Twinkle lights, chilly fall nights and another newly engaged couple! Let’s talk about Matt & Cierra…

Matt contacted us a while back while he was plotting his surprise proposal to Cierra. She had no idea what he was planning (insert Morgan Freeman’s voice: she did, in fact, have some idea. She just didn’t know the details). Matt chose the location: Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens and was very specifc about date and time and even worked out getting their parents together back at Cierra’s parents house while the happy couple wandered through the Luminary Walk. Nothing says romance like twinkly lights and candle lit walks through the woods!

The sparkle!

Matt and I had corresponded through text throughout the week and even on the day of, he texted me the colors of their (dark) coats so that I could find them in the (dark) woods! Well, we did our best! I texted him a picture of where I was and as casually as possible, they strolled by me and asked if I could take their picture in front of this amazing tree. OF COURSE I CAN! So using Cierra’s phone, I captured a few shots of them standing and then Matt dropped to one knee in front of a crowd of people and proposed!

He opened the ring box backwards at first but neither of them minded!

There was a large group that applauded and cheered when Cierra said yes and the rest of the night was a breeze! Cierra and Matt met 12 – that’s right – TWELVE years ago. They attended different high schools and colleges and now after all of that, they have moved back to the KC area – together – and are saving up to buy a house and travel a little and keep doing all the things they love.

Matt and Cierra love getting out and about around town, trying new things together – restaurants and activities – and sometimes, they just soak up being couch potatoes and watching their favorite shows together over and over!

Not THE tunnel of love but we certainly made it theirs!

The best thing about night photography (or really any dimly lit location) is that your subjects really have to stay still for a period of time to get some of the best shots. Thankfully, this couple was all about sticking the pose for the camera! They really committed to these shots and I had so much fun capturing them – and all of the love they share! Congratulations to these two, thank you for letting me be a part of your special moment and evening and I can’t wait to hear about all the wedding plans!!!

‘Tis the Season… for getting hitched! Meet Emily and Hayley…

Recently, we had the pleasure of witnessing this ‘YES!’ moment at Prairie Fire Museum in Overland Park (note to self… add this to the list of fantastic places for photos! The colors! I’m obsessed!) Emily and Hayley met WAYYYYYY back in middle school but didn’t start dating until a little over a year ago!

I was never spotted until it was time!

When Emily decided to propose, she went to great lengths to pick the perfect ring, the perfect spot and hatch the perfect plan! She enlisted Clara, her bestie, as a distraction and Clara’s sister, Elsa, came too – all under the premise of taking pictures of Clara and promised Hayley there would be lunch!

Emily even went as far as sending me a map, a plan of attack, a route we would take afterwards, all leading to a surprise lunch with Emily’s mom and Hayley’s great-grandma! Hayley is very intuitive and Emily was sure she would know something was up – and she was right! Hayley was suspicious but didn’t know the plan and loved how it all played out!

So many spots to stop and take some great shots of these two!

As we walked through the shopping area, we stopped to take all kinds of pictures! There is no shortage of beauty anywhere around here. We also had plenty of time to chat about their cats and dog, about how they get to spend their time doing all the things the love and how they both work in education (LOVE OUR TEACHERS!!!)

Don’t worry – we went back and edited out the damage the wind tried to do to their hair! I’ll update with that picture soon!

As we were strolling down the street, headed toward lunch (the surprise lunch with mom and great-grandma) – here comes mom, driving right down the road next to us! Emily and Hayley just laughed – mom definitely didn’t follow the plans or the map! HA! But even though the cat was out of the bag, and the wind was blowing at what seemed like 100mph, we had so much fun finishing out the shoot!

AH THE RING!

When we finally met at the lunch destination, Emily’s mom, Hayley’s great-grandma, Clara, Elsa (and of course Emily and Hayley), all stopped to pose for one last picture together and off to lunch they went!

Congratulations to this beautiful couple! Can’t wait for the updates on all the camping, visiting Colorado (one of my favorite spots), and, of course, the WEDDING PLANS!!!!

