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.

Telling the story - Missouri Wedding Photographer

I once read, some place, a long time ago, from someone that I can't remember...

"A good photo has a beginning and a middle and an end."

I love the story that is being told in one solitary frame, 1/320th of a second, of one special day, tells the whole story.

Getting a little airtime!

Check this out!

So after my article was published in the Maryville Daily Forum, the St. Joseph News Press contacted me. They wanted to feature me in the women's magazine they put out monthly!! Finally, today it came out! It'll be seen by around 30,000 people! GET OUT!

If you'd like to read what the article says, you can see it online here!

Jenny and Drew get Married! St. Joseph, Missouri Wedding Photographer

You might recognize Jenny. She was one of my bridesmaids at Lauren and Josh's wedding back in July. Nope, they had no idea that they both booked me. I had no idea they were friends until I saw them in a photo together on facebook. In any event, it's always so much fun to see a lot of the same players at multiple weddings as you get to know everyone a little better.

Both are really sweet people, and I'm not just saying that because. I'm saying it because it's true. I have both Drew and Jenny on my facebook and every few days, Jenny posts a sweet little love note on Drew's wall. It's so obvious that these two are head over heels for each other.












I thought the rope was very interesting, it's the rope that you pull to ring the bell. It took everything I had to not pull it. Trust me.









Most of their fun formal photos were taken at St. Joseph, Missouri's historical Krug Park. It's beautiful no matter what time of year.




Jenny used to play here when she was a little girl, and you can't help but wonder if they didn't run across each other on the playground as children.























They were married at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in St. Joseph. I'm always impressed how beautiful these older catholic churches are. Makes me want to walk around all day and just shoot the details of the church. We were lucky in that we had the most perfect light shining in the window too. Almost makes you wonder if it wasn't planned that way.






I think Jenny is actually more ornery than Drew, but you couldn't tell it here.

































Reception was held at Stoney Creek Inn, which is beautiful and has a rustic theme to it. Lots of wood, a few horns, beautiful lighting. It's a nice overnight trip if you just want to take in the cool historic sights in St. Joseph one weekend.






A little practical joke here.... the garter is Jayhawks themed. The thing is, Drew's NOT a Jayhawk fan.

Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk Drew??






These 2 are dancing fools and I swear Jenny knows every word, to every single song ever written.




Thank you both for not only letting me be part of your wedding day, but also for being such kind, loving, wonderful people.

Front page feature at The Wedding Chicks!

I am SO EXCITED!

I've been keeping a secret for a WHOLE MONTH. I'm actually very good at secrets, but this one has me about ready to bust from excitement.

About 5 weeks ago, myself and several other vendors pulled together to create a styled inspirational wedding/bridal shoot. It was specifically to inspire brides for ideas for their weddings! Morgan was our model and she did such a great job considering how cold she was! My husband, son, and Morgan's mom and sister were my pit crew. Everything fell into place almost perfectly. My husband didn't understand it completely, but he followed me with blind faith, and then he "got it" Half of the fun has been seeing him be so proud and excited. He's even talking to strangers on the street about it. LOL

*blush*

I submitted to The Wedding Chicks and heard back quickly that it was accepted for a front page feature! YAY! It took a while to get up (I think they had a backlog!) but today, it was finally there! It's been one of my proudest moments in my photography career yet.

It was even picked up by our local paper, the Maryville Daily Forum, as a front page news! From that, also a possible magazine feature! Isn't it funny how all these things are connected and good things happen?

What's next??

I can't wait!

THAT'S ME!!

Photographer: Cease Fire Studios
Hair & Makeup: Rockin’ Rollers Salon
Dress Designer: I Can Has Kitsch
Floral Design: Bittersweet Floral
Jewelry: Cease Fire Heirlooms
Stationery: Pink Orchid Invitations
Veil or Hair Accessories: I Can Has Kitsch