Sifford Photography is a Bloggin'

Baby Carson | St. Charles Newborn Photographers

2011-09-06T20:16:00.001-05:00

Ahhhhh!! We have been busy this summer, and have three weddings to process and two more coming up! Needless to say, I (Karen) have fallen a little bit (a lot) behind on blogging. However, we photographed handsome little Carson Thor a couple of weeks ago, so I will share a few of those photos to hold you over…

Liz & Rett | St. Louis Wedding Photography

2011-04-21T09:00:00.000-05:00

Liz & Rett had a magical day. The sun was shining…the birds were singing…you get the point! Everything about their day was exciting!

Wedding Details:

Date: September 4, 2010
Wedding Location: St. Joseph’s, Clayton, Missouri
Interim Photos: Forest Park, St. Louis, Missouri
Reception: Sheraton Hotel, Clayton, Missouri

Upon arrival to the church, we found the groom relaxing in the courtyard with his groomsman.

Some bridal details…

M I Z – Z O U!

This is the door that greeted guests on their way into the church. LOVE the color!! The view from above… The stained glass was beautiful.

They’re married!! :)

After the wedding, we headed to Forest Park for the ‘between photos’. . .

A few more details…

The bridal party got in on the fun too!

After the park, the ladies headed up to their hotel rooms to freshen up. On the way back down to the reception hall, they remembered they forgot to bustle Liz’s dress. Well, they improvised and did it in the elevator!

The staff at the Sheraton Hotel was kind enough to let us sneak in for a few minutes and snap some photos before the guests were allowed in. . .

Liz and Rett made a grand entrance to their reception…now that the formalities were over, it was time to party!

Liz & Rett~ You two were so much fun to be around! It was our pleasure to capture your wedding day memories. We wish you all the best that life has to offer!

~Karen & Matt

Liz & Rett | Engagement Photography

2011-04-19T13:08:00.000-05:00

Forest Park is an amazing place to take some photos…any photos. But add Liz and Rett into the picture, and, well, let’s just say you get some better than amazing pics!

Meet Liz and Rett. Notice their eyes. GORGEOUS! Are they not going to have the most beautiful children?!

We met them at Forest Park in St. Louis on an absolutely beautiful day in June last year… These two were adorable. And so cute together. :)

Liz and Rett were willing to do anything…including steal a Gator. Well, not really…but I may have suggested that they pretend to steal a Gator. We didn’t get too many photos because we noticed one of the gardeners on the other side of the bushes coming our direction…

We took advantage of a recent rainfall to get some really cool reflection photos…

Stay tuned…we have their wedding photos ready to post soon! :)

Jess & Dan | Wentzville Wedding Photography

2011-04-18T08:37:00.000-05:00

Jessica and Dan had the most perfect wedding day. . .even though it rained. And boy did it rain. Amazingly enough everyone took it in stride, and by the time the wedding was set to being, the rain stopped. The sun quickly quickly came out, the wedding party dried the guest’s chairs, and Jess and Dan had the most beautiful and perfect outdoor wedding.

Wedding Details:

Date: June 12, 2010
Wedding Location: Quail Ridge Park, Wentzville, MO
Interim Photos: Quail Ridge Park, Wentzville, MO
Reception: Quail Ridge Park, Wentzville, MO

Before the wedding, while the bridal party was getting ready, Matt and I took a few moments to get some detail shots in the reception room. I loved the colors Jessica chose for her wedding…everything was so bright and colorful.

Once the detail shots were down, we each headed to our respective corners…Matt to see the guys, and Karen was off to photograph the ladies…

Notice the rain in the above shot… At this point, Dan is looking a little worried.

As if on cue, the sun came out about 1/2 hour before the wedding. The bridal party made a quick dash to straighten & wipe off the guest’s seats. Shortly thereafter, Jess started walking down the aisle! I love Dan’s face as he sees Jess approaching him…

Look at how beautiful everything looks because of the rain earlier…so green and lush!

And they’re MARRIED!

Photographing these two was a trip! Jessica has modeling experience, and Dan was just a natural in front of the camera. Both of them were amazing to work with and willing to be themselves in front of the camera. As you can tell, Dan is a shy person:

I know, right? Jess is amazing! And I LOVE the wind effects! :)

After the family and group photos, we stole the bride and groom for a few minutes and took a little journey through the park.

A few more details…

And then it started to rain. Again. The good news? It was time to head to the reception anyway!

In the middle of the reception, the sun came back out, and we had the opportunity to take a few more photos!

A few more pics:

I should mention, Dan, an amazing singer, wrote and sang a song for Jessica. He surprised her at the reception, by having it played during their photo slideshow. Yup. He’s a keeper!

Jess & Dan ~ We loved sharing your wedding day with you. Every last detail was planned out to perfection. The two of you are perfect for each other, and we wish you a lifetime of love and happiness!

~Karen & Matt

Baby Ben | St. Charles County Baby Photographer

2011-04-17T07:37:00.001-05:00

Last week-end we met up with Chris and Julie for the third time to take their photos. The first time we met, it was for their engagement photos:

The next time we saw Chris and Julie, it was their wedding day! :)

When Julie emailed for a session for the third time, it was for a NEWBORN shoot! Yup! That’s right! Baby makes three. Matt and I couldn’t wait to meet little Benjamin, and trust me, we weren’t disappointed. Take a look below:

Ben was an absolute angel the entire time, which I think has something to do with the fact that Chris and Julie are amazing parents (and so relaxed!). :)

Chris & Julie ~ Thank you both for the opportunity to catch the most important memories of your life. We are so happy for both of you and wish you continued blessings as you start a new chapter in your life as parents!

~Karen & Matt

Wedding Sneak-Peek for Ashley & Mike

2010-10-12T20:43:00.001-05:00

Ashley and Mike have been very patient while waiting for a sneak peek of their wedding pics! :) They had the most amazing wedding & reception…the weather was perfect, and the setting couldn’t have been more yummy! Ok, more details about that to follow in the next blog post, but for now, a few photos to hold the happy couple over! :)

Woo Hoo! We are still processing all of their photos…WAIT FOR IT!!! :)

Valerie & James | Wedding Photos

2010-10-07T21:02:00.001-05:00

Whew! It’s been a while since I have posted some new wedding photos! Matt and I have been so busy processing & editing the wedding photos we have taken this summer, that we took a break from our blog. Trust me, it makes for happier brides! ;)

On an absolutely gorgeous June day, we met up with Valerie and James at St. Charles Borromeo Church. Valerie planned a simply amazing wedding…down to the very last detail. I LOVED everything about it, and can’t wait to show you the photos.

Wedding Details:

Date: June 5, 2010
Wedding Location: St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, St. Charles, MO
Interim Photos: Forest Park, St. Louis, MO
Reception: Windows On Washington, St. Louis, MO

The church was beautiful, and made for some stunning photos.

I mean, just look at the inside…all of the yummy details, and color! AND, is that aisle not just CRAZY LONG!?? :) Valerie’s dress was beautiful. Period. You’ll get to see some of the detail in a bit…

Once the happy couple was officially married, we headed over to Forest Park to take some “tween” pics. These are always my personal favorites, not for any other reason than you get to meet the bridal party, and have some FUN now that the formal part of the day is over.

