Louisville Wedding Photographers. The Latest News and Images--Our Blog!

We have a new Blog!

2009-07-10T12:35:00Z

We have a new and improved blog. You can find it at: www.louisvilleweddingphotographer.com. We will keep this blog up for a while for older posts but all new posts will be on the new blog.

Have a great day and thanks for checking out our blog!

Engagement Session: Courtney and Jamie

2009-06-12T12:31:00Z

Jon and I took a little time off to visit with his side of the family, but of course I am blogging--there is so much to talk about because I truly believe that we have the best clients!

We strive to capture the personalities of our couples in their images--and this is why engagement images are so important--we get to know our couples, they get comfy in front of the camera, and it really gets them ready for their wedding photos! Fun!

A few weeks ago, we had a BLAST photographing Courtney and Jamie's engagement session at the gorgeous Huber Farm and Winery! They are an incredibly fun couple--Courtney is a first-grade teacher and Jamie is a gifted musician! And they love to laugh and totally be themselves in front of the camera--we cannot wait until the wedding! It is going to be nothing short of awesome!

To view Courtney and Jamie's image video, click on the screen below--and enjoy the song--it is one of my favorites!

And, although I had many more favorites than these, I had to show some restraint and narrow it down--and I love all of them!

A nice candid--good wind through the willow tree!

Lots of smoochin'!

Um, hello? Courtney's shoes were fabulous! And she had cute little flower details on her toenails! Sassy!

And some fun-lighting with the reflection--we bring off-camera lighting to ALL of our sessions--and it pays off big-time!

And some little details...

And look--more kissing!

And then we went on out to the playground--and we had fun, as you can see!

And they made some faces at each other...

Absolutely--hands down--my favorite of the entire session--I LOVE THIS ONE!

Love the colors in this one...

That was some yummy evening light!

And then we just got silly.

And I am all about this one, too!

Courtney and Jamie's wedding is in July, so be on the lookout for what is sure to be a super-fun set of wedding day images!

Bridal Show: The Grand New Albany June 14

2009-06-12T12:17:00Z

Hello, blog readers!

As you may know, we don't do many bridal shows--we are heavily referral-based, so we typically only do one bridal fair a year. Last week, however, we were photographing Terra and Mike's awesome wedding at The Grand and we were notified of the bridal show at this awesome venue!

So, we decided on a whim to spend the afternoon with the great staff and fellow wedding vendors at The Grand!

We will have our work on display, including our large gallery wraps, new guest books, albums, and much more!

Even if you are NOT having your wedding event at The Grand, come on in and check us out! We would love to be your wedding photographers for your special day!

The Grand is a gorgeous place for a bridal show--plus admission is complimentary to all brides and guests! How awesome is that? And if you might like a theatrical look to your wedding, then The Grand is for you!

And here are the details:

June 14th, 2009 Bridal Show and Food Tasting!
The Grand New Albany
2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Free to brides and their guests
Enjoy visiting with vendors, sampling menus, and much more!

Hope to see you there!

Wedding: Kara and Jason 4.18.09

2009-06-06T02:18:00Z

Woo! I am so very behind on blogging, but in my defense, we have been shooting nearly every day for the past 11 days and I am a bit tired!

Kara and Jason had a most AWESOMELY FUN wedding on April 18 at the gorgeous Huber Orchard and Winery in lovely Starlight, Indiana! The weather held off so well, despite the fact that they were calling for rain all day!

To view their wedding image video, click on the screen below--

And here are a handful of my favorites from their big day!

Getting ready in the natural light--with another one of our brides, Sara--she is getting married later this year!

One of my favorite guest book designs--and our complimentary viewing cards for guests to keep and use to log on to our couples' wedding images!

I love finding unusual places to put the rings--and I loved this flower branch!

Having a laugh during the ceremony--I am ALL about that gorgeous black sash on Kara's wedding gown!

And then we headed over to the apple orchard for some fabulous sunset shots! Yummy light!

And our guest book at work!

It all started out as a romantic first dance...

And then it all went crazy and turned into a secretly-choreographed dance routine to Sir Mix-A-Lot's "Baby Got Back!" And I am SO not kidding! LOVE IT! Jason is reeling her in here...

This bridesmaid was not at all happy about missing the bouquet!

That would be Jason's dad and I believe his cousins performing a fabulous routine to Justin Timberlake's "Sexy Back!" What can I say? It was one fun reception!

And this couple was all about dancing, too--so fun!

And this is Theresa and Danny! We photographed both of their daughters' weddings--Danielle (she and Ethan are expecting their first baby this year) and Kari and Cory--who tied the knot in October of last year!

And more dancing!

Oh, yeah--that was some awesome choreography!

And a group sing-a-long on "Friends in Low Places!"

And I am not a huge fan of selective color, but I really love it the way we use it--and I like this one a lot!

And I adore the bluesy feeling of this image--a little dramatic, edgy, and different--we pumped up the blues in the sky and let her dress go a little blue--I love it!

Congrats to Kara and Jason! We had a blast!

Wedding Day Details (so sorry that I didn't get the cake and florist info--I was too busy laughing!):

Color Scheme: Black, white, and pastels/
Ceremony/Reception Location and Catering: Huber Winery
Bridal Gown and Bridesmaids Dresses: Bridal Suite of Louisville
DJ: A Class Act

Engagement Session: Christy and Shea

2009-06-01T01:54:00Z

I am SO in love with Christy and Shea's engagement images! So much color and texture and romance! Plus a puppy! Who could ask for more?

A few weeks ago, we traveled to Doe Run Inn (near where I grew up, actually) and photographed Christy and Shea for their engagement session--and I love natural look of the images!

Click on the screen below to see their images in video-form:

I could post these all day, but here are some of my favorites--

Isn't Christy adorable?

And the little waterfall behind the inn is so lovely!

I love the texture of the barn in this one...

So sweet...

And some cool sun flare...

Love the vintage look of this one!

Love this one, too!

And the energy of this one is so fun!

And this is Paisley, Christy's dog--Christy's mom brought her to the end of the session for some family photos! Isn't she the cutest?

Family photo!

What a great session! Can't wait for the wedding!

High School Senior Session: Alex

2009-06-01T01:25:00Z

I always enjoy the group of high seniors that we photograph every year--seniors come to us for a mix of classic portraiture and fun, edgy shots as well! We know that parents want the timeless look of classic images, but our seniors want the fun and fresh photos--so we please both, of course!

Recently, Alex came to his for his senior portraits--he had originally thought that he didn't want to do them, but he and his mom started to feel differently as he approached graduation--and yes! He is a 2009 grad!

I love the portraits we got--a lot of them centered around his awesome guitar--Alex is a musician and a student at Holy Cross--what a great person! His mom works at Holy Cross with the lovely mom of one of our 2008 brides--mom Diane and bride/daughter, Stephanie! And we photographed Diane's son, Michael's, portraits last year, too! I love referrals from happy clients!

And parents--it isn't too late to get some last-minute portraits of your 2009 grad!

To view Alex's image music video, click on the screen below--

And here are a handful of my favorites--

Love this one!

And another favorite...

Alex was great about playing some tunes for us while we did some candid shots...

Having a little fun with the tree and sky colors--I like it!

Congrats to Alex on high school graduation! We wish you the best!

A Warm Welcome to Our Newest Wedding Couple!

2009-05-31T12:45:00Z

I wanted to send out a big welcome to our newest Monarch Photography Wedding Couple!

Shannon and Jared will be celebrating their wedding day at the GLORIOUS Yew Dell Gardens on June 12 of 2010!

Congrats, you two! We cannot wait to share in your big day! Thanks for choosing us!

Sneak Peek: Laura and Hardy 5.29.09

2009-05-30T02:21:00Z

Okay, I am really proud of myself for posting some images from a wedding that was only shot a few hours ago!

Laura and Hardy became husband and wife at 1:00 p.m. this afternoon at Holy Spirit--so beautiful! And then we got to get some park portraits--we had plenty of time to do this after the wedding because they are having a huge reception tomorrow at Lake Cumberland--they are going to have another short ceremony for family and friends who couldn't attend the formal wedding today--doesn't that sound romantic?

So, I thought it would be fun to show some of the images from today for them to send to family and friends!

They are an awesome couple--no doubt about that--so in love with one another--and they are so fun!

Here are a few that I whipped up for the blog!

That is some fabulous bling! And flowers by the always-wonderful Country Squire!

Down the aisle...

The church was just so beautiful...

It was such a wonderful ceremony--the musicians were so incredible! And here they are--presenting their rings to one another...

After the ceremony, we headed over to the park for some more portraits--the weather was gorgeous and check out that sky!

A little fun walking with the bridal party--there is a lot going on in this image!

Hardy has a massive appreciation and love for his car--and let's face it--that is a nice car!

I just really love the color and romance of this shot---

Hardy with his two loves--Laura and his 350Z...I LOVE THIS IMAGE!

And this is just a crazy and cute little idea for favors--M&M's with your faces and names sketched onto them! I enjoyed my own bag and their faces were quite tasty! HA!

So, a big shout-out of love to Laura, Hardy, and the gang--have fun at your reception! Congrats!

A Warm Welcome to Our Newest Wedding Couple!

2009-05-30T02:17:00Z

I wanted to send congratulatory wishes out to our newest Monarch wedding couple!

Kristin and Erik will be tying the knot on September 11 of this year!

Thanks for choosing us--we are really looking forward to documenting your big day!

Sneak Peek: Brittany & Justin 5.16.09

2009-05-30T01:36:00Z

Oh! I am waaayyy behind on my blogging duties! It's not because I have been a slacker--we have been shooting every day this week and it is crazy trying to keep all caught up on everything!

I wanted to give a little sneak peek of Brittany and Justin's GORGEOUS May 16, 2009 wedding!

There so many more images to share, but I wanted to just show a few!

Here are a handful from their wonderful day!

Gorgeous flowers!

Words cannot express how beautiful Brittany was on the wedding day!

And the gorgeous girls! That's Sara on the far right bottom corner--she was a bridesmaid at Kara and Jason's wedding last month and we are photographing her wedding this fall!

And the guys!

Peeking out before the ceremony...

I love how the ring bearer is so interested in that kiss!

A lovely classic portrait...

And a little romance...

And, as you can see--there was a bit of cake-smashing--but all in good fun! Justin wore that cake well!

The first dance...

A fun shot by a cool car--

And as you can see--a good time was had by all! Especially Grandmother!

More to come soon ! Congrats to Brittany and Justin!

Engagement Session: Kristin and Jason

2009-05-28T12:57:00Z

Wow! April was one crazy month when it came to weddings and engagement sessions!

I have so many fun sessions to share with you! So, let's get started, shall we?

Jonathan and I met Kristin and Jason downtown on a fabulous Sunday morning for their awesome engagement session. We had a blast and the weather was perfect! Plus Sunday morning downtown is a perfect time for a session because the streets are practically desolate!

To view their image video, click on the screen below--

And here are some of my favorites! I love love LOVE them!

A little drama--gotta love that off-camera lighting we use!

We fell in love with these beautiful yellow flowers near The Belvedere!

And it's always pretty on the Belvedere...

And the science center is always a bit of fun!

And in front of the center for the arts...

One of my favorites of the day!

And some casual candids!

So cute!

We are SO looking forward to Kristin and Jason's wedding this coming October! They are an awesome couple and it is sure to be a fabulous day of love and laughter! Congrats, you two!

Happy Anniversary to Kristin and Brent!

2009-05-28T11:57:00Z

GORGEOUS! That is all I can say about Kristin and Brent's wedding on May 16 of last year! Everything was lovely and elegant--and they are so great together!

Kristin and Brent are just one of those couples who are always at east in front of the camera--and it made it so easy to photograph the whole day.

So, Happy One -Year Anniversary to Kristin and Brent!

To view their image music video, click on the screen below!

A little bling...

And a gorgeous bride!

The always beautiful St. Mary's of the Knobs...

This formal portrait is really special to Kristin's mom and dad because they had THEIR wedding portrait taken at the very same place on their wedding day!

And it's always fun when the groomsmen perform a choreographed dance to Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar on Me" in honor of the bride! So funny!

Congrats to Kristin and Brent! We wish you tons of wedding bliss!

Happy Anniversary to Connie and Wes!

2009-05-28T11:34:00Z

I am determined to catch up on my anniversary wishes to our couples, so I wanted to wish Connie and Wes a Happy One-Year Anniversary! They were married last May 17 and had a lovely outdoor wedding!

Connie is my cousin, so it was a great adventure shooting for family! That's always a crazy time when you have a group of people yo know so well!

To view their image video, click on the screen below--

And just a couple of my faves from the big day--

It was such a pretty day for an outdoor wedding!

And the sky was perfect!

More wishes to come!

Happy Anniversary to Connie and Wes!

2009-05-28T11:34:00Z

Happy Anniversary to Jessica and Keith!

2009-05-26T16:50:00Z

I am sooooo very behind on my one-year anniversary wishes for our May couples!

So, here we go!

Happy One-Year Anniversary to Jessica and Keith, who tied the knot on May 10, 2008 at the always-lovely 300 Spring in Indiana!

Here is a video collection of some wedding day moments--

And here are a few of my favorites--they have an incredible love story--and Jessica looks like the actress Julianne Moore--absolutely gorgeous! Her skin is like porcelain!

It was a little windy that day...

Seeing one another before the ceremony...

And the most fabulous green wall, which goes so well with Jessica's gorgeous auburn hair!

Happy Anniversary, you two! We wish you many years of love and happiness!

Engagement Session: Brittany and Bennett

2009-05-26T15:49:00Z

I have been in New York for the past few days and honestly had no time to sit down in the hotel room to blog! I do have tons of photos to share later from our trip, but now onto the important stuff! Images of our wedding couples!

Brittany and Bennett met us downtown for their engagement session a few weeks ago--later that day, Brittany graduated from nursing school! Congrats!

And here is their image video from their session--

And a few of my favorites--

Love the giggles!

A classic place to photograph couples--in front of the cool mirror at the Science Center!

Brittany has the warmest smile! She and Bennett are so good together!

This image is Brittany's personal favorite--I love it, too! It is on the cover of their guest book, which should be here any day for their June 13 wedding!

A little play with the color blue--that is Bennett's car--he is awfully proud of it--and it is an awesome car!

A fun little panel of portraits!

And I love the angle on this one!

And the sky is SO fabulous in this one!

