She Owns THREE Businesses?!

July 13, 2018 by Kansas City Photography, posted in Our Silly Family

Many of you already know Christine, but did you know she also owns not one, not two, but three businesses?

Kansas City Photography

The first, as you all know, is Kansas City Photography. She started this business when she moved to Kansas City in 2011, when she was 23.

After years of hard work, the business has grown so much that she has hired on another full-time photographer, Tatiana!

Christine moved to St. Louis in 2016, so now Kansas City Photography also has a St. Louis branch!

Both Christine and Tatiana keep busy year-round taking breathtaking photos for their clients in both cities.

They excel in weddings, engagement, family, newborn, and cosplay photoshoots!

Plus, they get bookings all over the country. Especially in Denver and Chicago!

Kaleidoscope Consignment

The next business Christine owns is Kaleidoscope Consignment, in Pacific. The business closed, and Christine took it over and re-opened it on December 11, 2017.

Here is her wonderful store staff:

Kaleidoscope is a retail shop — it has new & like new clothing, children’s items, home decor, Coach & other designer purses … the list goes on! And since Christine owns it, there’s quite a bit of wine paraphernalia, too!

Oh, and Wine Wednesday — where you get a free glass of wine while you shop, every Wednesday!

And since it’s a consignment store, people bring in their goodies for the store to sell. So many unique pieces — like this re-finished dresser with the NYC backdrop! This piece was sold to a gal who lives in San Diego, California! How cool is that?!

And, of course, the store boasts other obligatory knick knacks:

Scentsy

The third thing Christine does is sling that wax — AKA sell Scentsy!

That’s why Kaleidoscope always smells so good when you walk in! Christine’s house usually smells pretty epic as well. ALL THE WAX! ALL THE SMELL GOODS!

On top of all of this — Christine is also a wife and mom of two.

It’s definitely a balancing act to keep up her businesses, social life, and family time — but she’s able to do so many things because of the wonderful people she surrounds herself with: A supportive husband, family, and many best friends to help her along the way!

#GirlBoss power!

Our New Website!

April 25, 2017April 25, 2017 by Kansas City Photography, posted in Photoshoots

I tried to log onto the Kansas City Photography webpage last week. I was met with an error message. I may have panicked a little, but I figured it’d be an easy fix. I reached out to my web person — but it was crickets. My face was probably equivalent to Miss Luna’s:

My bells and whistles started going off — and here’s why. This happened one other time, with the same web person. I reached out to him (the same one, I never switched) and he responded saying I needed to pay him to get it back online. I was confused as to why, and he said it was a maintenance fee, and he had to re-build it. I actually lost a potential wedding client over this — they had seen my site, loved my work, and then got concerned when my site suddenly went down.

You’d think I would have learned my lesson then … but, long story short, I stuck with him and he put the site back up (after I paid him again *grumble*), and it has been sunshine and roses since then.

Then, the error (again). And no response.

Instead of waiting around, this time I decided to go ahead and just build it myself. This way I can make changes and add photos any time I want, without having to pay every time I want an update. It was really a long time coming, I should have done it a lot sooner.

Go check it out and tell me what you think! –> http://kansas-city-photography.com

On a side note, I recently tried to get Kansas City Photography published on Wikipedia, but I need some press coverage for that to happen. They have really strict guidelines, and I meet all of them but that one. Stay tuned!

The Easter With 8 Baskets & Too Much Candy

April 19, 2017 by Kansas City Photography, posted in Our Silly Family

My girls somehow managed to get 4 Easter baskets a piece this holiday. I’m not complaining, and I am grateful to those who thought about our kiddos, but I am pretty sure I have eaten about as much chocolate as I do on Halloween … you know, poison control. 😉

We woke up Sunday morning and hid Easter baskets with our cousins Caley and Ezra. Lily and Ezra are little besties, it’s so cute!

From there, we went to my grandpa’s house. Grandma Karen told me every time I went over there that she had dreamt of hosting an Easter egg hunt on their big, gorgeous yard, but had never done it — and then all the kids grew up. Good news! The kids had kids, and now she was finally able to host her egg hunt!

