This week’s I Heart Faces contest is titled “Sun Flare” and I simply love this image. I think my favorite element is how Cody’s eyes show his joy without even needing to see his entire face. He loves that girl!
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I was thrilled when Jake and Kayla contacted me about possibly photographing their June wedding! When I get excited….I tend to talk a mile a minute and use TONS of hand gestures and even a little bit of head bobbing. I had never met Kayla, but I’ve known Jake since he was probably in Junior High – long time. I walked away from our consultation thinking, “I either scared that girl to death, or she’s gonna love me!” I’m happy to report that she didn’t run for the hills and I’ll be blessed to photographer their June wedding at a little ranch outside of Junction City, KS.
The two of them go to school in Wichita, so they happily agreed to trek up to Kansas City for their engagement photos. When Kayla and I were chatting before heading out to start their session, she informed me that she had NEVER had professional photographs taken before! What?!?! Maybe I’m a little bias…but this girl is a natural in front of the camera! Jake didn’t do too bad himself.
For the record: Kayla insisted that Jake wait until after their session to cut his hair. She loves the ‘fro!!!
Seriously GORGEOUS!!!
Thanks, Jake and Kayla, for letting me into your life for an evening! I can’t wait for your big day!
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March 25, 2011 - 12:02 pm
Is that the tunnel at Crown Center? Love the way architechture works so well in the shot!
-Amanda
I’m so glad we decided to do our first ever model search!!! I LOVED reading everyone’s love story!!! Thank you so much for your entries. We had such a hard time choosing just one couple that we decided to choose THREE! Yes, three! So, let’s meet our couples and read just a snippet from the stories they shared with us…
Janessa and Luke
“Luke decided that he was going to take me to the Plaza lighting ceremony. We arrived there around four and went to Starbucks for awhile and just sat and talked. He wanted to leave and I did not want to. We finally left where he led me down to the fountain by the river. Apparently he was going to propose there but there was a homeless man there so we kept walking. At the second fountain we stopped, and he asked me if it was romantic. I said of course and he pulled out the ring and asked me to marry him. I said yes and we went back up to the lighting ceremony. This older couple asked if we wanted them to take our picture and we said yes. They did not know we were engaged, so we told them it just happened and they said congratulations and you two are young. They said that we should get on TV and we said no, we do not think so. After the ceremony was finished, they told KMBC news. The guy interviewed us and we were on the news that night and the next morning.”
Stephanie and Jason
“Jason and my dad used to work together. Jason was my dad’s boss as he was doing his internship here in our town. We have known each other for the past 4-5 years, and were just good friends. This past summer, we both realized that there could possibly be something more. We started going out for lunch together, then we went on an “official date” to eat dinner then to a car show to look at hundreds of cars. We’ve done so many fun things together between going and riding his tiny little motorcycles at a big bike rally in Arkansas to riding in a helicopter over Branson, MO, the adventures we’ve had have been amazing. We’ve spent many times going four-wheeling together at a location where he “first realized that I really was the girl for him” and took me back to this past January for another fun day and a surprise ending of engagement.”
Kaitlin and Niels
“The past year and a half has been very hard on my family. My father passed away suddenly on October 31, 2009 from a heart attack 2 weeks after his brother (my uncle) passed away from the same cause (…) Niels never got the chance to meet my father but on the day after christmas in a big blizzard I took him to the house and farm my father built to show him where I grew up. It was here, in the dark house with no heat or electricity in the middle of a blizzard he knelt down (ok, I am only 4’6″ and he is 6′ so this actually brings him eye level for once…) and asked if I would marry him. He told me he had to propose in this house, even though he had originally planned something else, because it was the only way he felt like he could ask my father if it was ok.”
Congrats guys and gals! I’ll be in touch soon to nail down the details for your session with us.
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First thing’s first: I DO NOT CONSIDER MYSELF AN EXPERT WHAT-SO-EVER! I haven’t mastered (or even learned) half of what I’d like, but I recognize I have a good amount of information I can pass on to others. I’ve had an overwhelming level of interest lately in mentoring in one capacity or another. I can’t tell you how surprised I am by this. Remember: OrangePeel has officially been around for less than a year!
