Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Terrific Tuesday #8 :: Time for some new Tunes

Ok, so I know I missed my Marvelous Monday post yesterday... but Stella has been keeping us busy. Who knew she'd get up several times during the night and cry and need to go outside... I'm totally exhausted. So here's a terrific Tuesday post :)

I am pretty much addicted to iTunes. I have it running non-stop on my computer, even when I'm not in the room -- if you don't believe me, you can ask my slightly-annoyed co-workers :). I usually fall in love with a song or album or TV show and watch or listen to it over and over and over again until i start to hate it. Then I just buy more. It's a beautiful thing.

I've been going through kind of a dry spell lately, though, and I've gotten a little bored with my music. That is, until random visitors in my office started suggesting music for me (I wonder if my slightly-annoyed co-workers had anything to do with that...) In the last few weeks I've added some pretty rad tunes to my library, and just in case any of you are going through a good music drought, here are some songs I've recently downloaded to bring me out of my musical monotony. After all, next to a caffeinated beverage, what better way to start off your week than with some good new music?

Marie Digby - you know, she sings the cool version of Umbrella
and her CD is only $6.99 on iTunes!

Jon McLaughlin
You may recognize him from his cameo in Enchanted. His CD was recommended by Adam and John
He is one AH-mazing piano man, which I dig.

Ghetto Superstar Pras Michel
I can't get this song out of my head!!

Brooke Wagonner
(download her EP for FREE at her website)















Lost: the Constant
LOVE love love this episode. I've watched it WAY too many times.


If you have some music recommendations, do share! And have yourself a Terrific Tuesday.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Happy birthday to my man

What has two thumbs and has a birthday today?
This guy.
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So today is my man's birthday. Meet Stella, Jon's early birthday surprise.
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More pics to come. Believe it :).

Friday, April 25, 2008

Amy :: Class of '08

Ah, another early spring shoot. Beautimous.
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Amy met up with us at Bee Tree Park for her senior photos on a beautifully sunny day.
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I think she totally looks like Kate Winslet here.
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My fav. Amy is the woman. She hiked across this perilous hill in heels. Yep, she's the woman :).
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Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Baby Gabriella

Oh my cuteness.
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Just a little while ago, I shot maternity photos for Jackie and Michael and now, adorable Gabriella is here! I visited Gabriella's house for a session just a little while ago to catch her interacting with her parents in her natural environment. Jackie had me come over just as Gabriella was waking up, which is when she is the happiest.
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She's not used to seeing bearded men first thing when she wakes up, so my trusty assistant startled her for a bit
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but she was all smiles just seconds later :)
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Seriously, could Gabriella get any cuter?!
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She is one stylin baby. I'm lovin the pink beanie.
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kinda makes me want one...

Monday, April 21, 2008

Marvelous Monday #7 :: time to say goodbye

All the signs seem to point to spring, and I am SO ready to bid winter goodbye. The university where we live seems to end unusually early, and after this week, our dorm will be quiet once again. Yeah, that's right. Classes are over this week! I'm so excited to dive headfirst into the adventures I have planned for this summer, but I have to admit... there is one thing that makes me a little sad to see this semester go. As of Thursday, my photo class is over.

To be honest, I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I was offered the opportunity to teach a photography class. It was SO much more work than I expected, but wow, it was even more rewarding than I thought it could be. I am SO proud of the way each of my students has progressed this summer and last Thursday, I think I was the proudest teacher on campus.

For their final project, each student had to pick a topic or theme to communicate through twelve different photos. After tying the whole project together with an artist statement, they had to print their photos and present them to the entire class. I was really blown away by the complexity and artistic ability of their work (you should check out their blogs... most of them have posted their final project online by now)

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And here they all are after the final presentation in the Perk (from front left):John, Leah, Michelle, Sarah, Kelly, Jordan, Stacie, Mike, Matt, and (not pictured) Jacob. I'm convinced this is the BEST class ever and I'm seriously considering not teaching the class again because I don't see how any class could compete with the radness of this one :) Good luck to you all!

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Inspiration

Thursday, April 17, 2008

audrey and josh :: lemonade

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So it's springtime in St. Louis, and we've been going through quite a few rainy spells. The forecast wasn't looking too good for Audrey and Josh's engagement shoot, but since there was virtually no other time to do their shoot before the wedding, we decided to dodge the puddles as much as possible and go for it. They are such a fun loving couple, though, the rain wasn't about to get them down :).

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Because we knew there would probably be rain, we decided to try to shoot inside at the art museum at Forest Park, but wouldn't you know it, it's closed on Mondays! So we shot for a while under the small overhang :)

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It was easy for me to become friends with Audrey right when we first met because A) she's super-fun, B) she's super-in love with her man, and C) she is a total LOST freak, just like me! In between emails about wedding details and event schedules, Audrey and I often email back and forth about the latest Dahrma theories and producer gossip. Yeah, I like her :).
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just adorable!
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I dig umbrellas. Have you noticed how they seem to find their way into quite a few photos of mine ;)
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Audrey and Josh, thanks for being such a fun couple in the middle of all the dreariness. I can't wait for April 24 :).

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Engagment :: Elizabeth and Bill

Queeny Park really is a great place to shoot. I have quite a few clients that request to have their engagement sessions at Queeny and since I've been there so many times, I'm starting to get to know the place pretty well. There are so many unique spots there that it's hard to get bored!

I took Elizabeth and Bill to the park and we couldn't have asked for a better day. Blue skies, a couple in love and trees ready to burst into spring... yeah, I was excited :). And what a fun couple they are! They were totally up for anything, and I made them do pretty much everything... twirling, jumping, traipsing up a small mountain. And they were great sports, especially considering they had just done a boot camp class the day before!

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So classic
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Oh look at that. I got me some sunflare.
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One of my students inspired me to take this shot :). Shadows are her theme for her final project.
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Jim and Christy :: Engagement

When Jim was in high school, we played in a band together. Yeah, you heard me right. I was in a band. this wasn't any ordinary band, however, this was a ministry team band. super cool, mind you. we would go to disciple now events and youth weekends and revivals and play our music and hang out with junior high and high school kids, and even though at many times I dream about being in a heavy metal, screamo band, being in the ministry team was one of the coolest things I've ever gotten to do.

I was a junior in college and Jim was a senior in high school. I used to call him Jimothy. He would hang out with my little brother and play Shane and Shane songs till the cows came home. And now, little Jimothy is all grown up and he's going to marry the girl of his dreams.
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Christy is one of the sweetest people I've met, and what's better is that she's got a quick wit about her, which is perfect for Jim :) We met up with them on a cloudy day in early spring for their engagement shoot and here are some of my favs:
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this photo feels so vintage
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After posing underneath a tree, Christy got attacked by said tree. She's such a good sport :)
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Thanks for braving the weather me, Jim and Christy. Can't wait for your wedding!!