Ryan & Leah - A destination Illinois Wedding!

It's pretty easy to get great photos when your bride is this charismatic.  She had that huge smile plastered on her face all day!  Creston was sunny & beautiful.  The wedding was on Leah's familie's property, in the middle of whole lot of corn and prarie grass.  Awesome couple, lots of fun...

In Love With: Lumiquest!

I love Lumiquest.  Katie loves Lumiquest.  What else can I say?  Ok...

We travel, a lot, and it's a lot of fun.  You know what sucks though?  Paying to send your bags under the plane.  Know what else sucks?  Your bags not getting to your location.  Which is #1 why we have never sent camera equipment under.  In fact, when we flew into some podunk airport in Florida, don't remember when, we had to get on some tiny car sized airplane and they said no to our camera bag.  Well I showed them, I took out all my cameras/lenses/flashes and put them in my lap.  They never did bring me my coke, think they were kinda mad at the fit I threw...

The point is:

Lumiquest products fold up flat.  You don't have to put anything under the plane AND they work just as wonderful as other non folding flat diffuser things by companies like Arygay Ongfay.  Their biggest diffuser, is the size of a laptop and fits in my bag right next to our ... laptop.

These products are so sexy, versatile, awesometastic, we refuse to use anything else.  And if you've seen any of our photos in the last three years, they're all lit up with Lumiquest products.  Except, of course, the one's that aren't lit with flash (that's just a note for those of you scratching your heads wondering about battery power).

Anyway- Photog freinds, Lumiquest is the way to go if you're looking for lighting stuff.  We aren't about to stand by something we don't use and believe in ourselves.  Our Favorites- Lumiquest Softbox LTp, Big Bounce, and the Snoot XTR .

A couple of examples:

Christina and Nacho- San Sebastian, Spain.  From Nacho's Family's Castle overlooking the ocean.  Yes, his family's Castle.

Suzanne and Paul in Paris along the Sienne at Pont Alexander III.

Josie, in San Sebastian, Spain.

So check them out, their products are versatile, consistent, and always reliable.  And aside from the results we love, they're also fun to use.  

In Love With: Fête in France

Over the past few years we've had the privilege of working with and getting to know some very cool ladies, Anne and Nancy of Fête in France.  They are wedding planners who work with clients from all over the world to help them plan their dream French weddings.

Anne & Nancy being giggly in front of the camera

Not only are these two seriously talented, but they are also extremely likeable and have become friends we look forward to spending time with while in France.  In fact, we enjoyed an entire evening in Anne's home during our recent trip.  We were able to meet her husband and get to know Anne, Nancy, and some of their loved ones a little better.  We had a wonderful time :)

Some shots from Anna & Anthony's Dordogne Valley Wedding.  The table setting was absolutely stunning.

Just another beautiful display for this power team.

 They've introduced us to some remarkable clients; some that have become good friends.  Like Helen and Gene, the couple we shot in 2010.  On that rainy day, Anne not only held umbrellas over the couple while they were being photographed, but also held lights and assisted us whenever we needed it.  Oh, and she gave Kevin her beret because he was freezing cold.

These two are originally from the states, but have lived in Paris for a number of years.  They both speak French impeccably.  So, for anyone thinking about a wedding in France, this team can help you plan your wedding and communicate to you in English, then use their knowledge of everything France to arrange your dream wedding with all the bells and whistles.  

This shot is from Suzanne and Paul's Paris wedding--an Irish couple who was very happy with Fête in France
and what Anne and Nancy created for them.

One more thing I want to say about them is that the way a wedding coordinator treats her/his vendors says a lot about them as people.  Anne and Nancy take care of their vendors (they always make sure we are staying hydrated and make sure we take time to sit down and have dinner--which is a big deal at the end of a long wedding day).  Not just us, but their DJs, the band, the kitchen, etc.  They treat us professionally when it's necessary but take the time to get to know us as individuals.  

So once more, if you're even thinking about a wedding in France, shoot these two an email.  Oh, and shoot us an email for your photography, while you're at it :)

Fête in France
www.feteinfrance.com
Within France: 06 72 15 22 69
From the US & Canada: 011 33 6 72 15 22 69
From the UK & Ireland: 00 33 6 72 15 22 69
From Australia:  011 33 6 72 15 22 69

Today this wonderful guy is 31: 

(He's the one getting served by all the much smaller, much more children-like people)

If you don't know Kevin very well, or if you do know him but aren't married to him (we can't all be so lucky), I'd like to share some things about someone very amazing:


Thing #1:

Kevin is a truly wonderful dad.

