I love this album. I have been anxiously awaiting its arrival for what seems like forever, although I must say this new company I tried out is SUPER fast. A little disclaimer before looking at the photos: I am a horrible product photographer! I did not do this album justice, so you’ll just have to set up a meeting with me to see it in person. Haha!

It’s a pearl leather cover, with a metallic cameo cover. It’s so beautiful and elegant. If you’re a current client and haven’t ordered your album yet, you should seriously consider upgrading your album. The cameo just really adds something spectacular, and the 12×12 size is just phenomenal. I highly recommend it!

This flushmount album is SO well made.

Here’s a sample of my design. I like the images to do the talking, so I go for clean + modern layouts.

I love to design albums with at least 2 full spreads. They rock my world!

PS Don’t forget to check out the Engagement Session contest in yesterday’s post!

My friend and fellow wedding photographer, Ashley Turner of Ashley Turner Photography is running an engagement contest called Flaunt Your Rock! All you have to do is submit a photo of your engagement session, and you could potentially win a free engagement session with Ashley! She’s an AWESOME photographer, so you don’t want to miss out! Get your pics in soon, and check out all the details on her blog located HERE. Don’t forget to spread the word to all your engaged friends!

PS If you’re not in Missouri, there are several other photographers in various states, as well as Canada, who are participating in the contest! You can get all the details on Ashley’s blog. Good luck!

I am SO excited to be shooting again! It feels like it’s been a million years since I’ve shot an engagement session, but I jumped back in this weekend with a really wonderful couple. And with some gorgeous sunshine, nonetheless! Dani + Joe braved the cold for an urban engagement session at Laclede’s Landing in downtown St. Louis on Saturday…Here’s a quick sneak peek! More to come from this session, and I’ll be posting about 2 fabulous sample albums. 1 is a coffee table album that I’ve been meaning to share for FOREVER. The second is a brand new flushmount album with a metal cameo that I am seriously in love with. I can’t wait for you guys to see it! (So don’t forget to stop back later this week!)

Also, just a little reminder to all my 2010 couples who still need their engagement pictures taken, PLEASE email me ASAP so I can get you on the calendar. My April/May weekends are just about full with shoots, so unless you can shoot on a weekday, please schedule soon! Thank you!!!!

And here’s Dani + Joe’s sneak peek…

You may remember the birth of this little miracle baby. You can see some shots here from his birth. This lil guy is my nephew, and I love him to pieces. Every little roll. The red hair. The big, beautiful eyes. And the drool…Oh the drool. My sister, Michelle, could tell you a really funny/gross story about where some of his slobber landed once when Aunt Nikki had baby Clay high in the air…But it would probably gross you out. It grossed me out. But just a little. Several months ago, Michelle brought Clay over for a few, quick shots. About 4 months later, he’s babbling, crawling, and if possible, even cuter than in these images. We definitely need another shoot ASAP. They really do grow too quickly…

Just wanted to let you guys know there is now a featured gallery up on my website. (Click on galleries, then featured gallery.) I’m going to try to keep the featured gallery updated every few months - HOPEFULLY! It contains a sample of what clients can expect when I shoot a wedding. The current featured gallery contains about 60 images from start to finish that I shot during John + Elaina’s wedding back in September.

And just another business side note, I’m completely booked up for 2010. Should have mentioned that a little sooner, but feel free to contact me and I can hit you up with some great referrals from other great photographers in the area. I’d be more than happy to help you out. I am currently booking for 2011, so send me an email if you’re looking for a wedding photographer in St. Louis for next year.

And here’s Aidan doing what he does best - ROCK OUT.

Just letting everyone know I’ll be on vacation from March 4-14. If you need anything before then, please let me know ASAP. We’ll be in the Caribbean, and I won’t have phone or email access.

And I can’t have a post with no pictures. So here’s my sweet guy. I’m not sure how I’m going to be able to stand being away from him for a full week. I’ve never been apart from him for very long. Wish me luck!

