They met many years ago, when they were both working at Blockbuster.

Their first date was at the local Steak n’ Shake. He was extremely nervous, and she thought that was adorable.

More dates followed, official Boyfriend/Girlfriend status, and away they went. Megan and Di, who had a shared love of shoe shopping (I need a dude like that), cooking, Mexican Orange Fanta, and video games. Life was Good. And then, one evening many years later, Di took Megan back to Steak n’ Shake and asked Megan to be his wife.

I spent a lovely early-spring evening with Megan and Di, walking around downtown Liberty and talking and laughing, and oh my goodness, but I fell in love with them as well. Oh, and I also dragged them to Blockbuster and Steak n’ Shake. Thanks for putting up with me and my crazy ideas, guys.

Their engagement pictures can be found below, I have so many to share –Megan expressed some worry about having photos done, “we never know what to do with ourselves”. Let me tell you the funny thing, though: you can always tell a couple that has been together for a long time, because they are comfortable and immediately snuggle right in together when placed within a foot of each other. Posing, schmosing – I hardly had to give them any direction. They are naturals

Megan and Di: thank you so much, for meeting up with me in Liberty and for inviting me to be a part of your wedding day. I cannot wait to see you again in October. Your love for each other shines in your faces when you look at each other, and I have a feeling there won’t be a dry eye in the place when you exchange those vows.

Now enjoy your photos.

I was lucky enough to shoot their engagement photos in downtown Parkville, the same area where they will have their wedding come June. It was a gorgeous day, if a bit windy, but we definitely made that work in our favor.

Jenni and Kevin met at the birthday party of a mutual friend. They have a shared passion for movies and for keeping fit (and doing the Warrior Dash together this May). Most of all: they are clearly best friends. My wedding packages always include an engagement session, and I do this because it’s important to me to spend some time with the couple and I really feel that I have a good idea of their relationship. In front of the camera I got to see everything they were together as a couple: funny, sweet, supportive of one another, and definitely meant to be.
Jenni and Kevin: thank you so much for meeting up with me that windy windy, WINDY day, for being good sports about it and laughing with me along the way. So very excited for your wedding day.

I headed over one rainy-ish day and met the sweet new member of their family, took a lot of photos, and learned that Maddie is quite skilled at kicking herself in the face

Alaina and Jon: thank you for having me over.  I am so happy I got to meet the wee baby, goof with Maddie, and see you one more time before we moved away.  Enjoy the photos, and squeeze those babies tight for me!  Will miss you bunches!

First up: the obligatory shots of the girls with the Jayhawk.

Then on to some Gabby love. The child, she has her mother’s hair. It’s gorgeous and photos don’t do it justice. I covet that kid’s hair.

Thought I would end with one from the blooper reel.

She was fresh from naptime and probably not that excited to see me, but she did warm up shortly after we hit the back yard. We had some fun with bubbles, lollipops, and dandelions, which is pretty much the embodiment of Springtime. A quick trip in the wagon as well, and well: I’d say we got a lot of mileage out of our time together

Thanks, Roe, for being a good sport and putting up with my camera in your face for an hour. I hope your mommy enjoys these pictures as much as I enjoyed shooting them.  :)

We ran around, hit the swings, and enjoyed a KU cookie. All with her baby safely tucked under her arm. Pretty much a toddler’s dream evening.

Remember me to Summer Shandy, guys Will miss you TONS! Enjoy your pictures!

Thanks for meeting up with me, guys! I had a great time and was so glad we could squeeze in a shoot before I head north

When going through my images I realized I processed a lot of them in black and white; their house is older (much like our own) and while some see that as a challenge for shooting in natural light, to me that means lots of that soft morning light filtering in through old windows. Which pretty much begs for the black and white treatment.

Anyhoo, on with the show.  Check out this little darling, sweet and bright-eyed and totally living up to her name.

This bassinet is a family heirloom, lots of beloved family members have been rocked in this little puppy. So of course, we had to get some photos for posterity.  And how about that little smile, too?

I read somewhere that there are few things as comforting to a little girl’s cry than her dad’s hand, and I am here to tell you this is the honest truth.

