Lauren | Bridal Session
| Posted by Tyler Wirken on October 24th, 2011With the wedding just days away we went out and had a bit of fun on this bridal session. It is nice to take the time and really play with venues and the light without the constraint of the wedding day schedule. Here Lauren and I (and her very helpful sister) checked out parts of KC on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon just as the colors of fall were starting to change over. Enjoy!
Katie + Alex | Wedding
| Posted by Tyler Wirken on October 20th, 2011
Katie and Alex and I go way back. Well at least it feels like we do. From our time spent in New York for their engagement session, to our dinner that night over meatballs, to their wedding a few weeks ago, I have had the chance to really know these two. They are remarkable people with remarkable friends and families. They are also ridiculously cute together. Yeah that is right, I just said cute on my blog. But, I gotta tell ya there is no denying it when you watch these two interact. Katie is a combo of refreshingly silly and sophisticated and Alex is a calm pillar of support to that silliness.
Their wedding was the ultimate personification of these two. Katie’s creative silliness was apparent at every turn with all of the clever details including a burlap photo booth silly props, to her custom made tank tops for all of her bridesmaids that said, “I love snugs”. Then you had Alex and his “keep calm and carry on” attitude.
All I ask for brides and grooms on their wedding day is to be themselves. Katie and Alex took that heart and I was grateful.
Thanks to you two for showing me the real you and letting me capture it.
So here is your preview. Looking forward to seeing you in a few weeks for your viewing.
Laren & John
| Posted by Becca on October 13th, 2011Laren and John will be married in less than two days! In honor of that, I wanted to introduce them to you by sharing a few of my favorites from our engagement session this summer. I remember clearly that very shortly into our time together, I found myself uncontrollably laughing with them. I also remember being obsessed with Laren’s angelic blonde hair. And each time I see them, it’s the same. They are this bright light couple. Saturday is going to be fun.
Jessica + Greg | Married | Short Film
| Posted by Brandon on October 13th, 2011I am very aware, as a wedding filmmaker, of a line that divides my artistic impulses and the truth of the wedding day. I strive to match the feeling of the day, invoke the couples personality and project my own voice as an artist in every film I create. It’s a balancing act that pivots on one element of the Short Film the most; the music.
Music is the glue that holds the Short Film together. Everything is heightened, highlighted and enhanced because of it. I have been known to spend days finding the right song that balances all of my above mentioned goals. With Jessica and Greg, I spent quite some time debating it. Then one day while assembling footage of the ceremony, I heard something.
Jessica is receding down the aisle with Greg after just being announced as man and wife. The DJ is standing in the back. Jessica says to him in passing.. “I love this song”. Bam. I had my music. A challenge to my artistic nature, something she loved at that moment in her life and a song that spoke to who they are as a couple. Perfect.
In between the rainfall and rainbow, Jessica and Greg were married surrounded by loved ones on a warm day in September in Parkville, Missouri. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to tell the story of your day.
http://www.vimeo.com/29467048Photography: Kelley Walker Chance
Venue: The National Golf Club
DJ: Two Guys A Girl and Some Speakers
Music for Film: Vitamin String Quartet “Don’t Stop Believing”
Karin & JC | Wedding
| Posted by Becca on October 5th, 2011When I think of Karin and JC, besides being a great time, generous, and easy going, the thing that sticks out to me the most is their intense connectedness. I said it when I was describing their engagement session, and it keeps coming back to me, they seem “home” with one another. Their connection is so strong that they are often in a room full of people, but completely intently focused on each other. I loved seeing them join their families together (JC and Karin both have boys the same age, and JC has a daughter as well). I loved being a part of the unfolding of the incredible night. Thank you guys for everything. We had so much fun.
Wes & Susan | Joy and Jubilee
| Posted by Becca on September 22nd, 2011Sometime last fall, we got a call from Mark’s dad, Wes, and he said, “Just in case you haven’t heard, I met a real sweet lady”. We met Susan a few months later and just loved seeing them so happy together. Wes and Susan have found joy, freedom, companionship, and support in one another.
