The Head Grandkids

Lots and lots of photos is one of the many things I have brought to my in-laws. Over the past five years SJ and I have been married I have taken tons of photos at our family gatherings. Well a few years ago I started taking portraits of my nieces and nephews for my sister-in-law, Kristen. Taking the kids portraits has actually become a tradition and some thing I look forward to whenever we go back to SJ's parent's home in Arkansas. This year the kids picked out the outfits and told us that they were going wear camouflage for their photos. They also decided that they wanted Ella in a couple of the shots so the Bickers kids gave Ella a camouflage shirt for her birthday back in October.

These shots are so fun to edit. It is a miracle to get seven kids to look remotely close to the camera when you are taking their pictures. However, after 373 frames and a lot of goofy sounds from Papaw and Grandmommy the kids photographed amazingly. All seven of the Head grandkids are beautiful and handsome creations! Here are some of the shots from our session. Hope you enjoy!


Papaw and all his grandkids.





The Bickers family.

FYI... If you look at the top of the blog at the header graphic, over on the right hand-side, you will see last year's portrait of the Bickers children.

Mr. and Mrs. Kraker

Last Saturday Kellie and I shot a wedding in Decatur, IL. Rob and Michelle's wedding was very beautiful and well thought out in all the details. The couple left the wedding and everyone sent them off with sparklers. One of the other neat details of this wedding was that the bride and groom invited up on stage every person in attendance for a group photo. If you where invited to this wedding and decided not to come for some reason, well this bride and groom will have record that you skipped out.

Rob and Michelle thank you so much for allowing Kellie and I to be apart of your day! Here are some photos from the day.

The guys before the wedding:






The wedding:







The Reception:






Kellie has some pictures up on her blog, too! You can view them here! Thanks again for letting us be a part of your day!

Mr. and Mrs. Westra

Last Saturday Jay and Lori were married and I was able to help Kellie Penn (Across the Miles Photography) cover the wedding. The day started at Sunset Hills Country Club in Edwardsville, Illinois, were both the guys and ladies got ready for the big day. Jay and Lori decided that they wanted to see each other before the wedding and we were able to capture the special moment when Jay saw his bride Lori for the first time. It was a beautiful moment when Jay laid eyes on Lori in her wedding dress. The whole day was amazing and beautiful. It was an amazing display of God grace and sovereign hand in all details of life!

Here are a few of my favorite photos from the day:



At every wedding the groomsmen always try to pull some practical joke on the groom to "encourage" or embarrass him before the wedding. Well Jay's groomsmen decided to write on his chest with Sharpe markers. The picture below captures Jay's soon to be father-in-law's message.




The guys decided to play a little blackjack before the wedding.



This picture was taken right after Jay and Lori saw each other for the first time on their big day.










Thanks Jay and Lori for letting Kellie and I capture your day!

There are a few more photos up on Kellie's blog if you'd like to peek!
Click Here

The McGill Family

Last Friday morning Sarah Jane, my wife & trusty assistant, and I drove over to Historic St. Charles, Missouri to meet our long time friends Joe and Kelli McGill. Kelli and I have been friends since we where two years old. We went to school and church together all the way through high school. Over the years we have watched out for each other and helped one another through incredibly hard times of life. We have also been able to celebrate life together through out the years. While we were in our early college years Joe and I were band mates and became great friends as well. My friendship with both Joe and Kelli became the link that brought the two of them together. They start dating and eventually got married. I was able to be in their wedding and both Joe and Kelli were in Sarah Jane and I's wedding.

As you can see our lives run deep together. So when Kelli called me and ask me to shoot a family portrait I jumped on the opportunity. The McGill family is absolutely irreplaceable to me and my family. Our daughters, Elle and Ella, get to grow up together and hopefully they will have just as special relationship with each other as we do as parents.

The family session turned out so great I couldn't settle on just a few photos, so I gave you my top ten from this session. Enjoy!

The Family:






Little Elle:




Joe & Kelli:



To see more photos of the day and read funny things that little Elle does go read Kelli's blog. - click here

Mr. and Mrs. Parker

Back in September I had the privilege to work with Kellie Penn of Across the Miles Photography. Kellie is a portrait/wedding photographer from Decatur, IL. Kellie also happens to be my cousin and during our family 4th of July celebration we talked about our businesses and she asked me to be a second shooter for her.

The Parker wedding last month was the first time we got to work together. Kellie ask me to cover the tiny details and all of the groom and groomsmen shots. We had a blast working our first wedding together and will be working more together. Here are images from the Parker wedding.


A kiss for his baby granddaughter.



If you look close you can see the groomsmen in Ryan's glasses.






Grandma must have a picture of the bride throwing her bouquet.