becca's photo blog

Run, don't walk! It's an all new blog!

2008-03-10T22:12:00.003-06:00

Hey friends and faithful blog followers.
Great news! Tyler and I have merged our two blogs into one fabulous new blog with BIG pictures!
So, re-mark this link and check often.

www.wirkenblog.com
yehoo!

Emily and Grant Engagement

2008-03-05T15:04:00.003-06:00

Emily and Grant go all the way back to high school and went on to college together at the University of Missouri. I was talking to Emily on the phone about the engagement session: I always ask people- what do you guys like to do together? Do you have any special places? What is your personal style- what kinds of settings would go with your home?
Lots of folks have kind of a hard time thinking of something distinct, so I was thrilled when Emily said, giggling, "well, we actually love to bowl together" Perfect!
So, we hit Ward Parkway Lanes, bowled a game together and took some pictures in the meantime. Here are a few favorites...

Which one's your favorite?

2008-02-20T17:47:00.003-06:00

I finally had a chance to post some short slideshows in the "watch" section of our website
go to: www.wirkenphoto.com and click on "watch" in the lower menu
Tell me which one is your favorite!!
We've got....
LeeAnne & Iannick

Kim & Matt

Holly & David

Michelle & Jason

Website Update

2008-02-18T00:05:00.003-06:00

Weehoo!
I just updated the site with by adding some of 07 favorites to my wedding and portrait galleries. Be sure to check them out if you are trying to kill time at work (wink, wink)
And stay tuned...by the end of the week, I will have a few slideshows posted in the "Watch" section.

Addie Rose Boutique

2008-02-14T16:23:00.002-06:00

You know that bubble gum pink bungalow in the heart of Brookside? Well, if you haven't been inside, you NEED to check it out. I did a short shoot on Monday with the owner of Addie Rose Boutique, Megan Meiners. We shot a few new dresses from the spring line, and a handful of crazy kids decked out in couture :).

I just love this coral colored number. kind of chases away the gray sky blues :)

Who doesn't love a Johnny Cash shirt on a kid? You can see rock star written on his face :)

this was my favorite group shot. kids being kids. I thought it really matched Megan's vibe- eclectic, laid back, and totally fun.

The shop also carries these darling hand sewn onesies (a local artist)

Here's Megan with the store's namesake, her 11 month old Addie Rose.

Some of Megan's favorite lines:
Ella Moss, Rebecca Beeson, Sweetees, Diane Samandi, Citizens, Hale Bob

Stop in and pick up something new for spring!
Addie Rose Boutique
6301 Main Street
Kansas City, MO

Shelly Belly

2008-02-13T18:17:00.002-06:00

I had a veery fun time shooting Shelly's belly today. She and her husband Andy are expecting a girl in the next month, and they were pure pleasure to shoot. Can't wait to meet the little beauty!

Creative minds gather at the Wirken studio

2008-02-10T23:26:00.000-06:00

If your follow the blog, you know that we had a little local artist powwow here at the studio last Thursday. The place was pretty packed and we had a blast!

Here you can see the jewelry table set up through the window

Models were decked out in Janay's beautiful gowns

Our shooting room was converted to a mini Janay boutique for the evening

Bridget of the Ornamental Petal brought some stunningly creative floral creations

Cakes by Joe. Joe also brought these bags of mini cakes and cookies for Valentine's day. They were to die for!

Katie and Garnet: the girls of ScarlettGarnet jewelry. I wear their work every day :)

All the artists: Katie, Bridget, Joe, Garnet, Janay

Thanks again guys for gracing us with your amazing art!

Sleepy little fella

2008-02-10T23:17:00.001-06:00

look at sweet little Cody

Multiple Musings

2008-01-30T15:19:00.001-06:00

Here are some happy experiments with Multiple exposure.
This one I love. Ben and the seedpod, Kind of like James and the Giant Peach :)

This one is a multiple exposure laid on top of a single exposure. I shot the sign at one car lot, with a lot of negative space in the sky, and then shot a multiple exposure of this great tinsel-like stuff at another car lot.

helga the holga

2008-01-26T17:36:00.000-06:00

I got another roll back from that first week when I got my holga.
the black and white is eerie, eh?

Holly and David

2008-01-26T11:44:00.000-06:00

I usually limit myself to 20 pictures or less for each wedding post, but, since this was my last wedding of 2007, I decided to slack on the self-restraint. So here is an extra long post for some wonderful friends, David and Holly.
Winter, and Christmas time specifically, is really special to these two. When we first met, they said that some of the most influential times in their relationship have been around the holidays. So, when they woke up with a blizzard on their wedding day, they were thrilled :)
Here is a glimpse into their day...

Holly's mom at that first moment Holly had her dress on

the wedding party was so fun! They braved the cold for some beautiful pictures out in the bright white snow

Erin took this one. Isn't it great?

This was by far one of my favorite moments of the day. David really wanted to see Holly for the first time at the end of the aisle, but he asked if they could just be together briefly without seeing eachother. There was so much energy bouncing between them. Great moment.

Here is another powerful one by Erin- Holly and her dad just before the doors opened

...and finally, I love this picture...Holly's dad in the background- I think a beautiful illustration of sending off his daughter to a new stage in life.

Congratulations you two!

