When He Saw Her, He Sobbed Joyously: Beth and Zach’s Summer Wedding!

June 19, 2018June 19, 2018 by Kansas City Photography, posted in Photoshoots

Tatiana here to showcase our latest lovey dovey celebration: Beth & Zach’s wedding!

You may remember these two from our October fall frenzy when we did their engagement shoot at Union Station.

Fast Forward to this Saturday, and Beth was getting ready for her magical walk down the aisle!

Her dress was classy and elegant, paired with a dainty string of pearls. So pretty!

Speaking of pearls, Beth and Zach chose our “Diamonds and Pearls” package, which included getting ready and first look photos.

Beth found us on Facebook and knew she had to book us after being an avid follower of our page (seriously, thank you for the support!).

The clouds were big and poofy, but thankfully the ceremony and reception were inside since we were pushing 100 degrees! YIKES!

The reason Beth and Zach chose the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) as the location is because her grandfather is a member. Thank you so much for serving our country!

“First Look” was very tactful on Beth’s part because she had to hide behind this shed until Zach was placed.

When the reveal finally happened, the reaction was overwhelming!

One glimpse and Zach was sobbing. These moments RIGHT here are why we always recommend a first look! Capturing this special moment between just the bride and groom always brings tears to our eyes, too!

It took Zach a moment to compose himself, but honestly that’s what every bride hopes for. 😉

It wouldn’t be a wedding without family, and this one was actually run by theirs! Beth’s grandma made this gorgeous cake and everyone chipped in for the catering.

Beth also had angel wings on her bouquet to honor the family members no longer with them.

And transitioning into the bouquet, here’s a closeup with their dazzling rings! The jewels and blue lillies are breathtaking!

When we tell people to “cheer” during the family photos, we never know how people are going to react. This family definitely gave us what we were hoping for!

Family is very important to Zach and Beth, and we couldn’t have pulled off such great wedding party photos without them.

No, but really WE COULDN’T! Because the wedding party was all family! They were a tight knit bunch!

These two are truly blessed to have such devoted and loving family to support them.

Whose smiles are as equally as bright as that summer heat — whew!

We wish Beth and Zach all the best at Kansas City Photography!

Let L-O-V-E lead the way! <3

Nostalgic and Timeless: Beth and Josh’s Vintage Wedding!

February 19, 2018February 19, 2018 by Kansas City Photography, posted in Photoshoots

We’re kicking off the new year in style with our first wedding of the year — Bethany and Josh Belzer! And wait until you hear the story about her dress!

We are besides ourselves myself with glee to share with you this gorgeous wedding venue and our experience with this phenomenal couple. You may remember Beth and Josh from their fall engagement shoot. If not, it was my delightful surprise to walk in and see all of the photos from their shoot framed at the entrance!

Nothing could have prepared me for how inspiring and darling this venue was. Seriously, it’s Pinterest goals.

Acquiant Gathering is a vintage, shabby chic venue that has a photo opportunity literally at every corner!

The bridal suite had an array of cute little props and precious decor, perfect for anyone with a vintage aesthetic. But enough gushing about this photographers dream playground — let’s drool over this DRESS.

Beth found her gorgeous gown at a vintage shop. It wasn’t labeled as a wedding dress — and was priced at only $80!! Vintage for the win!

I’m still not over the lace! Seriously, it is the embodiment of elegance and class, as was our bride, Beth!

She is a Vintage VIXEN! <3

Or as Beth would put it — a professional lounger.

Her mother was moved to tears to see Beth’s transformation from daughter to bride!

Beth and Josh created a custom wedding package, which we’re always happy to do! This included “getting ready” shots and our personal favorite moment — “the first look“.

The Bridal Suite had two entrance doors and this giant wardrobe that was perfect to stage the first look moment.

We typically prefer to do outside first looks because it’s hard to beat Mother Nature’s lighting, but the natural lighting was BOMB in this room! Couldn’t. Pass. It. Up!

Beth was hoping to get some tears from Josh, but got a big twirl and smooch instead! It’s okay, I saw him getting super choked up. He couldn’t take his eyes off her — or his hands.

Let’s all just appreciate how quirky and adorable these two are!

Now, here’s where I realized I’m too obsessed with “The Greatest Showman” and will do anything for the perfect shot.