My two girls, Lily & Luna, were dolled up in their Easter dresses. Lily’s favorite color is purple, but pink is a close second. When they didn’t have purple, I knew it’d be ok to go with pink!

Luna’s favorite color seems to be yellow (she’s 2, so it’s hard to tell, but she gravitates toward that color and uses it a lot). My favorite color is orange, so when yellow wasn’t available …

It had started drizzling, but that certainly didn’t slow anyone down! The egg hunt was really clever — each kid was assigned a certain color of egg. This way, they all got equal!

We also made sure to get a shot of grandpa with all four of his great-grandkids!

After that, we went over to Bryan’s (my hubs) uncle’s house for his family get together. More eggs to hunt! Luna considered herself an old pro by this point. Lily also killed it at cornhole. That’s the game where you throw the bean bag into the hole on the other side of lawn. Am I making sense? Haha.

It was a great Easter weekend, I only wish it was mandatory to take Monday off, too!

Want to read more fun stories with our family? Did you know we have a pet pig?

Jeremy & Amanda’s Warm and Beautiful Country Club Wedding

April 11, 2017 by Kansas City Photography, posted in Photoshoots

Mid-70s, a cool breeze, and a wedding! There was nothing better this past Saturday. The weather was absolutely divine, it was like God said: “Today, Jeremy and Amanda are getting married, so let this day be perfect!”

Speaking of perfect – Amanda’s bouquet was stunning. Just stunning. Lilies, tulips, roses, and a tear-drop style. It was definitely one of the most breathtaking bouquets I’ve ever seen!

Plus, those rings! *whistles*

I always love it when the bride’s ring fits inside the groom’s. I have only ever had it happen a handful of times — and this was one of them! I always personally find it to be a good omen, they’re so meant to be together … the rings fit together — just like them!

Now, let’s talk about Amanda. The new Mrs. Maxwell. She was so grateful to everyone there. She thanked her bridesmaids repeatedly, the Executive Hills Polo Club owner, and me. She thanked everyone for being there to support her and make her day special. She was also a total knockout!!

She had six bridesmaids in beautiful royal blue dresses – ready to cheer her on!

I know I’ve already mentioned the flowers, but seriously … look at them! It reminded me of something out of a royal wedding!

The ring bearer was decked out in a shirt that said: “Ring Security.” So clever!! His glasses totally matched his shirt and gave the perfect overall “anybody who wants that ring has to get through me first” vibe. And their little flower girl — decked in a white gown befitting a princess, complete with a blue ribbon to match the bridesmaids!

Now it’s time to talk about Jeremy, and his groomsmen. This picture literally sums up what a fun crew they were! I suggested they pick him up, but definitely didn’t realize this is what they’d do!

Ah, and then the moment everyone is waiting for! The vows, the”I do,” the forever! There was a set of white doors to hide Amanda from Jeremy, and when she walked through them he teared up. He may tell you didn’t, but he totally did. He was knocked out by this stunning woman he would soon get to call his forever! There were tears and laughter. A good mutual friend, Tim Kile, officiated. My favorite line of his: “I’ve only done this one other time, but it’s bound to be better than the first time.” Chuckles everywhere. Amanda couldn’t stop talking about what an amazing job he did, tying their love together into the sermon and reciting scripture to help them in their new lives together.

And after that first kiss as husband and wife — many more followed!

And their location was picture perfect. Bright grass, tall trees, a white picket fence surrounding the roadway, and a deck to stand on. The ceremony was outside, with a reception inside. One bar outside, one inside. The Executive Hills Polo Club was just stunning!

The inside reception area had multiple chandeliers, a perfect backdrop for a first dance as husband and wife!

Then came time for the speeches. While the Matron of Honor, Maid of Honor, and Best Man did a really great job, it was Amanda’s dad who knocked it out of the park. I heard one of the wedding guests say he should be on “Comedy Half Hour.” He had everyone in stitches, and Jeremy covering his face!

Their wedding hashtag was so cute. #Maxout. I can’t wait to see what their many years of marriage bring!! Congratulations, Amanda & Jeremy!

Are you getting married, or know someone who is? Give us a shout out on Facebook!

