Yowzers: Quad Cities Engagement Photographer

I know, I know...I already shared a sneak peek of this gorgeous couple with you.

I can't help it...I can't.

I HAD to share just a few more!

And really, I have so so so many more images of these two love birds that I am dying to post. I won't though...I have to save some for them to be surprised with!

:)

Fun at the park: Quad Cities Childrens Photographer

I got to start out my week playing at the park with these two beauties. :)

And that truly is what we did...we played. I love photographing busy kids!

Oh...and kids who look like this.

Meet Sam...

Yup, those eyes are the real deal, people.

And Ava was a little sweetheart and I must say, she certainly took care of business with this shot!

Score!

Love it.

And getting a shot of two kids ages 4 and 1 1/2 TOGETHER isn't an easy job. It's fun trying though! ;)

And I have to say, I am a huge fan of the real thing, the candid moments, so I was quite pleased with the real moments I captured between these two!

And this one is ALL GIRL!

I need a girl...one that spins and wears flowery dresses and that I can put her hair up in little girly hairstyles like this!

And she can skip...and skip well might I add!
Maybe it's just the fact that I have a boy or the fact he's delayed in the skipping category, but he's nowhere at the caliber of skipping that Ava is. :)

At least her skipping talent makes for a good picture!

And this one was curious!

He was so darn cute...as you can clearly see!

And those eyes are pretty much any photographer's dream...

As are these expressions!

Thank you Ava and Sam for playing with me at the park!

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It's completely free and takes only 5 minutes of your time!!!

Learn how you can win it (as well as a few other things!) HERE on my personal blog!

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Incredible Family: Quad Cities Family Photographer

My cup is overflowing tonight!

Really, I feel as if I may wake up and realize all 3 of these amazing photo sessions I had this weekend were a dream!

That is what this last family was for me, the DREAM FAMILY!

Not only were they UBER ADORABLE, but these 2 kids were the most amazingly cooperative 4 and 2 year old I have ever photographed!

Don't get me wrong...I completely enjoy a challenge in photographing children. In fact, I EXPECT it! I LOVE it and especially love when the parents are nervous about the possibility of not getting any good shots because they think their child wasn't cooperative and then they are surprised when they get the pictures and can't believe all the cuteness and joy they're seeing. ;)

It always seems worse to the parents...I know when I'm taking the pictures that I'm getting "the shots". I let them be nervous though...hehehehe. :)

I don't think Jim or Heidi were nervous...at all!

At least, they shouldn't have been!

I MUST not wait another second before posting the picture below.

To date, this is my all time favorite image I think I have ever captured.

Meet Breleigh...age 2...

And then there's Helaina (I KNOW, amazing names, right?!!!) at age 4 in all her cuteness too!

Hold on a second, I think I'm going to go take a swim in those eyes.

I mean, come on!

Sister Love...

My goodness gracious, I can hardly stand the cuteness!!!

And I have to say, this one was AMAZING!

I would say, "why don't you stand here?"

She would say, with FULL enthusiasm, "SURE, THAT'S a GREAT idea!"

Most.Cooperative.4 year old. EVER.

Some pictures just NEED to be in black and white. :)

And so how do you make a 2 and 4 year old that are this beautiful and cooperative?

Don't know...you'll have to ask these 2!
(and honestly, I NEED that necklace...NEED!)

Breleigh apparently had a vision...it included her laying down.

Well all righty then!

The girl knows what she's doing because it just "worked"! :)

And let me just pause from the pictures for a minute to say that this family was LAYED BACK! I'm talking, they didn't question ANYTHING I suggested (including taking their kids away from them on my own about 3 minutes after meeting them!) and fully trusted me with smiles on their faces the entire time...all of them! My kind of people, these 4! :)

I am pretty much IN LOVE with this family picture of them!

I mean, what says, "I have a 4 and 2 year old and a heart FULL of love" like this picture!
This is real life, not fake, not posed...real.

(and that picture also says, "look at my amazing necklace"...sorry, I just can't drop it!)

So to Jim, Heidi, Helaina and Breleigh..."THANK YOU" for making my weekend even more brighter and wonderful than it already was. Truly, it was a pleasure to photograph each of you!