Scarlett Garnet and Janay A Handmade

2008-01-20T18:22:00.000-06:00

Last Monday I had the pleasure of shooting the latest creations of a few of the most talented upcoming designers here in Kansas City. Scarlett Garnet (http://www.scarlettgarnet.com/), and Janay A Handmade (http://www.myspace.com/abstractpretty) have collaborated to bring custom jewelry, veils, and wedding gown seperates to brides that are looking for something custom and handmade for their wedding. On Thursday February 7th, I will be hosting an event at the Wirken Photography studio to show off these ladies' wonderful creations. Come from 5:30 to 7:30 to talk to Garnet and Katie about creating custom jewelry pieces for you and/or your bridesmaids (or bring your significant other to give them a wishlist for Valentine's Day), and see Janay's cutting edge veils, clothing, and bags. Or come just to sip champagne and meet these talented artists. For more information, email me at becca@wirkenphoto.com.
Here are a few of my favorite images from the shoot.

prepping for the shoot, Garnet making jewelry while Katie works on her hair

Janay getting the model prepped

From left to right: Katie (jewelry), Garnet (jewelry), and Janay (clothing)- the creative minds behind these designs

Carrie and David

2008-01-17T20:07:00.000-06:00

What a busy 2007! I am still catching up. All year, I fell in love with my couples, and came to know them as friends. I immediately felt that way about Carrie and David. They were married in Wichita at Carrie's beautiful church in downtown Wichita, and their reception was at the wonderful Wichita Center for the Arts. David is a talented graphic designer, and so art is central to their lives. Thanks so much guys. We had a great time!

one of my favorite former brides is a good friend of Carrie's- Kristi

More Holga!

2008-01-04T11:47:00.001-06:00

I love my Holga!

Michelle and Jason

2008-01-03T17:55:00.000-06:00

It will be strange for you to see fall colors in the dead of a snowy winter. Even though I'm behind on blogging, I wanted to share Jason and Michelle's wedding because I just loved shooting it. They are truly comfortable people- you know the kind that you feel like you've known for years even though you just met? The light was beautiful, the love was real, and the party was swingin. Enjoy!

Jason fightin back the tears during the ceremony

isn't this a beautiful image? I was lucky enough to have my friends Brandon and Nicole Parigo (www.parigostudios.com) shooting with me that day, and Brandon captured this wonderful moody moment during the ceremony.

So, I was having fun shooting the reception, and I look to my left and see......Tyler! (my business partner) He was crashing my wedding! I guess his wedding that night had finished early, and mine was on his way home, so he decided to pop in and shoot some- why not? :)
Actually, it was a really cool experiment, because Tyler and I have always talked about how amazing it could be to have both of us at a wedding as well as an assistant (or two) helping with lighting. As the primary photographer of a wedding, you constantly have to make split-second decisions- do I shoot it wide or tight? Do I light it or use ambient light? Do I stick with this composition and wait for the moment or move on to the next? With two of us, we could shoot it both wide and tight, ambient and supplemental light- we really think there's a lot of possibility for outstanding coverage there....
This shot by Tyler is a prime example of this- what an amazing shot! I was covering it up close- you can see me in the bottom right- and Tyler got the whole scene (his shot is better) :)
Anyway- it was fun, and we hope to do it more in the future

My new friend

2008-01-02T18:26:00.000-06:00

My dear girl Tina Carter (www.vraiphoto.com) introduced me to the Holga. I fell in love with the dream-like quality of one of her images that she made with her toy camera. I was completely baffled by it- the idea of making these magical images without having hardly any technical control at all. I started researching Holgas online, and I realized that I am on the end of a loooong train of Holga enthusiasts. People become obsessed. And now I can see why.

So, I told Mark that I hoped for one for Christmas. He came through, and my brother Ben and I went playing in the snow, and at the art museum, shooting pictures with my new little toy along the way. Today I got the first roll back that I shot with it. I really didn't even know if anything would be on the film. And- I was pleasantly surprised. Here is one that I love

Ben's hands

stay tuned for more Holga in the future

Julie + Luke

2007-12-17T23:44:00.000-06:00

Here's one from Novmeber
Julie is a photographer too, and both of them are super free spirits- so much fun to shoot!
They were married at Jacobs Well (www.jacobswellchurch.org), where Mark and I go to church.

Sarah and Matt Engagement

2007-12-13T11:01:00.000-06:00

How cute are they?!

Check me out in the knot!

2007-12-10T14:23:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite couples is featured in the knot this month. Check it out on newstands.

awwwww.......

2007-12-09T19:12:00.000-06:00

This year has been full of wonderful new babies in our lives :)
here are some cute ones from the last few months

Eyes like marbles

2007-12-04T18:27:00.000-06:00

Here's Ellie- Isn't she lovely?

Ellie really likes Audrey Hepburn. Here she was trying to decide which of Audrey's movies is her favorite. I liked this moment- it's endearingly her

Relaxation

2007-12-01T21:22:00.000-06:00

I signed up for this photographer's retreat months and months ago, not even knowing how worn out I would be at this point in November. It turned out to be a great decision. I saw a few dear friends, and made a few new treasured acquaintances. We were at a warm old cabin in the forests of Kentucky, hosted by a wonderfully friendly family and staff. We slept in, ate country cookin, took a few pictures, but only if we wanted to. It was a great time, and I feel measurably refreshed. Here's a peek...

The Eight of us, from left to right, top row first: Huy, Jonathan, Gulnara, Matt, Henry, me, Tina, Laura

Laura Olson surprised us all by wading into the freezing creek- Henry and Jonathan shooting her. Looks like hunting to me.

I've got a serious thing for moss, and the whole place was blanketed with it. beautiful.

