This past weekend I went home with my best friends. They live in far north-western Kansas, like so far north-west they live only 6 miles from Colorado & 12 miles from Nebraska. I didn't really know what to expect, but I knew I'd have a blast! Number one: Heather & Brooklyn rave about their mom's cooking, I knew we would always have something fantastic to eat & number two: I was super excited to shoot some guns! And from what they told me, their little brother had a bunch.

So, here's a couple photos that I shot with my camera when I wasn't shooting with a gun ;)

For Me.

These photos are for nobody.

They do not need to be developed.

They do not need to be printed.

They do not need to be critiqued.

They do not need to be transferred to CDs.

I do not need to write out a photo release.

I do not need to be payed for taking these.

They are for me.

I shot them to remind me of the reasons why I decided to go into photography.

I asked one of my favorite subjects if she could model for this shoot & she graciously agreed.

I am grateful for her & her natural God-given talent. I didn't really have an idea for what I wanted to try to achieve when shooting these photos; I guess you could say I didn't really need to achieve anything at all. But after looking back at these photos, the white sheet could represent a clean slate, something that I need.

Krysti & Marshall

Krysti is one of ten cousins on my dad's side. We're a few years apart, but we're still family and I want the best for family. Marshall is the best. In the two and a half hour session I had with Krysti, Marshall & Marshall's daughter Carina, I saw so much love! I can't wait to have them be part of the family. Earlier in the day Carina was dancin' with me and Krysti told me later "She likes you. She wouldn't be dancing & talking to you if she didn't", so that made me feel good cause I liked her too!

And so, without further adieu, I present to you a few of Krysti & Marshall's engagement photos, as well as a couple of my favorite photos of the family!

During our session, I noticed that Marshall smiled biggest when he was looking at Krysti. I dont know if thats creepy or if I just have a really good photographic eye, but I thought it was adorable.

Michael & Jamie

Michael & Jamie met on a blind date... A BLIND DATE! I don't think I'll ever go on a blind date, but if I do, I hope the ending turns out about half as good as theirs did. Michael is one of four cousins on my mother's side. When Michael & Jamie announced their engagement, I wasn't expecting to be asked to take their wedding photos. It would have been a great experience for me & there would have been a neat, family aspect to the photographs, but I would have been grateful enough to just attend the wedding. But they did ask me & I couldn't have been more happy to do it! And luckily, I have a really great friend & fellow photographer, Heather, who helped me out on their big day! The morning of the wedding, Heather & I started out in the wrong location. But by the end of the day, everything had fallen into place beautifully!

Michael & Jamie, Thanks for allowing Heather & I to photograph one of the biggest days of your lives! I hope your days are filled with joy knowing you have the one you love by your side.

Gabby

These photos were so fun to shoot! I got to know you a little bit better & you shared things about your life with me. I felt like a real friend & not just your friends' older sister who happens to be a photographer.

You are beautiful & I absolutely LOVED shooting you, mostly cause you do anything I tell you to! Haha, but seriously... You are one of the most positive people I have ever met. Not once have I seen you sad or angry.

Please stay happy & cheerful because it makes the people around you feel great! Your personality & smile just light up a room. I know you will go very far in life & I cant wait to hear about the amazing journey that God will take you on!

The best is yet to come & babe, won't it be fine...

Sirsten Micah... Baby Sista.... I wuff yew.

I love your baby blues.

I love the sound of your beautiful voice.

I love your openness & friendliness towards everyone.

I love your laugh.

I love how I can tell your fake smile from your real one :)

Strangely enough, I love your obsession with The Hills.

I love your willingness to help people out.

I love your ability to break down barriers between cliques.

I love that you are a night owl.

Speaking of owl, I love that you enjoyed seeing Owl City for Christmas.
I love the way your hair looks perfect, even if you do nothing to it.

I love how you don't judge & you like people for who they really are.

I love you for being willing to be my model for the past 6 years.

I love your goofy, wild, hilarious & outrageous sense of humor (especially that crazy-woman-being-posessed-by-the-devil thing you were doing earlier! Gah, that made me roll!)

But most of all, I love YOU. God did an amazing job when He made you & I am so happy He did :)

Ben & Allie

It was my duty to retrieve the groom, Ben, & direct him to the location where he would see his bride before the wedding, a beautiful gazeebo. There was a lot of silence... 1) because I didnt know what to say to him, considering I met him for the first time 10 minutes before & 2) I'm sure all he wanted was to see Allie. He waits patiently with his back turned as his beautiful bride walks down the sidewalk. I look at Ben & he has the biggest smile on his face; I look at Allie & she also has a huge smile plastered across her face. They really love eachother & I think you can see their love in these photographs.

This was my very first wedding to photograph & I was more nervous that my dachsund during a thunderstorm. Wedding photos are nothing like normal portraits. These moments can never be recreated ever again & the photographer must capture them the first time around. At the beginning of the shoot, my nerves got the best of me. But as the day progressed I got more & more comfortable with myself as an artist, as well as with the bride & groom.

Ben & Allie, I hope your lives are continually filled with joy knowing you have your best friend beside you for life. I had a blast getting to know you on your wedding day & hope to see you both in the future. Congratulations on your marriage!

Shots like these are why I love what I do...

This past weekend, I had the privilege of going to one of the largest country music festivals on the face of the earth & let me tell ya... it was awesome! I've been to a few festivals & concerts before, but I've never gone to Country Stampede for all 4 days. The music festival scene is one of my favorite places ever to photograph. The entertainers performed as if its their last performance they could ever give & my ability to capture the rawness in their faces & body language is just phenomenal to me.

The top photograph is one of two lovebirds listening to Keith Urban as he sings "Only You Can Love Me This Way". Its one of my most favorite songs... So much of a favorite that I'm thinking of having it played at my wedding.

The rest of the photographs I chose are ones of my favorite musicians currently in the country music scene. The second photograph is of Keith Urban, probably the greatest singer, songwriter & guitar player I've ever heard.

Next photo is Craig Morgan. Goodness hes a hilarious guy & I LOVE International Harvester!

The fourth photo is former American Idol contestant Danny Gokey as he signed a picture for me. He said to me "Hey, hows it going? Thanks for comin' out, I really appreciate it!"... I didnt answer because I was in such awe of his manly beauty ;)

And last, but most definitly not least is the lovely Jake Owen. He has fantastic stage presence & isnt too bad on the eyes ;)

Oh Claire...

Claire, Oh Claire... You are one of my most favorite subjects to photograph & I think I tell you that every time we get together. Your personality & creativity seep out of your beautiful Brazilian pores & you transform into a true model. I've never seen anyone that knows their body & is more confident with themselves as you are. You say you've learned a lot from watching America's Next Top Model, but I believe that you've had this talent for a long, long time & you've been waiting for someone to come along & discover you, for who you really are. You are beautiful, little girl & I am so excited to be a part of this journey that is your senior year :)