Pitch Perfect Picture

Caden vs. Camden 2.0

2012-01-30T19:21:00.001-06:00

Whilst trying to re-upload 2010 and 2011 photos to the blog and posting the family sessions we did, I neglected to highlight our nephew & niece and their flashy personas. They have most definitely stolen our hearts and Gerard & I couldn't be more eager to see them again. If only we lived closer...

So in the spirit of Show Choir season, we are doing a mash-up today. Call it the Battle of the Sexes, US v. Korea (Heaven forbid!), or War of the 'Dens' (both of their names are crazily similar...)I'm showing you the cutest kiddos in our lives right now and you can be the judge of who takes the prize.

We'll compare and contrast these tykes in their natural habitats in similar situations so as to have as few variables in this contest as possible.

Eating at the table:

With family members:
I absolutely LOVE seeing my mom so happy!

(Caden wanted to take a bite out of Gerard's nose...but then wanted to cuddle and apologize...)

Playing:

All out Cuteness:

So there you have it! Camden has the red-head thing going for her, but Caden has the sweet Asian-Baby-ness going for him. I'll leave it up to you to leave a comment below with your vote. Regardless of the outcome, I do believe their respective mamas will think their own child is the most adorable. :)

The $23 Bathroom Makeover

2012-01-25T15:54:00.001-06:00

Some people have Pinterest. They are then inevitably left pining for time, money or energy to do all these fun and cool ideas that they've pinned to their wall. And I don't begrudge them their indulgence in those cool and fun ideas. But, because I've heard of its overly addictive nature, I've avoided Pinterest at all costs and instead look to a few other places for ideas of inspiration for our home. And, just like those addicted to Pinterest, I was left pining for time to do just one new thing to our bathroom. A slight injection of botox, instead of a complete facelift, if you will...

This is the most hectic and chaotic time of the school year for both Gerard & me. Show Choir competitions, Large Group Band and Choir contests and my self-described "D-Day" of Solo contest where I accompany roughly 65 students in an 8 hour day of craziness, makes January through March absolutely insane in the Krupke household. (Can you tell I'm already sleep deprived just from the state of that run-on sentence?!)

So, in the midst of this season, our Wednesday Date Nights have succombed to our fatigue. At our least creative moments, we have built a fort in our basement out of our sofa sectional to cozy up and watch The Biggest Loser on Hulu.com. Last Wednesday, though, found me a little bit farther above water...

After receiving the same email on cool ideas for your home from two separate people, I finally decided it was time to organize the linen closet (yawn... I know!) and put each set of sheets in one of its respective pillow cases. That led to the discovery of some bathroom carpet mats that I had used in a past apartment when I was single. Our current bath mats were completely disheveled and falling apart, so those went in the trash and the ~~old~~ barely-been-used ones replaced them. (Thank Heaven they were the same color scheme!)

The next idea was inspired by a 20% off coupon I'd received via email from Bed Bath & Beyond. I quickly went to the clearance section on their website and found this simple beauty suggested to me by my subscription to Real Simple magazine. On clearance, it was listed as $29.99 but they also accepted my 20% coupon. So, we were at $23 (for the bathroom...don't get me started on what else we found in their clearance section! That place should have CAUTION tape wrapped around it!).

We brought her home and as I had already taken our old mirror down, Gerard went to work assembling and mounting the mirror/shelf combo to the wall while I pondered what to change with the other walls. I came to the conclusion that we had too little of a bathroom to have so much on said walls. More wall space makes a room look bigger and/or less cluttered in my experience. So, I took down a few things and placed just one framed art (instead of 4) above our towel rod. In a few years, if I want to update or change the look again, I have a few things to pull out of my linen closet that will still work with the overall scheme of things.

On our medicine cabinet, I used four sheets of scrapbook paper with a similar color as our shower curtain to negate the clutter of what's behind the glass of the door. Cleans things up pretty nicely eh? THAT idea came from THIS BLOG. Thanks, Laura & Andrea!

(And yes, the new mirror has been baptised in teeth brushing flecks already...such is life in our house right now!)

That's it. Rearrange some wall art. Find something in your home that's barely been used and use some coupons smartly and you too, can have a $23 Bathroom Botox Injection. Not a complete ~~overhall~~ facelift, and it can make a BIG difference!

Greg + Ann: Married

2012-01-23T19:36:00.000-06:00

Their nuptials took place in October on a beautiful, uncannily warm fall day. For an outdoor wedding, they were taking a chance on the weather, but God was good on that score. He was good on several scores in getting this wedding plannned too. The right people came together for the right purpose and set to work to bless Greg & Ann for their special day that had been nine years coming.

I'm not able to show all the photos at this time, but here is a sneak preview of what's to come:

Bianca + Ben = Levi + Celia

2012-01-18T21:10:00.000-06:00

Just as this family started to grow, Gerard & I started going to another church service time and Bible study, so I've pretty much watched Levi & Celia be born and grow up on Facebook. Not literally, but you know what I mean...A beautiful family, Ben has been honing his own photography skills and those photos have been my main source of lovingly "creeping" this family on Facebook. So, when Bianca asked me to do their family photos for their annual Christmas card, I was beyond honored to meet that need.

Now, I realize these are pretty late in coming since these were taken well before Christmas, but Bianca had another request. Since these were going to be gifts for their families, she asked that they stay secret until after the holidays. I was happy to oblige since I got to hang out with some of the cutest kiddos ever.

Without further adieu:

Ben & Bianca: Thank you so much for having me! I really appreciate your support and trust, especially Ben as a fellow photog and Bianca...I admire you greatly. Allowing me to photograph your children is the largest compliment you could ever give. From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU.

You can view the rest of the session HERE.

2012 Here I Come!

2012-01-16T19:42:00.005-06:00

I learned last year that there are two different types of goals. A Goal-goal is something that you are in charge of and can make happen. A Goal-desire is something that you'd like to see happen that you don't have control over whatsoever. So, in keeping with that lesson learned and to take some pressure off of myself for things that I don't have control over, here's what I'd like 2012 to look like:

GOALS:
Photography
1. Educate myself more on photography. READ READ and READ some more. (Also get a working knowledge of Photoshop going.)
2. Create 2011 Portfolio album
3. Have new Thank You postcards printed.
4. Drop business cards more often (use them up!)
5. Find 3 new places to shoot. (Found a new one already!! Super excited to have a winter, indoor, GORGEOUS location for my February sessions.)
6. Look into a website or blogsite option.

Health & Personal
7. Continue to commit scripture to memory.
8. Keep exercising 3 times a week.
9. FLOSS
10. Stand up straight!
11. GREET GERARD AT THE DOOR WHEN HE COMES HOME. (Be a better cheerleader-even if that means going out and buying a pleated skirt and pom-poms.)
12. Grow what Gerard will eat in the garden (squash, potatoes, peppers and tomatoes??)
13. Keep adding dairy back into my diet (bread with milk in it, recipies with butter in them are next!)

Home
14. Sell office furniture via Craigs List or Facebook. Now that Gerard's done with his master's, we don't need 2 desks and 2 desk chairs. One for the both of us is plenty.
15. Purge unnecessary items. If it's not beautiful, I don't love it, nor have used it in the past 2 years, it's outta here! (Goodwill will get to know me well this year. I've already made 2 trips!)
16. Move more trellis to raspberry bush (it's steadily taking over it's little corner of the yard!)
17. For our home this year, the name of the game is STORAGE. In the garage, in the basement, in the shed, in our closets. Organized, clean and logical.
18. White trim upstairs (door jams and windows)
19. Paint/seal deck
20. New doors for our upstairs rooms-they're beat up and spakled with paint from when this was a foreclosure...
21. Landscape north side of house very, very simply with low, low maintenance plants.

In the past I've tried to make seeing professional grade concerts and going to farmer's markets goals and it's never happened to the degree I'd like. So this year, I just want to get out of the house and take advantage of what Des Moines has to offer more often.

DESIRES
1. photograph 4 weddings
2. increase income after expenses by 10%.
3. photograph 4 new families
4. photograph 2 seniors as a result of my advertising in the Norwalk Music Booster concert programs.
5. decide whether I want to invest in a 70-200 2.8 or a 35mm 1.8. Both? Neither? Is what I have currently doing the job I want to do?

Phew! I know that for the next 48 days, not much on this list will be fully accomplished. But after Small Ensemble Contest is over, I can resurface and really hit this hard. 2012 isn't as nebulous as it seemed on New Year's Eve and for that, I'm thankful. I still may not know what God has in store for us, but I know I will have a deeper relationship with Him, and with Gerard, and a better understanding of His word as long as I cling and lean in.

Here we go!
Wish me luck.

Megan + Jeremy :: Married!

2012-01-14T14:01:00.003-06:00

How can I get his attention? Megan tried and tried to think of ways to get in Jeremy's view finder while they were working overseas with Camp Adventure, a study abroad program through Univ. of Northern Iowa. Several opportunities came and went and finally, Megan had to take things into her own hands. They "bumped" into each other at a cancer fundraiser and each were smitten. Needless to say, the view they both found in the other was nothing short of perfection.

The view I found on their wedding was nothing short of perfection as well. When a gorgeous church came into my view while following my new friend, Jane, I said outloud (as if she could hear me down the street in her own car) Please turn here! I really want to photograph that church. Please let that be their church! And as if she had heard me down the street in her own car, her turn signal went on and she turned! Voila-one of the most gorgeous places for a First Look. But I get ahead of myself...

I have become so accustomed to working with Justin, that he takes the groomsmen and I take care of the bride and her ladies, this was a great opportunity for me to photograph the guys. After a few detail shots of flowers, I hustled to get a few of Megan's dress.

In the few minutes it took me to take those shots, the guys were already dressed and upstairs. Do I need to mention that the lighting in this church was fantastic with those floor to ceiling stained glass windows?

I saw this gorgeous gal following the groomsmen around and I thought she was one of Megan's personal attendants assigned to keeping the guys on time. Then, as I was taking the groomsmen shots, she gets in one of them! Now THAT'S a vivavious, confident gal. I thought. But, oh! Wait! She's a groomswoman! What fun to document something totally different that I thought only existed in movies. Lindsay, you are absolutely lovely.

We tucked the bridal party away to allow Megan & Jeremy a moment together for their first look. As Megan made her way up the stairs, she hesitated for a moment and looked through the doors' windows. Uh, can you tell them to go away? The groomsmens' faces were jokingly plastered to the door to get a glimpse of Jeremy at his tenderest: seeing his bride for the first time. (And yes, we made the bridal party go away. :) )

I realize I went a little "collage happy" on this post, but there were so many photos I wanted to show you in one post that this was the best way to go about it. Mea culpa.

Here are the columns I as talking about that made me wish and hope that this was their church. I felt like I was either at Wheaton College or somewhere in the deep South.

Megan, you're simply gorgeous. Seriously.

As a second shooter, I'm getting more and more comfortable being in a different place than my first shooter to get a different angle or shot to diversify the wedding portfolio. I love doing shots like this because it gets all the little details you know the bride thought about a lot. The bouquet, the boutineer, the groom's tie and hankie color, her dress & veil (obviously), her nails, and jewelry.

You know that 6-degrees-of-separation idea? Well, track with me on this one. I lived with a gal named Cari in college. Her brother, Mike, married Jenny. Jenny is Megan's sister. Ergo, Cari & her husband Tony, came to the wedding and I got to visit with the whole family! Were you able to follow that? :)

This wedding was a lot of firsts, first time working with Jane, first time with the groomsmen, and first time photographing a Catholic wedding. I had a great time up in the organ loft!

After the ceremony, Megan & Jeremy wanted some more relaxed photos and when they mean relaxed, they mean bust-out-the-bubbly-type photos.

Every girl wants to twirl in her big white dress right? Jeremy indulged Megan multiple times for just that.

Megan & Jeremy lovingly got each other while feeding the other cake; notice how covered Megan's fingers are and some frosting on Jeremy's coat. ;)

Megan & Jeremy-thank you so much for letting Jane and me be a part of your day. You graciously let me into your family and try a whole slew of things without blinking twice. I think our results show your love for one another in a candid, true way. What a joy you were to capture in my own view finder. Thank you and many blessings,

Carrie

Here are a few extra details of their day: (side note: the beersteins are from their many trips overseas with Camp Adventure!)

You can view the rest of their story and images over on Jane's site HERE.

Katie + Eric = Camden

2012-01-12T20:58:00.000-06:00

We barely squeeked through our first photo shoot as an entire extended family but as my time in California dwindled, I wanted to give Katie and Eric photos of just their family of three. The afternoon I anticipated to be my last at home (long story) we didn't dress up. We didn't even put any make up on. Completely candid and refreshingly natural. Camden was a little happier, though still struggling through two really nasty-huge molars. (I'm so glad we don't remember this time as we grow up, it's definitely painful for her!) In roughly 10 quick minutes, here's what we captured for them.

This Daddy just doesn't get enough time with his Little One, being stationed in a different state...

(You see a hint of our dog, Sadie's, tail on the right side of the above photo? The rest of the dogs were about to let us know that our session was done.)

Yup, all done!

Joe + Jeannette

2012-01-08T16:30:00.000-06:00

They've been quoted as saying that their marriage has worked so well because they've only really seen each other for half of it. Now that they're both retired, they can't rely on that as the secret to their success.

I don't claim to know the actual right answer as to what their secret actually is, but I know that Mom and Dad serve their family well, together. They make decisions together. Those decisions have led to a season in life right now that I don't know if they ever anticipated life looking quite like this. In 2009, a month after my maternal grandpa passed away, on my parents' anniversary, they moved Grandma across the country to live with them and escape Ohio winters. That winter escape has now entered its second year and Grandma has become a California tourist, a member of the audience for my dad's choral performances and an observer of her great-granddaughters in motion.

This leads me to another decision my parents made: to support my sister, Katie, while she went through Physician's Assistant schooling by taking care of her daughter, Camden. My absolute favorite redhead in all the world.

Gerard and I were blessed to travel to my home and enter into the organized chaos that is my parents' house right now. I say organized because there is a daily schedule and routine implemented, it just ...well, it's a little crazier than the average retirees' would envision their retirement to look like. A goal of mine from 2011 was to photograph Camden with her awesome parents and I just barely squeeked it in with the help of a dear friend of Gerard's who just happens to live in California too.

That's about as big of a smirk/smile we got out of Camden this entire session because she was cutting 2 molars and had just had three shots at the doctor's office. (Lesson #1 for scheduling a family photo shoot-avoid doctor's appointments the day of!)