Gulnara became my muse for the first day

Jonathan McBride took this one of me.

Another Jon McBride

my girl Tina Carter and her skirt- the skirt that embodies her :)

Laura

Anya + Chris

2007-11-25T10:03:00.000-06:00

Sorry all faithful blog followers. I am just now getting caught up, so I promise blogging will be more regular. Here's a great one from October. Anya and Chris are wonderful. It's always fun to shoot wedding ceremonies that are a little divergent from the usual. Anya grew up at this really neat Eastern Orthodox church, and the ceremony had tons of visual interest (check out the crowns below). Both Erin (my faithful assistant) and I remarked all day on how nice and laid back everyone was. Thank you so much all of you for letting me into your day!
Anya's mom made all of the cute bridesmaid's dresses!

Anya's sister Alli did the flowers- she used some really unique flowers

I love the way kids connect with the camera

beauty.

I love this moment. Anya and her family and bridesmaids were picked up in the limo, and then arrived in front of the church, and walked straight into the doors and down the aisle. I absolutely love this way of doing things. So dramatic- the anticipation is outstanding. People always say they don't want to wait to see eachother because they're afraid they'll be so nervous, and I usually say "great"- that's what makes the moment so powerful.

Anya's family is Russian, so instead of throwing flowers or bubbles or whatever, they exited the church with a vodka toast. Fun!

Dad and Grandma toasting

I asked Erin to shoot the reaction- she nailed it. Yuck!

Lake Quivira- the sun had just set- This is one of my favorite lights to shoot in- that blue night sky

...and they danced the night away. :)

Andy and Brecken Engagement

2007-11-20T18:43:00.000-06:00

I got to know these two when I shot Andy's sweet sister Lucy's wedding last December. The Rumseys are just all around good people. Andy and Brecken met when they were both working at Blockbuster. They are cute. They are quirky (aren't we all?) and they bring out eachother's cute quirks. (See the picture under the tree canopy below- kind of an endeared laughing at eachother- I like that in couples). During our shoot I told Brecken that she reminded me of Claire Danes, and she said "I LOVE Claire Danes!" Then we started talking about how people are always infatuated with the celebrities that kind of look like them. True?
Check out some shots..

Budding Bird family

2007-11-20T00:12:00.001-06:00

Still the baby of the family...

...until Nathan arrived!

Amber and Michael

2007-11-08T14:41:00.000-06:00

Amber and Mike met at a friend's wedding at Club 1000, and after being persuaded to dance by friends, they made their way downstairs to Tanner's to hang out more.
Soooo...of course we thought it would be fun to start their engagement pics off at the place where the magic first happened.
What fun!

Pretty Things- ScarlettGarnet Jewelry

2007-11-07T19:21:00.000-06:00

For my birthday this year, my husband Mark set up a meeting with a local jewelry artist, Garnet Baker, so that I could choose or commission a custom piece. Garnet met us at a local coffee shop one Saturday morning and we rummaged through a huge box of amazing natural stones. She was so passionate about the rocks. She was bubbling over with ideas, and I immediately wanted to tell everyone I knew about her quickly budding jewelry company.
Then, I learned that she and her partner Katie do custom jewelry (at a very reasonable price) for weddings. I wished I would have know about this when I got married!
What could be more special than a custom designed piece of jewelry to give to your bridesmaids?
So a few weeks ago we shot a few of the pieces that Garnet and her partner Katie have made. Enjoy the eye candy, and be sure to keep your eye on this incredible duo of designers- they are destined for success! (great Christmas idea too)
www.scarlettgarnet.com

beautiful finishing detail- the back is just as gorgeous as the front. And those draping beads sewn into the back of the dress were also done by Garnet. Oooh la la!

this set is actually very special to me. I gave Garnet this cameo locket that my grandma passed down to me and asked her to put it on a beautiful chain- she came back with this lovely delicate combination of stones that just showcases my family treasure.

Here is an amazing creation of Katie's. Made of antique finds- bottons and such. Eclectic and clean at the same time

Garnet has incredible range- she does both classic and delicate and a little more edgy. This piece is actually centered around a pendant made of a real live orchid. and I love the way this echoes the model's tatoos.

Ashley + Houston

2007-11-05T17:55:00.001-06:00

I adore Ashley and Houston. I love the way they love eachother. You will see it when you look at these pictures. It has been a joy working with you two. Thank you so much.

The couple's new placebo dog- Ashley's gift to Houson since a real dog isn't in the mix just yet

Ashley is an artist and designed all of the printed material herself!

Ashley's youth pastor gave a very personal ceremony, and surprised them by presenting Houston with a letter that she had written to her future husband as a young teenager.

Sarah + Dustin

2007-10-29T14:23:00.001-06:00

Sarah and Dustin were married in Wichita at their church, where they met, and they celebrated with dinner and dancing at the downtown Hyatt ballroom. I have loved working with these two the whole time because of their laid back kindness. They gave me total freedom to shoot how I like to, and they got excited about trying new and unconventional things. Take a glmipse into their wedding day...

wedding photographers see it happen at most weddings- the whole "hands emerging out of the top of the dress" moment- if you look at a lot of wedding photography, you know what I'm talking about. I love it when it goes a little differently than usual. Sarah was actually stuck in the dress for a good minute, and look at her peaceful little hand patiently waiting to be untangled :)

I love the joy on her face- the first moment of being dressed

We did pretty backlit sunlight wedding-y stuff for awhile, then we tried something a little different for about 2 minutes before heading into the reception

this girl was movin and groovin all night...little miss sunshine :)

grandma dove through the crowd to catch the bouquet

Thank you so much Sarah and Dustin!

