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Last night’s session at #forrestparkstl was so dreamy! St. Louis weather is so unpredictable, so I love when I get the chance to shoot on bright sunny days and get that “glow”! Meghan and Dan were so fun! We even snuck in a few of their little pup at the end (on the blog soon ;)) I can’t wait til their wedding in November!💗 . HMUA: @hannah.changebeauty . . . . #stlphotographer #forrestparkengagementphotos #forrestparkengagementsession #stlweddingphotographer
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About to wrap up edits on this session and send to their mama! Mid edit session and had to share! Think she’ll love them? 💗 . #kirkwoodphotographer #stlphotographer #stlfamilyphotographer #stlouisphotographer
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#blackouttuesday 🖤🖤🖤 Black Lives Matter . From a friend: “If you’re not “into politics” it’s about time you get into them.” (See more in stories)
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Confession: most but not all of my pics come out crisp and focused. On the off chance I stumble on a slightly blurry when when culling (aside from ones I intentionally blurred parts of) , I love throwing it in black and white. It just feels so much like an old film image, that really makes me “feel” more of the moment. Not a perfect Snapchat, but catches the motion. Swipe to see the black and white and see what I mean. What do you think? You feel the same, not really? I’d love to know :) Also, p.s. these two are on the blog! You can see a big sneak peek into their session there! Just follow the link in my bio💗 Also, HELLO green! Big switch from my AZ engagement shoots 🌿🌱🌳
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Last night was the best! I had my first session since things have started reopening and it was so nice to be back and talking to adults...and not just my kids 😂So many favorites from last night’s session with Allison and Nick! They are seriously the cutest! Also....about to dust off the old blog to share more from their session!It’s been months, but after last night, I’m definitely feeling inspired!😍 . . . . . . #forrestparkengagementsession #stlphotographer #forrestparkstl
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Happy Mother’s Day friends! Oh how I wish I could’ve done mommy and me mini sessions this year! They are my favorite photos of the year and it fills my soul to capture those tender moments for all you sweet mamas! 💗 Goodness knows, all us mamas have been through the ringer these last few months! Hang in there sweet mama friends! Sending all the love to you today💗💗
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Once upon a time, there was a mom locked up in her house too long with her kids.....one day, magically out of nowhere, princesses and superheroes united to give her a day’s break.... ....unfortunately the mom’s mind was too far gone for salvaging...but hey, at least the kids had fun 🤪🤪🤪 . . . . #quarantine #covid_19 #coronavirus @nuggetcomfort #nuggetfort #nuggetcollage #disneyprincess #superheroes #nuggetbunch
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Okay, St. Louis has officially won me over. 🌸🌷🌼Everywhere you look blooms are popping up and it has been nothing short of magical to watch! This little break has made us stop and really take time to enjoy the beauty and magic of nature around us. Every moment we get we spend outside. Last week we went on a hike and we saw this beautiful tree with pink buds popping up. I knew I had to see what it looked like a week later. Yesterday morning I announced to everyone in the house that all i wanted was a mommy and me in front of the blooms, that they wouldn’t last long, and that we were doing them that very day. There were a few moans and groans, but they were good sports and let me have my thing! We hiked back out to that same tree, and it was worth it🌸My hubs did a great job photographing the ones with me in the kids, and then the ones with just the kids, well, no one makes them giggle like he does so i got to photograph a few of those:) We did a few tripod self timer family shots too but i really wanted the focus on just me and the kids. My yearly mommy and me session✔️....I’ll probably force them every year for the rest of their lives ;) Now, hopefully the hubs will let me do a daddy and me with the kids soon. The last ones we did with Colbie a few years ago melted my heart...also, it’s hard to come by subjects these days 😉 so someone’s got a take one for the team when mom needs her practice 😉
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School is cancelled for freezing rain?😳 Not just little kids school, but hubby’s school too. Midwest weather, guys😳 The first time I ever experienced freezing rain was in college. Literally sliding/ ice skating on sidewalks all the way to class, with people falling everywhere! Turned our whole campus into the world’s largest ice skating rink 😅 The city of St. Louis kind of just all shuts down when the weather is awful, and I won’t lie, I kind of like it. Especially when the hubs gets off school, i get bonus time with him, and i know he’s not driving out there on the awful roads :) . . . . #stlweddingphotographer #engagementsession #mastinlabs #stlengagementsession #engaged #stlouisweddingphotographer #bridetobe #2020bride #2021bride #freezingrain #stlweather
