"Wine?"
Eddie & Jenny's story began with that simple one word text message, and hearing them tell it to me while photographing them in the Kansas prairie was spectacular. We shot this in the middle of January, and I can't believe I just typed that. Because I never knew midwest winters could look so beautiful (or be so warm!) Eddie and Jenny were on fire for each other. I barely had to direct them, they were so naturally expressive and flirty the whole time. (My favorite kind of couple tbh). The portion of this shoot in the red dress on top of the Konza is one of my favorite settings I've shot. I'm so proud of this session, and I am ecstatic to show these to you all! I could go on and on about these two, but I think I'm going to let the photos do most of the talking. Enjoy Eddie & Jenny's Konza Prairie engagement session. (Click the first photo and scroll through with the arrow keys.)
0 Comments
My husband graduated college with his bachelors degree this past December (Yay him!), so to celebrate we headed to Utah over the New Year with his mom for a well deserved congratulation trip. I wanted to share a bit of our experience, and offer up some travel advice and tips for anyone interested in checking out some of Utah's amazing National Parks! The three national parks we hit up were Arches, Bryce Canyon, and Zion. I'll be breaking this blog post into a 3 park series simply because there's so much to say about each park! I'd never been to Utah before, and OH MY WORD. This rocky state blew me away completely. Everything in Utah is gorgeous. Everything. We're definitely looking forward to going back. So for our first stop on our Utah adventure: Arches National Park! We drove 15 hours from Kansas to Moab, and spent 2.5 days exploring Arches. This park is a bit smaller so we easily covered just about everything in 2.5 days. Since we went in the middle of winter some of the areas were closed, but we were able to conquer just about everything with the help of snow chains for our shoes. Andrew got us some from an outdoor store in Moab but here's a link on Amazon for the same ones we got, for a great price too! Here's what we did, and some tips for each! DAY 1
To put these hikes in perspective, every hike I've shared with you thus far we did in 1 day. We got to the park around 9am and left around 4ish. On to day 2! DAY 2
This photo was obviously taken before we got smart and bought snow chains, hence my face. So besides the Sand Dune Arch, we spent all of Day 2 in the Devils Garden Area. This area has one main long hike that has a bunch of arches along the way. It is a flat, relatively easy hike all the way up until Landscape Arch. After that the primitive and much more difficult hike continues on. Since we went in the winter, the whole Devils Garden area looked exactly like this photo, covered in ice. So I'd highly recommend snow chains if you're going in the winter. It will make your life a lot easier. To describe the hikes I'm going to put them into two categories, Landscape Arch and Double O Arch.
The next hike in my opinion was the hardest and most adventurous one we did in Arches. It's called Double O Arch and continues on after Landscape Arch. (You can go even farther than Double O, but due to ice and snow we didn't want to risk it.) Andrew's mom turned around at Landscape (heights aren't her thing) while we continued on to Double O. There's a couple arches you hit on the way before you reach Double O, particularly Partition Arch which was one of my favorites in the entire park. Partition is this huge arch with a small baby arch right beside it. (Pictured below.) My other favorite part about the hike to Double O Arch was a huge finn rock that you climb on for a portion of the hike. It's not too narrow but it does drop down on both sides which was scary and breathtaking at the same time. Here's a few photos. And finally, we got to Double O Arch.
And that concludes Day 2. For Day 3 we did a hike in the morning and then drove on to Bryce Canyon. Day 3 was only a half day, but it was by far the most eventful day in Arches... I'll explain why below. DAY 3 Tower Arch - Moderate - 3.4 miles roundtrip - To get to the trailhead for this hike you take an unpaved road (it's really just a dirt road). It's out in an less frequented area known as the Klondike Bluffs. It's a really fun and rewarding hike and I definitely recommend it if you have time. This was the last hike we did in Arches before heading out of the park. But before we could head out of the park there's a pretty great (and by great I mean terrifying) story of how we got back to the trailhead from this arch.