Lauren and Taylor Engagement

2007-10-25T10:01:00.000-06:00

I love Lauren and Taylor- I knew from the first time I met Lauren that we would be a good match. Here are some favorites from our fun engagement session.

Beth and Tory

2007-10-19T20:36:00.000-06:00

Alright, this is going to be a rediculously long post. What can I say, the wedding was just too beautiful and dear. Beth and Tory are good friends of ours. Their intimate wedding was in Hermann, MO at the Hermanhoff Winery. I love the simple elegance of this wedding, and of course it was a wonderful thing to be able to be by Beth's side all day on her wedding day. Thank you guys for asking us and for the fun weekend getaway.

Songbird

2007-10-18T16:17:00.000-06:00

Laurie has a beautiful voice. I put on country music as I waited for her to get to the studio, and she sang along soulfully as I took her picture. Laurie is quite a woman- a life coach, and always a singer. She recorded a solo album in Nashville this September, and she asked me to do the photography for her inserts. For our planning session, she kept coming back to the fact that she really feels most comfortable in a baseball cap and comfy clothes. I had fun shooting those beautiful blue eyes for a few hours. Here a few that I really like.

Renee and Dan Engagement

2007-10-11T14:39:00.000-06:00

Renee and Dan did my favorite thing as we were brainstorming for their engagement session- they came up with a place that is part of their story. At our initial wedding meeting, Renee told me the story of the night she met Dan at Tanner's on 87th. "Ooooh, let's shoot some engagement pictures there", I said. So we did. Then we went to the park with their dog. We had fun. Check out a few...

Jessie and Jerry

2007-10-10T17:07:00.000-06:00

I met Jessie at her sister Becky's wedding last spring, and after the wedding we began to talk about doing some fun portraits of her and her husband Jerry. The two of them are so fun, so stylish, and we had a great time playing around. Take a look....

Summer + Scott

2007-10-08T15:42:00.001-06:00

I met Scott over the phone the week before he proposed to Summer. He called me and said that he was going to ask Summer to marry him, and that he knew she loved my work and had her heart set on me for her future wedding (how nice!). So, lucky me, I was on the inside with this couple even before they were engaged. When we met to book, I knew that both of them were absolutely passionate about pictures. They were SO excited about their wedding pictures, and course that's fun for me- because I get pretty excited about pictures too.
In about an hour, Summer and Scott will be here at the studio to see their pictures for the first time. When I asked how many people she thought she'd bring to the viewing party, she said- how many CAN I bring? :)
I love it! I could go on and on about the childlike enthusiasm and joy for life that this couple exhibits, but I will end by saying thank you, Summer and Scott for giving me the pleasure of capturing your wedding day. It was so fun!

Summer being prepped by her entourage

...and her best friend watching her

I love this portriat. dramatic, but cool, eh?

Amanda + Jeff

2007-10-02T09:44:00.000-06:00

Well, folks, I'm still trying to catch up from a very busy summer, but I wanted to share some of my favorite frames from Amanda and Jeff's wedding at the end of August. Their ceremony was at a really pretty Spanish styled Catholic church in Lawrence, KS. We followed the ceremony with a nice breather from the busyness of a wedding day by hanging out at the Eldridge Hotel bar (where they often hung out while dating). Then, finished off the night with a lot of dancing at the KU Alumni Center. Amanda and Jeff are surrounded by family and friends that really treasure them. Congratulations guys! Thank you for sharing your day with me!

Amanda recently opened her own dance studio, and she has lots of little girls that look up to her...literally ;) hehe...good one, right?

mom couldn't help but get a little teary right before the ceremony

just married. I love the sincerity of this hug

This was one of those moments where I shot the picture and the image was immediately burned in my mind because of the power of it. It totally moved me.

funny

A weekend away for Cally's wedding

2007-09-25T15:12:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of getting to be a wedding guest for a delightful change. My beautiful cousin Cally and her beau, Firas, had a weekend wedding for close friends and family in Estes Park, Colorado. It was a real gift to us all to have three days of celebration lined up to spend together as family and friends. Firas is an absolute gem, and we are all so happy to welcome him and his family into our family. The years ahead will be even better with him in them.
Here are a few pics I took on the days leading up to the actual wedding.

The historic Stanley Hotel, where the wedding was held, and where most of us stayed.
lots of ghost stories here...

a cookout at the family vacation home- mom and dad steal a kiss...

hey cowboy

my bro Ben

I found this full glass covered n dew out on the hotel lawn the next morning

a bridal luncheon picnic in the meadow.

Cally and John at the reahearsal

...and the rehearsal dinner was a night full of laughter and tears

Thank you Cally and Firas and family for a wonderful weekend!
becca

Tara + Thane

2007-09-19T13:06:00.000-06:00

B is for beeeaaautiful :)
Tara and Thane had a grand and stylish wedding. I remember when I first met with them, they liked all of my favorite shots, and I knew we would be a good fit. I love you guys! Congratulations!

Kristin + Taylor

2007-09-07T07:51:00.001-06:00

Kristin and Taylor have been waiting to get married for a long time (high school sweethearts). Throughout the day, there was this overall sense of gratitude and celebration that the day had finally come that they could be husband and wife. Lots of wonderful, real, deep moments all day. Take a look...

