Emily & Nick are FINALLY married!

Found out during the ceremony that Emily & Nick have been together for EIGHT years. What!? It was great to be part of their day. We met lovely Nashville photographer Misti and were just taken aback by the Bauerhaus. Wow - the setting, the staff, the food, the atmosphere. I can't wait to get to the movie so I can post the highlight for everyone to see!!! Horse-drawn carriage, falling leaves, smiles and laughter throughout the day, and even Storm Troopers. Yup. Ferreals. :)

Kim & Dan are marrrrrrried! 10.9.10

Oh, the day did not start out so great with a CRAZY shut-down-highway traffic jam that we had to get around once we got into the St. Louis metro area on Saturday. BUT, Kim was so understanding and we were all just so happy to see each other when we got there. We were just in time for final touches and getting into the gown. It was a love-fest getting to see Kim after so many conversations and notes back and forth and to see photog fatale, Sara McDermott. The ceremony and reception were so gorgeous. The setting? The dazzling Missouri Athletic Club. The entertainment? The dashing, the incomparable, the ROCKIN' Jimmy Hussey! A party can never go wrong under Jimmy's care. Pretty sure Kim had the day of her dreams - she sure had the dream team of vendors together!!! :) All that AND she wanted a wedding party photo in front of Ted Drewe's, so I got to have Ted Drewe's in celebration of Brian's and my anniversary. On October 15, 2002, Brian and I visited that same Ted Drewe's location after our dinner date. The day after Kim's wedding was our 7th wedding anniversary. Aaaawwwwww. Old memories and new memories. Beautiful!

Senior Portraits with Josh

I think maybe Josh wasn't too sure about doing a portrait session with some chic his mom knew, but he warmed up to me pretty quickly. Few snide remarks, few compliments, few jokes about the girls and he was putty in my hands. HA! Maybe not quite putty, but he relaxed and we started having a lot of fun. I love teenagers! You're probably making that face most people make when I say that, but I really do! I feel for their struggles, and I get jazzed up by their energy and all the possibilities ahead of them. I know quite a few photographers who will NOT do senior portraits. They make excuses, but I think the pre-adults just make them uncomfortable. Those are the people that take some of the hormones, attitude, and bad decisions that can characterize the teen years and lump it all together and assign all that to anyone who happens to be 13 - 19 years old. Those characteristics are not set apart for just teenagers, friends. I know plenty of 30-somethings who have the same issues, but on the one hand, maybe they hide it better. On the other hand, the consequences now effect their families and not just them. Give me a teenager with all of their angst and trying to figure out this whole life THING, letting their attitudes hang out for all to see, ANY DAY. It's a tough phase to get through, and they need all the support, prayer, honesty, and unconditional love we can give them.

Wow. That got way deep.

Uh...back to the fun I had with Josh. Enjoy!