Bubbles Galore Mini Session and GIVEAWAY!

I rarely offer mini sessions but these bubbles have me feeling like a kid again, so here we are, a bubble themed mini session and GIVEAWAY!

Attention: Before the weather gets too cold I want to offer a super fun and bubbletastic session for your kiddos.

Sessions are $125 - 15 minutes of shooting time -

Date: September 17th from 11 am - 6 pm.

Where: Lowenstein Park in Lee's Summit, MO

2050 NW Lowenstein Dr, Lee's Summit, MO 64081

GIVEAWAY: 
One person who schedules a bubble session with me will get their own mini bubble kit to take home which includes a unique bubble wand and extreme bubble mix. -winner will be chosen at random-

COMMENT, LIKE AND SHARE to get extra entries.

Experience the Magic of Christmas 2017

As the weather starts to get chilly and pumpkin spice fills the air, I can't help but be excited about the coming holiday season. Christmas is one of the most exciting times of year for me. I love the music, the smells, the frosty weather that allows me to grab a cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows and the excitement that goes along with the countdown to December 25th. This year I am excited to be offering a truly unique and magical Christmas experience for my clients.

The Real Mr. and Mrs. Claus have decided to make a stop in my studio this year so I am offering the coolest Christmas sessions ever. 

Session Details:

This session is truly unique because each family will get one on one time with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. You will get a chance to decide which activity your child would enjoy the most or you could complete them all, it's totally up to you. The session times vary from 25-45 minutes and in this time I will capture the candid moments of your child's magical Christmas experience as well a more traditional posed photo of your child with Santa Claus. Upon scheduling, you will have the opportunity to share some information about your child so Santa can have some magical insight and at the end of your session Santa will be handing out little gifts with your child in mind. Due to the personalization of these sessions, space will be limited. Stay tuned as I will be releasing the calendar to schedule this soon. 

Activities Include:

• Coloring a picture with Mr. and Mrs. Claus
• Icing and decorating cookies with Mr. and Mrs. Claus 
• Storytime with Mr. and Mrs. Claus

Investment Details

• ONE activity, 25 minutes, 10 digital images, 1 - 5X7 $200
• TWO activities, 35 minutes, 15 digital images, 1 - 5X7 and 1 - Wooden Ornament w/ your choice of image on it $250
• THREE activities, 45 minutes, 20 digital images, 2 - 5X7's or 1 - 8X10 and 1 - Wooden Ornament w/ your choice of image on it $300

To book your session, there will be a $100 deposit, the rest will be due on the day of your session, I accept cash or credit card. 

Images will be complete within 1 week of your session. I will invite you back to the studio to view your images and select the ones you will receive in a digital gallery for download as well as choose your print/ornament from this session. If your package comes with the wooden ornament I will place the order for it after you decide which image you would like on it.  

SCHEDULE YOUR MAGICAL CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE HERE!

The Last Call

As a photographer, my job is to capture the beauty of life. I try to put myself fully into each experience or event that I am a part of and create images that allow those who see them to feel like they could walk right into the scene.  August 12, 2017 was no different in that regard, but that day was unlike anything I had been asked to be a part of. I was one of two photographers chosen to document the memorial and funeral of fallen Clinton, Missouri Police Officer Gary Michael. This request was far removed from my own experiences. I do not have any law enforcement professionals in my family and had not experienced this sort of loss so I wasn't fully prepared for how these two emotion-filled days would change my life.

As Luke Bryan's "Drink a Beer" played over and over hundreds of people lined the streets holding the American flag while law enforcement drove to the convention center for the service. Thousands of police officers, firefighters, and medical technicians came from all over the country to honor their beloved brother in blue. Men and women dressed in uniform stood in line for over an hour in the heat to show the family and the city of Clinton how much he will be missed. It was breathtaking and beautiful to see how connected everyone was, even if they didn't know each other. At the same time, it was gut-wrenching to see these strong men and women with tear-filled eyes as the dispatcher made the last call for Officer Michael.

I will be forever grateful for my safety and freedom now that I’ve been exposed to the sort of honorable sacrifice that I was previously blind to. Men and women leave their homes each day and night to keep the rest of the world safe and sound. 

Rest in Peace Officer Michael, you are greatly missed. 

Tips for Choosing a Wedding Photographer

With these simple tips, you will be able to narrow down the list to choose your perfect wedding photographer.

A weddings is one of the most important moments in your life and, for many people, capturing that special day in beautiful photographs is a high priority. These are photos that you will have for a lifetime, as well as pass on to future generations as part of their history.  But with many photographers offering wedding photography as well as the constraints of your own wedding budget, how do you go about finding the right wedding photographer?

I frequently see people desperately searching for a wedding photographer either at the last minute or, more commonly, for the lowest price possible. I also see people who booked the least expensive photographer they could find expressing dissatisfaction with the experience and their photographs with the concerns ranging from not getting enough photos to truly hating every image because they didn't look "professional." These situations break my heart, which is why as a photographer, I have some tips and guidance to share in the hope that no one will come away from their wedding disappointed in their photographs.

