Amanda and Shaun's Engagement Session

We decided on my college campus for the location of their session and I'm glad we did - the grounds really look beautiful this summer. We travelled around looking for various spots where we could get some fun interaction between the two of them. I find the engagement session allows the couple to become more comfortable with me taking LOTS of photographs and to learn what they like and don't like.

We were fortunate to have good, evening light which makes them look better than ever - here's the preview slideshow:
Amanda and Shaun

Tutu 2

tutu-2
Originally uploaded by NmB Photography

We had to coax her into wearing this for the photos and then she didn't want to take it off. She wore it to dinner at Cannova's and afterwards rode the merry-go-round. Why, or why, didn't I take my camera to the park.

We had just been reading her new book, Puff the Magic Dragon, and listening to the music. This book is beautifully illustrated to describe the text which is the words to the son. The exclusive CD features songs performed by Peter Yarrow, his daughter Bethany, and cellist Rufus Cappadocia.

Anyway, Paige is very into this book so we had to visit the "magic" dragon in our park. She called the secluded area of the park, "The Dragon Cave" and insisted that we whisper while we were there. She also wanted us to circle the dragon while singing the Puff song. She's three - we did it.

Siblings

Siblings
Originally uploaded by NmB Photography

I got several cute shots of Kelby and Erin while we were in Iowa City last weekend for Dawn's birthday. The guys got their hot tub running, put up a clothes line and installed a door bell in their new house. I mostly took pictures - what a deal.

garden-07

garden-07
Originally uploaded by NmB Photography

It's good to be back home and out in my garden. Bogie and I took a walk on the golf course about sunset and I didn't hear any traffic or jets - just the birds. Sweeet.

It was a very informative workshop, though, and should make me more efficient with Photoshop.

All Tied Up

img_6664_bw
Originally uploaded by NmB Photography

This is one of the shots I love from the wedding on Saturday. I think these details are missed by many and are a part of the day that needs to be captured.

I'm sitting in a hotel room in Chicago this evening after my first day of Photoshop workshops. Since I didn't get to see Paigey and her parents, I made a quick trip through IKEA and the Container Store and found a couple of cool chairs for photography props. Then another bee line back to the Holiday Inn Select to watch The Closer, one of my very favorite shows on TV. How many times do you see detectives cry when they find their victim? Of course, in this case, the detective is a woman played by Kyra Sedgwick.

Anyway, I haven't stayed in a hotel room by myself for quite a while. I don't do much travelling for school any more. Since my last trips were to our timeshare in Aspen (a modest studio) and a Disney resort, I was surprised to walk in and see a very large, flat-screen, high def TV sitting on a marbe-like counter top.

We're using CS3 in the workshop and I've learned quite a few new things and I'm sure will learn even more tomorrow. I was disappointed when they cancelled the two-day Advanced workshop but I'll be glad to get back home - and keep working on those wedding photos.

The drive back made me totally miss my camera. Almost all of the sky was very overcast but the last bit of horizon where the sun was out and setting. The sun shining into all the lights on the planes coming into O'Hare looked pretty surreal.

My First Wedding is History

It finally came and went. So much anticipation by me and lots of other people. The day was quite hot, although not as hot as today, so folks didn't really want to get back outside very much but retreated to the cool sanctuary as quickly as possible. I loved being part of this event, though, and wish Jon, Heidi and Ava so many happy years together.

My biggest snafu was being locked out of the church and everybody (including the minsiter) had taken off for the reception. Yes, my equipment and my car keys were in the church! Thankfully, a custodian came and let us back in so we were a little late getting to the reception.

Here's a link to the slideshow of a few of my favorite images. We had beautiful, pregnant bridesmaids, a super helpful bridesmaid, a slanky maid-of-honor and a stunning bride. She made the unique programs and there were lots of special touches to the wedding. Her gown, veil and shoes were just to die for. Enjoy!

Heidi and Jon's Wedding Slideshow

Pretty Sophie

Sophie recently turned three months we I got to capture some smiles and this beautiful expression. Her big brother, Dillon, joined us in the studio for some shots, too, and liked playing with the old train but I think he wondered why it didn't DO something.

 

Morning Sun

Morning Sun
Originally uploaded by NmB Photography

I haven't taken many photos of our yard (or any other flowers) yet this summer since I'm so much busier with portrait photography. I got out early this morning, though, and caught a little back-lighting on these lilies with our bed of geraniums in the back. These were taken with a wide open f/stop to get the smooth bokeh in the background. Bokeh is the Japanese-originated concept of the difference between out of focus areas of an image due to lens design. You get the best bokeh with back-lit images.