I was able to take advantage of the chandelier a couple of times during Beth’s getting ready shots. This was the less dangerous time where I put my camera lens through the sleeve of her dress to capture the lace!

The next time I used the chandelier to my advantage required balancing two chairs on top of each other, one foot in the air, and a lot of focus — both from myself and the camera.

Yup. I got the crazy idea to shoot THROUGH THE CHANDELIER.

Worth it!

Not only was the theme vintage, but the wedding was filled with personal history and nostalgia from both the bride and groom.

The shoes Beth wore for her walk down the aisle were the same shoes her grandmother wore on her big day MORE THAN 60 YEARS AGO! How freaking amazing is that?! Her earrings also belonged to Josh’s grandmother, and Beth’s stepfather officiated for them.

They were surrounded by the history of love in their families as they came together to celebrate becoming one family. Truly touching!

Kansas City Photoraphy wishes you all the best! Thank you for letting us be a part of your special day!

Make sure to keep up with us on Facebook!

Beth and Zach’s Gorgeous Fall Engagement Shoot!

November 22, 2017 by Kansas City Photography, posted in Photoshoots

Tatiana here!

I’m really happy Beth and Zach decided to go with Kansas City Photography for their wedding, but first — we needed to get them some engagement photos!

Beth has been following our Facebook page for awhile, so when we met for coffee she already knew we were a good choice — thanks so much, girl! We love our fans!

The first time we tried to schedule the shoot, I ended up getting sicker than a dog. Even though we tried again for the next weekend, Beth ended up catching a cold the next day! I’m so glad we were able to make it work before the leaves fell completely. Fall waits for no one!

This tree was our magical spot right down the hill between Union Station and the Liberty Memorial.

This tree had the perfect Fall feel and gorgeous leaves for Beth’s favorite shot from our last engagement shoot — thanks, Christine and Pinterest!

Zach works as a truck driver so any time spent at home is precious to both of them.

Beth and Zach have known each other for about 2 years and are as happy as can be! Zach proposed to Beth at a Royals game. He was so nervous when he saw security having people empty out their pockets, because he didn’t want to ruin the big moment!

Thankfully, the ring stayed in his pocket. Finally, at the ninth inning, he asked and of course she said yes!

See you soon on the big day! <3

7 Outfits & 45-Degree Weather For This Fall Engagement Shoot!

November 14, 2017 by Kansas City Photography, posted in Photoshoots

I keep telling Lindsey this, but I will put it on the record — she is one of the most prepared brides I have ever worked with! She has lists for days! She should consider a career in wedding planning, actually.

I had the pleasure of meeting up with Dan & Lindsey again this Sunday. I say “again,” because we did a special ice rink engagement shoot for them this summer, too! Here are some fun shots from that:

Lindsey really wanted another shoot to capture the beauty of Missouri’s Fall weather, so we modified their wedding package to include two engagement shoots!

This time, Lindsey sent me a list of 7 outfits she and Dan were going to wear. Not only that, she also had the photos she wanted in each outfit! I was impressed, thrilled, delighted … so many emotions — all of them good!

The last time I met up with the happy couple, it was on the day of the solar eclipse! The weather was much different this time around. It was a chilly 45 degrees! But both she and Dan were total champions — you can’t even tell they’re freezing along with me!

Dan and Lindsey met on Match.com. She told me she was scrolling through and saw Dan’s picture. This is my favorite part — she said, out loud to the empty room — “I WANT THAT ONE!!!”

And she got him. 😉

We met at Faust Park in Chesterfield. It’s right next to the Butterfly House! There’s a small pond, and several really old buildings and barns, which made it perfect for the feel Lindsey was going for this photoshoot.

Since our last shoot was mostly on the ice rink, I didn’t get the chance to introduce the happy couple to Juanita. This time, I did. She’s my sassy stool I stand on to get shots like the one above.

Plus, I am short … and it’s always better to be above the person as far as photos go, so I use her quite often. If you ever see her, say “hi!” I really need to get a picture of her!

Speaking of barns, here’s one of them below. There is a section of the park called “Historic Village.” According to the Faust Park website: “The Historic Village at Faust Park includes four homes and 14 additional structures … All of which have been saved from demolition … Spanning a period from 1840 to 1910, the Village provides a context in which the lifestyles of the settlers of St. Louis County and the skills they used to survive are illustrated.”

