Anecdotally Yours Blog

Engagement Photos + Kansas City + Cute Couple!

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 22:52:31 +0000

Kristy and Mike aren’t originally from Kansas City, but they’ve been here for quite some time now and are planning a wedding here in the city that they now call home. They really wanted their engagement photos to show off the city, since most of their guests will be coming in from out of town. We spent some time in different places, capturing the places they really enjoy (Kristy loves the shuttlecocks in the lawn of the Nelson!) and finding the “good light” on a great and warm summer evening in May.

How I Met My Husband… and a fun portrait special for you!

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:57:45 +0000

It was June 2001. I spent days deciding what outfits to pack for camp (which is hilarious now, looking back at the photos!). I didn’t know too much about this thing called “HOBY” — but my high school sent me to it, and so I went. Because it sounded fun. Because I was kind of nerdy in high school, but in a good way (I think). A camp with “youth leadership” in the title was my kind of camp. I wondered what we would actually do. And who I would meet. I never expected to meet my freshman year college roommate. Or some of my closest friends and mentors. Or future clients whose engagements, weddings, and families I’d someday get to document. But most of all, I never expected to meet my husband.

Now, before you are shocked that I found my husband in high school, let me say that I didn’t know with any amount of certainty that he’d be my husband until several years later. But this organization called HOBY (Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership) brought us together — we never would have met otherwise, since our long-distance friendship, dating relationship, and even engagement lasted for 5 whole years before we thought we should live in the same place if we were getting married. : )

We still volunteer with HOBY, love what it stands for (empowering high school students to make a difference in their communities), and do what we can to help make sure that students in Kansas (where we went to HOBY, although it’s an international organization) get to experience the same thing we did (marriage optional, of course!). : )

So, we’re offering a ridiculous deal on portrait session for five days only, and all proceeds go to the operating costs of Kansas HOBY, which takes place in mid-June at my favorite college campus, Kansas State University! If you’ve put off booking a family portrait session or just want some fun photos, now is the time to book. I have a limited number of sessions that I can take on since it’s a short window of time, so don’t wait — BOOK NOW! I can’t wait to take your photos and have you be a part of making HOBY happen for high school students from all across Kansas!

Christen and Scott’s Engagement Photos!

admin — Sun, 06 May 2012 17:48:02 +0000

When two people are so comfortable together, love each other, laugh a lot, and look adorable — let them be themselves. Christen and Scott were awesome to photograph at Shawnee Mission Park (a park that doesn’t exactly look like a park), on a gorgeous and very warm spring evening. These two are just wonderful people, and we had fun exploring the park, and talking about our dogs, Christen’s love for Twilight, and their wedding that is just a few weeks away! We can’t wait to be there to photograph and film their special day, and continue telling their story. For now, here’s a preview of who Christen and Scott are together.

- Erica

Jenny and Billy are engaged!

admin — Thu, 03 May 2012 00:14:44 +0000

I liked these two so much from the moment I met them. We met at a Starbucks early this past winter, and Billy couldn’t decide what to order. I told him I was drinking a soy chai latte, which he had never tried before, so — why not? — he ordered a venti. “When in Rome,” he said. : ) I liked that, and it’s stuck with me. Because there’s something about that little encounter that helped me know that Jenny and Billy are the kind of people who experience life to the fullest. They’re the kind of couple who had me laughing along with them in no time, and who also had me teary-eyed right along with Jenny as she talked about how excited she was to be marrying Billy. They’re a fantastic couple, who like Mexican food just as much as we do (and we loved their favorite Mexican place, which we visited with them after the shoot). I had such a great time taking engagement photos of them around the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum. Enjoy this tiny preview of their photos!

Photography for a Cause: Full-Day Photography Basics Class!

admin — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:03:12 +0000

We love teaching people how to take better photos. We know so many people have digital SLR cameras and they just don’t know how to use them. That’s why we’ve started doing our photography/camera basics classes to empower people to take GREAT photos with the gear they already have — because it’s important to learn how to capture the story of your daily life!

We also love donating to great causes and organizations who need help from volunteers and community members. We love knowing that what we do as a company and as individuals can help make someone’s life a little better.

I’m really excited about this announcement today, as we’re partnering again (for the second year!) with our friend Chris of La Brisa Photography to teach a FULL DAY camera and photography basics class… here’s the best part: with ALL of the profit going towards great causes. The entire amount of profit made on this class will be donated to fundraisers and non-profit organizations that we have identified. It’s going to be great. After last year’s successful class, we cannot wait for the opportunity to meet new people and share our stories!

We are going to be learning classroom-style as well as getting out and taking photos! You’ll leave with a lot of technical knowledge, and great hands-on experience. And, it’s such a great time to learn when you know that 100% of profits from this class will be donated to amazing organizations and fundraisers as an extension of Photography for a Cause!

What is it?
Introduction to Portrait Photography by anecdotallyyours.com and labrisaphotography.com

Who is it for?
New and aspiring photographers who want to take better portraits of their loved ones. Or simply, anyone who has a DSLR camera and has no idea what all the little buttons do! : )

Where will it be held?
Anecdotally Yours studio – 7019 Oak Street, Kansas City, MO 64113

When will it be?
Monday, August 13th, 2012, from 9am-5pm (lunch included… yum!).