It’s A Dog’s World — Meet Tatiana’s Furry Family!

April 5, 2017April 3, 2018 by Kansas City Photography, posted in Our Silly Family

Hi, everyone! Tatiana here to talk about my beautiful (and stinky) family!

First, let’s start with Eric:

We met in college and there is no one else in the world I would rather share my adventures with. He loves Minecraft, Warcraft, arts and crafts … Kraft Mac N Cheese — you get the idea!

I am constantly on the go. My mom FORCES ME to take naps at her place because really, who has time for sleep? I’m always busy with my cosplay, both an art and a business, promoting my brand Momo Bunny Cosplay. I make the world smell good with Scentsy, and make the world look good with photos. I am constantly running around KC for photoshoots (on one end of the camera or another), and editing until my stomach tells me it’s time to stop and eat. Eric supports me through it all! He is the most understanding, optimistic person I know and he is the calm in my chaotic world.

I introduced him to cosplay and now we travel across the country every year, exploring different cities and going to different conventions. We are the perfect team and four years later we own a house together (Christine’s old house, actually)!

We have very few professional pictures together (we gotta change that!) but I think our “Lady and The Tramp” shoot has some of my favorite pictures of us together!

We love Disney, and we love dogs. Speaking of which, lets move on to my fur babies!

Meet Lily:

Lily is a Coonhound I rescued from KC Pet Project about three years ago. I was looking for a doggie to be my companion during hard times and I fell in love with her picture right away! She is my baby girl, my best friend, and she has a deep bark to scare off sinister solicitors. 😉

Her hobbies include sunbathing, chasing critters, and digging.

Here she is trying to hide one of her holes in the yard with her face. Quite the personality she has!

Next up is Luna:

(Christine and I definitely did NOT plan to name our children the same names. Funny how that works out though, right?).

Eric saved her after she was chained up in a yard, left behind by her previous owners at an abandoned house (savages!). I suggested we name her Luna after my love for Sailor Moon over the phone when Eric explained she was black. He left out the detail of her being a Chihuahua… now Luna is short for “Lunatic.” She has her sweet moments, but her breed only really bonds with one person, and like Frenchie from Grease explains, “The only man a girl can depend on is her daddy.”

She loves barking, biting, pooping, yapping, more barking, and sacrificing the blood of the innocent to her nethergods… I mean … napping.

Meet Zero:

It has always been my dream to have a basset hound! I was looking around and realized we really couldn’t afford what breeders were asking for and no shelter had any basset’s available. Then, a breeder contacted me asking if I would possibly want one of her pups that has to undergo a minor surgery. Because of his hernia, no one else wanted him no matter the price. As soon as I went to her house to meet him, he jumped around his brothers and sisters right into my lap! He chose me from the beginning.

He’s about a year old now and I still can’t get over his cuteness! I always say dogs are a lot like toddlers and Zero likes to prove that everyday. He pushes his limits and then gives me those puppy eyes to see how much he can get away with. Boy is spoiled!

BUT HOW CAN YOU SAY NO TO THAT FACE?! HOW??

Zero was named after the dog in “Nightmare Before Christmas,” another huge fandom of mine. He enjoys snuggling for hours, chewing on random objects abruptly without warning, and howling. He is currently pursuing a music career in yodeling. He’s really going places.

I can never get the three in a photo together! This is the best there is! Luna barking Lily away and Zero wondering why his older sister be so cray-cray … and so tiny.

My babes are crazy, noisy, and hairy (especially Eric), but I wouldn’t have it any other way!

The Crazy Schedule Of A Photographer

April 4, 2017 by Kansas City Photography, posted in Our Silly Family, Photoshoots

There’s a reason I had to bring on another photographer to Kansas City Photography. My schedule, especially on weekends, is … hectic.

I am going to give you a peek into the schedule of a photographer / Scentsy lady. Here is this weekend’s lineup, which includes photoshoots in both St. Louis and Kansas City.