And Ka-BLAM! There's the Williams family Christmas card for 2011. Taken on Dec. 29th. Next, the Four Generations of ALL GIRLS:

Camden was our only challenge, until we decided to up the ante. Add the dogs: Nixon & Laika.

Now, these two weren't so difficult to pose, but they were no less awkward...;)

Just the Williams':

Now....what you've all been waiting for....the BLOOPERS!

Good job Katie:

Will you dance with me?--Mom

Me trying to pose them...

Mom's gonna love me for this one:

And my ultimate favorite:

*sigh* How I love my family. You can see the rest of Nathan Board's handiwork HERE.

Mimi + Adam = Caden

2012-01-04T12:06:00.000-06:00

I've photographed this adorable family before at some pivitol moments in this family's history. First, when Caden was just 5 weeks, Mimi traveled to Iowa City to allow Grandma Billie (while in hospice) to meet her first great-grandchild. Second, when Caden was 3 months, for his baptism (which ended up being in the hospital's chapel because Mimi's gall bladder decided it wanted to get out of her body) and thankfully, this brings us to photo session #3. HOSPITAL FREE. Praise the LORD! :)

Mimi & her husband, Adam, travel from their home in Silver City to the closest airport 3 hours away and then do about two legs of plane rides to land in the Quad Cities' airport. All while trying to entertain a 9-month-old. That takes (a) guts and (b) braun, not to mention endless energy to entertain sweet Caden. We did a brief session in my mother-in-law's back yard for part of her Christmas present:

My posing idea:

What Mimi did with it:

My idea:

Their idea:

My idea:

Their idea:

Are you getting the idea that it's somewhat difficult to reign in your own family when doing a session with them? :)

Not to mention the running back and forth from the tripod to the group...:)

I might hazard to say that Caden did his job the best...well, maybe Adam tied for that title...

I was taking photos of Gerard with his favorite nephew, when the fire alarm went off due to some spillage in the oven. Whoops! Ever concerned about a potential musician's ears, Uncle G covered Caden right away. Caden's expression was priceless!

All in all, we had a wonderful time with Gerard's side of the family, resting, relaxing and celebrating Christmas together. :)

Up next: I thought my in-laws were hard to reign in for a session, check back in the next post to see how it went with my own family!

JOY

2012-01-01T19:39:00.000-06:00

I've been joyfully unplugged from the blog world for the past two weeks. Not that I was happy to be away from here, I definitely have sessions to post and ideas to share, but I'm definitely happy with the reason why I was unplugged. Family. Southern California sunshine. My "other" dog, Sadie. And this dear thing:

(taken on Instagram via iTouch)

I have several stories to tell, but suffice it to say that while still in Iowa, my blog encountered some technical difficulties that slowed my progress in updating the blog. You might notice that all of 2008 and 2009 (excepting weddings) have been deleted. Photos were lost off the internet, but not my personal hard drive. In the interest of time and my sanity, I've chosen to only repost 2011, 2010 and the weddings of 2009 to start fresh while I investigate website or blogsite options. Because I will, eventually, run out of space again...

In the meantime, I'm crafting my goals and desires for 2012 as I recount the goals and desires that were met with success in 2011. As I think back on 2011 and all the good changes that came to me by the grace of God, I think the phrase or theme of 2012 will be "Joyful". Being joyful in all I do; willingly serving others, shifting my attitude purposely so that I don't gripe or complain. The technical difficulties of last week really help me trim down and the Krupke house is experiencing its own "trim down" as we pitch and toss and sort to start fresh with less clutter.

2012 will be fresh.

2012 will be focused & purposeful.

2012 will be full of JOY.

And in case you missed it on Facebook, here's a blooper from my session with my sister, Katie, and her lovely family. One caveat before you scroll down: my niece Camden was cutting 2 molars. Had just had 3 shots at the doctor's office. And only one nap for the day. It was a great insight into how some of my families might prep for a photo shoot with a Little One!! (Notice Eric choking the dog and Katie just laughing through it all?)

May your new year of 2012 be joyful also and hopefully, we can laugh through it all together. :)

2011: How I Stacked Up This Year

2011-12-22T20:01:00.000-06:00

2011 was an incredible year to say the least. You might recall a list that I posted about a year ago in the hopes that I could accomplish these things, however random, strange or unfathomable they may have seemed. There were many items on this list that I didn't think would be possible to achieve and I literally threw them on the list not expecting them to happen.

I'm pleased and very content with how God orchestrated this year-there are times I feel that I could wrap my arms around 2011 and give it a huge bear hug. I feel stronger as a wife, woman of God, photographer and educator. As I look towards 2012, I can trust the Lord to work amazingly yet again, as He always has.

Everything achieved, by His grace, has a slash line through it.
1. Increase photography income by 25%.
2. Solidify knowledge on umbrella lighting for wedding family portraits (thank you Austin for the tutorial!) and remote lighting for receptions.
3. Invest in a 90mm macro lens
4. Have CD covers professionally printed.(No longer use CDs-all my clients are directed HERE to download or purchase their images)
5. Print sample album
6. Go garage sale-ing 4 times whether I buy anything or not.
3.8.11,
living room chairs--Craig's List,
7.17.11
an auction!
7. Go to a Farmer's Market 3 times this summer. 6.16.11
8. Attend 4 concerts that are above the high school level.
-Luther College Wind Symphony (10.29.11)
9. Read 10 books off my Classics List
~~10.~~ Photograph Camden Olivia (you can view her 6 month portraits from my spring break trip-I love being an Auntie!)
11. Grow piano studio to 10-12 students. (I don't think I could handle the load of 10-12 students right now. God knows what I can or cannot handle and has provided as much as is necessary to provide.)
~~12.~~ Improve wedding day photographer wardrobe.
~~13.~~ Photograph sessions in 3 new places/locations
NHS Prom,
Nicole & Luke,
Melissa & Kevin & more!!
~~14.~~ Pitch Perfect stationary cards for Thankyous professionally printed. I loved doing this so much and sending my clients a thank you after each session that I will be printing an updated design for 2012. Super pumped!
~~15.~~ Save $500 this year through coupon cutting or shopping during sales for only necessary items.
~~16.~~ Plant things in our garden that Gerard will actually eat! (potatoes, peas, tomatoes, and green peppers!)
~~17.~~ Photograph 5 new families through referrals.
Melissa & Kevin;
Amy & Trey;
Ann & Jason;
Lindsay & Clint;
Stacy & Chris
~~18.~~ Advertising? Facebook Fan page? A wise photographer suggested only doing advertising that benefitted someone else as well. So, I supported the Norwalk Music Boosters by putting an ad in their music program brochures that the district's music department uses for all the concerts K-12.
19. Commit a new verse of scripture to memory every month.
20. EXERCISE to tone muscle.
21. FLOSS. I stink at this one.
22. Improve my posture.
23. Landscape side yard.
24. Photograph 6 weddings (6.10; 6.11; 6.26; 7.23; 10.15) Check out the weddings page to see the wonderful couples of this year! We almost got to 6, but I love the 5 that I was privileged to photograph.

I'm crafting 2012's list this week, but I might have some distraction. A particular 15 month old might be taking up a lot of my time this week. ;) Here's what she looked like the last time I saw her:

Kickin' It Off

2011-12-19T20:18:00.000-06:00

What better way to kick off some holiday festivities than hosting one of Gerard's dear friends for a few days and getting together with as many of his high school friends as possible?? I can't think of many other things that top that...

Nathan has been a huge part of Gerard's life since middle school and though he lives in California now, they do as much as is financially possible to see each other. So, when Nathan attends a band/orchestra conference in Chicago, how could he not swing by good ol' Des Moines before heading back to Cali? I can think of several reasons why he would want to. Their names are: Gerard, Chris and Jessica.

Geoff (Chris's brother) and I tagged along for the food... (and the AWESOME company) ;)

After a brief Sunday afternoon nap, Gerard & Nathan busted out the frisbee while Ella and I fine tuned our low light/action shooting skills.

Gerard couldn't be in a happier place-surrounded by his human & canine best friends.

Though I was working on my action/low light skills, I realized I need some work on posing guys...Especially goofy ones. :)

There were other sweet ones but I was sworn to NOT post them...I do know that these guys will thank me for these photos, albeit slightly cheesy, when they're both 80 and forgetful of what they looked like in their 20s. Their friendship is well documented from middle school, through high school and some college. I see it as my duty to continue that documentation. :)

This is just the beginning of our Christmas vacation. Though posting it all may not happen until January, I am super excited for what all we have in store for us these next two weeks.

Friends (With Benefits)

2011-12-13T12:51:00.000-06:00

Have you ever had a friend that you absolutely adore and get along with really well? I consider myself blessed to have escaped the cliques of high school (none of which I actually fit into) and the Lord has placed several amazing people in my path. I have to admit, I feel partially guilty about this particular friendship because I think I benefit more from being her friend than she does being mine. Especially when that friend has the benefit of having been published in magazines before with her uber-creative scrapbook layouts.

I knew of Jill first by her offer of a scrapbooking Bible study (crazy idea I know!) and if I hadn't been a college student at the time, I totally would've signed up. Then, at our church's annual Women's Coffeehouse in 2007, Jill shared how she and her husband had been struggling with infertility and were seeking adoption as their path to parenthood. One of the requirements in your adoption portfolio for Bethany Christian Adoption Services is the creation of 3-6 scrapbooks or photo books detailing your family so potential birth mothers can have guidance in choosing a family for their baby. How could Jill NOT succeed at a task like this when she's been on scrapbooking teams, taught scrapping classes and is just incredibly talented in this area? I got to know Jill from across her kitchen table as we worked on our own projects and then she rounded the troops later in the year to assemble these scrapbooks in their quest for parenthood.

Fast forward 6 months to their Adoption Celebration where our church hosted a silent auction to help Jill and Glen raise funds for the adoption. And they asked me to photograph the memories. How could I say no!? I will never forget the day when Jill giddily came up to me at church one morning with this twinkle in her eye. Are you pregnant?! I had to ask because she had the "I'm about to be a mom" look on her face. No silly! A birth mother picked us! And she's having TWIN GIRLS! Jill was absolutely beside herself with joy. God definitely handpicked these girls, Nora & Lily, for Glen and Jill. The girls have Jill's eyes despite the lacking DNA connection. It's absolutely uncanny.

Now, in 2011, Jill has been scrapbooking on various paper teams and has submitted several layouts to magazines. Among her submissions was a 2 page layout about their Adoption Celebration, with the photos I had taken. Lo, and behold, I've been indirectly published in Scrapbooking Etc-Dec. 2011 Volume!!!

Some close-ups:

(I'm listed right at the bottom:)

It definitely pays to have a friend with benefits like these!
Jill, you're an incredible scrapbooking fashionista, Godly mother of two gorgeous girls. It is such a blessing to know you, be your friend, and have photographed this time in your lives! I can only pray that I'm half the blessing you've been to me, as a friend, fellow scrapbooker and source of inspiration.
Blessings and merry Christmas!
--Carrie

Things I'm Loving

2011-12-12T12:51:00.000-06:00

The title says it all...This post is dedicated to things I'm loving to use right now or things in life that have made me smile amidst the stress of the holiday season.

1. Plink-

These little lemon or orange balls of cleanser make my kitchen smell SO GOOD! In one of our meandering trips to Bed Bath & Beyond (a dangerous thing to do...just meander in that store...) we discovered these near the check out line. Run your disposal for roughly 15 seconds with hot water, plop a plink down the drain with the disposal running, continue running it for 10 more seconds or until you start to smell lemon freshness. This has become the cherry-on-top of my kitchen cleaning routine.

2. Words With Friends

A fun diversion for the down part of my days. A friend and I have tried to come up with Bible-only words and this usually works until we're down to the last 5 letters. But it's really fun to see our creativity. Mine is maxed out on Da da. Maybe these were Jesus' first words to Joseph??

3. Cribbage

Gerard and I have been trying to play more after our Thanksgiving family tournament. I'm even practicing my game strategy on an app on my iTouch. Next time, hopefully, I'll be able to skunk my Uncle Paul!

4. Cheerleading Students

"I say BAND. You say LESSON. BAND!" I fill in the blank with "LESSON!" and we go back and forth. This is how a 6th grade trombone player and I have begun each lesson the past 3 weeks. I usually need a little pep in my attitude by 7th hour on Mondays and this little guy often does the trick.

5. Tote & Shoot by Shootsac

Yes, this is my Christmas present from Gerard this year. That I ordered myself. :) It's already arrived in its box and is sitting under our tree. I am so excited to open it and immediately use it to pack for our trips over the holidays. It's pretty much a purse that allows you to safely store a "fancy camera" with a lens on and an extra lens or two along with other items you travel with. What a perfect carry-on bag for the airplane!!

6. You Version Reading Plan-December ONLY

Another app that I'm currently using on my iTouch is a You Version Bible reading plan for the month of December only-solely for focusing on the Christmas season and the reason behind it. So far, I've learned how Christmas trees started coming into practice (evergreens were a sign of eternal life for early Egyptians-Christ offers us eternal life with Him), how Christmas lights became a tradition (candles were glued to trees with melted wax, then candle holders and then small lanterns and glass balls to hold candles started...Edison and his cohorts fine tuned it to be less of a fire hazard), and its been a great refresher on the prophecies that were fulfilled in Jesus' birth alone.

It is my prayer that we would all slow down and really reflect on why we're celebrating this month. Amidst the craziness, take a cup of hot cocoa or tea, a journal and His Word. Journal first to get the craziness of your going's-on out on paper so you can focus on reading. Then, read Jesus' birth story (best detailed in the Gospel of Luke) and journal some more. Reflect on the Son of God who came in the form of a helpless baby (saying words like "da da") to be the spotless lamb sacrifice for our sins.

Please slow down. Please ENJOY Him. And have a very Merry Christmas!

**And no, I didn't receive any compensation for promoting any of these products. I just like sharing cool things that make my life better. :)

Nolan::6 months

2011-12-08T20:51:00.001-06:00

Driving to their new home, I realized I forgot to bring any props for sweet little Nolan! Well, Ann's creative. Lord, I pray she has something! Lo and behold, God is a God of Answered Prayers. Though they have just moved in to their new home (it was genius to move on Nov. 15th and then be hostess with the mostest for over a dozen people on Thanksgiving), leave it to Ann to have the perfect amount of Christmas decorations up and, you guessed, props for sweet little Nolan. We started in their front room with fantastic natural lighting:

Yes, there is some carpet in the top right corner from the stairs behind them, but I still love this next series of Nolan's facial expressions while he's being read to and cuddled by Mom & Dad. I could've made some adjustments, which would've included moving the 6' Christmas tree, but I embrace the imperfection of the stairs showing because this is their NEW HOME! It's part of the story behind the image.