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Where are my amazon Alexa people? It was a favorite Christmas present (all my hinting to the hubs paid off 💪🏻), and I feel like we’ve only scratched the surface of what we can do with it! Besides playing music, announcing, playing jeopardy, asking the weather, what else is there? Tell me all the things! With my hands always full between doing dishes, cleaning, diaper changes, and all the mom things, Alexa’s been such a game changer! Also, Colbie’s teachers at school have been getting a good laugh out of Colbie’s new found extensive knowledge of the weather these day. 😂 . . . #amazonalexa #weddingflorals #floraldesign #weddingplanning #stlweddingphotographer #weddingphotographer #stlouisphotographer
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An hour before my alarm went off, i heard little feet enter my bedroom and my 5 year old say, “Mom, I can’t find my pillow! I can’t sleep with out my pillow.” I surprised myself by how fast I i got out of bed, undoubtedly motivated by the fear all moms know.....not waking the sleeping baby and praying I could quiet this child to get one more blissful hour of sleep. I hurriedly gave my little 5 year old the usual super ninja pep talk in the quietest whisper I could manage and we stealthily tip toed our way past the sleeping dragon over to her bed, only knocking over one rogue toy train on our way there. We took a sigh of relief....and the search for the missing pillow in the darkness began. Blindly feeling with our hands, we searched high, low, and anywhere it might have fallen. Then the thought hit me, but I quickly turned it down. There was no way. No way it could be there. I mean, she would never....or would she? I slowly glided my fingers across her mattress towards the top of the bed, hesitating halfway, and then, there it was. That soft fluffy, highly cherished pillow my sweet 5 year old awoke me for was found....right where it had been the night before, and the night before that, and...the night before that. Exactly where all pillows are supposed to lay...at the top of the bed. I tucked her in, gave her the extra hug she demanded and tiptoed my way back to my room, being sure to dodge that troublesome train from earlier. I laid in my bed, struggling to fall back to sleep, and finally, as that blissful sleep decided to grace my body, that terrible sound I despise so much went off. The alarm. Oh the things you do for love! Haha, k Guys, I think I just needed to tell a good story today, which is kind of fitting because these two had the most magical book themed wedding! My 2020 goal was to read more books, and the more I read the more theatric my instagram captions get apparently 🤣 What have you all done only for the sake of love recently? Who else’s writing changes from the more books they read? Please don’t tell me I’m alone 😂 . . . . #stweddingphotographer #stlphotographer #stlouisweddingphotographer
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When my husband graduated dental school, they played a funny video that all of his classmates put together that dramatized the characteristics of each of them. My husband’s thing? Always studying (orthodontic school is supposedly the most competitive dental specialty, and he worked his tail off to get in). I’m so proud of my husband for all the hard work he put in, but I’ll be the first to tell you, it’s been the hardest time of my life to go through (certainly for him too). All those late nights studying and then waking up early in the morning to go to school, come home for a short dinner break, and back again for another late night. It was an emotional, difficult road that felt like we’d never finish. During that time, i had the best friends that i could confide in and that were a huge support to me. I was so beyond blessed to have them in my life. My other saving grace was discovering my love for photography. Between taking care of my daughter— naps, play dates, food, bedtimes, I would fill every second with tasks building a photography business. After I got her down for bed, every night I would work late, rarely taking a night off and feeling stressed if I did. I threw so much effort into photography to escape the sadness of feeling alone/second in priority. I could not have dreamed of what would unfold during those four years. Not only did I get to meet so many wonderful people, build a skill that provided income for my family, but I also experienced major growth from within. I learned that hard work can take you anywhere. I learned to have thick skin when I was rejected. I grew confidence in myself. I got to travel, learn from amazing mentors, and then mentor some photographers that have grown into some of my best friends. I could go on, but I guess what I’m realizing as I write this post is that even though this time felt so difficult, and so hard to me, I experienced the most growth I’ve ever had. So as Iook at this photo and through the hundreds of photo galleries from sessions I’ve done, I can’t help but feel a sense of pride and, it’s hard to admit, gratitude for this challenging but wonderful time in my life. 🖤 P.s. i still LOVE my husband so much!
