Archive for July, 2010

The Denmark family | Briarcliff Village family photo session

July 29th, 2010

Expand Close

| No Comments | See Full Post

I photographed Scott and Miranda with their sons Preston and Brody last week just before leaving for vacation, right across the street from my studio in a gorgeous park at Briarcliff Village. The boys are at that age where they could easily get bored VERY quickly with a photo shoot; but they were both so good that we were able to shoot for a decent amount of time (at least until the temperatures transitioned to sweltering). I don’t get a chance to do a lot of family sessions but I really enjoy them!

Tags / Categories / Comments

Katie and Jeremy: engaged | Union Station and Crossroads Art District

July 27th, 2010

Tags: Crossroads Art District photo shoot, Kansas City engagement photographer, Kansas City engagement photographers, Kansas City engagement photography, kansas city engagement photos
Posted in: engagement sessions

Expand Close

| No Comments | See Full Post

I felt a bit bad for Katie and Jeremy as they had perhaps the hottest day of the year for their engagement session. Just when I thought it was hot, it just kept getting hotter! We worked on keeping them in open shade, though, and worked their dogs into the shots early on in the session so they could go home with Katie’s parents and not be in the heat for the entire session. This is yet another couple whose wedding I’ll be photographing – in late September!

Tags / Categories / Comments

Shannon and David: married | The Villa, Kansas City

July 20th, 2010

Tags: kansas city wedding photographer, Kansas City wedding photographers, Kansas City wedding photography, Nelson Atkins Museum of Art wedding photos, Villa Kansas City wedding reception
Posted in: weddings

Expand Close

| No Comments | See Full Post

Shannon and David were the second of two weddings in my doubleheader weekend last weekend – like Lauren and Nick, I also did their engagement session that you can see here. Both couples were an absolute joy to work with – this wedding with my assistant Lori – and really made us feel like we were a part of the day (Shannon INSISTED I stay and have a beverage when we were done shooting, then INSISTED I take my time posting these images because “you work too hard!” ).

David was so funny to work with, he had all these funny shot ideas, and kept coming up to me and going over his ideas with me. One of which you will see below. He was so into the photography – it was too funny.

Despite the WICKED heat, and an overzealous Nelson-Atkins security guard (which was the source of some humor as many of the male side of the wedding party, David included, are police officers), we got SOME outdoor shots done. The heat was SEARING and I’m sure everyone hated me – I made sure I pointed out the other wedding parties suffering at the Nelson (“hey look! you aren’t in this alone!”) but nevertheless we moved quickly.

I’m REALLY good at droning on so – here are the images before I bore you all to tears. Shannon and David, enjoy Mexico, which I’ll bet is actually COOLER than Kansas City.

Shannon and David, like many of my couples, did a “first look” – which I simply try to stay out of the way and capture. I love nothing more than capturing raw emotion.

Then it was off to the Nelson to fry in the sun..

ok. here was one of David’s ideas. He wanted the wedding party to look like they were playing football for a shot. Corny? Yes. Did it turn out pretty funny in retrospect? Yes. (not to mention we drew a little attention while setting this one up!)

Back in the comfort of air conditioning at the Villas, David brought Shannon a card. Which was in a Halloween envelope, complete with pumpkins. We all had a laugh but at the same time – it was totally something my own husband would have done – so funny yet so cute and endearing at the same time!

David and Shannon’s son Dylan was a big part of the day.

I snapped this through a fogged-up french door. For some reason, I love it.

The wedding party came in to the “Danger Zone” from Top Gun (favorite.movie.EVER) and wearing aviators. LOVE!

Another love? Remember David is a police officer? The groom’s cake was a stack of doughnuts!!

Ceremony and Reception: the Villa
Bride and Bridesmaids’ prep location: the Q Hotel
Bride’s dress: Ida’s
DJ: Complete Music

Tags / Categories / Comments

Lauren + Nick: married | Sawyer Room, Kansas City

July 19th, 2010

Lauren and Nick couldn’t have had polar opposite weather for their wedding day as compared to the weather we had for their engagement session last New Year’s Eve. It was in the teens with frigid wind chills then; now we have heat indices spiking over 100 degrees each and every day. But as they did [...]

Tags: Crossroads Art District wedding photography, kansas city wedding photographer, Kansas City wedding photographers, Kansas City wedding photography, Sawyer Room wedding reception photography
Posted in: weddings

Expand Close

| No Comments | See Full Post

you should have seen the thunderstorm that hit during their ceremony. If rain on one’s wedding day is good luck, Lauren and Nick have several lifetimes’ worth as the storm that hit the EXACT moment the ceremony started was one that really wanted attention. It was so crazy, the wind sucked open not only the front church doors, but the doors clear across the lobby opening into the sanctuary. It was scary. But the ceremony went on and after we left the church, there were limbs and even trees down everywhere! The sun came right back out, though, and we had sun for our very brief stop by the Crossroads Art District for wedding party photos.

Anyways, enough backstory. I think these photos really tell the story of the day – the pure emotion and joy – not my words! Lauren and Nick, you all were a blast to work with throughout your engagement and your wedding day and I wish you the best of luck. Oh, and I’m VERY jealous of the cruise you are presently enjoying!

