The Pouring Rain Didn’t Stop This Engagement Session!

Gina reached out to me a few days before the session, telling me it was going to rain. I told her I didn’t mind it if she didn’t … and she didn’t … so we had a gorgeous session in the pouring rain!

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Check this off the bucket list, I have always wanted to do a rain session. Plus, with Gina and Rob being such good sports, we even did a little dancing in the rain!

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Gina and Rob met online and talked for a month before deciding to meet up in person. Gina told me they loved that it was so easy to talk and hangout with each other, even after only meeting once!

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Fast forward — and here we are! That first date turned into a second, a second into a third … and the rest was history!

Rob proposed at their home. He told me he was really nervous, and had convinced himself Gina would say no. She didn’t. 😉

Gina said the at-home proposal made it special, and then they were able to go pick out a ring together. Aww!

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I asked each person to tell me their favorite things about one another.

Gina: “My favorite thing about him is that he is very easy to love. He is always so nice and always does little things to help me out or make me feel loved.”

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Rob: “My favorite thing about Gina is her smile because it lights up the entire room.”

Aren’t these two just the sweetest?!

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Gina said the fact Rob, a man who hates getting pictures, wanted to do the outside kiss in the rain shot made her swoon! And, boy, was it worth it!

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It was cold. It was wet. But, you know what? Gina and Rob are troopers – and their beautiful engagement photos are all thanks to that! Dance in the rain, my friends! It’s always worth it.

Can’t wait for the wedding!

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No One Expected Them To Crash This Fairytale Wedding!

Lindsey planned a Disney fairtytale wedding, complete with a surprise no one saw coming during the reception — but we’ll get to that in a second!

First, meet our newlyweds: Lindsey & Dan!

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I’ve dubbed Lindsey the “most prepared bride” ever. She had lists upon lists, nothing was overlooked! She even planned to have two engagement sessions – one for the Spring (at an ice rink during the solar eclipse!) and one for the Fall!

Her wedding had the same attention to detail – right down to the cuffs on her bridesmaids’ robes!

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And just look at her “hidden Mickey” on her bouquet!

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Her table seating cards were Cinderella slippers, and her first dance with her father after her marriage was “Cinderella” by Steven Curtis Chapman.

And before she slipped into her stunning fairytale-worthy dress, she took some time to admire it. The entire thing was covered in lace.

So. Gorgeous.

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During the ceremony at Holy Infant Church, beautiful instrumental Disney ballads played. Lindsey knew it was almost time to lineup when she heard the first Disney song.

“Oh my gosh, I’m getting married!” It hit her. She was moments away from being a wife!

Before she walked down the aisle, her groom wrote her a sweet letter to read.

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Yes, Dan, it made her tear up! Great job!

After the ceremony, the bridesmaids and groosmen piled into the party bus that took us to our first outside photo location: Laumeier Sculpture Park!

It’s St. Louis’ 105-acre open-air museum and sculpture park. It’s complete with a giant eyeball statue … but we didn’t use that for wedding photos!

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This is when the fun really  began. First, let’s start with Dan and his groomsmen … who decided they were so excited to celebrate his newly off-the-market status, that they threw him into the air!

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No, he didn’t pee himself … or so he says.

But these groomsmen weren’t done with their shenanigans. Next, they decided to hoist up our bride. Sure, this looks like a great shot:

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Until they dropped her.

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<insert scream emoji here>

But Lindsey was a true sport about it. And Dan was there to kiss her and make it all better! 😉

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And kiss her, and kiss her, and kiss her, and kiss her …

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I mean, I mentioned the kissing, right?! Even if it’s out of focus, they’re goin’ for it!

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Dan has to get in all the kisses he can. He earned them! Did you know he asked Lindsey out to be his girlfriend three different times before she agreed?!

But … he only had to ask her to marry him once. <3

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We went a couple other places for more wedding party photos after the park, and then drove over to Genesis for the reception.

Nobody, not even the bridesmaids and groomsmen, knew who was going to show up and crash it.

Here’s a hint: (Yes, I made this up on the fly and am totally proud of myself!)

One’s big and red

One’s blue and tall

One plays ball

The other shreds

Know who they are?!

