LOVE: Joel & Emeleene

This photo shoot is from almost a year ago. Joel, one of Hubby's two best bachelor buddies, and Emeleene, the sweet, sweet girl that he met on a blind date, were newly engaged and I had offered an engagement shoot as part of our wedding present. So we met up at this incredible old mill on a windy Saturday afternoon last spring. This old place is pretty special to Hubby and I- this was the location were we had a lot of our bridal party and couple pictures on our wedding day. Joel was one of Hubby's groomsman and was adamant about not going somewhere that "everybody else goes" to have their engagement pictures done. So when I mentioned "the old mill" (as the locals refer to it), Joel and Em were game. Funny thing is, since our wedding, and even since this shoot, I've noticed that "the old mill" has indeed become another place that seemingly everyone goes to for an amazing portrait location.

Wow! I look at these photos, I'm a bit ashamed. Not because the shots themselves are bad, but because I have learned so much about editing since then. So, so much. Looking at this session now I wish I could go back and re-edit them with all I know now. And maybe I will sometime. But, for right now, I'm gonna be, I don't know, honest I guess, a post them as is. Maybe sometime down the road, I'll post some re-edits.

This was such a fun shoot- I mean, come on, photo shoots with good friends as subjects are always a ton of fun! It doesn't take near as long or near as much effort to get them to loosen up and be themselves.

These two images with the old window frame are some of my favorite out of the 30 odd great pictures we got from the entire afternoon.

And this series of shots behind that neat old building have to be my other favorites. Guess I just have a thing for old buildings.

Aw, yeah, that was such a great afternoon. Joel and Em were married in July, 2009, right before our big move from east to west. We saw them while we were on vacation during January and they're still in so much love. It's so cool to see friends find someone great for them and get married, committing to a lifetime together! Oh yes, I am totally the crier at weddings- particularly the weddings of friends. Good grief, I've cried at weddings where my husband was the connection to the couple and I had never met them in my life!

But anyways, thank-you to those dear people who actually read my blog. After I wrote and posted my last post, I realized I did not have to say half the things I said because most people simply do not care about the intricacies of my psych. Forgive me and thanks for reading. *grin*

LOVE: Jeremy & Ruth

So, yup, this is another vacation photo shoot. This time I got together with my friend and photography mentor, Esther, and we had our mutual friends, Jeremy and Ruth, as our model couple.

Hubby and I used to hang out with Jeremy and Ruth a lot before we were married. We had a lot of fun. Usually the most fun involved totally random things. Wal-Mart runs. MickeyDs. Spotting (which I, as a Michigan native, just don't get- what's the big deal about running around in the back of someone's pick-up after dark with a huge spotlight, looking for deer when, were I come from and, actually, where I currently live, you can see the dumb creatures pretty much anytime of the day or night?). Volleyball. Or just being totally bored and resigning ourselves to watching another movie. And once I ran over Jeremy's foot with my car. But that's another story for another time...

Back to our photo shoot. Jeremy and Ruth have been married a good year and half, but wanted some shots in their wedding clothes that they hadn't been able to do on their wedding day. So we did that. And after that, they changed their clothes and we did some more fun, more casual shots.

The sweet, sweet barn location where we were shooting.

Ruth.

Jeremy.

Nice boots, girl!

Casual shots...

Lovely Women: 3 Kampens + 1 Rutt

While on vacation I took the opportunity to ask some friends and family if they would mind doing some "modeling" for me. Basically, I want the chance to shoot people I knew and felt comfortable. I wanted the practice. I wanted some sweet stuff for my portfolio. So one Sunday afternoon, my Aunt K, her daughters, K and E (my cousins, obviously), and our random friend A, took off for a local park. Of course this is a park that it seems everyone in the area, at sometime or another, have their portraits taken. But, oh well. Like I said, it was local. It was close. And it is the kind of place where you can shoot and shoot and still come out with different kinds of images every time.

So here's a few of my favorites! This was such a fun shoot. I mean, how could it not be with these awesomely fun ladies? We did a lot of laughing.

Mother-daughter shots.

Friend A. So pretty.

Cuz E. The perfect soberish model. Until she breaks out the sista 'tude. Downright outrageous!

More A. Love her and her completely calm gaze into the camera.

BFFs I think. Seriously, it's a riot when these two get together.

I know Aunt K is a little out of focus in this one, but for some reason, I like it.

And this. This, I'm pretty sure is one my absolute favorite shots out of the entire shoot. The soft light. The expression. So very Cuz K. Very demonstrative of her personality. A lot of sweetness with just enough of the "Bring it, girl!" attitude to mix it up.

Than-you ladies for giving me the chance to wield my camera at you! I hope you all were pleased with the results. And I promise. I will be sending discs. Soon.

Back from vacation!

Hey peoples! Yes, it's been something like a month since I posted last. *shudder* But since then I've had a wonderful, long vacation with my little family out East. We did lots of visiting with family. Baby G had lots of fun playing with his grandparents, great-grandparents, cousins, and his many uncles!

Hubby got to talk shop with his dad.

And of course, board games are a staple for good family times. Clue and Blokus being the games of choice.

Hubby got to put on a tux and be in one of his oldest, best friend's wedding.

I got to do some photo shoots involving these:
And this:

More posts to come featuring these super fun photo shoots.