Eventually, the photo taking plum wore Nolan out. He probably had sugar plums dancing in his head. And the parents rejoiced!

Ann thought of this phenominal idea: mess with your baby while he's asleep! Maybe we'll just make him the gift of their year...;)

Ann & Jason-It's been a pleasure becoming your family's photographer this year marking Nolan's milestones. I'm proud to have persuaded you into marking more of his milestones in the coming year! Nolan is a chunk of sweetness and I can't wait to watch him grow.
Many blessings this Christmas season,
Carrie
PS You can view the remainder of our session HERE.

Birthdays Are Dangerous

2011-12-07T11:25:00.001-06:00

Just like Valentine's Day, birthdays can be dangerous. I texted this to my friend/pastor's wife/marriage counselor, Becky, this morning. Apparently, for moms, Mother's Day is just as tricky, as I learned from her response. It's a daring balance of hoped-for celebrations tempered by not wanting those hopes dashed to ashes on the proverbial birthday cake. If your expectations aren't high, then you can't be disappointed. I've told myself this in countless situations beyond the realm of anniversary/birthday/Valentine's Day.

I didn't set my hope in getting married to a handsome & wonderfully perfect guy. But God answered my prayers in Gerard who is wonderfully perfect for me.

I didn't set my hope in getting the job I wanted. But God answered my fervant prayers in His oh-so-timely provision.

I don't set my value & worth in how clean & organized my home is. But I haven't always been that way and God has, and still is, refiningd me in this area.

I didn't set my value & worth in getting a Thank You from my co-workers when I help them pull off a smooth rehearsal from behind the scenes. But I know that my God sees.

I am continually, daily, setting my Hope, Value & Worth in Christ. Not in how many birthday well wishes I get on Facebook or via text (though those are nice and very much appreciated!)

In this Christmas season (and birthday month for both Gerard & me), our Christmas card focuses instead on our thanks to God for all He has done for us this year. This precious year of 2011. Most especially, we can thank a God that we can stake our hope in...upon...whatever preposition you feel fits. Our hope is ultimately in Him and Him alone.

{front}

{back}

Merry, Merry CHRISTmas and a most joyous new year!

May you continue to put your hope in the Lord in 2012.

Project Sunday Part 3

2011-12-01T13:14:00.001-06:00

So, I've shown you the windows hanging in our kitchen. I've shown you our Advent Calender and Christmas decor, all the while hinting at a project that was continuously in the drying stage. On a whim, I started subscribing to a blog called "How Does She Do It?" that held numurous crafting ideas. The ideas come via email and if I don't connect with any or see how I could use that idea in the future, then I just delete! So far, I haven't hit that key! I'd heard of chalkboard paint from another crafting DIY mom, but before this one particular email, I'd never heard of MAGNETIC paint. Oh, sweetbabyJesus, what an IDEA!

I've got two pieces of wall art that a friend gave me at least a year ago, waiting to see how I would use them in our office. Redecorating the office was such a feat this summer and I was so sick of painting that I let the creative juices marinate, and thus multiply, for a little while. When I saw the magnetic paint idea, the chalkboard idea started sizzling too and I started hunting for my materials at Hobby Lobby and Michael's.

The chalkboard took three coats to get it the smoothness and evenness that I wanted.

And I found a great spot for it in the office. Because our office also has a bookshelf full of the books I read while my age was still in the single digits, I figure this can be a play room for any kiddos that visit while their parents visit with Gerard and I. So, the chalkboard is going at a shorter height so that any age can play and doodle.

The magnetic board took roughly 6-7 coats of the magnetic paint primer, mostly because I wanted to make sure that once I painted over it in yellow, it'd still be strong enough with the magnets we Gerard found at Menard's. These magnets are great for kiddos too because they're in different shapes so it can be a geometry lesson! (always the teacher aren't I?) Now, the magnetic paint asks for an hour in between each coat and then 24 hours before you add a colored coat. Now you can see why this project was continually in the "drying" stage! (And we were continually eating while standing up...)

I liked that the primer was actually a shade of grey to give it a contrast to the grey wall it would hang on. So, I kept the border roughly grey if not distressed with some yellow. Mostly, from me not caring if my brush hit the edges or not...

Finally-TA DA!

It won't be as short on the wall as the chalkboard, but really, if a little one is playing with magnets, I imagine an adult would want to be around anyway...So they can be lifted up to play with them, or we can just take it off the wall for a little bit. Once we get just ONE more hook to put it up...
In the picture above, I couldn't think of a better seque if you look what I'm testing that magnet with...next post: our Christmas card reveal! :)

Project Sunday Part 2

2011-11-30T10:11:00.001-06:00

We have a smaller house and because of its size, it can feel cluttered quite quickly if we don't keep things in their proper place. So, when the Christmas decorations come out, I have to be careful of just how much actually comes out and where I place it. We were gifted some great outdoor lights so we've upped the ante in that department while trying to do it tastefully. While Gerard was doing his 12 hour work day last weekend, I was busy finding places to use them:

on our front entry stairs

draped along our deck

and on our piano

We've always done lights on our stair banister leading up to our bedrooms, but this year, I wanted to encorporate something new. I just needed a strategy to help me execute the plan: an Advent Calender. As I said, our space is limited, so the piano was not an option, nor was the bookshelf because we put our stockings and nativity scene there.
There also wasn't room on our kitchen table as it has the table runner my mom made for us that I absolutely love. I also need as much space in the kitchen as possible if I'm cooking a lot this month:

So with these places occupied, that left the banister. How about a Banister Banner? Yahtzee!! I started with 3" squares of different Christmas scrapbooking paper that I purchased on the cheap from a friend and scrapbooking guru.
I cut out additional squares of 2 1/2" for some contrast.

Then, I set my cricut to a letter height of 2 1/4" for my numbers to be cut out of more scrapbook paper.

Next, I did some homework and found 25 prophecies that Jesus fulfilled in just his birth alone, one for each square. I typed those up and printed them on a separate cardstock color and distressed the edges with stamp ink like my guru taught me.

Lastly, the challenge was how to display it on the banister. My guru suggested sewing them together, but alas, I don't own a sewing machine. So, I found some leftover twine from a previous project and asked Gerard to pick up clothes pins from his trip to Menard's. Voila!

THE END. Or is it the beginning of Advent!? Merry Christmas!

Project Sunday

2011-11-28T08:53:00.001-06:00

No, not Project "Runway". In our house this last weekend, it came down to Project "Sunday". Gerard worked a 12 hour day at school on Saturday to get ready for ONE rehearsal tonight. Let me repeat that folks: 12 hours for ONE rehearsal. Anyway, after church Gerard took a trip to Menard's while I got cracking on my goals for the day.

Gerard's goals: come up with a more sturdy towel rod in upstairs bathroom (it had previously been coming out of the wall...) and hang window panes we found (in July).

My goals: paint a chalkboard and a magnetic board for the office, finish my Advent calender and address Christmas card envelopes.

This will be a series of posts, so I'll start with Gerard's successes. Mine are still drying...

The bathroom towel rod is a towel rod-not very interesting. Gerard found someone knowledgable at Menard's that directed him to this snazzy contraption that is drilled into the wall, flips open to hold onto the back of the drywall and screws to our towel rod. It sounded too confusing for my differently-minded mind to comprehend, suffice it to say, no pictures were taken of this feat, but I did do a little happy dance when it was complete and our towels are back in their rightful homes.

Gerard's second success was hanging the antique window panes we found in Amana on this summer's anniversary trip. Yes, they've been in our garage since July...Amana windows were originally built with 9 sections in them and most historical buildings have to replace the windows as the frames rot away. So this little guy is a piece of Iowa history. :) Some genius at Menard's again came through for us Gerard and here's what we he used:

a hook for the wall-

a hook for the back of the windows-

wire to hang the windows-

(notice we got wire that could hold up to 50lbs)

halfway there!!

DONE!

I will spare you a photo of our entire kitchen as our table was taken up with a few of my other projects. All in due time...

I love that these windows were originally painted white already, even though some of it is peeling off. They completely match the rest of our white kitchen. *sigh* This wall is finally complete after living here for 4 years.

Baby steps, my friends. Baby steps.

Three Thanksgivings

2011-11-26T15:40:00.001-06:00

Thanksgiving #1: With our Bible study from West Town Church on Tuesday night. We fit 12 adults at our kitchen table and 5 kids in the living room at a card table to toast and say thanks over a potluck meal. I'm so thankful for these amazing people I get to do life with!

Thanksgiving #2: Gerard & I celebrated Thursday with his mom, Cheryl, and his Grandpa Vernon by taking Grandpa to the Old Country Buffet, lovingly referred to as "The OCB" (always said in a gangster bass voice by all his cousins...) After lunch, we drove by the family farm to see the changes to the buildings and grounds. It was the first time Grandpa had seen it in awhile and we got his stamp of approval that everything looked great! I'm increasingly thankful for the time we get to spend with Vernon, it sometimes feels like I got another chance with a grandpa since I never met my paternal grandpa. . .

Thanksgiving #3: I called my Aunt that night to see if we could bring anything to my family's cribbage tournament. My aunt literally croaked out a response that she was just going to get some pizzas; she's been battling a few broken ribs and a bad cold. We had most of the fixings for chilli on hand, so Gerard went to the store to get the rest and we brought two crockpots full to the family farm to feed roughly 15 people. My Aunt Alice has fed us for innumerable holidays and Sunday afternoons that really, chilli for 15 is a drop in the proverbial bucket. Uncle Paul won 6 out of 7 games and put us all to shame; it just wasn't in the cards for either Gerard nor I that day...I'm so thankful for my family, the love we have for one another, that we get along really really well and have fun together on a regular basis--whether we win or lose.

It's difficult to say what I'm most thankful for-my relationship with Christ, my husband, my family, Ella...I will say though, that attending the Weekend to Remember conference last weekend really made me thankful for the life I am blessed to have. And it made me intensely aware of the blessing I have in Gerard and thankful that we get to do life together, Lord willing, for a very very long time.

(taken at Weekend to Remember Conference, Cedar Rapids)

Women's Coffeehouse

2011-11-20T18:04:00.001-06:00

"Click". We registered for it. "Click!" We paid for it and the hotel. In two simple steps, Gerard and I were attending a Weekend to Remember in Cedar Rapids the weekend before Thanksgiving. A weekend away with my husband is a rarity, the Coffeehouse won't miss me. I thought to myself as I realized I had to sacrifice the Coffeehouse to attend the marriage conference. That same night we registered, we had scheduled to have Bruce and Becky over for dinner. They are my student teacher, Faith's, parents, were/are our marriage counselors and, I'm honored to say, FRIENDS.

As we were wrapping up and I was doing dishes in the sink, I gleefully told Becky about our weekend away. Her jaw opened just wide enough to catch a fly. "Carrie, I came here tonight with the intention of asking you to speak at the Coffeehouse..." My heart quite literally fell to my knees doing backflips on its way down. (good mental image there 'eh?)

I knew the topic she wanted me to talk about before I even posed the question.

My car accidents. My panic attacks. My insecurities and fears. My knees that currently held my heart? They started to wobble and I left the sink to sit back at the table.

Fast forward through 4 weeks, 6 hours of editing a paper together, probably another 4 hours editing it individually, countless run-throughs of practicing **it** outloud and November 18, 2011 arrived.

After teaching that day, I arrived home and put the finishing touches on our packed bags for the Weekend to Remember. When Gerard got home, we dropped Ella off at her puppy-sitters and drove into Des Moines. I arrived at the DTC to get fitted for what I call a "face mic".

Apparently, I have small ears. For face mics, this poses a challenge. I digress...

I felt like I knew them really well already. Christy and I went to Drake together but were never in the same Bible study. Meredith was a Drake grad and Becky had worked with all 3 of us to hone our papers down to the nitty gritty. We rounded the troops and prayed in the nursery as 400 women found their seats and munched on tasty treats.

Christy presented her testimony really well. Then Meredith told her stellar story and I could see a thread linking all three of us: the need for perfection or high achievement to gain approval and acceptance. God's acceptance and/or anyone else's. Becky & Shaly had done a slam dunk job of picking us and God had directed our words so well! But really, any female could speak about the same topic because it affects all of us.

I know Carrie because she and I slept in the same bed for a summer. Oh yes, Shaly just introduced me to 400 women with that, albeit true, zinger. As the laughter rang out in the room, my knees' wobbliness subsided and my heart climbed back up to its home in my rib cage. The applause started and I put one foot in front of the other, crossing the stage. Here is what greeted me:

(yes, part of my message actually included taking a picture of my dear friends. All 400 of them. I just wish I could've fit them ALL in the photo-I even put my widest lens on!)

We smiled, we laughed, and at least I cried. I don't know about anyone else...All of what God led me through from the day Gerard and I got married till now was revealed reflecting His glory. In a short 20 minutes. What a labor of love! If any woman there was impacted positively, then there has been fruit from the suffering and joy from the pain aside from my own personal gain from the experience.

**I won't make this post any longer by putting up my four page, single-spaced, paper but if anyone wanted to read it, I wouldn't be opposed to emailing it to you. Drop me a comment in the space below with your email address and I'll shoot it your way. :) Gerard also video-taped it, so if you're visual rather than a reader, I could send you a DVD instead...

Macy::Senior

2011-11-20T17:22:00.001-06:00

When I asked a few of her friends to describe her, words like "quiet" and "reserved" came to mind. But also, "quick to smile" and "quick to laugh". True to their words, Macy showed up quiet and reserved with lots of smiles and giggles for her senior portrait session, but she left our time together doing a few more things too. Like, how to pop a hip for some "attitude" and I pray that she left feeling like a model because she is one gorgeous young woman, inside and out.

It also helped bring out a few extra smiles to have my trusty side-kick, Faith, along with me. She and Macy go to the same school, so having a familiar face, a common tie between us, helped the atmosphere relax much more quickly.

Awww yep, there's that hip!

There's nothing more attractive than a humble young lady who has no idea just how beautiful she is. Macy, seriously...

I'd photographed at the Art Center before but hadn't explored this area to its fullest. I'm so appreciative of Macy's flexibility and willingness to try new things!

For whatever reason, these next several are my favorites:

Macy-Thank you so much for trusting me with your senior photos. I know the future may not be clear right now, but I also know that you can trust God to lead you to His will for your life. Keep praying, keep seeking! It was loads of fun to spend time with you and get to know you better. Thank you for taking risks with me and your humble willingness to try new things.
Blessings on your senior year,
Carrie
PS You can view the remainder of our session together HERE.

