ericamay | photography blog. » engagements http://www.ericamay.com/blog The photography blog of www.ericamay.com Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:01:11 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 Katie and Chuck’s engagement session in downtown Kansas City! http://www.ericamay.com/blog/katie-and-chucks-engagement-session-in-downtown-kansas-city/ http://www.ericamay.com/blog/katie-and-chucks-engagement-session-in-downtown-kansas-city/#comments Thu, 29 Dec 2011 02:38:19 +0000 ericamay http://www.ericamay.com/blog/?p=7157 I hope you had a Merry Christmas! It has been a while since I’ve posted any recent shoots — things have been a little crazy around here, and are not letting up as we approach the new year. :) It’s a good place to be, though. I like to be busy, and I’m super excited for the new year and all that it will bring!

But right now, I’m excited to share Katie and Chuck’s engagement session images with you. Well, just a few of them. They braved the cold (it was freezing!) but are so sweet to each other that they didn’t mind snuggling up outside for some fun engagement photos in downtown Kansas City. The morning light was amazing, and Katie and Chuck couldn’t have been more fun to get to know. Here are just a few images from their session:

Katie and Chuck, you’re awesome! Thanks for a wonderful shoot, and for being such good sports in the cold! It was worth it. :)

]]> http://www.ericamay.com/blog/katie-and-chucks-engagement-session-in-downtown-kansas-city/feed/ 0 What’s your story this year? (Christmas portrait special) http://www.ericamay.com/blog/christmas-portrait-special/ http://www.ericamay.com/blog/christmas-portrait-special/#comments Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:16:32 +0000 ericamay http://www.ericamay.com/blog/?p=7105 Happy December 1st! I just love this month — the anticipation of Christmas, and the end of the year is on the horizon. It’s always a time of joy, thankfulness, and reflection on what 2011 held. A year in the life of a family, a couple, or a child is often marked by something big that happened. I can’t think of a year that has passed without something memorable happening, either a big occasion or just a funny story that will forever remain in the chapters of my life story.

So, this year, I’ve been thinking about how to give you the chance to capture your story right now, and preserve what it was about 2011 that sticks out the most to you. What is it that happened this year that defines who you are? How did your family’s story change and grow this year? What kinds of things are your kids doing right now that they haven’t done before and might not do in the future? Was 2011 exciting, challenging, fun, or heartwarming?

It’s time to tell your story — right now, as it’s happening. Now is the time to preserve your current reality, which becomes your family’s history.

My Christmas portrait special (available only through December 16th!) will do just that. I’ve never done this before, and I can’t tell you how excited I am!

Introducing…

2011 Story Shoots!

What are they?

30-minute mini-portrait sessions preferably at your home in the Kansas City metro area or a location that is connected to your story this year. Each session will include a small chalkboard for most of the shoot, which will have your 2011 story written on it (in your words, as long or as short as you want it to be). Imagine skipping writing that 10-page Christmas letter (ha ha), and instead sending an adorable photo with your story told in a concise, clever way. Your Christmas card recipients will love it, and it will be so much easier for you! :)

What is included?

The 30-minute session, an online gallery for easy viewing/sharing, AND a disc of the edited high-resolution digital files!

What’s the special price?

The cost is just $200, including the digital files! It’s a steal!

Will I have the photos back by Christmas?

Yes! Your disc of photos will be ready for pick-up in Kansas City just FIVE DAYS after your session! The portrait special is only valid December 1st through 16th, 2011, but schedule early to get the photos back sooner!

Are there any other details I should know?

Since I’ve promised a super fast turnaround time, I can only do a limited number of these special 2011 Story Shoots! Email now to reserve your date and time. Also, don’t worry about the chance of inclement weather — we will either shoot indoors at your home (which is so much fun!) or brave the chilly weather for a little bit, since the session is only 30 minutes long!

Click here to go to the contact page and send me a message to schedule your session! Type “Story Session!” in the subject line on the contact page. Or, email me directly at me[at]ericamay[dot]com.

 

Rachel and Ryan got married this year, got their first dog together, and have had a really big year. These are from their 2011 Story Shoot!

Click here to request your session!

