Welcoming Elizabeth Ann
| Posted by Tyler Wirken on September 6th, 2011Here at Wirken Photography our goal is to be a family historian to as many people as possible. We love to feel like one of the family and be included in monumental life events.
I had the opportunity to do just that with one of my past wedding clients, Julie and Chris. They asked me if I would document the birth of their first child. I jumped at the chance. I have only done this once before when I documented the birth of Becca’s daughter, Charlotte, so to have another chance was exciting to me. I love photographing births as I feel these photos are almost more important than wedding photos. Almost.
It is such a treat to have images that mark the beginning of a new chapter in life. Child birth certainly falls into the monumental category so I was thrilled to be able to do what I do best for Julie and Chris. I am going to let the photos do most of the talking here but I must share one story Julie’s mom recalled. She recalled the moment during Julie’s wedding that they had to have the seamstress come in and literally stitch Julie into her dress as the hook and eye broke.
Julie had to have a c-section and after the birth her mom looked at me and said, “now you have seen Julie get stitched up twice”! So perfect mom.
Lets welcome Elizabeth Ann.
Julie and Chris during the procedure with tears flowing.
Catherine + Sean : Engaged
| Posted by David on September 2nd, 2011Here are some photos that I really love from Catherine and Sean’s engagement photos, there are many more of course, but I can’t put them all in the blog. Sean and Cat made my job easier by being themselves and showing their true personalities during the photo shoot.
Caroline & Peter | Wedding
| Posted by Becca on August 30th, 2011
Expressive people are the easiest ones to photograph. To communicate what a subject is feeling and make the photo as powerful as the depth of feeling in real life- that is one of the toughest challenges of photojournalism. Caroline and Peter made it easy on me. They are so passionate and expressive. They look at each other with deep sincere affection, laugh loud, and dance big.
I first got to know them in their home town San Francisco, and we spent a rainy, fun spontaneous afternoon together shooting pictures. What impressed me most about them was their maturity. That they are young, but already so grounded in the value of family. They fell in love with each other partly because they shared those same primary family values. It was fun to see and get to know their families on the wedding day and get a chance to see where that foundation came from. Thanks for letting me in on all of it guys! Much love!
Jayne & Kelly
| Posted by Becca on August 29th, 2011
Here are a few bits about Jayne and Kelly that I like:
At our first meeting, Jayne and I went on a long rabbit trail about design and style blogs for a good many minutes, and we both left with new urls to stalk.
At our third meeting, Kelly showed up at the studio with a Cherry slushee from Quick Trip. I liked that about him.
Jayne and Kelly are a couple of really talented architects, and when we talk about pictures, they get just as excited about negative space and peak action as I do.
They are super-interesting, friendly people, and I warmly anticipate their lovely wedding a week from Saturday.
Karin & JC
| Posted by Becca on August 23rd, 2011
Yesterday as Jewel and I shot Karin and JC’s wedding, we looked at each other several times saying, “how sweet are they?!” and I think we might have even had a few tears as we photographed Karin and JC committing themselves to one another and celebrating with their dearest friends and family. Today I wanted to honor that by sharing a few of their engagement photos. Karin suggested just what I like to do for engagement sessions- hanging out at places that are meaningful to them and their story and taking some photos along the way.
We decided to shoot at the two restaurants where their first date unfolded. They were set up by a friend, and the connection was immediate. Two years have passed since that first date, but getting to see them together over the past few months, I love the idea of how wonderfully “home” that first date must have felt for them. They just seem to find home in one another. Much love to you two. Wedding photos to come…
Rachel & Matt | Wedding
| Posted by Becca on August 9th, 2011Matt didn’t tell me this (he’s a humble guy) but I learned it from his best man’s toast- that he was a 4 time State Championship hockey player. So it might seem funny that one of the words that comes to mind most when I think about these two is sweetness. They are both kind, humble, sincere people. Over the year that I have had the chance to be in their lives, I have become a really big fan of who they are and feel like they are friends more than clients.
I have been excited to share this wedding because Rachel and Matt really made it easy for me to do what I hope to do- which is really, to capture something more important than how beautiful it all was- something longer lasting than that. There is a transparency and presence to them both that really touched me throughout the day. I am thankful that I got to be there with you two and I love ya!
