Chaza + Joe: Drop Dead Gorgeous

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Chaza and Joe's wedding touched my heart in a number of ways. Their wedding was a cross-cultural celebration that just made you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Chaza was drop dead gorgeous, and photographing the two of them was pure joy. :)

See what I mean!? Are they glam, or what? I {heart} her dress!

Old skool classic!

Seriously, just when you thought it couldn't get any better....

Her jewelry was fit for a queen!

Chaza and her family are from Syria... thus, their wedding programs featured both English and Arabic... (which I think is one of the most beautifully written languages... and hope to someday have the opportunity to study). How gorgeous is this?

This was the moment Chaza arrived at the church. She was breath taking!

She and Joe didn't see each other before the ceremony, and she arrived only moments before it started, so we had to sneak in these portraits of Chaza quickly. Everything went so smoothly... it was a breeze. :)

Their reception was at the Wick Alumni Center... they did an incredible job with decorations.

One of my favorite things about many of the Middle Eastern cultures is the music and dance. When it came time for the father/daughter dance, Chaza and her father put on quite the show! The joy in their faces is captivating....

What a treat! Thanks so much for letting me capture your beautiful day. I wish you both a lifetime filled with love, health, and happiness!

Merki Mayhem

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Merki came home the other day after a pretty bad accident... not entirely sure what happened, but she's been in the vet hospital since Wednesday. We went to visit her this morning.... poor baby. Multiple skull fractures and a broken jaw (top & bottom).

We love you Merki! Get well soon... we miss our little stinker.

Phone Tag

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If you've been trying to get ahold of me lately... it's admittedly been challenging. Today, I'm actually around, without my camera glued to my face.... so if you call, I'll most likely answer! (Unless I'm in the restroom, or on the other line... in which case, I'll call you back right away!) :)

Lindsey + Matt: Picture Perfect!

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On my way home from Denver, I hopped over to Kearney to photograph Lindsey & Matt's wedding. Matt's sister was an '08 senior, and over the past year, I've photographed several of their cousins and friends... and truly feel like one of the family! :) It was great to see them all again! They originally asked me to photograph their wedding quite a long time ago, but I was previously booked for their day. Strangely enough, the couple that had booked me for that date decided to call off their wedding, and I was again available to capture their day. Phew! :)

The neckline on Lindsey's dress was absolutely beautiful... this necklace complimented it perfectly.

After seeing each other, we headed out to create some fab portraits. Since Matt & Lindsey are honeymooning in Mexico, I thought this locale was perfect! (Yes folks, this was shot in KEARNEY!)

I love the arch...

Another great thing about the above locale, as well as this one with the green wall.... is that they coordinated perfectly with Lindsey's wedding colors and bouquet! When opportunity knocks, you've got to jump on it!

See what I mean? Isn't that bouquet gorgeous? It was so lucious!

I love the woodsy graininess of this one...

Nostalgic. I {heart} this shot!

A little main street (Central Ave.) action...

I love this 'over the shoulder' shot of the ceremony...

Emir was with me for this wedding, as I hitched a ride back from Denver with a friend, and was car-less in Kearney. He picked me up and it was great to have him along. Here he is shooting with my ol' Fuji S2. He was rockin' the fish-eye for most the day...

This park was gorgeous!

Love the rings. :)

Time to head to the reception!

Some serious lens flare... I LOVE it! Doesn't it add a heaping helping of drama and glamour? :)

I love the expression on Lindsey's face in this photo... it captures the joy of the moment perfectly.

I'm so happy it all worked out and I got document your big day. Wishing you a lifetime of wedded bliss and happiness!

Happy Feet!

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This past week, I got to relive another one of my heart's passions.... dancing and performing. I've been in Denver helping Up With People (they were just in Lincoln in February.... remember?) showcase the entertainment they offer for corporate conventions, and other special events.

Here's a little video clip with some random moments from the show (featuring yours truly! I'm in the black/white/red floral patterned top... and later... a green one for the finale....)

A few more fun shots....

Yes, we strike our own equipment.... work those muscles!

This was the gypsy dance that I performed 10 years ago while on tour.... It is ridiculously fun!

This is Lamar. When I toured, he was our dance captain. The man is INCREDIBLE. Currently, when he's not in Denver helping with this production, he's dancing on cruise ships around the world. Amazing. It was so great to see him again!

The gypsy dance is wild.... lots of crazy skirt twirling!

Very colorful!

Up With People is truly an amazing organization. If you're between the ages of 17-29, enjoy pouring your heart into everything you do, and want to go out and see the world (and interact with it!) you really should check 'em out. I toured between high school and college, and it was truly one of the most incredible experiences of my life. If you're interested, and have questions, I'm happy to talk with you!

Kjerstin + Joel: A Trip Down the Aisle

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You may remember Kjerstin and Joel's engagement shoot last winter. Their big day finally came... and everything was... perfection. See for yourself!

Kjerstin was a beautiful bride...

and Joel was a stylin' groom... check out the Chucks!

Love this.

Check out the groomsmen....

It's always fun to shoot downtown.... here they are in their brand-new get-away-car!

The reception was at the Wick Alumni Center, which is always a joy to shoot because it's beautiful and the windows let the most gorgeous light pour in....

Plus, there's an awesome balcony which lets me score shots like this...

and this.... :)

Congratulations to you both. Thank you so much for including me in your day. It was so fun to see you again! Safe travels back to Cali.... and best wishes for a forever filled with love and happiness.

In a Pickle!

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About a month ago, I posted about my Jessica Simpson moment where I learned, much to my surprise, that pickles don't grow on a plant somewhere, but instead, are actually.... cucumbers in disguise.

Recently, I came home to find this on my doorstep. Someone (a mystery pickle farmer perhaps?) surprised me with this lovely 'pickle plant.' No note. No explanation. Just this plant, with 'pickles' growing on it. Touché.

Here's Emka performing her inspector duties....

To the mystery pickle farmer.... very clever. You made my day. :) PS: Where in the world did you find pickle ornaments?