He spends a good part of every day playing games, wrestling, coloring pictures, being a horse/spaceship/student/sick doggie at the vet/2nd grader/etc., and snuggling with our two little girls.  Since we work from home, he regularly counts his blessings that he has the opportunity to be involved in their lives.  I've never known someone to take so much time with their kids; who feels guilty at the end of each day for not spending enough time with them.  It's so important to him.

From left to right, top to bottom: Hiking and getting a big wet one from Hazel; Playing his favorite game in the whole world, hands down;  Trying not to look too excited at Maynard's Vineyard in Arizona (He would lick Maynard's bald head if given the opportunity, or just make out with him); Escorting his mommy (who he loves, so much) down the isle at his sister's wedding rehearsal; Trying to be comfortable in front of the camera with me, his wifey; Hanging out in the boat with his girlfriends (being on the boat is up there in his top 5 favorite pastimes.  FYI); Swimming with his family; Being the best dad ever; A memorable Christmas for Kevin (BTW, Lego Harry Potter is played on this much more than Halo or NCAA Football.  He's just that kind of guy).

Thing #2:

Kevin is an amazing husband, lover, and best friend.  
Some examples of this are:

1. He brings me coffee in my favorite cup, in my bed, nearly every morning.  (If you don't drink coffee, imagine someone bringing you something awesome--like $100--every single morning.  With a smile.

2. He's a great listener.  He'll sit and listen to me ramble on and on for a very long time.  He even knows what I've been talking about and offers advice.

3. He buys me things like dresses, jewelry, and original art for special occasions.  And he buys me flowers when he knows I need a lift.  And he'll get me things out of Victoria Secret (obviously this is for him too), but everything he picks out is my size and style--totally cute.  AND we've almost been married for 10 years and this hasn't slowed down.  Be jealous ladies, be jealous.

4.  He likes to "pop my back," or give me these big, long hugs where he puts his arms around my lower back and squeezes me really tightly.  There's usually a kiss at the end.

5.  He charges my cell phone for me and finds it when I don't give a rat's a** about being available.  He's also very patient about this fact.

6.  He is supportive about everything I do.  For example, he encourages me with school even though it adds extra responsibility and pressure to him, and he responds emotionally to my writing and art.
7.  I trust him, love him, and hope to always be his girl. 

These pics are from his family b-day party last week.

Thing #3

Kevin loves to be where the party is going on.


Although he is shy at first, he'll risk it to be in the middle of a bunch of people who are full of energy.  Something like New Years in Vegas is idea of a great time.  He loves loud, loud, loud music and people crowding one another, laughing and having the time of their lives.  For this reason, he loves concerts.  I think that his background as a drummer (playing drums means LOUD music playing and a LOUD beat and HUGE energy output) gives him this incredible natural high when he is in a small space with tons of people.  He'll get so excited that he literally starts jumping around and does this huge, ninja-turtle smile.
It's adorable to watch.

 Thing #4:

Kevin loves to laugh, and make other people laugh.

A good day for Kevin is writing obscene texts with one of my sisters, usually Aubrie, Heidi, or Dayci.  (By obscene, I mean they say things like, "You're a jerk, freaking poop-head" or something like that).  Then he'll choke, he's laughing so hard, writing back and forth with his buddy Derek--let's see, the other day it was about Derek measuring a canvas print with his... well, you get the idea.  He actually made me stop what I was doing so he could (try) to repeat what Derek said, through his tears.  Later, he'll wrestle with our girls and they'll all be cackling until someone bangs their head against something, and then he'll be bouncing around, making me laugh as we cook, or work together.  The best part of a good day for him, would be watching some stand-up comedy at night, after the kids go to bed.   

Some of Kevin's current/past favorite comedians/funny shows are:

Arrested Development

Kids in the Hall

Parks and Recreation

30 Rock

David Cross

Comedy Central Standup
The Simpsons
Family Guy
Jim Gaffigan
Steve Martin
Bill Cosby

Playing Bocce with his buddy, Charlie.

Thing #5: 

Kevin loves, not just likes, the following random things:

• Hispanic culture.  More specifically, the accents, skin color, and hair of the women.  He gets all wobbly and distracted around this type of girl.
• Bjork and Iceland.  Loves the singer (favorite albums are Vespertine and Medulla) and her home town.  I've been trying, without success, to plan a trip there for many years.  Someday.
• Long, brown hair.  Score!
• Football.  Watching it, playing it, throwing one, talking about it, listening to people talking about it, wearing jerseys, going to games, and anything else I didn't put on here.
• Teaching and Leading.  He's very good at this, like, is fantastic.  
• Creativity.  Feeling the artistic flow and giving himself over to it.
• Confidence.  Whether it's in himself, a model he's shooting, or just some person.  He recognizes it in people and not only admires them for it, but responds to it.
• Rebelling against the system.  He likes to make waves and question everything.  
• Boxer briefs.  Only strange people who desire to be uncomfortable would wear something different.  
• Original Artwork.  Nothing is more annoying to him than mass-produced artwork.  He likes exclusivity, originality, and the energy that can only come from the artist's hand.  Which is one of the reasons we have only original art hanging in our home. 
• His photography clients.  He really does.

