2009 Pictures of the Year

While Karen's been away on vacation in sunny Arizona, I've been slaving away compiling our favorite images from 2009, commonly referred to in the industry as "Pictures of the Year." And what a year it was! Karen branched out to do more seniors, babies and family portraiture this year in Salina, where she now lives, while I concentrated mostly on weddings and a very important personal project. We've got big plans in store for 2010 and look forward to the events we've already scheduled. To our 2010 couples: Just think! You might make our next POY selection! To see the slideshow, click here! -Mike

Andrea + Larry's Engagement Album Design

I love engagement albums!

To view the entire design, please CLICK HERE.

Jessica + Chris' Wedding Album is IN!!!!!!

To be truthful, Jessica and Chris got the 10x10 album (the darker brown leather), and we have an adorable 8x8 parent sized album (the lighter leather).

They're cute, cute, cute!!!!


And who doesn't love their names and wedding dates imprinted on the leather cover?


There are some leather flaps that keep the album closed.


The pages are hand-torn and lovely. :)


And there is very little loss in the center of the pages.


In fact, you can see the hand-stitching here.


A stunning album spread.


The hand-torn pages don't fan out as nicely as some other albums, but you get the idea.


And more idea. ;)


And a little more.


And I like this spread as well.


A little closer look at the detail. :)


And a little logo action, too.


Last photo: A horizontal of the 10x10 (back) and 8x8 (front). The 10x10 is our regular-sized album for our couples. We have the option to order a duplicate for parents, but if mom and dad want something a little smaller, there's the awesome 8x8. :)

Erin + Shane's Wedding Album is IN!!!!

And everything is better with a bow. :)


And tucked safely inside the box.


And we pay attention to the tiny little details, like using the same font on the event card as we did on the front of the album.


And a closeup of the binding.


Of course, our stamp of approval on the back. :) It isn't often that we get to see our logo without color ... but it looks supremely classy. :)


A couple photos of some of my favorite album spreads and we'll call it good.


Cheers!

And stay tuned for Jessica and Chris' album ... it's up in a few days. :)

Products — Brag Book III

I know, I know ... I have posted about our brag books before, but I just love them. They're so darn adorable!!!


We have 2 size options: 8x8 inches (left) or 5x5 inches (right).


Not only are brag books personalized with a photo on the cover, but we can add your name or personal info.


On the spine, too!


Some clients tell us they can't choose between the photos ... they have too many favorites! Well, I completely understand the predicament, which is why these are perfect. Start with 20 photos and add as many as you like.


No frills, just one photo per page.

Our Christmas ordering deadline has passed, but if you might want one of these in the new year, we can get you hooked up! And of course, these are available from our family, baby, senior portrait sessions, as well as from our weddings. :)

Sisters

Lauren is a force of nature. She is non-stop energy and enthusiasm for life.

And she was wearing an awesome pink flower in her hair. Really, who doesn't love that!?!??!?? :)

And then there's Chloe, who I haven't seen in a year (sitting on the left). Isn't she getting BIG?


I just love these in-between moments during portrait sessions. When Amy and Matt wanted a quick photo of themselves, and they set Chloe on the fireplace. And then force of nature Lauren decided it'd be a good place to be .... and to play with her stocking. Ahhhh.....the spontaneousness of youth!

Anyhow, I suspect we'll see more of this pink flower loveliness once the weather warms up and we con do some more structured family portraits in the great out-of-doors.

ps-this is our 300th post .... wowsers!!!!

State Football

On occasion, Mike or I will be asked to cover a photojournalism assignment. It's truly a nice break in our daily routines. It's also something I miss. Seriously ... I can count on one hand the number of times I've sat in the stands to watch any kind of sports game in the last 10 years. I've ALWAYS been on the field.

So, when a former colleague who now works as an editor of the Kansas City Star asked if I'd be interested in covering Bishop Miege in the Class 4A Kansas State High School Championship, I jumped at the chance.


Now, let me admit something here. As a photojournalist who has transitioned into weddings and portraits, I am highly critical of photojournalistic work. It's a difficult job to do, and it's even more difficult to do it well. Especially sports (or, at least for me .... it's always taken me more effort to produce sports images I'm proud to show).


Let's just say I was a bit cocky about shooting football. After all, how many other wedding/portrait photographers around here do you see doing it?