How much is registration?
April 25th-May 8th = $199
May 8th-August 1st = $249
Registration is limited to only 20 students and must be paid in full at signup. First come, first serve.

What topics will be covered?
Beginner mistakes
Learning your camera
Understanding exposure and composition
Posing
Interacting with your subjects

How do I register?
For registration please fill out this Introduction to Portrait Photography Questionnaire – HERE and then an invoice will be emailed to you to pay for your registration fee. Your seat will not be reserved until full payment has been received. First come, first serve. Thank you!

Questions?
Send an email to chris@labrisaphotography.com or erica@anecdotallyyours.com

Alison & Brian’s Fresh Air Farm Wedding Film

admin — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:24:40 +0000

Alison contacted us just a few months before her beautiful fall wedding at Fresh Air Farm to ask if we would be available to film. She shared with us that as a photographer, she knows how important it is to encapsulate every memory possible of the day that she had put so much hard work and love into. As she filled us in on the wedding day plans, we were floored by Alison’s attention to detail. Every detail during their wedding day represented something special to her relationship and history with Brian. Spending a wedding day with a couple as in love and excited as Brian and Alison was wonderful and we love their film!

We’re so thankful to have been able to help them remember their amazing wedding day.

Enjoy!

Dresden and John: Kansas City Carriage Club Wedding

admin — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:00:32 +0000

The weekend of Dresden and John’s wedding started off with forecasts predicting tornadoes and crazy thunderstorms. It’s never very fun to hear about the chance of those things happening on a wedding day, but Dresden and John were not shaken. They are such wonderful people as individuals, and as a couple they’re even better. They have amazing families who love them dearly. They love each other and have a great friendship. Their wedding day was a reflection of all of those things, and despite a little rain (I’ll take that over severe weather!), the day couldn’t have been better.

Enjoy this small preview of their wedding photos. A big thank you to my talented second shooter Rachel for assisting at this wedding. I’ll be featuring a few of her images here as well!

This one is Rachel’s:

John and Dresden waited to see each other until she was walking down the aisle. Rachel captured this image of John, and the one right after it of them soaking in the faces of all of the people who love them:

The rain picked up more after their ceremony during their exit from the church, but happened to stop by the time we reached their spot for outdoor portraits!

The next two images are Rachel’s:

The limo ride on the way to the reception was a lot of fun. Their wedding party was amazing, full of super great people who loved celebrating with the couple!

Their reception at the Carriage Club in Kansas City was a fun event with a live band (The Karen Davis Project), caricature artists instead of a photo booth (loved that idea!), and lots of dancing!

While I was photographing Dresden’s dad giving his toast, Rachel was capturing the couple’s reactions — and the sweet moment between father and bride afterward. I love seeing both sides!

Side note: caricatures are so much fun. These guys did such an awesome job, and everyone had a great time having their caricature drawn. The couple kept them all in an album as a caricature guest book!

Instead of throwing the garter, John put the garter around a football and threw it straight to his groomsmen — after all, you HAVE to catch a football!

This series of black and white dancing photos are all Rachel’s view of the party:

Thank you, Dresden and John, for inviting us into your wedding day story. It was such a joy to be a part of it all with you, and I can’t wait to share the rest of your images! Happy Honeymooning!

Allison, Grant, and Max at sunset

admin — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 22:51:16 +0000

Allison and Grant, along with their dog Max, were so much fun to photograph. Our session was in the gorgeous spring evening light in a little patch of trees and weeds behind a little church. Allison and Grant have been married for about a year and a half now, but in that time have had all sorts of big things happen, including a move to Kansas City. We became friends around that time, and have enjoyed spending more and more time with them! Allison is also a very talented photographer, who wanted some updated photos of them to decorate their new home, along with some new shots for her website! I love how these turned out — the light, the colors of spring, and most importantly, the joy the couple has together and with their (sometimes ornery) adorable dog. : ) Enjoy!

- Erica

A little shoot in the back yard.

admin — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 22:38:09 +0000

Our friends were in town for the weekend from Colorado, and it was the first chance we had to spend time with their adorable baby boy, Kauffman. He just turned five months old, and while they were in town (also with big sister, Grace) we snapped a few photos on a drizzly day in my back yard. Here are a few images of their smiley, happy baby boy and his adorable big sister.

A newborn baby and her sweet family! (Olathe Family Photos)

admin — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 23:22:17 +0000

Photographing families in their home is one of my favorite things to do. The sessions are so natural, homey, and relaxed, which is especially wonderful when a family has a newborn baby. It was such a joy to meet this family, their 2-year-old son and their 9-day-old daughter for a session in the late afternoon in their home. I love how these images capture family life, the sweetness of new life, the personality of 2-year-old, and very doting parents… not to mention some adorable sibling love and a really cute nursery with a homemade mobile of fabric birds!

Enjoy this little preview of their session.

- Erica : )