Colby and the Circus!

The circus came to Windsor! So, Carolyn and I took Colby and Henry and had a great time. Here are a few pix from our big outing!

We started the evening off with a pony ride. Colby kept saying, "Whoa"....

There were camels....


...and a balancing Elvis....

...and pretty girls up in the air....

...and Henry to entertain us!

We even ran into "Care" and "Woss"....as Colby calls them.

Overall, Colby was enthralled with the whole thing. She sat on my lap and watched all the action. Or, perhaps she was plotting her escape..."Yes, finally I have figured out how to ditch this crazy mother of mine!!!"

I took an old camera with me to the circus and discovered it had an old memory card still in in from this last fall. So, kind of like finding money in a coat you haven't worn in six months, I found a few gems of Colby from this fall and winter...including her fall visit to the field with Poppa McCormick! I can't believe how much her hair has grown since harvest!!!

Krista & Brett | Engaged

One day I got an email from Krista. Her mother's friend's daughter (follow that?!) is getting married next summer, and I'm shooting their wedding. Krista and her fiance', Brett, had pretty much decided on a photographer for their own wedding, but her mother's friend had said she should check out my site...and she did...and she and Brett happened to be coming to Champaign that weekend for a game; so, we met in Tuscola. Fortuitously, I had picked my favorite Tuscola hot spot, Flessor's Candy Kitchen, for the meeting. Partly because I like the old-fashioned atmosphere...but mostly because I try and score a green river soda whenever I have an excuse. We met and talked. Brett and Krista were both raised on farms, and we chatted about red vs green equipment, remodeling old farmhouses, and good ol' country baking. A few days later, Krista emailed me and said they wanted me to capture their wedding. I think I owe the decision to Brett, who told Krista, "I think we should go with the farm girl!" Thank you, Brett!

Brett and Krista, it's been fun getting to know you, and I cannot WAIT for your wedding! You're both gorgeous, inside and out, and I especially can't wait to see what kind of goodies you have planned for the big day, Krista!! Krista is multi-talented...accountant by day, professional baker/cook at night. Click here to check out her own blog and score some great recipes!

Below are a few of my favorites from their engagement session. Click here to see a few more.

See what I mean about gorgeous! Krista is stunning and has ice blue eyes!

And, then there's the handsome devil Brett.

Correction: they BOTH have the bluest of blue eyes.

Krista and Brett are going to have the BEST wedding images. Of course, first they're so photogenic, but second, they've also scheduled a lot of time for pictures. Not only are we doing all of their pictures together before the ceremony...but they also want to have a 'day-after' session, where they bravely get back into their dress and tux again for a more relaxed, casual photo session. Their engagement images were taken at Allerton Park in Monticello, IL. It was a photographer's dream. I'm going to try and talk them into making the 2+ hour drive back there for the day-after session. Just kidding, Brett and Krista.

And, of course, at the end of the day, my absolute favorites are the images of the couple relaxed, laughing, and enjoying their time together.

Thanks for checking in! Blessings! KM

(PS - Thanks, Jan, for sending such a great couple my way!)

New Colby videos

Colby vs the Kitty:

Our Southern Baptist:

Jene' and Tom: Engaged

I was so excited for this shoot...but not as excited as I am for the wedding! My younger sister, Kim, went to school with Jene's brother, and somehow Jene' got hooked up with my site and sent me an email about their wedding! I met Jene', and we talked about what she had planned for her wedding, and my favorite part about our meeting was when she was talking about her dress. You see, Jene's family is from Louisiana originally, and although she had no plans to go 'southern' for her wedding, once she tried on dresses, she told me she ended up with the best 'southern bell' wedding dress you could find in Illinois! AND, their wedding is in a vineyard! Can I even tell you how excited I am to take pictures there!!! A photog's dream!!!

We met a couple of weekends ago for their engagement shoot, and for the first time I got to meet Tom (handsome devil that he is!), and he's just as fun, spunky, and spontaneous as Jene'!

So, below are a few of my favorites from their engagement shoot. Click here to see a few more!

They're so darn cute!! I love Jene's dimples, dark complexion, and dimples...not to mention that hair style...my dream!!!

And, like I said, Tom's a handsome devil himself!!!

"Nothing tradional!!!" That's what they want for their wedding; so, I obliged with some non-tradional images!

I love me some laughing pictures!!!

....and some smoldering southern sultry ones too!

Jene' and Tom, I am SO excited for your wedding! I have so many images planned in my mind of the two of you at the vineyard!!!

Thanks for checking in!!! KM

Introducing Liam

A couple of months ago, Nick and I were out and a friend's sister mentioned to me that when their new baby was born she wanted me to take his newborn pictures. I always am always excited to do newborn pictures...especially when it's the firstborn! There's something so exciting about that first week or two after your firstborn's birth...you're so excited, but also so exhausted; so, to be invited into someone's house for a couple of hours to wait for those little looks and moments that a new baby doesn't really give you any prior notice on is considered an honor in my book. I told Rachel, the new mom, don't worry about your house, showering...anything at all...I remember what it was like all too well! Well, I showed up that day, and Rachel was laid-back, put together, and enjoying being a new mother with no stress at all! She's a natural and made me a little embarrassed about my sweats-wearing, no make-up, hide-when-someone-pulls-into-your-drive new mother days.

Rachel, thank you so much for the honor of capturing the little looks of your new addition. He's beautiful....CONGRATULATIONS AND BLESSINGS!! Kelly

A few of my favorites are below...click here to see a few more.

Liam is an inquisitive little fellow. He was NOT going to settle down and nap for us. He wasn't going to miss a thing!

Yep! I'm still awake, Kelly! And, I REALLY like how you have me near this big window with all the bright light to look at!!

Settling in for some close time with mom.

You know when someone says something creative and you think, "Man, I wish I would have said that!" That's how I felt about Liam's nursery. It was beautiful, and I loved, loved, loved this stencil on the wall with his name! I wish I would have thought of something like that!!!

Once again, thanks for checking in! KM