Time for some details!!!! Oh! And Valerie grew the purple Calla Lilies herself, and then had her florist add them to her bouquet. Cool, eh??

A few fun pics:

One more of the wedding party before we head to the reception:

We had never photographed a reception at Windows on Washington and were most eager to get the opportunity. We weren’t disappointed by what we saw:

Valerie and James ~ From start to finish, you had the most amazing wedding day. We loved being a part of your lives for the day, and wish you the best of everything in the future! :)

~Karen & Matt

Technorati Tags: Wedding,Sifford Photography,June,Photos,2010,Couple,Love

Fall School Photos | It’s that time of year again!

2010-09-21T21:07:00.001-05:00

I am so far behind on blogging…but I am trying to keep up with all the processing that needs to be done! We have a few weddings, engagement sessions, and a family session or two and even photos of our recent trip to Oregon to share with you! To hold you over, I thought I would share some Fall pics of Mackenzie. I take her to the park every year to get her ‘school’ photos. In fact, I try to do it around the same time that the schools pics are taken (mainly so I don’t forget to take them!). I do purchase a few school portraits because, well, in a weird way, I feel as though Mackenzie will enjoy looking at them when she is older. I also want the class photo so when she is in High School, she can look back on her fellow classmates in total amazement that they used to be so cute and little.

Without further ado, here is lil’ Ms. Mack…As you can tell, she is quite the ham! :)

She hates the camera, can’t you tell?! :)

A Sneak Peek For Jess N Dan! :)

2010-08-05T21:45:00.001-05:00

Because Jess and Dan have been SO Patient, I am giving them a quick glimpse of what is to come with their wedding photos! Hopefully we will have their photos completely processed in the next couple of weeks, but until then….

Ashley & Grant | A Kansas Wedding

2010-06-19T14:26:00.001-05:00

This was a wedding like no other… The bride, Ashley, is family (Karen’s cousin to be exact), the wedding was in her parent’s backyard, our daughter was the flower girl, and the reception was at the ZOO! In other words…it was a most perfect wedding! :) The day started out like any other. We knew it was going to be a hot day, but were prepared to deal with it. What we weren’t prepared for was the news we received upon arrival to the house. We heard a rumor that the wedding cake was MISSING! What made the news even more distressing is that Ashley made two, or was it three trips? to the bakery a few weeks before the wedding to be sure that everything was perfect. On the day of the wedding, Ashley’s aunt went to the bakery to get to cake only to discover that it wasn’t there. It wasn’t anywhere. NO CAKE. The news was relayed to the bride, and from what we were told, she pretty much just shrugged her shoulders and said, “It’s ok, I still get to marry Grant.” Don’t you just love her?!? I mean really! Ashley was the total and complete opposite of a Bridezilla! She was simply a dream to work with. :) In the end, the cake was found (still not sure how you LOSE a cake), and the rest of the day went rather smoothly!

Wedding Details:

Date: May 29, 2010
Wedding Location: Bride’s Parents backyard in Kansas
Interim Photos: Around town in Salina, KS
Reception: Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure, Salina, KS

First a couple of pics of the dress:

Since the wedding was going to be in the bride’s parent’s backyard, the bride was able to get ready at home. How convenient is that?! There’s no need to worry about forgetting anything…

The flower girl assisting with the bridal shoes… I love the ‘people train’ of everyone helping each other!

While I was inside with the girls, Matt went outside to get some shots of the shoes and rings…

Here’s the beautiful bride…ready to take some photos before the wedding. She had these adorable umbrellas, so we decided to make use of them. Oh! And the dresses…they were stunning! :)

Mackenzie was so excited to be the Flower Girl, and took her job very seriously. She wanted to help Ashley all day long…

I just love this shot: Grant was looking out of the window to watch the beginning of the wedding. Mackenzie was so enthralled with everyone’s rolls that she wanted to be a part of everything. I love that she is watching him, as he watches the wedding. It was so priceless!

Isn’t the backyard stunning?! Everything looked amazing!

They are married! WOO HOO!!

Some more details for you. The bride and her helpers, spent MANY hours on the decorations for her wedding. They made all the bouquets, center pieces, cake toppers, aisle runners, etc. They were some very busy ladies!

The tree in the photo below had been struck by lightening earlier in the year. Instead of getting rid of it, a neighbor suggested that they paint it black and add some blossoms to it. Well, it seemed like a perfect idea…especially since the theme of the wedding was cherry blossoms! They stood the large branches up against the arbor and created a tastefully decorated area for the bride and groom to get married. Doesn’t it look amazing??!Here’s a bigger picture for you…so you get what I am trying to explain!

The flowers above the arbor…

After the wedding, the bride and groom cooled off in the house, and said hello to a few of their guests. Grant asked Ashley if they could turn Star Wars back on the TV!!

After a quick break, we headed to the park for some ‘tween photos…you know, the ones that take place between the wedding and the reception!? Well, here’s a few of what we got…

Oh! Wait, I need to mention that just like during their engagement shoot, they were willing to do pretty much anything…including going down a SLIDE! :)

Here’s a photo of the cake that almost didn’t make it! It’s not exactly what the bride ordered…ok, it’s really not even close to what the bride ordered. But, it was cake, and it was good! :)

Matt had to help cut the “groom’s cake”…it was frozen solid! :) Grant’s favorite cake is a Mint Ice Cream Cake…so Ashley surprised him with one at the reception.

Ashley’s sister, Mika, caught the bouquet! Is she NEXT?!? We’re ready when she is!!!

These adorable giraffe’s greeted guests as they entered the reception hall.

Ashley and Grant ~ Words can not express how excited we were to photograph your wedding. We are so lucky to have you as family, and adore your love and enthusiasm for each other and those around you. We wish you continued happiness as you begin your new life as husband and wife. WE LOVE YOU!!!

~Karen and Matt

Julie & Chris | Wedding Photos

2010-06-09T20:45:00.001-05:00

We kicked off the wedding season this year with Julie & Chris. You may remember them from their engagement shoot last October…if not, take a peek! :) They are such a cute couple, and simply amazing together. During their reception, it was fun to watch them totally dissolve into each other, and completely forget that they were dancing in front of hundreds of guests.

Wedding Details:

Date: May 7, 2010
Wedding Location: First United Methodist Church, St. Charles, MO
Interim Photos: Main Street, St. Charles, MO
Reception: Foundry Art Center, St. Charles, MO

Here’s the beautiful church the couple was married in…

Yummy details….Take a close look at the necklace Julie wore…it has been in her family for generations!

All the girls together one last time with Julie as a single lady! Aren’t they gorgeous?!

We had a little wait in the basement of the church before the wedding officially started. At first I was bummed because there weren’t any windows to get some natural lighting so that I could take a few portraits of Julie. In the basement, there was only one teeny, tiny window that didn’t boast much light. Then I noticed there was a plain white wall which would be perfect for some portraits of the bride! I think it worked out quite well…what do you think?!

Time to walk down the aisle! I love that Matt captured Chris’s expression as Julie walked towards him…

I love that you can see the Pastor’s face as Julie and Chris move to take their first kiss as man and wife! :) She looks so happy for them! After the wedding, we moved on to Main Street in St. Charles.