Erin + Carl = Zach

2011-11-13T17:39:00.001-06:00

Erin and Carl. Erin, Carl and Zach. Zach and Carl. Erin and Zach. . . Yes, this is a repeat appearance of Erin and Carl's lovely family of three, but we always try to make it different. Making his fourth modeling gig, but this time as an 18 month-old, Zach was all smiles and jibber-jabber as we met on the capitol's steps last week. He had to tell me all about his day and I felt special, then Erin told me he does that with Carl every day when he comes home from work. That just kicked me up to the next tier. An 18 month old has the same conversation with me as he does with his daddy-o?! Sweet.

Right now, Zachy is all about Thomas the train and even though it's "just a t-shirt", this is where Zachy is in life. And that's what I love to document. Family milestones and quirks that will make people laugh when these photos roll through the wedding slideshow someday. ;)

I LOVE our downtown Des Moines. In the middle of this smaller metro area, there are beautiful rolling grass parks that are host to Des Moines Symphony concerts on 4th of July and loads of other awesome events for this city. After seeing a few of these images, I'm proud to call this place home.

As we waited for Carl to arrive from work, Erin busted out a bunch of awesome baby books. Some of these, Zachy knows by heart. This kiddo knows his vegetables, fruits, animals and, while, our form of "tomato" may sound just like "potato", coming from him, I still think he's super smart!

Enter Daddy-o!

I always try to do something different on a shoot: new client, new pose, new location, new manual settings to try. This time, I tried a friend's 35mm as I'm debating on the purchase. It posed an interesting challenge and I'm intrigued to use it more often.

Zach started running between his parents and me, back and forth, back and forth. So, I had the 'rents kiss in the background and close up of Zach. I love his facial expressions change from "oooo what's this black thing you hold?" to "hey, what are they doing back there?!" At least that's how I interpreted it....

Now, this is probably the best way I've ever ended a session: with a hug from my Toddler Client. At first, I thought he'd mistaken me for Erin because we were both wearing jeans, but nope, he gave me two more hugs cementing our friendship. I am blessed!

Erin & Carl and my newest little friend, Zach-Thank you so much for having me yet again! I love watching Zach grow and learn. You guys are doing a great job and I can't wait to see what our next session will hold! :)

Many blessings,

Carrie

PS You can view the rest of their session HERE.

Photographing a Newborn

2011-11-09T19:56:00.000-06:00

I recently photographed a newborn of new parents. I've done this before but it was definitely a learning experience post session. I usually learn or implement something new every time I photograph a family, a wedding or a senior, but this one really made an impression.

It wasn't the first newborn session where the mom told me, "She isn't usually this fussy. I don't know what the deal is." A few days after my most recent shoot with a newborn, the new mom called me and educated me in a really understanding way after she had gotten some tips herself. Neither of us knew the following and I hope that other new or expecting parents will take these under consideration:

1. Before the photo session starts, have your newborn in a onesie to make any clothing changes have as minimal an impact on their skin's temperature as possible. A warm baby is a happy baby!

2. During your few clothing changes, keep them in that original onesie and layer-up!

3. Do the session early in the day. Less stress and less chance for things in the day to go awry...

4. Ensure baby arrives fed and at a time when you THINK they might be tired. With newborns, you probably haven't developed a schedule yet and that's ok too.

5. When moving the baby initially into a new location to pose on a prop of some kind, I will typically move them while they're in a blanket and allow them to settle into the new location before removing the blanket again.

6. I use sanitizer on my hands in front of the parents and then I tell them to sit back and relax while I work.

7. It may take awhile for the newborn to cooperate in the way we'd like them to-that's ok! I schedule that time in for you.

8. I learned that newborns can be overstimulated by having several guests over to the house at once, all the new smells and being passed from one set of arms to another. . . In an attempt to minimize the stimulation, try to limit guests and extra activity or travel in the 2 days or so leading up to the session. Being in the same place for long periods of time and smelling consistent smells is a fantastic thing.

9. Lastly, when you know your approximate due date, give me a call to get your session on my calender's radar. When baby arrives, we'll see how you guys are doing as a family and when the optimal time would be for our session-hopefully within the first week of age.

Here's a look into one family's moments before their little one has a photo shoot with me. Notice, the little one actually took a nap in the clothes she'd wear for the shoot-no need to change clothes a lot if you can help it. Yes, this little one is just over a year old, but it's still fun to see what other parents do. Prepare yourself for some awesome cute-ness: HERE (Thank you to Matt + Allie!)

I hope this helps!

Matt + Allie = Charlotte

2011-11-07T20:22:00.000-06:00

So Little Miss Charlotte has some of the most musically talented parents I know. Both of them twinkle the ivories in different genres and have beautiful voices. Having gone to school with both of them, watching them get married and then find out they were going to be a family of three made me ecstatic.

But, what actually made me sad was when I received the news that the majority of their memories of this little one had been stolen from their home! While Allie took Charlotte for a walk one afternoon, their house was broken into and their electronics were taken-computers, hard drives....anything that had photos of sweet Charlotte included. Thank goodness for places like their blog and Facebook. Two days after this scary event, Matt & Allie had already planned to have Charlotte's 1 year birthday party. They marched on, not letting the thieves steal their true source of joy and I thought a gift of photos was in store for some deserving, awesome parents.

Charlotte has inherited her father's ability to make some pretty silly (and by silly, I mean fantastic) faces for the camera. As I looked through them all, I was able to come up with subtitles pretty easily. But, I'll let you make your own.;)

It's so fun to watch my friends be parents!

I also love photographing confident women in the role of M-O-M. Allie is a fantastic example; I love this pretty lady!

As I saw this series of photos unfold, I could just picture what these two gals will talk about together, sitting Indian-style, hugging pillows on her bed, and sitting face to face when Charlotte is a teenager some day. What a sweet relationship between this Mama and her girly!

Ok, this photo? I have to give it a subtitle. Charlotte says, "Welcome! Meet my parents. They're just swell."

For whatever reason, in several of my shoots this year, Daddy-o gets a left hook to the chin...

But then, Charlotte made up for it by this sweet moment. She let out this big 'ol sigh, complete with a yawn, and rested her head on his chest. Sometimes I do that with my heavenly Father. For a moment, I totally related to a 14 month old.

After a brief respite, Allie presented the wall to Charlotte and she took it as an opportunity for her Marilyn Monroe moment.

Some might call this a Lion King moment, I call it a really cool reflection shot.

Matt & Allie (& Charlotte): You guys know I love you dearly and that I'm so thankful you took me up on my offer from Charlotte's birthday. I hope this shoot can be in a fresh folder on a fresh computer desktop. Then you can back them up on a CD and put them in a safe deposit box. ;) But seriously. Thank you for who you are and who you are letting God mold you into becoming.

Blessings,

Carrie

PS You can view the rest of our session together HERE.

Soren

2011-11-02T20:17:00.000-05:00

Sitting in the car waiting for the Man of the Hour to arrive, a truck pulled up and it was the type of situation where I just didn't want to be seen! Face the other way, face the other way...and then he won't see me......oh wait, it's Soren's Dad! Silly me. Gradually, Soren's entourage arrived: Dad from the gym, Mom from work and finally, Soren himself with Auntie M. I know it takes a village, but this was a prime example of it.

The Honoree had several ensembles from which to choose. First, since it was, in fact, Halloween, we kept him in this little onesie:

Not only paying homage to Halloween, we also payed homage to the World Series. Soren may be one of the Cardinals' youngest fans:

Then we got into some "just chillin'" clothes for the comfy ride home. Soren's mama is really good at accessorizing and I wanted to highlight that in several of our photos this shoot.

It's crazy-awesome to see your reflection in a child's eyes. Literally.

It's also really awesome to photograph a baby with eyelashes for miles...

I LOVE photographing a baby at his happiest!

Now, who was getting him so happy-excited on this shoot? Auntie M! Her reward for all her hard work? Photos of course!

Chris & Stacy: Thanks so much for having me twice in a year. Coming back again and again is the highest compliment you could ever give me. THANK YOU. Excited to see what this little champ looks like for his 9month photos!

PS You can see the rest of our session HERE.

Elaine + Nick = Carson + Brecker

2011-10-31T20:00:00.000-05:00

It was that time of her pregnancy where it wasn't quite safe to ask, "Hey, Elaine, are you pregnant again?" But my radar could tell something was up. I work with Elaine's husband and Nick hadn't said anything yet, but Elaine clearly looked different. Finally, after their first ultrasound, Nick let the good news fly that, yes, in fact, there would be another mini-Menke running around, "Around ValleyFest time." Because that's Nick. Comparing big life events to the marching band calender. While his Dad's high schoolers were prepping for a competition, little Brecker was brought into the world via C-section, not running, nor marching, but definitely a healthy, as they say, "bouncing", baby boy.
Giving Elaine some time to heal, we took these as Brecker turned 3 weeks. A gentleman at the park where we went later on our shoot said it well, "He's a fresh one." and can go from this:

to this in a matter of seconds:

The Menke Men:

Mama's touch:

It was also time for Carson's 4-year-old photos. Elaine showed me how they plan to display Carson's 2 year and 3 year photos. I couldn't believe how fast time has flown as she showed me this collages they had framed of photos I've taken of this little guy. Who really isn't so little anymore!

This kiddo has some of the coolest toys ever:

Then, as a reward for Carson's awesome-ness, we headed to his favorite park that we used for his 2 year old photos. He's definitely able to climb around this web better as a 4 year old!

Nick & Elaine: Thank you so much for your continued support! Carson's a joy to photograph and I'm sure Brecker will follow in his footsteps as he grows up too. The past couple years have gone by so fast--hard to believe that the next time we do this, Carson will be FIVE! (Clearly, I can do math...) You have a beautiful family and I so enjoy being able to capture this time in your lives. THANK YOU.

PS You can view the rest of their session HERE.

Waffles + Syrup & Butter = Goal #9

2011-10-28T16:54:00.000-05:00

I waffled on this one. A lot this year. I didn't even have any good buttery or syrupy excuses for not doing it, except that maybe I had other books to read that I was more interested in or I'd have trouble finishing one because I didn't see the point. In fits and spurts, I'd check out two at a time from the library and eventually swallowed 11 Classic Books from my list. Whole. And eventually, as I finished each book, I could see why they'd made the Librarian's Top 100 Classics List. Thus, Goal #9 for 2011 is complete. Here are the 12 that I decided to read this year:

1.Lord of the Rings-Tolkien (yes, all 3)
2. Kristen Lavransdotter-Undset (best story as to why teens can't handle premarital sex...just sayin')
3. Rebecca-DuMaurier (after a slow start, this definitely felt like a soap opera, but more clean. By the end, I couldn't put it down!)
4. Snow Falling on Cedars-Guterson (details life for Japanese Americans during WWII)
5. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry-Taylor
6. Anne of Green Gables-Montgomery (this series is on the top of my best movies list and now, I've finally read the first installment!)
7. Pigs in Heaven-Kingsolver (interesting insight to the life of a single mother and adoption.)
8. Slaughterhouse Five-Vonnegut (not my cup of tea, but for male WWII buffs....may be a keeper.)
9. Persuasion-Austen (*sigh* what would our world be like if everyone still had manners like this?!)
10. Christy-Marshall (if you're a female, Christian, educator, or missionary you will like this book. Period.)
11. For Whom the Bell Tolls-Hemingway (reinstated my dislike for Hemingway. This book was very anti-war, anti-military. So sad.)
12. Fried Green Tomatoes-Flagg (TOWANDA! That's all I have to say. Oh, and I have more insurance...;) )

I'm putting the list aside for a little while, though I may pick up Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' just to get in the spirit of the holidays and see how accurate the movies that have been made on this plot line actually are.
I have a stack of books that Gerard graciously allowed me to purchase, knowing they'd be good breakfast food for my soul. Butter, syrup and all. By the fork-ful. Here they are:
1. What Women Fear-By Angie Smith
2. The War of Art-By Stephen Pressfield
3. Motivating Your Man God's Way-By Dr. & Mrs. Emerson Eggerichs
4. The Modern Girl's Guide to Bible Study-By Jen Hatmaker
5. What's It Like to be Married to Me? (and other scary questions)-By Linda Dillow

I will let you know how these fare as I make my way through them. Happy Reading & Happy Weekend!

Finally....an "After"!!

2011-10-26T20:05:00.000-05:00

I'm always encouraged when I hear that "They" consider yard work a work out. Because it definitely does work me o-u-t! Weilding my shovel and hanging tightly to my packets of spring bulbs, I began. I hopped up onto my shovel (that's how I dig), pogo-stick style and got my 6 inches down. As I laid the bulbs in their respective places, I whispered sweet nothings to them in the hopes that they'll respond March-May. I tucked them in, and lugged mulch bags over to the area, giving them an even thicker winter comforter.

Finally, FINALLY, the side yard is C.O.M.P.L.E.T.E!! YES! Here's a reminder of what we started with on the side of our garage:

Ick right?! How did we live here for 3.5 years and tolerate this!?

*drum roll puuulllleahhse*

TA-DA! Bye Bye (most of the) chainlink!!

In the above photo: on the right, you'll see a top tier of hastas on the tail end of their season so they all look a little wilted...bottom tier has hastas as well. Both rows of hastas were transplanted from this spot originally to our other part of the yard, now, they're back as split-offs from those other originals. (confused yet?!) You'll see on the lower tier has little patches of green-those are creeping phlox that will eventually cover the whole front area.

In the above photo: a few more hastas and the Boston Ivy that's starting to turn a gorgeous burgundy and orange for fall. It'll eventually cover the whole side of the garage. I'm so glad I planted this baby 3 years ago! In the planter area, I found a few prairie grasses on sale at Menard's and a larger shrub (center). The grasses turn color to a rich plum in the fall, the shrub is turning yellow/orange/red. This will be my fall color area of the yard! Except the bulbs, they're tucked in along the straight brick edger under the mulch. I will, hopefully, have daffodills and hyacinths March-May.

In the above photo: far right is a hydrangea we transplanted and a wilting hasta. In the open area of mulch, 6 inches deep, crocus (or would it be croci?) will come up sometime in April. *keeping fingers crossed*!!

Yes, I've talked mostly about the plants, but we couldn't have done that if Gerard hadn't done all the leveling of dirt, sand laying for the brick, and the loads and loads from Menard's and back. Our SUV defintely got her workout this summer. This is our second landscaping project that Gerard and I have accomplished together. The most brick we've ever laid, probably the hardest physical labor I've ever put in on our yard, we worked well together and as we built the brick wall, we built up our marriage too. With each project we take on that's successful, it gives me more confidence/encouragement that we'll always work well together.