I just want to get that out there for everyone. I don’t want to pretend or present myself as a seasoned vet of the photography industry, but there’s something that has prompted people to approach me for tips, pointers, business advice, etc.
Here’s a huge weakness of mine: saying “no”. Anyone else struggle with that? I have the hardest time setting limits and boundaries within my life. OrangePeel is no exception. I want to help. I want to cheer people on as they begin to succeed in their own businesses. I love seeing the excitement in people when they master something they’ve struggled with for hours, days, weeks, and even months! I LOVE IT! Here’s what I don’t love: missing movie night with Tyler, missing story time with my boys, letting them watch way too many cartoons while I work, letting the dishes and laundry pile up, missing out on opportunities to minister to others outside the photography community, and neglecting my personal health and well-being…all in the name of juggling a small business while helping others.
Tyler and I have spent quite a bit of time over the past couple weeks praying and thinking over how to move forward with pouring into the lives of others while having a better balance in our own. I can’t bring myself to simply stop giving. I also can’t continue to rob from my family to give to others. I know that sounds dramatic – but it’s true. That’s not to say I regret even a second of the time I’ve spent with some of you – certainly not!!! I count it a privilege that you’ve sought me out. It just means I need to change my method.
Here’s how it will work:
Same ol’ same ol’ – I will continue to answer emails and even Skype as time permits for free. Depending on the season, this could mean you won’t get a response for a week or more. You can be sure I will respond, it just won’t be as quickly as in the past.
New Mentoring – If you’re looking for a one-on-one experience, I am now offering a very straight-forward program (I haven’t come up with a cutesie name for it yet). The new program will run in 4-week increments. Each week you and I will set aside 1.5 hrs of Skype time (or face-to-face if you’re in the Kansas City area). You will also have immediate priority in my in-box (after clients, of course). The cost is $120. The best part of the whole thing…every dollar (minus PayPal fees) will go straight into a local charity or ministry. I won’t be keeping a cent. This will enable us to give back on two fronts: pouring into the photography community as well as funneling some extra cash into worthy causes. Sound good? Here’s the catch – I’m only accepting one mentee every 4 weeks. When I do something, I want to do it well. I want you to know that you have my attention for a full 4 weeks.
Well folks…there’s my heart on the matter. If you’re interested in signing up for the new program, shoot me an email at kami(at)orangepeelphoto(dot)com for more information.
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If you’d like to score yourself a complimentary engagement session read on…
Tyler and I really want to try out some new lighting techniques! One snag…our kids won’t stay still long enough. We’d also love to meet a newly engaged couple, so we’re gonna try to kill two birds with one stone here! We’re giving away an engagement session to one lucky couple!
The Goods: A full engagement session held within the KC Metro area. 20-40 artfully crafted images will be presented in an online gallery approx. 2 weeks after the session. You will also receive a DVD of the images in web-ready format along with 5 high resolution images of your choice with a print release. (Valued at $450+)
The Requirements: You must be an engaged couple with a wedding date in July 2011 or later. I also ask that you not be booked with another wedding photographer at the time of the session.
The How: Email me at kami(at)orangepeelphoto(dot)com with the following info:
- First and Last name of both you and your main squeeze
- Wedding Date
- Wedding Venue
- Your story – How you met and your engagement story (I love stories!).
- What makes you “you” as a couple? What sets you apart from other couples? What about your guy/gal tells you that he/she gets you?
- A picture of the two of you that really speaks to who you are as a couple.
The Fine Print: We’ll be taking applications until midnight March 11, 2011 (Friday). The lucky couple will be notified no later than March 14, 2011 (Monday).
Oooooo…I’m so excited to meet someone new!!!
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by kami
Becca - If this dosen’t say I love you, then I just don’t know what to say
This is a beautiful photo and you caught the emotion as well!
maris - Cute!