Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Trespassing - Quad Cities Family Photographer

I got to photograph this beautiful family at kind of a cool little spot under the arsenal bridge...only that's not where we originally planned on doing their session!

Several weeks back, I found a great location in downtown Davenport.  It was an ally that was sandwiched between 2 really nice stone and brick buildings...there was a great loading dock around the corner and perfect light.  It was my new favorite spot.

I had this family meet me there just as I had had 2 other previous families meet me there in the weeks prior.  Only this time, there was a not so friendly gentlemen in that ally who not so kindly stated that he owned the building and photographers were not allowed to take pictures there.  I had just met this family and so it was a bit uncomfortable dealing with that situation in the moment...they were awesome though and even backed me up a bit.  We graciously left and went across the street for the remainder of the session.

It wouldn't have mattered where I photographed this family though, they would have wowed no matter what the setting.  Just look at them!
 
The youngest, Ryne is 8 months old.
Oh my, I could have stolen him for sure!
Gorgeous, sweet, scrumptious!
 

CHUBBY HANDS...LOVE!
 

And he is quite adored by his family, that's for sure.

Then there is the little Diva Lainey.
She was SO MUCH FUN to photograph!  I am talking, BURSTING with personality!
 
 

15 year old Annalise was gorgeous...I mean, c'mon!
She did disclose that she isn't a huge fan of getting her picture taken, but I must say she was amazing in front of the camera and the camera LOVES her.
 
 

Not only beautiful, but an amazing big sis...

I love me some pictures of mama and daddy loves, so here ya go. :)
 

And as you can see, it's clear that Lainey is a fan of being in front of the camera!
Love it!

What a pleasure it was to photograph this stunning family.
Thank you all for trespassing for the sake of a great location and then for hiking down the road with me to find a new one when we got kicked out guys! :)

Friday, July 27, 2012

Blessed Family - Quad Cities Family Photographer

We all know that when you get a large group of people together, things can be tense.  You have lots of different personalities and opinions in 1 place at 1 time.  It can be super fun, it can make you look around and feel so blessed by how many amazing loved ones you have.  It can also be frustrating and awkward and uncomfortable in some cases.  That's just how it is when you get a large group together, be it family, friends or a mix.  This family though?  They were incredible, and it is clear that they were all feeling so blessed...as they should.  What a fun, warm, inviting group of people they are.  They truly enjoy each other and love each other and exude happiness.  This makes for a great setup for me to photograph!  So while photographically capturing a group this large could be a recipe for disaster, it was so much fun with these wonderful people!

The extended Gossett Family...
 
The Robersons...

The Curleys...

The Moes...

Grandpa and Grandma have 7 grandkids to love on...

This is a great group of kids!
The boys clearly outnumber the girls though...one of you families might need to help even out the score here! ;)

Sweet Levi may need a sister in his future I would say!

That face, those eyes, that skin...AHHHH, gives me baby fever!

This little girlie is going to have some serious protectors in those older brothers of hers!

There is a fantastic eye gene in this family I would say!
 
 
 
 
 
 

The Gossett Sisters.
Deanna, Amanda and Melanie
So much fun, so sweet, so glad to know them!

The "original" Gossett Family.
This mama and daddy have so much to be proud of!

Let's get real though...this is real life for a group like this.
Especially one that's as fun as them!

Thank you so much to the extended Gossett Family for allowing me to capture each of your incredible families...you all are so blessed to have such an incredible group of people to call family!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

What love looks like - Quad Cities Engagement Photographer

There are times when I have seen love...tangible love. I am a huge fan of photographing couples. I think it is in those moments that I feel like I could almost reach out and TOUCH love. Engagement sessions are pretty much the epitome of that. It's one of my favorite things to do.

This couple was beyond that though. They JUST got engaged and came to our session with no plans or expectatations. No vision as to what they were hoping for. They just wanted me to photograph THEM, the real them...being 2 people who just happen to be madly in love.

Clearly...
 
They were beyond amazing subjects...real and just so happened to also be completely adorable!

Matt and Kara will be married this October.
This was my first meeting with the both of them.  It was fun, you guys!
They just strolled around the park with me and looked at me when I told them to look and kissed when I told them to kiss (and when I didn't even tell them to! ;)) and laughed with each other and joked with each other and were just plain awesome.
 

I loved every minute of photographing these 2.  I loved every minute of capturing their natural interaction and "realness".  I loved meeting these 2 wonderful people who will soon be united forever.

And they are smitten...both of them.  It's so clear, it's so obvious, when you are with them it feels like you can reach out and grab the love in the air.

And there is no doubt in my mind these 2 will have a long and happy life together.
And for me, it was a complete joy to feel such love in my presence for the short hour I spent with them.
 
Congratulations, Matt and Kara and thank you for allowing me the pleasure of capturing you two photographically!

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

I'm a hugger - Quad Cities Family Photographer

I photographed this amazingly beautiful family (all 5 of them...one just hadn't been born yet!) in May last year! I LOVED shooting them. Their kiddos have grown so much since that day!  However, they were JUST as amazing and cooperative to photograph as they were last year...all of them!  Even the newest little man.  I mean, he was the smiliest baby ever!

So I really loved photographing them last year, I felt like Heidi and I just clicked and everything was comfortable and easy in our hour together.  Then, we kept in contact over Facebook and later through our blogs!  So over the course of the last 14 months, I feel in a strange sort of way that I got to know her better...she was my cyber friend! :)  I was super excited when she booked again for this year and just knew it would be fun!  When they pulled up, I had this urge to hug her...you know, like you do a friend that it's been a long time since you've seen.  Ha!  Afterall, I AM a hugger!  To avoid her thinking I was a total lunatic, I withheld. :)

One of the FIRST family shots I got of this crazy awesome family was this one.  I mean, c'mon...how perfect!  It did happen to be practically the same exact pose in the same spot as one I took of my brother and sister-in-law, which isn't my style to do the same thing much, but whatever works...I think it's a great shot!
 
Let's start with the newest addition, Easton.
At 7 months old, he is the smiliest, happiest little boy I know!  Oh my, that dimple, those eyes, that smile..I could eat him up!!!


Then there's Breleigh...the definition of 3...the good definition. :)  She was full of personality and so sweet and a little sassy too!  She grew up SO MUCH since last year!

And the eldest...Helaina.  She is 5 1/2 and so agreeable!  She was super cooperative and fun and happens to have a little sass herself!

I did manage to get several great pictures of all 3 looking at me and smiling at the same time, but this one...this one is just too much.  One of my favorites of the bunch!  Little Easton's expression is PRICELESS!  The hand on his face, the drool...love it!

This family was a blast...and it helps that I just plain like them.


And my camera likes them A LOT!
 
 


It's no wonder their kids are so incredible...they have an amazing set of parents to say the least!
 


So here's to another great session with this family. 
And I disclosed to Heidi that I want to be her friend...she gave me the "ok" that I could be. 
Sweet! ;)
So it looks like not only did I get some more great shots for my portfolio, but a new friend outta the deal and that is the best gift of all!
We'll see how long this friendship lasts...not sure if Heidi is ready for my brand of crazy. ;)
Ha.

Really, though...families like the Moran Family are the reason I love my job...so thank you to Jim, Heidi, Helaina, Breleigh and Easton...you guys rock!