It is finished!

Kear + Dave :: Eden & Bri

2011-10-23T21:53:00.000-05:00

It seems like third time's a charm for this gorgeous family. Our first shoot two years ago was cut short due to rainy weather and we were forced to go indoors. Our second shoot last year was lengthy enough, but it was so frigid, the girls' footsies were frozen by the time we were done. This year, we did our best to get our session scheduled before cooler weather hit and this weekend did not disappoint!
Kearstin's sense of style always brings me to wonder "What will the girls be wearing this time?" Without a doubt, something absolutely adorable and utterly girly. PERFECT.

I can't decide who looks more like their mother, Eden or Bri, but they both definitely inherited her gorgeous blue eyes. And this year, Kear let me photograph her blue eyes with Dave in the same shot! :)

While trying to get a full family photo, the girls went slightly goofy, as witnessed by the middle photo. So, we took a break and had some cuddle time, as witnessed by the outer photos.

I realize that the following photo is a blooper in the extreme, but I LOVE Dave's expression and the fact that he's the only one looking right at me. Sorry man, you're totally outnumbered! Girls=3, Boys=1.

Then, we were able to get to the business of a family shot:

I also love watching mothers and daughters interact. Kear is such a gorgeous Mama and knows just what to do to get her girls smiling. Tickling and "knock-knock" jokes. Love it!

I could've spent a lot more time photographing this beautiful girls, but the lure of lollipops in the car was so strong. . .:)

Kear & Dave (and girls): Thank you so much for having me a third time and I'm so glad the weather cooperated! I can't say enough how beautiful a family you have and I'm excited to see what these Little Ones look like in a year!
Blessings,
Carrie

PS You can view the rest of our session HERE.

Headshots as Promised

2011-10-20T20:39:00.000-05:00

I said I would do this earlier this week, so here they are. The headshots Faith took of me and these have been edited a touch...I think it's safe to say Faith had a great time using my camera and loves the 50mm lens we had on it at the time. :) Her assignment was to pretend I was a senior and she was doing my senior portraits.

Yes, it was a bad hair day after a long day at work and Friday afternoon no less. The main point of this was for Faith to work with someone on posing them. Preferably an awkward-in-front-of-the-camera-subject such as myself...

I declare this as my Teacher Face:

Chin down...

Chin up just slightly...

Faith brings out the crinkly-nose smile when we work together....what can I say? :)

How do you think she did?

Backyard Photo Shoot

2011-10-17T21:25:00.000-05:00

So, to practice for our first wedding adventure together, Faith, her mom Becky, and I gathered in my backyard amid a ton of tree trimming debris. I loved not only working with Faith, hanging out with Becky, but I loved our results too!

In some photos, Faith pretended to be our "groom", in others, I pretended to be the "groom". Becky got to be the "bride" the whole afternoon. Lucky gal!

Here they are, unedited:

Can you see why Faith's favorite color is blue!?

Some remaining seedum in my yard...Becky made it look like it smelled so good, when really, I don't think it has that strong of a scent!

I showed Faith one of Becker's classic bride poses...

Then, I got to be the bride and Faith had to pose us:

Then we shot some practice details:

And this shot was a slight mistake, but I LOVE it!

Then, we did a senior shoot where Faith just posed me. I'll post those images later this week!

Rusty + JoDee

2011-10-12T21:55:00.000-05:00

This family has been in my lens twice before, once as just a family of 4, once as a growing family and now as a solid family of 5. Russ and JoDee have two amazing daughters, gorgeous in their own right and gained a son-in-law last year who is the perfect match for Becky.

JoDee is one of those women I can refer to as my "pseudo Mom" because she's quick to offer a hug, advice, a shoulder to cry on or give advice when listening isn't all that's required. Her daughters are my "pseudo sisters" who are equally sympathetic and attentive, constantly serving others. So, one of my favorite families over the years had to have their shoot in one of my favorite places.

When you get these 5 together, who knows what's going to happen! I love how comfortable they were in front of the camera!

I loved having plenty of time with all of these special people to highlight all the different dynamics in this family.

There is sometimes some trash talking that goes on behind the scenes between certain family members on sessions....and I think there was something about Zac not being a fan of the right sports team...?....I was working on my camera settings so I "pretended" to be Swiss and stay out of it. Me and my Reds are staying far away from that discussion. Nonetheless, Rusty will still shake Zac's hand every now and then without using antibacterial afterwards--;)

This family has such a great time being together that their love for one another really comes across in their photos. We had so many good ones out of our time together, please take a look at the rest of our session HERE.

Rusty, JoDee, Becky, Kaydee and Zac-THANK YOU. I LOVE YOU. (I guess you too now, Zac...;) )

Sara's Family, Take 2

2011-10-10T09:07:00.000-05:00

So, that gal at that meeting who wanted my business card? She not only has fun in-laws, but she has a wonderful family of her own. Back-to-back weekends and her kids were troopers. We stretched them to their max and I'm so pleased with the results, with just one regret. (I'll get to that eventually.)

The kiddos were so excited to return to this park, so we let them play a little bit before getting into the large group shots first.

While we let the kids play, I took the couples aside one at a time to highlight those that I hadn't photographed yet. Maribeth and Paul are at the top of this family tree and were very open in expressing love for each other. So cute!

Apparently, the expressive love is genetic because Steve and his wife, Valerie made me feel like I was on an engagement shoot. Maybe he was just delirious from juding a marching band competition all day...I'll chalk it up, though, to his gorgeous wife.

Some more play time as a reward for all their patience...

Gradually, they all joined Isaac in the sand and piled on Grandpa.

Sara, thank you so much for bringing not just one side of your family to me, but BOTH! I had a great time with both of them and I look forward to getting to know you and your family even better throughout the year!

PS You can view the rest of our session HERE.

Rya + Tayven

2011-10-05T18:58:00.000-05:00

An impromptu dinner with a friend and her two girls turned into a photo session, walk around the block, dinner and watching a little bit of The Sing-Off. Trayla and I have been friends for going on three years now and she truly is an inspiration. She's so confident in her own skin that she provokes you to be comfortable in your's. Giving grace in abundance, she inspires you to give grace to others. Quick to smile, laugh, snort-laugh, Trayla has transformed parts of my wardrobe and accessories, the trim in my bedroom and got me thinking on ideas for our office re-do from this summer. So, when someone like Trayla marries, you know she'll only get hitched to a great guy and then make beautiful babies.

As this was an all girl's night, Nate wasn't in attendance and since he's not one to pose for a professional photo shoot, I knew this was my chance to hone some skills on my 85mm macro. Maybe this session will start to convert him to the other side. . . and with a fashionista for a mom, you know Tayven and Rya will have fabulous clothes, even when they weren't planning on being photographed.

While Tayven had a $1 garage sale find on her tootsies, Rya is still baring her's.

These girls will break hearts some day.

Nate & Trayla: Thank you so much for allowing me to photograph your girls! I can't believe I photographed Rya as a newborn over a year ago. You have gorgeous girls and I am so excited to watch them grow and see how they change. Your family has blessed us immensely and we are ever grateful.
Blessings,
Carrie

PS You can view the rest of our session HERE.

Nonny + Papa

2011-10-03T21:25:00.000-05:00

When asked what she wanted for her birthday, Kathie replied, "Pictures of my family." So, the ever-dutiful daughter-in-law, Sara, went to work finding a photographer that was available when all the family would be in town. Lucky for Sara, a photographer had just decided to join the Des Moines Alumn Chapter of SAI (a music fraternity for women). Lucky for me, I decided to join at just the right time.

After briefly introducing ourselves around a circle of 30 women, it was my turn and for whatever reason, my heart was beating out of my chest. As in, if you'd looked at my shirt, you could see it thumping. I was so nervous to talk about myself to this group of strangers, that I totally forgot to include that I'm a photographer. Out of the 2 people I knew there, one was sitting next to me and proffered the information to the group that, "Oh, and she's a rockin' good photographer too, ladies. Seriously." Mentally kicking myself for forgetting that tidbit of information, Sara jumped at it, asked for a business card and my availability for Oct. 1st or 2nd. BINGO!

Enter Nonny and Papa. Otherwise known as Kathie and Ron.

In the middle of our time together, Kathie proudly said to herself, "We made beautiful kids. And then, our kids married and made even better looking ones." I couldn't agree more. This group of 11 was fun-loving, creative and laid back. Calling me by my first name within the first minute of our time together, I felt like they'd known me for much longer than 15 minutes. I couldn't have asked for a better photo shoot to officially kick off the "Christmas Card season" that is fall in the midwest.

I had pre-visualized some spots around our location before arriving, but when you have 4 boys under the age of 6, they really do dictate how the shoot will go. Using the slide was a fantastic ice-breaker and perfect for what we needed.

On her Facebook status the day before, Anna was convinced she'd be the awkward, single Aunt that the photographer wouldn't know where to place. I think she fit in beautifully and she's also the first actress who's headshot I've taken. Anna has henceforth been dubbed "Super Cool Aunt". I think these boys would totally agree, unless Carter has to give her a kiss...it's not cool to kiss anyone once you hit age 6, apparently. :)

These are the good lookin' kids Kathie and Ron made:

These are siblings of the younger generation. Carter, and his twin brothers, Max and Isaac.

Dane, so far, flies solo really well in front of the camera.

Kathie, Ron, Sara, Jason, Anna, Toni, Greg: Thank you so much for having me, it was a complete joy and I hope our paths cross sooner than later!

You can view the rest of their session HERE.

Greg + Ann :: Engaged!

2011-09-28T19:45:00.000-05:00

Greg & Ann have been a part of our church for roughly a year and we've all had the privilege of watching their relationship evolve into a God-honoring one. After many discussions, probably millions of words in decision-making, Greg proposed to Ann in private then announced it to our church from the stage, mic in hand.

With the same type of boldness, Greg & Ann are preparing for October nuptuals, planning a small-ish ceremony on a gorgeous hill set on 33 acres of rustic campground that our church owns. Due to the short nature of their engagement period, we decided to do photos at their ceremony site. It actually helped them envision their day and they talked through some logistics while we were there, boldly making a few decisions for their future.

I'm so excited for Greg & Ann to become one in God's eyes and with God's blessing next month! Happy planning you two!
Blessings,
Carrie

PS You can see the rest of their session HERE.

Little Widdel One

2011-09-26T19:09:00.000-05:00

I can't take credit for the title of this post. Her parents just happen to have one of the most awesomely-appropriate-for-this-situation last names ever. Cari & Tony are very dear to my heart but unfortunately they aren't incredibly near to me in location. I made the drive to their quaint home this past weekend and met their new addition and, as if that wasn't a bonus enough, got to hang out with Cari's parents and family whenever Miss Myka needed a break from her modeling debut. And goodness gracious, did she "work it" as a model!

I love Cari's sense of style and had to use her living room chairs for Little Miss.

We did these photos at three weeks and she wasn't in the mood to curl up. Apparently, Myka has grown to be quite lanky since her arrival and she wanted to show off her legs to me instead.

Though she's only 3 weeks, Cari & Tony look like pros in how they handle Myka's needs. When your dad is a youth pastor, you know he'll be a hands on father, and Cari talks to her as if she's an old, well-known friend.

You can tell that Tony loves being a Dad. But especially a Dad to a Widdel girl. I can't wait to see this Father-Daughter relationship grow over the coming years.

Myka needed a break after the above photo was taken, so I suggested a position to lay her. Knowing Tony was a football buff, I told him to tuck her like a football and cup her head. She loved it! Within seconds, she was out, relaxed and poised her hands like a little dancer. Nothing but adorable-ness.

Cari & Tony have a piece of art on their living room wall that lists the Beatitudes. Instead of 'blessed are those...' it says 'happy are those...'. We're thinking one of these shots will be their birth announcement!

Cari & Tony: thank you so much for being so wonderful! It's hard to believe that she's here and so lovely. I know God will richly bless your family and you will consider yourselves 'happy' as you discover your new roles of Mom & Dad.

You can view the rest of our session HERE.

Introducing...

2011-09-21T21:10:00.000-05:00

Faith. Generally, a word referring to someone's belief in something. However, in this instance, it refers to a most unique young lady with whom I have the pleasure of working. (How's that for proper grammer!?)

Faith started out as a piano student of mine at least 4 years ago and has now morphed into a photography student! I've been taking photos, as a business, for 4 years now and she only mentioned her love of photography mmmm...maybe, 2 months ago? Why we didn't get on this bandwagon sooner, I'll never know. But, without further adieu, meet Faith:

Doesn't she just look like an interesting person that you want to get to know better? me too! Here are some facts on Ms. Faith:

1. How long have you been taking photos? I don't know 3 to 2 years?
2. What do you LOVE taking pictures of? I love to take pictures of my friends and family so mostly I love taking pictures of people!
3. Favorite color: BLUE! :)
4. Favorite personal attribute: I consider myself very friendly maybe?
5. Most often movie quote that you quote: "I do believe in fairies, I do, I do."~Peter from Peter Pan
6. Favorite food to eat at 9pm: I love eating hash browns,sausage, and scrambled eggs all mixed together! yum! :)
7. Best recipe that you have conquered: I have become a master at baking my mom's famous chocolate chip cookies!
8. Something querky, odd, or unique about you and your family: We go to Colorado every summer and climb a 14,000ft mountain and the goal is that we climb the top ten 14,000ft mountains in Colorado and I am deathly afraid of slivers/splinters.

Faith and I will be meeting as often as we can to learn the in's and out's of how to work a camera, and using some CreativeLive online courses that I've watched from the uber-fabulous Jasmine Star. I'm really excited to watch those courses again and teach something I love because that means I learn it even more in-depth myself. AND Faith will be coming along with me on some of my photo sessions this fall, as a student teacher, if you will. I've already worked with her on an interesting occassion for the both of us last weekend and I'm so excited to keep the momentum going. (I'll post photos from that occassion in my next post!)

Feel free to give Faith a "Welcome" shout out here or on Facebook!

A Family That Flies

2011-09-10T18:26:00.000-05:00

She had a gut feeling. An instinct that told her it was time. All of a sudden, within about a month's notice, my Mom decided she needed to retire. As of Dec. 1, 2000, I would have both parents home for my birthday. You see, with a December birthday and both parents in the airline industry, I would inevitably have to choose, "Do I want them both home for Christmas or my birthday?" Yes, the birthday would always get the shaft. Dad had been retired since 1997 with roughly 27(?) years of flying for United Airlines on his record and Mom retired with 33 years of flight attendance for TWA.