When Brittany and Bennett tie the knot on June 13, I will be sure to share some images! Stay tuned for more posts!

Memorial Day Thoughts...

2009-05-26T13:51:00Z

I was away from my computer yesterday on a plane from New York, so I wanted to take the time today to comment on the importance of Memorial Day. Did you take a moment yesterday to think about all of those incredible men and women who gave their lives so that we can enjoy ours? I hope so.

I come from a family of wonderful people who served in the military--my brother, uncles, and cousins. And Jon served his country via the United States Army several years ago, and attributes his time in the military to making him the driven and dedicated person he is today.

I have complete love and respect for those who are willing to die for this country. Please take some time to think about their families and loved ones, and do NOT forget our wonderful military heroes who are still on this planet. They need our love and support.

Jon loves taking patriotic images, so I thought I would share some of his work, along with a very important Memorial Day quotation--one we should all take to heart, no matter what our opinion is of our current war status:

A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. ~ Joseph Campbell

The wonderful symbol of our country...

Sunset at the Kentucky Vietnam Memorial...

Two years ago while in Houston, we happened upon a group of volunteers putting down flags of fallen soldiers, so we felt honored to be able to help them place the flags...

A loving tribute to someone's family member here in our own state...

So, thanks to ALL of our military men and women--for those who have passed and those who protect us every day. We love you...

Sneak Peek: Liz and Mike's Engagement Session

2009-05-25T20:44:00Z

I have been in New York since last Thursday and wanted to post some images from Liz and Mike's engagement session, but we were having wireless issues and I couldn't get them to load from the hotel!

So, here is a quick sneaky-peek at their engagement session at Bernheim Forest!

Sorry I am so late with these early-bird images, Liz and Mike! YOU TWO ARE AWESOME!

More to come soon, along with a ton of other images!

A little kiss-time in the garden...

And what? More kissing? You would think that these two were getting married or something!

And another favorite--

Lovin' the colors in this one!

There is an interesting story behind this sculpture shot--I will share later!

A nice sepia-toned shot...

And fun!

More to come! Stay tuned!

Happy Anniversary to Lindsay and Andrew!

2009-05-17T16:25:00Z

Wow! Once again, I am so behind on my blogging duties! Let's see if I can catch up on things!

Jonathan and I would like to send out Belated Anniversary wishes to Lindsay and Andrew, who tied the knot at the beautiful Huber Winery on May 9, 2008! It was a gorgeous day full of emotion.

And I just heard from Lindsay that she and Andy are expecting their first baby in October! Congrats, you two!

To see highlights of their lovely outdoor wedding, just click on the screen below-

And here are a few of my faves!

Seeing one another before the wedding--lots of tears and a wonderful moment...

And a classic portrait...

And I love this one, too--

Hands-down, my favorite--this was the last page of their album!

More anniversary wishes, engagement sessions, wedding sneak-peeks, and much more to come on the blog! Stay tuned!

Brittany and Brandon: 4.24.09 Wedding Sneak Peek!

2009-05-03T18:06:00Z

Just a week ago, we had a most fabulous time photographing Brittany and Brandon's GORGEOUS Spring wedding! Shades of lovely pink and ivory, lots of romance, and tons of laughter and love! It was an incredible evening from start to finish!

I wanted to give just a little tease of how great the day was for Brittany and Brandon--so here are just a few to give a clue as to what's ahead in my future blog postings!

This was taken at sunset on the rooftop of Frazier Arms--I love everything about this image-the colors, the posing, the romance. I had to post it first!

Lovely flower design by Wildflowers--plus a little bling with the rings and the crystals!

And a most gorgeous gown from Sher's Bridal--she is one fab lady!

A classic bridal portrait for mom and dad...can't go wrong with a timeless image!

What can I say? Brittany loves to pose and have lots of fun! I love it!

And our handsome groom, Brandon, with his adorable little boy, Evan--he was a perfect model all day!

Just a quick grab-shot in the dressing room of the three Thomas girls--Sister Ashley, Bride Brittany, and Mom Therese! They are the greatest! And don't they all look beautiful?

I love those little moments between father and daughter (I am a total Daddy's girl) and this was a nice candid moment with Brittany and her dad, John, before he escorted her down the aisle...

It was a wonderfully happy ceremony filled with smiles...

And a super-fun bridal party!

How fabulous is this cake?

And a really romantic first dance...

If you look at the floor in this image, you will notice tons of dollar bills and coins--I will explain a little more later, but it is a Lebanese wedding tradition to wish the couple wealth in their lives together! It was quite a great tribute to Brittany's family culture and it was so fun to see people tossing money their way! Really fun!

And the sweetest father-daughter dance ever! Brittany and her dad took dancing lessons together and wowed the crowd that night as they danced to Heartland's "I Loved Her First."

And then they got the party started! Lots of fun--and, as you can see, even an impromptu birthday party for one of the guests!

There is SO much more to say about Brittany and Brandon's wedding day--I just wanted to grab a handful of images and share a tiny bit of their day! Tons more to come, of course!

Kate and Joe's AWESOME Digital Designer Album!

2009-05-03T14:58:00Z

On Thursday of last week, we dropped off Kate and Joe's incredible wedding album! They chose really great images to go into the album and it was such a treat to design!

We actually met Kate at her office and had time to sit down and chat while she looked at the finished product! Kate and Joe ordered their album just a few short weeks ago and it came in earlier than expected!

Here are some actual shots Jon took of the album:

Simple and chic black leather cover...

And the first page of the album--we used a quotation from Helen Keller that Kate and Joe had in their wedding day program: "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched--they must be felt with the heart..." I love that!

And it is always nice when a church (in this case, the gorgeous Cathedral of the Assumption downtown) has awesome stained glass to use as a page background!

And a nice spread of the ceremony...

And a nice candid shot for the final page--love it!

To view a LOW-RESOLUTION slide show of Kate and Joe's entire design, just click on their link below:

Kate and Joe's Digital Designer Album

More posts to come--plus new products and web site are on the horizon!

Lauren and Kyle's Digital Designer Album

2009-05-03T14:32:00Z

I have been waiting for a super-long time to post Lauren and Kyle's wedding album design! They were married WAYYYYY back in 2007 and then had to get all settled in, work on their careers, visit family all over the country, and generally just get everything accomplished before we could get their wedding album to them. It has been safe and sound here with us and Lauren will finally get the time to come over for a visit at the home studio and pick up her album! We do ship these albums to clients if absolutely necessary, but I love to see their reactions to the albums in person--plus we get to have a little visit with our photography clients!

Here are just a couple of photographs of the actual album--I love it!

Lauren and Kyle used a lovely navy blue for their wedding theme color, so why not get an awesome navy blue leather cover for their album! Love it!

And lots of fun, free-style page spreads!

And such lovely art and architecture in the church to serve as page backgrounds!

They are just a great couple!

More posts to come!

Sarah and Jason's Designer Wedding Album

2009-05-03T14:14:00Z

Sarah and Jason picked up their wedding album yesterday--it looks so classic and elegant! They wanted little touches of red throughout the design, as well a combination of clean lines and fun page spreads!

I have such a good time designing these albums from scratch for our couples! Sarah and Jason ordered theirs just a few weeks ago!

Here are a few pages from their actual album:

Their timeless monogram cover--in fabulous black leather!

Nice clean lines in the design--and Sarah was so beautiful!

And some lovely sunset shots that we finished with a painterly art effect...

To view a LOW-RESOLUTION slide show of the album design, simply click on the couple's name below:

Jason and Sarah's Digital Designer Album

More designs are on their way to the blog!

Engagement Session: Jessica and James

2009-04-29T21:33:00Z

We recently had the wonderful weather and chance to photograph Jessica and James' engagement session at Mount Saint Francis! What a great couple! Jessica is cousins with our wonderful former brides, Kari and Danielle--and we are really looking forward to Jessica and James' wedding at St. Mary's later this year!

Jessica and James are so wonderful--kind and so sweet to one another! It is going to be a gorgeous wedding!

To view their session image video, click on the screen below--

And here are a handful of my favorites--I have to show control on posting because I have to finish an album design tonight!

A classic portrait--

And some fun talking a walk...

I love this blue-sepia tone that we are using for a more vintage look...

And a little spring color in the sky!

With a cool barn...

And James had to break out the sports jerseys for some photos! More in the video! He is a MAJOR Pittsburgh fan!

More engagement session to come, plus Brittany's bridal session, Kara and Jason's wedding, and Brittany and Brandon's wedding!

Engagement Session: Brittany & Justin

2009-04-25T20:35:00Z

Recently, we met Brittany and Justin at the gorgeous Huber Family Farm and Winery for their engagement session! It was perfect weather and we got some awesome shots of this wonderful couple!

Brittany and Justin are planning a May 16 wedding and it will be beautiful!

To view their image music video, click on the screen below:

And here are a few of my favorites from their big day!

The sky was simply gorgeous!

Our wonderful couple--don't they look great together?

A nice vintage look on this more serious image--love it!

I just love the color, mood, and movement in this one! So romantic and simple!

Love the big open field with the Starlight tower in the back--

I love the feel of this one, too...

And the old red barn made for a wonderful background!

Brittany is sooooo gorgeous!

And a little B&W film grain with some cute floral embellishment--so girly!

Thanks to Brittany and Justin for an awesome session! We love ya!

Totally Fun: Our Newest Guest Book Designs!

2009-04-25T13:52:00Z

In the past we have offered a really lovely square, leather-bound Keepsake Guest Book that our client order to use on their wedding day. it has been super-popular, but I am always striving to change things up and offer new products to our clients.

In February, we were are the trade show in Las Vegas for the Wedding and Portrait Professionals International conference, and I found a great product that has a more contemporary look to it--so we are offering it to our clients at no additional charge!

The new size is a 12x8 slim line design with a glossy photo cover! I have done two designs for our 2009 clients and the books have been a huge hit at the weddings! We also offer the new glossy cover book in an 8x8 size!

Here is the one we did for Tiffany and Mark (we used images from both their engagement session as well as their pre-wedding formal shoot):

Tiffany and Mark's book at the actual wedding--with a reflection of twinkle lights on the glossy cover!

The first part of their book served as the wedding guest signatures--

And the last pages left room for well-wishes!

The book has really nice pages that are really sturdy--

Kara and Jason decided to keep all of their pages free-form so that guests could leave messages on every page--oh, and the wallet-sized images that you see in this photograph are the complimentary viewing cards that we provide to ALL of our wedding couples! It their password, posting date, etc. on the photo card so that guests can view the wedding images without having to ask the bride and groom for the info! They are a fun little perk!

Doesn't it look great with the signatures? And guests love that they can come to the table anytime during the reception and leave a note!

And a quick snapshot of the cover!

These books also make great autograph books for our high school seniors and their graduation buddies!

Our Latest Gallery Wrap Canvas Prints

2009-04-25T13:22:00Z

One of the biggest products that our wedding and portrait clients are purchasing now is the gorgeous gallery wrap canvas! If yo love the look and texture of an image printed on canvas, but want a more contemporary presentation for your photograph, then the gallery wrap is for you!

It is such a great piece of art to hang in your home and is a wrap=a-round canvas that requires no traditional frame!

Recently, wedding couples Kimberly & Patrick and Jessica & Keith chose great images for their gallery wraps--

Kimberly and Patrick chose an awesome candid image from their first dance as husband and wife. We did a super-crisp black & white image in a nice 16x24 size and it is SO great!

And the fabulous thick wrap around the image! Love it! We even put the hanging hardware on the wrap for our clients so they can take it home and hang it up with no worries!

And Jessica & Keith chose this awesome image (I did a painterly effect on it to make it a nice art piece) for their gallery wrap!

And again--the nice and thick wrap! Love it!

Our wedding couples are really choosing awesome images to serve as focal points in their home--and I love that a Monarch Photography image is a part of their home decor forever!

Kara & Jason's 4.18.09 Wedding: Sneak Peek!

2009-04-23T11:44:00Z

I am doing my best to try to get a handful of images ready for a sneak peek just days after we shoot a wedding. Sure, there are some photographers out there who just throw them online and that's it, but Jonathan and I truly take the time to white-balance, color-correct, and edit/enhance EACH individual image for all of our clients. We want each photograph to tell a story and I love how much our clients appreciate that special touch!

So, I wanted to get just a handful of images ready for Kara and Jason to see! They tied the knot last Saturday, April 18, at the gorgeous Huber Winery!

The wedding was all about love, laughter, and fun!

We are editing the images as I post this, but here are a tiny handful of my favorites from their day!

Our happy couple at sunset--all warm and glowing--love the sky, the apple blossoms, everything!

Hello, gorgeous rings!

It was a totally sweet and fun ceremony!

And a fun bridal party!

Taking a little sunset walk...

Their first dance was SO special--and it had a twist to it! I will share that later, though!

Those two were really working it! Nice choreography!

And a little bluesy drama effect on this one to give a pop of color!

More to come soon--in the meantime, Kara and Jason are enjoying their honeymoon! Congrats! We had a blast!

Modeling Session: Carter

2009-04-22T12:50:00Z

Although we are mainly engagement/wedding/boudoir and senior session photographers, we are firm believers in constant education through classes, seminars, and participating in photography opportunities that are out of the norm for us. From fine art to nature to male models, we love to shoot "outside the box" because it challenges us and keeps us on your photographic toes, so to speak!

A few weeks ago, we had the opportunity to photograph Carter--he is breaking into the modeling business and needed to get a portfolio ready. So, we were happy to take on this task! Carter brought his friend, Monica, who has experience with the wardrobe and artistic side of modeling for photo shoots (she actually worked in Italy this past year) and we went to work!

We wanted to do a pretty big range of images for him in order to have him ready for any type of modeling offer he might get--so we went from formal to edgy, serious to comic--we did both in-studio and on-location at one of my very favorite super-secret outdoor shooting places.

NOTE: We do have permission from Carter to post these images--toward the end they are bit "edgier" and include some showing of the male form, so please take this into account if you are on the conservative side.

I absolutely love them--we shot a ton of images, but here are some of our favorites that I am sure will look great in the portfolio!

Carter is a snowboarder, loves to work out and take yoga classes, is incredibly intelligent and has a great career in finance. I really admire his determination to go for his dream and try to break into the modeling realm! I know that he is going to do it and we can say that we knew him before he was a star!

To view even more of the session images, just click on Carter's video session screen below--

Oh, and did I mention that Carter is pretty easy on the eyes? LOL!

