Kate + Mitchell | Good Shepherd Catholic Community wedding

I traveled to Texas a few weeks ago to document Kate and Mitchell’s wedding in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Those are my old stomping grounds, and Mitchell is an old buddy from Scouting, so it was good to be back among familiar faces. Knowing him and a few of his groomsmen, I knew it was going to be a fun group. I wasn’t disappointed.

Wedding 001 Kate + Mitchell | Good Shepherd Catholic Community weddingKate and Mitchell were married the last weekend of July at Good Shepherd Catholic Community in Colleyville, Texas. This intro image was actually shot after the ceremony. Backtracking a bit, I started shooting with Kate and her bridesmaids at the church.
Wedding 002 Kate + Mitchell | Good Shepherd Catholic Community wedding
bird cage
shoesI’m pretty sure you can see this bling from a mile away.
wedding bands
Wedding 006 Kate + Mitchell | Good Shepherd Catholic Community wedding
bride
groomsmen
groom
This was the most interesting church I’ve shot in this year. It is very contemporary, with wrap-around seating.
Wedding 010 Kate + Mitchell | Good Shepherd Catholic Community wedding
ceremony
The homily was about the pursuit of perfection. Get it?
wedding
So happy.
wedding
Wedding 014 Kate + Mitchell | Good Shepherd Catholic Community wedding
Wedding 015 Kate + Mitchell | Good Shepherd Catholic Community wedding
Kate and Mitchell check out the cakes before the reception starts.
Wedding cake
Mitchell wanted a groom’s cake but didn’t want to go the usual alma mater route (Texas Tech), so he opted for this fun Seinfeld cake.
groom's cake
cake
place setting
The menu and table numbers.
Wedding 020 Kate + Mitchell | Good Shepherd Catholic Community weddingThe afternoon reception was at the Trophy Club Country Club. I really love the decorations and abundance of light.
reception
Right after making their grand entrance, they had their first dance.
Reception
wedding
cake cutting
The dance floor was packed for the whole reception.
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wedding
reception
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toss
reception
receptionKate and Mitchell make their escape. Someone decided to create a “soccer tunnel,” and the rest of the guests went for it. I approve!
the exit
Thanks for bringing me out, Kate and Mitchell. It was a lot of fun!

Ashley + Phillip | Dallas engagement shoot

While in Texas to photograph a wedding, I caught up with Ashley and Phillip for an engagement session in uptown Dallas. If everything falls into place, I’ll be photographing their wedding next summer. I say “if” because they have not yet set their date in stone. You see, they’re planning to have their reception at the Ballpark in Arlington, home of the Texas Rangers. It turns out the Rangers get first dibs when choosing dates at their stadium, but I’m pretty sure Ashley and Phillip are a close second. I’m hoping the Rangers pick wisely and I’m able to travel back to Texas for this very unique reception!
Engagement photosThis being a mid-summer afternoon in Texas, it was quite warm. Not quite melt-to-pavement warm, but it was getting there. Ashley and Phillip did well, though, despite me dragging them around the city.
Engagement photosWe started the session around the corner at an upscale hotel — complete with drool-worthy CB2 furniture — but after going over the take I was really drawn to these bridge photos.
Engagement photosFavorite!
Engagement photos
The side effect of trying to avoid the heat is awesome light!
Engagement photos
Engagement 006 Ashley + Phillip | Dallas engagement shoot
engagementAshley and Phillip are high school sweethearts. Hawk-eyed blog readers might have already noticed Phillip is rocking a promise ring.
engagement
engagement
engagementThanks for braving the heat, Ashley and Phillip. See you two in June. You hear that, Rangers?!