Surprise Engagement! Dinner? Detour? A dream gondola proposal…

Calvin and Zoe met a year ago and as far as Zoe knew, this was just going to be a normal fun evening at the Country Club Plaza celebrating their one year anniversary at her favorite restaurant – The Melting Pot. What was actually going to happen was a well-planned surprise detour with a dream gondola ride!

Calvin and Zoe have enjoyed this last year together exploring Kansas City, going to local festivals, laughing together (a lot) and drinking all the coffee – so when Calvin received a call on their way to dinner telling them their reservation was pushed to later in the evening. She wasn’t too disappointed, she figured they would just walk around the plaza until it was time to eat. The caller was Calvin’s best friend and this ‘delay’ was all part of the master plan. Calvin lead her down to Brush Creek and suggested walking by the water… where the gondola ride awaited.

She was blown away by the detour and was just soaking up the spontaneous fun. She had no idea what the rest of the trip would bring. The gondola ride headed west while I headed east to set up for the rest of the trip!

As they turned around and headed under the bridge, the gondolier signaled to Calvin and he reached over the edge of the boat and brought up a bottle from the side of the boat that contained a message – a handwritten love letter just for Zoe. The details of the letter remain a mystery but I can tell you from afar, there was nothing about this letter that Zoe didn’t love. When I tell you Calvin took the time to plan this…. there wasn’t a detail missed.

While the boat circled near the bridge, the couple appeared to just be enjoying the evening ride when Calvin made his move and got down on his knee, IN THE BOAT, and proposed.

Zoe said later that she had no idea any of this was going to happen and feeling surprised was a true understatement! After she said YES!, he revealed I was there to capture it all and we headed back to the dock for our photo shoot!

Congratulations to this amazing couple! Thank you so much for letting me capture this moment — I can only imagine the fun you two will have in the years to come!

Surprise Engagements!

Timing, Locations, and Outfits, oh my!

Nick & Sydney celebrate their special moment in Loose Park

After my most recent clients (Nick and Sydney) celebrated their ‘Yes!’ in Loose Park yesterday, I was stopped by another couple and asked for some details on engagement photography and how did we pull off *another* surprise engagement, especially in such a busy location? And I thought… why not tell the world? So if you’re ready to propose to your partner – you’re in the right spot! I’m going to spill the beans on surprise engagements! We’ll review the top spots in Kansas City, how to prepare, what your photographer can help you with — and more! But first… Let’s do a quick recap of our other recent proposals and some of their special moments!

SURPRISE ENGAGEMENTS: LOCATIONS

Most of my clients have picked out the ring, the day, and sometimes even their outfit but when I ask, ‘where are we going for this special moment?’ the answer is almost always, ‘I’m not sure, do you have any recommendations?’ Yes, my friends, yes I do. Here are the list of questions to ask yourself (or that I will ask you) before we decide on a spot!

  • Is there a local spot that’s special to you? Maybe your first date? Maybe a spot you go to regularly?
  • Is there a specific background you’re looking for? Water? Flowers? Trees? Cityscape?
  • When you think back on this special day, is this a location you’re going to want to be able to access (if possible, think wedding, anniversaries, etc).
  • Formal/Casual dress attire?
  • Are you planning any activities pre/post engagement session?

Once we get through those – we can narrow down that right location for you!

If my clients have no preference on location, I refer to this blog post: https://kansas-city-photography.com/2017/02/03/top-10-photo-locations-in-kc/

But also I like to add in these options:

  • Powell Gardens
  • Nelson Atkins
  • Plaza
  • KC Rooftop Bars (think Crossroads area!)
  • Longview, Smithville and WyCo Lakes!

There are a number of locations to choose from and when recommending a place I like to consider the season – what’s blooming, what colors will show in the background? Is it rainy season? Are we going to get muddy (this might be something planned!) What’s planned for after the photoshoot – do you have time to get where you’re going if we pick a certain location over another. Also, are there several backgrounds for the photos or will we just have one or two to work with? Your photographer will work with you to brainstorm ideas and they’ll also take into consideration lighting, weather, permits (if necessary) and review all of that with you. Overall, a lot to think through but in the end, this is the backdrop for your special moment so we want it to be right!

