had to make our list. It really is a jewel of St. Louis. It’s 1,371 acres of awesome. What’s not to love?

It has the Muny, and its amazing architecture, which includes columns and a huge chandelier —

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And right beside the Muny is this gorgeous garden area! It doesn’t even feel like you’re in St. Louis anymore when you see all of the tropical buds!

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It also has lakes, yes, multiple! (And if you know where to look, some super docile ducks, too) —

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And while there are the typical locations that everyone wants to hit up (and for good reason, they’re stunning!) —  there are also some hidden beauties — and willow trees!

You can’t go wrong with willow trees. Seriously. And a little breeze!

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1. Shaw Nature Reserve

Our number one spot is a place a photography client pointed out to Christine. She has been in love ever since! Shaw Nature Reserve, owned by the Missouri Botanical Garden, has a little bit of everything!

It has water in several locations, and some of those water locations have bridges or cute little awnings to duck underneath:

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There is also the Joseph Bascom house, which has gorgeous pillars to pose between. It can give a completely different photo session look! The home was built in 1879, and the columns make for great photos.

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Of course, there are also trails galore! Just a quick walk on one and you are surrounded by nature. It’s easy to forget you aren’t actually out in the country, you’re in a park!

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There is also the Whitmire Wildflower Garden where more than 800 native Missouri plants are on display.

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The park itself does have a $5 entry fee for adults. Children are free! It is definitely worth the small price to see this beautiful scenery. It really makes the photo session special, especially with so many amazing backdrop options!

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And, depending on the timing, depends on what you’ll see! These gorgeous daffodils were only in bloom for one week. This next photo was taken by a good photographer friend of mine, Dee Keim Photography. She took our family photos at this gorgeous park, too, so I wanted to share:

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The history of Shaw Nature Reserve is also interesting! They phrased it well themselves: “The Missouri Botanical Garden’s land purchase in 1925 began the legacy of Shaw Nature Reserve. Originally set up as a safe refuge for the plant collection from the smoke pollution of the 1920’s, its role in the community has evolved through the years. Shaw Nature Reserve has many roles—as a nature reserve, a place to walk and hike, and a good spot for relaxing and for studying nature.”

Which one is your favorite?

And if you’re in the Kansas City area — we have our Top 10 list for there as well!!

 Click here to book your photoshoot with Kansas City Photography (which is in both St. Louis & Kansas City)!

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(All photos in this blog post were taken by Kansas City Photography. You may not re-use without permission.)

A Dance Shoot Before Severe Weather!

We first met Natalie and her family in 2013. She was a little 5-year-old with a big ol’ smile that could melt your heart. We love repeat customers! <3

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Fast forward, and now she’s a 9-year-old with that same heart-stoppin’ smile — and she’s a dancer now, too! The best part is — we used Unity Village in 2013 and 2017. How fun!

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She taught us a thing or two at the shoot — like this pose below is called the “Tinkerbell,” or maybe it was the “Tinkerbell Leap.” Uhhhh, we still have more to learn!! Regardless, it was a fun shot to get! Natalie had to jump 5-6 times in order to get the perfect shot. It was worth it!

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Natalie didn’t want to get too close to the flowers in this next one. We understand, they’re pretty — but those thorns can be painful! Plus, we didn’t want anything to snag her outfit!

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We have some great silly poses, too. Natalie was so fun to photograph and is definitely a 9-year-old you want to have in your life! This one really captures her fun personality!

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Natalie’s mom, Candice, came prepared with a bunch of poses, which Tatiana said she really appreciated, especially for this type of shoot. There was never a pause where we had to stop and think of what to do next! 

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Dancing is such an elegant sport. It takes a lot of hard work, training, and memorization. Many of the different stances are still said in French,  and memorizing different dance routines is no easy task!
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 At the shoot, Tatiana had the idea to pick up flower petals (we didn’t pick these off the roses, no worries!) and put them in the fountain next to her head. Candice helped out and kept the petals close to her head while Tatiana took the shot.
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This was actually the last thing we could do before a voice came out over the Unity Village intercom and said we had all had to leave because we were under a severe thunderstorm warning!
We barely made it to our cars before the rain came flooding down. There was no “Dancing In The Rain” for us! 

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It’s hard to believe that at the last photoshoot she was this little:
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A Creepy Car & Playing Around At West Bottoms: Dawn’s Family Photoshoot!