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It’s the Cardinals mascot, Fredbird, and the Blues mascot, Louie! When they walked in after dinner — Mass. Hysteria.

They know how to get a party started!

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And no one was left out! Everyone was invited to dance with these two goofy mascots!

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Thanks, Dan & Lindsey for choosing Kansas City Photography to capture your fairytale wedding! Have an amazing honeymoon!

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They ELOPED! Kyli & Giles’ Romantic Vows

I received a message last Sunday from Kyli asking if I was free next Saturday. I had a photoshoot on Saturday morning, so that’s what I told her. She replied:

“It’s for an elopement in Branson at 11 😕 I knew it was rather a long shot but you know if you don’t ask you don’t know 🤗🤗”

I asked her who was eloping — and she told me it was her!

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I was so excited for her! I reached out to my Saturday shoot and asked her if I could move it to Sunday (she said that actually worked out better)!

So, away I whisked to Branson to see miss Kyli tie the knot with her now husband Giles!

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She was married outside, while it was 27-degrees outside, in front of a gorgeous waterfall at Big Cedar Lodge. She had this beautiful cupcake-style dress, and he was dressed to impress. They exchanged romantic, handwritten vows to one another, too!

 

It had snowed just the night before (yes, it’s April … but Mother Nature isn’t listening to Spring!). The snow really made the blooming redbuds POP! It was simply stunning (just like the bride and groom)!

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Kyli and Giles met online. They were a match for each other, but she said she was being stubborn and waiting for him to message her first. However, Kyli’s profile said she lived in another state … and she couldn’t figure out how to change it! Finally, Giles reached out to her and said “Are you in Missouri?” She told him she was, and they set a time for their first date last November!

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Kyli said they stayed at the restaurant on their first date for so long, they literally shut it down! They talked for hours, and the rest was history. They spent every day together after that.

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As for the proposal — he popped the question while they were vacationing in Scotland! This is when Kyli told me Giles can’t handle the cold. During the proposal, she had just a light jacket on. He had long johns, snow boots, and approximately 500 jackets on. Haha!

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He was a total champion during the cold wedding photos, though! Kyli and I joked we weren’t sure if it was getting warmer outside — or if we had just gone numb!

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There were about 12 people at the intimate outside ceremony. We heard the waterfall sounds adjacent to their romantic vows. After the ceremony, everyone went for a luncheon on the Big Cedar grounds. It was all so lovely! Thank you for letting us be a part of your special day!

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Our Top 3 Tips For A Successful Newborn Photoshoot

Everyone loves babies! Seriously. Who doesn’t? But these newborn wiggle worms don’t make it easy to get cute, snuggly photos of them! Here are our top 3 tips for a successful newborn photoshoot!

1. Make sure the house is WARM.

We usually recommend turning the heat on and having the house set around 78. No matter the season! If the adults aren’t sweating a little, it isn’t warm enough! Keep in mind, these new little snuggle bugs get cold easily. And if they’re cold, they’re going to cry. It needs to be comfortable enough in the house that the baby can have no clothes on and feel warm.

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2. Feed Baby 30 Min. Before The Shoot

A hungry baby is a crabby baby. And we want your little nugget of love to be happy and smiling during the photoshoot! Feeding your snuggle bug 30 minutes before the shoot ensure they won’t be hungry come closeup time! It also gives some time for any stomach rumblies or spit up to happen. Now, not that we still won’t get pooped on from time to time … but at least the babies are happy!

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3. Schedule Within The First Two Weeks

Babies grow — FAST!! We’ve found they really retain that new “baby” look within the first two weeks after birth. After that, they really start changing into their own little person very rapidly. The “baby” cheeks go away so quickly, it’s actually kind of heartbreaking! If you want true “newborn” photos, we need to take them when they actually are newly born!

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We hope these helpful tips will make your newborn photoshoot a success!

~*~

Are you currently expecting, or have you already given birth to your bundle of joy? We’d love to help you capture these first couple weeks with a newborn session! Contact us to set a date and time (don’t forget — we are in both KC & St. Louis)!

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4 Things All Bridesmaids Wish They Would Have Known

You’ve been asked to be in a wedding — what an incredible honor! Of course, your gut reaction is a squealing “YES!,” but now that you’re in, here are some things you’re really gonna need to know.

