Trash the Dress....

Yesterday, Ashley Milburn and I ventured into the great white to visit some photographers I know in Burlington, IA. I had visited this location a few weeks ago and decided I just HAD to do a session here, no matter how far away it was! So I asked Ashley to model for me and she was a great model, even in the frigid weather. The place we went wasn't heated just an open floor plan on the 3rd and 4th level of the building. Needless to say, we all could see our breath while talking--yeah, it was that cold! The theme for this shoot was Trash the Dress. However, I must say, you don't always have to trash it, we just didn't worry about getting it dirty. This time the dress is completely salvageable and could be worn again. It is actually a 2nd generation trash the dress, it has been used before by another photographer. It was *almost* too pretty to get dirty.

I had multiple sponsors for this shoot and I'd like to take the opportunity to thank them all. Hy-Vee Floral did the flowers. I just handed them a sack of inspiration and they put the bouquet together for me. I told them it couldn't be ordinary and it turned our absolutely spectacular! Abby Bowker from Expressions Studio did the hair, Ashley's hair was inspired by country singer, Kelli Pickler's, hair. Abby rocked the hair! Racheal Ebelsheiser did the makeup, she rocks too, I emailed her the dress pictures and flower pictures and told her to work with the colors, she had full rein to do whatever she wanted. Ashley looked stunning!

Brandi was another photographer who shot with me yesterday: "Brandi"

Here is a great picture of the flowers.

Ashley and Tom

This is Ashley and Tom, if you're a loyal blog follower, you'll recognize them because I did their engagement session recently. They are a great couple and you could tell their family was very important to them. They got married at Central Reformed Church in Oskaloosa and had their reception at Bradbury Hall. Okay, enough from me, here are some pictures.





Tom sang a beautiful song to his bride during the ceremony. How sweet!


They left the church in a limobus. Very cool!


A few ring shots..

Williams Family

I had the opportunity to take my cousin and his family's pictures this weekend. I took Tanner's senior pictures last summer, they drove down all the way from Tama both times, they are awesome! We had a lot of fun, as you can see!







How is it, I'd missed this awesome tree?

2008 Client Specials

Thank you thank you thank you 2008 customers.

Please be on the lookout for this postcard. Give me a call if you're interested in purchasing your proofs with a print release so I can clean off my hard drives.

Ashley and Mike

I can't tell you how much I love photographing friends. Ashley and her daughter have done some modeling for me in the past and now that Ashley is engaged, I am doing her wedding as well. Tonight I got to meet her fiance Mike, who I can't wait to get to know also.

Ashley asked me for romantic pics of her and Mike and she got them! :)





Um.. Favorite!! :)



Be serious, this is a lovey dovey shot... Got the shot..


and it turned into this.. :)


sick sunset light.. Sunflair, I love you! :)


Love this one too!

Hillary & Gary and Family...

I know it's past peak fall colors time but I think it's still pretty at Keomah, today was absolutely gorgeous, actually almost hot when you're out running around (I feel guilty saying that, ha ha!) I got some great shots of Hillary, who I work with at the hospital and her great family and even some with her dog, Hawkeye, who actually looked at the camera for a few pictures, he was very well behaved!



ahhhh :)


I love the lighting in this shot. It's perfect.






Okay.. this was a special request, I told him he'd get a silly one on the blog. :)


Now he's being serious!

Stephanie and Chris

Stephanie and Chris got married yesterday at the St. Mary's Church in Pella. It's is a brand new church and is absolutely gorgeous. I couldn't resist hanging the dress from these gorgeous Pella Windows. As you can see, the sky was blue and the sun was out. What else could we ask for? :) After the wedding, we headed to the Molengrat for some pictures. They were a great couple!!

Yeah, she was a gorgeous bride.















okay.. here are some hilarious dancing shots.. I just had to share. Chris playing air up plastic guitar.


yeah, he got into it. :)


YMCA anyone?

Ashley and Tom

Ashley and Tom are one of my wedding couples this year, they are getting married in December, so you'll see more of them very soon. They are a great couple and very relaxed in front of the camera. I had a lot of fun with them today at Lake Keomah in the massive windstorm we had today. Ashley was a trooper even though her heels were sinking into the mud and leaves were sticking to the bottom of her shoes. I can already tell it's going to be a great wedding!

Thanks guys!

Sunflair, I have missed you during the cloudy days!! :)