Simple, but it works--

And a cool James Bond kind of look...

And a little edgier--Carter takes great direction!

I don't even have words for how much I love this one...

And this one, too--

Love that off-camera lighting we use for every single shoot we do--engagements, weddings, etc. It makes such a difference!

And a great sunset doesn't hurt...

Nice in black & white...

I really loved this coat--it photographed so well!

And I love everything about this one--especially his look on his face. Check out that chiseled chin line!

And an all-American boy look---

And you can definitely tell that Carter does yoga--

These sort of speak for themselves...

It was getting really dark, so we used both our own lighting and the headlights of the car to do this shot--

Great pose!

Now, these are a little more on the edgy side--you have been warned! Nothing major, but there is some skin and a little non-conservative posing and composition!

I love the shoots that David Beckham does, so we went for the grit, too!

Thanks for a great session, Carter! And I will keep you posted on his modeling progress!

Tiffany and Mark are married!

2009-04-21T21:13:00Z

Tiffany and Mark tied the knot on March 28! It was a little breezy, but we got such awesome and fun images! Tiffany and Mark wanted a little edge to some images, along with some fine classic shots thrown in for good measure--and I love the results! Special thanks to our third shooter and friend, Joni Ray, for her assistance at the wedding and reception!

To see their image music video, click on the screen below:

And here are some of my favorites--I love so many, I wish I had time to post more!

That was one fabulous bouquet!

And a little bling!

Tick-tock--time to get ready!

I caught this shot of Tiffany while she was waiting to make her entrance. I love it!

Caldwell Chapel is such a lovely place to get married!

This one is so watercolor-yummy!

And there's nothing better than a super-fun bridal party!

I just love that moment before the kiss...

We were down on River Road next to the Water Tower Museum and took Tiffany and Mark out to the dock area as the storm clouds were moving in--I am so in love with these images!

And I want a big gallery wrap of this one in our consultation room, for sure!

And this is our NEW guest book! Full page spreads and hand-designed by yours truly--that's me!

It was a big hit!

It's all in the little details...

And the moments...

As you can see, a fun time was had by all!

That's Mark's sister, Meredith, on the right--drop it like it's hot, girl! We are photographing Meredith and Frank's wedding in June!

Isn't it romantic? They ended their evening with one of my favorite songs, "The Luckiest" by Ben Folds.

I love the closeness of this one...so intimate and safe...

Congrats to Tiffany and Mark! We loved every minute of your day! Thanks for choosing us!

Wedding Day Details

Color Scheme: Sage green and Ivory
Ceremony: Caldwell Chapel
Reception: River Room Kingfish
Bridal Gown: David's Bridal
Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bridal Warehouse
Florist: LaGrange Florist
Cake: Ellen Thurman
DJ: Sound Specialists

Happy Anniversary to Erin and Adam!

2009-04-21T02:15:00Z

I wanted to take a moment to wish a Happy One-Year Anniversary to Erin and Adam! They were married on April 12, 2008 at Caldwell Chapel, with a wonderful reception at Mellwood Arts Center. And it was the night of our huge kick-off to the Kentucky Derby Festival, which means that there was a huge fireworks display that night!

Here are just a few of my faves from their day--

I loved their use of bright blue and yellow for their color scheme! So cheery and different!

Adam seeing Erin come down the aisle with her dad...

Our beautiful couple...

Love this candid shot...

And a fabulous Spring-themed cake!

To view their wedding image video, click on the link below! I just love the song we used for this one! Happy Anniversary, Erin and Adam!

Brittany E's High School Senior Portraits

2009-04-16T12:53:00Z

A few weeks ago, we had the opportunity to photograph Brittany's senior session--she is a gifted art student, stylish, and overall wonderful young woman. We had a blast chatting with Brittany and her mom during the session!

To view Brittany's image music video, just click on the screen below!

And some of my very favorites from the session!

I am so in love with the sepia-toned vintage look of this image...

And showing some fun personality!

And a little floral fun...

Our seniors love our scoop chair in the studio--comfy and fun! Plus it is a royal blue chair, which means that I can make it any color I want in Photoshop CS4!

And the same goes for your senior when she is wearing a bright Kelly green coat! Poof! It's magenta with some iridescent tones put in for fun! And um, hello? How about those sneakers?

Woo-hoo! How awesome is that green coat?

Thanks to Brittany and her mom, Kim, for a great session!

Happy Anniversary to Apryl and Kyle!

2009-04-15T12:36:00Z

April of 2008 was absolutely one of my favorite wedding months EVER! I loved that 2 of our April brides were actually named April--or in this case, Apryl--how cool is that spelling?

Apryl and Kyle tied the knot on April 10, 2008 at Lakeside Reflections. What a gorgeous day and what a fun and stylish wedding!

As a matter of fact, Apryl and Kyle were the first couple that we ever featured on the blog using the image music video, so here is theirs in their honor!

To view their fun and edgy Digital Designer Album, click on that link! Remember that it is LOW-resolution for easy viewing!

And here are a handful of favorites from their day--

Our gorgeous bride...

And a cute little pink-duo-toned image--I love it!

Can you tell how fabulous and fun Apryl is by her bridal portraits?

Kyle (in the middle) and the boys...

Kyle seeing Apryl come down the aisle--these are always some of my favorite images...

A little detail...

Signing that marriage license!

It was freezing cold that day, but we didn't care--all for the sake of pretty portraits!

Oh, and there is a TON of kissing coming up--wait for it...

Jon makes all of our own textures by photographing interesting walls, nature shots, etc. and then transforming them. I love this one!

More smooching!

Dancing and kissing!

There's something about the tone of this image that speaks to me--It has a certain emotion to it--I love it!

This is a shot that many of our clients really want, so we aim to please! And I love it!

And this image has become one of our signature shots! If memory serves, one of the bridesmaids has a relative who owns this incredible car! We HAD to get a shot with it! Our photography lab has a huge print of it in their lobby! I love it!

Congrats to Apryl and Kyle! We adore ya!

Happy Anniversary to April and Keith

2009-04-11T19:42:00Z

I have been so busy with workflow that I nearly forgot to wish April and Keith a Happy One-Year Anniversary! They were married in Indiana on April 5, 2008 and had a gorgeous day!

Here are a few of my favorites from their wedding day--

We had rain that morning--the sky was gorgeous before the wedding...

And the lovely ceremony...

They are such a sweet couple--we were feelin' the love!

We don't do much selective color--but I had to put this pop of pastel on the image--and it was a favorite of April's. By the way, have you seen how much black & white with a touch of color is on television these days? The opening of "30 Rock," tons of sports commercials, etc. It is so popular in the media!

This is Keith's own rendition of the Heisman Trophy pose--with a bouquet, of course...

This is April and Keith's daughter, Lindsey (on the right) and her little friend--we were having a bit of fun before the reception! And Lindsay is going to be a big sister--April and Keith are expecting again!

A little texture on the first dance shot...

And one of my definite favorites of the day--how is that for a sweet family photograph? We put this on the last page of their Digital Designer Album with the scripture--"Love never fails..."

Happy Anniversary, you guys! We can't wait to meet the new baby!

Tiffany and Mark's SECRET Pre-Wedding Session!

2009-04-07T16:20:00Z

Well, I have been waiting to post this for a while--several months, in fact! And since Tiffany and Mark celebrated their wedding day March 28 (I am working on the images as we speak), it is safe to post some images from their super-secret pre-wedding session!

Tiffany and Mark did a combination of engagement session plus a pre-wedding formal couple session--which means that they got all dressed up in their formal wedding attire and got some awesome shots of the two of them!

Isn't that a great idea? They got to get some wonderful images without the stress of the time constraints on their wedding day!

Special thanks to Thad from The Rivue Restaurant for allowing us to shoot at their location!

To view their image music video, click on the screen below--

And here are a handful of some of my favorites--I love them!

Our gorgeous bride--Tiffany has such a European couture look to her!

And our handsome groom, Mark! He was such a trooper during this session!

The Rivue has a great window view to downtown Louisville! I love the bluesy look on this one!

We were going for an "American Gothic" kind of stern look on this one--I like it!

I love the retro architecture in the restaurant!

A great view of the river...

Adorable!

We got a little giggly toward the end of the session!

So that guests can view and order these images, we will be adding them to the wedding day gallery! Thanks to Tiffany and Mark for such a great engagement/formal session--and their wedding day was gorgeous!

I will post more soon!

The Clark Family Session

2009-03-31T17:35:00Z

I am SO excited to share this session gallery with you! Sarah and Adam were one of our very first wedding couples (back when we were still shooting film) and they have been not only wonderful referrals and clients, but also friends!

Sarah, Adam, little Aiden (who just turned the big-3 years old, and baby Asher came over to the home studio for a family portrait session--

This is one of the perks of becoming a Monarch Photography wedding couple--ALL of our wedding couples receive a complimentary session of their choice--EVERY YEAR FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES! Just our way of saying "thank you" for choosing us as your wedding photographers!

We did several combinations of their family poses--

Click on the screen below to check out their session video!

And here are a handful of my favorites from their day--

Could Aiden be any CUTER? What a personality!

And this is the darling baby Asher! Are these not the most adorable little boys?

Brotherly love...

I love using the old blue distressed chair for the boys.

Beautiful Sarah and her boys!

And Dad Adam and the boys!

And the happy family! I adore the "Big Brother" and "Little Brother" shirts the boys are wearing! And I love how scrunched up Asher is in the photo!

I am always buying interesting props and chairs that we can use for sessions--I got this old trunk at Goodwill and it is just the right height for little ones!

And I just don't think that there is anything sweeter than a baby's tiny little toes!

This is a fun candid shot--you can tell how tired the boys were at the end of the session!

A big thanks to the Clark family! We love ya!

Kari and Cory's Digital Designer Album

2009-03-26T19:07:00Z

Kari and Cory received their album a LONG time ago, but I am just getting the chance to blog about it!

They received the adorable 8x8 leather-bound album with the chic gray cover and silver gilding. I love it! Kari and Cory chose some really awesome images to go into their album and also asked that we incorporate some lyrics to their favorite songs into the design. I love the outcome and adore the album!

To view a slide show of their album design, click on their names below--

Kari and Cory

Here are some actual images of the book itself--

I love designing each album from scratch--and I had to put that gorgeous flower on the opening page!

Kari wanted lots of color and a really fun design, so I put a lot of color on the backgrounds and used a nice, contemporary, fun layout that really represents their fun personalities!

Fun! The surprise at the reception was that golf course ice cream cake on the left page--Cory loves those cakes and he was so surprised that Kari got him one as his groom's cake! And everyone loved it!

I have tons more to post soon--stay tuned!

April and Keith's Digital Designer Album

2009-03-25T17:39:00Z

April and Keith got married last April, but then life set in and they got a little delayed in ordering their Digital Designer Album--no worries, though--It was worth the wait!

Plus--April and Keith are expecting a little girl soon!

They chose the lovely black leather cover with silver gilding--so fabulous! We delivered their album to them personally last month!

April and Keith are big on songs that mean a lot to them, so we incorporated some of their favorite lyrics into the album--it will be so sentimental when they have been married for 50 years!

One of my favorite spreads in the album...

And this is the final page--that's their adorable little girl, Lindsay, in the middle--they also got this print in a wonderful 16x20 canvas for their home!

Love that album! I am a firm believer in our clients choosing the images for their albums--after all, they are the ones who will have the book in their home forever! I can certainly offer advice, but we find that our clients appreciate the freedom to choose the images themselves.

And then I design everything from scratch!

We have some new products to show soon--I will post those ASAP!

Happy Anniversary to Meg and Michael!

2009-03-24T18:20:00Z

I am SO late in posting anniversary wishes to one of our very favorite couples of 2008--Meg and Mike! They had a gorgeous wedding on March 8, 2008--the day that Louisville got 15 inches of unexpected snow!

That didn't stop Meg and Mike from having an awesome spring wedding, though--and their images even graced the cover of the new regional brochure for Nanz & Kraft Florist!

What a beautiful wedding from beginning to end--I have to show off some of these images!

To view their wedding image gallery, just click on their names below--

Meg and Michael's Wedding

And here are some of my favorites from their big day!

A little snow doesn't scare us!

A lovely bit of natural light for a nice silhouette shot...

Meg's dress was SO fabulous---it was made just for her!

And aren't the girls fabulous in their spring-colored coral dresses? This is one of my fave shots of last season!

Meg and Mike chose to see one another before the wedding--and I love the reaction on Meg's face!

The ring bearer and flower girls were actually triplets! They were adorable and so hilarious together!

View from the balcony...

A great shot of the guys at the reception location--the always gorgeous Marriott Downtown!

More fun with the triplets!

And with the awesome bridal party!

Using the available light...

Love this one, too! I shot it from the side while Jon was taking a formal portrait from the front...

Fabulous details at their incredible reception!

And their adorable first dance--really nice with the videographer's light being used behind them! Fun!

Happy Anniversary, you two! We wish you many years of bliss!

A Big Welcome to our Newest Wedding Couple!

2009-03-24T17:39:00Z

We are on our way to booking some awesome weddings for 2010!

I wanted to send a warm welcome to our newest 2010 Monarch Wedding Couple!

Kasey and Mark will celebrate their wedding day on Friday, April 23, 2010!

Congrats to them on their engagement and upcoming wedding day!

Brandon's Senior Portraits

2009-03-24T17:01:00Z

I have been wanting to get some time to post Brandon's senior portraits for a while--so let's go for it!

Brandon and his mom, Meshell, came out to the home studio a few weeks ago for some last-minute senior portraits. Brandon is a great guy--a fellow photographer, head of the school yearbook staff, and an all-around awesome person! We had a great time doing a combination of in-studio and outdoor shots--and I love the results! We put a little rush on his images so that he could get his photo in the yearbook on time--we aim to please!

Brandon posted the nicest comment on the blog--in case you didn't see it, here is what he had to say:

I wanted to say that I just looked at my senior pictures on line. I couldn't believe the quality of the shots, and all the editing you all did in just under 5 days. Their competition takes at least twice as long for proofs and you get only half the quality. To anyone looking for great photographers, Jonathan and Rosemary are certainly the only choice. I've already recommended you all to some of my friends. Keep up your great work, and thanks again Jon for all your tips during the shoot!

I love getting feedback from our clients--thanks to Brandon and his mom for choosing us!

