the blog
Matt and Kaylee celebrated their first pregnancy with a vibrant session at John’s Greenhouse in Brookside, Kansas City! Don’t get me wrong, I love an outdoor session with trees in the background and the skyline above, but the winter months allow me to get creative with sessions and this one turned out SO good! Due to the cold weather, we decided the greenhouse would give Matt and Kaylee the vibrant colors they were looking for and the warmth to keep them comfortable during our session.
Pregnancy is a blast for some and dreadful for others, either way it is a precious time you get to spend with your significant other, just the two of you, in anticipation of the next new phase of life. It is such a bittersweet thing to be able to capture.
Matt and Kaylee were so much fun to work with as we navigated all the different spaces John’s Greenhouse had to offer. They both dressed in neutral colors that photographed beautifully with all the greenery surrounding us. It also looked great with the sonogram’s of their sweet little one! Matt had a surprise undershirt on that was a fun way to specialize their session. The sincerest congratulations as you enter this next phase of life with your little one, Matt and Kaylee. Thank you so much for allowing me to capture these sweet moments for you!
Blake and Gina tied the knot at The Bottle House on a gorgeous fall day surrounded by their loved ones! The Bottle house offered great spaces for the wedding party to relax, get ready, and take pictures before the wedding. The ceremony and reception space was very warm and welcoming with a ceiling lined with beautiful bulb lights.
Gina’s dress was stunning and complimented her bridesmaid’s and flower girl’s dresses perfectly. Blake is a firefighter and the couple included special sentiments to his profession throughout the day. From her garter to their cake topper and all the tiny details in between, it really specialized their big day. One of my favorite moments of the day was Gina and Blake’s first look with Gina’s daughter – it was so incredibly sweet!
The couple shared handwritten vows and then hit the town with their wedding party in a limo to start celebrating. This group was so much fun! When we got back to The Bottle House, the real party began with speeches and dinner and ended on the dance floor! Things really got crazy when the glow stick came out. This group danced the night away! I had so much fun capturing these memories – thank you Blake and Gina!
Wedding Day Details
Paper Goods | Shutterfly
Florist | Turner Flowers
Caterer | Hog Wild Pitt BBQ
Cake Decorator/Baker | Irina’s Gourmet Bakery
DJ/Band | Jason Spencer’s
Hair Stylist | Lisa Balmer
Make-Up Artist | Blush and Mane KC
Bride’s Dress Designer/Store | Bridal Extraordinaire
Bride’s Veil | Bridal Extraordinaire
Rings | Jared’s
Bridesmaid Dress Designer/Store | Azazie
For some, deciding what to wear for a session with me is fun and easy and for others it is a painstaking process. I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be! One of the benefits of an engagement session is that there are only two people to dress, so you can mix it up.
Once we’ve decided where our session is going to take place, choose your outfits based on the backdrop we will be working with. Neutrals photography well in almost any setting! If we are going to be surrounded by foliage, I highly recommend earth tones. These colors will compliment your surroundings and enhance your photos. If we are doing a rooftop or downtown location you can venture out with pops of color!
A pro tip I offer my clients is to layer up! Wearing layers is a great way to easily switch up a look without completely having to change outfits. You can also bring accessories along like hats, scarves, gloves, glasses, and jackets to add variety to your photos.
If you have questions about what to wear, don’t hesitate to reach out to me! I’m always happy to chat about what would look best and how you can incorporate your own personal style into our session. These are memories you will keep forever, I want you to look and feel your best!
There is something so special about proposal sessions! It is the beginning of one of the most magical times in a couple’s relationship. Being able to capture the pure joy and love of this incredible moment and the fun that directly follows is one the my favorite parts of my job. I love capturing a downtown Kansas City proposal!
Brooks proposed right in front of Union Station on a beautiful January morning. I sat out on the hill at the World War I Museum and Memorial waiting for Brooks and McKenzie to show up. After Brooks popped the question, we headed over to the WWI Museum and Memorial to snap some photos of the newly engaged couple! After that we got some great rooftop shots downtown with the iconic Western Auto sign in the background. To round out this downtown Kansas City proposal session we went to warm up and take some photos inside Union Station!
Brooks was able to surprise McKenzie while we were at Union Station. Their family and friends hid out while we took photos and then met us to celebrate their engagement! This was such a fun day, and I feel very blessed to have played a part in capturing it. Thank you McKenzie and Brooks!
Aimee and Dakota had an intimate backyard wedding at their family’s farm where they began dating. The day was filled with love and memories of their relationship!
It was a bright Spring day when they got married under a beautiful oak tree surrounded by all their loved ones. The bridesmaids wore dark green satin dresses that complemented their burnt orange, pink, and white bouquets wonderfully. The groomsmen wore tan vests with green ties to compliment the bridesmaid’s dresses. The wedding party was a fun group!
