Category Archives: Engagements

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A new look is on its way …

August 26, 2009 – 9:22 pm

I can’t pinpoint the exact moment when, but at some point within the past year or two, I’ve become obsessed (!) with white. White space, white walls, white everything. I’m pretty much constantly scheming of ways to turn our home (with its funky colored walls) into a more simple, streamlined white fortress and so far, I’m failing kind of miserably at it.

But the “white rules” mentality has stuck with me and, a few months ago, I found how amazing the concept would mesh with some new branding ideas that had been pinging around in my head ever since I got back from my workshop. So, on that note, take a sneak peek at the new logo for Gail Werner Photography:

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You like????!!!!!!!! I know, I know … there’s not much to it. But that’s kind of the point. It’s simple, it’s clean, and I think (I hope anyway) that you guys will love how well it puts the focus on my images and how well it integrates with the new brand for my business.

And while I’m talking about this big change-a-roo that’s just around the corner, I’d be remiss not to give a big shout-out to my photo BFF, Betsy King. Betsy and I have bonded over a mutual amount of elbow grease we’ve both put into building our businesses these past two years, and earlier this summer, I knew she’d be the perfect person to help me out with some new photos of myself for my site and blog. (I’m a big believer you need to feel like you KNOW your photographer before you meet him or her and visual cues in the form of photographs are a big part of that!)

Betsy blew me away with what she gave me and in return, last weekend, I shook in my KEEN flats with nervousness as I returned the favor and took photos of her cute-as-a-button, kind-as-can-be family. Woo — it is INTIMIDATING to photograph another photographer! You’ll be getting a sneak peek of the Kings soon, I promise!

Then, you’ll see even more of them come next week, when they hit the new blog (I’ll have a new blog!) for Gail Werner Photography! Until then, here’s a peek at the images Betsy took of me, soon to grace the new Web site (I’ll have my own Web site!) of Gail Werner Photography! It’s gonna be one heck of a launch, so I can’t wait to share it with you !!!! Stay tuned!*

(*and I just gotta add that “Stay tuned” is an entirely appropriate way to go out on this entry because I really believe you’re going to switch from following me on this old blog to the new blog and new site and be all, “Whoa…it’s like Gail went from analog to high-definition!”) And yep, those of you who just called me a dork are totally in the right at the moment — HA!

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Michele and Eric: The Engagement

July 5, 2009 – 11:47 pm

One of my favorite elements of an engagement session is getting to see a couple interact with one another. And what struck me about Michele and Eric was what an easy rapport they have with one another. Both were naturals in front of the camera and made my job SUPER easy! :)

Michele joked that she’d been prepping Eric for days, making sure he knew how important these photos were to her. And when Eric showed up in Chucks, well, I instantly knew I liked the guy. When he talked about having a love affair with guitars, I thought, “Even better!”

But enough small talk, let’s get started with the good stuff, shall we? And if you want to see the full set of images, check out their SLIDESHOW!

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I love the way the light is hitting Michele here. It’s that warm kind of glow I like to call sunkissed and I think it’s VERY becoming on her ;)

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Adorable with a capital “A”

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You can totally see what I’m talking about when I say they’re an easy-going couple here, huh? LOVE IT!

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So no exaggeration, it might have reached 100 degrees during the night of our shoot. These two were TROOPERS! I remember at a certain point, asking Eric if he could sit a certain way and he gave me this look and I was all, “Your jeans are sticking to your legs aren’t they?” and he was like, “Ummm… yeah.” This might have been the point where Michele promised him he’d get that new guitar for putting up with my shenanigans!

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FAVORITE!

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:) SO sweet! :)

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I love this one too!

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Michele and Eric aren’t getting married until next spring, but if these next two are ANY indicator, Michele is going to be one b-e-a-u-t–i-f-u-l bride and Eric one h-a-n-d-s-o-m-e groom!

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One more … I couldn’t resist the cute factor of this one

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Michele and Eric, thank you so much for spending a hot but beautiful summer evening with yours truly. And on a random note, we’ll always be able to say we knew where we were when we heard Michael Jackson died, huh? Funny how stuff like that happens sometimes I guess!

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Michele and Eric: Sneak Peek

July 1, 2009 – 9:13 pm

So Michele might be one of the most on-top of it brides I’ve ever met. How on top of it, you ask? Well, her fiance, Eric, jokes that even though they aren’t getting married until March, she’s already got every detail planned. Michele, if I get your invite in the mail in November, I’ll just know it’s you being you, okay? :)

These guys were a BLAST to spend the evening with — so relaxed, down to earth and at ease being in front of the camera. There’s PLENTY more to come (I promise I’m editing between all the nose-blowing I’ve been doing as of late … ew, that sounds pretty gross doesn’t it?) but for now, just a small sneak peek at our session from last week. I love this shot!

