Even though my grammar is flawed I still have managed to have a following. Lauren has been following me for quite some time. She was able to look past my flawed grammar and now her friends are stalking the blog. Not my blog… but “THE BLOG”. That makes me smile. I have put so much time and $ into my blog.  It’s nice to know that people enjoy reading my ramblings/ looking at my photos. I love how one person tells another person…then that person tells a friend…and then one day I will have thousands of readers….Ok maybe not..but let me dream…”Dream On Dream On Dream On …..Dream until the dream come true!!! Oh Aerosmith they don’t make music like they used to…and Don Mclean the day the music really died was when Ke$ha showed up on the charts. ” Im talking – pedicure on our toes, toes Trying on all our clothes, clothes Boys blowing up our phones, phones”. What kind of name is Ke$ha anyway – DJ NICE

  Anyway tangent off.

Devin & Lauren-August 7th

Let’s do this…. 

Thank You Katy Corea for shooting with me and capturing imagines like this one ^ : )

Yes that’s a talking parrot ^…I don’t normally post these kind of ceremony shots however I thought it was too random/hilarious not to share.

I have a thing with reflections…we all know I do…Click here for their engagement session photos…

Their getaway car for the evening was a surprise for Devin from Lauren. It was a hot car for sure. The interior was beautiful.

I had no idea that they had anything planned for the bridal party entrance. I was pleasantly surprised. One of the best entrances I have seen… if not the best. If only someone would of done backflips. I did have a bridal party do backflips once…

 Also I’ll look past the fact that they weren’t Mizzou sweat bands. hah

Their families were fantastic. Such genuinely sweet people. : ) and  Laurens ^ mom is beyond hip and cool…no joke.

Lauren & Devin I wish you all the best. I hope you enjoyed your sneak peak. Lauren tell your mama that she can keep my fancy hanger. Since the beads fell off it apparently isn’t that fancy. haha I will invest in a nicer dress hanger before my September weddings. Much Love – Lea

As I was going though the venue section I decided that I wanted to blog about venues. My 1st instinct was to complain about all of the venues that would rather me pass out than eat dinner with the guests. Then my second thought was to write about shining stars that have treated me very kindly. However I came to the conclusion that my readers don’t really care about who hurt my feelings or saved me a piece of cake. ; )  Therefore this blog is not going to be about either of those. If your looking for a venue that could be a hidden gem this is the blog you want to read. We all know about Windows off Washington, Botanical Gardens,The Butterfly House,Ball Park Hilton,Union Station…I could go on and on but I won’t. They are lovely spaces..however I’d like 2011 to be filled with venues that I have never been to.  I would love more farm/backyard/rooftop weddings. Here is my small list of neat venues that I would love to shoot your wedding at!

Missouri History Museum

The Lalumondiere (Mill & RiverGardens)

Edg-Clif Farms and Vineyard

Mad Art Gallery

Cafe Demenil

(I have shot here^  however I am making an exception : )

I was going to add photos however people are really odd about credits…click the links…

Next up: Devin & Lauren…coming soon ; )

If you want to see more concert photos….. check out the website…..http://www.celebratestlouis.org : )

 My favorite photo of the year so far was taken last weekend at Fair Saint Louis. ^ I plan on getiing at least a 16×20 printed to hang in my house! : D       

 I love being a part of Fair Saint Louis. I’ve shot FSL for 4 years now! It’s weird to think that it’s been that long already. I swear I was shooting lifehouse with my little pentax k100d last summer. Geeze how time flys! Speaking of flying….. The Air Show was so cool to watch! I don’t know what it is about hearing pilots over the loud speaker; while watching them fly vintage planes,but it makes me feel so patriotic. I ended up shedding a few tears. I know I know.. suck it up! : D  Certain things move me! I don’t know…Normally I have “an icebox where my heart used to be”…Song reference..It’s what I do.     

   On with the show!     

John Legend is so dreamy. Swoon…^       

  The rain didn’t get us down… : D       

 Should of asked where they got those! I love fun glasses.       

 And there they saw a rock ….It wasn’t a rock ……It was a rock lobster!!! B52′s^       

     Fair St Louis may be over this year..However the 2010 Celebrate STL Summer concerts are going on! Head down to Soldiers Memorial this weekend!       

 Friday, July 16 Kenny Wayne Shepherd with Jeremiah Johnson & the Sliders       

“Just because I’m not saying anything it doesn’t mean that I’m not interested in what you’re saying. I just don’t feel the need to say that much”.

Those are the words that Dan’s best man Rob spoke when he made his toast. He went on to say that Lindsay said that to Dan one time while driving together. That’s what confirmed it for him. She was everything that he was looking for. That small story stuck out to me. Maybe because I feel the exact same way often. Sometimes people think that I am not interested. It’s quite the opposite. I am listening carefully. And know that: if this blog post isn’t very long it doesn’t mean I am not interested..I just don’t feel the need to say that much….