To view Brandon's image video--click on the screen below--

And here are a few of my favorites from the session--

This is the one he chose for the yearbook--I love its simplicity!

And he looked great in green!

There is a cool bridge just down the street from our home studio--we trudged through the ice to get to it--and it was worth it!

And although we are Canon shooters, we couldn't resist the chance to do a four-image panel of Brandon with his Nikon--I have seen some of his work and it is really good!

It's not too late to get those last-minute senior portraits for graduation announcements and gifts! Give Rosemary a call today at 502.641.0744! We love our HS seniors!

Many blog posts to come, I promise!

2009-03-16T21:45:00Z

Oh, my! We have been so very busy lately! I TOTALLY owe our blog readers so many tidbits of news, tons of images, and lots of great new products to share!

I will do my best to get caught up over the next few days! After all, the wedding season kicks off for us next week, so I must get caught up before the wedding season takes over this blog!

Take care, stay tuned, and keep reading!

A Warm Welcome to Our Newest Monarch Wedding Couples!

2009-03-11T00:59:00Z

Wow! What can I say? We are nearly booked up for the entire year! It is so nice that, even with the economy the way it is, that couples know how important awesome wedding images are when it comes to lasting memories!

I would like to welcome our two newest couples to the Monarch family!

Congrats to Ryan and Rickey, who will be tying the knot on Sunday, September 6, 2009--they are planning their wedding while living out in Kansas City, so we can't wait to actually meet them in person later this spring!

And a big congrats to Kristen and Eric, who will celebrate their beautiful day on September 12, 2009! They came out to the home studio last week. Kristen knows us from Kara and Nick's wedding a couple of years ago!

We are basically referral-based when it comes to our wedding clients, but we also pride ourselves in a fun and fresh web site, cool products, and a wonderful combination of ultra-edgy and classic portraiture!

We still are taking some commissions for this year, so be sure to call Rosemary today at 502.641.0744 for your complimentary consultation!

Enjoy this awesome Kentucky weather!

Happy Anniversary to Stacy and Steve!

2009-03-01T14:33:00Z

Wow-with a month full of photo shoots and photography conventions, I SO forgot to wish Stacy and Steve a Happy One-Year Wedding Anniversary!

They tied the knot last February 16!

What a great couple--so fun and just so sweet!

Here are just a few from their big day:

A nice textured spin on a classic image...

Love the drama in this one--so pretty!

And a fun portrait at The Olmsted--a great place for a reception!

Happy Anniversary, you two!

A Favorite Product--The Gallery Wrap Canvas!

2009-02-21T23:01:00Z

We are back from our photography convention and I am ready to blog! I have tons of awesome news to share, but I wanted to also remind our clients and blog readers about one of my favorite image products! The Gallery Wrap Canvas! It is a gorgeous, contemporary wrap-a-round canvas art piece that our wedding couples have been ordering like crazy!

Melissa and Tomie, who were married last September, recently received their fabulously large gallery wrap! It is such a conversation piece in their home--and you can get a gallery wrap anywhere from an 8x10 size all the way up to a 30x40 and larger!

I love the image that Melissa and Tomie chose--so cool!

And I love how thick the canvas frame is--and we put the hanging hardware on for all of our clients so they can put the image right on the wall!

Love it!

These gallery wraps are also perfect for high school seniors, boudoir images, and engagement/wedding images! And the quality is just beautiful!

I will post more examples soon!

Takin' a Break in Vegas, Baby!

2009-02-17T19:51:00Z

Just a note to our clients and blog-readers: Jon and I are at the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International Convention in lovely Las Vegas!

We have some BIG NEWS to share later this week!

I am checking e-mails and phone messages, so we will be in touch this week! I will not neglect you!

A Big Welcome to our Newest Wedding Couples!

2009-02-17T18:28:00Z

Wow! We are booking so quickly that I cannot seem to keep up with everything--we have the best wedding couples and I adore each and every one of them!

Congrats to Laura and Hardy, who are tying the knot on Friday, May 29 here in Louisville!

And a warm welcome to Lauren and Daniel, who are getting married at the lovely Talon Winery in Lexington on Saturday, July 11, 2009!

And congratulations to Cortney and Tyler, who will celebrate their wedding day on Saturday, August 8!

Here is our full line-up of booked wedding dates for 2009:

3.28.09--Tiffany and Mark

4.18.09--Kara and Jason

4.24.09--Brittany and Brandon

5.16.09--Brittany and Justin

5.29.09--Laura and Hardy

5.30.09--Kelly and Matt

6.6.09--Terra and Mike

6.13.09--Brittany and Bennett

6.19.09--Jessica and James

6.20.09--Meredith and Frank

6.27.09--Ashley and Parker

7.11.09--Lauren and Daniel

7.17.09--Courtney and Jamie

7.18.09--Ashley and Cody

8.1.09--Shelby and Kevin

8.8.09--Cortney and Tyler

9.4.09--Sara and Chris

9.5.09--Liz and Mike

9.19.09--Brittany and Dave

9.26.09--Kimberly and Ed

10.2.09--Christy and Shea

10.3.09--Dana and Matt

10.10.09--Kristin and Jason

We Got the Cover!

2009-02-07T15:53:00Z

I have been meaning to post this for a while, but between Christmas, holiday orders, boudoir shoots, and a power outage due to a wicked ice storm--things have been, well, interesting!

I am SO proud of this brochure!

Recently, an awesome florist, Nanz & Kraft, contacted us about using some images from Meg and Michael's wedding day! They had the most gorgeous flowers on their big day and I was thrilled that the brochure designer asked us to be on the front and back cover of the piece of advertising literature!

This brochure is marketed throughout the region and we are so happy about the end product!

Here are a few shots of the brochure itself--

Our beautiful bride, Meg, on the front cover...

And the back cover, too!

And some awesome photo credit! Love it!

We feel so blessed to have the cover of this brochure! And I am working on some other vendor contacts, so I will post those soon, too!

Happy Anniversary to Mariann and Phillip!

2009-02-06T12:51:00Z

Wow--I am behind already for the year! It seems that January was one of our busiest months ever, with album designs, bookings, photography conventions, and boudoir sessions!

I have SO many things to share with you, so let's start with some belated anniversary wishes!

Happy One-Year Anniversary to Mariann and Phillip, who tied the knot on January 19, 2008!

They had a gorgeous wedding at St. Joe Hill Church, followed by an absolutely stunning reception at The Grand!

Here are just a couple of my favorites from the big day!

The rings...

The altar was important for the ceremony, but it is also where Phil proposed to Mariann...

Laughter at the reception...

And the outside of The Grand! So pretty!

Happy Anniversary, you two! We wish you years of bliss!

Jennifer and Casey's Wedding Reception

2009-01-30T16:45:00Z

Jennifer and Casey tied the knot in Mexico, but wanted us to document their reception in Bowling Green upon their return home!

We were thrilled to photograph the evening of fun, friends, and family! What a wonderful group of people! Tons of laughter, emotion, and great food and music!

To view their reception image music video, click below--

And here are just a few of my favorites from their December 27th reception for family and friends!

Beautiful bride--Jen used to be a fitness competitor, so you can definitely see her muscle tone!

Our happy couple...

Outside the country club...

Jen greeted one of our October brides, Michelle--we have the best clients!

A dedication to Casey's late father, Sonny--he was a wonderful dad!

They snuggled all night--so cute!

They had their first dance to "Everything" by Michael Buble'--a great song!

Details...

Jennifer's adorable daddy!

And they had an awesome band!

Then Jen had an outfit change--a sassy cocktail dress!

Jen enjoyed dancing with several guests--fun!

And Casey geared up for the garter toss...

And then they danced some more...

My favorite shot of the evening--

Congrats to Jennifer and Casey! We wish you the best!

We are okay!

2009-01-29T22:07:00Z

Never fear, blog readers! We have not been swept away by the ice storm in Kentucky!

We actually just returned on Monday from the annual photography convention (more great news from that soon!) and then we got hit with tons of snow and ice!

Our house is currently without power and heat, so we have temporarily re-located to our friend's home just a couple of minutes down the road--thanks to our fabulous friend, Amy, for her hospitality! And thanks to our neighbors (who have a fireplace) for keeping an eye on our house and checking on us regularly!

Amy even took in our photography equipment, work station, and our cat--Gobo-Kitty is on her best behavior, we promise!

Here's hoping that the power comes back on soon!

Check back--you know that I will blog, no matter where I am!

Come rain, come sleet, come snow...Monarch never closes!

A Big Welcome to Dana and Matt!

2009-01-14T11:57:00Z

2009 is booking up quickly!

We met with bride Dana and her parents last night and are thrilled to be documenting the big day!

Dana and Matt will be celebrating their wedding day on October 3, 2009!

Thanks for choosing us! We still have some really great dates open, so call me (Rosemary? today at 502.641.0744 to schedule your complimentary consultation!

And congrats again to the happy couple!

John's Winter Senior Portrait Session

2009-01-12T15:46:00Z

Before Christmas, we met John and his mom for a quick senior portrait session--it was chilly outside, but the area down by our home studio made for an awesome background! Then we headed back up to the home studio for some classic portraits!

To view John's senior portrait image video--click below, of course!

And here are a handful of my favorites! He is so natural in front of the camera--John is a singer and great stage performer, so he has a nice comfortable sense of being photographed.

This one is so simple--I love it. He could even use it for audition headshots!

I love the wintry look in the background...

Nice black & white...

Relaxed!

The sky was gorgeous that evening! And you can really see our off-camera lighting illuminating his face on this one--that is the difference that makes for gorgeous images with great depth!

Another nice black & white...

And one of our signature composites...

John is a talented actor/singer, so I love the 4-panel we did! So funny!

A classic one for mom and dad...

Thanks to John and his wonderful mom, Barbara! We had a great time and love your images!

Monarch Boudoir Sessions: The ULTIMATE Valentine's Day Gift

2009-01-04T21:17:00Z

Give a memorable gift to your true love and a gift of confidence to yourself!

Alright, ladies! Even though we are barely into 2009, it is not too early to think about what you want to get your Valentine! How about a collection of images that show you at your most feminine, confident, and beautiful? Our b-sessions were a huge success over the Christmas holiday and we are super-excited about offering the same for Valentine's Day!

We realize that there aren't many photographers in the Louisville Metro area who offer B-sessions, so let's take a moment to explain the session a bit! You know you're wondering what it involves, right?

What is a B-Session?

Boudoir photography (also called "For His Eyes Only") is the beauty of your curves and sensuality--whether you are in jeans and a t-shirt, a gorgeous piece of lingerie, or a beautiful silk bed sheet, you are a true glamour girl! And you can go as far as you want when it comes to the clothing (or lack thereof). Most clients bring everything from jeans to lingerie to one of HIS shirts. And don't forget flirty shoes and jewelry! We assure you that the finished product is a beautiful collection of images that he is sure to love for a lifetime! And it doesn't matter if you aren't the perfect body type--this is a time to celebrate yourself and show that confidence! You are worth it!

Why should I do a B-Session?

The art form has really become popular again because it makes a woman feel beautiful. Women are now embracing their individual beauty, strength, and femininity. To be able to celebrate that and to give your partner in life such an intimate, personal, beautiful gift of yourself is something that they really love. Plus, it's incredibly empowering to the b-session client! You can push the envelope and take a step into a completely different part of your personality! Wouldn't you love to feel like a Victoria's Secret model for a couple of hours?

And remember--a boudoir session isn't just for Valentine's Day. It is also a perfect wedding day, anniversary, birthday, or "just because" gift for the love of your life! We recently did several sessions for Christmas gifts--I will share our clients' comments later!

What's so different about the Monarch Photography B-Session?

We are a husband and wife team (during this session, Jon does the photography while I handle the backdrops, posing, and attention to hair, make-up, and clothing). This means that we work together to make you feel comfortable and look incredible! We have a wide array of backdrops, furniture, drapes, etc. to give your images a range of soft and classic to edgy and modern.

And because we want you to look perfect (and I know that, as women, we all can find a problem area since we tend to be super-critical of ourselves), we take the time to FULLY re-touch every single image and provide you with a complete set of retouched proofs. Remember--those models in those fashion magazines are re-touched! You even get a completely private, password-protected online viewing and ordering gallery plus print credit to use toward an album, DVD slide show, etc!

Jonathan and I truly believe that our shooting style for a boudoir session sets us apart from the rest. We encourage our b-clients to bring a friend with them (most clients bring a sister or friend, but you are more than welcome to come on your own) and I also assist in the planning of the outfits, hair, and make-up before our clients arrive at our home studio. We are both in the shooting room at all times with our client (and their friend is welcome to be as well) and we pride ourselves in being sensitive, discreet, and trustworthy. We know that it takes a lot of guts for a photo session like this--and our clients leave our home studio commenting on how fun the session was and how glad they are that they did it!

We work together with our clients to create a collection of gorgeous images--from attention to detail to the final re-touching, we feel that we go the extra step to make sure that a b-session is not only the perfect gift for a client's special someone, but also an empowering, wonderful experience for the client herself!

How can I find out more about the Monarch B-Session?

You can check out our pricing information on our Boudoir Photography section of our web site, e-mail at Rosemary@monarch-photography.com, or call me (Rosemary) at 502.641.0744! We are currently taking appointments for Valentine's Day, so contact me as soon as possible!

It is the ultimate Valentine's Day surprise--and a great investment!

With our clients' permission of course, here is just a tiny sample of our b-session work--please note that some b-clients requested that I crop in so that faces don't show--you understand!

All of these images were photographed in our home studio with complete dressing room available for all clients!

Classic pin-up style...

A little more film noir...

And you gotta bring great shoes!

Classic black & white...

Feminine yet strong...

Just a peek...

Showing off her husband's favorite sports team...

Details...

Sensuality...

I love the power and strength in this one...

And just one example of our fun posing props! A little sparkle!

Thanks to our awesome b-session clients for their permission to use these images! GORGEOUS!

Call soon for your appointment to make this the best Valentine's Day ever!

An Official Welcome to Our 2009 Wedding Couples!

2009-01-01T15:37:00Z

In order to kick the New Year off right, let's give a big warm welcome to all of our 2009 wedding couples so far!

We are booking up quickly, so be sure to call me (Rosemary) at 502.641.0744 to schedule your consultation today!

Congrats to...