Kristin and Taylor have some of the neatest friendships I've seen. Here Kristin is getting dressed- look at the depth of affection shown on her friends faces. You can see how much they treasure her.

"Finally!"

This one is Erin's

another great one of Erin's- right before walking down the aisle

My favorite moment of the day

Corporate Woods- where they held hands for the first time as teens

...and I'm a sucker for vintage cake toppers

Congrats you two!

Deanna

2007-09-03T11:03:00.000-06:00

Deanna is an artist. She told me that she loves drawing, trees, fantasy, and gnomes. She has this amazing long hair and a beautiful creative spirit. Here are a few of her senior portraits.

Ashley and Houston Engagement

2007-09-02T16:56:00.000-06:00

Ashley and Houston were great about brainstorming unique ideas for engagement locations. We went to a coffee shop where they used to hang out when their love was budding, and then found great spots around Houston's family home outside of Lawrence. It's always a pleasure to shoot at a new scene. Check out my favorites...

Birthday Week

2007-09-02T10:52:00.000-06:00

I know this is silly, but I do actually feel giddy on the week of my birthday. I know, I'm like a little girl. My brother makes fun of the fact that I think everyone should have a birthday week. When I have kids, I am determined to let them pick the dinner menu for the entire week of their birthday, have a week exempt from chores, etc., etc.
I think my love for birthdays came from my dad's extravagant love for me as a kid- how on my birthday I would come downstairs and there would be a banner of that old 80's printer paper (you know, with the perferated margins that you tore off)...so this long strung out banner painted with a big outdoor paintbursh and house paint (the red that we used to paint our picnic table, I think), and it said something like "Happy Birthday Becca Boo".
I'm sure I got a special breakfast and then my dad would always come up to the elementary school sometime during the day with helium ballons and candy tied to the end. It was such a surprise and for whatever reason, these gestures made me feel like the most beloved girl in the world.
My mom always made us fun Halloween or Valentine Day breakfasts and dinners, we got classic little gifts for Valentine's Day and Easter, so I think in general, I was just taught to look forward to these little celebrations- little breaks from the norm dotted throughout the year. We all need Sabbath.

Katie + Marc

2007-08-29T19:43:00.000-06:00

When I met Katie and Marc I told them they reminded me of Dharma and Greg, except Marc is much cooler than Greg. I loved them. I love who they are as people and how they love eachother. Take a look at some things that stood out to me from their wedding day.

The Wedding Party

I love that Katie only used flowers that were locally in season and natural to our region

Katie's dad during a prayer...caught by Erin

Another great ceremony shot by Erin

bon voyage!.....

...on a tandem bike...

Mulberry & Mott off of 39th Street came up with this fabulously out there creation when Katie told them she wanted an Alice in Wonderland inspired wedding cake

Dad surprised his daughter with a waltz to "Once Upon a Dream"

the newlyweds jammin to Katie's favorite song :)

Gage turns one!

2007-08-28T16:07:00.000-06:00

This summer, I had the pleasure of photographing a one year portriat AND the one year birthday of one of the babies that I have photographed ever since the belly stage. How cool! This is Gage, and here are his one year pictures...

movin and droolin

the birthday bash...in anticipation of cake....

yummy yummy yummy

yummmm

and the lovely budding family

Carrie and Matt Engagement

2007-08-16T22:11:00.001-06:00

Carrie and Matt are having an intimate beach wedding in North Carolina next spring, and even though I couldn't make it to photograph their wedding, we were able to get together for an engagement session. We had a great time, and they were great models :).

Kim + Matt

2007-08-16T09:44:00.001-06:00

I was honored when Matt and Kim asked me to shoot their wedding. They are close friends of ours, and really intimately knowing their story made the moments even more powerful. Matt waited for Kim for a long time. :)
Looking at them now, it's hard to believe that Kim didn't see it immediately- come on, they even look alike :). Their story in particular is a picture of what it really means to pursue someone with patience and love- and what it means to be pursued in that way. To see Matt looking at Kim up at the altar with such endearment, to be able to capture their friends and family praying in total gratitude for their union- it was an honor to record such a beautiful story. Love you guys!

Beth and Tory backyard

2007-08-11T09:49:00.000-06:00

Our friends Beth and Tory have the most beautiful backyard of anyone we know. Their backyard is such a part of their daily living that we thought it was a perfect setting for their engagment portriats. Check em out.

Colby + Meg

2007-08-11T07:56:00.000-06:00

My family has loved the Dischinger family for years. Naturally, photographing a wedding of people you love dearly and know intimately- it's a beautiful thing. I had a big lump in my throat as I shot many moments of the day, and cried really hard behind the camera at one point. Colby and Meg's wedding was the best of life incapsulated into one day- passionate love, celebration, endearment, a collection of histories of relationships all coming together for one event. It couldn't have been better.

Amy

2007-07-31T22:38:00.001-06:00

Amy is a beauty. She is heading to college with a scholarship in studio art. She also loves the country. She is a girl that cannot be categorized. :) I loved our session together. We trekked out near the land that Amy grew up on-complete with a red barn and tall billowing grasses.

The Cure

2007-07-31T00:44:00.000-06:00

"The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea" - Isak Dinesen

I have been anticipating visiting my brother in Santa Barbara all summer. I traveled light- didn't even take my good camera- just an instamatic. but I wanted to share a few snapshots that give a glimpse of my long dreamy weekend.
This one's my point of view laying stone cold in the sun.

yummy- Ben made caprese.

and me and my mom on our way up to a day of wine tasting

I am home now and refreshed.
-becca

Dawn + Brian

2007-07-22T11:06:00.000-06:00

Another wonderful wedding. I couldn't wait to see the images after shooting that day. Great meaning and moments as well as some really fun portraits. Dawn and Brian were great, because they totally trusted me and let me "play".