I’d rather my photographs tell a story without me having to speak.

I’m shooting Jodies ^ wedding  next year. Keep an eye out for their engagement session : )

(Both the ceremony & reception were held at the 9th Street Abbey)

^When you think that no one is paying attention..know that I am ; )

^ I think that’s going to be my next canvas sample. The green would pop like crazy : D

Their 1st dance was incredible. Just magnificent. I love when couples take lessons : D

If you’re looking for a traditional type of photobooth check out PhotoBox. If you’re looking for a studio type of photo booth.. click the link ; )

 Very comic book-esk ; ) The geeky side of me loves that. Saving the world and looking fabulous doing it.

A special thanks to rockstar Katy Corea for 2nd shooting for me. Sometimes I  just stare at her work and think how the heck did she do that!

So that’s Lindsay & Dan’s sneak peak… 3 days after the wedding because that’s how I roll…No one wants to wait weeks to see a photo..There are facebook tags to be made!

Thank you Dan & Lindsay for choosing me as your photographer. I hope you’re in love with what you’ve seen so far!

You both were fantastic to work for. I wish you all the best & many blessings!

Sunday was fathers day. This was a very special fathers day for all of us.

One of my favorites ^

My son was the ring bearer^ He wouldn’t look at me. hah

(like the placement of my logo? And whos that good looking groomsman on the right side? My husband ^ haha

Dun dun duunn dunn dunnnnn…. Tequila!!!

My son looks adorable in the above photos even though I think he was trying to punch me. He was done with pictures. hah

It stayed dry until after photos which made me very happy. Then we were blessed with a beautiful rainbow…and then a crazy pretty sunset.

I had the pleasure of shooting my brother in law’s wedding this past weekend. We drove the 950 miles to New Bern, North Carolina. I actually took a few photos along the way that weren’t work related!  That’s a big deal! You would think that I would take photos for fun… I never take my camera out unless I am working. I’ve decided to start making it more of a habit. Go snap happy once in a while. So here are a couple of shots that I took along the way…

When we arrived at our hotel a lovely gift basket welcomed us. They also included water bottles & glass soda bottles. I put them in the fridge before I took the photo. Fail on my part!  The treats were so yummy. They put so much work into them!  As soon as my 3yr old saw the cookies I knew they wouldn’t last long. Inside the bottle was the story of the proposal!  Adorable.

 When we stopped for gas I noticed a tiny little church across the street.  Farmland & cows as far as the eye can see. I had to get out and a take a few photos. It was too cute not to. I was hoping that a cow would come up to the fence…no such luck.

So this next photo is so random,but I liked how it came out. We were going through a tunnel and I decided to try and hold my breath. You know the whole make a wish thing…I was trying to distract myself from the chest pains I was having …lack of oxygen and all.  I took a photo. I thought it came out weird. God I suffer for my art! hah

We did get a chance to go to the beach! My 3yr old’s 1st time ever. My hubs and I haven’t been to the beach in at least 10 years. My lens wouldn’t stop fogging up. : ( I didn’t think to grab a lens cloth. It was just so humid! At least I managed to get a few shots.

So that’s that. Just a little taste of the trip… Stay tuned because Micah & Amanda’s sneek peak will be up shortly! ; )

 How did you find the energy, Mom
To do all the things you did,
To be teacher, nurse and counselor
To me, when I was a kid.

How did you do it all, Mom,
Be a chauffeur, cook and friend,
Yet find time to be a playmate,
I just can’t comprehend.

 I see now it was love, Mom
That made you come whenever I’d call,
Your inexhaustible love, Mom And I thank you for it all.

 I love it when old friends ask me to shoot their wedding.  They also all assure me it’s because they love my work and it’s not just because we are friends. We decided to head down to the riverfront for their session. It’s one of my favorite spots. I’m so glad that they chose it. We tore up the riverfront!

Photo time…

 The roof of the bike happened to be filled with rain water. We crossed our fingers that the roof wouldn’t cave in.

I did however assure them that if it did, I would still be taking photos…You can’t miss something like that!  Everyone managed to stay dry. ; )

They brought me a big black umbrella to use. Two points for bringing a prop!

This photo makes me smile : ) They are too cute.^

Some of my favorite photos are when I just ask my couples to wrap their arms around each other. I say “do what feels natural”. I normally get a laugh. I sit on the ground and wait. I sometimes pretend that I’m changing my settings and then…click…click..click.

 I think they might of thought I was a little odd when I asked them to stand over a muddy puddle  for a photo….There is almost always a method to my madness.

Becca & Ray you two are adorable. I look forward to capturing your wedding day!

PS:This was my last session that I will ever use my Pentax K20D camera. I am now a canon carrying photog. 5dmarkII. Oh snap. I’m offically ready for wedding season! If your getting married this fall(or winter) and still don’t have your wedding photographer… email me. I am not yet fully booked for fall or winter.