Friday:

– Work ( Newsy )

– Maternity Shoot (in St. Louis for Kansas City Photography)

– Mother’s Day Scentsy Party (Online, Christine’s Scent-Sational Scentsy Page)

Saturday:

– Wedding Shoot (in Kansas City for Kansas City Photography)

Sunday:

– Drop off Scentsy (Independence)

– Family Shoot (in Kansas City for Kansas City Photography)

– Meet w/woman about photo restoration (in Grandview for Kansas City Photography)

– Another Family Shoot (in Blue Springs for Kansas City Photography)

– Drive 3.5 hours home to St. Louis. Phew!

What keeps me going? I LOVE what I do. I love capturing people’s special moments, their growing families, and the day they say “I do.” There is nothing more satisfying than walking into a client’s house and seeing your pictures hanging up on their walls!

Not to mention — I have a family that supports me 100%.

Next — getting Tatiana’s schedule this booked! 🙂

Meet Christine & Her Family!

March 30, 2017March 30, 2017 by Kansas City Photography, posted in Our Silly Family

I always write about my latest photoshoots, or give tips on “how to” do certain things, but I have never really delved into my fam. The day-to-day. I’m a wife and mother of two kiddos.

Not only do I own Kansas City Photography, which services both St. Louis and Kansas City, I also sell the amazing smell goods known as Scentsy. My house always smells awesome.

My two daughers, Lily and Luna, are 6 and 2. My hands are full with them alone!

We have a pet pig named Penelope (I’ve written about her), and four cats. Their names are Goblin, Shy Guy, Diego, and Marshmallow.

Luna, my 2-year-old, is currently into anything her sister loves, jumping in puddles, Paw Patrol, carrots, baths (she calls them “bubbles”), actual bubbles, Pikachu, the color yellow, snakes, and running outside.

Lily, my 6-year-old, loves Shopkins, Girl Scouts, gymnastics, taking pictures (wonder where she gets that from?), monkey bars, running, the color purple, anything art-related, her print-label maker, Scentsy, and attempting to climb trees.

Bryan, the husband, not only puts up with my ridiculous schedule that’s riddled with photoshoots and Scentsy deliveries, but also instrumentally helps out. He’s the camera holder, the battery charger, the scent-sniffer. He’s my No. 1 man. Since I did “likes” with the kids, I’m gonna do it with him, too!

Bryan loves Pokemon, DBZ, the new Zelda game on the WiiU, anime, the color green (Lily made him pick a favorite, because she said everyone has a favorite), computer engineering (he works for Cerner), computer games, and being a kick ass Dad and husband.

Guess I may as well do myself, eh? I love anime, the color orange, anything Sailor Moon related (total Sailor Moon freak right here), Mary Pickford, journalism (I work for Newsy, too!), photography (duh), Scentsy (double duh), Photoshop, the Little Mermaid, most Disney-related things, and being a momma.

One day I will tell you our proposal story — Bryan incorporated Sailor Moon into my custom made wedding ring, and the proposal itself!

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Anything you wanna know? Ask away!

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Brian & Kellie’s Autumn-Colored Country Wedding

March 28, 2017 by Kansas City Photography, posted in Photoshoots

I started this blog in 2017, so some of my favorite weddings of 2016 never got highlighted — until now! Today I wanted to take a look back at the last wedding I did in 2016 before winter fully set in.

Brian & Kellie Hudson

It was an unusually gorgeous day Saturday, November 12. Renyers Pumpkin Farm in Wetmore, Kansas, was usually already closed for the season, but it stayed open for Brian & Kellie’s big day. And it was in the 60s. The 60s! In mid-November!

When I did the couple’s engagement photos in February, Kellie told me she wanted to encompass the colors of fall in her wedding colors — oranges, purples, yellows. We even incorporated that into her Save the Date!

And when I walked into the Coach House to see her wedding decor in person, I gasped. She nailed it! It looked like a lovely autumn day — but inside! The chairs were lined with colorful orange and red leaves. There was a fire going, and logs were set to place their delicious wedding cheesecake upon (yes, cheesecake!! It was so good!).

Since the weather hadn’t yet turned bitterly cold, the leaves were still clinging to the trees. We could really get some great shots that reflected everything we love about fall — there were some leaves that already said goodbye to the season on the ground, but there were still some clinging on hoping we’d just skip winter and prance right into spring.