I really really love this portrait of Dawn. She is so comfortable in her skin and she has an easy going beauty

"grooms are people too"- Brian was a really fun groom to photograph because he has this "blue steel" thing going on - must be those eyes

Isn't that a great wall? It's like a gorgeous mixed media painting, and it matched the tie perfectly.

this is the picture of the day. Shot by my stellar second shooter Erin. Dawn's mom giving her daughter away.

another great one by Erin

Congratulations and Thank you!

LeeAnn + Iannick

2007-07-19T07:22:00.000-06:00

Twenty minutes after my assistant Erin and I had begun shooting LeeAnn and Iannick's wedding day- we looked at eachother and smiled and said, "wow, this is going to be a good one". In fact, we found ourselves giddy behind the camera as we watched all of these amazing things unfold before us throughout the day. This is when photojournalism feels transcendant- when you're struck by the honor of capturing something so powerful. So, what made this an exceptional day? Let's set aside the fact that the wedding itself was extravagantly beautiful (check out Craig Sole's magic at the reception in the photos below). I say that because some of my favorite weddings of my career are the simplest ones. What really made it fantastic was the content. There was genuine, un-self-counscious affection and emotion all day long. That is the key to powerful wedding photos. Enjoy!

I stayed back with LeeAnn and her dad before he waled her down the aisle. I was so glad I did. Lots of endearment.

as they left the church, their guests threw streamers that turned out to be more like a spider web. Check out the woman on the right. made me laugh.

http://www.craigsoledesigns.com/

some sort of dancing around a wine glass ritual dance :)

Kristin + Taylor- totally in love :)

2007-07-16T13:24:00.000-06:00

When Kristin told me that she and Taylor wanted to do something "barefoot" and "rustic" for their engagement session- a little voice inside of me went "yipee"! I think I'm country deep down :) Here's a peek into their sunny summer engagment session.

Jessica + Scott

2007-07-07T12:32:00.000-06:00

When I first met with Jessica to talk about photographing her wedding, I immediately fell in love with her story. Scott and Jessica were married last summer, just before Scott was deployed to Iraq. Because Scott was serving overseas, the couple had to postpne the big wedding celebration for a year. On June 9th, the two finally got to celebrate their union with family and friends. Here are some favorites...

getting dressed is often action packed

mom calming Jessica before the ceremony

I love this photo- there's just something so honest about it

Mom's excitement as the couple is announced at the reception

cake cutting- the other side of the story

Carrie and David Engagement

2007-07-02T21:18:00.000-06:00

Hey there.
Man, it has been a crazy few months. Things have been so busy that I have missed the fun of posting regularly. Here are a few from a really fun engagment session with a couple I like a whole lot :)

Selina + Dan

2007-06-18T10:21:00.000-06:00

Selina and Dan told me from the beginning that they wanted to highlight art as the background of thier wedding at the Kemper Museum. I absolutely love working with people like them who value art, because they gave me total trust and freedom to play around. The day was full of style and genuine moments between friends and family. Here are some favorites...

Nicole + Christian

2007-06-13T22:20:00.000-06:00

Maybe it's because I've been falling behind on posting and maybe it's because this wedding was so wonderful...but I couldn't narrow down the images! Nicole and Christian were married at Nicole's home in Lawrence, KS. It was a day full of real moments- genuine love. More to come by the end of next week!

I love all of the layers happening in this moment

Nicole's mom, Sheryl, also her Matron of Honor :)

Nicole had the most extraordinary flowers...I would recommend her florist anyday

I know, I have a thing for grass...

love this shot by a friend and guest photographer, Brandon Parigo. Brandon and Nicole Parigo are a supremely talented husband and wife team that I have had the honor to work with for a few weddings this season (www.parigostudios.com). The two of them captured some of my favorite shots from the day.

Amber and Jason- Engaged!

2007-06-11T00:36:00.000-06:00

I was so bummed when it turned out I wasn't available to shoot Amber and Jason's wedding this fall, but to my great excitement, they asked me to shoot their engagment pictures anyway....
They brought along their pug... :)

Keri + Andy

2007-05-30T14:39:00.000-06:00

A nice laid back wedding for a nice laid back couple.
And, the reception was in the ballroom overlooking Arrowhead- what a cool and unique backdrop! The stadium was hosting a soccer game that night, so guests could enjoy themselves and catch some sport in the meantime. Thanks for letting me capture your day Keri and Andy!

Katie and Marc like...

2007-05-25T13:22:00.000-06:00

...hanging out in bookstores

...getting their picture taken in vintage photo booths...

...sipping soda at The Crave...

...tackling eachother in the grass

...hiding out in old buildings...

Sweet Melissa

2007-05-21T22:01:00.000-06:00

I had such fun working on Melissa's pictures, because every single one was just beautiful. My husband said, "she looks like a young Cameron Diaz", and she does, but more natural and sweeter. Happy Graduation Melissa!

Carolyn + Ben...

