Maryville, MO family portraits

I've talked about Daniel Dunlap and his family before a few weeks ago. He's a fellow photographer from Council Bluffs, Iowa. We met online in a photography group and we tend to complain about most of the same things. Correction... I complain, and he mostly agrees.

He presented me a challenge around a year ago when I commented on a photo of his daughter on facebook. "You get her to look into the camera, I challenge you."

Game on.

So a couple weeks ago, I had a issue I needed to sort out, and Dan's one of those guys that knows just enough to get you in trouble. He volunteered to come all the way to lowly Missouri and help me fix it! All I had to offer was a stack of fat T-bones.
*he took the bait!*

So Saturday, they came down early and went to Stoney Creek for a little get away. We went down to have dinner with them, and I started turning on the charm with little Alayna immediately because I knew I'd be taking her photo at some point.

Over dinner Dan and I had this conversation:

Dan: "I'm never going to photograph another photographer's wedding."
Lana: "Yeah, me neither. Talk about pressure."

around 18 hours later:
Dan: "So you'll take our picture right?"
Lana: *eek*

(well, not exactly like that, but you know....)

I want the record to show, I got several shots of Alayna looking at the camera several times.
BOOYAH.

I also made a new little BFF. I'm going to talk her into spending the summer with me. I'm confident it'll work.. I have a pool.

I might have to rent a pony though.

2010 Favorites! Maryville Missouri Photographer

Wanted to share some of my favorite photos from 2010. I know there are more! Gosh darn it we took so many it's hard to keep track of them all ! lol.



Operation Love, Katy and her girls:




Kandy and Ryan Engagement:



Abbey and Anthony Wedding Day:



Morgan's Seniors:



Elizabeth and Matt's wedding day:



Junk Mafia Radio show hosts:



Keysa and Andy engagement pics:




Amy's Bridal shoot:



Bekah's Senior pics:




Lauren and Josh's Wedding Day:




Kyla's 1st Birthday:



Kayleigh and John's engagement pics:



Heather and Todd's wedding day:




Lori and Michael's wedding day:



Lesley and Colby's Engagement pics:


Kandy and Ryan's wedding day:



Hannah and Sam's engagement pics:



Megan and Levi's engagement pics:



Sarah and Kyle's Engagement pics:



Abbey and Izaak:



Amber's Rockin' Roller's shoot:



Elston Family shoot:



Caleb's Senior photos:



Morgan's styled shoot for Wedding Chicks Feature:


Elizabeth and Dennis engagement shoot:


Amy and Dustun's wedding day:


We took more! (I reserve the right to add later lol)


I have an exciting contest coming in the next couple weeks (best of 2010)! Watch for updates soon!

Happy New Year to all our friends, family and clients new and old!!

Family Portraits - The "E" Family - Maryville Missouri Portrait Photographer

This sweet little family lives just a few short miles from my house but we'd never met before mom called looking for some portraits of her family. She wanted to capture what they were really like, not how well they could pose.

What they are really like, is full of energy. Sometimes I walk in and say "oh lord, I'm not going to make it!" and by the end, it feels like I have 6 new friends (gotta count the dogs). The littlest one held my hand and told me stories that I didn't really understand as we walked to the lake, and her big brother gave me a hug before I left.

I have the coolest clients.

Izaak and Abby - Kid portraits Maryville, Missouri

Exibit A:

These two are full of life.
That's a polite way of saying they are ornery.

But ornery is not bad, especially in the case of this brother and sister. Even tho they will probably have a life time of "Mom he hit me!" and "Dad she won't give me back my ball glove!" you can tell that they have a beautiful little relationship, and truly love each other.

I give you the above photo as proof.

Two incredible little personalities, packed in tiny little people.

Thanks kids, for letting me take your picture, and playing along.... and not eating me alive. ;)

Izaak and Abby - Kid portraits Missouri

Tonight I had a shoot with these two cute kids. They were funny, lively and packed full of energy. I'm going to dedicate my life to bottling that energy.

When I'm not so tired.

Meet Kade

You should meet Kade. This is how he looks ALL THE TIME! Tons of smiles, and Daddy can make him *laugh* really big. Taking his picture was EASY!

I got an opportunity to try out my new (old) baby doll carriage that I got for a whopping $16.50 antique shopping. FYI, we saw a similar one this weekend not as cute for $240!!

Sweet feet of Kade and his brother and sister. They were all really cute kids!

Dad is a John Deere guy. Can you tell?

I also finally found a little guy to put into my giant teacup. He just barely fit. He also seized the opportunity to chew on his toes.

Bet ya can't do that when you're 40 Kade.

No, in fact I down right guarantee it.






And my absolute favorite of the session:

Selective coloring does not make you popular in some photography circles but I DON'T CARE! I so much love how cute this photo is. It wasn't my favorite when I started (It's grainy so I totally ran with the grainy theme and made it more grainy lol), now I love how those eyes just pop.

Thanks for being such a good boy Kade. You can come live with me any time you want. Well, as long s you are smiley and sweet, then it's back to mom. :p