What a better place bustle your wedding dress, eh? Is Julie’s face hilarious, or what?! LOVE IT!

I loved the bricks on the Old Millstream Inn Restaurant and suggested we take a few photos in front of it…Julie informed me that that would be perfect because that is where she and Chris had their first date!

While we were taking pictures, who should drive up, but “Dr. Love”!

Here are just a few more photos we took before the reception…

The reception took place in the Foundry Art Center…it was PERFECT!

Take a look at the middle of the dance floor…

Matt captured one of those delicious tender moments…where the couple escapes into their own little world.

I think the ladies had fun, don’t you?!

Julie & Chris ~ Thank you for letting us share in the priceless memories of your wedding day. You wedding was absolutely perfect from start to finish, and we hope that your wedding photos reflect the excitement of the day. We want to wish you the best of everything as you begin your new life together! Congrats!!

~Karen & Matt

Mother’s Day Shoot | Family Photos

2010-05-15T16:11:00.001-05:00

Lori contacted us to see if we would be willing to take some photos of her, her brother, and their significant others as a surprise for her momma for Mother’s Day. Although our schedule was pretty crammed, how could we say no to such a sweet request?! Especially since the ‘boys’ were so willing to model for us for a couple of hours?! Ok, ok, the ‘boys’ had to be bribed with a trip to Bass Pro…on the condition that they agreed to smile ‘pretty’ for the camera. How funny is that?! It worked well…the ‘boy’s behaved and we got some wonderful shots!

Here’s a shot of the four of them…adorable, aren’t they? I hope their momma was happy with her gift! :)

Here’s Lori and her boyfriend Dave…

And Danny & Kristin…

We didn’t have any fun at all…can’t you tell? Of course it helps that our ‘subjects’ were AWESOME and so much FUN!

We didn’t want to post these before Mother’s Day and ruin the surprise, so here they are a week later. We hope that all of the Mom’s out there had a wonderful Mother’s Day!

Lori, Danny, Dave, & Kristin ~ The four of you are simply awesome to take time out of your lives to give your momma such a wonderful gift. I hope she enjoyed the photos as much as we enjoyed taking them! :) Thanks for meeting up with us!

~Karen & Matt

Aidan & Owen | Family Photos

2010-05-06T11:39:00.001-05:00

Matt & I met Aidan in October 2007, and instantly fell completely in love with him. In May of 2009, he was lucky enough to get a little brother, Owen. Both boys are absolutely & completely PRECIOUS! Their parents, Amanda and Jason, have asked us to photograph the boys as they grow up, which has resulted in us becoming completely attached to the little fellows. So, when Amanda emailed wanting some Spring/Owen’s 1st year/Family photos, we jumped on the chance! :)

Here are a ‘few’ photos of the Birthday Boy. Owen is the most inquisitive character and is constantly studying and feeling the world around him. His concentration abilities are impressive for such a little guy! His parents say he is going to be an “engineer” when he grows up. I totally believe it! :)

Of course we can’t leave out Aidan! Aidan has the most expressive face EVER, and has us cracking up during the entire photo shoot! He is also very polite - he says “please” and “thank you” and even says “excuse me” if he needs to interrupt us for anything! I LOVE THAT!

I LOVE this collage. The photo on the left was taken in Oct. 2007…the one on the right was taken in April 2010…we just happened to capture Aidan and Jason in the same pose. Look how big Aidan has gotten!

We did take some family photos too:

Here are some more of the boys…

Aidan is fearless when it comes to bugs. I on the other hand am very grateful that I have the ability to stand away from the bug(s) and ZOOM in with my lens! :)

Amanda & Jason ~ Thank you both so much…Matt and I are lucky that we get to work with such wonderful people! Your children are such handsome little guys, and we love that we get to watch them grow up. :) We can’t wait to see you all again and we hope you enjoy your photos!

~Karen & Matt

Meet Ainsley | Newborn Photos

2010-05-04T11:54:00.000-05:00

A couple of years ago, we were asked to take photos for a little guy named Parker. In January, the family welcome a little girl into their home named Ainsley. We were very excited to take Ainsley’s photos because it meant we got to see Parker again…AND we got to try out some new baby props! BONUS!

Isn’t she BEAUTIFUL?! :)

Matt on the “Job”

2010-05-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

Poor Matt…I volunteer him to get the shots that involve laying on the ground, climbing a tree, or going near a spider! Here are a couple of Matt while he is “working!” I think it’s a fair trade off – I get to blog…he get’s to lay on the ground! ;)

Piper is HERE! | Newborn Photos

2010-05-02T22:00:00.000-05:00

Piper is our newest neighbor, and sister to Calvin, our daughter’s BFF (just ask her). Mackenzie and Calvin agreed to be my lighting assistant for this shoot…I LOVE all the help I get from these kiddos!

Ok, now for the STAR of the show! Meet Piper. :) She’s a December baby, and such a little angel!

We are so excited that we get to watch Piper grow up…it is such a blessing that she will be a part of our lives!

Abby turns ONE!

2010-05-01T23:33:00.001-05:00

Little Ms. Abby turned ONE in December! Her mama warned us that she might not be up to the shoot, but she was absolutely PERFECT! Her brother let us capture a few photos as well. You MUST admit that these two are ADORABLE!!! :)

Andrew agreed to be my lighting assistant…in other words, he made faces for me so I could make sure my lighting was right! :)

I just LOVE little-kid-foot-photos!

So, Abby’s birthday cake was placed in front of her…we were attempting to get some artistic shots…you know…cake in focus, Abby blurred in the background??…well, after being denied access to the cake a few times, Abby had had enough! Is she not hilarious!?!?

We’ll leave you with these two…

You have to admit…you totally want to pinch those precious cheeks, don’t you?!?

Christmas in May?!

2010-05-01T23:22:00.001-05:00

In less than a week we shoot our first wedding of the 2010 season!! We can’t wait to see Julie and Chris walk down the aisle! :) BUT, I thought it would be best to post the rest of last years pics, and a few from this year. We have one shoot that I can’t post yet…it’s a Mother’s Day surprise! Wait for it….

We took a bunch of Christmas photos last year…take a look!

Here’s Owen and Aidan. Don’t you love their matching sweaters?

Kavan and Lachlyn…their twins, and December babies…these were Christmas/1st year pics.

Another Aiden:

Oops! Can’t forget Mackenzie….she ‘trimmed’ her own bangs in May. I hated them…but by December, they had grown out enough to look precious! I love the look in her Christmas photos! She’s such a ham. You can tell she is used to having a camera in her face!

Ashley & Grant | Engagement Photos

2010-04-08T17:48:00.001-05:00

Whew! Sit back and enjoy the ride…I couldn’t pick just a ‘few’ photos to share! Here’s why: Ashley is my (Karen’s) cousin. No pressure there, let me tell you! If we mess these photos up, the entire FAMILY will know about it! ;)

Ashley and Grant are getting married this May in Kansas. Hopefully the weather on their wedding day will be as beautiful as the day we took these photos back in December. Before you look at the pics, I want to let you know that we were warned that Ashley really wasn’t into photos, and that these were more for the family. I wasn’t worried…I know my cousin, RIGHT?!? RIGHT?!? She’ll have fun, and love having her photo taken, right? I was *almost* positive that would be the case…you’ll just have to take a look for yourself!