Those first weeks of having a baby are such an exhausting, bewildering, and amazing time for a new family – congratulations, Emilie and Terrol. Enjoy every moment of it.

She is sweet and snuggly and smells oh-so-lovely, and after holding that sweet little child curled up into my shoulder I had a severe case of the Baby Rabies for a good week.  No lie.  I got better, but seriously don’t hold the newborns.  They are sneaky and make you want to have another.

Okay really though – I got to meet this little darling one sunny, warm day not long ago, and she is just as dreamy and sweet as she appears in the following photos.  Congratulations Christy, Aaron, and Saylor: your new little one is a total dream.

Now for a little big sister time, the lovely Saylor (she loooooooves her sister, no jealousy just a lot of sisterly love. I wish I could clone this girl and make her my own, for serious).

This owl hat is killing me. I covet it.  I wish it came in my size.

To Wisconsin.

Yes, you have heard me right, and I’m blaming the recent blog silence on all the preparations for our big move. I have contacted current clients and will still be traveling down for my weddings, no worries on that.

One major bummer about the move is that the photography business will be on hiatus for awhile, until I can get everything straightened out up there to run a business in the fine state of Wisconsin. And with all the packing, relocating, and other fine things involved with moving cross-country, I have very little time to fit in much shooting before we leave.

With this in mind, I’m announcing a 2012 Spring Mini Session Event. I’m offering a few different options, so take a look below at the FAQs for more details. There will only be 8 sessions available for this event, so please reserve your spot early. All sessions are available on a first come, first serve basis – just contact me with your preferred time. All packages require a $50 retainer to hold your time slot.

And while I have your attention, here’s a quick sneak peek of a recent newborn shoot, because really: what good is a post with no images

 
What are mini sessions? How are they different from standard sessions?
Mini sessions take place on a set date and location. They last for approximately 30 minutes each, and do not include outfit changes. In contrast, a standard session takes place on the date and location of your choosing and last for 60-90 minutes with unlimited outfit changes.

What are the dates, times, and locations?
April 1, 2011 – Johnson County, Kansas (details to come)
April 7, 2011 – South Park and downtown area (Lawrence, Kansas)
Each day will have 4 afternoon slots available.

What if it rains?
If that lovely Kansas spring weather rears its ugly head, I will schedule a new date for the same location. If you are unable to make the new date, any retainer you pay will be credited toward a standard session or refunded to you (your choice).

What is included in the Mini Session price?
We’re trying something different with the mini sessions; I’ve created 3 packages to choose from:

Package 1 – $125
| 30 minute session
| 30-40 finished high-resolution files

Package 2 – $175
| 30 minute session
| 30-40 finished high-resolution files
| 2 mini accordion brag books

Package 3 – $300
| 30 minute session
| 30-40 finished high-resolution files
| 2 mini accordion brag books
| 8×8 Photo Book

Prices do not reflect applicable sales tax. The brag books show off 14 images from your session, and are small enough to fit in a pocket or purse. The photo book is a hardbound archival quality book and will contain all finished images from your session. See the bottom of the post for fine print details.
 

FINE PRINT DETAILS: Please read…

Please e-mail me at sixthirtysixstudio@gmail.com to book your session. All sessions will require a $50 retainer to hold your time slot. This retainer applies to your final cost of the session. Your session is considered booked upon receipt of this retainer. This retainer will not be refunded for missed appointments and/or cancellations made within 72 hours of your scheduled spot.

I ask that you arrive at least 10 minutes prior to your scheduled start time so that we will be ready to go when your session starts. Details on exactly where to park and meet will be provided after your booking.

Sessions will move quickly, so please ensure that everyone is dressed, prepped, and ready to go.

Final images will be processed and ready within 15 business days of your session.

*~*~*~*~*

1.  This week we threw a baby shower for my dear coworker Alaina.  It was a surprise party, which now that I think about it probably wasn’t the smartest idea for an 8-months-pregnant woman. Thankfully she did not spontaneously go into labor on the floor of the break room, and we enjoyed many lovely potluck dishes from all our coworkers.  Including Eleanor’s always amazing cowboy caviar (no recipe, sadly).  And these Thing 2 cupcakes that I whipped up and Danielle decorated with blue cotton candy (Alaina’s soon-to-be baby is nicknamed Thing 2, so they were totally appropriate).