So in April, we took a trek to their hometown, Marathon, to be there to celebrate their union and have a party with practically everyone in that little town. Everybody brought food, and we had a beautiful feast, celebrating God’s blessing of Wes and Susan to each other. We love you so much!
Katherine + Brandon : Engaged
| Posted by David on September 21st, 2011One of the favorite things that I like to do for my clients is to photograph them in their own environment they are most comfortable in. Photographing them at an uncomplicated place that has meaning to them is important to me. Making it a simple location helps because in the end it is their relationship that counts the most.
Here are some images from the portrait shoot of Katherine and Brandon done at their home.
Desert Artisan Compound
| Posted by Becca on September 20th, 2011In the next week or so I’m so excited to share a few photos from Mark’s dad’s wedding that happened in Marathon, TX in April. For now I’ll give you a peek into the wonder of this tiny dot on the map of Southwest Texas. Every time we visit I feel like we’re granted a few days of freedom from the anxiety and fast-paced mindset of our culture. The friends Wes has introduced us to in Marathon are kind, gracious, rooted in nature and community.
For now, I’ll show you a little field trip just walking distance from where we stayed. One of Wes’ good friends Gill opened up part of his land for artists to build little houses all made of recycled materials. I loved seeing the wonder on Char’s face as she explored these people’s handiwork. This was Charlotte’s first trip to the desert. Looking forward to more…
A wonderful man remembered
| Posted by Becca on September 16th, 2011I am so impressed by the courage people have to be photographed in a state of mourning, after losing one of their very closest and most beloved. Sarah Sorell lost her husband James this June after they fought together through 9 years of cancer. They celebrated their love along the way and had two beautiful children. James did not resign to sickness but lead an extraordinary life in the thick of it, loving his wife, children, and many other people so well. Not feeling sorry for himself, but even seeing his suffering as a blessing.
Sarah is a photographer and their whole life as a family is documented well. I think she is so wise to know that one day her kids might gain perspective and important remembrance by having these photos. I have been changed by getting a glimpse of James and his extraordinary life. Thank you for allowing me in.
These photos are from James’ memorial service. My friend Kelly Jackson is Sarah’s best friend, so she photographed the burial and balloon release at the end.
http://www.vimeo.com/29113079Amanda + Tyler | Traverse City Michigan Wedding
| Posted by Tyler Wirken on September 15th, 2011
I owe a lot to Amanda and Tyler. They really opened my eyes and allowed me to see even more clearly how life should be lived and specifically how weddings should be celebrated.
The bottom line was a life lesson for me, do what you want, be who you are and surround yourself with the people in your life that will celebrate that with you. That is precisely what these two did on that glorious weekend, in Michigan, and it was inspiring for Pam and I.
We ultimately owe meeting Amanda and Tyler to our Chicago bride, Brenna. Amanda saw her images and Brenna told her to call us. At first, Amanda and Tyler’s wedding plans kind of felt like a tennis match. The wedding was originally to take place in Traverse City, Michigan. Months later we received an e-mail stating they decided to move their wedding to Aruba. No problem, I thought, we will go where ever you want us to go. Time goes by and we get another e-mail. They decided to move the wedding back to Traverse City!
In the end the reason for the changes was simple. They felt themselves getting caught up in the chaos of what a wedding can be and felt they needed to simplify things and go back to those life lessons. Do what you want, be who you are and surround yourself with those people that will be there to celebrate all of that with you.
Additional things I loved about this wedding? I loved the simplicity of this event. I loved the fact that their good friend got ordained on-line and delivered one of the most personal services I ever witnessed. I loved the fact that they read their vows off of a Kindle. I loved being able to watch these two enjoy each other. I love how Amanda said to me that she loves how Tyler fixes his hair the way he does….she finds it cute. I loved how this was not just about them and how they made sure each and every one of their people, (including us) were taken care of. Most importantly I loved that they were 100% themselves that day with no apologies.