And then there was the first half of the game .... I was eating a LOT of humble pie. I seemed to forget how fast football action can be. Sure, I do my share of chasing after little kids, ring bearers, and the like, but high school seniors who have signed to play at D-1 schools? That's an entirely different ball game, folks!


When I snapped this frame of the Hayden quarterback grabbing the mask of a Miege defender, I have to admit, I did the happy dance. (side note: my sports desk editor of a husband very patiently explained to me that because the player grabbing the face mask is an offensive player, it's not *technically* considered a "facemask" ... which seems strange to me. One player is grabbing the face mask of another player, but so be it).


Of course, as we learned early on, the action isn't always on the field. Coaches are usually good for a photo or two.


I'm always amused by high school boys, especially their reactions upon winning a championship.


On these two images, I applied some of my affection for sun flare to the photos. A bit more of an artsy edge to football, but I figured why not. :)


Ok, ok, ok. I simply HAVE to talk about this last image. It was the beginning of the 2nd half, and this little guy caught my eye. I love contrast, and with this, it was the big players and then this much smaller one. I don't know the story behind player No. 10, but this photo amuses me.


Story is online HERE. They also had an online gallery, but it seems to have grown legs and walked off.

Extended Family Portraits :)

Just a few days after photographing adorable Baby Oscar, we reconvened a few days later once Baby Oscar's extended family arrived. Grandma and Grandpa are in the center, with auntie and cousins on the left side, and of course Oscar's family on the right.

Since all of the cousins were in one place at one time, they wanted to do a photo of the Grandparents and grandkids. Mac, of course, was *very agreeable.*


To be truthful, Mac had no interest in having his portrait taken. Only in running to mom and dad ... this is actually a decent photo of one of his "great escapes" .... ;)


But Mac's little brother, Oscar, certainly didn't mind having his portrait taken. Especially with Cousin Devin. This girl loooooves kissing all over Baby Oscar.


And these two squirrely girlies ... Colleen on the right ... kept up a steady chorus of "Iiiiiiii never fiiiiiight with my siiiiiiister" during the session. I'll bet. ;)~



Last image in some yummie late afternoon light.

For my favorites from the session, please CLICK HERE.

Erin + Shane's Wedding Album Design

When I said Erin and Shane's album design would be coming soon, I didn't realize it'd be quite this soon ... but here we are! Their album is a stunning 20-page one.

To view the entire album design, please CLICK HERE.

Sneak Peek — Erin + Shane's Wedding Album Design

More wedding album design yumminess!!!!!

The rest of the album will be coming shortly. :)

Baby Oscar

Don't you just love father/son photos? :)


It's such an honor to have parents ask me to photograph baby No. 2. If some of you are thinking Baby Oscar looks familiar, it's probably because he looks a little bit like Big Brother Mac.

To view the entire slideshow, please CLICK HERE.

Give Thanks!

Well, here it is ... Thanksgiving once again! This is the fourth year for our tradition of giving thanks her on the blog. I have to say, it's nice to have an excuse to pause and reflect about the blessings in our business and in my own life.

Once again, in no particular order, this is what we're grateful for:

— To be selected as a recipient of the 2009 Bride's Choice Award.


— To be asked by Wedding Plan Kansas magazine to photograph their fall cover + fashion images (I STILL have to blog them .... so stay tuned over the next week or so!).


— To be photographing more sessions in Salina, where I've lived for about a year and a half. It's fantastic to get to know more people here in the community ... and it's really nice to explore the area, looking for uber-cool portrait locations.




— To be photographing more senior sessions ... it's been a blast!




— For some of the cool, picturesque locations we've shot weddings in this year. They've been fabulous!




— For the beautiful babies we've been privileged to photograph this year.


— To watch Maddie, Mike's little girl, grow during her first year of life. It's also been beautiful to watch Mike transform and grow as a father.


— To be invited down to Oklahoma to photograph several family sessions. It's flattering to be invited across state lines into another's home to portray the beauty of their family.


— To be invited by my friend to assist her with 2 weddings in VanCouver, Brisish Columbia!


— To see our families and their babies grow year after year!


— To have trusting clients that will do just about anything we ask them. Because the photos just turn out SO COOL when they go with our artistic and creative vision. :)


— To my friend, Sarah, for modeling for me for an entire day .... she really rocked it out in the cold!