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1. Finances. You are gonna need to budget, stat!

The bridesmaid gown or tux rental, the bachelorette/bachelor party (and if they decide on a party bus or not …), the wedding shower, the wedding itself with all of the various travel / hotel expenses, and then hair and makeup on the big day.

It’s good to mentally prepare, and also budget for this big (yet oh-so-worth-it! commitment). Make sure to communicate with the entire wedding party and set a budget that works for everyone.

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We reached out to one of the bridesmaids in a wedding we recently had the honor to shoot. Here’s what she had to say:

“As a bridesmaid, it’s important to know and expect the financial responsibilities … once you’re involved, if you can’t afford things, it makes it stressful for the rest of the group and isn’t fair to the bride.”

2. You’re going to wear a LOT of different hats

It takes a lot more than just “showing up” to be in the wedding party. You’re going to be in a major support role, too. You’re going to be a therapist, the snack fetcher, the pillar for the bride to stand on when she’s so stressed she can’t stand it (especially if you’re in the Maid/Matron of Honor or Best Man role!).

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I’m going to tell you a story from a wedding of a best friend of mine.

Her husband couldn’t find his tux on their wedding day.

I saw a panicked look on his face (seriously, and hour to go until it was ‘walk down the aisle’ time). I asked him what was wrong.

“Christine, I can’t find my tux.”

Now, did I panic? No. Did I let the bride know something was amiss? Hell no. She was blissfully ignorant of the entire situation (as it should be).

I went into her room, poured her another glass of champagne, and stepped out into the hall.

“You’ve looked in your hotel room, everywhere?”

“Yes!” he said.

“I think you should go look at the house (her parents lived close by).”

“The house? I don’t think it’s there.”

“If it’s not here, that’s your last option!”

I convinced him to go look.

I walked back into the hotel room to a suspicious bride.

“Where is he?”

“Just getting ready. A little hungover from last night.”

That didn’t seem too crazy to her, and by the time she walked down the aisle, she saw her grinning groom in his tux (yes, it was at the house).

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As a wedding party member, it is your job to put out the fires. It is not the bride’s job. It is your job to help her pee when her dress is too big. It is your job to hug her when she gets emotional that she’s about to start this new phase of her life!

Also, it is YOUR job to support the decisions she makes. Don’t make her life harder than it is. Don’t like the dress she picked? It’s not your wedding, so make sure to be supportive of her decisions, and let her know she looks stunning in it!

Hate the bridesmaids dress? Don’t ever let her know.

Think the shoes are tacky? She doesn’t!

As one of our recent bridesmaids put it: “Realizing it’s not your wedding, it’s your friend’s, so you need to be supportive of what they need and want, and help make decisions easier, not harder!”

3. Something is going to go wrong

This ties in well with my previous story. But it’s not just at that wedding. Something will happen at every wedding. Seriously. I’ve been in a dozen myself, and have personally been the photographer for more than I can count.

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There have been at least 3 weddings where the pastor was late. In one of those cases, he told the bride only a few days before he couldn’t make it at all. In that case, the best man stepped up and got ordained online so he could officiate! Now, that’s commitment!

I once shot a wedding where the best man dropped out the week before.

I’ve been in a wedding where a bridesmaid showed up, didn’t like how her dress fit, and then literally drove back home and never came back for the ceremony.

I once had a groom who was uncertain if he was going to be able to do the mother-son dance because of family drama.

I don’t think I have ever shot a single wedding where the ceremony started right on time.

Things happen. Life happens. It’s all going to be ok!

As a member of the wedding party, try to deal with as much as you can. The bride and groom seriously don’t need anymore stress. And, if it can’t be helped, keep that champagne flowing!

4. After the wedding, your job isn’t quiiite over! 

All those gifts need to get packed up in someone’s vehicle! Also, sometimes cleanup is involved at the end of the reception.

Even months after the wedding, the couple may want some help picking out photos for their wedding album (although you need to give the photographer ample time to edit them first)!

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There’s so much that goes into a wedding day. It’s a whirlwind, but it’s worth it! Know your commitments, be there for the bride and groom, and celebrate these two who are dedicating their lives to each other!

Still in the market for a wedding photographer? Make sure to reach out to us, here, or message us on Facebook! We have home bases in KC and St. Louis, and also travel!