Rebecca + Mark | St. Louis wedding

Rebecca and Mark were married a few weeks back on what will likely be the hottest day of the year. Lesser mortals would have melted, but they did it with grace and a smile even when I said “just one more picture” too many times to count. If you’ve been following the blog for a while, you might remember them from their Tower Grove Park engagement shoot, which memorably ended with a leaf fight.
StLouis Wedding 001 Rebecca + Mark | St. Louis wedding
I started the day at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church with Rebecca and her bridesmaids. Big props to the maid of honor Jessica for her dress-hanging ability. I couldn’t reach the branch. :-/
dress
Rebecca wasn’t taking any chances before the ceremony began.
dress
I love this church’s abundance of stained glass. I shot my first wedding at Holy Redeemer last year, and it was the first thing I thought of when Rebecca told me the ceremony was going to be here.
shoesOnly a few moments until ceremony time!
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wedding
ceremony
StLouis Wedding 008 Rebecca + Mark | St. Louis weddingMark and Rebecca share a quick moment after the ceremony.
weddingBefore long the wedding party joined them at the back of the church. Time to party!
StLouis Wedding 010 Rebecca + Mark | St. Louis wedding
After the ceremony, we headed to Laumeier Sculpture Park for a few wedding party photos. It was so warm outside that we had to break up shooting with stints inside the visitor center (read: A/C!).
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wedding
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StLouis Wedding 017 Rebecca + Mark | St. Louis wedding
Black eyed susans
Can you tell I was liking the black-eyed Susans? I did shoot a few other features on the grounds but am prohibited from posting photos of the sculptures online. I’m curious about why Laumeier Sculpture Park has this policy but citygarden downtown doesn’t. Oh, well. Enjoy what I can share.
Black eyed susans
Time for the reception at Maggiano’s Little Italy in Richmond Heights. This was my first time shooting a reception there. I am a fan after seeing it in action. It is a very intimate space for receptions with about 100 guests. It felt like we were in someone’s (very large) dining room. Also, the food was amazing, but I’m sure you could have guessed that.
Toast
wedding reception
Mark is currently pursuing his doctoral degree in geology at the University of Missouri. Rebecca and Mark were able to incorporate his passion into the centerpieces with geodes they’d picked together in Iowa. How fun is that?? … My knowledge of geology is limited, so hopefully the last few sentences are technically correct.
StLouis Wedding 020 Rebecca + Mark | St. Louis wedding
Rebecca didn’t make it out of the cake-cutting unscathed.
cake
first dance
dance
danceThanks for a fun day, Rebecca and Mark!

Emily + Sathish | Jewel Box Wedding Photos

Jewel Box wedding
I’ve been fortunate enough to have many fun clients and wedding parties this year, but Emily and Sathish’s group was definitely one of the most fun groups I’ve had the pleasure of spending a day with. Maybe I’m biased because I usually don’t ride on the bus with the wedding party, but this was a lively group. I started the day with Emily and the bridesmaids at the Hilton Frontenac while the uber-talented Katy Corea photographed Sathish and his family.
Jewel Box wedding
Jewel Box wedding
The tears started early as Emily put on her dress at the hotel.
Jewel Box wedding
Jewel Box wedding
Jewel Box wedding
Jewel Box wedding
The ceremony was at the Jewel Box in Forest Park.
Jewel Box wedding
Jewel Box wedding
Such great faces!
Jewel Box wedding
Ditto.
Jewel Box wedding
0717 JewelBox 012 Emily + Sathish | Jewel Box Wedding Photos
Jewel Box wedding
Jewel Box wedding
Jewel Box wedding
Emily and Sathish are both University of Missouri alumi and started the party off right with the Mizzou fight song!
Jewel Box wedding
Jewel Box wedding
Jewel Box wedding
After shooting some wedding party photos outside the Jewel Box, we headed across the street for a few photos on Wash U.’s campus.
Jewel Box wedding
Jewel Box wedding
Jewel Box wedding
Jewel Box wedding
Emily and her bridesmaids dance to “Single Ladies” while cruising to the reception.
Jewel Box wedding
The reception was at the very elegant Le Chateau in Frontenac.
Jewel Box wedding
Jewel Box wedding
These two bridesmaids really wanted to catch the bouquet.
Jewel Box wedding
VICTORY!
Jewel Box wedding
Jewel Box wedding
Jewel Box wedding
Thanks for having me out, Emily and Sathish!

Nikki + Justin | engagement photos

While going through my take from Nikki and Justin’s engagement session, my first inclination was post the entire session in black and white. Their reserved and classically stylish clothing paired with the urban backdrop begged for a monochrome treatment. After preparing the session, I had second thoughts and decided to add in some color for variety and because I like the way the limited color pops. Enjoy and take some style notes along the way!

Engagement photos
Engagement photos
Engagement photos
Engagement photos
Engagement photos
Engagement photos
St. Louis Arch
Engagement photos
Engagement photos
Engagement photos
Engagement photos
0810 Engagement 012 Nikki + Justin | engagement photos
grass