Pretty neat, huh? There’s also a large playground if your kiddos don’t feel like taking in the history! Or if you just feel like takin’ a swing.

The last time I checked in with Lindsey for the blog post, she told me Dan promised to tell her he loves her — every day. And, as she reports, he has still kept that promise!

They’re just too cute! Excited for your wedding in May!

I expect more lists! 😉

Make sure to follow Kansas City Photography on Facebook!

Top 3 Reasons To Hire A Professional Photographer Over A Friend With A ‘Nice’ Camera

July 3, 2017August 31, 2017 by Kansas City Photography, posted in Photoshoots, Wedding Series: For Brides

During a wedding, I have a lot of people walk up to me, just to tell me this: “I wish I had hired a professional photographer at my wedding. We had <insert family member here> do our photos, and while they tried their best, the photos aren’t what we hoped for.”

Every. Wedding.

And even to this day, I have people inquire about booking us, and then write back saying, “My friend said she’d take some! We are tight on the budget, so we’re going with her!”

My bells and whistles go off. Not because I’m upset we lost a client — but because I don’t want them to be disappointed in the photos that capture one of the most important days of their lives. Cutting corners when it comes to a photographer is a big mistake!

And, really, this applies to any photoshoot. A family shoot. An engagement shoot. A boudoir shoot. I’ve literally heard this reiterated hundreds of times — and every time they come back saying they wish they hadn’t.

But for this post — let’s focus on weddings.

Can your friend or family member produce results like this?

You tell us — which of the two below was taken by Kansas City Photography? If it was your friend with a nice camera that had taken the second one, would you have been satisfied?

Having a nice camera does not equal being a great photographer.

Just like owning nice cookware doesn’t make you a chef.

Does your friend know how to play with lighting? Could they give you something like this?

Or would it end up looking more like this?

Here are our top 3 reasons to hire a professional over a friend:

Above all else, you should want your friend to enjoy your wedding. Taking photographs is work, and it’s a lot of pressure. It’s one of the most important days of your life! If you end up not liking the photos, your friendship will be strained, or possibly even ruined, as well.
Just because your friend owns a nice camera does not make them a professional. Sure, maybe they’ve tinkered a bit. Maybe they have even taken some shots at weddings before as a guest. Have they ever opened Photoshop? Do they have examples of their work you can see? Will your teeth be white, and your eyes be bright? Have they spent thousands of hours studying photography and Photoshop? Do they have a backup camera if something goes wrong?
You have guarantees when you hire a professional. You should have a contract that guarantees certain things — the amount of time you have the photographer. A guarantee they know what they’re doing. A guarantee they will show up. A timeframe on when you’ll have your photos back. Your photographer should have wedding experience. If something goes awry, or if we get behind on time — a professional doesn’t fold under pressure.

Your wedding happens once. I have people come up to me who recount stories of regret — a regret that lasts years, a lifetime! Moments missed, than can never be re-captured.

You don’t want to be the victim to awful wedding photos, like this.

Make sure to follow us on Facebook! And, for the love of all that is holy, hire a professional to shoot your wedding day!

Wedding Series: Tips for Brides — Husband & Wife Shots

June 29, 2017November 29, 2017 by Kansas City Photography, posted in Wedding Series: For Brides

You’re getting married! There’s so much to do, and so many things to get done. Find a caterer, a florist, get the perfect dress, and then make sure you’ve hired the right photographer to capture all of your hard work!

Well, you’ve definitely taken the right step as far as a photographer goes [oh hey, we travel]! 😉

Our “Wedding Series: Tips For Brides” highlights tips and tricks for the bride when working with a photographer.

WEEK SIX: BRIDE & GROOM SHOTS

These are the absolute most important shots of the entire wedding day, the reason everyone gathered together, the reason behind the big celebration: The bride & groom!

No matter how busy the day gets, no matter if we happen to get behind — the No. 1 most important shots during a wedding are of the bride and groom, alone. When photographing a wedding, we always schedule time to whisk the bride and groom away from the crowd and take photos of just the two of them, in love.

This is also the reason we absolutely recommend doing a first look. Not only is it an intimate moment between just the two of them, but also one that isn’t being shared with a crowd of 100+ people watching them get married.

