Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Dispelling the Rainy Day Wedding Myth


  If  you've planned an outdoor wedding and it rains, you're screwed. The guests will be miserable, the decorations will be ruined, your pictures will be hideous . Right?

WRONG! 

It's a myth, folks! I write here today to dispel the doom-and-gloom prophecy which every bride who has ever planned an outdoor wedding has been subjected to through the years. And I have the pictures to prove it! 

On the side of a mountain in the pouring rain. That is where M and J were married. Sounds gloomy, eh? Not so! It was absolutely wonderful! They were married on the lawn of an attractive private home located on the breathtakingly beautiful side of a mountain. Even the low hanging clouds couldn't disguise the incredible view. And the cool, spring rain gave a fresh verdure to the surrounding greenery and flowers.
 
 As the thoughtfully planned outside wedding had to be hurriedly moved out of the drenching rain and set-up inside (under the reception tent); the bride's effervescent, sunny personality kept the mood bright and full of fun. In fact, I don't believe that a monsoon could have put a damper on this couple's radiantly positive aura!

     M was so beautiful in her elegant, figure hugging gown which was topped with a billowy veil creating a very soft and pleasing silhouette. Just so pretty. Fresh flowers in cool shades were artfully arranged on the tables under the tent. The menfolk were handsome in classic dark tuxes with pink roses for boutonnieres. The food was artfully arranged and tasty. The cake was unique and decorated perfectly (the rain kept the temperature down, so the icing didn't melt--an unfortunately frequent happening at spring/summer weddings). The coordinators and DJ were on the ball, keeping the event flowing along smoothly. The music was highly danceable. It was very apparent on the smiling faces of every guest, that a good time was enjoyed by all. The weather had nothing on this wedding!  
Here are some images from the day, in random order. 


















  Now really. Does that look like a wedding that was "ruined"? No. It looks like a wedding that anyone would be privileged to have attended.  I know I was. A wonderful couple, a great group of people, a marvelous event on which the sun shined in every way but one :-)

Thanks, M&J, for letting me capture the images of your very beautiful and special day! May the sun shine brightly on every day of your married life together.  

Friday, May 14, 2010

Austin

 Austin is the coolest guy. To name just a few of the many reasons: he's a beast on the pitcher's mound, rips out blazing riffs on his electric guitar and holds a black belt in Mixed Martial Arts. Funny, intelligent, talented, athletic, polite, unassuming, laid back and just ...good. I am honored to know him. He graduated from high school this week and I couldn't be prouder of my oldest nephew. Here is a little compilation of video and pictures from his senior year:






Congratulations, Austin! 
Love, Aunt Thomasina

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Engagement Session

 Here are some highlights from an engagement session I did last week. They were the  sweetest couple and a pleasure to work with. This gal could easily be a model, which makes my job behind the camera SO easy :-)



We started out in the studio. How cute are they??


Then we moved outside into a pretty meadow full of flowers

Their expressions here are priceless! I love capturing a "moment"!


The bride-to-be LOVES flowers, so we took advantage of all of the pretty spring blooms.



Our final destination was on campus at LU. The groom-to-be proposed here, so it was a 
must-have location for their pictures. 




Thanks, guys, for giving me the opportunity to create some special images of this very joyful time in your lives. I can't wait to photograph your beautiful summer wedding!!

Thursday, May 06, 2010

Easter '10

   My time for blogging, here lately, has been...um...limited...at best.  So, I'm JUST getting around to putting up a few pictures from the Easter holiday spent at ye old homestead. But it was a wonderful holiday and I just had to share a few of the memories!

Dad, preparing The Meat. 


A word about The Meat: Allen Bros Prime Rib Roast, dry cured. It was smoked over hickory to a lovely medium rare. That is Prime grade beef, people, not just Grade A. It was a very special treat that Dad prepared for all of us, with his usual exemplary level of culinary expertise.
A lovely array of desserts was also on hand


Random images of all the youngsters

Hilda, egged on by a hysterically laughing Q, doing the crazy-wild-puppy-run


Wherein Jackson hi-jacks my camera and takes pictures of random things including a buzzard, a pile of cow poop, himself in the car mirror and my butt as I went to open the gate. You should all thank me profusely for not posting that last one **shudder**  I think I need lay off the old Prime beef, heh-heh! :-D