Monthly Archives: May 2010
After re-scheduling this session TWICE, we finally had a day with some good weather and BRILLIANT sunshine at Lafayette Square – one of my favorite places to shoot! Matt and Carolyn were really great sports, despite the crazy St. Louis heat. I think it paid off, because I think we got some really great shots. When I uploaded the images from this shoot, I realized this was going to depart from my normal blog posts. Mainly because I normally LOVE black and white images. But not this shoot. Not this time. With the beautiful golden light, the beautiful greenery of the park, and Carolyn’s gorgeous purple shirt, I went mostly color.
Thanks Carolyn + Matt – I’m really looking forward to your Columbia wedding in July!!!
Emily + Tyler got married at Hidden Lake Winery in Aviston, IL. I had never been there, but I have to say that it’s a beautiful location for a wedding! There were so many fun places to shoot pictures, and the ceremony took place in front of a waterfall. GORGEOUS. (I’m a sucker for outdoor weddings!)
Love, love, love her shoes.
She couldn’t stop looking at herself in the mirror. And I couldn’t stop photographing her.
Ok, so I had to get another shoe shot. So sue me.
Emily + Tyler opted for a “first look” so we could get the majority of pictures done before the ceremony. Plus it gave them a private moment to themselves…Well, private + me.
I’m so jealous of these POCKETS.Why didn’t dresses have pockets when I got married?
I love the color scheme they chose for the guys. It was absolute perfection for a wedding at a winery.
Told you it was beautiful.
Bridesmaids always end up crying. I love that.
This location was seriously to die for.
Emily’s mom REALLY wanted balloons, and Emily and Tyler really worked it. Love these next 2.
THE END.
I know, I know, another sneak peek…I promise there will be a full blog post tomorrow!
Coming up soon on the blog…
Tyler + Emily’s wedding in Aviston, IL.
and Deanne + Matt’s wedding in South County.
Kadie + Cole chose Forest Park for their engagement session because that’s where Cole proposed to Kadie, and it also just so happens to be where they’re getting married this fall! I’m REALLY looking forward to it. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love outdoor weddings!
Ceremony: Manchester United Methodist Church
Reception: St. Louis Marriot West
Wedding Party Pics: Faust Park
Bridesmaid Dresses: White House Black Market
I really wish I could remember what happened at this moment…All I know is it makes me laugh.
Dani + Joe’s wedding party was fiesty!
More proof…
And pretty…
See – told ya. FIESTY! One of my favorite moments of the day.
Faust Park rocks.
Who doesn’t love a candy buffet?
I love her expression…And her stance.
I love that she cried pretty much every time she saw her dad. Is that weird?
There was just so much love in this family. It was incredible to watch how close they are.
But then it was time to party! Dani is fierce! (A la America’s Next Top Model)
I recently photographed the wedding of Dani + Joe – one of the most laid back couples I have EVER met. Especially Dani. Nothing seemed to phase her on her wedding day – she just kept a huge smile on her face the entire day. And she’s just like a friend, a very gorgeous friend. And I must say, she’s been that way since the moment I met her at the Bread Co. in Chesterfield. This first post from their wedding is all about the getting ready, and I can honestly say she was the most calm bride I have ever photographed. (Ceremony + reception pics coming tomorrow!)
Her ring is just incredible…
And his isn’t too shabby either.
Occasionally, I will meet with a bride who says she doesn’t want any “getting ready” photos. I happen to be a huge fan of the getting ready process. Sure, I like to photograph all the little details – shoes, jewelry, rings, etc. But what it really comes down to are all the little moments that take place before the ceremony even starts – moments with some of the most important people in a bride’s or groom’s life…Like this moment with Dani putting on her mom’s bracelet. It’s just a small thing in the scheme of things, but it’s such a cherished time, and I hate to miss the opportunity to document these moments. Just a little something to think about for all of my brides who haven’t gotten married yet…
Moments like this with her bridesmaids when she opened her gift, a watch, from Joe. (She also gave him a watch for his wedding day present. How cute is that?!)
One of my faves of the day.
Showing everyone the dress for the first time.
Showing off the dress to everyone. Think they’re a little excited?
And then came her dad.
And the tears…
From everyone. (Myself included, I must add.)
So please, please, please don’t overlook the moments and that precious, unforgettable time before the ceremony when you’re making your wedding timeline. It’s not just about “getting ready.”
I promise.
For those of you fabulous blog readers who don’t already know her, Gretchen has been my friend for a bazillion years. Well, since 8th grade to be exact. We’ve been in junior high, high school and college together. And after college, the 2 of us picked up and moved to Florida together. It’s been a crazy ride, but I’m so happy to call her friend, though she’s more like a sister to me. When she got engaged last year, I was SO excited for her. And then when she asked me to be their photographer, I said YES, YES, YES! What’s more fun than photographing your friends on the best day of their life?