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Alyson and Matt: The Engagement

June 25, 2009 – 6:56 am

Who knew that when I started this photography business, I’d have a class reunion client by client? :)

Alyson and Matt both graduated with me from Woodlan High School (what up Class of 2000?!) and have been happily living, working, and basking in the Florida sunshine for the past five years but were back in town for a little wedding planning earlier this month. Alyson also happens to be BFFs with my good pal Jodie (also an ‘00 alum) who let her know I was into the picture-taking these days (Jodie, I love you SO much for being my super fan :) )

I always tell clients that I like to spend at least 10 or 15 minutes at the start of their session getting to know them a bit more before I stick a camera in their faces (because let’s be honest here, getting your pictures taken CAN make for an awkward experience — I’m ALLL about making it less so!). For the three of us, it was a fun game of catching up before we started the session.

I also had forgotten just how RIDICULOUSLY good looking this pair was until I had that camera up to my eye. So on that note, let’s get to the pictures. And if you want to see more of this session (aka: my favorite ‘yummy light’ session EVER), then make sure to watch the SLIDESHOW!

I love catalpa trees about as much as I love this photograph — which is a LOT!

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Alyson, that dimple of yours KILLS* me (*and by kills I mean it makes me really, really jealous I don’t have one)

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I really like how Matt is looking at Alyson in this one. Can you blame him? :)

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So Matt’s a pretty shy guy. But I remember in high school, when he had his senior photos taken, all of us gals had a bit of a Joey-esque “WHOA” moment. And yeah, I had another one of those when I came to this photograph. Alyson’s a lucky gal, eh?

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Of course, I could say the same for Matt with any of these next few images. Alyson, you are STUNNING

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You hold my hand and it’s better than love

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FAVOORRRRRRRIIIIITTTTTTTEEEEE (for those of you who are Midwest photogs, you know how much we covet this kind of light. The kind that apparently bursts from the sky like Skittles rainbows west of the Mississippi. All of which is to say, I’m really proud of this photograph and having SO been in the right place at the right time)

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Alyson and Matt, thanks so much for sharing an evening with me and for being up for my ideas (’I found this big tree …. :) ‘). Can’t wait for your wedding in September!

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Alyson and Matt: Sneak Peek

June 17, 2009 – 10:29 pm

I am a sucker for big, beautiful trees. The kind of trees I DREAM (I’m not even kidding) of taking pictures of. Maybe this is weird, I don’t know, but’s a love affair of mine.

And until Sunday, I don’t think I could have said I’d gotten to photograph one of THOSE trees.

Not anymore. Take one majestic tree + one hot couple and you’ve got the recipe for an image that takes my breath away, every time I look at it.

I LOVE THIS JOB! :)

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LOTS more of this fantastic engagement session to come next week, so stay tuned!

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Kristen and Billy — A Family Session

June 10, 2009 – 7:07 am

I feel like I’ve strung these two along long enough, waiting for these sweet images to hit the blog! I think what I loved most about this shoot was how much Kristen was willing to just go with the flow and trust me and my crazy instincts. We started our session with a little play time at the park in Monroeville, then headed to the ice cream stand, the Whippy Dip, that Kristen’s mom has owned since we were kids. The stand’s yellow wall made for a great backdrop AND I think Kristen’s mom, Mary, will get a kick out of these photos!

Lucky for us, these two have an old barn on their property that made for a great backdrop for the rest of our “country”fied session (I so just coined a term with that one!). And leave it to Gail … while Kristen and Billy were showing off a new pet in one of their garages, I spotted a set of red metal chairs and cajoled them into carrying them out in the yard and letting me take a few more photos. I TOTALLY think the grunt work was worth it, don’t you?

Kristen and Billy, thanks for sharing an afternoon with me (and staying patient as I uttered, “Just one more shot…” ooh…about 123 times!) And watch out world, because their little girl Cyenna is a cutie-patootie who I’m guessing is going to be a little heartbreaker when she grows up! :)

And folks, don’t forget to check out the slideshow. It makes my heart happy to watch it so make sure to CLICK HERE!

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This photo just makes me think of lots of memories of my own childhood … waiting at some Formica booth for my parents to bring me back a hot dog or slushie or a Blizzard …

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A cute little girl in an ice cream cone tank with an ice cream cone in hand. Does it get any more adorable, people? :)

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This shot is just so precious to me. Kristen, if your interested, your pal Gail thinks this would make an AWESOME stand-out print for your living room! :)

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I’m a big fan of the classic b&w and well, I’m not gonna lie … I LOVE this shot!

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Remember what I said a minute ago about whether this tot could get any more adorable? Yeah, I take it back now. ‘CAUSE SHE JUST DID.

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Kristen you look so genuinely happy here that I love it!