I haven’t been shooting much this winter, and at first, I was loving the break. I really needed to re-charge my batteries before wedding season 2010 began. I put my camera down for a while. I just had to. But after my son turned 3, and I tried to put together a slideshow from a year of his life, from age 2-3, I realized how so many months had gone by with little images of my own child. Not just photographs that I wanted to have printed as a canvas. Just any pictures. And that made me sad. I’ve done a lot of brainstorming and thinking about ideas for Nicole Welch Photography for 2010 and beyond, and I’m really excited about the things to come. I’m thrilled to have the year booked up, and I’m getting REALLY antsy to start shooting some weddings!!! But first, I have decided to go back to my roots in documentary photography. That’s where my love is, and I love bringing that to weddings. At times, though, I suppose reading blogs of other (albeit amazing) photographers, I lose sight of who I am and what I want to be. And I don’t want that at all. I love capturing real, true moments of couples, their families and friends on one of the most important days of their lives. I don’t ask my brides to re-create moments. I don’t ask for hours of time to do posed photos, whether formal or informal. I want to capture you. I want to tell your story. So…..I guess I’m making a pledge to myself to get back to those roots, and I figured what better way than to start at home, more often than not with my own son. So if you see a lot of Mr. Aidan on the blog, you’ll understand why and where I’m coming from.

In the mornings, Aidan loves to wake up and watch an episode of Little Bear.

He’s so calm in the morning. Too bad it didn’t happen more often!

Playing PBS Kids on mommy’s computer.

Time for trains!

Frustrated.

Beloved Thomas.

Aidan’s first time ice skating….Perhaps not the best idea Dan and I ever had…

Aidan’s first time. He LOVED it.

Well, trying to stay warm, for one! We celebrated Aidan’s birthday very late, took Aidan sledding for the first time in his life, went bowling for the first time, and tomorrow we’re saying goodbye to my baby brother as he leaves for Army basic training. More updates to come. Until then, put your parka on people, it’s brutal out there!

And here’s my big 3-year-old guy. He still has that sweet baby face though.

January is an infamously slow time for photographers, especially wedding photographers. But when Ellis’ mommy emailed and asked about a family session, I was thrilled to bust out the dusty camera. Ok, it really wasn’t dusty, but poor Aidan is the only one I’ve been photographing lately. And while it was cold, it wasn’t the 0-degree weather we had several weeks ago. We photographed in their lovely St. Charles home, and they also braved the cold out at Busch Wildlife. It ended up being freezing cold, but hopefully it was worth it for some of the fun shots we got. (I think it was!)

She has SUCH a great smile.

How cute is that coat?!

Ellis, a future pianist!

Here I am! I hadn’t realized it had been so long since I blogged until people started emailing asking where I was. Then I checked the blog and realized it had been nearly a month! Between the crazy holidays and a crazy bug making its way through our house, I haven’t been on my computer much, except to design some albums. So here we are! It’s 2010, and my baby boy just turned 3! Unfortunately for him, we didn’t even get to celebrate because mommy was as sick as a dog. We’re rescheduling his party for this Saturday, so he’ll finally open his presents. Yeah, we’re that horrible, he didn’t open anything. But I don’t think he noticed, he was still too excited about all of his Christmas gifts.

Here he is. The light of my life.

Deanne, Matt and I headed out to Lake St. Louis on a VERY cold Missouri afternoon, but it didn’t stop us from having a great time at their engagement session. One word to describe this couple: ADORABLE. Even my husband says so. Normally he doesn’t really get into the editing part of the business, but he was walking by my iMac when I was editing a few for this blog preview, and he came over and said, “Wow! They’re an adorable couple.” See? Told ya. They’re SO in love, and they love to show it. And that makes for some really great pictures because what photographer doesn’t love a couple that’s so natural in front of the camera? First we headed out to Boulevard Park in Lake St. Louis where they had their first date. (How fun is that?!) And then we headed to the Meadows shopping center for a more urban feel. They chose the locations, and I think they did a fabulous job. It’s always fun to shoot somewhere new, and I strongly suggest couples try to find a location that is meaningful to them for their shoot. It will just make the pictures that much more meaningful down the road. So that’s something to think about for all you couples out there who are doing your engagement pictures next year. What place is special to you? Where do the 2 of you like to go? Where did you have your first date? Just something to think about….

And, are you ready to see this super cute couple? I bet you are!

Love this one. And look at her fab shoes!

FAVE.d

Aaaah. They’re so in love.

Snuggling to stay warm!

They’re cute AND talented. And I really want to know how Deanne’s hair looks amazing. Whether I was making them run, jump, snuggle, dance, it always looked great!

Peek-a-boo!

Sassy!

It was SO hard to cull through their session. I think this gallery is going to have a TON of pictures in it because I just couldn’t chose! These are just some very happy people, and it’s contagious!  Can’t wait for the wedding, you two. We’re going to have a GREAT time.

I had to really great sessions this weekend. One family session and an engagement session. Here are their sneak peeks. More to come!