June 29, 2009
I always struggle when I blog weddings. It’s nearly impossible in 20 photos to show you the feel, the emotion, and the personality of a wedding. This wedding was no exception. There was an energy present the entire day. It was as if everyone there knew something special was gonna happen that day, something that was real and true and lasting…maybe because they did know, and it was real, true and lasting. The photos are beautiful because the love was real, I only pray that I can portray that as well as it deserves.
McKenna was as cool as a cucumber getting ready – she was all giggles and silliness.
First Pres. offers some really cool architecture in it that makes my job really fun. When I took this pix I “saw” it in black & white….but I was wrong.
…..and I saw this in color….wrong again! ;)
If you are wondering if the bride & groom were happy today….here is your answer. You can’t fake happy, you can smile for a camera, but you can’t fake a smile that takes up your entire face.
…..and if you were wondering is God was shining down on them on this day, here is your answer. Yes. Literally.
And finally it was “time”….. This is one of my favorite time of a wedding because I get to go from posing, directing and talking to listening, watching and observing. McKenna and her dad and a pretty special “something” between them, they laugh together….a lot…. but at this moment, before walking his girl down the isle, the room went from choas and energy to quiet. It was incredible.
“I do”
We did!!!!
I’ve been very, very, very lucky to be blessed with talented and just plain ‘ole nice second shooters.
Erica Madden was kind enough to put up with me for Shea and McKenna’s wedding weekend. So while I was shooting this….
Erica was literally squatting behind the couple and as I was giving directions she caught this…
Erica also took care of details for me.
It’s one of the things I like to do best & she does best, and being the McKenna was all about the details….
And as it goes with all weddings, after taking the “posed pix” following the ceremony everyone was ready to get to the reception to relax, dance and par-tay. As we finished up I looked around and realized that we had the entire church to ourselves….so Erica and I packed up our stuff and I encouraged the couple to just “take a moment”, a private moment (the only one they will have today) in a church as a married couple.
I’ll be honest – I was DYING to go outside, open the door, and just snap a few photos but as a married woman I understand that on your wedding day, there are (gulp) things more important than pictures….so I let them have the moment…..kinda….I shot it through the stain-glass window in the back of the church.
For those of you who follow my photography it will come as no surprise to you to hear me say that this is probably my favorite photo of the day.
One of the things I learned to love about McKenna & Shea is that they have a balance between prayer & party.
So….now….Off to the party we go!
Some photos I love to talk about….
Others speak for themselves….
Thank you McKenna & Shea for trusting us with your wedding day.
LOTS of photos to follow! I’ll get them posted for you asap!
May God conttinue to bless the both of you.
~M
June 26, 2009
….and it took my breath away.
Let me explain, when I put together my wedding packages I do them all custom, I have “skeleton packages” that we start from but then it’s kinda like Subway…..you build your own adding and taking away what you want. When I sat down with McKenna & Shea one of the things they wanted was for me to attend their rehearsal dinner, not to take photos of friends and family eating….but to document the ceremony following the dinner.
So – the night went something like this….
First it was pretty traditional…there there were toasts…
Erica caught the groomsman making everyone laugh…
and the sister of the bride making everyone (herself included) cry…
Everyone watched a slideshow of pictures of the couple from infancy ’till engagement…
The groom winked to his mom…
Then it was time for the Pithi.
A Pithi is a Pakistani wedding tradition. It is a blessing that is given to a bride & a groom the night before their wedding and I was honored to photograph it. First the bride and groom are covered with a garmet, this particular shawl had been passed down in the family for 4 generations…
They are then blessed by friends and family, first, they feed each of them chocolate for luck and they drop rose petals over the two of them…
Then they are presented with gifts.
As tradition woud have it the gifts are often jewlery.
This is one of my favorite photos of Shea checking out one of the many blessings they recieved…..I often gasp out loud when I look through wedding photo that Erica captured made me laugh outloud.
But don’t let that fool you -this blessing tradition is VERY personal, VERY intimate, and VERY cool. I found myself with a lump in my throat many times this night.
Following the personal blessings and prayers they received they drank warm milk, I’m not sure of the symbolism of this part, but it made for a beautiful photo.
One of the things I love the most about photographing weddings is seeing all of the personal touches everyone brings. This Pathi however was more than a personal touch, it was a cultural tradition.
Thank you Shea and McKenna for allowing me to be a part of your day before your day.
Wedding Ceremony Photos to follow…
God Bless both of you.
~M
June 25, 2009
Horray! McKenna and Shea got hitched last Saturday so I get to show you a few of her bridal photos now! :) We did them on a hot and WINDY day in May so we stayed mostly inside and why not? Her now mom & dad-in-law’s house made for a beautiful studio!