Some of the couple’s favorite parts of the day were their first look and the donut wall at the reception! Their first look was so sweet. It is a great way to have a special moment as a couple before walking down the isle! The donut wall was a unique and tasty touch to their celebration.
Aimee’s advice for anyone who is getting married soon is to take a minute to take it all in. She was given the same advice before her ceremony and she said it helped her be very present and able to have a clear memory of the most important day!
Thank you Aimee and Dakota for allowing me to be apart of your big day! I will always be a fan of an intimate backyard wedding!
Adelaide is a UMKC graduate, and booked with me for her Spring graduation photos before grad school! I love helping students celebrate each new milestone & transition with a photo shoot. It’s such a memorable way to wrap up a chapter of life, and begin the next!
Adelaide ended up bringing some of her best friends/sorority sisters with her for the session! They all had their cap and gowns for some celebratory pics together, which was only fitting because they had truly walked this season of life side-by-side! We also had some confetti to play with, and walked around campus doing a bit of reminiscing for them.Â
At the end of her session, her boyfriend hopped in for a few of his own Spring graduation photos and photos with Adelaide! This was such a great group to work with for the day. They were all in the best spirits, excited about their next adventures in grad school!Â
Being able to document all different parts of life is one of the best feelings. From families to high school graduates, to college grads, engagements, weddings & so much more. I’m blessed to do what I love & share it with all of you.
I had the pleasure of working with West Village Realty in a portrait session recently! We started in their A frame office house for portraits of each woman. They all wore very clean and classy business attire that suited each of them so well. They’re a bubbly group of women who know how to have a good time, and made me feel welcome in their space.
Their office space is located in Prairie Village, on a beautiful lot that is secluded but welcoming. After grabbing individual headshots of each woman, we took group shots both in their studio, and right outside. We couldn’t forget to pop a bottle of champagne to toast to the powerful women that run their brokerage. The West Village Realty women are masters of their craft, and make it easy to build a relationship with them. I loved spending the afternoon getting headshots for this group. Make sure to check them out if you’re looking to relocate to Kansas City.
Victoria and Nick met with me at the Nelson Atkins Museum for their Fall engagement session. The day was AMAZING. Although it was cloudy, the Fall colors were in full swing. It couldn’t have been prettier. They brought their dog, Belle, and a couple of their favorite books to read. And we used the books as props at the end of their session, as well as popping some champagne to celebrate this new season of life. Something that is important to me as a Kansas City Photographer is including personal elements in all my engagement sessions. I love for them to walk away with a gallery full of images that represent them & their authentic lives.
We were able to get in two outfits for their engagement session at the museum. First one really complimented all the Fall colors. Pulling golden and earth tones from the beautiful backdrop. And the second one was an all black outfit, one of my favs for couples shoots! And Victoria’s sweater had a little embroidery detail on the elbows which was such a pretty touch!
The Nelson Atkins area is great all year for sessions. It’s one of the statement places in Kansas City, and one of my favorite places to bring my clients.
I can’t wait for Victoria and Nick to celebrate their wedding! And felt so lucky to get this session in for them before winter!
Antoinette & Seth got engaged on a beautiful Fall day at the same park they had their first date – Meadow Brooke Park. How cool is that?! I love when my couples incorporate these personal details into their day.
The trees were already turning colors, and the leaves were everywhere! *Perfect* Fall vibes! We started their session as a normal couples session. Antoinette had no idea a proposal was in her near future! Especially because we went through most of their session with no out of the ordinary behavior!
And then, after a little while of shooting, Seth got down on one knee and popped the question! Ah!! It never gets old photographing these big moments!!
After Antoinette said YES (of course she did!) we wandered around the park, then enjoyed coffee at The Market at Meadow Brooke Park! What a cute idea for any type of session, to grab coffee together and have it captured. I feel like I’m third wheel on a date, and I’m here for it.
Especially at a place that means so much to the both of them! There’s so much this park has to offer, so I totally get why they had their first date here! It’s no ordinary place to just have a picnic! There’s a market and an Inn in the property. So much variety!
Huge congrats to Antoinette & Seth on their engagement! I felt so lucky to capture this day for you!
Madisen and Jordan got married at The Bowery this past year, and it was such a great day! They celebrated with their closest friends and family all night long. The girls wore the prettiest light blue dresses that matched perfectly with her white and green color palette. Madisen’s dress was from True Society and wow, it she was STUNNING. The guys wore light gray suits, while Jordan wore a navy one. Their color palette photographed so well!
They actually decided to choose a new last name for them both to change to after their wedding. (How cool is that!?) They picked “Flourish” to represent their growth as a couple, and it fit them so well. It was a beautiful day for an outdoor ceremony at the Bowery. One of my favorite parts of the wedding day was during the reception! All the women in Madisen’s life circled around her on the dance floor to sing and dance to Mamma Mia/Abba and it was SO FUN!
It was really one of the best days! Thank you Madisen and Jordan for letting me be a part of it!
Noted Vendor:
Makeup | Naturally You Artistry
