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Emily & Jason | Engaged

When Emily contacted me about photographing her wedding I told her - like I do most people - that we should meet up at a St. Louis Bread Company and discuss her wedding, view some albums, blah blah blah. And let's pick a location that is convenient for both of us. Well, when Emily wrote back she said that the most convenient location for us both would probably be one somewhere in Ohio. Oops!

Emily and her fiance are native St. Louisans who currently live and work in Washington DC. So while we couldn't meet face to face to discuss their wedding - that was done over the phone - we finally met up to shoot some engagement photos when they made a trip back to St. Louis. And what was in Emily's hand when she greeted me at the Missouri Botanical Gardens, site of their first date? A bag of bagels from St. Louis Bread Company. With her sense of humor, I knew right then and there we'd get along.

 

As I was editing, I was jotting down my favorites to blog - as I always do - but I noticed quite a trend ...



All my personal favorites were of them wrapped up in each other - literally and figuratively.

Thank you Emily and Jason for sharing part of your trip home with me. I can not wait to meet up with you again in less than seven weeks. :)

Megan & Rich

It's an epidemic. A curse.

I'm plagued with beautiful clients.

It started from day one and it just hasn't stopped. These beautiful clients refer other beautiful clients to me. Then those BCs refer other BCs to me. I don't know what to do.

So I make them kiss.

Then I make them kiss AND show off their beautiful bling.

What the hell, kiss some more you BCs! And do it in a beautiful location while your at it!

Okay, enough of kissing you BCs. Give me that look that only a BC can give ...

 

And because BCs are happy people too (wouldn't you be?), you might as well give me some smiles.

And a little laughter.

All kidding aside ... Megan & Rich, thank you for getting up early for me on a hot Saturday and inviting me out to your family's home in Imperial to do your session. And of course, thank you for being your beautiful selves, inside and out. I loved taking the time to get to know the both of you a little better and I can't wait to photograph your wedding in October. I know it will be so much fun. And of course, beautiful.

Thanks to my other BCs Julie, Ted & Grady for referring me to Megan & Rich. I hope to see you in October too, but understand you might be a little occupied with two new arrivals. :)

And because they really are a girl's best friend, I'm ending this post with the ring. Love!

Casey & Kevin

How I adore my Sikeston brides. Their sweet southern charm just oozes like tree sap. And Casey is no exception with her darling "Yes ma'am" responses. They're sweeter than apple pie.

I met with Casey & Kevin along with Casey's mom over a year ago when they were just in the planning stages of their wedding. I was delighted to hear the excitement in their voices. They truly had a vision of what they wanted the wedding to be like. Now the details have taken some twists and turns along the way, but the underlying theme of rustic elegance has stayed the course. And I'm so very excited to be heading down south in a few months to capture that theme, the mood, the emotions, the details, and of course the fun. 

Casey & Kevin have had quite a busy year culminating with Casey graduating from pharmacy school here in St. Louis just this past weekend. And if that isn't enough, she'll be moving into their new house this week. Fortunately they were nice enough to squeeze me in last week for their engagement session at Forest Park. Speaking of squeezing ...

 

 

Now Casey held her own, but the star of the show was Kevin. He worked it as if he did this for a living. It was ADORABLE to see that while Casey couldn't help but giggle, Kevin reeled her right back in for all those schmoop-y photos. Like peas and carrots, those two.

 

 

I had Casey & Kevin close their eyes due to the overcast skies stinging their eyes - say that 5 times fast - and even during that they held each other close. I thought it was so sweet that I just had to show you.

 

Practicing that first dance like they do every day at Forest Park on a Wednesday afternoon. :)

My brides' bling has been OUT OF CONTROL lately. I just had to take a picture. I'm saving a side view of this bad boy for the wedding. But take a look see ... I call this picture "Rock on a Rock". I know, very creative.

Thanks Casey & Kevin for hanging out with me right before you start the beginning your new journey together. I can't wait to see you again in October to celebrate all that you've worked so hard for. Yes ma'am, I can't wait!

Melanie & Jason - engaged!

So how do I start this post?