Ashley and Grant chose the Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure for their engagement shoot location. As a photographer, this was a pretty cool gig…not only did we get to work with some pretty awesome people, but, we also got to take our little kiddo with us! Ok, ok, it’s time for the photos!

Here’s the adorable couple: I adore this photo of Grant…he looks like he is up to something!

First stop, the lion cages…

Dancing anyone?!

Pause for some romance…aren’t they cute?!

And now time for some FUN. Ashley’s is “Grant’s Gazelle”! How cute is that?!

Mackenzie wanted in on the action:

A couple of shots of the ring:

Every once in a while, we would suggest a pose that would give Ashley an instant case of the giggles…she had us a laughing throughout the shoot!

Time to see some more animals, this is a ZOO after all!

Mackenzie started to get cold (and bored), so my Aunt volunteered to take her back inside.

While “mom” was away, we took a few more “intimate” photos: More giggles…don’t you just LOVE THAT?!

On the way back to the main building, we saw these geese. A few hundred of them. Just sitting there, minding their own business. When someone (ASHLEY!) had the brilliant idea to go see how they were ‘doing’ in other words, CHASE THEM… :)

This wouldn’t be so funny, except the geese all turned around and started flying back to ‘get’ their assailants! ;)

Just because we went inside doesn’t mean the fun had to stop…here are a ‘few’ photos inside of the building.

One LAST photo:

I don’t think it looks like Ashley and Grant enjoyed themselves at all! ;)

Ashley & Grant ~ Thank you for the most wonderful time at the “zoo”! We had the best time, and are amazed at how willing you were to try anything…you know, LIKE CHASE GEESE! You are both so much fun to hang around, and we can’t wait to photograph your wedding day! We love you guys! Have fun with the last minute preparations! :)

Love,

Karen and Matt

Valerie & James | Engagement Photos

2010-04-08T15:04:00.001-05:00

Meet Valerie and James. We met them on a BEAUTIFUL November morning at Forest Park in St. Louis. The weather, setting, and couple were PERFECT! Here's a photo of the soon to be Bride and Groom...Don't they have the most gorgeous eyes?!

Valerie and James have a June wedding planned. I loved that their engagement photos were taken in the Fall since they will have summer wedding photos. They get to take advantage of all the colors in both seasons. I love the texture and romance in the photo below.

During our journey through the park, we found this amazing tree to take a few photos by…

Take a look at Valerie’s BLING! Good job James!

And who doesn’t LOVE the St. Louis Art Museum?! It makes the most wonderful backdrop for photos. I loved the way Valerie and James interact with each other throughout the morning…just look at the photos below…can’t fake that LOVE!

A peek over the side of the bridge:

A peek on the other side of the bridge:

We visited a few other places in the park as well…

After the park, Valerie and James made a quick outfit change, and we were off to the Central West End. :)

I couldn’t resist a photo of this juggler…I was drawn to his vibrant colors…

Last, but not least, a couple of photos in front of the Dancing Fountain. If you are interested, you can see a YouTube video of the fountain by clicking HERE. I love the urban setting and the lens flare!

If you have never been to the Central West End before, I highly recommend it…there are some amazing shops and restaurants…including the Cup Cakery. If you have never tried one of their cup cakes, you are missing out!

Valerie and James~ Thank you both for being such good sports, and for being willing to try ANYTHING! Thank you also for picking the Central West End as one of the locations for your shoot…the photos are amazing. We had the best time and can’t wait to see you all ‘dolled up’ on your wedding day! It will be here before you know it! See you soon!

~Karen and Matt :)

Jessica & Dan | Engagement Photos

2010-03-03T21:29:00.001-06:00

One very chilly morning in October, we headed out to Frontier Park in St. Charles, MO to photograph Jessica & Dan…hoping to get some wonderful engagement pics. I think we pretty much nailed it! It’s going to be hard to narrow it down to just a few photos to share, but I will do my best! :)

The day started out with some horrific fog…enough that I wondered if we would get any good shots at all…

But, as the sun came up, it started to burn off of the fog…leaving a beautiful morning for photos.

Jessica was a natural in front of the camera…during the course of the photo shoot, we found out that she has had some professional experience. We also learned that she is an avid photographer herself. Dan was an incredible subject as well ~ He followed Jessica’s lead, and was very relaxed and natural in front of the camera. They are a beautiful and amazing couple, and their chemistry together made us look GOOD! ;)

This shows you just how foggy it was that morning…that cloudy area? That’s the river!

Here are a couple of ring shots. I think the top one below is one of my all time favorites. It was taken on a deck plank that was covered with frost. I love how the ring blends in with the ice crystals. It’s gorgeous!

Seriously, are they PERFECT or WHAT?!!? Oh, and they cuddle with each other VERY well! See below!

During our photographic journey, we discovered this wagon wheel…actually, if I am remembering correctly, Dan found the wagon wheel. I love the colors and texture of this photo:

Behind the wagon was this awesome, rustic, textured building…

After the “building” photos, we headed over to the old, unused railroad tracks…the colors in this photo are amazing!

Ok, I know I already posted a “boot” pic, but I can’t help myself! I fell in love with Jessica’s boots!

We can’t wait to photograph Jessica and Dan’s wedding! Luckily, we won’t have to wait that long…they are getting married in JUNE! WOO HOO!!

Jessica and Dan ~ we hope that you are enjoy your photos as much as we enjoyed taking them. We had an incredible time with the two of you, and look forward to your wedding day! :)

~Karen

Samantha & Sean | A St. Louis Wedding

2010-02-22T18:25:00.001-06:00

Where do I even begin to describe Sam and Sean’s wedding?! Hmmmm…let’s start with Sean. Matt and I have worked with Sean at our “day” job for at least the last five years. I even tried to “hook Sean up” with a couple of nice young ladies…but his ‘dates’ always turned out the same. . .there wasn’t a trace of excitement in his voice when he would describe them…that is…until he met Samantha! Once we found out they were getting married, we were SO excited, and very honored that they asked us to be their wedding photographers!!

Wedding Details:

Date: September 5, 2009
Wedding Location: Canaan Baptist Church, St. Louis, MO
Interim Photos: Bee Tree Park, St. Louis
Reception Photos: Andre’s on Telegraph

We actually didn’t meet Sam until their wedding day. One of the first things she told me was that she wasn’t very traditional. I was curious as to what she meant, and then she showed me her gorgeous wedding dress. Instead of white or ivory, Samantha wore a silver dress. In a word, it was simply beautiful.

More details…

Now, take a look at the bride. Be jealous, very jealous. Her eyes are amazing! And the looks she could give on demand…LOVED IT…she made my job SO EASY! ;)

Before the wedding we took a couple of photos in the church library…notice the book titles.

Sam’s son, Bryce, was the lucky gent to walk her down the aisle…

Is he handsome or what?!

I love Sean’s look as he watches his bride walk towards him.

After the wedding, we made two quick stops…the couple’s new home, and Bee Tree Park.

Of course at their new home, Sean had to carry Sam over the threshold!

