My Mother in Law is the Bomb

This year for Christmas Adam bought me a shootsac. I have been begging for one since I attended Kelly Manno's workshop back in April....before I even had my own camera.

I love it. I shot my first wedding and portrait session with it two weeks ago. If it wouldn't make me a complete and total nerd, I would wear it to bridal consultations, dinner, and probably even to bed. Ok that might be taking it a little far, but seriously. It is amazing. My camera bag was bulky. I could not walk in a tight space or near another human being without side swiping someone with my bag full of gear. Changing lenses was a difficult endeavor that involved me sitting on the ground, with the contents of my bag scattered all around me.

Fast foward to my birthday.

Lucky for me, I only have to wait about 29 days from Christmas until my birthday. To celebrate a quarter century of life, my mother in law made me this ever-so-awesome, personalized, shootsac cover. Complete with my logo and a strap cover to match. I can't wait to show it off at my next session! I told her she can expect to start a busness out of this after I refer all shootsac owners to her.




Happy Monday! And to everyone in Missouri....be careful in this epic storm that is approaching!

A Pointless Post about SNOW

As a little girl in California, I remember imagining what snow was like. In my mind it was white, cold, and soft...like fluffy soft... like jump into a pile of heaping laundry soft.

And then one day the mail man delivered a package, sent from that far away land known as Missouri. A package complete with home videos from my mom's friend. She would record footage of snowflakes falling. She would show us cars and mailboxes that were covered in inches on top of inches of snow. She would show us how the folks here have to scrape off their cars after a snow storm in order to go to work. She told us not to eat the yellow snow. And then she would walk around, crunching the snow with her tennis shoes, only to ruin that dreamy image I had of soft, fluffy, cloud-like snow.

I doubt this is the reason, but I am not really a fan of snow. I enjoy snowboarding, or at least the attempt. I enjoy looking out of my window and watching the first snow fall....and then I want it to go away. It's cold. It's ugly when it is piled on the sides of the road, in that muddy shade of brown. And it crunches!

Okay, so this was a rather pointless post (you can't say I didn't warn you)....with an alterier motive. I really just wanted to share these pictures of my puppies, enjoying the 10 inches of snow we received. While I don't care for snow, I couldn't resist showing you how much Guinto and Dyster love it!

He a bit terrifying in this one.

Sorry for the pointless ramble. I promise, I have more interesting and exciting blog posts coming up!

Baby Bump:Christina+Denny+Chloe

It was freezing outside. There was snow on the ground and a piercing chill in the air. However, when you combine Uggs, an adorable couple, and a cuter-than-ever baby bump....the cold was well worth it.

Denny and Christina are genuinely sweet. The kind of sweet that comes along only once in a blue moon. Their love for one another is undeniable, and their excitement for a new addition to their family was obvious in their every action. Chloes is one blessed baby to be entering into the world with this mommy and daddy!

I will start witih my absolute favorite photo of Christina.

Baby shoes are the cutest.








Christina, you are one GORGEOUS mamma!!!



If the way Denny treats Christina is any indication of the type of father he is going to be, Chloe is in GREAT hands!






Thank you to Denny, Christina, and Chloe for such a fun time, even in the cold! I can't wait to see pictures of the new family once Chloe is born! You two are going to be amazing parents! I can't tell you how many time Danielle and I said something along the lines of "OMG! How cute are they!" throught the session!

Thank you to Danielle for all of your help! :)

And a thank you to Amy, for trusting me to take this session over for you! I can't thank you enough for such an awesome couple!

Back in the Swing of things

I made December my Sunday. My time of rest after a busy year, or rather, before an even busier year. I spent my time with friends, family, and my puppies. I made sure to take a bit of time off partly to keep my sanity, but mostly for Adam's sanity.

However, I'm back and ready to go! I feel refreshed, rejuvenated, and encouraged.

I spent this past weekend in St. Louis....my camera in my hand and my shootsac on my hip (best Christmas present ever). I'm pretty excited to share all the fun I was up to, but for now I will leave you with just a glimpse.



Check back soon for the full sneak peek! Happy Wednesday :)

Life after I DO: You put your Ice Cream in the MICROWAVE?!

This is the reaction I would get from Adam everytime we indulged in this delicious treat prior to saying I DO! I can't help it! Eight seconds is all it usually takes. Ice cream tastes much better when in a soft creamy state as opposed to it's right-out-of-the-freezer rock state.

A couple of months of marriage would flash by us. Many nights of ice cream torment and teasing would pass. Until the day I walked into the kitchen...only to find Adam standing in front of the microwave, spoon in mouth, waiting 8 seconds for his bowl of Blue Bunny's Super Chunky Cookie Dough to melt into it's intended state of perfection.

This is what happens after I DO. You adapt. I'm not saying marriage turns you into the same person by any means. We each have our own little "ways of doing things" that neither of us ever will budge on. The point is, it is a lot of fun to take note in the small ways a husband and wife take to eachother's mannerisms, quirks, and habits....for better or for worse.

I thought it might be fun to post these once in a while since many of you out there reading my blog are brides to be. :)

"You are right....it tastes better this way"-Adam

Faves of Twenty Ten

As the saying goes...better late than never! I fully intended on posting this before the ball dropped on Time Square at midnight of January 1st. However, I was busy playing host to my friends and family! :)

I thought I would embark on the new year by sharing with you some of my favorite photos from 2010. Along the way I will share little tid bits of my journey that has brought me to where I am today as a photographer. Let me warn you...hodgepodge ahead.

I will start with Josiah and Laurie's Rock Your Knot session. This session by far allowed me to be the most creative as an artist with my images to date.






The next couple photos bring me back to where it all started. Kelly Manno. She hosted a workshop where I first took this leap of faith into the photography world. She taught me the importance light, and of doing things right the first time around.



Greg and Shari were married in October in the fantabulous St. Albans. I shot along side Erica Rankin who brought out every bit of joy there is in photographing a wedding.







Finally, a wedding with a dear friend. Donna Harris. She has been a wonderful inspiration and great mentor as I have started in this crazy, stressful, most rewarding industry! Enjoy these photos of Catherine and Joey!




Matt and Suzie's engagement session in St. Charles was such a blast! There is no way I could make a fave's blog without these images of the two of them!





My little sister...is not engaged, but this picture is one of my all time faves!

And of course Erik and Amanda's proposal! This night was so uniqe and so memorable!

Shot Party 2010! Yet another great job by Kelly Manno featuring Jasmine Star. Little did I know that day I would be in a group with Michelle Ross, who would one day also play a huge role in my photography journey.




My sister Malorie and her adroable family.

The Ingrassia family, with cute little baby Bella!



And who could forget this all time favorite pose by Cadence!



The Farmer Family of 9!




And last but not least...in honor of the SIX pairs of boots I recieved for Christmas...and the steps I will take to admitting that I have a problem I give you more BOOTS!

That pretty much wraps up 2010! To say I have been blessed is a HUGE understatement! I am so thankful for all of my clients, all of the families and couples I have been introduced to, all of the wonderful photographers I have made friends with, and for all of the opportunities that have been given to me! I want to thank my family, friends, readers, and clients for the support, love and encouragement you have shown me these last six months! I also want to give a special thanks to my 2011 brides! You all have been nothing short of wonderful to me thus far and I can not WAIT for this wedding season to start! You all rock!

With much Love!
Michelle