2007-05-18T09:50:00.001-06:00

Cinco de Mayo!
Like many of my wedding couples, Carolyn and Ben have become friends in the past year. I love their love for eachother, their authenticity with people, their tight-knit families, and their friends who seem to be repeat appearances at several weddings I've shot this year :)
Carolyn and Ben- I wish you the best as you move off the Chicago this year, and thank you for letting me capture your day...here are a few teasers- the rest will be up within the next week...

I think my favorite shot from the day...

Wastin Away Again........

Carolyn's mom, Anne, wore this same veil when she and Charlie (dad), were married. The coolest part is that they were married at the same church on the same date, so they got to celebrate their daughter's marriage on their wedding anniversary.
Lovely Carolyn...

As you can see, the sombrero was a big hit :)

Michelle + David

2007-05-15T23:27:00.000-06:00

From the first time I met with Michelle, she was very serious about prioritizing photography in her wedding budget. She knew what I tell lots of brides- pictures are the only thing that will last besides the commitment itself. Fantastic wedding pictures can transport you back to being young and totally head over heels for one another. What was so cool about Michelle and David, was that they prioritized documenting their wedding, and there was lots of love to capture. Take a look...

love this shot at Shawnee Mission Park- headed back from taking informal wedding party pictures.

David and Michelle seeing eachother for the first time on a doc on the lake...they used to hang out at these docs when they were dating. I love how excited they are to see one another.

I had a great spot during the ceremony, so I was able to capture lots of emotion

Mr. and Mrs.

Who says you need cathedral windows when there is 70s stained glass? :) I loved these windows, and Michelle was fo fun- she let me play.

The rest of the pictures will be up soon!
Congratulations Michelle and David!

engagement pictures- think differently :)

2007-05-12T08:59:00.000-06:00

Matt and Kim are two of our best friends, so I've been looking forward to taking their engagement pictures for months. We were talking one day about how to make thier session fun and unique, and I mentioned this car wash that I drive past all the time and how I just think it's so charming in a 70's kitsch kinda way. Then Matt said that they washed their cars on one of their first dates. Okay, so it might be a stretch, but I thought- something different, a personal story element- let's do it.
Besides the car wash, we had quite an adventurous time together, including scaling a building that we later realized was condemned once we were up on the rusted out fire escape. It was once I got up there with my camera that I remebered my fear of heights :). moms and dads- I promise I won't make your kids risk thier lives on their engagement sessions- only if they are close friends of mine :)

Anyway, take a look at some of my favorites from thier session.

Drumroll please......

2007-05-09T09:20:00.000-06:00

Can you guess what this fine lookin logo is doing on my blog?

Becky + Josh

2007-05-03T20:01:00.000-06:00

What a fun wedding to shoot! I loved photographing Becky and Josh's wedding because they really prioritized just enjoying their day. Weddings are such a big event , that it's easy to get caught up in all of the details and rituals- all of the things that people feel like they "should" do on thier wedding day. These two were a breath of fresh air because they made thier wedding uniquely thier own (i.e. toasting with a forty of Bud Light instead of champagne :)), and more importantly, they concentrated on being together and having a really great time with all of thier family and friends. On top of that, the wedding itself was an amazingly stylish event. Here are some faves...

thier beloved dog Roxie- Josh proposed by putting the ring around Roxie's neck with this lei- so of course their doggie had to be there on the big day

Becky is a party starter- here she's out in the middle of the dance floor getting things going. Stay tuned for the proofs- lots more incriminating dance pictures to come :)

Thanks Harbrechts and Edigers!

Precious Little Ones!

2007-04-27T15:32:00.000-06:00

....aren't they amazing? :)

Whitney + Carter

2007-04-23T22:48:00.000-06:00

What an amazing weekend! I got to shoot a fellow photographer's wedding this weekend. Carter Rose (www.dallasexposure.com) and Whitney Hunt were married at the Tribute golf course near Dallas. My mentor and dear friend David Leeson (www.davidleeson.com) was kind enough to shoot with me. Several times during the day, David would be shooting these wonderful moments, and he would come up from his camera with tears in his eyes.... and people wonder why he's able to capture the images that he does :) We had a great time, loved Carter and Whitney's families, and felt privileged to be a part of thier day.

one of our favorites from the day- captured by David.

This one is also David's

Mary + Tim

2007-04-04T17:22:00.000-06:00

I have loved getting to know Mary and Tim over the past year. I was introduced to them by a friend and relative, Mary Smith, and it has been so fun to see them throughout the year as we are both part of the same circle of friends.
I remember talking to Mary in our pre-wedding meetings about how beautiful Longiview Mansion Garden is, and how she thought it was worthwhile to risk March weather and plan the ceremony to be in the sunken garden. That week the forecast was grim- but the day of the wedding turned out to be ablsolutely warm and beautiful.
I loved this wedding. The details were customized (i.e. the candy table), the ceremony was deeply meaningful, and the reception was an all out dance party.
Thank you Novin and Kamerzell families for letting me be a part of this.
To see the entire wedding, visit this link, and look for Mary and Tim's names
http://www.reprintorders.com/Companies/Becca_Spears_Photography_Inc/Integration_Service/Weddings.aspx

Wohoo!

A special moment between Maryam and her dad during their dance

Mary's little brother gettin down

Marathon, TX

2007-04-04T10:08:00.000-06:00

This past weekend my father-in-law held the grand opening of his gas station-turned art gallery in Marathon, TX. Marathon is a sparsely popoulated desert town about 40 miles from Big Bend National Park, and the Mexican border. It feels like another world. I welcomed the absence of clocks, media, air conditioners, stores. Instead, life in Marathon is made up of hard and practical work, followed by home-grown entertainment- art, bonfires and jam sessions under the big starry sky.
These next few posts will give you a taste for my experience of Marathon.