We rapidly ran out of quality lighting, so we headed on over to the reception hall, where the couple shared their first official dance as man and wife.

Oh, and Sean’s friends made sure he was shackled to a real “ball and chain”….

Sean & Sam…words can’t even express how happy we are for the two of you. Your wedding was amazing as the two of you, and we wish you continued love and happiness! Thank you for everything, we are so blessed to be a part of your lives!

~Karen and Matt

Happy Valentine’s Day!!

2010-02-14T17:17:00.001-06:00

Each year I make our daughter Mackenzie’s Valentine’s Day cards for her class. This year was no exception. For Halloween Mackenzie was a little Bumble Bee. We were so busy with weddings this year, that I didn’t get a chance to take some photos of Mackenzie in her costume. SO, I incorporated her Bee costume into her Valentine’s! I love getting a 2nd use out of her costumes! We got the cute little skirt off of Etsy.com. LOVE that place! We recently bought some newborn props off of Etsy also. I can’t wait to blog about those pics! For now, here’s the card Mackenzie passed out to her class.

From us to you, we hope that your Valentine’s Day is filled with lots of LOVE and Laughter, and you are surrounded by those you love, and those that love you!

XOXOXOX’s

The Sifford Family :)

Julia & Jason | Love & Marriage

2010-01-14T18:40:00.001-06:00

Whew! It’s been a while since I have blogged. I promise we have not been slacking. In face, we were processing pics well into the holidays! AND, we had seven photo shoots in December, including one in Kansas. Needless to say, it was cold in the ‘Sunflower State’, but OH SO MUCH FUN!

Matt and I are excited to share Julia and Jason’s wedding photos. :) First of all, Julia has style! Her hair, her dress, well, actually, everything was beautiful, simply beautiful! And we loved watching the couple interact with each other…they were so precious to each other throughout the day.

Before I post the pics, here’s a bit of background info on the wedding: Poor Julia emailed us couple of weeks before the wedding to let us know that Jason had broken his leg, and would have to be in a cast during the wedding. What was really amazing was the fact that she wasn’t worried about the photos, or trying to hide the cast…she just wanted to make sure that Jason had plenty of time to rest between photos. That, and she gave us permission to be bossy with the wedding party so that we could get photos done as quickly as possible! Julia is one amazing woman!

Wedding Details:

Date: October 10, 2009
Wedding Location: Eden Chapel, Webster Groves, MO
Interim & Reception Photos: Tapawingo National Golf Club, Sunset Hills

Now onto the photos!

The bride patiently waiting for me to take photos of her beautiful dress.

Finally getting to put on her dress! :)

Julia and Jason decided to see each other before their ceremony, which turned out to be a marvelous idea – especially since the groom was wearing a cast due to a broken bone in his leg!

Here is the bride on her way down to see her groom for the first time. . .

Julia pretty much got to see Jason’s back for the first few minutes. . .and then slowly walked up behind him.

We tried to give them a little privacy. . .

The beautiful flowers. . .

The rings. . .

Back in the room the ladies huddled one more time before Julia’s last steps as a single woman.

I stole a couple more seconds of the bride’s time to get these gorgeous portraits. Isn’t Julia BEAUTIFUL?!

Waiting for her cue. . .

I LOVE how incredibly happy BOTH Julia and her father look!

The beautiful chapel… At the end of the ceremony, Julia and Jason walked down the aisle to the music of a bag pipe! How cool is THAT?!? I mean REALLY! :)

After the ceremony, we headed over to the Tapawingo National Golf Club in Sunset Hills. The setting was amazing! Here are the gorgeous gals…

Ok, tell me this isn’t hilarious…Julia was using Jason’s crutches to TWIRL!! :)

As you can tell…Julia and Jason have NO IDEA how to have a fun time! Julia was ready for some cake. . .no serving utensils needed!

One last photo of the happy couple!

Julia and Jason ~ thank you both for allowing us to take part in your amazing day! Every detail was perfectly planned, and we feel honored that you allowed us to capture your wedding day memories. Congratulations, and we wish you the best of everything in the future!

~Karen and Matt

Julie & Chris | An “Engaging” Experience!

2009-11-11T19:42:00.001-06:00

Julie and Chris are set to be married next May, and after meeting them, we can’t wait to photograph their wedding! We met up with the couple at Quail Ridge Park in early October to photograph their engagement pics. It just so happens that Julie picked the best colors for a Fall Engagement shoot! Julie is full of spunk and very out-going…Chris is more laid-back and very easy-going. They are a perfect match for each other, and so very cute together. It was such a pleasure to spend a couple of hours with them!!

As you can tell, I had fun with my new “textures” in the photo below. I LOVE THEM!

Here’s a close-up of Julie and Chris. They both have such beautiful eyes! Cute, aren’t they?

I love how relaxed the couple was in front of the camera. . .

. . .and how easily they could make each other laugh.

Some more texture for you. . .

And a little romance:

And what is NOT to love about this bridge?!

Both are major fans of Ireland, and anything Irish. And yes, they have already been there! I love that they brought their Ireland sweatshirts with them for their shoot! :)

You can check out more of their photos on Facebook. It’s really easy, all you have to do is: <<CLICK HERE>>

Julie and Chris, it was such a pleasure meeting you! We can’t wait to photograph your wedding next May. You guys are so wonderful to work with, and make our job so FUN! Thank you for that! Enjoy your photos! :)

~Karen

Julia & Jason. . .and a bit of texture!

2009-11-05T19:16:00.001-06:00

I got some new toys to play with to make our photos really, really cool! Some new TEXTURES!! These will add flair, grunge, and excitement to our photos. Woo Hoo! It just so happens that Jason and Julia are the lucky ones I get to experiment with. Lucky them! :) Actually, Jason and Julia’s photos are still in the “processing” stage, but I snagged a few to test my new textures on. . .

So, for your viewing pleasure, the happy couple’s wedding rings. . .admit it - you love the texture!! If you don’t, no need to worry. . .the couple gets a “plain” copy of the pic too!

Here’s the awesome couple. Are they not just totally precious!? I LOVED how long Julia’s train was. . .

Ok, that’s all for now. . .I want to save a “few” surprises for later. . .after I have a chance to look through all of their photos!

~Karen

Here’s what cookin’ . . .

2009-11-03T21:05:00.001-06:00

We have a few more wedding & engagement shoots up our sleeve for the year. . .here’s a few from the wedding being processed right now. . .

Meet Samantha. . .or Sam as her new hubby, Sean, calls her! Is she not totally drop-dead gorgeous?? Are you lovin’ those eyes??

And here are some from a recent engagement shoot. . .meet Jessica and Dan! These two were made to be in front of a camera!

We have some more to post. . .stay tuned for Julie & Chris, and Julia & Jason!

Lauren & Vince are MARRIED!

2009-11-03T18:08:00.001-06:00

First of all, let me just tell you that Lauren and Vince pulled this wedding off in 19 DAYS! Their original wedding date was in November, but they found out that Vince was due to deploy to Afghanistan a bit sooner than expected (THANKS VINCE FOR SERVING YOUR COUNTRY!!). So, instead of postponing everything until his return, Lauren called/emailed her vendors to see if they could have everything ready for an August wedding. Luckily Matt and I happened to free. . .which is a good thing…we wouldn’t have wanted to miss this wedding. . .the couple is just too darn fun to be around!