• First, you need to trust and be comfortable with your photographer. That means that as a client, you need to be able to meet face-to-face before signing any contracts and build a rapport with the photographer as a person. Your photographer needs to blend seamlessly into your wedding day, but they also need to be a source of support as well as weddings are big, emotional events. Having the person documenting your day be supportive and reassuring is incredibly helpful. You also want a photographer who respects your wedding. Anytime I shoot a wedding, I feel like it's a huge honor to be part of my client's day. This emotional investment allows me to best capture the precious moments of the wedding day.  
• Second, you need be realistic about both your budget and what you can expect within that budget. Yes, there are talented photographers out there who will shoot a wedding for $300, but those photographs will not be of the same quality of a photographer who charges $3000.  This is not to say a less expensive photographer is bad, just that there is a difference in experience and that is always reflected in the photographs. But if you have a small budget and want better photographs, how do you manage that? To start, you want to be up front with your photographer about your budget and what you want to do with the images. While most photographers have set wedding packages, many can build a package that is custom-fit to your own unique needs. Also, do not be afraid to ask about payment plans. I personally am happy to offer payment plans to my clients so that they can get everything they want of their special day. To an extent, this is also why it's so important to have that relationship with your photographer. A photographer invested in you and your day will be happy to work with you as you invest in timeless art to display in your home.

In the end, though, the most important tip I have is to be certain of your choice of photographer. Love their style, love their personality, get to know them and be honest with them (and yourself.) Your wedding is an incredibly special day that you only get one chance to capture, forever, in photos.

Sunflower Field Sessions at Grinter Farms, Lawrence KS

Each September in the areas surrounding Lawrence, Kansas, families and photographers alike start counting down the days for the Grinter Farms family to notify us that the sunflowers are in full bloom. The drive may seem long to some, but it is totally worth the trip the moment you turn the corner and see the rolling fields of giant sunflowers. With flowers standing between 2 to 12 feet tall, families weave through to find the best vantage point to capture the scene in its full glory. 

Schedule your session HERE!

This year I am offering a limited amount of Sunflower Field sessions. Message me to reserve your spot. 

When is this happening? These sessions will be held in the beginning of September. If it's anything like 2016 then the first week of September is when they are in full bloom so stay tuned.

What's the cost and what do I get? I am offering two different packages so you choose the one you want.

The first package is $200. It includes 30-40 minutes of shooting time and you will get FIVE (5) digital images. Approximately 1-2 weeks after your session you will receive a link to your online gallery which will have approximately 10-15 images. You get to choose the five images you want to download. 

The second package is $250. Which includes 30-40 minutes of shooting time and you will get FIVE (5) digital images as well as THREE (3) 8X10 or smaller Mounted Prints. Approximately 1-2 weeks after your session you will receive a link to your online gallery which will have approximately 10-15 images. You get to choose the Five (5) images you want to download and you will get to choose the Three (3) image you want in print, just let me know your preferred print size. 

How do I reserve my session? Pay $100 deposit toward your session and you can pay the rest of your session fee at the time of service or you can pay it all up front. 

Once I know a more specific date of full bloom I will notify those who inquired about the sessions so they can book their specific session date and time.

Relax & be Silly

These two best friends enjoyed their session.

Explore

There are a lot of beautiful spaces to photograph.

Big Smiles

He loved walking through these giants.

Book your session HERE! 

I love wedding season, not just because I'm a photographer and wedding season is a huge part of my job, but I love it because weddings are just beautiful. They are celebrations of love. They're the beginnings of new families. They are full of hope and excitment. What's not to love?

Actually, there are things not to love about wedding season. The biggest thing is that for so many brides the prep for a wedding is stressful. There's so much to organize, figure out, plan and coordinate and even if you hire a wedding planner there are still details that only the bride can do. So many brides I work with are stressed when it comes to talking about photography and that always breaks my heart. I want brides (and grooms!) to feel comfortable and happy, to feel like if nothing else they are going to have perfect photos for their day. 

With that in mind I came up with my top tips to anyone looking for a wedding photographer to help them with their investment.

1. Meet with photographers before hiring them.

One of the best ways to find any services is through the recommendation of others. I see it all the time on various pages and groups, people asking for leads on one service or another. I love to see all the people chiming in with their experiences and suggestions. It's a great place to start, but the flip side of that is that even if everyone suggests a photographer, that doesn't mean they are the right one for you. You need to meet with the photographers you are considering. It gives you a chance to get to know them, find out what their working style is, what their personality is. You want to have a good relationship with the person who photographs your wedding because the better you work together, the more intimate and special those photos are.

2. Make sure you love many pieces of your chosen photographer's work and not just a few.

Most photographers shoot a lot of different types of sessions beyond weddings: family, lifestyle, glamour, etc. Make sure you look at their entire portfolio and love many different types of photos in it. Why? No two weddings are the same. Maybe you've planned a gorgeous light and airy outdoor wedding, but at the last minute it has to move indoors to a poorly lit space. You want to make sure that your photographer is good at both. Or maybe you decide that you want to do something nontraditional. You need to know that your photographer has a wide range of skill and talent.

3. Be honest. With yourself about the importance of your photos and with your photographer about your budget.

A lot of people get sticker shock when it comes to pricing wedding photography. It isn't and shouldn't be cheap. But cost also shouldn't stop you from getting the images you want most from your big day. That's why this is a two-in-one tip. First, know your budget. If you only have $1000 to spend on photographs, know that and express that. That will help you narrow down photographers to work with, but will also give your prospective photographer an opportunity to show you what you can get with your budget. And that's where being honest with what is most important to you comes in. Many bridal packages include an album, but if a beautiful canvas is more important to you than an album, you need to know that and need to let your photographer know that because they can help you pick the right products and, if they know you want something specific, they can go to your wedding looking for shots that will fit even better your dream products.

Coming soon, my business partner and makeup artist Nicole will share some tips about selecting a makeup artist for your wedding.