Sunday, August 15, 2010

Shelby

What a neat senior session I had this afternoon. First of all - this horrible, humid weather finally broke! And although I got ringing wet, it was because I knelt down in the bathwater warm lake - not because of the high humidity. Shelby (accompanied by her mom, Raelynn, and her sister, Jackie)  had her senior pictures done at her grandma's farm, and here in Elysian. The outbuildings on the farm are awesome, as well as other natural settings - the aged barnwood, corrugated metal, fields, her grandpa's old car, her vintage Oldsmobile, even her bull, Sampson! Afterward, we went to Lake Francis and to an old building here in Elysian for some early evening shots. They left town just as the evening clouds turned a vivid red-orange. Here are just a few images of this oh-so-photogenic young woman...

























Thursday, August 12, 2010

The Hula Hoop Girls

Rachel and Steve were married last Saturday, and I mentioned in an earlier post that their wedding was a lot of fun, especially the reception. The DJ had a hula hoop contest and the two junior bridesmaids, Maria and Riauna, and two flower girls, Nevaeh and Alivia, owned the dance floor, with Alivia winning. That child could walk and dance while hula-ing. She was really amazing. Not only that, she could "boomerang" the hoop - put a reverse spin on it and spin it 15-20 feet out before it returned to her. I got such a kick out of watching them.

Neveah, Alivia, Riauna and Maria in the midst of the contest.

I love this stance!

These two hung in there the longest.





Alivia putting the reverse spin on the hoop - it's returning to her now. I love the 
"robot" pose of her arms and hands.



Riauna really pouring on the power.


Maria is a fierce competitor.

Alivia with her prize - the blue necklace - for being the best hula-hooper.




This is one of my favorite reception shots. Where they managed to find energy and all that 
spirit after such a long, hot day is beyond me. Ahhh....youth!

Monday, August 9, 2010

Erica and Aaron


I thought it was hot and steamy on Saturday, but it pales in comparison to how much hotter and steamier it was in downtown Mankato yesterday at 6 pm when Erica and Aaron had their engagement session. The one good thing about the weather is that skies were overcast making for wonderful light. I needed only a touch of flash or bit of reflector, and we were good to go.

I also needed a towel continuously to mop myself off, and a lens cloth and to wipe my lenses, which kept fogging up. In spite of the discomfort, were able to make some awesome images, and I KNOW it will be cooler this October when they marry. Erica and Aaron, photographing your wedding is going to be an honor, and a pleasure. Thanks for being such good sports about the heat and humidity.






Sunday, August 8, 2010

Rachel & Steve

Steamy. Make that hot and steamy. That describes the weather for Rachel and Steve's wedding Aug. 10 in Blooming Prairie. And if you stayed late enough at the reception, toss riots of fun in with the hot and steamy, and it pretty much sums things up. Theirs was a big wedding - 14 attendants and four ushers, and many, many guests. And even the hot, steamy weather couldn't dampen the happiness of the day. Stephanie Williams, my daughter, and owner of You've Been Framed Photography in North Mankato, assisted me, and I couldn't be more pleased!


With lots and lots of work ahead of me editing photos from this wedding, along with an engagement shoot today (in even hotter and steamier weather - really - my camera lenses kept fogging up, and my Quantum battery pack refused to work), I'll post just a few of the images from yesterday. Later this week, I have to tell you about Alyvia, Nevaeh, and Marie and the hoola hoops at the wedding reception. Incredible little girls with amazing talent!!

The ceremony was beautiful with the lights turned low, and lots of candlelight adding to the ambiance. 
Rachel's dress was perfect for her - sophisticated and elegant, yet not one bit overstated.

Alyvia - the day was equally special for her.


No resemblance here - right? Rachel's sister, Tracy, was married to Chris last August, and I had the privilege of photographing their wedding too.

Moments before the ceremony begins.





"You're joking - right? What do you mean that the organ isn't working?" (It didn't.)