3.28.09--Tiffany and Mark

4.18.09--Kara and Jason

4.24.09--Brittany and Brandon

5.16.09--Brittany and Justin

5.30.09--Kelly and Matt

6.6.09--Terra and Mike

6.13.09--Brittany and Bennett

6.19.09--Jessica and James

6.20.09--Meredith and Frank

6.27.09--Ashley and Parker

7.17.09--Courtney and Jamie

7.18.09--Ashley and Cody

8.1.09--Shelby and Kevin

9.4.09--Sara and Chris

9.5.09--Liz and Mike

9.19.09--Brittany and Dave

9.26.09--Kimberly and Ed

10.2.09--Christy and Shea

10.10.09--Kristin and Jason

We still have awesome Saturday dates left because of several Friday evening weddings coming up this year!

And to all of our couples--thanks so much for choosing us! We cannot wait to document your big days!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T13:52:00Z

Here's wishing everyone a wonderful, prosperous, and healthy 2009!

It's going to be a great year--we are so thankful for this past year and are looking forward to what comes our way in '09!

Many blessings and best wishes to you and yours!

A Warm Welcome to Shelby and Kevin!

2008-12-31T11:53:00Z

Wow! Things are really looking great for 2009!

I truly believe that we have the best wedding clients out there--fun, energetic, caring people who want awesome wedding images! Jon and I care so much about the entire wedding process for our clients--we work diligently to make sure that they have everything their hearts desire!

So, congrats to the newest members of the Monarch Photography Wedding Family!

Shelby and Kevin will be celebrating their wedding day on August 1, 2009!

It was great to meet Shelby, her mom , and his sister yesterday! They are an awesome group of people!

We still have a handful of good wedding dates open, so call today!

Couture Bridal Session with Lauren--Get ready!

2008-12-30T14:42:00Z

You've heard about it--Trash the Dress--well, we call it our "Couture Bridal" session and we cannot wait for the weather to warm up so that we can do a session or two!

What is a Couture session? Well, it is basically taking a beautiful client in a beautiful dress and photographing her in a completely opposite location--think urban, industrial, water, etc. It is NOT about trashing a dress--it is about making a super-artistic image that is seen as sensual, editorial, and completely out-of-the-ordinary!

We have done a few of these sessions, but we are looking for some clients to REALLY want to do the session with no holds barred!

I talked to our November bride, Holli, yesterday, and she and all of her girlfriends are interested in doing a BRIDESMAID Couture Session! That's right! A group of best friends doing a high-fashion model shoot in their favorite past bridesmaids' gowns and they are gonna trash them! It will be a blast!

It can be a prom dress, a formal gown, or anything else you want to model in--and of course, if you want to do a Couture Bridal Session, then it doesn't have to involved getting your dress trashed--we will be kind, I promise!

I wanted to show you some images from a full-throttle Couture "Trash the Dress" Bridal Session we did late last summer.

I actually did these images quite a while ago with our model, Lauren, in order to showcase how editorial these images can be--and I love them! We got the used dresses off of EBay for a tiny amount of money and we had a blast trashing those dresses!

We went to an abandoned warehouse area and to a bridge and creek by our home studio--I love the images--and yes, I shot them and Jon assisted me!

Here are just a few from the session--I know that they are not for the faint of heart, but I adore the look of them! And Lauren was a perfect model! Our assistant, Amy, carried the lighting for us--and a big thanks to her for that! Jon and I switched up on shooting and it was a blast!

For Lauren's session, we were going for super-serious, high-fashion magazine style images--very dramatic body positions and facial expressions!

Love the blue and green tones in this one--

I love everything about this one...

A little cross-processing on this one to make it look textured...

Up against the wall--what a strong pose!

I am all about Lauren's aqua-colored shoes she brought for the shoot!

Black and white is always good, especially up against a metal building...

This one is a little softer and more ethereal--I like it!

More in black & white...

Under the bridge--I told her to think "I feel so lost" in this one--and boy, does it work! Yes, the graffiti was already there--ready to use!

Her eyes are incredible!

Yes, we had to throw out this dress after we did the shoot--it was quite filthy and had a lovely smell of creek water and tadpoles! At one point during the shoot, a snake swam by, but Lauren was a trooper! What you can't see is that Amy is standing in the water with a lighting stand and a battery pack that is high-voltage!

Yes, it's a little morbid, but we were going for a bit of a Tim Burton look--if you know his movies, then you know what I am talking about with this image. Lauren's head was propped up on a rock and it was around this time that a crayfish tried to get in her dress and it pinched her on the leg! We were laughing!

And this group of kids rode by the bridge as we got that shot above--they just stared--We had to look like a bunch of CSI photographers, but I guess that they saw we were laughing and weren't worried about us. I wonder what they said when they got home...

So, thanks to Lauren! You were a perfect model!

And if YOU want to do a session, call us once the weather gets warm and we can treat you like a super-model for an hour or two!

Our Gallery Wraps are a hit!

2008-12-30T14:20:42Z

We recently began offering our wonderful Gallery Wraps and they have been a huge hit! If you love the look o canvas, but want a more modern look, then order a Gallery Wrap! This canvas comes in an array of sizes ranging from an 8x10 all the way up to an awesome 30x40! Most of our clients have been ordering the rectangular 24x36 size and I love them!

The best thing about these Gallery Wraps are that they require no frame and they are custom-built and ready to hang!

I wish I could show you these in person (we have several hanging in our home studio), but here are some basic images of them:

This is the thick wrap-a-round edge of the 24x36 canvas. Love it!

And the actual canvas itself--just a quick shot in the studio...

More couples these days are purchasing a large print instead of tons of little reprints and I love the impact that a large print like a Gallery Wrap makes in your home!

We also recently created a large Gallery Wrap for one of our boudoir clients--her husband has it hanging up in the sports area of their home! Now, how is that for a conversation starter with the guys? Ha!

Stay tuned for more new products! It's going to be an awesome 2009!

Melissa and Nick's Digital Designer Album!

2008-12-29T16:36:00Z

We delivered this way before Christmas, but I didn't get a chance to blog about it!

Melissa and Nick received their 8x8 Digital Designer Album and it looks so great! I designed all of them from scratch based on our clients' choice of images--after all, only THEY know their favorites!

Here are a few actual images of the book itself!

They received the 8x8 square size in the black leather...

The first page...

One of my favorite spreads...

And I love this one, too, because it shows the progression of the ceremony--I love how Melissa is expressing her joy in the third image!

And their reception...

And the colors that evening were spectacular!

Nice sturdy pages!

We have some new products to share with you--I will post those soon!

Our online ordering system is A-okay!

2008-12-29T13:49:00Z

While we were out of town for the holidays, we received a few phone calls and e-mails about our online ordering site being down and not processing orders.

Oops! We apologize for that inconvenience! We came home, fixed the server problem, and all is well!

Remember that we have not received any orders since the problem occurred a few days ago, so please check with us or re-order to make sure that we got your info!

So, order away until your heart is content, faithful clients! We do appreciate your business and your patience!

Holli and Jeremy's Beautiful November Wedding

2008-12-29T01:41:00Z

Well, it was the end of a beautiful year of weddings and it all came to a close with Holli and Jeremy's big day on November 22! We have known Holli and Jeremy for a while--they are the 5th couple from a long line of referrals! It all started a few years ago with Sarah and Adam, then on to Jamie and Jamie, then came Kelly and Chad, then Brooke and Nathan, and now Holly and Jeremy! Oh, and we also picked up Rachel and Neil along the way!

Overall, the day was gorgeous--there was a tiny issue with a missing veil, but that was solved in two ways: Sarah, the matron-of-honor was handy and went home to get her veil from her wedding and we also did a re-shoot. Once the veil was replaced, Jon and I met Holli and her mom at the church again to do a post-wedding mini bridal session! All was perfect, after all!

The weather was crisp, but the day was an absolute blast and everyone had an awesome time!

Their wedding image video is below--enjoy it!

And prepare for a ton of my favorites-here we go!

St. Denis is a beautiful church and Holli was a beautiful bride! The first three images were taken at our post-wedding session once the veil was replaced...we're still not sure what happened to the original one...

A little floral embellishment...

This is one of my absolute faves...

Getting creative with the ring shot!

And the dress...

And one of our adorable flower girls!

Fun with the bouquet!

And fun with the girls!

Jeremy, our handsome groom--the guys wore chocolate-colored tuxes and they were great!

All of the boys...

Teasing the groom...

Our former bride, Kelly, and Holli--having some fun time before the ceremony!

And our former bride, Sarah, who had her second baby boy a week after the wedding!

Holli and her beautiful mom!

Holli wanted to do the "doorway shot" where they are photographed together before the wedding without seeing one another, but it was a tight squeeze! It was great, though!

Seeing his bride come down the aisle...

And they are now married!

Everyone wanted to jump for joy!

It was cold outside, but well worth it for photos!

And this one, too!

Fun on the party bus! If you are looking for a fun transportation alternative for a bachelor/bachelorette/wedding day party, then contact the Louisville Party Patrol! Plus you get to sign the bus itself!

One of our custom-designed guest books--a big hit!

I loved these candle holders!

Our brides all in a row! Brooke, Kelly, Holli, Sarah, and Jamie--thanks to all of them for having us document their big days! We have adored every minute of it!

Kelly and her sweet sister!

Had to get a little frosting on the best man's cheek--apparently, Holli had this planned!

The first dance...

And then this weird dud showed up to dance with the bride--I love the look of the guy between the wedding crasher and Holli!

But hey! It was the dollar dance and the new guy had cash in hand! Holli had to dance with him--we soon found out that it was the DJ in costume! So funny!

Brother and sister having some kind of crazy time on the dance floor!

Sarah and Adam--congrats on the new baby boy! And thanks for starting it all with your group of friends!

Working it on the dance floor...

And more fun!

Even Holli's grandmother was having a wacky time on the dance floor!

This is the second time this year we saw our "Ice Ice Baby" guy perform! He was also at Stephanie and Jimmy's wedding in July and rocked the house then and now!

Fun with the girls!

Our 2007 couple, Kelly and Chad, sharing a smooch on the dance floor...

Woo-hoo!

And a nice moment in time...in their own little world and I love it!

Congrats to Holli and Jeremy! We had a great time!

Wedding Day Details

Ceremony: St. Denis
Reception: Incarnation Hall
Florist: BJ with Millennium Events
DJ: Captunes
Wedding Gown: Regis Bridals
Bridesmaids Dresses: Rebecca's
Cake: Terri Bowles
Videographer: Video Scrapbook
Caterer: PJ's Catering--Paula Ward

Courtney and Dustin's Fabulous Theatrical Wedding!

2008-12-28T16:29:00Z

Oh, dear--I don't even know where to begin with this one! Courtney and Dustin tied the knot at Glassworks on Sunday, October 26--it was a breezy and lovely afternoon and every minute of it was incredible!

I have known Courtney for several years--as a matter of fact, she was a drama student and speech team competitor for me many years ago when I taught theatre at Bowling Green High School. She has followed her dream of being a working musical theatre actress and I am so very proud of her. Dustin is also an accomplished singer and actor and they actually try to work together as much as possible! They even toured together on a cruise ship while trying to plan their wedding!

So, when Courtney called me and asked us to photograph their Glassworks wedding, I couldn't refuse! And it was just as wonderful as I thought it would be--bright colors, incredible energy, tons of talent and music--and of course, some of the most amazing wedding images we have ever gotten! With a group of people who love being in the limelight, how could it be anything other than an afternoon of great images and laughter!

And be sure to check out their image music video--I love the song on it!

And prepare for a TON of my favorites--there were just so many memorable moments that I can't resist posting many of them!

Can you believe that the flowers were done by Costco? No kidding--they were gorgeous!

Preparing the bride--and I love the shadow of her matron-of-honor's face (that's Maureen) in this image! And Courtney has the most beautiful complexion and gorgeous red hair--she really looked like something out of a Jane Austen novel (with a modern twist)!

Love this one on the rooftop!

Gorgeous gown, gorgeous sky, gorgeous bride!

See? I can't stop posting images of Courtney? I love this one, too! It has great movement to it!

And then things got a little crazy with Robert (Courtney's "man of honor" and Maureen the "married maid of honor," both of whom I have known since their days at Bowling Green High). Fun!

Look, when the guys are in the alley pretending to get arrested--Jon doesn't ask questions. He just shoots the images.

And trust me--when they all start performing a little scene from "West Side Story," you have to get those shots, too! So funny!

In the loft at Glassworks...

Instead of the average program for the wedding, Dustin and Courtney did a cast list like a theatre program! Awesome! All of the folks in the bridal party had bios!

It is so funny when the preacher actually gets in on the old "I'm gonna act like I'm running away" shot--we normally don't do this one, but when you have a bunch of actors in the mix plus a willing participant of an officiant, you gotta do it!

Before dad gave his daughter away...

The lovely ceremony...

And Dustin's brother (who is a successful musician and singer in New Zealand) performed a classic Cole Porter tune during the ceremony...

Everyone was wanting a jump shot at our last few 2008 weddings--and I have to say that his one may take the cake! Check out the air time PLUS the facial expressions!

So moody...love it!

A big finish musical-theatre style!

Courtney and Dustin painted these pumpkins themselves--they went together perfectly with the orange and yellow theme!

And their Muppet musical theatre-themed cake from Leah Stewart of Gallery House...

A fun shot with the Wulfe Brothers Band--Dustin's dad's group!

First dance...

Robert gave a wonderful speech on our happy couple...

Courtney made a great Vanna White and presented the wedding cake to the guests...

Honestly, I have no idea what was going on here...

One of the surprise moments of the reception--one of the groomsmen had White Castles served to everyone--and they were a huge hit!

Hammin' it up for the camera!

And here I am with the Bowling Green High crew--Maureen, Me, Courtney, Dustin, and Robert--man, I look tired!

We had a little fake exit performance in true theatre fashion--fun!

Thanks to Courtney and Dustin, as well as the rest of the gang! We wish you many years of love and laughter!

Wedding Day Details

Colors: deep orange, yellow, and a touch of silver
Ceremony and Reception: Glassworks
Coordinator: Allison Smith
Bridal Gown: Brides by Sugar Drop in Brentwood, TN
Bridesmaid Dress: David's Bridal
Cake: Gallery House
Music: Family Friend Jeff Rehmet
Caterer: Naiman's Catering
Flowers: Costco

Jon's Fine Art Image Gains International Print Merit!