The dresses and vests were a dark, autumn purple. Kellie’s bouquet had twine and fall flowers interlacing.

It was truly a fall wedding — gorgeous colors of nature represented throughout! There was a shot from the couple’s engagement shoot that they absolutely fell in love with — and asked me to recreate it for their wedding day. Done!

Brian & Kellie were adorable. The cute little forehead kisses Brian kept sneaking. The way Kellie would reach for his hand instinctively — the same hand with a new promise displayed on his ring finger.

The two didn’t want to see each other before walking down the aisle. Kellie was so nervous he would catch a peek, but Brian said it was so important to him to get this shot. They held hands around the corner, not seeing each other for the first time on their wedding day until Kellie walked down the aisle.

After the vows and the tears, it was time for some fun! Renyers has a life-size foosball! I have never seen one of these, but before I could even make the suggestion they go play, the groomsmen’s jackets were flying off, and the bridesmaids were sprinting into the game!

We ended the evening with gorgeous country sunset shots. It was an unforgettable day of love, laughter, vows, cheesecake, and foosball.

The best touch — Kellie gave me a card at the end of the evening. A handwritten letter thanking me for being her wedding photographer. It was so humbling — especially when the honor was all mine!

Thank you, Kellie & Brian!

Are you getting married? We are in both Kansas City and St. Louis — plus, we travel! Contact us today!

“How Much Do You Love Me?” Amanda and Dustin’s Engagement Shoot!

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

Hey, everyone! Tatiana here to talk to you about a celebration of LOVE. First off, congratulations to Amanda and Dustin for winning our free engagement shoot!

They chose the Love Locks Bridge for the shoot location. They picked it from our awesome list of the Top 10 Photoshoot Locations in KC. This was such a fun area to explore and I’m grateful they were willing to go on little adventures to get the perfect shots.

It was such a treat meeting them and seeing their love for each other shine through on camera. When I asked how they met, here’s what Amanda had to say:

“We both met each other on Tinder (what people nowadays consider a hook up site lol). Definitely not our case!”

They were both in search of their special someone and became head over heels!

This is one of Dustin’s signature signs of affection for Amanda: the forehead kiss!

When the proposal happened, Amanda was so surprised, she thought the conversation was heading for the worst. AKA a breakup … not an engagement!

They were at the Plaza for their anniversary and it was bitter cold. Dustin casually asked Amanda “so, how much do you love me?”

She put her arms out wide and said “THIS MUCH!”

“Alright, and how much do you think I love you?” Dustin countered, with Amanda giving the same response as before.

Dustin disagreed and held his hand up, measuring a tiny amount, almost an inch. At this point, Amanda was really confused and thought he was trying to break up with her.

He then said (and I’m paraphrasing) “Sometimes you need to appreciate the small things, because they can turn into something much more.” That’s when he got down on one knee and pulled out the ring!

And what a ring!!! Whoo-whee!

When I heard the touchingly romantic story, Dustin said jokingly: “Yeah, I had to bring her down a little bit to build up the moment.”

There you have it, folks! TRUE LOVE! This tree stump is a new favorite hot spot — we got so many cute shots by it.

I wish them the best in their happy future together!

May the playground teasing never die, and Amanda stay safe from the slide bandit.

P.S. Book us for your wedding! 😉

Free Engagement Shoot WINNER(S)

March 8, 2017October 18, 2017 by Kansas City Photography, posted in Uncategorized

On Monday, we started a free engagement shoot competition to help welcome our new photographer, Tatiana (she’s the one doing the shoot)! Over the last 48 hours, people voted for their favorite couple by “liking” the photo and also liking the Kansas City Photography Facebook page.

Typically, this is where I name the winner, but …

Look closely and you will see the conundrum.

They both had exactly 225 likes! This is unprecedented. I have never had a tie before! So, what to do? Both of these couples worked really hard to get those 225 likes, so I definitely didn’t want to do a “like-off” or some other “tie-breaking” competition.

The answer: They both win, therefore, they both get free engagement shoots!