Monthly Archives: April 2009

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The Zerns: Landin Turns 1

April 30, 2009 – 8:07 pm

It’s becoming a routine I hope continues far in to the future.

Every few months, Jodie and Adam’s boy gets a little bigger. A few more teeth, a bit more hair, a bigger shoe size.

Then I get an e-mail from Jodie: “Gail, can you take Landin’s photos for us again?”

Here’s to Jodie still calling me in 17 years to ask the same favor — when Landin’s a a high school senior, getting all those girls worked up over his teenage cuteness (and those incredible baby blues!)

Now that I’ve given his sweet-as-can-be momma heart palptations at the thought, I’ll quit picturing life on fast forward.

And instead let Jodie and Adam enjoy what it is right now to love on a little man who just turned one.

To see all the adorableness of this session, make sure to watch THE SLIDESHOW. Jodie requested this song and it will make your heart melt (especially if you, too, are a momma!)

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Landin is such an inquisitive guy. Not quite ready to walk, still needing mommy’s hand, wanting to be into everything but not knowing how to express what, exactly, it is he wants.

How many other one year olds did I just describe?

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And for just a second, you get a glimpse of the grown-up. I saw it when I started editing this photograph. Do you see it too?

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:) High five time :)

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And then there’s this. So adorable I can hardly stand it. At some point, when I can make up my mind about designing a Web site, this photograph will be featured prominently, I adore it so.

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If this isn’t a stinker face, I don’t know what is

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Those two little front teeth — they just kill me.

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Thank you guys for letting me spend another afternoon with you and Landin! Pretty soon he’ll start talking and might just tell you, “Oh yeah, that’s Gail, the one who’s always sticking that camera in my face.” And you know what, I would love it if he did.

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The Zerns: Sneak Peek

April 27, 2009 – 11:21 pm

Remember this cutie pie? Folks who check out this site on a regular basis might recognize Landin from my earlier shoots with the Zerns (and if not, click here and here to watch this little guy grow right before your eyes!)

When Jodie contacted me a few months ago with a request to take some updated shots of her family with the passage of Landin’s first birthday, I jumped at the chance to document this trio once more. It’s such a privilege to be welcomed into the lives of clients, and it’s all the more special when it’s friends you’ve known since grade school (seriously, we were on the playground and Adam and Landin were on the slide together and all I could think about between snaps was having a conversation with the little guy that would start along the lines of, “You know, Landin, your dad and I used to play on the slides together when we were kids..”) Adam .. I know, that sentence was totally bizarre for you to read, but that’s what happens when your family photographer has known you since fourth grade!

And on to the sneak peek of Mr. Inquisitive! Can’t wait to share the rest with you!

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PS - Jodie, if you don’t want to melt at the sight of your man’s blue peepers, I’ll happily do it for you :)

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Fresh cut signs of spring

April 24, 2009 – 11:16 pm

There is so much I love about springtime — the blooms budding on the trees, the flowers coming up, that first whiff of your neighbor’s freshly cut grass.

But with the landscape turning green around us, the change in seasons incites a bit of panic on my end. You see, as I’ve said on this blog before, Nick and I inherited a yard with such copious amounts of landscaping, it’d keep a crew of four men busy through Labor Day.

So while the cherry trees blossoming make my heart want to sing, it’s the thistles already sprouting in our flower beds that make me want to start breathing in to a paper bag as I think of how those weeds are already kicking my you-know-what.

It’ll be July before I’ll have the time to don gardening gloves and tackle them (at which point, we’ll have 200 varieties of thistles growing in the wilderness that will be our back yard). So I’ll try not to worry about what I don’t have time to tend to and for now, live in the moment. Which just so happens to include the lovely sight of fresh cut flowers on a beautiful spring morning.

Who doesn’t love tulips?

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I really love…

April 19, 2009 – 1:49 pm

The customized mailing labels I ordered for the Werner household a few weeks ago.

I know the economy is tight and these were an unnecessary indulgence, but seriously, could they be more personalized and/or adorable?

One of my biggest random pet peeves is writing out my address on the bills/letters I send out (and I’ve yet to fully go online after a bad experience where a scheduled payment wasn’t received and cost me a $20 late charge … grr). For the longest time, I got by using the catch-all labels we’d get from charities asking us for donations. I honestly thought I’d NEVER run out of those, but when I did, I decided to indulge and found this Web site that let me have some fun with the purchase — Nick even got in on the personalizing effort, picking his hairstyle and helping me find a perfect Daisy!