Up next… How to prepare: The details for your special day!

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

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

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

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.

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

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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!

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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.

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When the reveal finally happened, the reaction was overwhelming!

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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!

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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.

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

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

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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.

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

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

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

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

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

‘The Hunt Is Over’ – Samantha and Zachary’s Wedding!

Tatiana here! I’m sharing another magical day featuring Samantha and Zachary Jennings!

You may remember this lovely couple and their “duck-duck” daughter from their engagement photos.

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Sam and Zach selected our “Diamonds and Pearls” package, which included engagement photos and all-day wedding photos, which included getting ready shots, first look, etc.

Zachary was adamant about not seeing Samantha until she walked down the aisle. So much so, we had to hide him in a closet while I took Sam and her bridesmaids out to the garden for photos before the ceremony!

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Super worth it! Look at these gorgeous ladies in Christine’s favorite color!

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Their venue was the Rhapsody in Independence, which was not short of elegance! It’s such a lovely location!

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They created the perfect atmosphere catered to the soon-to-be newlyweds, and their customer service was out of this world!

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I would definitely recommend this venue to anyone in the KCMO area. <3

Uhm, and did I mention the waterfall?

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Cuz there’s a waterfall! It certainly made up for when we went to Bass Pro for their engagement shoot and the falls were OFF! #notoverit

The Rhapsody has a separate building referred to as “the cottage,” which serves as the Bridal Suite. They are currently constructing a separate building for the Groom and Groomsmen as well.

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This couch was perfect for “getting ready” shots and close-ups of the details in the wedding dress.

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It’s also perfect for seeing Samantha’s radiant glow as she transformed from woman to bride!

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Sam’s flower girls were always ready for their closeup, including Samantha’s beautiful daughter, Louella, in the middle! I got more smiles outta her this time!

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Little Lou thought her momma looked like a princess, and on this day she truly was!

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Zachary definitely thought it was worth the suspense of waiting to see her — there are some tears swelling up in his glasses!

When they finally heard “you may kiss the bride” these two were inseparable once again — no more hiding in utility closets needed!

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Of course, that didn’t stop their friends and family from trying to snag them away for congratulations.

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Don’t worry, there’s plenty of love to go around!

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Their rings glistened and sparkled in the bright sunlight — which was INTENSE! I’m sure Zach’s head got a nice red glow … because I still have a sunburn! lol

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We know Zachary and Samantha’s love will burn bright just as the sun.

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Thank you so much for letting Kansas City Photography be a part of your special day!

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

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!

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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!

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

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

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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.

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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!

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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!

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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“.

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

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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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!

 

Christine’s 7 Most Romantic Photoshoots of 2017!

2017 was full of amazing photoshoots! From anime conventions to a haunted winery — we had a lot of fun!

But I really wanted to “focus in” (get it? Hahaha) on some of my most romantic photoshoots from 2017. Because why not start off the new year with a little bit of love?

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This isn’t a favorites list, just some fond and romantic memories from 2017!

1. Bret & Hannah

I’ve known Bret since college, and was tickled when he filled me in on his secret proposal plan for his then-girlfriend, Hannah!

As far as romance goes — it’s hard to beat a surprise proposal!

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Bret’s grand plan was to drive Hannah out to the wineries for their anniversary, so she thought he was being sweet and celebrating that. She didn’t realize he was going to pull out a ring! Now, a tornado watch was also in effect on the day of the proposal, because Mother Nature does what she wants.

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Bret & I had a “secret spy mission” going so we could talk about the proposal in secret. You can read more about this fun shoot, here.

2.  Lindsey & Dan

Lindsey and Dan made the list because they are so in love, they booked two engagement shoots! Dan loves hockey, so the first shoot was done at an ice rink. Look closely at the scoreboard – that’s actually their wedding date!

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The second shoot was a more country setting, which was Lindsey’s dream! Plus, she had 7 outfits all planned out, with what shots she wanted in each outfit. She is the most prepared bride ever!