One way to the Tower Arch, this hike is a little over 1.5 miles. And the beginning of the hike includes mountain-goat-esque climbing up a cliff (remember this is December so it's ice packed. Fun right!?) That's really the only hard park of the hike, and Alice (Andrew's mom) was a rockstar and conquered it, even though she was a bit nervous. So having hiked to the arch, the main way to finish the hike was to backtrack the way we came, making a roundtrip journey. Alice was not fond at all of the thought of scaling down that steep, icy cliff to get back to the parking lot, so we thought of another (brilliant) option! (It wasn't so brilliant.) There was a parking lot near by the Arch only about 0.2 miles away, kind of like an easy backdoor exit for those not wanting to hike all the way back. So our brilliant plan? Andrew would run back to the parking lot the way we came, and get the car. Then he'd come drive to that backdoor parking lot and get us. So easy. Yeah? No. The catch? The road to that backdoor parking lot is a primitive road. And we're not talking primitive like a dirt road.. We're talking pot holes the size of mars primitive road. We're talking a primitive road that is a disgrace to even be called a road because it's more like a legit cliff hike for cars. This "road" (HA) would be hard to hike even on foot. But Alice, Andrew, and I, we don't know this. So off Andrew goes back to the car. And off we go to this backroad parking lot to wait for him, where thank the Lord in Heaven we see people who are there as a part of their off-roading jeep tour. (Key word: off-roading.) The tour guide, who is Kid Rock's doppelgänger, who looks so rugged, so granola, so "I-live-and-breathe-Moab-outdoor-adventure-air" takes one look at Alice and I, and knows we know not a freaking clue what we're doing. He asks us where we came from and how we're getting back to where we're going. We tell him Andrew is coming to get us in the car. He asks what car we're driving. We tell him. (Sidenote: I apologize, but I don't know a lick about cars so I don't know what car we drove to Utah, but I'll just tell you it can't make it up that primitive road of death. That's all you need to know.) He laughs in our face and says, "He's not getting that car up here. If he tries he's going to bust your car." Oh no. Alice pulls out her phone to call him. Did I mention there's no service? Haha. We decide to start walking the looonnngg primitive road and meet Andrew wherever he is with the car. We get about 100 feet when the tour guide pulls up beside us in his jam packed off roading, bad ass vehicular device that CAN actually conquer the primitive road of death. He talks to the guests as if we can't hear him but we can, "If we give them a ride, ya'll are going to have to squeeze, and it's going to be even worse of a bumpy ride back. Do you really want that?" In my head I go, "Are you kidding me?" He sounds like he's trying to dissuade them from helping us out. I mean we are clearly in a pickle here. The guests are much kinder than Mr. Granola and they let us in. Both Alice and I squeeze into the front passenger seat, and begin the scariest car ride I've ever been in. But I have to have faith, because this tour guide, for as mean as he is, he knows his stuff. He's driven this primitive road of death many times in this exact vehicle he says. But LORD, let me tell you, there were times during that drive where I felt like the vehicle was at a 90 DEGREE ANGLE to the ground and we were going to tip over. Of course we didn't. Kid Rock's got this. But GOSH it felt like it. Eventually, near the end, we find Andrew walking along the road. He had abandoned the car once he realized the death road would not allow it, and had begun to walk to come get us. Good man. Kid Rock drops us off at our car, not before going all park ranger on us and giving us a hefty lecture on National Park maintenance and how we shouldn't do this ever again. Yeah, you don't have to tell me twice. All in all, I'm so thankful God was watching over us. I'm thankful he put Kid Rock and his tour guided rockstar vehicle in our path, and I'm so glad our car didn't break trying to drive up that road* (*see cliff.) It was a wild end to our Arches visit. And I must advise anyone going to Arches, or any National Park for that matter, to learn from our mistake, and be sure to note the difference between unpaved/dirt road and primitive road. Because those two things are VERY different, and unless you drive something with 1000 feet suspension your vehicle won't make it. Heads up. :P This story has probably gone on long enough, but hopefully I made it entertaining for you. And I hope if you're planning your own trip to Arches National Park the tips and hike descriptions were helpful! Look out for Part 2 of this blog series when I talk about our experience at Bryce Canyon National Park! When you get the opportunity to go back to your home town and photograph an old friend you haven't seen since high school, and you get to walk into her home and see the beautiful life she's led since the days of locker rooms, basketball games, and proms. Wowza. This one was so special for me guys. In high school I always remember Kelsie as being the person who was so kind and loving to everyone she encountered. Seeing her now, that hasn't changed a bit. Kelsie and Eric welcomed me joyfully into their beautiful home, which you could tell was filled with so much warmth and love. These two are so head over heels for each other. Throughout our session they kept giggling and whispering to each other, yet they never once made me feel like I was awkwardly intruding in their moment. I had so much fun capturing their marriage because they weren't afraid to let me in, to be themselves, and to have so much fun. They laughed, danced, snuggled, and even posed a little with their puppy, which by the way is the CUTEST puppy on the planet. In case you were wondering. ;) Even just spending an hour and a half with these two, I could tell they are one of the most down to earth, kindhearted couples ever. They love each other so big, and as a result are able to love others just as much. As I was about to leave, they handed me a bottle of wine and some hot cocoa mix, further marking themselves in my mind as some of the best clients I've ever had.