]]> http://www.ericamay.com/blog/christmas-portrait-special/feed/ 8 Kayley and Cody are engaged! http://www.ericamay.com/blog/kayley-and-cody-are-engaged/ http://www.ericamay.com/blog/kayley-and-cody-are-engaged/#comments Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:00:41 +0000 ericamay http://www.ericamay.com/blog/?p=7073 Remember that adorable red-headed baby boy from a few posts ago? Well, the whole family is pretty awesome. Meet Aiden’s aunt Kayley. She just got engaged to (her now-fiancee) Cody, and I was so excited to take their photos! Kayley and I have both volunteered with HOBY, an amazing youth leadership program, for years and years together. She’s a light. She’s happy, easygoing, funny, and loves spending time with people she cares about. Cody is no different. He’s the kind of guy you meet and like right away, and obviously such a great fit for Kayley. We spent a freezing cold morning together with their brand new puppy, Dixie.

Congratulations, Kayley and Cody! I can’t wait for next October! :)

]]> http://www.ericamay.com/blog/kayley-and-cody-are-engaged/feed/ 2 Lauren and Ryan’s engagement session: an amazingly beautiful fall evening. http://www.ericamay.com/blog/lauren-and-ryans-engagement-session-an-amazingly-beautiful-fall-evening/ http://www.ericamay.com/blog/lauren-and-ryans-engagement-session-an-amazingly-beautiful-fall-evening/#comments Tue, 25 Oct 2011 19:34:07 +0000 ericamay http://www.ericamay.com/blog/?p=6882 Where do I even begin with Lauren and Ryan? They’re funny, easygoing, and so much fun to be around. They also have this amazing chemistry in front of the camera, and you can just see how much they mean to each other. I told them during the shoot that they look super comfortable together, totally connected, and that they look like they do this every day. Lauren replied, “We do do this every day. Just not in front of a camera.”

I love that.

It’s fall here in the Kansas City area. And it’s my favorite time of year. Especially when I get to hang out with people like Lauren and Ryan, who know what it means to love each other well… and laugh a lot along the way.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love that this is my job? I’m so thankful.

I always get asked what kind of “filter” I use for shots like the next two. Secret: it’s not a filter. It’s using natural light in a really soft way, and shooting really close to leaves to create a little bit of haziness in between my lens and the cute couple.

Photography is all about light. Finding good light and knowing how to use it to convey an emotion, feeling, or mood is super important. For Lauren and Ryan’s shoot, there was an abundance of beautiful, golden, evening light. I used the sun behind them to create beautiful rim light, and also to add a dreaminess to the images that I wanted to feel more snuggly. Is that a word? :) Also, Lauren and Ryan are just awesome together.

Lauren and Ryan, thanks for asking us to be a part of telling your story. I hope you enjoyed this preview of your engagement session — more to come soon! Lauren, now you can stop refreshing your internet browser and get back to working on your dissertation. :)

]]> http://www.ericamay.com/blog/lauren-and-ryans-engagement-session-an-amazingly-beautiful-fall-evening/feed/ 1 Johna and Mitch’s Engagement Session! http://www.ericamay.com/blog/johna-and-mitchs-engagement-session/ http://www.ericamay.com/blog/johna-and-mitchs-engagement-session/#comments Wed, 19 Oct 2011 17:06:40 +0000 ericamay http://www.ericamay.com/blog/?p=6835 Johna, Mitch, and their two sweet dogs met me at sunrise (on one of the first pretty chilly mornings of the fall!) for an engagement session. It was awesome to get to know them a little bit — Johna and Mitch are super fun, easygoing, and have a great time together. They care deeply about one another, and love their dogs so much (which I can totally relate to!). They are also dedicated to their future professions — Johna is in veterinary school and Mitch is in medical school, so we also took some photos of them in their white coats! Here are just a few of the images from their shoot.