3. Genevieve, Theodore, Elena, & Jaxton!

And love leads to babies!!!

Let’s start with Jenn and James. They were so tickled to welcome their baby girl, Genevieve, into the world in 2017. She is their first, and very loved by all their friends and family!

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But 2017 also welcomed other baby cuties that Christine was tickled pink about! Three of Christine’s very best friends all had them within months of each other!!

Mr. TJ (Amanda & Jordan) and Miss Elena (Steve & Alyssa) need to be highlighted, too! Elena actually POOPED on me during her shoot.

Plus, Christine’s little nephew was born this year. His name is Jaxton! SO MANY CUTE SNUGGLES WERE HAD!!!

TJ also gave everyone quite a scare. Amanda went into labor early.

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He was in the NICU after birth, but he’s a tough lil’ guy!! Plus, his guard dog, Truman, is always at the ready! 😉

4. Emily & Stephen

Romance in the windy city! Emily is another one of my dear college friends. We worked together at the state Capitol and graduated from Mizzou together! I try to make it to Chicago at least once a year to visit — and after Stephen’s proposal … it was a must to make it out there ASAP!

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With the romantic backdrop of Chicago against the water, it was a breathtaking photoshoot to celebrate their love!

5. Katherine & Josh 

These two lovebirds just couldn’t stop kissing each other! I mean, of course it was their wedding day, but even during their engagement session, they kept sneaking little kisses! It was so adorable. A peck on the end of her nose, a kiss ever so gently on his cheek. It just made me squeak from the romance of it all!

Plus, Josh loves kissing Kathy’s hand!

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6. Oye Engagement

I really wanted to highlight this adorable engagement shoot because these two lovebirds are in a long distance relationship, but they still made it work!

Months ago, Oye asked Sayo hypothetically, “If I happened to ask you to marry me, what would be your answer?”

Sayo gets so many bonus point for her answer: “You have to ask to find out!”

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The happy couple is getting married back on the East coast in South New Jersey at Lucien’s Manor this October.

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7. Jeremy & Amanda

This was definitely one of the most romantic settings this year – a gorgeous wedding at a country club.

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Amanda & Jeremy had the entire property to themselves. It was spacious, and beautiful, both the land on the outside and the property on the inside! Bright grass, tall trees, a white picket fence surrounding the roadway, plus a deck to stand on.

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We hope you had some romantic moments in 2017, and many more in 2018! After all, love makes the world go ’round!

Make sure to follow Kansas City Photography on Facebook!

Third Times A Charm: An Engagement Shoot On The Go!

No — Jam didn’t have to ask Jaclyn three times for her hand. Once was plenty for her to say “YES!!!”

Finding a location for their engagement photos, on the other hand, wasn’t as easy.

Hi, it’s Tatiana again ready to share my latest weekend adventure!

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Jaclyn and Jam contacted us to help celebrate their engagement with photos during the best time of year. We decided on Burr Oaks Conservation Area, like the previous blog showcased, for its variety of different locations within nature’s awesome autumn scenery.

When I arrived, the gates were closed and there were two park rangers with neon orange vests waiting to inform anyone who wanted to enter that the conservation was CLOSED! 

WHAT!?

You can’t close NATURE!

Well — when you have an overpopulated deer problem in the area, Missouri Conservationists can for an organized hunt.

And we were fresh outta camo. So, onto a new place we went!

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Once I discovered the location was closed, I contacted the eager couple immediately and we met at Pink Hill Park right next to the entrance of Burr Oaks.

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We were able to get some heartwarming shots with the leaves changing in the background! And I’m glad we did — those leaves will be falling off very soon!

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I was also able to use my angle magic to get some woodsie vibes. But after walking around, I knew we were running out of options fast — because half the park was under construction!

The sun was about to set and I had to make a decision on my feet. So, we got back in our cars and hit the road!

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I’m so glad they agreed to reboot the shoot because we were able to get some amazing shots at our third location: Waterfall Park at Bass Pro!

It still lack a waterfall, but that’s not the only perk of this location if you remember the “duck-ducks”.