Jake + Jessie: Quad Cities Engagement Photographer

I am not even sure where to begin with these two.

And a pre-warning...you're getting a lot of pictures in this post because I just couldn't narrow it down! And trust me, it was even hard to narrow it down to these 12 images!

This weekend was a DREAM weekend for me in regards to photography. I got to shoot some family (see post below), then I got to photograph this amazingly gorgeous, in love, cooperative, fun, laid back couple, and then a super layed back, fun family (see NEXT post)!

Jake and Jessie are a very special couple. They will be my ONLY Bride and Groom that I will photograph...you see, I don't do weddings. I don't have a desire to be a wedding photographer whatsoever. None. However, come 10/22/11, I will be photographing this gorgeous couple's wedding and (although it makes me so nervous to think I agreed to do their wedding that I kind of feel like passing out!) I can't think of ANY other couple I would have agreed to do this for. I am completely serious. When I say these two are layed back, I mean it.

They did ANYTHING and EVERYTHING I asked of them, they had fun, laughed, were completely themselves, let me try whatever location, pose or expression requests I wanted with ZERO argument or question as to what I was thinking. They made my time with them super easy and super fun!

DREAM CLIENTS...that's what they are!

The fact that these 2 trust me enough to photograph their wedding is truly an honor like nothing I've ever experienced professionally.

So as long as my camera is working and I don't completely botch all of their wedding photos so they have nothing to hold onto for the rest of their lives (ugh...the thought of the importance of wedding photographs makes me a little light headed!), I think they'll be the most amazing couple to photograph on the most important day of their lives!

And seriously????

I mean, talk about gorgeous.

GORGEOUS people these two are...inside and out!

And let me tell you...these two will be producing some gorgeous children!

Can't wait to photograph their babies too!!! ;)

Thank you Jake and Jessie for being such amazing subjects!

Can't wait for 10/22/11!!!!!

The Peakin Family:Quad Cities Family Photographer

I got to kick off my weekend filled with photoshoots with a bang by photographing some family!

My brother and sister-in-law and 2 nieces live only minutes from us and we love the time we get to spend with them. They are fun...and these pictures certainly show it!

My goodness, this one...not a whole lot I can say about this little stinker!

I love her spunk!!!

And this one is just getting so OLD!

She is so smart...AND beautiful!

And they are such good sisters to each other. They love each other so much!

So proud to call these people "family".

Love you guys!

Busy Mommy - Quad City Family Photographer

Missy told me that she doesn't get in front of the camera often.

I wonder why?!

Oh ya, probably because she's busy taking care of a 7 year old and twin 3 year olds!

That could be it!

And let me tell you...this is one laid back momma. I mean, my kind of gal for sure!

And while I was busy capturing her beauties (see post below), she was standing behind me making them smile, laugh, blowing bubbles, doing whatever she needed to do. THANKS MISSY!

So it may be a small miracle that I got this shot INCLUDING the Super Momma!

Everyone smiling and facing the camera...no bubbles or silly antics in the background or anything!

SCORE!

However, I do have some serious love for the picture below.

THIS is reality captured...

There is no doubt that this mommy is going to be showered with love on Mother's Day by her sweet, adorable children!

Have a Happy Mother's Day, Missy!

It was so fun to spend a little time with you all yesterday!

Siblings - Quad City Childrens Photographer

I had the pleasure of photographing these 3 beauties yesterday...

Brendan is 7.

What 7 year old boy LOVES getting his picture taken?

I am not sure that I know many...or any!

He was a trooper though...and look at at that face!

And then there's Claire.

My goodness she is gorgeous.

And her dimples are precious!
She was full of spunk and energy.

And whether you believe it or not, this is her sister McKenna.

No, it's really not the same child. :)

I had no idea who I was photographing during the shoot and kept getting confused as to who was who, but when I got home to edit these pictures, it became CLEAR the differences between these two and now I can't even believe I couldn't tell the difference between them!

And this one, like her sister, is spunky and full of energy.

These two just turned 3 and they are BUSY!
So fun to capture them in pictures.

McKenna, like her sister, is quite the little beauty...

This was my first experience photographing twins and I loved it!

Puts a fun spin on the shoot!
Look at those doll faces!!!