Some of the photos you will see below are courtesy of my super-talented second shooter, Mike Tsai of 4Honor Photography.

I always get choked up during the card exchange.

A SUPER quick stop by the Crossroads Art District en route to the Sawyer Room for the reception

During the brief time we were waiting at the Sawyer Room for wedding party introductions, I set up these shots of Lauren looking insanely beautiful..

Reception time! I LOVED shooting at the Sawyer Room, and can’t wait for Jessie and Nick’s wedding reception there in November.

Nick looks on as Lauren dances with her father.

We capped off the night with some downtown shots on the roof of the building’s parking garage.

Ceremony: Holy Trinity Catholic Church
Reception: the Sawyer Room
Wedding Party Prep location: Downtown Marriott
Hair and Makeup: Be Chic
Catering: Sugar and Spice Catering
Transportation: VIP Limousine
DJ: DJ Fernando

Tags / Categories / Comments

St. Louis Equestrian Center Hanoverian Inspections

July 18th, 2010

Tags: American Hanoverian Society inspection photos, equine photographers, equine photography, Missouri equine photography, Saint Louis equine photography
Posted in: equine work

Expand Close

| No Comments | See Full Post

I shot this event last year as well, which I truly enjoy despite the fact I get up at 2:45am to start the trek across the state to get there in time . This is the American Hanoverian Society inspections held at the St. Louis Equestrian Center – this annual event (part of a national tour) is an important part of the process of registering foals as well as inspecting mares and stallions for approval and conducting performance tests. It is very interesting to watch, let alone photograph!

Tags / Categories / Comments

Sydney + Spencer | Wyandotte County Lake wedding reception

July 17th, 2010

I was asked to shoot Sydney and Spencer’s reception at Wyandotte County Lake, specifically the James P. Davis Hall – I’d never even heard of it but seriously, brides – what a gorgeous “sleeper” reception site this is – gorgeous surroundings and the building itself is amazingly cool. Check it out! This reception was super [...]

Tags: Kansas City wedding photographers, Kansas City wedding photography, Wyandotte County Lake James P Davis Hall reception
Posted in: miscellaneous shoots, weddings

Expand Close

| One Comment | See Full Post

This reception was super laid-back and focused a lot of attention on the children – complete with a balloon artist. It made for a lot of great, fun photos and the kids of course went CRAZY over it! Below are some shots from the evening – congratulations to Spencer and Sydney!

Sydney with her son Noah (who is pretty happy with his score from the balloon artist)

Even the adults got in on the balloon fun – it’s kind of humorous that a funny photo like this has such yummy light!

dancing in front of the sunset – what more could a photographer ask for?

Reception: James P Davis Hall, Wyandotte County Lake

Catering: Rosedale Barbeque

Kid’s entertainment: Up Up and Away Balloons

Tags / Categories / Comments

Open House is TOMORROW!

July 7th, 2010

Posted in: Uncategorized

Expand Close

| No Comments | See Full Post

Tomorrow is our big “grand-opening-in-Briarcliff” shindig, and I HOPE you will stop by! From 5 to 8pm, we’ll be serving up drinks and tasty food from Piropos (come ON, you know that at least is a reason to come by!) and showing off my new space, as well as my work, inside Shana Vaughn Designs in Briarcliff Village. For those who have newfangled GPS’es and/or have been living under a rock and don’t know about Briarcliff Village, we are at 4153 N. Mulberry Dr., Kansas City, MO 64116. If you can’t make it, feel free to stop in anytime! The shop is home to fabulous wedding and special event florist Shana Vaughn Designs, plus the most gorgeous wedding invitations and paper goods by the talented Maggie at Salutations.

I hope to see some of you tomorrow! Sarah

open house evite

Tags / Categories / Comments

Becky and Adam: married | Overland Park Sheraton

July 7th, 2010

Tags: asbury united methodist church wedding, Kansas City wedding photographers, Kansas City wedding photography, overland park kansas wedding photographers, overland park kansas wedding photography, overland park sheraton wedding reception
Posted in: weddings

Expand Close

| One Comment | See Full Post

Becky and Adam had a kickass (and I mean that in every sense of the world) engagement shoot. You probably remember it if you follow my blog and you will remember it if you click here. Not only was the location super unique, but their connection was so….real. Seriously, this couple has such an amazing connection it makes my job EASY. So, with much anticipation I headed to their wedding last Saturday at the Asbury Methodist Church in Prairie Village, Kansas….until it started pouring. No wait, same song different verse – I’ve had my share of rainy weddings this year. The church was gorgeous and offered lots of places to shoot inside. So nevermind. Then the rain stopped and we were able to do some outdoor shooting after the ceremony. So nevermind.

Their wedding day, much like their engagement session, worked in their passion for softball and baseball with little touches throughout. Very cool. But most importantly, the pure emotion (and joy on Becky’s face, just look at these smiles) I was able to capture all day left me smiling and knowing I did my job. And that’s a great feeling.

I absolutely, absolutely love getting shots of parents seeing their daughter in her dress.

Before heading downstairs to see Adam, we snagged some shots of Becky in this killer window.

Then time for the “first look”.

Then MORE window shots juuuuust before the ceremony.

the candle-lighters had some “technical difficulties” that made for some funny shots – but what good sports! I would have been scared to death at that age!