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Jam proposed to Jaclyn on a vacation in Austin, Texas. He needed a new shirt and they ended up finding a shirt that matched hers! When they got back to the hotel to get ready, she thought her shirt looked wrinkly.

Jam agreed, teasing her, and she turned around to give him a good “shut up!” and he switched gears to being super romantic and sweet.

He then essentially asked her to let him tease her for the rest of her life!

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I’m so glad they both humored me scavenging for the perfect leaf for this shot. I probably looked like a crazy person, but you do what you gotta do! <3

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And then I went next level crazy and scrounged around two more perfect leaves for this one. Her ring is a classic diamond with a gold band — also, it’s huge! It’s so gorgeous!

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These two were so great to work with, and they are fellow dog lovers like me, which makes them good people in my book! Plus, Jaclyn has the best fashion sense. Where do you shop?!

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We at Kansas City Photography wish you both a wonderful journey ahead, and hope you keep us in mind for your wedding photographer! We travel. 😉

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‘You mean you knew how to light a fire this whole time?!’ – Beth And Josh’s Fall Engagement Shoot!

Hey, maybe your photographer needs to know that you are certified in building campfires ahead of time — but more on my dreams of arson in a moment!

It’s Tatiana again, and let me tell you — this is the busiest month I’ve had since starting with Kansas City Photography! And I couldn’t be happier because Fall is my favorite time to shoot. Nature does all the work!

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I mean, how can you not adore the vibrant colors just popping out all around you? Beth and Josh are Fall freaks as well, so they chose Burr Oak Woods for their engagement shoot!

It’s a gorgeous nature trail that’s 1,071 acres of gorgeousness!

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Beth and Josh found me through a mutual friend (Thanks, Meg! <3). We bonded over our basic selves with some Starbucks coffee and my Princess Mononoke shirt. Clearly, we are best friends in the making!

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We booked the shoot about a month in advance, but as the day approached, the weather forecast looked pretty grim.

Of course, if you live in Missouri, you’ll know that the weather is about as predictable as a newborn baby. It can snow in the morning and by 3 p.m., you’re breaking a sweat! Seriously. This has happened before.

I’m so glad we kept with the original date, because we had a blast!

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Beth came prepared with some awesome Pinterest ideas! We have pose ideas ready to go for our clients, but we always love it when people have their own special style. After all, we want to shoot what YOU want.

One of her ideas was to have matching mugs, but she nixed it because she thought it would be weird to have random mugs in the middle of the woods.

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That’s when I said “It would be super cool if you guys were sipping hot cocoa over a campfire! Too bad we don’t have one of those.”

And that’s when she hit me with, “Well, Josh is an eagle scout. So, he knows how to make a campfire.”

WHAT?! ACCA-‘SCUSE-ME?!

Unfortunately, I didn’t have spare mugs lying around and Josh was really into preventing forest fires … so the campfire was a no-go — THIS TIME.

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Beth and Josh have been together for almost 2 years.  They met online, which is getting more and more common these days!

Another go-to proposal move seems to be the kitchen, since that’s where Josh asked the big question (I need to be hyper cautious in our kitchen from now on — Eric might get crazy). Here’s Beth recalling the event:

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“Well … I was in my pjs in the kitchen, throwing something away at the trash can. I turned around and he was on one knee.
First words out of my mouth were: ‘Are you sure?’ I looked so frumpy because we were at home — But I thought ‘If he wants to marry me like this, then it must be meant to be!'”

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So freakin’ cute! Josh knew that Beth hates anything flashy or over-the-top, so he picked out this beautiful pink sapphire ring with a rose gold band from Israel. It’s so elegant and charming — A+ to Josh!

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This was Josh’s first time at Burr Oaks and Beth was thrilled to show him around, since this conservation area is where her and her family share many fond memories together (And if you ever want to share those memories in front of a professional photographer, hit me up. Tee hee.)

Also — they’re doing exactly what you think they’re doing below! This had me rolling!

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These two were so fun to work with and I can’t wait to capture their wedding day!

Side note: Beth totally kept these leaves for keepsakes of the shoot. I would absolutely do the same thing!