Wedding Details:

Date: August 29. 2009
Wedding Location: Living Lord Lutheran Church, Lake St. Louis, MO
Interim Photos: Quail Ridge Park, Wentzville, MO
Reception: To be held at a later date! :) A celebration dinner was held at Donatelli’s Restaurant in Lake St. Louis, MO

Meet the couple…are they not gorgeous?!

Living Lord Lutheran Church…did they have the most perfect weather or what?! Look at that sky!A few details before the bride got dressed… SO, after getting ready, a black smudge was noticed on Lauren’s dress. Did she totally freak out?!!? NOPE! She stayed totally cool, calm, and collected! Not to worry, a Tide® to Go stain remover stick was applied and voila! no more stain! :) Lauren was one happy bride! Here’s a photo of the ladies before the big walk down the aisle… The beautiful bouquet. . .I LOVED the color. . .So, this is what the guys were doing while the ladies were getting ready. . .as you can tell, it was a pretty boring day!! ;) The beautiful bride. I love it when the dressing room is full of natural lighting and a “plain” wall. . .it makes for some cool portraits. . . I love the look that Lauren and her father gave each other right before they headed down the aisle. Take a look at the faces of the bride’s sister on the left, and the groom’s on the right. Priceless!

The cool ride the couple rode in after their wedding. . .pretty sweet, eh?

I love to add texture to our pics lately, can you tell?!

These guys were willing to do anything we asked. . .so, when we suggested making some faces, they totally complied!

It was a tad bit windy, but it made for some cool effects with Lauren’s veil.

Can you say STUNNING?!Here’s the bridal party. . .

It’s the fact that the ladies are about to DROP the GROOM that makes this photo so funny! The celebration dinner! Do they not look totally happy together?!

Lauren and Vince. . .first of all, thank you for allowing us to spend your special day with you. We are amazed at the love and devotion you share with each other. Thank you also for the sacrifices you will BOTH have to make and endure while Vince is away on tour. We wish you the best of everything!

~Karen & Matt :)

If you want to see some more pics of this happy couple, take a look at the slideshow below:

Lauren & Vince. . .the sneak-view. . .

2009-10-11T21:19:00.001-05:00

We have been so busy shooting lately, that we have fallen behind on processing! Here is a sneak-view for Lauren and Vince. . .until we have finished processing all of their wedding photos. Before you take a peek, I want you to know that Mrs. Lauren pretty much planned everything in 19 days (more on that later)!!! ENJOY!

Could they be any more model perfect?! And they both have the most stunning eyes!!!

Vince is playing hard to get. . . :) Could Lauren be any more stunning?!

More to come! Stay tuned. . . .

Take a Look at the “D” family!

2009-10-04T10:12:00.001-05:00

Julie contacted us via email about their shooting, mentioning that she wanted a few family pics, as well as some of her two kiddos, ages 4 and 2. We have been shooting a lot of weddings lately, and were excited to work with some kiddos again on a shoot. We were not disappointed when we met Jason, Julie, and their two precious (and most adorable) children!!

The “D” family lives next door to another family that we have done some sittings for. We love getting referrals b/c that means people are loving our photos! :) We agreed to meet at Quail Ridge Park on one of the most beautiful days. The weather was perfect. . .not too hot, not too cold, and the sun was shining, which made for some great golden overtones!

Let’s start off with one of the entire family. Do you not totally LOVE the clothing color combos?!

Here are a few of their four year old daughter. . .she was such a willing little participant, and so photogenic!! She was also very comfortable in front of the camera, which made for some adorable pics!

Here’s a few of their two year old son. . .what a handsome little dude!!

Here’s a couple of the two together. . .

So, I couldn’t pick just ONE favorite. . .I narrowed it down to well, about 40, but here are four more that I just LOVE. We were blessed with such awesome lighting that day!

Love the sun shining in her hair. . . I mean seriously, could this be any cuter of a father and his daughter?!

I love the way their shadows are stretched down the long path…

If you are interested in seeing any more from this shoot, take a look at the slideshow below!

~Karen

The “D” Fam – A Sneek-view. . .

2009-10-03T15:40:00.001-05:00

We have a ton of pics to process still, but wanted to give the “D” fam a glimpse of what they have coming up! Here are a few to hold them over. . . you must admit, these are some of the cutest kids you have EVER seen!!! :)

Anna & Dan got married @ Busch Stadium!!!

2009-10-03T13:16:00.001-05:00

Anna and Dan picked one of the coolest locations in St. Louis to get married: Busch Stadium! These Cardinal’s fans had the most perfect wedding and were surrounded by loving family and friends all day long. The only “bad” part about the day was the heat. . .seriously, I believe it was like 105 degrees with the heat index! A nice breeze helped keep everyone cool, but poor Anna! Can you imagine wearing 37 pounds of dress in the heat?! She did it flawlessly! She is runway-model gorgeous, and even the heat didn’t damper her beauty. . .take a look!

Before heading to the stadium, we stopped at Forest Park for some quick photos with Anna and her attendants. Anna’s dress was amazing. . .the bottom of it was some type of flowing, billowing, wonderfully-photographically amazing material. The breeze made for some nice effects with the dress & veil.

I love how the leaves framed Anna as she gazed upon her bouquet. . .

Dress details. . .

There is a closer look at that wonderful dress material. . . :)

The All Star Game Arch was still up, so we took a “few” photos with it. . .

Is she not a most beautiful bride!? Think about the heat. . .she looks so cool and elegant!

Anna made these wonderful fans for her wedding guests. On the opposite side all of the wedding particulars were listed. . .Cool, eh?

The handsome groom. . .waiting in the dugout. . .in the heat. . .with his tux on. . .

Here is the groom with his groomsmen. . .

This was the view from the ladies’ dugout. . .while each of the attendants walked out onto the field, their “stats” went up on the screen!!

A couple more pics before the wedding began. . .

Anna and her dad as they began their journey to walk down the aisle. . .

The view from the “guest” seats. . .quite amazing, isn’t it?!

Aren’t they cute?!!?!?

WOO HOO!!! They’re married!!!!

A posed shot in front of the Arch.

Love the sun-flare in this shot! :)

Anna and Dan got married on the August 8th. . .I thought it appropriate to work the number 8 into their wedding pics.

The reception was amazing! The staff at the ballpark went out of their way to make sure everyone was happy, and every detail was attended to. . .and they did it all with a smile. Anna and Dan has ballpark food served for their guests, including nachos and cheese, and brats. . .followed up with some yummy cheesecake! Take a look at their beautiful cake. . .

Serenading the bride. . .

Anna and Dan were so loving towards each other the entire evening. . .you could feel the love they share radiating through the room. It was so much fun to work with them and photograph their amazing wedding!!!

To view these pics and more from their wedding day, click on the images below!

Anna and Dan. . .It was our pleasure to work with you on your wedding day. Thanks for being the perfect couple. . .and willing to try any “pose” we suggested! You guys ROCK!!! We wish you lots of love and happy times in the future!!!!