 

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

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.

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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. 😉

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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.

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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!

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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.”

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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.

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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!

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

I expect more lists! 😉

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Old Cars, Feathers, & Trains: Lindsey & Tyler’s ‘Great Gatsby’ Themed Wedding!

Sparkling bands went across foreheads, pearls were gently slung around their necks. The bridesmaids were dressed in all black along with the groomsmen. The reception had glittering chandeliers and a “prohibition ends here” sign.

It was truly a 1920s Gatsby inspired wedding!

The bride? Stunning.

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The dresses? On point.

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But they were even more stunning on —

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And, of course, the groom and his dapper groomsmen completed the wedding party.

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I was thrilled to photograph Lindsey and Tyler’s wedding last Saturday, October 14. It had felt like Fall weather leading up to Saturday, but then “BAM!” Mother Nature decided it should be 91 degrees on Saturday.

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But there were still smiles all around — and by the time we took wedding party shots, it had cooled to a perfect 80 degrees!

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A few weeks before Christmas, Lindsey and Tyler were enjoying the Anheuser Busch Brewery Lights. That’s when Tyler decided to get down on one knee and ask Lindsey to be his wife!

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She was totally shocked — and, of course she accepted or I wouldn’t be writing this post! Now, she’s Mrs. Allen!

IMG_0715Before the ceremony, we invited Lindsey’s father in to look at her. Immediately, tears welled up in his eyes and he gave her a giant hug. He cried and told her she was absolutely beautiful.

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Lindsey and Tyler didn’t do a “first look,” but did do a few teasers. Tyler didn’t actually peek, but I am sure he really wanted to!

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Before I left to meet Lindsey at the church, she texted me:

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And so, Tyler was blindfolded:

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The first time Tyler actually saw Lindsey was when she walked down the aisle. When the doors first opened, a huge smile spread across his face.

He looked over at his Best Man, almost to silently tell him “I am so lucky!” and then looked back at Lindsey. He didn’t take his eyes off her the rest of the ceremony.

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After the ceremony and family photos at the altar, I was pleasantly surprised to find an old 1947 Ford Convertible!

It was like walking on eggshells, because we really, really didn’t want to step on the wrong thing or scratch any interior. With permission from the owner, who is Lindsey’s stepfather, Don, the happy couple was able to sit on top of the back seats!

I am not one to usually drool over cars — but this one is a beauty!!

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After several shots with the convertible and the bride and groom, the wedding party went to the beautiful Frontier Park in St. Charles with a killer view of the Missouri River. Lindsey had a dream to get photos with this cute, little old caboose.

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Sometimes it can get windy down by the water — but Mother Nature was on our side on Saturday!

I asked Tyler to dip Lindsey back, and when I asked them to lean down even more, she goes “I’M GONNA FALL!”

Thankfully, she didn’t … although I always joke with my clients that if something like that happens, I promise to take photos!

 

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Lindsey told me she picked the Gatsby theme because she loves the classy and glamorous style of that time period.

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She said she wanted to have a fun wedding that people would have a lot of fun at and remember.

She nailed it. The reception location was at Le Belle Coeur. As soon as you enter the ballroom, you can see huge, glittering chandeliers. The sign at the bar tells you prohibition is no more, and their wedding party favors were these adorable keys that doubled as a bottle opener!

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I’ll let the happy couple close out this blog post, with a very special message to their friends and family who made their most special day the best ever!

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Aftin and Anthony’s Gorgeous Autumn Wedding!

Love is in the air! Tatiana here — showcasing one of the two weddings Christine and I were honored to be a part of this weekend — on the same day!

On October 14th, Aftin and Anthony finally said “I do” after nearly nine years in the making. The happy couple booked Kansas City Photography for the entire day, so I was able to capture so many special moments!

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When I arrived, I met Aftin for some fun “Getting Ready” photos. I was thrilled to share those little moments before the big reveal with her and her bridesmaids!

Her dress was absolutely stunning — with delicate lace wrapping around the entire gown! Her teardrop bouquet had a splash of violet and red mahogany. And the perfect touch was the flower crown atop her head — a gift from their officiant!