Well first things first - Melanie is very good friends with my girl Leslie. Leslie and I have an enduring friendship that started back when we played co-ed football together. She's close to my heart because she was there - and just a kid in my eyes - when Alex & I met. So when I photographed her wedding about 10 years later, it was with a smile in my heart to see her start a new chapter with her very own soul mate. In turn I was thrilled when Melanie called to see if I'd do her engagement pictures because I knew she was just as sweet and genuine as her good friend Leslie.

Since Melanie & Jason are getting married on a beach far away in Hawaii next year, our local location choices were endless. As we were discussing the options Melanie casually mentioned that she had family who had a farm house and property out in the Brussels/Hardin, IL area. I instantly voted for that option because I recalled a warm spring day a good six years ago when I took my first photography "field trip" to that area with my dad's old Nikon camera and endless rolls of black and white film. I had to pull up one of those old photos to remind myself literally where I'd been.

Yeah, a little too much overprocessing, but I still like it.

Melanie decided she was up for it. So last Saturday I grabbed my new Canon camera and endless supply of memory cards and headed for the ferry. Besides all of the wonderful backgrounds we had to work with, I was fortunate to work with these guys.

After a winding drive up the Great River Road through Alton and Grafton, jumping on the Brussels ferry, driving past fields, barns and silos, I pulled up to a beautiful home complete with a porch and rocking chairs. Not to mention a perfect red shed - oh yea, this will work!

These guys were there to greet me too. I know you aren't supposed to name things you eat, but I think I will call them Larry, Moe and Curly.

We stopped at a lot of places on the property and when we came across the tire swing, we thought, "Why not?" Uh yeah, it didn't really work out, but we got a good laugh out of it.

Oh so perfect!

In every way.

 

So sweet.

Normally I only do ring shots at weddings, but when I saw this bad boy, I had to photograph it. Damn the clarity on that thing.

Thanks Melanie & Jason for having me out to the farm and for bringing me back to where I started. Congrats again and if you change your mind about taking a photographer with you to Hawaii, you know where to find me. :)

Bre & Tom

Bre & Tom. Bre & Tom. Their names just seem to flow together. Just like peanut butter & jelly. Of course they are amazing individuals in their own rights, but they are just one of those couples that just meld together. Probably one of those couples their friends put at the top of their invite list when planning a party. I can hear it now - "Let's invite Bre & Tom!" Friends just know they are fun no matter where they go or who else is around.

Bre & Tom are getting married in October, so we snuck in our engagement session last weekend at the Missouri Botanical Garden. I hadn't been there in ages and it was a quite the pleasant return. Especially on a perfectly un-sweltering August day. Lots of beautiful, colorful spots there ...

But I also like the quieter spots that are out of the way of the crowds. The places where a couple can relax and just be themselves.

And work it like they are on "America's Next Top Model!" Yeah Tom!

Okay back to seriousness.

And a little bit of romance.

Back to my favorite kind of pic. Fun, happy, Bre & Tom!

Thanks for sharing a beautiful Saturday morning with me Bre & Tom. I can't wait to share your wedding day with you and watch you two come together as husband and wife. Just like peanut butter and jelly. :)

The McKitrick girls

... are getting married!

I have the honor of shooting Julie and Joe's wedding this coming October. It's getting close to their wedding day, so it was high time we do an engagement shoot. When we were setting up her session she mentioned that her sister Katie just got engaged to Steve and wanted to get some pictures too. Perfect - the more the merrier!

With four dynamic personalities, there was a LOT of laughter that day. I'm sure it's a sign of what's to come for the wedding. First up is Joe and Julie.

 

I just had to get the sisters together for a few pics ala the Brady Brides. Yes, they really are that cute and fun. They seem to bring out the best in each other.

More of Julie & Joe.

Most guys tend to squirm when it's their turn to be front and center. But Joe sucked it up and did his part.

Now when it was Steve's turn, there was some definite squirming going on. I love that Katie could not stop laughing at him.

A little more serious. A little.

And my favorites of both couples.

Looking forward to seeing all of you again in October for the big celebration! And thank you Jackie for sending your in-laws my way - I'm excited to finally see you at a wedding.