~Karen and Matt Sifford

Samantha & Jeremy tied the knot!!

2009-08-23T09:33:00.001-05:00

There are so many fun and fabulous photos from this wedding that I don’t even know where to begin. We knew from Sam and Jeremy’s engagement shoot that their wedding would be organized, detailed, and FUN. . .with a major emphasis on the FUN!! Sam and Jeremy are two of the most animated people we have ever worked with, which makes our job so entertaining! For example. . .take a look at THIS:

All kidding aside, their wedding was gorgeous, and filled with all those special little details that a photographer loves. Sam was a VERY organized bride, and even hired Bridal Horizons (two fabulous wedding coordinators – Mindy & Yara – check them out!) to help keep her on track. Oh, and I MUST mention the weather. July weddings have a tendency to be HOT. . .especially for the bride who is wearing 37 pounds of dress. July 18th this year happened to be about 70 degrees and overcast (which we LOVED for photos). . .it was PERFECT!!!

Wedding Info:

Date: July 18, 2009

Wedding Location: Town Hall located in New Town, St. Charles, MO

Interim Photos: Quail Ridge Park, Wentzville, MO

Reception Location: Bear Creek Country Club, Wentzville, MO

Wedding Color: Black

Sam got ready at a home (her Boss’s home to be exact!) in New Town. Here are a few of the delicious details taken while Sam was getting ready. . .

Look at the color of the bedroom wall. . .don’t you LOVE IT?!!?

After the ladies were ready, we took a few photos outside of the house. . .Sam requested one to show off everyone’s shoes.

Here are the beautiful ladies:

The beautiful bride:

Ok, admit it, her bouquet is gorgeous!!

On our way to Town Hall. . .

So what are the men doing at this time!? Just hanging out. . .

Here’s one more before we get to Town Hall:

Sam getting ready to walk down the aisle to get married.

Sam and Jeremy were lucky enough to have almost everyone who attended their wedding in the next photo:

Some after wedding photos. . .

Some more delicious details. . .

Our last couple of photos in New Town. . .

We went to one of our all time favorite parks to take the “tween” pics. . .Quail Ridge Park. . .

I can’t believe how LONG this post has gotten!! And I feel like I have left so MANY good ones out!!!

WOO HOO!!! IT’s PARTY TIME!!!!

Sam & Jeremy ~ Matt and I would like to THANK YOU both for allowing us to photograph your wedding day! From start to finish, we had the most wonderful time. . .you make an amazing couple! We wish you the best of everything in life!!! We hope you enjoy your photos!

~Karen :)

Anna & Dan. . .A sneak peek. . .

2009-08-16T22:12:00.001-05:00

Anna and Dan tied the knot last week-end at BUSCH STADIUM! How fun is that?! VERY!! Here’s a quick pick to show the lucky couple what’s coming up! :)

A Sneak Peek. . .Just for Sam! :)

2009-08-03T22:06:00.001-05:00

These pics are just for Sam (one of our most TOTALLY awesome brides). . .she emailed asking if we had any of her photos done, and unfortunately I am a bit behind on processing. HOWEVER, I did process a couple. . .JUST FOR SAM!!! Hopefully these will hold her over until I can get the rest done!

The beautiful couple. . .

Hey Sam. . .I PROMISE the wait will be worth it!!! :)

Sara & Marty are Married!

2009-08-02T08:20:00.001-05:00

Sara and Marty were one of the couples that we didn’t meet until their wedding day. We had no idea what they looked like, but knew to look for the “Lady in White”. We were excited to shoot their wedding because everything. . .down to the last detail. . .was planned out to perfection! The only thing left to do, was actually meet (as opposed to email) the bride and groom!

Wedding Info:

Date: May 30, 2009

Wedding Location: The Old Cathedral (right by the St. Louis Arch)

Reception Location: The Magic House

Wedding Colors: Tiffany Blue

Theme: Buttons

First of all, meet the bride: Sara! Her taste is exquisite. I loved every detail she picked out and planned. Isn’t she gorgeous?

Here’s the Groom: Marty! He was a perfect groom. . .a very go-with-the-flow kind of guy! :)

But wait! Photo wise I am getting ahead of myself. . .let’s start at the very beginning! Here’s the beautiful Cathedral.

The ceiling was perfect. . .in fact I teased Matt that I wanted the ceiling in our house to look like this. . .his reply, “Ok, sure.” I heard a bit of sarcasm in his tone.

Some Cathedral details. I LOVED the chandeliers and the pipe organ. . .they were beautiful.

Sara getting ready with the help of some of her bridesmaids. . .

The “big” picture . .

Photos aren’t allowed in The Old Cathedral after the wedding, so we left and went to a few other places including Kiener Plaza and the Arch grounds.

A few of the bride and groom. . .

On the trolley ride to our next destination. . .

where we found this awesome bench. . .

Sara and Marty’s reception was full of delicious details. . .literally! They had a dessert bar, a candy bar, amazing center pieces, and to top it off, the reception was held at the Magic House! Outside the Magic House is an amazing courtyard with a swing. .. of course we had to get some photos there before the reception “officially” started. These were some of our favorite photos of the entire wedding!

You have to take a look at the button details. . .the wedding and reception had little button details everywhere. Buttons, you ask? Sara’s mom told us she asked Sara the same thing, “Buttons?” Well, Sara is one creative lady, and has one very talented mom. Take a look at the button details:

In the bouquet, boutonniere, and the table centerpieces. . .amazing, right??! The cake and candy bar. Seriously, HOW FUN IS THAT?? I know, right??!!

Ok, we took so many amazing photos this wedding, so I am going to finish with just a couple more of the reception. . .aren’t they precious?!

Sara and Marty ~ we would like to thank you both for giving us the opportunity to photograph your amazing wedding. We wish you both a long and happy life together, full of love, laughter, and many surprises!

Lauren & Vince are Engaged!

2009-08-01T11:43:00.001-05:00

Lauren first called about us doing her photos at the end of May. Of course on that fateful day, it was cloudy, misty, and just a downright awful day for taking photos. So, we decided to reschedule for June, and I am SO thankful we did. The weather was absolutely PERFECT! Lauren and Vince are rather adorable too! Take a look at these faces! Are they not a beautiful (I mean handsome, Vince!) couple?!?

Vince and Lauren were an absolute PLEASURE to work with. Fun, outgoing, and willing to try anything. Oh, and I need to mention that they can DANCE! Take a look at a “few” of our favorites below!

A Sneak Peek: Sara & Marty!

2009-07-22T22:33:00.000-05:00

Sara and Marty tied the knot on May 30th, 2009. I am a bit behind on blogging, but have a ton of photos I want to share from this wedding. The details were simply amazing!

Here's a few to get you started. . .

A cool location:
Buttons galore!
A BEAUTIFUL church:
A dollop of romance:
And a gorgeous bride. . .
What more could you ask for?! Oh, yeah, more photos! :)

Melissa & Michael Got Married!

2009-07-12T08:25:00.001-05:00

Melissa & Michael got married on Saturday, May 23rd. And let me tell you, their wedding day was absolutely perfect.