2.  The husband Mr. Scott and I hit up the local JBF sale.  I was able to snag a ton of shorts for Pete for this summer and next, and a vintage-y plaid pair of pants for him to wear next winter.  While there, perusing the toys, I found this gem.  Kinda sad I didn’t pick it up, to be honest.  That would make a bad-ass gag gift.  JC Chasez, oooooh yeah.

3. I, like every other woman right now, am obsessed with Downton Abbey on PBS.  While I do enjoy it, I admit it is a wee bit melodramatic lately for my tastes (let me just try to wrap my head around the once-dead-inherits-everything cousin Patrick who suddenly shows up at the castle not only un-dead, but a war hero, and so scarred he is unrecognizable and oh yeah now speaks with a Canadian accent.  Yeeeeeeah, okay then, nevermind that because SOULMATE COUSIN MATTHEW THE PARAPLEGIC CAN MAGICALLY AND SUDDENLY WALK AND HAS WORKING MAN-BITS SO COME BACK TO YOUR TRUUUUUE LOOOOOOVE, COUSIN MARY).

Anyway though, everyone loves it and there is even this website that has named cocktails in honor of the characters.  I really want to make the Sybil for the Oscars Watch Party this year (as always, party of two: me and Scottie).  But: it has elderberry liqueur.  And that elderberry liqueur is expensive, my friends.  And what if I hate it, and then I have this giant bottle of it and I just paid $35+ for it?  So: sorry, Sybil.  No drinkies in your honor.  At least this week.

(Photo courtesy of Evening Standard)

PS Matthew and Mary please get married.  Pretty please.

4.  If I go to the gym after Scott gets off work (instead of my usual way-too-early-in-the-damn-morning routine, or my I-was-too-lazy-to-get-up-at-5am-so-am-taking-a-long-lunch-to-workout time), I almost always am greeted with this perfectly tiny, Sorority-looking girl.  Who undoubtedly always chooses the elliptical next to me.  And proceeds to work out while barely breaking a sweat, in her perfect Athleta matchy-matchy workout outfit.  While continuously farting.  I am not kidding, she farts about every five minutes.  And it is killllllling me, omg.  Perfect pretty girl, please stop passing gas while working out.  It is really throwing me off.

5.  I found this happy little gentleman in my bed on Thursday evening:

Yes, that’s a robot. Not just any robot, but Pete’s Valentine Collection Box Robot.  I have a sneaking suspicion that our daycare provider did the bulk of the work on that valentine box, just a hunch.  At any rate, the Doots man loves it and drags it around everywhere.  Apparently also leaving it as a gift in my bed.  Lovely.

6.  I gave up sweets of all kinds for Lent.  This happened right before my coworker’s baby shower, so I had no cupcakes, no delicious brownies and cotton candy, nothing.  WAAAAAAAH.  I am craving fruit like a madwoman, and I’m not sure if that’s such a good thing.  Eight pounds of strawberries isn’t exactly good for me, right?

7.  I am forcing my husband to read The Hunger Games series.  He’s more of a newspaper/magazine kinda guy but I am forcing him to see the films with me, so he might as well get the books read and out of the way.  Wish him luck.  And enjoy this trailer.

(Photo courtesy of onlinemoviehut)

8.  We made huevos rancheros for dinner tonight, thanks Lent.  No, really, thanks Lent: sooooooo gooooooood.  I use Smitten Kitchen’s recipe, it’s quick and easy and oh my goodness, but so yummy.  You can’t beat a dish with a runny egg; even the Doots mauled his dinner tonight.  Try it if you haven’t already!

9.  This week I discovered that taking mayo off a sandwich at Jimmy Johns saves you over 100 calories.  Um, WHOA.  NO more mayo for me, forever.  Or at least for the next month or so.

(Photo courtesy of QuickMeme)

10.  I should probably end on a photography-related note.  How about these iPad wedding albums, then, eh?  Aren’t they awesome?  I’ve got a program to create them so if you have a wedding coming up (including my already-booked brides): bring it.

(photo courtesy of Steve Walton)

Have a great week, all!  See you again soon