2007-04-04T09:49:00.000-06:00

Jerry and Mark lookin out over the Rio Grande- Mexico is just a stone's throw away.

Terlingua- a ghost town decorated with scattered remains of a mercury mine

bluegrass jam session

Local musicians at the Cottonwood

Marathon dusk

2007-04-04T09:41:00.000-06:00

Aunt Linda and Penny

Desert plant turned sculpture

Wes' gallery at night

Selina + Dan...happily engaged...and happy dog parents!

2007-03-23T21:42:00.000-06:00

I love dogs. They aren't easy to photograph when you make them sit still, but when they are allowed to be dogs, they're terrific subjects. Selina and Dan are getting married at the Kemper Museum of Art in May. They brought along thier Italian Greyhounds for a super-fun engagement session.

Don't they look like the couple whose picture comes with the frame? :)

Tara + Thane- Engaged!

2007-03-20T13:31:00.000-06:00

Tara and Thane are getting married on August 18th 2007 at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception in downtown Kansas City. For the engagement session, we wanted to stick close to their downtown loft in order to express their clean, chic, urban sense of style. My favorites so far....

Amy + Ryan Engagement

2007-03-19T21:27:00.000-06:00

Amy and Ryan are tying the knot on June 02, 2007.
For their engagment session, they wanted something simple, casual and natural. I love these.....

Before...

2007-03-13T12:25:00.000-06:00

I have spoken with lots of folks who imagine all images of a woman's pregnancy to be a goddess-esque kinda feel. That sort of thing can definitely be done beautifully, but here are a few examples of women looking pretty much like they do on a given day- fresh, comfy, and natural. I prefer this simpler approach- and I like to include husbands and other little ones too.

Baby season

2007-03-13T12:05:00.000-06:00

Here are a few recent shots that I love from my "Before and After" baby portrait package. I have found that I my favorite shots are in the family's home- that way I am able to record the natural day to day life of a budding family, and all of the comforts of home are right at hand. For those who love a classic black and white studio look, I also have a great little studio set up for that.

My nephew the peace advocate.....

Foundation Workshop 5

2007-03-06T15:33:00.000-06:00

I had the amazing opportunity to be a participant at this year's Foundation Workshop near Dallas, TX. The Workshop was started by award-winning photojournalist Huy Nguyen 5 years ago as an effort to teach wedding photographers how to really see like a photojournalist. The staff and participants at this workshop are among the best in the country. It was truly inspirational and humbling to work in the midst of them.
Each shooter for the week was given an assignment the second morning of the workshop and we had two days to go out and find a visual story based on our assignment. I got lucky with a really fun assignment- a skate park. I knew my husband Mark would be proud...believe it or not he actually starred in a skateboarding video when he was younger.
Anyway, I spent two days out at Allen Skate Park shooting all of the action and meeting some really cool guys (I only met one girl :(
Thanks to all who let me photograph them. It was so much fun! Here are a few of my favorites....
Also, check out this link to my editor's final picks...once you get there, click on "Becca Spears" under "photographers"
http://www.fworkshop5.com

Katie + Joel

2007-03-02T11:39:00.000-06:00

Feb 3rd, 2007
Weddings are about two people making a commitment to one another in the midst of the people they love most in the world. Katie and Joel's wedding was exactly this- with an atmosphere of gratitude and authenticity. Here are a few of my favorite moments....
Check out the rest of the images here:
http://www.reprintorders.com/Companies/Becca_Spears_Photography_Inc/Integration_Service/Weddings.aspx

a prayer before the ceremony

Katie's dad after giving her away-one of my favorite shots of the day captured by my wonderful assistant Erin

Lucy + Stephen

2007-01-23T23:48:00.000-06:00

I absolutely loved getting to know Stephen and Lucy and thier families! I told Lucy and her mom several times that they were some of the most genuine, loving people I have met. Here are a few of my favorites from the day.

sweet Lucy

my secret space...it really pays to get this kind of ceremony view!

blessed

the rainy night turned out to be beautiful

Lucy's dad had some deeply heartfelt words to share...

Megan & Daniel

2007-01-18T15:34:00.000-06:00

Dec 28th, 2006
It was truly special to be able to document Megan and Daniel's wedding. Their love is true and deep and founded on firm faith. Besides that, the couple knows how to throw a fun party! Enjoy these few photos, and check out the following link after Jan 28th to see the complete wedding:
http://www.reprintorders.com/Companies/Becca_Spears_Photography_Inc/Integration_Service/Weddings.aspx

Megan and Daniel are blessed with truly exceptional friends and family. I was touched by thier authenticity and love for one another. Here are the girls (and mom) praying for Megan and Daniel before the ceremony

I love these shots of Daniel, because they are so HIM...smiles, kindness, and fun.

We took a few quick shots on the way to the reception....

What a beauty!

Woohoo! This was the best dance party I have been to all year. Not only was everyone dancing, but they were dancing WELL. :)

2007-01-15T22:09:00.000-06:00

I am officially an aunt! My beloved brother and sister-in-law welcomed thier first child into the world this morning. Here are a few photos from our visit.

Proud daddy

Sleepy lil guy

I reeeallly want to see what's going on out there...

Brother time

Hey mama

The Mama's Mama

Checkin the Vitals

Oh my goodness......

Happy Birthday baby (with no name)! :)