Enjoy Eric & Kelsie's in home session! I hope they make you believe in love and marriage, the kind that isn't afraid to be goofy and get a little sexy. ;) The forecast hinted at snow the day we had scheduled Kimmy & Kole's engagement session, and God didn't dissapoint! The dust of snow added that perfect Midwest wintery feel to these California kid's engagement. Kole & Kimmy are planning to marry in Laguna Beach next year, so it was a blast to photograph them in an environment totally opposite! These two kind hearted souls braved the cold with me, and it definitely paid off. They frolicked in the winter snow while looking like rockstars.
Check out their adorable winter engagement! <3 Oh my word. I'm so excited to show you this blog post because I can finally share more than just a sneak peak! Never before have I had so much trouble picking a favorite photo from a session, nor have I laughed harder while editing. Jon and Brogan were a breath of fresh air: easy going, silly, and up for absolutely anything. I've known both of them for a few years now, and I think their personalities come across SO abundantly in these photos. Their love story is uniquely theirs, and I had such a blast capturing that unique story: Jon & Brogan's story.
I hope looking through this album reminds you that it's okay to be weird, and quirky, and different. Because those are the best kinds of things to be. So buckle up, cause you're in for a ride full of funny faces, whipped cream mustaches, a giraffe sweater, overalls with purple tights, and loooootttsss of weapon frolicking. (Don't try this at home kids. :P) Back when I took Michael & Kimberly's engagement photos in castle ruins that looked like they came straight out of Beauty and the Beast, I thought to myself, "Gosh, These two couldn't be more beautiful." Well, their wedding proved me happily wrong. Every little detail of their day took my breath away. We're talking gorgeous flower arrangements, crimson bridesmaids dresses, sparkly donuts (YES you read that right!!!), and golden accents everywhere. But most beautiful of all was the love these two share for one another. My heart melted into a puddle just watching Michael tear up when he first saw his bride. And then seeing Kimberly get emotional when he gave her a book of vows he had written every month they were engaged. The day only got better after that. These two threw a touching ceremony that had me grinning from ear to ear, and then they threw a dance party that had the whole room up on their feet and laughing all into the night. This wedding was definitely one to remember, and I'm so honored I got the opportunity to capture my friends' love story.
P.S. My husband was in the wedding party, and if you don't know what he looks like, he's the one doing the opposite of everyone else in the photos and/or making goofy faces. What am I going to do with him? ;P Vendors: Venue: Carnegie Building Flatware & Linens: Sunflower Rentals Caterer: Southern Accents Catering Flowers: Sam's Club Bridesmaid Dresses: Azazie Photography: Lindsey Noel Photography Morgan and I met over the Internet. (As most my best relationships do..) I honestly can't remember if it was Twitter or Tumblr, but the internet it was none-the-less. We realized we were both doing the Disney College Program at Disney World at the same time. Our program startied in January, and it took us until April to finally hang out in person, but thank God we did. We instantly clicked over our mutual love for Disney, sparkles, and adventure. On days off we'd go visit Gaston, Peter Pan, and Anna & Elsa. We'd stop by the Starbucks on Main Street and get our favorite cake pops, cause duh. ;) Though we were living the dream in Disney, my favorite thing about our days together was hearing Morgan talk about her boy back home, Anthony. These two have done more long distance than any other couple I know, and when I finally got the chance to see them together, it all made sense. The way they look at each other is unreal. Their love, as Morgan describes it, is like "butterflies in a jar or snowflakes on your tongue." And I think that's exactly how love should be.