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Aftin was a radiant, glowing princess that had everyone in tears — especially Anthony, her now husband! He was literally moved to tears when he saw his beautiful bride!

But first — we had to build up the suspense. No peeking yet!

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This is what we call the “First Look.” That’s where we take the bride and groom and hide each of them behind a corner or a door. They hold hands, and can’t look at each other. Then, the magical moment comes when we can tell them to “turn around” and look at their forever!

We highly recommend this moment for every couple because it gives the bride and groom an intimate memory together before they walk down the aisle in front of everyone. It’s just the two of them — existing in that moment only to see each other before they make their life commitment in front of their doting family and friends.

It also gives us photographers a chance to capture both flawless expressions without any disruption — or Aunt Janet stepping in the way of the aisle with her flip phone camera. 🙂

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Anthony was so taken back by Aftin’s beauty he couldn’t hold back the tears! It’s moments like these that make our hearts flutter!

It’s why we absolutely love, love, love weddings. All of the emotion and opportunities to capture it on camera!

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Seeing how devoted and overcome with pure love Anthony was — I’m talking every single second throughout the day — truly warmed my heart.

Although, we didn’t need much warming up since it was in the 90’s all day. Mid-October is supposed to be fall, right?

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But thankfully, it has been chilly enough in the weeks prior that the trees are starting to get the hint. You can see the pops of color starting to come out in the leaves behind our madly in love couple!

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So, we mentioned before that Aftin and Anthony were together for nearly 9 years before the big proposal (which happened on vacation!!).

The thing I love about these two is that there was never some ultimatum, like “if you don’t propose, we’re over.” What did happen was so wonderful.

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Aftin told Anthony she was going to propose to him if he didn’t by the end of the year. There was never this “we aren’t going to be together” thing, it was “we are always going to be together, even if I propose to you!” I just love, love, love that mentality!

These two are so perfect! And silly!

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I’m glad Aftin could see past Anthony’s “cooties” (above) because they make the best couple of love birds I’ve encountered in a long time!

And their love attracted some pretty awesome friends to stand by them during their wedding day!

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This perfect team has so many wonderful people surrounding them, sharing laughs with them, and holding them up (literally).

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They have a solid foundation of friendships that will last as long as their marriage — which is forever if you didn’t catch on. 😉

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Now, let’s talk about that ring —

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Aftin’s ring is truly unique and extra special, as a sapphire represents faithfulness and sincerity. Anthony had the wedding band custom made to flow with her engagement ring seamlessly — simply stunning!

Not to mention — the flowers matched her ring perfectly!

And next — in the words of Jack Skellington “what’s this?!”

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This awesome silver thing above is a cup! Aftin and Anthony chose multiple traditions to bless their marriage, including the German “wedding toast” out of a bridal cup.

The chalice is a symbol of love, faithfulness and good luck. The bride takes the smaller cup in hand while the groom holds the larger cup.

Traditionally, whoever finishes drinking from their end first wears the pants in the relationship.

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Aftin won by a few gulps, but it was totally fair. And pretty much everyone would probably agree she looks great in pants, too! Hahaha.

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They also had a “Handfasting,” which is a tradition in multiple cultures and faiths. It symbolizes their love eternal, binding their souls for the rest of time.

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It was a true privilege to see everyone celebrate the love of these two extraordinary people and I wish a long prosperous future for them both (also, I’m totally down to play some Magic the Gathering once the honeymoon is over).

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An Ice Rink Photoshoot During The Eclipse!

It would have just been an ordinary engagement shoot. Except Monday was anything but ordinary — just like Dan & Lindsey!

Monday’s engagement shoot was special for two reasons, other than the lovely couple themselves:

  1. It took place on the day of the total solar eclipse
  2. The first part was at an ice rink! How neat is that?!

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We ventured to East Alton Ice Arena in Alton, Illinois for this one-of-a-kind photoshoot. One of my favorite things is that we were able to put Dan & Lindsey’s wedding date up on the scoreboard!

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It’s May 26, 2018!

The significance of the ice rink is that Dan played hockey all throughout his high school career — and they both know how to ice skate! Plus, they both have mad love for the St. Louis Blues hockey team.