Brief timeline for you: American Airlines bought TWA January of 2001. Mom missed the buy-out by a month. She missed working for an airline that was so affected by 9/11 that all TWA flight attendants (still working for American) were furloughed. Dad missed 9/11 by about 4 years. Mom, just 8 months.
A family that flies.

**********************

"So it's real?" I asked my English teacher as I walked into the familiar room of my 7am class, junior year of high school. My teacher's facial expression was unfamiliar, though, with a very serious, tight-lipped nod, she confirmed that something was very wrong in NYC. It was Sept. 11, 2001.

I had heard the radio DJs mention that a plane had run into the WTC on my way to school that morning-their laughter over the absurdity of the news made me question their credibility. When I tred cautiously into English and saw Mrs. Holmes' demeanor while the news was showing footage, the facts I'd heard were brought into focus.

Call me a visual learner.

The day was a haze after that. Teachers had the muted TV on the entire day, so you can imagine what got accomplished.... As my US history teacher began his lecture on the Revolutionary War, we all gasped, watching the first tower fall. The TV was unmuted after that. It wasn't an accident, our country had been attacked. We were watching US history unfold. Live.

At the time, my sister and her future husband were both freshmen at the Air Force Academy. All cadets were under a lock down. While all of campus and the surrounding base went on high alert, Katie's calm voice over the phone assuaged my fears: that if we went to war over this, they had 4 years to win it so she'd never have to be involved.

**************************************
2005. Katie and I visited NYC and stayed with a dear friend. We trepidatiously asked her to lead us to Ground Zero. A born Brit, but committed American and staunch New Yorker, Roberta had never visited the site since she saw the towers fall from her office window. "It felt like we'd been raped. Our sense of security had been shattered. Absolutely shattered." Her British accent dissolved into a whisper. Yet, she agreed to come with us.

Among the taxis honking, cabbies yelling, roar of Manhattan traffic, we were stoicly quiet as we walked together looking at the gaping hole. I don't know if it was theraputic or nightmarish for her. We were just. Quiet.

****************************************

2007. While unpacking the moving boxes, I found an even earlier trip to NYC we had taken in 1996 as a group of girls-Mom, Katie, me and we had visited our favorite Brit, Roberta. We toured the WTC skyscrapers and I found this picture among the moving boxes...a view that won't ever be the same again.

(Statue of Liberty from the Twin Towers)

****************************************

2011. Now, 10 years later, Katie's husband, Eric has served in Afghanistan flying F-16s. Katie is currently a civilian finishing her third degree and raising this little one. Our family's next potential Little Flier:

It's incredible to me how God works in our lives to spare some of us from tragedy. Parents who worked for (or could've worked for) the airlines that were most heavily affected by the tragedy. A sister and brother-in-law bravely serving our country sacrificially. . . I praise God with a thankful heart that I can have such a comfortable and freedom-filled life. Despite the politicians bickering, the scandals of unethical choices made, the country's current economic status, America is still an incredible place to live.

And an incredible place to fly.
******************************

90 Years Ago...

2011-09-02T15:39:00.000-05:00

1921. Women had just gained the right to vote. Alcohol was back in style and legal. Flapper dresses' hem lines were inching ever higher. And the world was rocked by the arrival of Florence Mardette Mae Prosser. Enlisting as an Army Air Corps nurse, she met, fell in love with, and married my Grandpa, Alfred Joseph John Webeler in a matter of 6 weeks and held his hand for 65 years. Grandma Mardette was told that she couldn't have children, but she defiantly had 3 girls. Who, in turn, had 2 girls each of their own.

Now, Grandma has 3 great-granddaughters to add to her legacy and her baseball team of girls was shy just 3 granddaughters when the family gathered to celebrate her 90th birthday at my parents' house. Our family is blessed to have two photographers in our midst and Whitney was "on deck" as photojournalist for the evening that Grandma had been planning with her daughters for months-one detail at a time.

Grandma and her girls celebrating Grandma and Grandpa's 60th anniversary in 2004.

Gerard & I sang Happy Birthday to the Woman of The Hour via Skype that night. I am eternally indebted to the inventors of the telephone, computer and Skype for combining the technology to make that moment possible. It's moments like these that I feel the weight of the amount of love I have for my family and hate the 1800 miles between us. Here's Katie with her laptop and me! *sigh* proof that I was there! Thanks Whit!

You can hop over to Whitney's blog for a a broader feel for the party and see 4 generations in one place. She did a fantastic job!

Remember...?

2011-08-28T19:10:00.000-05:00

Remember the summer when...

*you facilitated a Bible study on the book of Esther and Lord willing, lives were changed

*you went to the State Fair to see cousins compete

*your marriage got stronger because of some breakthroughs

*both you and Gerard got some serious hard labor in on house projects (I promise "After shots" are forthcoming!)

*but, in the midst of that hard work, you did get some time away and alone, just the two of you

*you photographed two weddings in the same weekend on back to back days and your back did really well

*you grew stuff in the garden that Gerard can eat a la Goals for 2011

*you were able to visit family members if just for a short while (Mom and Aunt Laurie in Cincy, all of Gerard's family in the QC, Dad in New Providence...)

So, when you think this summer went by too fast and you didn't get much work done, remember the accomplishments, projects completed, quality time with family, and maybe you'll feel a little bit better about starting the school year...

Nolan::3 months

2011-08-24T17:33:00.000-05:00

Nolan is barely recognizable from his newborn photos as he approaches in his mama's arms down the street. Nolan's Dad is barely recognizable as he walks with blankets and accessories practically covering his face for our photo shoot! Ann & Jason graced me with their family of 3 for the second time this year and I am so thankful for the opportunity to photograph them and their little redhaired addition. Ever since Camden came into my family's world, I have this thing for redheads. They are definitely in a class of their own!

As long as he had his parents' full attention, Nolan was generally a happy little man in overalls:)

Ann & Jason: Thank you so much for giving me new shoot locations and I can't wait for the first snowfall (gasp!) and our Christmas tree lot sesssion!! Many blessings on you as you start your school year as an official "working" mom, which is probably the most redundant title ever, but you get the gist of it. See you in the snow!

--Carrie
PS. As always, you can view the rest of our session HERE.

We Won! We Won!

2011-08-07T13:03:00.000-05:00

Several years ago, before I ever owned an SLR camera, I entered what I thought was a gorgeous photo of a sunset into a contest to be the cover of our county's phone book. Needless to say, I lost. When the new phone book for the year came out, I was mortified to see what photo had won. I'd been beaten by a close-up of a squirrel eating a nut. Grand. Life went on and I got better at capturing sunsets.

Apparently, I've also gotten better at capturing Little Ones. That, or I've just got the cutest nephew in all of New Mexico. I shared some photos of when little Caden made the trek out to Iowa for his baptism and Mimi's emergency surgery. What I didn't share is that Mimi entered one of those photos in a 'Mommy & Me' photo contest in Silver City, NM where Mimi and her husband, Adam, live.

We won! Or at least it feels like we did because Caden got 2nd place. :) You can hop over to Mimi's blog to read all the details, but this is the shot that she entered:

I guess it really pays off to have a South Korean in our family. :) Mimi & Adam make cute kiddos!

Sam :: Senior

2011-08-04T17:41:00.000-05:00

This is one laid-back young man! When asked what ideas he had in mind, all he knew definitively was "Rocks." You want rocks in the background? "Yeah, if we can..." Before we got to the rocks, however, we started at our church:

I love it when a guy isn't slow to offer a smile...

See those rocks sneaking in there?

Sam-Thanks so much for be willing to try new things and new places, including a rocky ledge by a river under a freeway! I wish you nothing but blessings on your senior year and in your decision making for your life after high school. May God make your fingers fly on that violin during your audition and grant you favor with Drake's financial aid!

--Carrie
PS You can see the rest of our session HERE.

Soren

2011-08-01T18:44:00.000-05:00

In some light, he resembles his mama, in other light, his dad. And then there are his sisters. He even somewhat looks like them too, if you catch him at a certain angle. I almost didn't pick up my phone when his mama, Stacy, called because my cell phone has been bombarded with political survey phone calls and I didn't recognize her number. Something made me pick up my phone though, and I'm so glad I did! Little Soren's sisters were in town for the weekend and logistics were just right for a photo shoot. A slight sprinkle of rain wasn't going to stop us and Soren was a very content 3 month old.

Stacy brought some great accessories-a lovely blanket that lent itself to a few vintage edits:

And some homemade hats for this fall & winter:

Generally, I do this next shot with the parents' hands, but Stacy so wanted to highlight Soren's sisters, that I thought we'd do this with them instead.

Stacy & Chris-I'm so glad you called and that I got you instead of a political ad/survey. I'm especially thankful that logistics worked out so well and Soren AND the weather cooperated! What a lovely day we had with such great girls and a beautiful family. Thank you so much for having me!
Blessings,
Carrie
PS You can view more of our session together HERE.

Megan + Jeremy :: Married!!

2011-07-28T08:44:00.000-05:00

I realize I went a little "collage happy" on this post, but there were so many photos I wanted to show you in one post that this was the best way to go about it. Mea culpa.

Here are the columns I as talking about that made me wish and hope that this was their church. I felt like I was either at Wheaton College or somewhere in the deep South.

Megan, you're simply gorgeous. Seriously.

This wedding was a lot of firsts, first time working with Jane, first time with the groomsmen, and first time photographing a Catholic wedding. I had a great time up in the organ loft!

After the ceremony, Megan & Jeremy wanted some more relaxed photos and when they mean relaxed, they mean bust-out-the-bubbly-type photos.

Every girl wants to twirl in her big white dress right? Jeremy indulged Megan multiple times for just that.

Megan & Jeremy lovingly got each other while feeding the other cake; notice how covered Megan's fingers are and some frosting on Jeremy's coat. ;)

Carrie

Here are a few extra details of their day: (side note: the beersteins are from their many trips overseas with Camp Adventure!)

You can view the rest of their story and images over on Jane's site HERE.

Tim + Molly = Will & Tuck

2011-07-26T15:44:00.000-05:00

He's named Tuck because he would always tuck himself away from the camera during our ultrasounds, Molly informed me as she introduced me to their almost 4 week old son. I had photographed her firstborn, spunky, Will, about 2 years ago and Molly's husband, Tim, was stationed elsewhere. So, for this session, I not only met Tucker, but I had the honor of meeting Molly's other half as well. Tim is finally assigned to a position in Des Moines and they are a full family of four, finally living under the same roof.

Molly had the beautiful idea of walking to an area right near their home-it worked out wonderfully and I loved being able to photograph a new location.

Looking at Will's eyes, I was mesmorized and jealous of his lengthy, thick eyelashes. I guess the boys get the eyelashes because the ladies can always use mascara. ;)

On our way to the barn, Molly described their brief engagement due to Tim's assignment at a faraway station. 3 months to plan a wedding, Tim arrived roughly 2 days before the ceremony, so that didn't allow much time for engagement photos. Therefore, I was not about to take family photos and not get some of these two lovebirds.

Tuck had been so patient, it was finally his turn.

I loved this new location and couldn't resist taking a few of the area. It's the ultimate Iowa: high arched barn roofs, quilt squares, gorgeous sunset lighting, rich green grasses and steamy hot weather. Too bad my photos can't capture the humidity in the air...

Tim & Molly-thank you so much for having me again! I really appreciate the new location, your trust in my abilities and your encouragement in my endeavors as we visited during our session. Many blessings on your endeavors this year!
Carrie
PS You can view the rest of our session's photos HERE.

An Instantaneous Lesson

2011-07-17T19:29:00.000-05:00

Now, I can't take all the credit for a slight change in this posing, but I will say that it reinforced a lesson for me in how I communicate to my clients while photographing them. I had been telling Lindsay to get closer to Clint ("Yup, just a little bit closer...a little bit closer…") Taking a look at what I was getting on my camera's screen, (first one) I let Lindsay know "You look gorgeous Lindsay! Absolutely beautiful." And, all of a sudden, she got even closer to Clint and straightened her posture just slightly and we got my favorite shot of the morning (second one):

I didn't give Lindsay that compliment hoping she'd change her position. I genuinely felt (and still do feel) that she's gorgeous and the photos we were getting (backlit at 8:30am—yes, please!) were beautiful. Maybe a thought inside her said, "Oh, my posture!" I don't know. But that coincidental event, that happened literally in an instant, reinforced to me that encouragement given from behind the camera instills some confidence and negates some of the awkwardness. And I get to keep communicating with my ~~clients~~ friends that they are beautiful or handsome! It's a win-win.

Gather 'Round

2011-07-12T10:20:00.000-05:00

Gather around the water cooler and I've got a tall tale for you. It's actually not too tall-more like a 5'4" Mimi-story. Mimi is Gerard's adopted sister from South Korea and gave birth to sweet baby Caden early March. Now, Mimi and her husband, Adam (my fellow Californian "out-law"!) made the trek from New Mexico to Pheonix's airport and then, finally, to the QC (for you non-Iowan's, that's short for Quad Cities..) for Caden to be baptised with all the family around. We all were zonked out before our head's hit the pillows that night.

Less than 12 hours later, Mimi was unfortunately, pretty sick. We thought we knew what it was, but this spell of sickness lasted much longer than ever before. Bent over as if a 90 year old osteoperosis patient, Mimi made her way to Urgent Care and eventually to the ER where she was admitted with gall stones. Voila! No, it's no longer uber-awful heartburn/acid reflux. She's been passing gall stones for goodness knows how long. Two surgeries later, the Brogla family gathered 'round the hospital waiting room as is their wont to do of late. Father Wolf joined the party and we made our way to the hospital chapel for a different kind of baptism service than we necessarily anticipated.

Let me back up slightly. Because Mimi spent the entire weekend in the hospital-Caden was introduced not only to formula but to Auntie Carrie & Uncle Gerard Care. Gerard has a history of falling asleep while eating (as a child, not now!) Here, he's falling asleep while feeding: (notice Ella "on watch" to guard her precious cargo)

NOW to the hospital baptism:
Great-Grandpa Brogla found Caden's ticklish spot on his feet-

Mimi made her grand appearance, detached from her IV and freshly showered-she probably felt like a new woman!

Caden was very attentive to Father the entire ceremony.

Gerard is Caden's Godfather and Cousin Lucy is his Godmother. Gerard was trying to speak like Marlon Brando throughout the weekend. . .I coulda been a contenda...

My one picture with baby Caden in tow!!