Tatiana here! It was a real pleasure to capture one of my dearest friends being so in love with someone who is also so in love with her! It’s been a long time coming and it just warms my heart that she has reached her “relationship goals.”

 

Dawn Family 18.jpgDawn’ son, Aidan, was the explorer for sure. He is so full of energy and kept wandering off, climbing on things and I just let him do his thing! He just started jumping on things and I was like, “WELP! Since you’re already there…” *snaps photos*

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This one below makes it seem like Lilly and Aidan are about to drop the next hot album in KC. And Aidan plays the drums, so who knows? Maybe this will be a thing!

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In this below, I specifically asked them to do a funny pose. I think the quote was, “act like you guys are in a street gang!” This is a perfect depiction of the Vieux clan ready to rumble! And also proof they could never be in an actual street gang.

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It took Miss Lilly a little bit to loosen up, but I think she enjoyed the pictures! She really liked the ones of just her, which is great, ’cause I would love to rock a senior shoot with her! Hint, Dawn, hint!

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Lilly was just standing on this rock trying to stay away from everyone, but me, being totally impervious just went, “Joke’s on you, ’cause you look cool on that rock!!!” *snaps photo*

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This is my favorite picture of Dawn and her kiddos! It also shows off some hidden treasures of this area known as “West Bottoms.” We just happened upon this hobbit door, it was super random!

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But you never know what you’re going to run into here, which is why we love this location! It even made it in our Top 10 Photoshoot Locations in KC list!

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Although, there was one bizarre incident — there was a black car at the end of the bridge with tinted windows. When we started to take pics, the driver revved the engine and opened the driver’s door … but no one got out! Later, the driver shut the door, and turned the car sideways. This is when I began thinking, “Am I gonna die?!” And Dawn is just like “what poses should we do next?!”

Anyway, no one died … so here we are!

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One Of My Most Important Photography Lessons: Shoot ‘Through’ Things

I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Missouri. Broadcast works a lot with the camera —  and one of the most important lessons I ever learned was to shoot “through” things.

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It completely changed my perspective behind the lens. It was one of those “ah-ha!” moments. Shoot “through” things. Things other people may not look at — it completely changed how I view the world.

Apply it to photography. See a cool shape? Shoot through it.

A fence or netting? Shoot through it.

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A bride’s veil? Shoot through it.

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How about a beautiful blooming flower? Find a space between the leaves and shoot through it to the subjects in the background.

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And it can be subtle. I was squatting down in some tall grass to get this shot!

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It’s not that every shot needs this “shoot through” treatment, but it should be a component to think about at every shoot. If you see your photographer squatting in the grass, or rolling around on the ground … they’re likely using this technique!

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Photo Fixing / Restoration Services? Yup!

The phone rang last week. It was a Kansas number, so I went ahead and answered it since it wasn’t a random number from Florida or Connecticut (anyone else feel like their cell has been extra spammed lately?!). It was a woman asking if Kansas City Photography does photo restoration services. Yes, we sure do! It’s quite the specialty!

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But don’t take our word for it. Let’s show you some more examples! I had a friend come to me a couple of years ago. She said she had no photos of her mom and dad together (her mom passed away years ago), but she did manage to find a photo of them in the same picture … just not standing by each other.

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I did do some digital restoration on the original, but what I ended up doing was more than that with Photoshop magic. I removed the person in the middle, and then cleaned up the rest, added in some fun clouds, brightened the colors (the photo was taken in the 80s I believe), etc.

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I’ve also had several people come to me to “fix” their photos. Not necessarily restore, but fix the coloring, make it look better, etc. Or, in Emily’s case … fix that nail polish! 😉

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Another time, I had a friend reach out to me about a bride who was just devastated with how her wedding photos turned out (I’m telling you, going with the cheapest option for a photographer is a big mistake … there’s a reason they’re cheap) — I took them and edited a handful for her. Once I reached out to the bride with the edited photos, she said she nearly started crying from joy after seeing them.

(Keep in mind, I don’t own these wedding photos. I did not take them. I just fixed them.)

Another time, I had a friend message me on Facebook to ask me to remove her bra strap that was showing in a fun picture of her from a wedding. I get these requests all the time, but until that phone call last week, it never occurred to me to advertise it as a service Kansas City Photography can do.

I recently had an old friend reach out to me. This was the last picture ever taken with her grandma before she died. She really wanted the shot of just her and her sister:

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If you’re looking for photo restoration, or fixes to your photos, make sure to contact us!