have a happy weekend!

jenn and zac

after two weather-related delays, we were finally able to squeeze jenn and zac's engagement pictures in last week. and then......as we were taking the pictures it started to rain fairly hard and we had to cut them short. even though we didn't have great luck with weather, we were still able to get some good shots, and jenn and zac totally rocked. they didn't let the nasty weather dampen their spirits. and i LOVE jenn's style! i know your wedding next year will be fabulous, guys! and thanks for a fun [cold!] afternoon. 

   

i am sure you all recognize this hill....as i am obsessed with it---yep we took these photos around my parent's farm....

  

   

isn't jenn's ring GORGEOUS. i was totally drooling over it! 

in the blink of an eye.....

why does time go so fast? seriously....i can't believe it is NOVEMBER already. and as evidence to the fact.....

amelia, each year (from almost one to almost FOUR!)

chase, this year---last year---this year

please time.....this year can you slow down, just a bit?

claire and jon.....the wedding

claire and jon's wedding was my 16th wedding in 16 weekends! phew..... what a run of absolutely FANTASTIC weddings I've had. a totally awesome summer and fall. and claire and jon's was another totally wonderful day. i enjoyed it all.....the gorgeous weather (it was a wee bit chilly, but given the nasty rain the day before, the sunny blue skies were a welcome site)......the beautiful details......the adorable couple. it was just lovely. thank you SO much claire and jon for having me to share in your special day! hope you had a lovely time in mexico.....

 i loooooove fall colors and details

   

claire's mom seeing her with her hair done/veil on for the first time

and claire's sisters

seriously check out that blue sky

handsome fellows....

  

and the shoe obsession strikes again....

and......shadow shots....love those too!

jon and some groomsmen fix the ring bearer's hair.....

being the father of the groom can sometimes be just too tiring.....

the whole ceremony spoke "warm and coziness" to me.....

  

 

  

such a gorgeous couple

   

this next one? DEFINITELY in the running for my favorite wedding party shot....

i love this one....one of those balloons on their truck? well i nabbed it for a couple pictures. (if you couldn't tell, i have a soft spot for balloon pictures)

  

reception details

claire's dad and grandma

one of those little details i love to stumble over.....the best man's speech notes on his napkin....

dancing....lots and lots of dancing.... some of these people may look familiar....because i shot claire's uncle dave's wedding to the lovely jody earlier this year. and SERIOUSLY, I ADORE the Knoble family and their dancing. they are too much fun. in fact i want to shoot all future knoble family weddings (hint, hint) to witness more of their super fun dancing! 

i love the concentration of the little kids in this one, not on jon and his mom dancing, but on their nintendo game....

jon dancing with his grandma

   

even claire's grandma was whooping it up on the dance floor

thanks claire + jon for such a fun day! i was so happy to be a part of it! 

and phew! it has been a busy CRAZY year. i do have one more wedding in december that i am totally pysched for, but between now and then i have time for a much needed rest. i plan on taking some nice down time. (well after getting all of you fabulous couples your wedding pictures, of course!)

i will be still posting on the blog--i have lots of different things lined up to post during the off season---just maybe not as much.

thank you again to ALL of my superbly awesome couples. i still can hardly believe that i am so lucky to have my "job" be to hang out with fun people who are insanely in love on one of the best days of their lives. you all totally ROCK!!!!!!!!

rachel and nick

rachel and nick are getting married in february in vegas! so while i am not doing there wedding photos, they still wanted to get some engagement pictures in. we ventured to the westby ski jump for their pictures. we dodged trap shooters and golf carts and had a great time. thanks rachel and nick and i am sure your wedding will be super fun! 

 

  

  

  

  

 Just a note: I do love to do engagement pictures, SO, even if I am not shooting your wedding, but you would like me to do your engagement pictures, give me a call! 

nichole and drew

early last week i took a gorgeous drive (it was a beautiful day) through Iowa to meet with Nichole and Drew. I am SO happy I did. It was well worth the miles to take their pictures around their home.....they had such perfect places for pictures. and seriously, we totally lucked out with the weather that day! nichole and drew are just too cute together. And Drew was so totally into the pictures, and being "in love" (my couples will all know what i mean), it was great! It isn't all the time that the guy enjoys the cuddling pictures as much as the girl! So kudos to you! I can't wait until your wedding next year! I look forward to coming back to Iowa for it! 

  

thank goodness it was a fairly warm day because nichole and drew went IN the water! (and because i don't like to make my couples do anything i wouldn't do.... i did too, of course ;) )

  

i really liked this light.....and even though it isn't a "normal" engagement picture, I really like it.....(and seriously, we all know i am not 'normal')

the light that evening was the sort of light i dream about. no. really. i do!

   

 

 

THANK YOU Nichole and Drew for a seriously lovely evening. You guys rocked my socks. I had such a nice time and I am so looking forward to your wedding! 

alicia and curt

last sunday after becky and frank's session (see below) i met with alicia and curt in the experimental forest near west salem. i have never shot there before, and it was fun to be someplace new. alicia and curt are another great couple.....i am so blessed to be able to photograph so many great people......and we had a lot of fun! we got our exercise trekking around through the forest and fields, and through brambles. thanks guys! 

first we grabbed few with their ADORABLE dog! 

  

   

    

have i ever mentioned how much i adore light. especially late afternoon, mid fall light streaming through trees?

alicia and curt worked for this last picture...we hiked through a bunch of brambles and they hoisted themselves into the tree. good work guys! (one of the first things alicia told me is they would do anything. AHHHH how much i adore couples like that!!! Thanks guys!)