Lisa + Keith | Wedding
| Posted by Tyler Wirken on August 4th, 2011
The importance of friends and family comes to mind when thinking about Lisa and Keith and their wedding.
It was obvious that Lisa and Keith value their friendships as well as their families. In fact it was hard to tell sometimes who was a friend and who was family which I found wonderful. They even honored friends that were not able to be there. Part of my job is to certainly tell the story of a wedding day. The other part, the hard part, is to look for tiny stories that weave together to tell the big story of who people are. One such story at Lisa and Keith’s wedding was one of honoring a friend. A few weeks prior to the wedding one of Lisa’s bridesmaids was in an accident and not able to make it to the big day. I was unaware of this story till another bridesmaid comes into the room with a larger than life size photo of their fellow bridesmaid’s face on a stick. It was great to see her represented throughout the entire day sure to not be forgotten.
This is one tiny story amoung many others that showed Lisa and Keith’s dedication to the people that mean so much to them. It was a joy to watch unfold that day.
To top it all off I was able to be surrounded by friends as well. Our friends at Soiree did the event design and coordination, our friend Brandon with Wirken Films was there to document all of the moving story, my friends over at Pech Limo drove us around that day and I was reunited with the parents of a past client that made me feel like an old friend.
Annie + Bobby | Married | Short Film
| Posted by Brandon on August 2nd, 2011Annie’s love of life is infectious. Bobby’s devotion is endless. The honor of documenting the union of these two, their caring family and friends, and their enthusiasm for their faith has been inspiring. It’s not often we see a couple so focused, so devoted and also so jubilant about life. It was a pleasure to see their past, present and future come together on this beautiful, and very warm, summer day.
http://www.vimeo.com/26949160The Ceremony took place at St. Johns United Methodist, with the reception at the InterContinental, both in Kansas City, Missouri.
The music for the film is a live recording of Adam Breckenridge performing Nathan Partain’s “What Our God Has Done” at their ceremony. Adam is the Co-Director of Gospel Communities at Redeemer Fellowship, Annie and Bobby’s church.
Family time on the Cape
| Posted by Tyler Wirken on August 1st, 2011
I just spent another amazing week at Roots Workshop in Cape Cod teaching as well as soaking in some well needed r and r. I am normally one of the first ones to leave the workshop house and take that bittersweet trip back home to Kansas City. This year though Pam and the boys met me and we had the most amazing time hanging on the Cape with the others and then onto Boston. I am pretty sure that Pam fell a little bit in love with this part of the country and we will be coming again and again.
Rory + Billy | Short Film
| Posted by Brandon on July 27th, 2011Rory and Billy were destined to be together. Many messages, near misses and random encounters later, they decided to give it a shot. My longest engagement film to date; I had a hard time condensing their story and decided to keep it all in tact. Without further adieu, the engagement story of Rory & Billy:
http://www.vimeo.com/25888920After the long and fateful courtship came to a close, I had the pleasure of filming their wedding day on a warm & sunny day in July. It was a thoughtful event that included personal touches from all of their loving family and friends, one of which being his father singing at the ceremony. In a day full of beautiful moments it’s those personal touches that really shine through. Thank you for letting me bear witness to your fun day and night filled with many laughs, tears and celebration. The story of Rory and Billy has only just begun.
http://www.vimeo.com/26376249Ceremony: St. John’s United Methodist Church
Reception: The InterContinental Hotel
Photography: Tyler Wirken
Coordinator: Soirée Event Design – Megan Allen
Dress: Lazaro
Flowers: Branches & Twigs
Band: Michael Beers Band
Cake: Creative Cakes by Sandy Danner
Photobooth: boothBOOTH
Ceremony Music: Fontana and the grooms father singing Ava Maria!
Transportation: Pech Limousine
Calligrapher: EverAfterNY
Menus and programs: Lisa Samartino Atelier Exquisite Stationary
Music for the Short Film: Pearl Jam – Thin Air
Music for the Engagement Film: Windsor for the Derby – Melody of a Fallen Tree