Baby K and Family

Welcome, Baby K! We are so happy you are here! I'll start with a congratulations to our dear friends who have welcomed this sweet little one to their super-awesome family. 

I'll also take this chance to introduce Casey (the super mom pictured here) to any future 2016 brides who have come along to check us out. Casey is a dear friend who is also an excellent photographer, and she is my second shooter for most weddings in and around St. Louis. As you can see, she's got a thing for kids, so rascally ring-bearers and flower girls are charmed by her! 

Also, for the third time, Casey and I have managed to keep our maternity leave for weddings on time with one another as we add our third sons to our families.  We've been quiet around here for a while this year as we have been preparing for our new son to join us through adoption from Ghana. In the coming weeks, I'll have information regarding when we'll be open again and what you can expect from Purple Lemon Photography in the coming weeks and months!

E turns 2!

One of my favorite things about photographing portraits is when the photographs can hold artistic merit on their own, but hold deeper sentiment to the family for whom I photograph.  I have photographed this family many times over the last handful of years, and when Jen asked me to come out to her parent's home to photograph E for his 2nd birthday, I knew I was in for a treat.  Not only does their log cabin home hold visual character, but I was able to watch E engage in his current home which was the same place where his mom spent her childhood.

 How special to imagine Jen and her siblings looking through the same windows, 

swinging on the same swings,

rocking in the same rocker,

tiny fingers learning how to open the same doors.

I hope these photos are as strong of a gift for their family as they were for me to create.

Red Thread Sessions

I know it has been quiet around here for a while, as we've been winding down for my maternity leave with our son Silas.

A few months ago, I learned about the organization called Red Thread Sessions.  It is an organization that brings together adoptive families with volunteer photographers.  Photographers donate their time and imagery to adoptive families at their birth, homecoming, or in a portrait session soon after the family has come together.

As a photographer myself, I was really interested in the organization, and have recently been accepted as a photographer on their list.  I hope that some day I am asked by a family to photograph for them.

We're in the midst of acquiring our own photographer for Silas' homecoming, and look forward to having photos from that special first meeting with Elisha, Levi, and our parents.

Beth + De'Angelo: Wedding Day

A few months ago, I had one of the best experiences on a session (perhaps) ever. I really enjoyed the thrill of catching the sunrise over a foggy, small lake with Beth and De'Angelo to celebrate their new engagement.

And now, a few short months later, they are married and it is my pleasure to continue to share more amazing photographs of these two dear friends of mine.  Unbeknownst to me when I photographed their woodsy-styled engagement session, that their wedding was also of the same style, complete with pinecones, wood of all kinds, and even amazing wedding invitations that looked like and felt like a piece of tree-bark. Can't beat that.

Even though the wedding had a simple, natural aesthetic, these two have their own classy, Hollywood appeal, so I aimed to mix these two concepts in my shooting. Enjoy!

This next photo makes the "blog cut" only because Beth was so cute. I was taking photos of her eyes while she was getting her makeup done, and she said, "Can I smile? When I see Nikki, I just want to look at you and smile!"

 

 Rings made of wood! How unique!

 I think someone might be excited to be married. :)

Allissa + Andy: Winter Wedding

Just a few days shy of Christmas, Andy and Allissa married on a chilly December day.  In a culture with so many details that can make a wedding feel a little over-the-top, this simple wedding was one of great elegance, class, and tenderness.  I told them as I arrived that I shed a tear on the way as I realized how similar their wedding day would be to my own parents and how thankful I am that I had just celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary that very week.

This expression on Andy's face is when I asked him if he was excited to be marrying Allissa. He unabashedly grinned and simply said, "Yes!"

 These eyes make me think Allissa stepped right out of Anastasia (one of my favorite movies- I even copied her dress to wear to homecoming in high school).

 A sweet first look in the prayer garden at their church.