He loves his girls and niece, Eva, and nephew, Jordan.

Thing #6:

Kevin is super sexy.

In fact, he is only getting sexier with age.  We can't all be so lucky.  I love his eyes, which vary in shades of green, his morning hair, his tattoos, his arms and hands when he gets dressed up in all his rings and bracelets, his scratchy face, and, well, everything else.

Thing #7:

Kevin is like glue, no, superglue.  He holds people together.

My family went through a couple of really rough patches while Kev and I have been together.  With a family full of kids who had been walked out on by not just one, but two fathers, Kevin's presence has always been a reminder that there are good men out there.  It sounds like an easy thing to know, but trust me, it isn't.  Without his calming and loyal influence, things could be a lot different right now.  We're all so thankful for Kevin.  We're all loyal right back.  And I know I can speak for his Missouri family who misses him and are so proud of his accomplishments, his creativity and passion, and his kind and heroic heart.

We love our friend, brother, lover, uncle, son, grandson, and daddy.  

And I love you, sweetheart, always.

xoxo

Kate

Anna & Anthony - Dordogne Valley, France

Alicia & Shane - Vaux le Vicomte - France

European Photography Adventures: Paris with Paul & Suzanne

We got back to Paris from Spain completely exhausted--ready to crash. We had one more wedding in the line up and wanted to be completely fresh for it. Lucky for us we had some visitors, Lisa and Heidi (Mom and sister) that came from the states to hang out with us for a couple of days. It was so good to see them! More on that later...  Oh yeah, and we had a chance to really hang out with some of the coolest wedding planners ever, our friends Anne and Nancy.  

Also, more on them later...

So, our final European wedding was that of the beautiful Irish couple, Suzanne and Paul.  I don't know when we've laughed more, or been hugged and squeezed more than we were at this wedding.  Imagine a crowd of the friendliest, happiest, loudest people--and then double it--and you'll get an idea of this couple's wedding celebration.

Some of the pictures below are from the night before the wedding at a bar in Sainte Germain, and some from the wedding day.  I wanted to give you a taste of the love going on with these people.  We literally have hundreds that look just like this.  Such a wonderful family!!!

The wedding day started off in Suzanne and Paul's right-bank apartment.  Paul spent hours on the phone trying to find one with a view of the Eiffel Tower for Suzanne, who loves it so much.  You can see the reflection of it in the dress picture and, yes, that's the tower in the shoe shot, right out on their balcony.

Amazing!!!

It was, to say the least, one of the most stunningly beautiful weddings of the year.

Sainte Clotilde, the wedding chapel in Sainte Germain. 

The Bride arriving to the chapel with her lovely bridesmaid sisters.

Inside Sainte Clotilde during the ceremony.

So here's a funny story...

As the ceremony ended and Kevin walked down the isle in front of the couple to get these big grand shots of them coming out to the front of the church, I stealthily hid behind some columns until they were far enough down the isle that I could dart behind them and crouch down (so as to not be in Kevin's shot) and get the grand shots of them going out into the sun.  

That was the plan, anyway.

What really happened was this:  I slipped, my feet literally coming up and over my head, and slid about three feet behind the couple (thankfully, unbeknownst to them) to the horror of poor Nancy, the wedding planner, and the orchestra, who had front row seats.  

The best part was that Kevin and I, while laughing our heads off about it, found this shot:

 

Yeah, that's my foot, as I was sliding into third base.  I think the lesson here is simple.  Don't wear platforms on super shiny floors while shooting a wedding.  Obviously.

Anyways...

The Newlyweds.  I love the hats!!!

After the ceremony, we took Suzanne and Paul around Paris to get some shots in the city.

Probably our favorite shot of the day.  That dress was glorious.

On Pont Alexandre III (We loooooove this bridge).

The reception was held at La Maison des Polytechniciens, a very difficult venue to tie down, as you have to either be an engineer or be related to an engineer to even be considered.  Anne and Nancy, of Fete in France, did an amazing job on the details of this wedding.  When we walked into the reception hall and saw what they had put together, we were speechless. 

It was even more amazing in real life!

The dining room, appetizer course, cocktail table vases, table settings, wedding cake.

First dance in the blue room... DRESS!!!

The Maison had a downstairs club-type room where everyone finished up the night.  Such a cool space!
 

All in all, a beautiful, breathtaking, hugely fun, very cool, and unforgettable wedding.  Thank you Suzanne, Paul, Anne, Nancy, and all of the wedding guests and family... we had a wonderful time!!!