This next picture was definitely the most fun to take. It took a few tries — but we finally nailed it — ice shredding toward the camera:

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With the real ice coming at the camera, and a little Photoshop magic, we got that great shot above! To get it, Dan started really far away, came at us at full speed, then turned sideways at the last second to spray up some ice.  I think there’s a technical term for it — but you can tell this photographer is no pro at ice skating!

I’m pretty sure 3rd grade was the last time I put on a pair of ice skates. Thankfully, the ice rink gracefully let us in before open and I was able to wear tennis shoes on the ice for the pics!

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Lindsey likes hockey, but her real sports love is for baseball! I guess I should just say she really loves both. Which is why this next shot is so clever —

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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!!!”

Plus, to add to the cuteness, their first date was at a local restaurant to watch the Blues game. Fitting, right?

The rest is history! <3

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And, I need to mention, Dan and Lindsey are fun. Despite being able to ice skate, Lindsey wanted to put on a “different” kind of ice —

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Some sparkly high heels, baby! And at least she knows he has her back, even if she trips over her heels on the ice — let’s just say she’s head over heels for him? Tee hee.

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Their proposal story is just as adorable. On May 13, Lindsey woke up — angry at Dan from the night before. She wasn’t going to text him, because she felt like he owed her an apology. Finally, Dan texted her: “We need to talk.” He insisted it had to be in person.

Lindsey was, at this point, panicked. She thought he was breaking up with her because of their fight. She went over to his house and let herself in through the garage. She looked all over and couldn’t find him.

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She slowly walked back toward the garage — and found Dan there — on one knee.

He asked her to be his, and her response?

“BUT I’M MAD AT YOU!”

Totally cheating, right? How can she be mad when he’s presenting her with a ring?!

Dan said: “Well, you kinda messed this up. I was over in the corner and you were supposed to see me when you opened the garage door.”

She apparently walked right by him and went looking throughout the house, leaving him awkwardly on one knee until she actually saw him.

Laughing, Lindsey put out her hand and Dan put on the ring.

Cute. Perfect. Adorable! Just like them!

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After the ice rink, we headed to Faust Park for a few shots. When we got there, there were only a few people around, but by the time we left, people were coming droves to get a good view of the eclipse.

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One of my favorite things to do is shoot “through” things — so when I saw this tree — I knew exactly what I wanted to do:

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Lindsey told me her favorite thing about Dan is how goofy and random he can be. She said he keeps life interesting.

One shot we really wanted to get at the park was the classic “dancing” shot. The girl twirls and looks fantastic, while the guy smiles on at her.

Well, Lindsey really wanted to make sure she whipped up her dress — so we had to take about 20 practice spins!! She was so dizzy, but what a champion!

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Plus, it’s good practice for the wedding, amirite?

The very last shot we needed to make sure to get was at Dan’s family home. His childhood dog is 14 — and hasn’t been doing too well. He really wanted to make sure we got a good shot with Riley.

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Thing is — Riley didn’t wanna sit down, but was totally down to lean back and give Dan some kisses! Which is exactly what was happenin’ below!

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So glad Kansas City Photography was able to capture Lindsey & Dan’s special engagement story — thank you!

Can’t wait for the wedding, and a big congratulations to these two love birds!

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And if you haven’t had enough cuteness, just wait for this next bit. Dan promised to tell Lindsey he loves her — every day. And, as she reports, he has kept that promise!

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The Perfect Mother’s Day Gift

Mother’s Day is just around the corner! Here’s a picture of my beautiful mother (taken at the photobooth at my wedding, haha!). She’s pretty in pink:

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Throughout the years, this is always the holiday when my clients ask me about buying a photoshoot as a gift for their mom. I make a custom card for them to give to mom, and then she can get with us to book a date for a family photoshoot!

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Or, instead of gifting a shoot to mom, sometimes I have clients who get all the kids and grandkids together before Mother’s Day, and then surprise her with the photos the day of! Mom always tears up!

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Another perfect gift would be a shoot for the new mom. And we love newborns! Look at this stud. He’s already practicing his “swooning” face. <3

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Photos are such a precious a gift — a memory frozen in time. If you’re interested in booking a shoot before Mother’s Day, or giving Mom the gift of setting up her own family shoot — fill out our contact form (and tell us if you’re looking in St. Louis or KC — we are in both cities!), or message us on Facebook!