After the first look, we also have way more time to get these kinds of shots — some of just the two of them, eagerly anticipating the moment they say “I Do!”

If, for some reason, we aren’t your photographers (the horror!), make sure to talk with your photographer about how much time is set aside for photos of just the two of you.

Check out the entire “Wedding Series: Tips for Brides” series, click here.

Make sure to follow us on Facebook!

Dragons & Fairies: A Fantastical Fairytale Wedding!

June 14, 2017June 14, 2017 by Kansas City Photography, posted in Photoshoots

It’s not everyday you walk into a reception hall and see a massive cake with a dragon head adorning the top. Was I at the right place? Was this Katherine & Josh Heriford’s wedding?

(Cake by Edible Art by Sara — she’s based out of Lake of the Ozarks)

It was! There was the blushing bride —

And the grinning groom —

And a flower girl with the most fitting name — Violet!

And we can’t forget the groomsmen — the armed groomsmen. There’s a story here, I swear.

… those weapons the men in the wedding party are holding — it’s a wedding tradition between all of them. They gift each other weapons! Josh also mentioned armed weddings date back to the dark ages — and said the weapons were meant to help protect the ladies!

And with the groomsmen go the bridesmaids! This was a pose I first introduced at Matron of Honor Misty’s wedding — and Katherine wanted to make sure we got a pose like this for hers, too!

Misty also asked that I point out when I did this pose at her wedding — I was 6 months pregnant, laying on my back to get the shot! Haha.

Plus, dragons, fairies, themed drinks galore! What a fantastic wedding theme!

It was a hot weekend in Jefferson City, but Josh & Katherine’s wedding at Apple Creek Farm was still stunning.

The happy couple opted to do a reveal shoot — which is something I absolutely recommend. That means they stood back to back, and we had the groom turn around to get a first glance at his lovely bride before she walked down the aisle.

When he turned around, he couldn’t stop kissing her. He told me he was speechless. At that moment, he felt like the luckiest man on Earth. Or even Middle Earth. Maybe even in the entire Galactic Federation of Free Alliances.

After the reveal, the head-over-heels couple exchanged gifts. Katherine’s gift to Josh was rather sneaky on her part. She bought it at a convention called JordanCon. Josh had seen this pocket watch and loved it. He had planned to buy it, but didn’t have the money for it at the time.

Katherine secretly whispered to the woman selling it: “Can you hold this for me?” She went back and bought it later that day, Josh had no idea.

For Katherine’s gift, Josh bought her a charm bracelet with “Doctor Who” charms for their first Christmas together. A few months later, it broke. She had been wanting a new one, but never got one for herself.

Josh surprised her with a new bracelet, attached all of her old charms to it — and added a new addition: A Star Wars charm!

Seriously. These two. Can it get any cuter [oh, it can. Keep reading]?

Katherine had the longest, most beautiful veil I had ever seen. So long, that it started getting stuck on the brick as she walked down. Sometimes, the photographer also has to work in the damage control industry!

I saw the panic paint across her face as her veil kept snagging as she started the walk down the aisle toward her future husband, so I tapped a wedding guest on the shoulder who was sitting in the back and handed them the veil: “Could you?”

Phew, problem solved! You can see her holding the veil in this photo!

Thank you, wedding guest!

Their rings were also completely perfect for these two gamers — just look at what the inside of the band says:

“Score!” Perfect!

After the ceremony, Mr. & Mrs. Heriford made their way to the reception hall. This is where the dragons and fairies awaited us!

It was all handmade from their amazing wedding planner (and best friend and bridesmaid), Misty Stinnett!

Not to mention the groom’s surprise — a custom dragon topper for his giant pile of cookies (he doesn’t like cake), that was handmade by Misty’s husband, Steve! I seriously couldn’t get enough photos of all the decor, it was gorgeous!

One of the best games at the reception was a cake smash contest. Wedding guests voted on whose face the cake should be smashed into. It was pretty clear who the winner was:

And so …

I mean, he did lose fair and square!

There was also the first dance. It was so sweet, and they never took their eyes off each other once. It was a dance full of laughter, kisses, and twirls!

We at Kansas City Photography wish Josh & Katherine many, many happy years — thank you for letting us be a part of your most special day!