Mimi-you are beautiful-even after two surgeries...

As if I didn't already respect Mimi a ton for her efforts in getting Caden to the QC last April to meet great-grandma Billie before she passed, having two surgeries with relatively little complaint and looking this gorgeous and put-together...Mimi: you're incredible and have a larger heart than your not-so-tall body would lead people to believe.

You can view the remaining images of our crazy weekend HERE.

4 Years

2011-07-07T08:28:00.000-05:00

Dear Gerard,
Thank you. Thank you for promising not to divorce me because I know what that means to you. Thank you that I can rest in the security of that promise because you've shown me what Commitment is in action. Thank you for serving me through my selfishness, varying degrees of health issues, and outright laziness. Thank you for working diligently at your job to make an impact on the lives of your students despite any guilt trip I may have taken you on for spending so much time in the office.

Thank you for your gentleness with me and for living with me in an understanding way.

Thank you for pushing me out the door to go talk "Woman-ish", knowing that my accountability partners will tell me the same thing you've been trying to get me to understand the past week-ergo, thank you for your patience and humility. Thank you for agonizing over a decision between saving us money vs. possibly hurting someone's feelings.

Thank you for always putting relationships first and putting others needs ahead of your own gain.

Thank you for supporting me in my business ventures, for your wisdom, and for advising me on tough decisions even when I feel like I'm flying blind.

Our marriage has shown me how deeply sorrow is shared and how exponentially joy is multiplied.Thank you for supporting and serving my family, unbegrudgingly, for that has made my family, your's. Sharing grief has made your family, mine.

Gerard:

I love you. I am confident that God has chosen you to be my husband. It is my prayer and desire that you will find in me the helpmeet God designed especially for you, and in confidence I will submit myself unto your leadership as unto our Lord.

It is the greatest desire of my heart to be faithful to you and to love you always,
seeking to meet your every need, desiring to help in every way, listening to you,
encouraging you, comforting you and standing by your side in whatever
circumstances may face us in the years ahead. Through these experiences, I will respect you,
honor you and strive for harmony in our marriage with a quiet and gentle spirit, so that together, we may grow in the likeness of Christ and our home be a praise to Him.

I promise to be honest and to communicate my needs and feelings, just as I promise to listen to yours.

Today I pledge my commitment to you.

I pledge to honor, encourage, and support you through our walk together.
When our way becomes difficult, I promise to stand by you and uplift you,
so that through our union we can accomplish more than we could alone.
I promise to work at our love and always make you a priority in my life.

Where you go, I will go. Where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God, my God.

07.07.07

Your co-heir in Christ & the most beautiful (*ahem* ONLY) woman you live with, ;)

Carrie

Lindsay + Clint = Simon

2011-07-05T12:37:00.000-05:00

She grows wonderfully sweet strawberries and lavishly shares them with us everytime we have a game night with a small bowl of sugar to dip them in. I am garunteed those strawberries in summertime and a perfectly-timed, quick-witted comment snuck somewhere in between "hello" and "good night" year round.

Gerard first met Clint through playing ultimate frisbee several summers ago and Lindsay was the quieter wife that I always heard about but rarely saw. As our families got to know each other better with the help of a third couple in our Game Night Troupe, Simon arrived and increased the fun factor (as if that was even possible). I'll admit, I've secretly wanted to photograph this family from at least the second Game Night we had together. If not the first. So, when Lindsay sent me a message about doing family photos, I'll also admit, secretly, that I did a happy dance while calmly responding to her to talk scheduling.

Without further adieu, here's Simon.

I tell 'ya, this kiddo will be a future soccer star! He's got kicking abilities that match...well, I don't know who they match because I don't know anything about soccer, but he's incredible for an almost 2 year old!

Our Game Night Troupe also participates in our school district's PTO Trivia Night. The team regularly consists of AP U.S. & AP Euro History teachers, Clint has the math covered and Lindsay will chime in on the questions that no one else has a clue. Simon is destined for intelligence (as evidenced by his vast communication skills & far reaching vocabulary)! As is often the case, the kiddo in the photo session dictates how the session will run, where we will go and what we will do to get the shots that we want. "You want slides, Simon?" "You want bubbles, Simon?"

Great! Let's play with bubbles:

"Should we play by the water, Simon?"

Ok, let's!!

My favorite shot of the session: I love it when Mamas look proud and protective of their family.

Clint & Lindsay, I'm so glad we've been able to get to know each other better whether there's a camera in the room or not. You two have taught Gerard and I a lot about parenting and marriage, maybe without you even noticing...Thank you for the opportunity to photograph your BEAUTIFUL family. Hopefully, we can do it again!

Blessings,

Carrie

PS You can view the rest of our session together HERE.

Freedom

2011-07-03T22:24:00.000-05:00

Freedom to live the life we want to.
Freedom to travel as we please.
Freedom to talk about budget (yuck). But inherently then, freedom to earn a living.
Freedom to make changes.
Freedom to talk about dreams.
Freedom to dream.

We talked about dreams last Valentine's Day and tonight, briefly again, as we watched the sunset over the lake near our house. The sun made its descent quickly and the dock we sat on was slightly rocky, making me nervous (not to mention the conversation over budgeting...) But we resolved to alter some things in our life for the better and only time will tell God's blessings on our decisions.

Sacrifices for the greater good.

Its one of the those things that if I think too long on the subject, I'll tear up and lose it. Our family on both sides has now had someone overseas in "The Sandbox" in differing capacities in just the last year(Eric flying over it and Jim now in it, not to mention members of our previous generations) and I can't fathom the sacrifice and toll it takes on their wives (my sister and Gerard's sister-in-law) and children. This past year has increasingly impressed on me the importance of The Family Unit and how it plays itself out for the good of our country.

And if I let my heart truly feel the weight of thanksgiving for these freedoms, I'd wake up tomorrow a bleary-eyed, reddened, pufferfish. And that's just our physical freedoms--don't even get me started on the freedoms we have in our Savior, Jesus Christ. Then, I'd be one gigantic hot mess and practically unrecognizable.

Take a moment and thank someone who has sacrificed for you, thank God, and celebrate our beautiful country.
Happy Independence Day.
"The Truth will set you free." John 8:33

Amy + Trey::Married!

2011-06-29T21:26:00.000-05:00

Amid the raindrops pitter-pattering on the sidewalk outside the salon, Amy was inside getting pampered. And boy, did she deserve it. Shoulders, neck, hands and arms massaged while her curls were setting, Amy relaxed in her chair and sighed.

It was finally here-her wedding day-and I'll whisper a little tidbit about Amy: She was officially cancer-free. I whisper it to you because it wasn't even mentioned throughout her day but for a moment in the toasts at lunch. "They weren't supposed to deal with "in sickness & health" until a long way down the road. But, this has definitely made their relationship with each other richer, and with God, deeper."

Amy arrived at the church in a flurry of activity, slipped on her dress and touched up make-up while Trey was getting ready in another part of the church. This is one reason why it's so helpful to have a team of two photographers cover a wedding-one can cover the groom and one, the bride-especially when in a slight time crunch!

Because of those pesky raindrops still falling outside, we dimmed the lights to make 9:30am look a little more dramatic and romantic for their First Look. If Trey's face is any indication of how wonderful a First Look can be...

Oh, how he cherishes her!

As we moved into family portraits, I found out that Trey's father would be his best man. I've never encountered that connection before, but it was so wonderful to have the bridal party be so intimately close to the couple. How fun! Plus, he seemed to be quite the chummy guy and who wouldn't want this kind of person standing up with them?

We tucked Amy away with a few minutes to spare before the ceremony was slated to begin. Friends and dearly loved family arrived and found their seats and these little ones made their way down the aisle right on cue.

Austin's view of the first kiss:

My perspective:

Mr. & Mrs.!!

Oh how I love sisters!!

Trey & Amy-what a blessing to be a part of your day; thank you for your trust in this endeavor. I pray nothing but health and God's grace for you both. I'm so glad to have teachers like you reaching out and affecting kids in a positive way. Keep it up and enjoy the rest of your relaxing summer!

Blessings,

Carrie

PS You can view the remainder of their photos HERE.

Cole + Dayna :: Married!!

2011-06-24T15:28:00.000-05:00

Best Friend. That's typically what people say to answer the question to whom they are married. For Cole & Dayna, they were good friends long before they even dated, long before Dayna had an inkling that Cole liked her more than just a "friend". To everyone around them, through all their years at Drake in its music department together, it seemed so, painfully, obvious, except to her. The day that Cole approached her about becoming more than friends, Dayna was floored, shocked, without words.
I'd hazard to say that she made up for the so-called lack of words as she answered Cole's vows with her own. Pledging to honor him with her eyes, ears, lips, mind & body, in the sight of roughly 300(ish) guests, Dayna answered Cole's promise with her own to honor and cherish until death or until the Good Lord takes us all home.
I am so glad Cole & Dayna opted to see each other before the ceremony. For many of the couples I've had the honor to photograph, I can see the tension ease as they embrace each other for the first time on their big day. This reiterates to me again and again, that for many, this is the right thing to do and helps everything go very smoothly.
Cole was so tense before he saw Dayna, he was inches away from tears:

We shot a few of Dayna really quickly so the torture for Cole would be over as quickly as possible.

And then we just let 'em go!

With Cole's glassy blue eyes and Dayna's doe-like brown ones, I knew they'd be absolutely stunning, some of the looks they gave us practically floored me!

I really enjoy working with Justin Meyer as his second shooter. We've worked on enough weddings together now that it really has become a team of 2 doing a dance around each other for the First Look and then we split--he covers the groomsmen and I cover the bride with her girls. Several of these girls in this wedding party are very near and dear to my heart-I went to school with many of them and I was honored to meet the sisters-in-law for the bride and groom. I kinda feel like my own circle of girlfriends just got a wee bit bigger...

Another reason this wedding was so special for me is because I also got to work alongside my husband for the first time. He acted as the couple's chauffer because they asked to use our 1949 Pontiac Chieftain as their transportation for the day.

Heading back to the church for family portraits and that other part of the day...you know...the wedding!

I think all people who attend a wedding enjoy hearing stories of the couple-especially the funny ones. I love to capture those reactions-especially the parents' ones.

I am in awe of the caliber of people I get to photograph. Cole & Dayna worked so diligently to keep the other accountable in their actions and purity throughout their relationship. So, for the second time in a single weekend, I had the distinct pleasure of photographing a couple's first kiss ever.

Whew! You did it! Well done Mr. & Mrs. Meyers!

As you entered their reception, we tried something a little different: a portable photo booth! Here is a collage of all the guests for the couple's "guest book":

Because both Cole & Dayna were music ed majors, at the reception there were little tokens of that part of their lives. The name cards had photos of Frank Sinatra (pork) or Ella Fitzgerald (chicken) and if you wanted the couple to kiss, rather than clinking your glasses, you had to serenade them with a song using the word 'Love'. Here, the bridesmaids sang 'Can You Feel the Love Tonight' from the Lion King. Complete with the conversation between Timon and Pumba. Girls after my own heart. :)

Next, the toasts. One of the grooms' roommates had the honors and revealed some instances of slight uncleanliness on the part of the groom. (something about mold?) I think Dayna will have something to say about that in the coming weeks. . .judging by her reaction...

Dad's toast usually brings the bittersweet tears...and during the dance, there must be some last words of wisdom: doesn't he look like he's discussing some Fact of Life?

Dayna & Cole, you two are absolutely amazing. I'm so glad Des Moines schools have teachers like you in their midst. Shoot, I'm glad to have you two in my own midst! :) You are such an encouragement to keep working hard for the Lord and His Kingdom-I know that will runneth over into working hard for the good of your marriage.
Many, many blessings,
Carrie
PS You can head over to Justin's site to see the rest of their images HERE.
And here are some extra details from throughout the day:

Zach-Take 3

2011-06-20T08:36:00.000-05:00

His little toes curled perfectly for my youngest infant session at the time. His long and lanky body didn't quite want to curl back into the fetal position. Zach had some freedom after 40 weeks of gestation and he wanted to stretch out! With both his parents reaching 6 feet tall or taller, Zach is bound to always want to stretch out. I photographed his beautiful family at 6 months too, but this time, his 1 year photos would just be him.

For those of you wondering, no, we were not on an actual train track. There is a train car on a playground by my local library instead. :)

Zach's stylish Mama had a three piece suit for him for a slew of weddings they'd been invited to. We couldn't let it go to waste!

I also couldn't let this one go to waste...

What a handsome little man!

Erin & Carl-thank you for letting me spend some time with your Little One! He's super fun and super easy to photograph. You have a beautiful family and I look forward to watching him grow (and grow...and grow...!)
Blessings,
Carrie
PS You can view the rest of our session HERE.

Nicole + Luke::Married!

2011-06-16T14:41:00.000-05:00

I pulled a U-turn to grab an umbrella at the Doller General I had just passed. Because of the weather we'd been having, they were right next to the door. $5 later, I raced back out to my car and sadly, had to turn the windshield wipers on. You can rain now, but not 30 minutes from now. Puuuulllease! I kept thinking as I made my way to Marion County's seat: Winterset, and the home of wonderful covered bridges. (Not to mention, John Wayne's birthplace for you history buffs...)

I arrived at her hotel room and Nicole was a flurry of activity: curls primped, eyelashes painted, jewelry in place. All she needed was her dress:

Mom helped her get into that gorgeous gown-

While sister, Dani, helped keep things light and fun-

It largely depends on the couple, but every wedding I've done, save one, has had a First Look and the couples have always had a positive experience seeing each other before the ceremony. Nicole & Luke were no different. I could see the anxiety over the rainy weather (and the day in general) fade as they calmly interacted with one another, totally relaxed and ready to start their lives together. Plus, who can't deny that this reaction from the groom is the best thing ever for his bride?

The park's covered bridge provided awesome-dare I say it?-perfect, lighting.

While Justin was photographing their faces, I noticed Nicole's comforting way of calming Luke-gently caressing his hands...the nurse in her was coming out in a very subtle way.

Shhhh...if you won't tell, I won't tell:

Nicole's bouquet was absolutely lovely:

I love the emotion between sisters on a wedding day. :)

These cuties were part of the wedding party-are they not just adorable?! I especially appreciate the tie sneaking out from the bottom of the jacket...;)

The rain held off just long enough for their ceremony and only sprinkled slightly during the reception while everyone was under the shelter. God's timing is perfect!

Everyone in the congregation had the privilege of seeing the couple's first kiss. Ever. Talk about nerve-wracking! Nicole & Luke were graceful under pressure and after recessing, they practiced a little bit more before entering their reception.