]]> http://www.ericamay.com/blog/johna-and-mitchs-engagement-session/feed/ 2 Dresden and John’s Kansas engagement session http://www.ericamay.com/blog/dresden-and-johns-kansas-engagement-session/ http://www.ericamay.com/blog/dresden-and-johns-kansas-engagement-session/#comments Mon, 10 Oct 2011 19:25:01 +0000 ericamay http://www.ericamay.com/blog/?p=6668 This engagement session had everything. A gorgeous evening with beautiful sunset light, a super fun couple who love each other a lot, a quirky little winery near Topeka, Kansas, horses running free on a farm, golden fall leaves, a game of catch, long tree-lined paths, and a strong Kansas wind. :) Dresden and John’s engagement session was a dream for me to shoot. It was, once again, a reminder that I love the couples I get to work with, and I love shooting in the Midwest.

This was taken inside an old barn, and I loved how their faces were silhouetted against the one window at the back of the barn.

These were taken shooting through a broken wood slat on the barn:

Dresden and John, you are awesome. I am so excited for your wedding in April!

]]> http://www.ericamay.com/blog/dresden-and-johns-kansas-engagement-session/feed/ 5 This is why I love fall! http://www.ericamay.com/blog/this-is-why-i-love-fall/ http://www.ericamay.com/blog/this-is-why-i-love-fall/#comments Fri, 07 Oct 2011 14:31:50 +0000 ericamay http://www.ericamay.com/blog/?p=6665 I had to share one little photo from Dresden and John’s engagement session from last night. We took SO many photos during their shoot, which involved all sorts of things — stay tuned for a bigger post with more photos from their incredible session. For now, enjoy the beauty of a Kansas sunset in the fall (and a super awesome couple)…

]]> http://www.ericamay.com/blog/this-is-why-i-love-fall/feed/ 3 Courtney and Chase’s Kansas City Engagement Photos! http://www.ericamay.com/blog/courtney-and-chases-kansas-city-engagement-photos/ http://www.ericamay.com/blog/courtney-and-chases-kansas-city-engagement-photos/#comments Fri, 23 Sep 2011 05:28:02 +0000 ericamay http://www.ericamay.com/blog/?p=6620 Courtney and Chase have a lot of fun together. They both love sports, and play on softball and volleyball teams with their friends. They love to stay active and explore the city that they both currently call home — Kansas City! A lot of their games happen at Penn Valley Park, the park near Liberty Memorial and Union Station, so that’s where we decided to do their engagement session. It was a cloudy evening, and we had a few raindrops, but it was perfect for their shoot. We even got to shoot in front of the art installation in the park, which is only there for a few weeks (the shipping crates are a big sculpture). They also had to bring out their college sports teams loyalties — Chase to K-State, and Courtney to Oklahoma State. :) What a fun session! Here are just a few!

]]> http://www.ericamay.com/blog/courtney-and-chases-kansas-city-engagement-photos/feed/ 1 Nate and Maggie on a sunny day: Kansas City engagement photos! http://www.ericamay.com/blog/nate-and-maggie-on-a-sunny-day-kansas-city-engagement-photos/ http://www.ericamay.com/blog/nate-and-maggie-on-a-sunny-day-kansas-city-engagement-photos/#comments Tue, 13 Sep 2011 12:30:58 +0000 ericamay http://www.ericamay.com/blog/?p=6526 Nate and Maggie are awesome. For a lot of reasons, including the fact that when they were dating, they created a list of things they had to see and do in Kansas City together. One of those things on the list was visiting the Nelson-Atkins art museum. The first time Nate visited the museum with Maggie was on the day he proposed and she said yes. The second time was on the day we took engagement photos there. :)

]]> http://www.ericamay.com/blog/nate-and-maggie-on-a-sunny-day-kansas-city-engagement-photos/feed/ 1 Mandi and Nathan’s Engagement Photos at Leawood Park! http://www.ericamay.com/blog/mandi-and-nathans-engagement-photos-at-leawood-park/ http://www.ericamay.com/blog/mandi-and-nathans-engagement-photos-at-leawood-park/#comments Mon, 29 Aug 2011 17:52:09 +0000 ericamay http://www.ericamay.com/blog/?p=6359 Mandi and Nathan, and their canine daughter Gemma, had such a fun session engagement session at Leawood Park. It was a hot, hot evening, but they still looked awesome. :) And Gemma is just adorable! They are really excited to get married this October, and I’m really looking forward to being there for it. Here are just a few shots from their engagement session!

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