Well after trying to schedule an engagement shoot since October, yes October, we finally were able to arrange a day this week. And thank goodness for Lenny, who put up with both of us and all the locations and poses…Engagement pictures aren’t really his thing, as is the case with many of the guys I work with, but he put a smile on and did it for Gretchen. And that, my friends, is the sign of a good man! And thanks to both Lenny + Gret for picking Chandler Hill Vineyard to shoot many of their engagement session pictures! That’s absolutely one of my favorite places to shoot.
I am SUPER excited for their September. It’s going to be a blast, and I seriously can’t wait to shoot this wedding!
And now it’s time to finish up Scott + Melissa’s wedding. Reception time! City Museum style. I love that place. 
Photo by the fab Ashley Turner.
All of the following beautiful detail shots are by Ashley, too!
I love the look on her face. So happy!!!d
The end. For real…
Thanks for looking!
Finally! Sorry I’ve been running a little behind, things are starting to get crazy around here! Last week I met up with Dana + Forest who hired me just for an engagement session. These two beautiful people are in St. Louis for med school, and they’re getting married in California, but they wanted their engagement pictures here in the STL. They chose Forest Park and the Arch because they live right there in the Central West End. (Oh how I miss that place! I lived there before having a family, and I absolutely LOVED it…Sorry for the random tangent.)
Anywho, on the pictures. It was so great to work with you, Dana + Forest. Best wishes on your wedding next year!
Dana + Forest found this spot. And I love it.
We had some GREAT light. Yay for spring. I so missed the sunshine during the cold months.
Ok, so this bridge used to be much more wobbly, am I right? I was there last year, and I remember it freaking me out. This year, not so much. Tell me I’m not imagining things!?
After making the rounds at Forest Park, we headed to the Arch for a few quick shots. My fave.
Here’s a quick look at what I’ve been up to lately! Full posts coming up this week.
Couldn’t decide between black and white and color – so I posted both.
Here’s part 2 of Melissa + Scott’s fabulous wedding.
List of vendors:
Ceremony: Journey Church of Clayton
Reception: City Museum
Flowers: Schnucks
Bridesmaid Dresses: JCrew
I love this shot.
Isn’t she stunning? Melissa has the most amazing, kind eyes.
Oh, and I should add that these portraits were taken at the Soulard Farmer’s Market. And they were taken right before the crazy storm last Saturday. Since it was sprinkling, we wanted somewhere covered, and Melissa and Scott are really fun people, and they wanted a unique location, which I was all for. Once we got there, though, we saw how absolutely insane the wind was. I know the girls were cold, but it made for some fun pictures! I think I’m diggin the wind-blown look.
I love that they really had fun with it, despite the crazy weather…
And right after those pictures were taken, all the workers at the market started frantically packing up EVERYTHING. I asked the bus driver to find out what was going on, but at that point, we had no idea. So they got in their limo, and I got in my car, and Ashley was in her car. And we were both ALONE. The plan had been to take more pictures at Union Station, but during the drive, the tornado sirens started going off, the wind was nuts, and it was pouring rain. As I was driving down Market Street, Ashley was well behind me, the wedding party was well in front of me, and I felt like the ONLY person driving down that road. And I could hardly see, more less drive. It was pretty insane. I pulled over, and I called Ashley, who was in a parking garage taking cover. I don’t even know where the the wedding party was, but I told them to head back to the City Museum. That little drive by myself felt like it took an eternity! I surely thought I was going to be swept up in a tornado and die all alone. The wedding party made it back safely, but they couldn’t get in the City Museum. They ended up in a parking garage/stairwell that would later turn out to be an amazing place for pictures. So I’m guessing this is an example of “everything happens for a reason”……..or something. Hahaa.
Once the happy couple actually got inside, we took some portraits with the nice window light. And yeah, right after the crazy storm, beautiful sunlight! I was SO happy.
And then we hit up the city streets of St. Louis. City shots with wedding parties are super fun.
Aren’t they gorgeous? Love, love, love their dresses.
And here’s the garage where they hid out during some of the storm.
Love this location. Thanks to Melissa + Scott for scouting it out for me. 
My fave of the day. I’ve never seen this much natural light in a stairwell before. Beautiful!
And then we headed out to Washington Ave. where we found some beautiful SUN.
Ok, my second fave of the day. They’re such a gorgeous couple. I could have photographed them ALL day. And they probably would have let me because they’re just that cool.
Thanks to Ashley Turner of Ashley Turner Photography for this rockin shot! Hello amazing light.
This one is by Ashley, too. GORGEOUS!