I reposted her proofs in the view proof section – now that they’re not a secret you can all see them and yes….the dress was THAT amazing.
Yeah -it was a really hard shoot. ;)
I’ll be blogging her pre-wedding blessing and wedding day soon!
Nothing better than photographing a beautiful bride 100% in love with her handsome groom.
Just nothin’ like it.
~M
June 21, 2009
If you know anything about my business, me or my life you know Holly.
She is my closest friend, she is my family & her boys I love as if you were my own.
We’re gonna do that shoot next, but this shoot was all about that baby #3, the baby they…we… prayed for, the baby waited for, and yes….this time…the girl.
Yup – beautiful on the inside and out….
~M
June 19, 2009
Meet the newest addition to my Womb-to-One family!
Actually, Baby Ty is kinda already in my family…..my extended family.
His mommy is Alisa & his daddy is CJ – people I looooooooooove.
I’ll not go on & on & on & on & on like I could, I have 11 more months to do that.
Here is Ty -1 month old.
When he was in Alisa’s tummy they called him little peanut….that was before they knew he was a “him”.
The cousins joined in for some pix for Grandma. 
Thanks Baby Ty and family!
Cya next month!
Love you all!
~M
June 18, 2009
Madie turned 9 this spring and for her birthday she wanted a baby sister…..ahem…..
A puppy dog?….deep sigh…..
A guinea pig?……rolling my eyes….
So we caved. We willingly spend money on what is basically a fat rat in a cage.
Madie is in heaven though….we talk to Samantha before we go to bed, we pray for Samantha, we introduce Samantha to friends and yes….today…..we are giving Samantha a bath.
Shelby? Shelby is just waiting for fat rat get be out of her cage just once…..just once she says.
…..yep….nothing much more to say ’bout this one……
~M
June 13, 2009
….my daughter says it’s like Hawaii but in TX Nobody can say she’s not an optimist!
We are baaaaaaaaaaack! Vacation was amazing, great, sunny & relaxing but I have to admit that I’m always reminded how blessed I am to have a life that I love returning to.
Here are a few pix from the week just to share.
We are to our knees in laundry and there is no food in the house, but, we are home and glad to be here. I’ll be back to work Monday returning calls, e-mails and orders!
Until then, here are a few fun & silly snaps I got from our trip.
Back to work Monday gang!
~M
June 4, 2009
Hello Blog!! Happy Summer!
I’m on vacation with the family…..heading to Austin for a few days, then onto South Padre Island, or as my daughter calls it “Hawaii, but in Texas”.
I’ll be back Monday the 15th!
Thanks for checking in – look around the ole’ blog, check out my Website, shoot me an e-mail if you want…I’ll be back on the 15th!
Thanks!
~Micki
June 2, 2009
Seriously…..How cool is my job?
I get to photograph babies in trees, brides in a junkyard, families in a dog-pile and now….. a one of my grooms on a motorcycle!!!! Just another day at the office!
Click “Wonder Custom Motorcycle Designs Video” below to see my latest fun project. More on that in the following blog.
Wonder Custom Motorcycle Designs Video
Motorcycle by Wonder Custom Designs.
If you need a custom designed motorcycle he’s your guy!
Video by Chad Crowley Productions
If you need a video of ……well geez…….anything he’s your guy. I’ve worked with Chad on engagement sessions, Debutante Presentation & Motorcycles now! Yeah – he’s kinda like me….nothing normal.
Remember Jason from Jason & Erin?
Well meet Jason from Wonder Custom Motorcycle Designs
and meet his baby….
…..oh admit it….we all love a guy with a little bit of a wild-side.
When Jason called me to tell me about a little “project” he was working on I was so excited to be a part of it. He needed some photos and a video for a show he’s gonna be in. So Chad Crowley and I got to work…..Chad’s video was in the post previous to this post….if you skipped it go back & watch it – he does good work!
Jason make motorcycles….like he MAKES them, like my son’s favorite show right now is Orange County Choppers and that is what Jason does. Very cool. Anyway he made a thing and met a guy and that guy introduced him to a guy who got him into a thing. That is Jason’s humble way of telling me about the international show he was invited to he and the other 149 people. Yeah. That qualifies as cool if you ask me.
Anyway – here is my part…a few pix
Evidently this motor is the same motor that goes in a BMW or something crazy unique like that. The entire time I was shooting Chad was talking about the ins and outs of the design, the bike and the engine. I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about so Hey Jason, I shot this pix with my 50mm at a 1.4 aperture on Manual mode to avoid shake I speed up my shutter and then sharpened and contrasted in photoshop……..take THAT!
THANKS Jason – Chad and I already have ideas for a “round 2″ shoot!