Did I need to buy these? Absolutely not. But do they make me smile with every letter (bills, even) that I send out? You betcha. Now who wants a letter from Gail to see ‘em in person?  :)

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(Just a note: This was shot on the macro setting of my point-and-shoot. Nothing fancy going on here, just wanted to share ‘em!)

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Everything’s amazing and nobody’s happy

April 17, 2009 – 11:38 am

If there was a word to describe so many of us today I’m pretty sure it’d be impatient.

We get frustrated when our Internet goes down, when we can’t send someone a text message because our service is out of area, or when our waitress doesn’t bring us an order right now.

My sister-in-law sent me this clip a few weeks back and I stumbled upon it again the other day and spent another four minutes both laughing and saying aloud, “It’s so true!” Watch it yourself and see if you don’t agree ….

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Nikki and Keegan: The Wedding

April 12, 2009 – 10:39 pm

Mother Nature ushered in the month of April with rain, showers that were gone just in time for Nikki and Keegan’s wedding day. And thank goodness, because we were able to take advantage of the sunshine instead and capture some beautiful memories of this couple as they start their lives together as husband and wife.

To the bridesmaids who endured the cold with Nikki so I could get those images, I say thank you. To Keegan’s kid brother, Shea, who held bags for me and was my escort for the evening, I say thank you. But the biggest thanks, of course, goes to the bride and groom.

Nikki and Keegan, thank you so much for the opportunity to document your wedding day. You two are beautiful people inside and out and that became evident to me watching you surrounded by all your family and friends who love you so much. Congratulations and many blessings on your marriage!

For the slideshow, CLICK HERE. To view proofs and/or order prints, CLICK HERE (the password is the bride and groom’s last name, in all lower case.)

Documenting the getting ready process. Somehow, Nikki managed to smile even while brushing her teeth. I don’t think that megawatt grin left her face the ENTIRE day! So cute ….

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This was one GORGEOUS bridal party

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And hellllllllllllllooooooo hot groomsmen

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Of course we know, the day is really all about the bride. NIKKI, YOU ARE STUNNING!

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I love this image of Nikki and Keegan coming down the aisle as husband and wife. Nikki had the best expressions!

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Right after I shot that, I caught this quick embrace. Their second kiss as husband and wife - awwwwwww

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This image is just classic. We have a photograph of my parents on their wedding day, coming out of the church getting rice thrown at them. It’s probably my favorite out of their whole album. Maybe that’s why I love this one so much!!

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Nikki and Keegan’s reception was at IPFW in Fort Wayne. If you remember, it’s where Keegan proposed to Nikki. So OF COURSE we had to get some photos on campus with the school mascot (a mastadon, just in case you were all, “A wooly elephant?”) And this wedding party had NO problems working it out. When I told them we were going to take a couple fun shots, they came up with these poses on their own. LOVE IT!

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And then there’s this shot — a personal favorite :)

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The DJ at the reception joked that Nikki and Keegan looked like the couple that was the cake topper on most wedding cakes. I think these next few speak to just what an attractive pair they are!

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Probably the most special moment of the day next to watching them exchange their vows was the surprise Keegan had for Nikki. This was a bride who had planned and planned for everything, but didn’t expect her husband to perform an impromptu concert for her. Keegan played his guitar and sang Brad Paisley’s new song, “Then.” The words, as he told her, were so perfect for the two of them. And if you watch their slideshow, you’ll get to hear it!

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If you looked cute-as-a-button up in the dictionary, I’m pretty sure this little guy’s photo would accompany the definition

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And finally, a little dancing to end the night on. P-E-R-F-E-C-T!

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Keegan and Nikki: Sneak Peek

April 7, 2009 – 10:06 pm

You know, maybe there will come a time as a photographer where I quit posting sneak peeks for clients.

Pssstttt….who am I kidding?! I LOVE to throw my early favorites from sessions up on the blog.

In this case, here’s a fun take on the “Just Married” snap from the wedding I shot on Saturday.

Keegan and Nikki are no doubt living it up on their honeymoon in Mexico, but I can’t wait to share the rest of their photos with them when they get back. Hope you guys are having an AWESOME time! :)

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