Here are the location details:

Wedding Location: St. Patrick Catholic Church, Wentzville, MO
After wedding photos: taken at church as well as Quail Ridge Park
Reception: Knight's of Columbus Hall, St. Paul, MO

Matt and I met Melissa and Michael at another wedding we were shooting. We already knew that we were going to photograph their wedding as well, but it was nice to meet them face to face. The second time we met them was for their engagement shoot. They were so easy going, FUN, and willing to try anything. We got some amazing photos, and really felt like we got to know the couple. After spending a few hours with them, we couldn't wait to shoot their wedding!

This photo of Melissa was taken just a little bit before she walked down the aisle. She looks so calm, composed, and BEAUTIFUL!

St. Patrick's Church is a beautiful place to get married. I love the streaming light that comes in from the skylights. . .
Melissa and Michael pretty much held hands and smiled at each other during the entire ceremony. They are so loving and sweet towards each other.

Outside of the church I couldn't resist taking a shot (or two) of Melissa's bridal bouquet. The white flowers against the reds of the brick was stunning.

After the ceremony Melissa and Michael invited their family and wedding party to the chruch courtyard for a surprise. They released Monarch and Painted Lady butterflies. One of the butterflies landed on Melissa. She said it was her grandma from Heaven letting her know she was with them on their wedding day.

We took the opportunity in the courtyard to snap a few photos. . .

After leaving the church, we headed to Quail Ridge Park for the "between" photos. . .
There are MANY places to get phenomenal photos here, but for some reason, we must always stop at this house. I love this house. . .you can get great photos from all sides!
Their happened to be a "love" sticker stuck to one of the columns of the house. . .Fitting, eh?? We recently did an engagement shoot at the park. . .the sticker had been removed. :(
The first dance.
The wedding party.

Seriously?! Don't you just love the house??!

One of the cool things about the wedding were the "shoes" that Melissa and Michael wore - they were actually cowboy BOOTS!

The bricks are actually part of the house. . .love that house!

One quick reception photo. . .

Thank you Melissa & Michael for inviting us into your lives and allowing us to be part of your family for the day. We loved being a part of your wedding, and wish you both the best of everything in the future!!!

Happy Birthday, America!!

2009-07-05T13:06:00.001-05:00

My sister wanted some photos taken of her family a few days ago at a local park. She also wanted her pics to have a Fourth of July theme. It's a good thing we planned on taking them on the 3rd, because we had a ton of rain on the 4th!!

Since we knew we were going to be with family, Matt and I decided to take Mackenzie and Calvin (Mackenzie's friend & neighbor) with us to get our own Patriotic pics. They turned out wonderfully, and I am so glad that Mackenzie is still such a willing participant. . .you would think the camera would get old for her after a while, but she still hams it up!

Here are a few of the photos we took that day.

This is my sister and Lachlyn. Lachlyn and Kavan (her brother) are twins, and were born in December. Lachlyn was all smiles for us, and her outfit was precious!

Here is Kavan with his daddy. He is such a cutie, and so laid-back! :)
Here's little Ms. Mackenzie.
She started doing her own posing after a while. . .below is one of her signature poses. . .the head tilt.
I love the vintage, washed-out look of the rest of the photos.

We hope everyone had a wonderful and safe 4th of July!

Meet Kyan Wade!

2009-07-03T13:16:00.000-05:00

Mika and Eric have added to their precious little family! They now have a precious little baby boy, named Kyan Wade. They also have an (almost) two year old, Blakeli Renee. Kyan was a very good little boy during his photo shoot, and let us get some amazing photos.

Here is Blakeli with her little brother. Doesn't it look like she is telling him a secret!?
This is Kyan's daddy, Eric. It really doesn't matter that Eric has his own name. . .from now on he will strictly be known as "Blakeli's Dad or Kyan's Dad." I have learned from experience that once you have a child, you lose your name to "Their name + Mom or + Dad". :) Anyway, back to the photos. . .isn't the one below simply precious??

Here is "Kyan's Mom", Mika. Being that this was their 2nd child, both were pros with the photo shoot, and were relaxed and patient with Kyan's needs.

I love baby feet. They are so cute and perfect and precious and adorable and. . .well, you get the picture.
I think, no I KNOW, that this is my favorite photo from the entire shoot. Could Kyan look any more comfortable, content, and loved?
A smooch or two from daddy.
The photo shoot was pretty much over when (cue dramatic music) Kyan decided that our black backdrop needed to be "christened". . . :) Good thing it's washable!

Thanks Mika and Eric for letting us photograph both of your children's newborn photos. We adore your family, and can't wait for the opportunity to photograph another newborn for you!! ;)

Baby Kiefer - Newborn

2009-07-01T21:20:00.000-05:00

We were so excited to meet Kiefer for the first time. . .especially since it meant that we would be working with Traci and Steve again! Our first "professional" encounter with the happy couple was shooting their wedding back in October of 2005. Since then, we have photographed Traci's brother's wedding, and in August of this year, we are going to photography Steve's sister's wedding!! I should mention that we have known Traci and Steve for many years, as they also happen to be friends of the family. :)

Traci and I had a common bond during our pregnancies. . .horrible morning sickness. I could totally relate to the pain she was feeling throughout her pregnancy, but knew the end result would be worth it - and it was - take a look for yourself!

Meet Keifer:

Is he handsome or what?!

Of course we knew to expect beautiful red hair from this handsome little fella - it was in his genes! Both of his parents have red hair!

He was such a good baby throughout the entire shoot. . .his parents are very lucky, of course, he is too!

This is Kiefer's mama, Ms. Traci. Don't you love all that red hair?? She is such a sweet mother, and I loved the way Kiefer responded to her when she coo'd at him.

This is Kiefer's daddy - Mr. Steve. Again with the red hair. . .see? Don't you love it? I do believe the baby on the platter was Steve's idea. He has the funniest sense of humor, and was such a good sport!

Another shot to show off the red hair.

Another platter pic. Kiefer was the first infant to try out our new IKEA platter. We weren't sure what to expect, but he actually seemed to like it. In fact. . .

his parents threatened to take the platter home so that they could get him to go to sleep at night! The platter had magic sleeping powers! :)

Thank you Traci and Steve for sharing a bit of your day with us. We loved meeting Kiefer, and can't wait to see you guys again soon! ~Karen

Little Ms. Blackeli - 9 months old

2009-07-01T20:44:00.000-05:00

Ms. Blakeli is the daughter of some very good friends of ours, and we have been lucky enough to watch her grow since she was a day old! These photos were taken during her 9 month photo session at the Butterfly House. Even though it was technically "summer" when we took these, the weather was overcast, rainy, and just downright nasty cold. Inside with the butterflies, the temperature was a balmy 80+ degrees.

During our visit at the Butterfly House, Ms. Blakeli looks liked a professional model, and we got tons of great photos of her. Look at that face! Her cheeks scream to be pinched!

Mika brought along an adorable flower hoping to attract some butterflies to Blakeli. Athough it didn't attact many butterflies, it made for adorable photos.

This is one of my all time favorite photos ever, and definitely my favorite of the shoot! I love how Blakeli looks like she is wearing wings!

This was my 2nd favorite shot of the shoot. Blakeli is such an angelic little thing!!! Again, LOOK AT THAT FACE!