Documentary Advanced Wirkshop
| Posted by Tyler Wirken on May 24th, 2011
** NEW WIRKSHOP ANNOUNCMENT!- ADVANCED DOCUMENTARY CLASS- March 5-7, 2012 – Kansas City, MO. **
Learn how to think like a photojournalist and change the way you see the world.
An afternoon with Savannah
| Posted by Tyler Wirken on January 19th, 2012I had the pleasure of meeting and spending the afternoon with a spunky 7 year old named Savannah. I met her through her Dad and soon to be Step-Mom who also happen to be a 2012 wedding couple of mine. As wonderful as it was meeting and getting to know Ryan (distinguished groom) and Karen (blushing bride) at our initial meeting and their engagement session, spending the afternoon with them and Savannah really took our relationship to a new level. It helped me so much in getting to know them and what they are like outside of my studio.
Seeing the 3 of them hang out this afternoon and play around town showed me the fun people that they are and the love that they give and that will help me so much more for their upcoming April wedding. Enjoy a few images from our afternoon together. Just a few short months until I get to hang with them again. Looking forward to it even more now!
Cat & Brett | Wedding Day
| Posted by Becca on January 16th, 2012When I first met Cat and her mom, it was an instant connection over love for family, soccer, running, and how to throw a good party. Brett was just as much an instant friend with his warm presence and love for one of my husband’s favorite things- golf. I love the clean vitality of these two- they are just a picture of happiness and health. I love that they both love being active and that they laugh a lot. I love that every time we got together, it became a party, with both families present.
On the wedding day, Cat and Brett lived the whole spectrum- they laughed so hard it hurt, and they shared personal love letters during their ceremony that brought the whole house to tears. It was such a good party that there will be stories that will last a lifetime. Love you guys. Here’s a peek at my last full wedding of 2011.
Gina + Justin | The Wedding Short Film
| Posted by Brandon on January 13th, 2012I’d like to share with you the short film of Gina and Justin’s wedding. If you haven’t, make sure to read Tyler’s blog post about Gina and Justin. As he mentioned, the toasts were something that brought the house down (in a good way). He also talks about how Gina and Justin were themselves on their wedding day with no apologies, and he wasn’t kidding. One of my favorite moments of the day happened where I least expected it: the first kiss. Up on the altar in front of all their guests, Gina is not satisfied with just one kiss. She pushes into Justin for a few more, ecstatic with the magic of just being pronounced man and wife.
The short film of Gina and Justin:
http://www.vimeo.com/33726368
or view it on Youtube for those who like that site better: Gina + Justin
| Ceremony | The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Kansas City, Missouri |
| Reception | The Clubhouse on Baltimore Kansas City, Missouri |
| Photography | Tyler Wirken |
| Music in Film | “Lift Off” by The Capsules |
Gina + Justin | Wedding
| Posted by Tyler Wirken on January 11th, 2012
I met Gina’s parents before I met her. They both came into the studio for a meeting and I immediately knew this was going to be a great wedding to photograph and more importantly a great family to document. I loved how down to earth and grounded they all were. I loved how they were completely themselves with no apologies and made their wedding day reflect that. It was great to be able to watch them all show the family they are.
There were a few highlights of the day for me. The first was Gina wanting to surprise Justin with a custom hot rod get away car after the ceremony. What a great moment as Justin, who is a car nut, comes out to see flames shooting out of the exhaust pipes of a spotless red piece of art. Then at the reception Gina’s dad gave the best father of the bride toasts I have ever heard. Brandon will be posting his film of the day at a later date so you will have to watch that to really get the feel of how great it was, but the general idea revolved around the idea of driveways. He talked of their driveway and how many people over the years had come to their driveway and left from their driveway, some to never come back. He talked about how Justin had come to their house via their driveway. He wished Gina and Justin a life full of great memories and important people coming to their driveway. It was fantastic. Just went to show again how much this family valued the ones close to them.
Thanks to Gina and Justin for letting us into your lives for a day!
The info-
Ceremony- The Cathedral of Immaculate Conception
Reception- The Clubhouse on Baltimore
Gina getting the final touches done.
Eric Burke | “Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair”
| Posted by Brandon on December 22nd, 2011My brother-in-law plays the banjo. His preferred musical instrument comes from his life long love of history, in particular the Civil War era. At almost any family gathering he regales us with performances of period music, including but not limited to a lot of Stephen C Foster.