I think you might be able to guess what happened in this sequence of cutting the cake...I wonder how many brides have this happen to them-I know I'm one of them too!

A few more details:

Luke & Nicole: May God rain His blessings down on your marriage and new life together. Nicole, I hope you transition smoothly to your new farming town in cute little Firth, NE. It was a pure joy to capture your day on digital and help you remember special moments through images such as these. You two are gorgeous and beautiful in His sight and our's.

All the best,

Carrie

PS. You can view the rest of their day's images HERE.

Clayton

2011-06-14T15:25:00.000-05:00

You wouldn't think it'd be so difficult to see so close of a friend, but for Julie and I, the stars nearly have to align perfectly for our schedules to collide. After a brief phone call Sunday, we realized that within 24 hours, we could actually see each other! Julie (and her sister, Laura) moved heaven and earth (and 5 kids) to come down to West Des Moines for some mall playtime, lunch, and Clayton's 9 month photos. Whew!

God held off the rain until we were done with Clayton's close-ups and we were able to enjoy the indoor mall play area while it thundered outside. The stars really did align....and Clayton was even super happy to pose for me. What could be better than all of that?! mmmm, I'd say close to nothing else.

Internet, meet Clayton:

I love me some gorgeous blue eyes bordered with lengthy lashes!

Isn't he a cutie? Thank you Julie for the efforts it took to come down to Des Moines. I hope it made your life easier to not only hang out with a friend, but mark a milestone of Clayton's in the process! We definitely have to hang out again soon. :)
Blessings,
Carrie

PS You can view the rest of our session HERE.

Ann + Jason = Nolan

2011-06-08T17:20:00.000-05:00

Ann has floated through my life at various points in my teaching career. She was more Gerard's colleague in the vocal music department of our district and interacted more with him than me. From what Gerard tells me, Ann is a "go-getter" having received not just her BA and Master’s, but she’s also Nationally Certified which comes with a whole ‘nother barrel of hoops to jump through. (I don’t know if you can fit hoops in barrels but…) anyway…

I knew through Facebook that Ann was expecting a Little One. Then I saw that Nolan had arrived and about 10 days later, got a message from Ann for newborn photos. I think of all the hoops that Ann and Jason have jumped through (and the barrels they have jumped over), parenthood is a whole ‘nother obstacle course. From what I gathered during our newborn session last weekend, they’re making their way through just fine. Nolan was probably one of the most well behaved children I’ve ever photographed. At 2 weeks of age. Ann must have incredible classroom management skills that roll over into her home!

A side note: this is the first photo shoot that I got to use my new 90mm macro lens. She arrived in the mail on Thursday just in time for the weekend and boy do I love having her already!

I don't know what it is about this one's off-centeredness that I like, but for whatever reason, it stuck out to me:

Hanging out with Dad:

This might be my favorite collage ever:

Ann and Jason--thank you so much for inviting me into your home for this Little One! He was such a trooper and did so well for what we wanted to do. I wish you all the best in the "hoops" of parenthood, may you gracefully bound over all the hurdles it may bring!

Blessings, Carrie

PS You can view their entire session HERE.

Jessica + Tim = Colton + 2

2011-06-05T17:56:00.000-05:00

I first met Jessica and Tim while my head was still spinning. I had met all of Gerard's side of the family, (And by "all", I mean extended aunts and uncles that Gerard sees maybe once every 10 years.) and was then whisked to Jessica's house to meet his bestest friends from high school. I didn't even feel like the newbie-Jessica, ever the hostess, got me my drink, my seat and fed me fun tidbits of what my new boyfriend had been like in high school, with a side of scrumptious hot dogs and potato chips.

These kinds of friends are why I SOOOOO love where I live. Iowans have this "Make yourself at home and feel free to take anything out of the fridge while you're at it" approach to life that makes me want to wrap my arms around the whole state, from the Mississippi to the Missouri Rivers. Jessica's husband, Tim, and I even jokingly commiserated that night over being the "out laws" of the group because we didn't feel like out-laws at all. We were family to everyone in the house and I didn't even have a ring on my finger yet.

All that to say, I'm so thankful and feel so privileged that Jessica & Tim have welcomed me into their family by trusting me with their family photos not just ONCE, but now, twice, with the addition of Colton to their brood. What a cutie-pa-tooty!

Ms. Blair is such a fantastic older sister. She certainly knows how to entertain Colton and make him laugh!

You know those celebrity magazine covers that highlight a newborn with the celebrity couple all cozy on the bed spread? That's the look I was going for here-I think my celebrities are among the most gorgeous couples out there. Eat your heart out Brangelina. ;)

While Colton ate lunch, the girls climbed up for some cuddle time with Dad. I love Tim's expression here--he knows he's still totally outnumbered in the Hibbing household. Boys: 2, Girls: 3.

Oh, London, your spunk is so fun to capture!

Tim, Jessica, Girls and Colton-Thank you so much for the fun challenge of photographing your beautiful family. I love that it gives us an excuse to see one another more often. Someday your kids will know me not just as "the woman with the black thing in front of her face all the time"! You guys are such a blessing to us and we are so thankful for you all.

You can view the rest of their session HERE.

Amy + Trey:: Engaged

2011-06-01T22:22:00.000-05:00

Amy caught Trey's eye during a Bible study, both being teachers, they had a foundation with which to start a conversation. That conversation continued in the days to come, covering all topics. One topic I doubt they thought they'd ever need to discuss is Cancer.

Amy had contacted me to do their wedding, but I hadn't heard from her in quite awhile to schedule a meeting. A little concerned, I emailed the mutual friend that had referred her. My jaw dropped as he responded that Amy and Trey had needed to discuss cancer. Breast cancer. Amy had found a suspicious lump and things moved rather rapidly after that. A lumpectomy over spring break and back to school shortly thereafter, Amy called me to schedule that long-awaited chat. Things were a "go". We had a wedding to discuss!

After our meeting, I knew Amy & Trey would be a pure joy to photograph. Their engagement shoot didn't dissappoint and that "C" word? It's being zapped with some good ol' radiation. Amy & Trey's love for each other is beyond "in sickness and in health"--it is filled with the grace of God and the servant's heart of Jesus. The joy in their eyes belies a trust in the Lord that bubbles over to the company they keep. I'm merely a privileged bystander to this envelopment of love.

Trey & Amy were so trusting of me and willing to try new places with me. This picture below is literally on the side of highway and they took it so well in stride.

We found an opening to a gorgeous bike path and we hit the trail!

Not only was Amy willing to get up on a bike (in a skirt!) but they were both willing to go trapsing through the brush for some gorgeous lighting.

I had them go trapsing some more, got my setting right for the lighting change and this is what I looked up to see. They really didn't need much guidance in posing, now did they?

We finished our session at the lake near my home for the sunset lighting.

Amy & Trey-I can't wait for your wedding this month! Your heart for serving the other will reap so many benefits on the other side of the aisle. I pray for a complete healing, Amy, as you start your new lives together.

You can view the rest of their session HERE.

Lauren + Shawn = Nathan & Christian

2011-05-28T20:17:00.000-05:00

Our laughter would echo and bounce from our respective pillows to the ceiling--Lauren on her bed and I on the air mattress on the floor next to her. Conversations would last late into the night ranging the span of topics on the hearts of all young twenty-somethings everywhere. Less than a year later, Lauren would marry and obviously, I and my air mattress were no longer necessary to help her talk about life's situations-that was now Shawn's job. Eventually, Nathan entered their lives and I had the privilege of photographing the cutie HERE & HERE. Now, Nathan has an equally adorable little brother to play with and wrestle.

Christian in is the phase of accumulating that ever cute baby fat that reminds me of the Michelin Man. Dimples abound!

I think Christian is ready to be a baby model, he struck this pose all on his own!

I love that even though Nathan may be about 2 years older, there's still a little bit of baby flexibility in him. . . just like Christian...

Lauren & Shawn-this is the third time I've photographed you and your little ones and they just keep getting more cute and more fun to be around. (You guys aren't too shabby yourselves ;) ) I'm so glad we've been able to stay in touch despite life changes and drastically different schedules. Many many blessings as your family grows up!

--Carrie--

P.S. You can view the rest of their session HERE.

A Goal from 2010

2011-05-27T08:25:00.000-05:00

#17. It stared me in the face every time I looked at my list of goals for the 2010 year.

Heal.

"What does that even mean? How will I know that I've actually achieved this?" I would constantly ask myself. At this point, you might be asking what I needed to heal from or over (or any other preposition that fits...).

Less than a year into marriage, Friday, June 13th, 2008, I was on my way to meet a friend for coffee and Des Moines was inundated with flood water. Driving across a bridge, I perused the rising water levels of the river below for two seconds and looked back to the road in front of me. "That car wasn't there before! Why aren't her brake lights on?! She's coming so close to me so fast!?! I'm actually not going to be able to stop this time!!!?

Am I ever going to be the same!?"

All these thoughts and more went through my head in the few split seconds before impact. The air bag exploded, knocking the air out of my chest, the smell of its smoke clogging my nose as I went for the gear shift. It felt flimsy in my hand and I didn't understand, then, that the gear's cord had snapped on impact. I couldn't maneuver my car to get out of other people's way.

As my emergency blinkers started, two angels protected me. They both pulled over immediately-one was a nurse, the other a former paramedic. God is good. He is here. I said outloud, which probably made them both think I was about to lose consciousness. The nurse kept my neck from moving, the paramedic checked for internal bleeding because I was having a hard time breathing. It's one time where I let a perfect stranger lift my shirt to look at my stomach-in that moment, I really didn't care. They asked where it hurt, if I had been on the phone (clearly I hadn't been, my cell phone was on the floor along with the other contents of my purse). Nurse called Gerard while Paramedic checked on the driver I had hit. She was fine and out of her car. Apparently, I was really close to stopping before impact. 25 more feet and I would've had enough room to make a complete stop. Just 25 more feet.

I heard the sirens. Oh God, please! This is going to cost us so much money! I don't need an ambulance. I felt the neck brace come around me, the rough board wheedle its way under me, 1-2-3, they got me on the gurney and strapped me in SO. TIGHT. Then, it was really difficult to breathe. My ribs, Lord! My back and chest! God, they hurt so much! I felt the neck brace get some extra strapping down and they covered me up to my chin with a white sheet. Geez, Lord, I'm not dead. Gerard arrived and could see just the center of my face, I was so covered with apparati. "I'm so sorry, Gerard. This is going to cost us so much! I'm so sorry!" All he could say was, "It's ok. You're going to be just fine. It's ALL ok."

**Fast forward 18 months**

Feeling accomplished, I had finally finished physical therapy for my back and I no longer needed two appointments a week with my chiropractor. I was NORMAL aside from the back exercises I would continue to gain just 25% more mobility on my right side. Left side was at 100%. Life was good. God had been so good despite all my discouraging days and downtrodden attitudes.

Ironically, on the way to that same coffee friend's rehearsal dinner, Gerard and I were rear-ended on a rainy night. Lord! Not again! What are you doing?! My back was immediately on fire and tingling again. In the days to come, I would become the World's Worst Passenger Seat Driver to Gerard. Gasping at brake lights, yellow lights, blinking lights, cars that came too close (in my opinion). It was torture. The panic attacks started shortly after that, finally getting my attention when I almost fainted at work. Lord, what do you want me to learn THIS time? What have I missed?

To make a long(er) story short(er), there have been many humbling, frustrating, fearful, painful, tearful, grateful moments since October 21, 2009. It took a husband, a therapist, a chiropractor, a lawyer, an insurance agent, a general practitioner and most of all, God, to help me on my way to healing-and He healed more than just my back. God peeled away layers and showed me deep wounds and insecurities that needed to be addressed. I don't know that those insecurities will ever fully go away, but I can certainly recognize them and combat them with God's Word as my strongest weapon of choice. It amazes me that He would use car accidents as His tool of choice to get my attention with issues totally unrelated to the actual incidents.

All this to say, I've become a huge proponent of getting my hands on any book that addresses Insecurity, or the promises of God that we can cling to when we feel insecure. The past year, I've read through the Bible on a hunt for verses specifically mentioning who I am (who we all are, really) in Christ, what being "in Christ" even means, and those promises of His unconditional love, faithfulness, protection and provision (among others).

Verses like Job 23:10-12 "But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed His steps; I have kept to His way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread."

Besides doing your own hunt through God's Word--
Two Recommendations:
'So Long Insecurity-You've Been a Bad Friend to Us' by Beth Moore. Beth's story telling capabilities bring common insecurities that we feel to new light and I can hear her southern drawl getting to the heart of matters. They've just released a Bible study in correlation to this book and I can't wait to get my hands on it.

Scottish born Sheila Walsh brings her theological degree and knowledge of Greek to the table when she describes several New Testament stories to show God's relationship to us. Who we are to God. She's given me new information about the culture of Jesus' time and shown His miracles and actions in a new light by doing so. God is a God we can depend upon to protect, provide, guide and most of all LOVE us, no matter what insecurities we may have of our own worthiness. It's called GRACE. And when the stormy winds blow, we can stake our security in Him.

God is so good. God is HERE.
Jehovah-rophe has brought Healing. And to answer the last question I had on impact, I am never going to be the same, but God has brought it about FOR GOOD. (Romans 8:28)

Check #17 off my list.

**I do not benefit from the sale of these books in any way by making these recommendations.

Sean + Miriam = the boys

2011-05-25T17:29:00.000-05:00

Third time's a charm? I don't know, but this session was the third time I've photographed Sean, Miriam and their rambunctious boys: Thomas & Joseph. We've gone to three different places and each time, Miriam's creativity thinks of props for the boys. Our FIRST YEAR, we used their rain coats, because well, it was spitting rain at us off and on the whole time. Our SECOND YEAR, we used beach toys because well, we were at Des Moines' version of a beach. And now, our third year, we used scooters because well, we were along a bike trail.

Sean and Miriam had their usual antics which makes it so fun to photograph their love for each other.

Miriam knows that when she schedules the family photo shoot that she will get at least one kiss outta Sean. [enter collective "awwww" here]

Oh Joe, you steal my heart each time:

And oh, Thomas, I can always count on you to do what I ask. Thank you!

Just like my family's photographer did for my sister and I, I usually let these boys pick a pose and this is what Thomas thought of.

The puddles from all our recent rains offered some outstanding reflection shots:

Miriam's prop basket held a baseball game:

Sean & Miriam, Thank you so much for continuing to come back! That trust in my abilities means so much and is the largest compliment I can have from your precious family.

P.S. You can see their entire session: HERE