2008-12-28T16:10:00Z

I cannot believe that I have been sitting on this news for so long! I am so proud of Jon--one of his images recently was accepted into the Professional Photographers of American International Print Collection! He was one of only 20 or so photographers from Kentucky to get this print merit honor!

His image entitled, "Sunset Swim," will be part of the print merit special exhibition at the Imaging USA Collection beginning in 2009! His print will be seen by thousands of people as it goes on exhibit in Phoenix, Arizona! Jon's image was one of a mere 2,500 total images accepted into the collections! Not bad for his first time entering the print competition!

This is the image that made it into the prestigious general collection--you should see it in all of its 16x20 size glory on metallic paper! It is gorgeous!

Jon got this image of this bird (we think it is either a heron or an egret) while visiting his parents' home near Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The sun was setting, Jon is hanging out on the bridge above the lake beds where the birds hunt for fish, and it all came together with a little patience and a good eye.

I love this image and am so proud of Jonathan--it is a nerve-wracking thing to put your work in front of a group of internationally-known judges--they can tear you apart. And let me tell you--it can feel so personal when you are dealing with both your career and your passion!

We are currently preparing our images for the state convention as well as the national print competitions for two conventions! I will keep you posted!

Tiffany and Mark's Downtown Engagement Session

2008-12-28T15:28:00Z

Our last engagement session in November was for Tiffany and Mark--and we even did a super-secret editorial formal session for them! Before we did their engagement images, we met them at The Rivue Restaurant downtown and did some images of Tiffany and Mark in their formal wedding attire! Even though they are not getting married until next March, they wanted to get some editorial style shots at this trendy restaurant--and The Rivue was kind enough to let us photograph our couple there! Oh, how I wish I could show off some of the secret images, but I must be patient!

I wish I could show you some of the images, but they are being kept a secret from everyone until Tiffany and Mark reveal them on their wedding day!

So, instead--let's take a look at their engagement images--we went everywhere downtown from The Belvedere and beyond!

Click below to check out their music video--

And my favorites! You know the drill!

Lovin' the grunge blues technique on this one...

And some textures!

Can you believe that we found roses in bloom in November?

A little drama in this one--I love when our couples want a little more fashion-magazine looks in some...

And this one, too, over at the Humana Building...

I am loving Tiffany's leg-up position on this one!

Kiss!

And this one would be awesome as a huge gallery wrap!

And a final smooch!

Thanks to Tiffany and Mark for two awesome sessions rolled into one--we loved it!

Sara and Chris' Wonderful Fall Engagement!

2008-12-28T15:06:00Z

Sara and Chris met us up on Huber's late on Sunday afternoon in November--the weather was perfect and we had a great time! Sara and Chris are getting married next Spring and it is sure to be a wonderful day!

Below is their image video--turn up the music and enjoy!

And my favorites...

Lovely blue sky...

And we still had plenty of fall color!

Casual and classic...

I love the desaturation in this one!

Sunset...

And over at the winery...

And a little fun at the end!

I'll post more soon! Tons to see!

Kara and Jason's Beautiful Autumn Engagement Images

2008-12-28T14:39:00Z

Here's hoping that you had an awesome Christmas day! We are back home after visiting with both of our families, and I am so happy to be at our house! Gobo-Kitty was well-taken care of by our neighbors, but she was truly ecstatic to see her mom and daddy!

On my continuous quest to catch-up on my blogging duties, I am writing to you from the laptop as I sit on the sofa in my jammies while watching one of my fave shows, "The Soup!" I have a secret crush on Joel McHale, but I digress!

We met Kara and Jason at the beautiful Mount St. Francis near Starlight, Indiana--and what a gorgeous place to photograph!

They are a wonderful couple and I adore the images that Jon and I captured for them!

To view their image video, click on the screen below--

And here are a few of my favorites-

Some shots down by the lake...

Aren't the fall colors pretty?

Love this one...

And the background is just gorgeous!

Love this one in black & white...

And one of our textures...

My definite favorite of the day! Aren't the leaves just incredibly perfect?

And some fun!

Congrats to Kara and Jason--we are really looking forward to your Spring 2009 wedding!

Merry Christmas to You and Yours!

2008-12-24T22:56:00Z

Before taking a little time off from the blog (although I still have tons more to share with you), I wanted to wish all of you a wonderful Christmas and incredible New Year! We live in such a great country and we should all be thankful for family, friends, and what we have to share with others.

Remember to help those in need not only this time of year, but all throughout our daily lives. We need each other. I am so thankful for my wonderful husband (who turned 36 yesterday--Happy Birthday, Jon-Baby!), great family members, true friends, this country, and our incredible clients!

To wish you a wonderful Christmas Eve, here are some of the fun little holiday cards that we designed for clients this year. As a matter of fact, we were so busy that I didn't even send out our own Christmas cards to family and friends--I got the client cards done and that was it! To the rest of the gang--you will get a New Year's card and letter soon, I promise!

But first--our own holiday message from our Gobo-Kitty (we do this every year and it just gets sillier as the years go by):

Can you tell we are a little obsessed with our cat?

And this is the one we designed for Megan, Spiz, and Benjamin--so cute!

And the one we did for Georgia, Lucy, John, and Jenny--I love that it looks nothing like a holiday card!

And the combination birth announcement/holiday card for Ada, Elizabeth, and Ron!

We also did some fun this year with a little Photoshop work for our friend, Sarah, who is a big Rick Springfield fan--now it looks as though she really met him well, sort of--this was a super-quick Photoshop job, you know)! Go fool those co-workers, Sarah!

And a quick image of my sweet mom and dad with a Model T that my dad has had for years and years--it is going to be a surprise for my parents tomorrow! Aren't the fall colors gorgeous?

So, Merry Christmas to you and yours! Enjoy the time together, count your blessings, and eat lots of yummy food! And remember the reason for the season...

Georgia and Lucy's Annual Christmas Photo Shoot!

2008-12-24T22:26:00Z

Every year, as a gift to my dear friends, Jenny and John, we photograph their daughters, Georgia and Lucy, in our home studio. Well, this year was so fun! The girls really showed their personalities! They are so smart, energetic, and full of spontaneity and they wear us out, for sure!

After the photo shoot, we had a yummy dinner together to celebrate John's (Jenny's husband and the girls' dad) birthday!

I will post the Christmas card design in the next submission to the blog, but I wanted to show the images that are sure to make you smile!

And below is their image video!

I love giggles!

And posing!

One of mom Jenny's favorites...

Lucy loves to squeeze her big sis!

Georgia, mom Jenny, and Lucy! Jenny and I have been friends since we met on an exchange student trip to England through college back in 1995!

Girls love to spin!

I love this one, too!

And then Lucy had her turn...

Total posing!

Followed by more giggles!

Merry Christmas to my favorite blondies! Aunt Rosemary and Uncle Jon love you!

Kelly and Matt's Fun Engagement Images

2008-12-24T16:20:00Z

We had an absolute blast photographing Kelly and Matt's engagement session on the morning of October 26. We met them at the Falls of the Ohio before our wedding that afternoon and it was quite chilly! They were great and needed very little posing ideas. Kelly is going into law and Matt is a wonderful artist, so they really do fit together perfectly! We wanted to photograph them simply being in the moment, plus a few posed images here and there.

I ADORE the results!

Click below to see their image video--I love the song that goes with it!

And here are some of the ones that I fell in love with immediately!

A little texture fun--we make all of our own, which is why they look so unique! I love this one!

Love this one, too! You can tell how windy it was that day!

Nice natural sun flare!

I totally love that Kelly is dipping Matt in this one! So fun!

This is probably my favorite--there is something about it that I love--it is a candid moment and I really like it!

And this one!

A fun classic portrait!

And then we got on the playground for some fun!

The big jump together!

Thanks to Kelly and Matt-what a fun session! We love working with you all and cannot wait until the wedding day!

Angela and Pete's AWESOME October 24 Wedding

2008-12-24T15:25:00Z

So, I have a few more weddings, engagements, and family sessions to post, so I need to get another out to you! I wanted to show you some of Angela and Pete's GORGEOUS wedding images!

They tied the knot on Friday, October 24 at Glassworks. They had intended to have their wedding ceremony on the rooftop, but it was so cold and rainy that they opted to have both the wedding and reception inside, of course. They wanted to do the family portraits and their formals on the roof, though, and I am so glad that we braved the wind and the cold to get them done up there. The sky was gorgeous and moody!

And we wanted to thank our third shooter, Amy, for helping us, especially when it came to holding on to our light stands in the crazy Louisville wind!

Below is a great image video--click on the screen and turn up the volume!

And I could seriously post tons and tons of their images, but I wanted to make sure that I get everyone posted over the next few days, so here are my top favorites!

I love Angela's beautiful wine-colored calla lily bouquet...

And yes--the sky was really that blue--it matched her eyes!

Angela's dress was so modern and lovely--she looks so editorial in this image!

Fun with her "Man of Honor" named Z!

And the guys had fun, too!

I love this image of our groom, Pete--it is so great in black & white!

While I was up in the loft with the girls, Jon and our third shooter, Amy, were in the alley with the groomsmen--they had some major fun!

The beautiful ceremony...

We had to jump up and down to stay warm up on the roof! They got some air-time, for sure!

So pretty...

And this one, too...

One of my favorite moments that Jon is able to catch on-camera, when they just go in for the kiss. It has such an intimacy about it.

Pete really went for the garter toss!

The first dance was so sweet...

And a fun time was had by all!

In their own world...

Later that night, we went up to the roof for some night-time shots--using a combination of a slow shutter speed and off-camera lighting, we get some awesome rooftop images that our clients love!

A little flare...

This is a candid that I caught of them walking toward the elevator--it is one of my faves!

They had an awesome leather-bound journal for their guest book and I love what one of their guests wrote in the book--so nice!

Thanks to Angela, Pete, their bridal party, and their families for a great evening!

Wedding Day Details

Ceremony and Reception: Glassworks
Caterer: Naiman's Catering
Florist: Fiori
Bridal Gown and Bridesmaids' Dresses: David's Bridal
DJ: The Groove Company
Cake: Amy Ack (Groom's Cousin)

Our holiday sessions have gone to the dogs!

2008-12-24T01:41:00Z

What can I say? Pets are a part of the family and it is no exception for us--our 13-year old Gobo-Kitty is like a child to us! So, we love it when we have the chance to photograph people and their pets!

We photographed yet another family session with some of our former wedding clients. Lisa and Andy had a great wedding and we loved photographing it! And this time they brought their basset hound, Eeyore, to the home studio for some holiday family portraits!

Here are my faves from the shoot--

Oh, Eeyore!

That is the most pitiful face!

A nice family portrait! Check out Eeyore's smile!

So cute!

And then he got completely disinterested...

He is downright apathetic at this point!

And we also headed over to the Mason family's home for a combination of individual family shots and a big extended family photo! Pets were part of this session as well!

The Masons--Josh (on the right) is an award-winning member of my speech team at North Oldham, where I volunteer what little free time I have nowadays!

And the real family photo!

And with the puppies!

And check out Gracie, the pup in the middle--she is not even full-grown!

And a photo for Grandma--the whole gang, sans dogs!

Thanks to both families--what holiday fun! And we love providing you with lasting memories!

Ashley and Parker's Fall Engagement Session

2008-12-24T01:21:00Z

Wow! Ashley and Parker had an awesome engagement session last month--the fall colors were beautiful and we got to photograph their session on Ashley's family's land. I again wanted to send out our sympathies to Ashley in the recent loss of her sweet dad, and we feel so honored to have met him at the engagement session. He even got to see the images before he passed away and liked them very much.

We know that Ashley and Parker's wedding day will be an emotional one, especially since they are having the reception at her parents' home. It will be a truly beautiful day that her dad will surely be a part of in spirit.

I absolutely adore their engagement images--they are lovely and romantic--plus we included their dogs, Max and Maddie!

To view their image video, click on the screen below--

And these are my favorites--I love the pops of color!

Aren't they a beautiful couple?

This is a cabin that is on Ashley's parents' land--it is so pretty! And we saw a huge buck while walking in the woods to get there!

In the long driveway to the house...

And down by the pond...

Taking a walk...

So sweet together...

And with their puppies! We had a great time!

Thanks for a great session! We adored every minute of it!

Megan, Spiz, and Benjamin's Holiday Photos!

2008-12-23T21:11:00Z

A week or so ago, Megan and Spiz brought the adorable Benjamin out to the home studio for their holiday family photos. We shot Spiz (his real name is Ken, but just call him by his unique nickname) and Megan's wedding a few years ago, and Megan has been an integral part of our referral success ever since!

We adore Megan, Spiz, and Benjamin--and since we do a complimentary session every year for the rest of our wedding couples' lives, we get to see our Monarch family members quite a bit!

I love the image music video!

And here are just a few of my favorites of Benjamin, mom, and dad! What a beautiful family!

Baby bird feeding-time! Sometimes you have to bribe someone with a nutri-grain bar!

Look at that smile!

He looks so good in blue!

He is such a little man!

Benjamin just melts my heart...

Such personality!

The wonderful family!

A fun candid!

Thanks to Megan, Spiz, and Benjamin--And Merry Christmas! We love ya!

Jaxon's One-Year Portraits!

2008-12-23T20:15:00Z

We photographed Adam and Sabrina's wedding a couple of years ago, followed by Sabrina's sister, Melissa's, wedding the following spring--did you get all of that? Confusing, I know!

Sabrina and Melissa came to the home studio in November to photograph Sabrina's adorable boy, Jaxon's, one-year portraits! It was a treat to meet Jaxon and to see Sabrina and Melissa again--they are awesome people!

Below is Jaxon's image music video--I love it!

And here are some of my many favorites from his session--he is such a cutie!

So adorable--Jaxon's daddy, Adam, is a Tennessee Titans fans, so there you go!

Mommy and son! He needed a little snack...

Smooch!

He is just too cute!

Candids are my favorites...

And this one, too!

Isn't he just so photogenic?

And this is my personal favorite...

Congrats again to Sabrina and Adam for their beautiful boy! Thanks for the opportunity to photograph adorable little Jaxon!

Ada and Baby Elizabeth

2008-12-23T15:26:00Z

In October, my dear friend, Ada, brought her baby to our home studio for Elizabeth's three-month portraits! We had a blast with her photo session and I love the images that we got--Ada is giving everyone some of the images are Christmas gifts--photographs always make the perfect present!