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I’d like to take credit for @karluckers laugh that made this photo possible, but pretty sure it was the best man teasing her about posing and making her crack up 😂 At first I was thinking, “geez back off man”, and then i was like “alright, keep it coming!” 😂Those rowdy groomsmen come in handy sometimes 🤣 . . . . #stlphotographer #stlouisphotographer #stlweddingphotographer #stlweddings #stlbrides
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I love my second shooters and the beautiful behind the scenes photos they get of me😂 Let’s me know how I really look in action. This is an oldie but a goodie and one I’ve never shared before! Me at 32 weeks pregnant at the end of two days of back to back weddings. The bride (oh hey @jessicalauran 😍) was worried about me going into labor at/during//before it. After looking at this pic I can see why! 😂 Weddings are always go, go, go all day for photographers and this moment was no exception. It was photo go time, with two minutes until that sun dropped with my gorgeous bride as my subject. I was darn well going to make sure I got those perfect shots, even if it meant squatting in my condition in the desert for the second day in a row:) (I had assistants to help, but for some reason I thought it’d be faster if I ran in😂) Side note: the little babe in my belly baked for eight more weeks after this photo, and he just turned 1 a couple days ago!😍👶🏼 Photo credit goes to either @roxykatephoto or @mandiburnham_weddings ...I’m sorry for not remembering 😂 I had pregnancy brain back then remember?🤣 😘 But i love you both! . . . . #behindthescenes #bts #stlphotographer #stlweddingphotographer #stlouisweddingphotographer #photographerlife
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You guys, we made it! This is the last of my #20postsfor2020 . Not sure who’s more happy it’s over, me or you? Fully expecting my following to drop tomorrow😅😅 Sorry for the wedding takeover on your feeds! I’ve been enjoying reliving all these weddings old and new, and wish I could post more of the hundreds of favorites 🤣 but thankfully for everyone I’ll be returning to my one post a day (or less) from now on 🙈😂🎉 #20postsfor2020 . . . . . #stlweddingphotographer #stl #stlouis #destinationweddingphotographer #stlouisweddingphotographer #missouriweddingphotographer #moweddingphotographer #stlphotographer #noblepresets
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It’s been two years, but I’m still not over @gingerjordy ‘s wedding dress. 😍😍😍 can we do all again? 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 #20postsfor2020 . . . . . #stlweddingphotographer #stl #stlouis #destinationweddingphotographer #stlouisweddingphotographer #missouriweddingphotographer #moweddingphotographer #stlphotographer #noblepresets
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That one time my bride turned her in-laws home into the most INCREDIBLE wedding venue! @jessicalauran you’re amazing! #20postsfor2020 . . . . . #stlweddingphotographer #stl #stlouis #destinationweddingphotographer #stlouisweddingphotographer #missouriweddingphotographer #moweddingphotographer #stlphotographer #noblepresets
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You guys, my couples are the sweetest! My heart can’t help but bubble over with joy during their ceremonies. I’ve been so lucky to witness so many different religions and cultures wedding customs, and hear the sweetest words, and funniest comments. So grateful for all my couples! #20postsfor2020 . . . . . #stlweddingphotographer #stl #stlouis #destinationweddingphotographer #stlouisweddingphotographer #missouriweddingphotographer #moweddingphotographer #stlphotographer #noblepresets