In addition to immersing himself in the mid 19th century, Eric served in the United States Army. In the summer of 2010, right after he got back from 15 months in Afghanistan, Eric out of the blue asked if we could shoot a video for the song “Hard Times Come Again No More”. A few days later, we had a video made. It was a bit rough around the edges, since we literally just got up early the next morning with no plan and shot it. This year, Eric suggested shooting another video. We made an effort to organize it a bit more, and even roped some of the other Wirken team into helping. Big thanks to Jewel and Brady for their hard work.
Here is our most recent effort. A music video of “Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair”. This might just end up being an annual tradition.
http://www.vimeo.com/34088892If you are curious about our first video, here it is:
Finally I’d like to share something I had no hand in creating. A video of Eric and a couple of his buddies (Kyle Shaw, and Chris Gore) playing “Hard Times Come Again No More” during a bit of downtime at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Wilson in Afghanistan, back in April of 2010. There is something extremely poignant and inspiring about three soldiers a world away from home, playing a song about hard times written 156 years ago.
If you’re looking for a charity to support this holiday season, IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) could use your support. Donate today.
Katie + Andy | Wedding
| Posted by Tyler Wirken on December 13th, 2011
Really all we ask here at Wirken Photography of our clients is for them to just be themselves in front of our cameras. Not to hold back any emotion or trait that makes them truly who they are. Katie, Andy and their family and friends had no problem with that at all and I loved it. I love Katie’s no bs approach to life. She knows what she wants and she goes for it. I admire that about her and Andy is such a calm go with it type if guy making the two of them a perfect match. It was great to watch them interact with their friends and family all day. You could tell the people in their lives mean a great deal to them. The entire day was filled with such a relaxed, laid back flow that nothing could rattle. Not even the rain. They all just rolled with whatever came their way and enjoyed the day with an unwavering calm. It was a joy to be involved.
Laren & John
| Posted by Becca on December 11th, 2011
I remember Laren and John’s engagement session as remarkably fun. As I was shooting, a few times I had to pull my camera down to my knees because I was laughing so hard. We got together about a week ago to relive the wedding together, and of course, how would I expect it any other way, they showed up with both sets of parents in from out of town, a platter of French cheeses, and a favorite Chianti. It was a real, deep, hard laughter, flowing tears kind of get together. True fun, and that is just how their wedding day was. Laren’s dad described their view on the Catholic ceremony in this way; that the covenant that was happening that day at the Cathedral was as sacred as the ordination of a priest- that it is taken very seriously, and I could feel it, and it was so beautiful to me how invested in that ceremony everyone was. And then, they celebrated with the same passion, getting guests out of their seats and out of their self-consciousness with silly glasses, hats, and boas. I love the way John look at Laren, I love the way Laren, a perfectionist like me, ended up being one of the wildest ones on the dance floor at the end of the night. It was all great, and we thank you for your hospitality and friendship.
…There is more! See the rest of this post
Tori & Chris | Wedding Day
| Posted by Becca on November 27th, 2011Sometimes in the course of a year getting to know a couple, I get glimpses of the qualities in them that will possibly be the richest qualities in their marriage. I remember the first time I met with Tori, she told me that Chris was a big outdoorsman, and loved hunting so much that he really wanted camo vests or neckties for the wedding. She just kind of laughed, but was totally willing to concede and let him have his voice in the wedding. Instead of camo neckties, they ended up deciding on camo coozies, but to me, I loved her willingness to do something that she wouldn’t have preferred for the man she loved. And I can see the equal adoration from Chris, the way he was quietly emotional throughout the day, when he read her card, when he saw her walk down the aisle- the elation on his face after the ceremony. These are the little things that I get the chance to see as I watch a couple.
Here are my favorite moments from Tori and Chris’ warm October wedding
Brittan & Reed
| Posted by Becca on November 24th, 2011Brittan and I connected easily the first time we met. Really, who wouldn’t like this girl? She is a positive, kind, lovely person to be around. I specifically like the way she bursts out into this beautiful laughter that becomes contagious. Reed and I weren’t able to meet until the engagement session, but he was so great to drive hours down to KC after work, and then hours back that same night. That was impressive. I loved seeing the dynamic between these two during the session- how they make each other laugh, and how they are when they’re close. Enjoy!