Below is their image music video--I put a little holiday music to it:

And here are some of the favorites!

We were sliding down the chair in this one...

Ada and Elizabeth have the same beautiful blue eyes...

Mother and daughter--so sweet!

So pretty in black & white...

We did their birth announcements (which I will post later) and we used this image for it--how beautiful!

Love this one, too!

And this is daddy Ron's favorite!

Next up--Elizabeth's six-month portraits coming up in January!

Katrina, Micah, and J.J.

2008-12-23T14:12:00Z

On a super-cold morning in November, we traveled to Bernheim Forest near Bardstown to photograph Katrina and Micah's family session! They have a beautiful little girl named Jennings (everyone calls her JJ) and we were thrilled to photograph them in such a beautiful fall environment! We shot Katrina and Micah's wedding a few years ago and it really warms our hearts to see them again with a new addition to the family!

Click on the screen below to view their family session music video--

And here are the ones that I absolutely had to post!

How adorable!

So cute!

She looks like one of those cute little Cabbage Patch Kids in this one!

Taking a walk...

And being Miss Independent...

A classic family portrait...

This is my absolute favorite--I love that Jennings' shoe is off in this one!

And she is so cute looking down at Jon in this one! Aren't the trees beautiful?

Fun with mom!

The sky was so blue that day!

And we even got a shot of just mom and dad together!

A little girly floral embellishment...

Watch out! She is wearing her "I am one" shirt and she is coming to get you!

Thanks to Katrina, Micah, and JJ for braving the cold for the sake of pretty photographs! We appreciate you all so much!

The Jones Family

2008-12-23T13:59:00Z

We recently had a request to do a quick family session for the Jones family at their home. It was a blast--we did a super-casual session so that they could interact with one another and also have some classic family portraits.

A nice classic image--

And then they got a little silly!

Another calm one!

Walking together...

And this is the one they chose for the Christmas card photo! How fabulous is that? I love it when they choose the funny ones!

Happy Holidays!

Grant's Baby Portraits

2008-12-23T13:28:00Z

A few months ago we had the wonderful opportunity to photography Brooke, Richie, and baby Grant's family photos! We shot Brooke and Richie's wedding a couple of years ago, so I always love meeting the new babies! It is so sweet to know that we were a part of the day they tied the knot and now they are coming back to us to document the milestone moments of their family life!

Grant is just about the cutest little boy you could ever see--and what a personality! He really did great in front of the camera!

I set his video to holiday music because, well I can! Here is the image music video--

And here are my favorites from the session:

Um, hello? Could Grant BE any cuter?

Richie is a University of Louisville fan, so we had to put him in his Cards cap!

Love this one, too!

Doesn't he just make you smile?

So adorable!

And just gets cuter and cuter!

Love the sideways smile!

This was Brooke's favorite--she and Richie ordered it in an 11x14 and they also used it for their Christmas cards!

The happy family!

Father and son...

And mother and son!

Thanks to Brooke and Richie for bringing Grant over to the home studio--he is a wonderful little boy!

Brittany and Brandon's Downtown Engagement Session

2008-12-23T02:42:00Z

What can I say? We love shooting engagement sessions--and they come with almost all of our wedding collections! They are fun and casual sessions that not only get you comfortable in front of the camera, but also to provide family and friends with wonderful images as you start your new life together.

Brittany and Brandon are tying the knot next Spring and we had a special guest at the engagement session--Brandon's handsome little boy, Evan! We had a blast taking Evan up and down the streets of downtown Louisville--I think he felt like he was on a field trip! Evan, Brittany, and Brandon make a beautiful family and we loved photographing them together!

To view their image music video, click on the screen, of course--

And here are a handful of my faves--what a great session!

We started out on the rooftop of Frazier Arms, where they will have the reception next year...

And then they changed into their casual wear for some fun shots on the streets! First stop--the Slugger Museum!

Isn't Even just adorable? What a handsome little man!

Love the angle on this one!

And then we headed over to the Humana Building--I love this one that Jon got of Brittany and Evan having some silly time!

And more silly time!

And down at Jeff Ruby's, where Brandon proposed--the valets were great about letting us get a few shots there!

And at the fountain by the Belvedere...Evan helped to hold the lighting stand for us!

And I love this one by the Kentucky Center!

And some more fun!

And back to where we started!

And one of my faves of the day!

Congrats to Brittany, Brandon, and Evan, too--you all are wonderful!

Tyler's Senior Portrait Session

2008-12-23T02:16:00Z

We were thrilled to photograph Tyler's senior portraits in October--we photographed his sister, Holly's, wedding in June of 2006, so it is always great to continue to document the milestones in a family's life!

Tyler is a great student and wonderful athlete--I heard that he recently injured his ACL, so we are thinking about you and hope that you are on the road to recovery, Tyler!

Here are few of my faves from his session--

Love the blues in this one--and the angle, too!

We got permission to get on the football field at North Oldham, where Tyler plays and where his mom, Rachael, works in the front office! She is a great person!

Doesn't he have a great strong look?

I love this one!

And I did this one with a little comic book effect--so fun!

A portrait for the parents--

A little text work that we are doing lately---

And one more of my favorites!

Thanks to Tyler and his mom, Rachael, for a great session! Feel better soon, Tyler!

Terra and Mike's Engagement & Family Session!

2008-12-23T01:54:00Z

Terra and Mike met us at the Falls of the Ohio last month to do their engagement session. They also brought along Carter, Terra's adorable little boy, for some family shots. Carter was getting a bit of a cold, bless his heart, so we did mostly candid and playful shots with the three of them. Once Terra's mom picked up Carter to be with grandma for the night, we went ahead and got some shots of just the two of them!

To view their image music video, click below--

And here are just a few favorites from their session:

Play time!

Isn't Carter the cutest?

This is a shot of Mike giving Terra a gorgeous piece of jewelry to wear on their wedding day next June...

The falls at sunset...

I love the light on Terra's hair in this one...

And just as we were leaving, they decided to have a little impromptu fun on the statues--we probably shouldn't have done that, but they couldn't help themselves!

Thanks to Terra, Mike, and Carter! We are looking forward to your big day next June!

Some highlights from our fall photography competition...

2008-12-23T00:57:00Z

This past October was busy with not only weddings and portrait sessions, but also the Kentucky Professional Photographers Association fall seminar and print competition! Jon and I are firm believers in constant education when it comes to our craft and we do this through many classes and print competitions throughout the year!

This past October was my first time entering the print competition, so I was really nervous!

Jon did really well in the competition and was awarded with the TOP SCORING PRINT in the entire competition! He gets to enter his prints at no charge in the January Mid-East States Convention! I am a proud wife and co-photographer!

Jon is a gifted wedding and portrait photographer, but he is also a wonderful nature and fine art photographer. This print, "The Old Mill," was the top print in the seasoned category. He took this shot while we were hiking at Babcock State Park in West Virginia in the fall of 2007.

And here are some of his other prints that he entered and did really well with the judges!

"Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me" from Apryl and Kyle's wedding this past spring--

"Appalachian Sunrise," which was shot near Jon's parents home in Tennessee.

"Veiled," which was also from Apryl and Kyle's wedding!

And this fabulous monkey was really good at finding his light--Jon got this one at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago this past summer--we call it "Monkeyshines" and it is such a fun print!

And one from Toni Ann and Nic's wedding portraits--"Summer Breeze."

And I placed 4th in the Aspiring Category--I lost third place by one measly point! I was really pleased, though!

Here are the prints that I put in the competition--

"Serenity," which was shot at the Doe Run Inn in Brandenburg...

This is one that I shot during a "Trash the Dress" session--we literally waded through a creek down by our home studio and Lauren, our model, had to get into the muddy water to get this shot. It was a hot night in June and the sun was setting. We used off-camera lighting to get that great reflection in the water. I originally called it "Midnight Reflection," but I am going to change the title of it when I enter in the Mid-East competition in January. The judges argued over this print, which I found interesting. The male judges liked the darkness of it, but the female judges didn't like that Lauren was a grungier bride. I was working the print competition (we volunteer our time on the print committee) and it was funny to overhear their thoughts and keep from peeking around the screen and trying to explain the mood of the image! I love it!

This is one that I shot at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago--I call it "You Lookin' at Me?" and I love the meerkat's face in it!

And this is another one of Lauren's "Trash the Dress" shoot--we had two dresses and got this shot at an old abandoned warehouse near our home--love it! I honestly cannot remember the title of this one!

And a side-shot that I grabbed at Meg and Mike's wedding while Jon was doing a formal portrait of her--we actually dropped the sky into the window for extra drama! The beauty of Photoshop!

It is called "Silhouette."

And my best-scoring print and one that I will definitely be entering in the state competition--this is a shot that I got at Dana and Ken's wedding a couple of years ago--I love the allure of it--It is "Sensuality."

I will keep you posted on what we decide to enter in the Mid-East competition, as well as the national competition in Las Vegas for the Wedding and Portrait Professionals International competition in February! Wish us luck! It is a nerve-wracking process!

Cole's Senior Portrait Session

2008-12-23T00:22:00Z

October was a crazy month for us, ranging from tons of engagement sessions to six weddings and several high school senior portrait shoots!

One of our seniors was Cole, who is a senior at Manual. He is such a great person--intelligent, polite, and both academically and athletically successful! Cole and his mom, Melissa, joined us both at the home studio as well as the Creasy Mahan Nature Preserve for Cole's senior pics--

And here are just a handful of my favorites--I could post tons of them, but I have so many more images to share!

Over at the nature preserve...

We are always trying new poses and lighting for our athletes--and I love the dramatic effect on this one!

Cole in action!

And one in his other soccer league jersey--I love it in black & white!

A nice portrait for mom and dad!

This is probably my overall favorite--we shot straight through the net and did some de-saturation on it to give it a grungy look.

Love the blues on this one!

A little fun with the text!

Thanks to Cole and his mom, Melissa! You all were awesome!

Corey's Senior Portraits

2008-12-23T00:22:00Z

We recently photographed my cousin, Corey's, high school senior portraits at my late grandmother's farm near Bowling Green. My grandmother lived on the most beautiful farm land you have ever seen, so it was really special to photograph there.

Here are just a few of my favorites--you gotta show off the ring!

And with his car...

On top of the farm's hill by the pond--I love that old tree! I have the fondest memories of fishing with my grandmother and papaw there...

And a great view of the farmland at sunset!

Congrats, Corey--enjoy your senior year!

Baby Madeleine and Family!

2008-12-22T22:20:00Z

I have been meaning to catch up on my blog entries, so now that it is the holiday season and we are all caught up (knock on wood), I wanted to share tons of images with you!

WAY back in the summer, we had a wonderful family session with Amy, Trevor, and their adorable baby girl, Madeleine! We photographed Amy and Trevor's wedding several years ago, and it was a real treat to meet the new addition to the family!

One of our special perks to our studio is that we provide one complimentary photo session to ALL of our wedding clients for the rest of their lives! And I will share those images from our various wedding couples over the next few weeks!

Here are just a few of my favorite images from their session this summer--I am sure that she has grown so much since we saw her last!

Could Madeleine be any more adorable?

And what a great family--they have an awesome story--Amy is practicing law and Trevor is currently getting to stay home and take care of Madeleine full-time. What a blessing to be able to do that! He is Mr. Mom!

Oh, what a cutie!

And her fabulous summer outfit!

We do in-studio portrait sessions on request and love doing them! And congrats again to Trevor and Amy for their beautiful baby girl!

A Big Welcome to our newest wedding clients!

2008-12-19T16:27:00Z

I wanted to send out a warm welcome to our newest 2009 wedding clients!

Ashley and Cody will be tying the knot on July 18, 2009 in Illinois!

We are looking forward to their big day! Congrats on your engagement!

Sending out some thoughts and prayers...

2008-12-16T15:26:00Z

I just wanted to take a moment to extend our sympathies to some very special people.

Jonathan and I would like to send our thoughts and prayers to our 2009 bride, Ashley, who lost her sweet dad on December 6. We had the honor to meet him when we came to their beautiful home to photograph Ashley and Parker's engagement session in November. Jonathan and I feel so thankful that we got to meet Dr. Applegate and we know that he will be there in spirit as Ashley and Parker walk down the aisle next summer.

We also wanted to send our sympathies to our photographer friends, Sam and Elaine Stringer, in the loss of Elaine's mother this past Sunday. Elaine and Sam had been taking care of her dear mom in their home, so they were able to spend time with her as she experienced her last days here with them.

Remember to let those you love know how much you value them in your life--family is everything.

A warm welcome to our newest Monarch wedding couple!

2008-12-16T02:56:00Z

I wanted to send out warm holiday wishes to our newest wedding client couple!

Brittany and Dave will be celebrating their wedding day on Saturday, September 19, 2009!

We are well on our way to being completely booked for 2009, so be sure to contact us as soon as possible if you would like to commission us for your big day!

And congrats to Brittany and Dave--we are honored to be documenting your engagement and wedding!

A Big Welcome to Jennifer and Casey!

2008-12-14T19:27:00Z

I cannot believe how busy we have been for the past few weeks!

I wanted to send out a warm Monarch welcome to Jennifer and Casey, who are tying the knot in Mexico next week!

When they return to Bowling Green, they are throwing a big reception for friends and family to celebrate their marriage! And we are thrilled to be a part of it!

Congrats, Jen and Casey! We're sure that Mexico will be fabulous next week!

Michelle's Bridal Portraits

2008-12-01T19:11:00Z

I have a really wonderful bridal session to share with you--and now that their wedding has passed, I can blog about Michelle's bridal portraits! Back in September, we met Michelle, her mom, and her step-dad at the ultra-gorgeous Bed and Breakfast--The Columbine!

We had made some arrangements with Rich, the innkeeper, to have Michelle's session photographed at his B&B because it has gorgeous huge pillars, an incredible staircase with the most fabulous stained glass, and is just perfection! Rich allowed us to shoot there for a small session fee and we had a blast! We even got to head over to St. James Court for some other portraits just as that soft evening light was coming in on us...

Thanks again to Michelle and her family for driving here from Bowling Green and also to the wonderful hosts at The Columbine! And if you are looking for a beautiful place to get away, The Columbine is perfect!

To view Michelle's bridal portrait image video, click below--and check our previous blog posts for Michelle and Patrick's wedding day images!

And here is just a handful of my favorites-Jon and I both shot this session, which made it even more special! We were going for a touch of editorial style with a ton of classic portraiture--Michelle is a beautifully sophisticated bride and was a joy to photograph!