When I was out visiting them a month ago in Anaheim, we took a detour to frolick in Joshua Tree, and man oh man, I can't decide which is more breathtaking, JTree or these two. Let's be real, it's definitely these two, but Joshua Tree was unlike anything I've ever seen. We shot all the way until sundown and even a bit after (which is why the lighting is so different throughout this session.) My favorite part is that I got to capture such close friends of mine (Morgan was even a bridesmaid in my wedding). Their love is truly magical, better than any Disney movie, and I hope that really comes across in these photos. Enjoy viewing their adventure session in Joshua Tree! Can I just say that Instagram and other social medias can be so overrated at times. There's a lot of talk about authenticity without actually being genuine, and this translates into people pretending to live perfect lives without actually connecting with others on the app. I know this is so true, and I often find myself diving down that rabbit hole of comparison and self doubt when I see such "perfect" feeds. However, I'd like to take a moment to talk about the blessings this tiny app has given to me this year. One of those blessings is Monica.
Here's the thing: I LOVE shooting people in adventurous, beautiful locations. Because of this, I've started posting about upcoming travels in hopes to find a couple or person to photograph. So I had a trip planned out to Anaheim to visit some friends, and I posted about it on Instagram looking for potential clients (cause California is BEAUTIFUL duh. ;P) Monica messaged me asking if I would want to take her portraits out in Joshua Tree, and my immediate reaction was UM YAAASSSS. What I didn't know then was just how much of a blessing God was bringing into my life. When I met Monica in Joshua Tree, she was like a cascading waterfall in the middle of the desert. Her spirit comes alive when she speaks to you, and the joy that she exuberates is unlike anyone I've ever met. She was laughter and giggles the whole time, and her session showcases that beautifully. We connected over our loves for Jesus, adventure, and National Parks, and I'm still amazed at how a tiny app like Instagram can be used to connect kindred spirits all over the world. I'm thankful I met this beautiful girl, one I can happily now call friend. I hope you smile as you look over her session, because this girl's light shines so bright. This is a story about a girl from Kansas falling in love with a boy from Kenya. Daniel came to Kansas on a running scholarship and met Miriam at our local church. Kansas was the groundwork for their love to grow, but Kenya is where they said yes to each other forever. A few months ago they took a trip to Kenya to visit Daniel's family. As they experienced the culture together, Daniel was able to share with Miriam where he grew up. He took her on a safari and then shared some traditions with her with a close tribe called Maasai. It was there, with all the people of the Maasai Tribe that he got down on one knee and asked her to marry him. She said yes, and to commemorate the occasion they brought home the Maasai blanket (which we used in their engagement session).
I love their story because it shows us that love knows no color or culture, God can bring two people together from different countries and backgrounds and work it for His glory. Daniel and Miriam were so fun to photograph because their connection was so visible and tender. Daniel runs cross country for the University of Kansas, so they asked if we could do their session at Rim Rock, the cross country farm near Lawrence. I said, "Of course!" I'm so glad I did, because this location was stunning! The colors of the trees were a perfect background to document their story. To view their session click the first photo and use the arrow keys to browse through! I had so much fun with Taylor taking her senior pictures. She said she was shy, but this girl photographs so candidly it's insane! We played around in flowers, fields, forests, and rocks. It was wild and fabulous, and probably my favorite portraits I've done. The portion in the rocks looks straight up like a model shoot and girlfriend looks like a ROCKSTAR. While editing these I couldn't help but smile, because Taylor's smile is so bright and beautiful.
During shooting I asked her what her favorite TV show was she said "Jane the Virgin." So naturally, I went home and started watching it with my husband. And now she's to blame for our obsession with that show. ;) So thanks for that Taylor. You rock. View her session below, preferrably while listening to What Do You Love by Seeb. <3 |
About Me
Wedding Photographer. Adventurer. Newlywed. Obsessed with twinkle lights, drinking my coffee black, and living a life full of love & grace. Categories
All
Archives
December 2016
Categories
All
|