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Yeah, I know, I know … they’re cute :)

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We were dealing with some pretty ferocious winds by this point. They were troopers!

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Not even going to lie … this is my personal favorite from the session. And it’s guaranteed to be a favorite photo of mine in 2009. I just love it!

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And last but not least, the red chairs make their debut. Now come on, wasn’t that worth it? I believe Kristen was overheard saying, “Who knew we had so many props at our place?” You got that right girl! :)

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Thanks again guys and I’ll see for your ‘I Do’s’ in August!

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Gary and Jen: Engagement

May 26, 2009 – 10:47 pm

There’s something about taking pictures of family that puts me in total “flashback mode.” While editing, I just can’t help but think of all the memories I’ve shared with that person over the years.

With Gary, this extends back to his being ringbearer and my being flower girl in my sister’s wedding (If I had a copy of the photo of the two of us from said event, I so would have scanned it and added it to this post. Let’s just say it was 1989, white pumps were TOTALLY in, I had just lost my first tooth and Gary had a sunburn from too much time at the lake!)

Fast forward 20-plus years and Gary and I aren’t kids anymore. We’re grown-ups and each of us couldn’t be happier with the person we’ve chosen to share our own lives with (right, Gary? :) ) Jen, you are a doll and I so look forward to welcoming you into our family. And thanks you two for braving the heat for this session. I know you’re excited to get back to Indiana and start the next chapter of your lives, but never forget how much you grew up (both as individuals and as a couple) during your two years in that desert heat :)

To see more, don’t forget to CHECK OUT THE SLIDESHOW!

Speaking of heat …. well, hellloooo hotness!

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We took all of their photographs in Old Towne Scottsdale (thanks Melissa for the recommendation!) It was SO fun to shoot some place new and there was just something about Arizona and its sunshine that made me want to never stop taking photos!

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I love when everything comes together to make an adorable shadow happen!

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I love the way Gary is looking at Jen here. So sweet and Jen, you have such a great smile!!

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Jen, I hope you never get tired of hearing me say how GORGEOUS you are? ‘Cause with this image, I rest my case.

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Thanks for an AMAZING time in Arizona you two (and for being my Sedona chaperones!) Can’t wait to get together when you’re back in our neck of the woods!!!

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Gary and Jen: Sneak Peek

May 21, 2009 – 8:00 pm

I try REALLY hard to hold on to my favorite image from a session to include it as part of a couple’s full blog post, but I just couldn’t do it this time around. Not with this couple that is so dear to my heart. And not when there’s so much to be loved about this photograph that it couldn’t NOT be shared (I just cringed over my own use of a double negative there)!

But seriously, how cute are these two? :) More on the way … but Gary and Jen, I hope this tides you over until I can finish editing the rest!

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Nikki and Keegan

December 16, 2008 – 11:46 pm

What I love most about engagement shoots with my couples is getting to know them better before their big day — their likes, their dislikes, what they do for a living, what makes them tick. In this case, it was pretty obvious after just a few hours with Nikki and Keegan that these two do just that for one another.

I remember asking Keegan about his interests and hearing him tell me about wanting to be an art teacher and his fondness for painting. But more than his words, what captured my attention during the exchange was Nikki at his side, beaming (doesn’t she have a GORGEOUS smile?) with pride. I could tell she didn’t want to brag about her future husband and his talents, but those words? Yeah … they were so right there on the tip of her tongue, wanting to escape.

Nikki and Keegan, I can’t wait to document your wedding in April. Until then, these photos will have to tide you over until the new year — and your journey together — officially begins!

PS — Okkaayy, this AMAZING SLIDESHOW might help with the wait too :)

(Pssssttt … I told you these guys were hot) :)

I would call this a FAVORITE, but that would imply I had just one on this shoot, huh?

Two things that pop in my head when I see this photo: 1) They are too cute and 2) Could this be in a magazine or what? You can’t get models to fake it this good! :)

After we hung out along the river, we headed over to IPFW, where Keegan is a student and Nikki an alum. This next photo is particularly sweet because it’s the exact spot on campus where Keegan proposed to his future wife. They were only too happy to show it off and when I asked Keegan, “You wanna get down on your knee again?,” well … this is what he gave me:

And a shot right after that says it all

Giving a bit of a shout-out to IPFW’s (colorful) mascot!

And finally — what’s not to love about a little repetition, black and white and a gorgeous pose? I am in love with this shot — aren’t you guys?

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Nikki and Keegan: Sneak Peek

November 24, 2008 – 7:12 pm

We barely did it, but Nikki, Keegan and I beat the freezing cold blast that recently hit, squeezing in an outdoor engagement shoot a day before the snow started to fly.

These two were up for anything and their spontaneity made my job that much easier (not to mention they are ridiculously good-looking, which helps too! :) )

Here’s a peek at what’s to come for this couple who are getting hitched in April …

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