Hello, gorgeous!

Michelle has such a sense of style about her--it is very classic and feminine--so sweet!

The Columbine had a huge floor-to-ceiling mirror and we took advantage of it!

Beautiful silhouette...

And the pillars!

What a beautiful home!

The architecture just Michelle even more stunning...

I love the leading lines of the staircase in this one--and the amber light behind her is so lovely...

St. James Court--always perfect for bridal portraits...

Isn't she lovely?

I did a bit of a painterly effect on this one--Michelle's skin is so flawless!

In the gardens of the B&B...

Probably my favorite of the session--I am so in love with the softness of this one...

And a quick family photo!

Thanks to Michelle and her family for such a great session--you all were wonderful!

Andy and Lindsay's Digital Designer Album!

2008-12-01T12:29:00Z

So, this post officially catches me up on showing off the latest albums for our clients, but I still have so many more images! I will get there, I promise!

I wanted to show a few images of the actual album that Lindsay and Andy had me design for them-they originally chose a collection without the 10x10 album, but then added it after the big day!

Lindsay and Andy went with a really clean, sophisticated style when it came to the design--I love it!

I used hints of their wedding colors--chocolate and pale blue--and I also incorporated some of the lyrics from their first dance song, which was George Straight's "I Cross My Heart."

Love this double-page spread!

And the final page...

Congrats to Lindsay and Andy--I loved designing your album!

Holli and Jeremy's Wedding Sneak Peek--And Guest Book!

2008-11-30T21:23:00Z

We had our last wedding of the year on November 22--and it was awesome! Of course, I will share more soon, but I wanted to give everyone a quick sneak-peek of just a few wedding images!

Congrats to Holli and Jeremy for a beautiful fall wedding day!

Holli and Jeremy are really special because they are best friends with several of our other wedding couples--Sarah and Adam (who just had another baby boy), Jamie and Jamie, Kelly and Chad, and Brooke and Nathan!

Lovely flowers...

And a classic portrait of our beautiful bride, Holli!

And our handsome groom, Jeremy!

Fun with the bridal party!

Outside their beautiful church!

On the party bus! THAT'S RIGHT! An awesomely fun party bus!

The first dance...

And I also wanted to share their AWESOME guest book that they had for their big day! These books are a huge hit with our clients and their guests! We take the images from our couple's engagement session and make it into a one-of-a-kind design!

Holli chose the chocolate brown guest book to match their wedding colors--and I loved the little quotations about love that she sent me to use in the book!

So adorable!

And their last page...

Congrats to Jeremy and Holli! We loved every moment of your big day! See you soon!

Megan's AWESOME Senior Portraits!

2008-11-30T20:36:00Z

Oh, what can I say? Megan is just one of the coolest, most caring young women out there--and this girl is really going to make a difference in the world! She is stylish, intelligent, talented, and really fun!

When Megan told me what she wanted for her senior portraits, I knew that we could do exactly what she needed: classic portraiture plus some edgy, editorial shots--with a little outside photograph thrown in for good measure! Did you get all of that?

I could go on and on and on with posting Megan's portraits, but here are a handful of my faves--

And to view her senior portrait image video, click below!

A little play on Andy Warhol...

Without a doubt--my absolute favorite from the day. I am LOVIN' the attitude in this one!

Classic portrait...isn't she beautiful?

Megan brought a dress that she bought when she spent some time in Japan this past summer--I was so happy when I saw that it was royal blue--she looks gorgeous in this one! And why was I glad it was royal blue?

Because you can change blue into any other clothing color--like magenta! A whole new outfit! She looks absolutely stunning in this one!

And now it's green--note the matching clutch purse--so sassy!

Megan also has a super-casual side to her--she is in love with her pink fuzzy slippers, so we had to make them a focal point in one of the images!

A shot taken in Crestwood--it's one of my favorite secret photography spots! And um--hello to the cute shoes!

Nice strong profile...

How strong is this one? She looks incredible!

We stopped off to hug her dog, Bear, on our way to our final stop. He was SO not into having his photo taken...

And our final stop at the Creasy-Mahan Nature Preserve--such a pretty spot for portraits!

I have more senior sessions to share, so stay tuned! And thanks again to Megan--you are fabulous!

TWO Digital Album Designs from Jennifer and Andy's Wedding!

2008-11-30T19:55:00Z

First of all, here's to a wonderful holiday season! Jon and I had such a great time visiting with our families this weekend, but now it is back to work!

The next few blog posts are LONG overdue--I wanted to show off Jennifer and Andy's awesome Digital Designer Album! We delivered weeks ago, but I am just getting the chance to post about it. As with all of our albums, we encourage our couples to pick out their own images-after all, they know what photos tell their story the best--and I then take their vision of their day and make it into their keepsake album!

Here are just a few pages of their actual album--it is in the gorgeous 10x10 black leather!

And I love the branding into the leather cover!

The first page...

These albums are so great for big spreads like this one!

And I used some text from what was said during the ceremony!

Then Jennifer's mom, Kate, called me the other day to see if we had a similar-style album that she could have that was perhaps a little more scaled-down in size! So, we took what we normally use as a Wedding Guest Keepsake Books and made that style into a very special parent album just for her!

She chose the images, I designed it, and bound it myself! It looks like a deluxe album, but is a more economical option for parents who want the look, but maybe not the major investment (we aim to please!).

Here are a few pages from mom Kate's album! The front cover--

A touch of the cornflower blue Jennifer used--a nice pop of color!

And we put tons of images into that album, too!

So, whether it is our wonderful black matted parent albums, our hand-bound guest books or wedding albums, or especially our Digital Designer Albums, we have something to please everyone! And keep checking back because we have some NEW styles and products coming soon!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T13:36:00Z

Jonathan and I just wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! Please take time to relax, spend time with family and friends, and reflect on the incredible gifts we have all been given in our lives.

The true meaning of this holiday is often overlooked by the media. It is not about the food (although I do love that aspect of it), but is instead all about being thankful for the little blessings--family, friends, a roof over your head, and a country with so much goodness. It is also about the human spirit. How wonderful is it to live in this awesome nation?

Image credit to Mr. Norman Rockwell, creator of "The Saturday Evening Post" cover artwork. This work was created in November of 1943. A classic!

I know that Jonathan and I are thankful for each other--we have a wonderfully strong marriage full of love and laughter. We are also thankful for our families and friends, and of course--our clients! Without our photography family of wedding and portrait clients, we would not be able to have this business of making memories!

So, Happy Thanksgiving, all! Enjoy this holiday!

Kari and Cory's 10.17.08 Wedding

2008-11-23T13:09:00Z

Kari and Cory had an incredibly beautiful day for their wedding! Wonderful people, great weather, and tons of love and laughter! Kari and her family have become such special people to us over the past few years. We photographed Danielle's wedding a couple of years ago (she is Kari's sister) and then we were thrilled when Kari chose us to document her big day as well! It really is a great feeling to be so referral-based. Jon and I work so hard to value every single moment of the process--from the consultation to the end of the event!

We absolutely love both Kari and Cory's families--what a wonderful and fun-loving group of people! And to see both sets of parents who have been married for so many years--those are incredible examples of loving marriages! And I know that Danielle and Ethan are still perfect for one another and that Kari and Cory will be happy for the rest of their lives together!

To view their wedding image video, click on the arrow--

And here are just a few of my very favorites from their day! I wish I could post more and more!

The wedding day flowers were just lovely!

And one of our favorite churches--St. Mary's of the Knobs

And here are the Applegate girls! Theresa (their mom), our bride, Kari, and our former bride, Danielle! They are all gorgeous!

I am so loving the attitude in this one...

That natural light coming in through the stained glass window was perfect!

And a yummy sun flare!

The girls!

And the Applegate sisters looking oh-so-stunning!

Cory and his dad (along with the rest of the boys) had a little corn hole competition in the educational building. It's a bit of a tradition with weddings at St. Mary's! Cory's dad has good form!

The adorable little ring bearer was so patient!

Our handsome groom, Cory--he has a twin brother (who was his Best Man) and evidently people got them mixed up all day!

The guys...

Pretty rings!

I love this shot of Cory as he is waiting for Kari to come down the aisle...

Married!

Cory is hugging Ethan, Danielle's husband--they are too funny and I love the looks on everyone's faces!

Relaxed...

Kari and Cory are getting this image in one of our custom-made 16x24 gallery wrap canvases. I'll be sure to show it off once it arrives at the home studio!

It was so cold, but the golf course at the country club was a great place for some more shots!

And here are our viewing cards for the guests--they are really popular and an easy way to show your guests your wedding images--and, of course, it is a complimentary service!

Cory loves ice cream cake, so this was his groom's cake! And I personally enjoyed a piece of it!

See how much Cory's brother looks like him?

First dance...

And here are Kari's mom and dad dancing--we love Theresa and Danny!

Fun!

Cory has the greatest smile! He is one of the funniest people I have ever met--and his family members are the same when it comes to their joking styles!

Be careful when you are writing on the car, people! Your wedding photographers capture the evidence! HA!

Congrats to Kari and Cory! We loved every moment of your day!

Wedding Day Details

Colors: Frosted blue and silver
Ceremony: St. Mary's of the Knobs
Reception and Caterer: Jefferson Elks Lodge and Golf Course
Florist: Buds in Bloom
DJ: John Wall
Cake: Janice Oberhausen
Videographer: Manis Productions
Bridal Gown: David's Bridal
Bridesmaids' Dresses: Rebecca's

Natalie and Alan's 10.11.08 Wedding Images!

2008-11-18T20:13:00Z

We absolutely loved every moment of Natalie and Alan's wedding day--and thanks to Kate--our third shooter--for her extra talent and help during their day!

Natalie and Alan were married at Southeast Christian Church in their lovely little chapel, with their reception at the University Club! It was an awesome day! They are so sweet to one another--and I know that they are going to be blessed for a lifetime!

To view their image video--click on the screen below-

And here are just a handful of my favorites from their special day!

Hello, pretty flowers from Country Squire!

And isn't Natalie just gorgeous? I think she favors Kirsten Dunst just a bit...

I love it when the girls are fellow fans of "America's Next Top Model!" We were being fierce!

Our handsome groom, Alan, is hugging his adorable little niece, Shay--she was the flower girl!

And I think that Alan looks a bit like Kelly Ripa's husband, Mark Consuelos (boy, I have way too much Hollywood knowledge!)...

The boys were hanging out at the Southeast Coffee Shop!

And Natalie was doing her best to make Shay laugh! We found her to be funny as well!

I LOVE the look that Alan had as he saw Natalie come down the aisle with her dad. Look at the love in his eyes!

From the sound booth upstairs!

The big moment!

A little fun with floral...

The bridesmaids gave them a little box of candy that said "MINT to be together" on it--how cute!

They had an incredibly fun and modern cake!

Ah, first dance...

And her dad really took his dance seriously!

And then Nat danced with her brothers!

Apparently, at every major family function--there is a staged performance of music from the movie, "Grease!" It was "Summer Nights," if memory serves and everyone loved it!

How low can Dad go during "Shout?"

This lady was obviously having a really good time on the dance floor!

Romantic...

Alan is very protective of his Honda Element. It's a little obvious that the bridal party was torturing him by writing on the windows that he told them not to...oh, well!

Lovin' the bluesy feel of this one...

Such a lovely couple!

Cute!

Congrats, you two! We absolutely loved documenting your day!

Wedding Day Details

Colors: Chocolate and Blue Jay
Ceremony: Southeast Christian Church
Reception and Caterer: University Club
Florist: Country Squire
Cake: Kristy Brown
DJ: Larry Rice of DJN Company
Bridal Gown and Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bridal Warehouse

Michelle and Patrick's 10.4.08 Wedding!

2008-11-14T04:36:00Z

What can I say about Michelle and Patrick? They are a truly wonderful couple who are sure to have an incredible lifetime of happiness! Michelle and Peck (most people call him by this nickname) have been absolutely lovely from start to finish! They were married in the Bowling Green area (I actually know Peck back from when I taught at Bowling Green High School and also because he is the cousin of one of my best friends, Ada)!

I will also be posting some of Michelle's beautiful bridal portrait session that we did a few weeks before the wedding--talk about GORGEOUS!

I could literally post images from their wedding all day, but I have so much to blog about that I need to show some control!

To view their wedding image video, click on the link!

And here are just a few favorites from their day--

Absolutely one of the best ring shots we have ever taken...

Beautiful gown!

Michelle was simply beautiful...

This is a very special image--Peck lost his dear mother, Penny, just a few short weeks before their wedding. The diamond pendant that Michelle has on in this image was Penny's, so we thought it would be a lovely tribute to have both diamonds in the photo--Penny's (which is now Michelle's) and the diamond engagement ring that Peck gave Michelle. So meaningful...

Fun with the girls!

And the cutest little flower girls ever!

Our handsome groom...

And all the boys!

Michelle and Patrick chose to see one another before the wedding, so we had a little moment leading up to it...

And then they saw one another!

Waiting to make their entrance...

The pretty ceremony...

Vows...

Love the unity candle image...

I like this one because it looks like an oil painting in black and white...

Bubbles!

A lovely silhouette...

And some floral embellishments...

This was the most incredible sweet station I have ever seen! They did a mixture of the yummiest things like white chocolate pretzels, tea cookies from Riley's Bakery--so good, kisses, and much more!

And they had cute little names, too!

This has to be one of my favorite cakes ever--it reminds me of Wedgewood china patterns...

The first dance was so sweet...

Fun with a little blur...

Nice!

I love this one, too!

So romantic...

The toast!

The toasts were great--Michelle is laughing here because her maid-of-honor was explaining the "pros and cons" list that Michelle created when she first starting dating Patrick. It was really funny because both Michelle and Peck work in accounting, so it makes sense to make a list, right?

And then the party started!

Congrats to Michelle and Peck--we adore you!

Wedding Day Details

Ceremony: Brownsville Baptist Church
Reception: Bowling Green Country Club
DJ: Scott Lewis
Caterer: Bowling Green Country Club
Cake: Jenean Hampton
Wedding Coordinators: Judy and Megan Russell
Videographer: Morningstar Video
Florist: MacKenzies in Bowling Green
Bridal Gown: Bridals of Regiss Park in Glasgow
Bridesmaids' Dresses: Ann Taylor Celebrations Line