Photo Blog

Bohemian Engagement Party | St. Louis Engagement Photography

Ahhh, I’m sitting on our back patio enjoying summer, right now! Laptop open + latte in hand. (This laptop is a major thumbs up purchase and allows me to have a little creativity everywhere.) 🙂

Everyone who knows me, knows I love a good paaarrty. Make that an engagement party filled with lots of love, boho-inspired details with spectacular floral arrangements + paper goods – ahhh I was literally in a boho-induced-coma. This is what happens when your sister happens to be a talented wedding planner! Kate, with Kate & Company, planned only the best for her sister, Chrissy, + Jon. Chrissy is such a free spirit + creative – and I believe this Bohemian-inspired engagement party far exceeded her expectations!

Upon arrival, the lady guests were given a floral halo. Other guests sipped on classic cocktails, like The Garden Mule (“a fresh take on the Moscow Mule”) + were treated with yummy noshes catered by 23 City Blocks. The light rain throughout the day didn’t put a damper on these party people. Friends were able to celebrate with the couple while listening to an old-time string band called the Root Diggers, and if a Moscow Mule wasn’t your thing, there was always the hookah.

Enjoy a few of my faves!

xox

HSR

Event Design + Planning – Kate & Company

Floral – Festive Couture Floral

Paper Goods – Two Blue Doors

Band – Root Diggers

Catering – 23 City Blocks

Meghan + Ande | St. Louis Maternity Photography

One of my favorite things ever? A dear couple who names me their family photographer. 🙂 What’s even sweeter is that they wanted to do their maternity portraits in the exact spot we did their wedding portraits. The Botanical Gardens is a very special place for these two, including the place where Ande proposed. All of these images were shot in film, and I’m like a little girl at Christmas when those scans arrive.

Looking forward to meeting the little one this July! It’s a total surprise, so I’m going to say right now I think it’s a boy.

Enjoy!

xox

HSR

Kate + Nick | Saint Louis Art Museum

Happy Friday! That’s not something you normally want to say to someone who works the next day, but I have the weekend off, so I’ll take it! 🙂 I love giving myself a weekend break to refresh, unplug and get a massage. 🙂

The next two weddings I’m going to feature are both at the St. Louis Art Museum. What a beautiful venue! This was a first for me, so I found it kinda funny to be there twice in a row. (Ironically, both brides chose Jenny Yoo bridemaid’s dresses and the groom’s names rhyme. I’m weird.) The museum closes to the public at 5pm, and they allow vendors to come in around 4 to start set up. I don’t know what’s more fascinating to patrons – watching the wedding being set up or the actual art. 😉

Kate + Nick’s wedding images are all film! I’ve been having so much fun adding this medium into my work. It’s not something new to me, as college was my first opportunity to shoot and develop my own rolls. I love anticipating how the images will turn out! It also allows me to slow down and really only shoot images that are likely to be really beautiful.

Some will not be able to notice, but those with a creative eye will be able to discern the difference in color + skin tones that film images create. Shooting film does not change my style, and I don’t plan to alter my digital work to mimic a film image. When I first began shooting, I would shoot and shoot and shoot thinking I would need all these images, and that’s what makes a client happy. But over the years, quality over quantity has proven to be the best way to approach a wedding day or really any type of session. I start by working my standard poses to get a couple comfortable, and then really the rest is up to them. 🙂 I give them pointers + tips and let them naturally go with it. I think this is what attracts other couples to my work. My couples really are relaxed + having fun!

The beautiful color-rendering comes at a price – the film is a little pricey (and in somewhat short supply!) and film processing is expensive! But what’s really neat is that film images can now also be made into digital scans, which will definitely appeal to my clients!

Congratulation to Kate + Nick! These sweet two are on their honeymoon, and won’t they be so excited when they return! 😉

Enjoy!

xox

HSR

Vendors:

Ceremony – St. Francis Xavier College Church

Reception – Saint Louis Art Museum

Coordination – Kristin Ashley Events

Floral – Off The Wall

Makeup + Hair – DanielleStyle

Bridesmaids – Jenny Yoo

Music – Rosewood Ensemble

Lighting + DJ – Millennium Productions

Catering – Bon Appetit

Videography – Sweet Tea Media

Courtney + Michael | Missouri Botanical Gardens

This post has been saved for over a year and I’ve been dying to talk about sooooo many neat things in this wonderful garden wedding + the brilliance of this bride! I could not share any of the images because Martha loved this wedding! Yes, it was recently featured in the Spring issue of Martha Stewart Magazine! (In PRINT!) Needless to say, it was such an honor and we were all extremely excited for such a momentous occasion.

Courtney is a stationery designer in Chicago. She is extremely talented and it’s obvious with the love and amazing ideas she poured into the details of this wedding. It’s no wonder it caught Martha’s eye! Courtney has ties to St. Louis, having grown up here. When I met with Courtney + Michael, they were both so relaxed and low-key, and I was really excited that she was an artist herself… and that Michael – such a debonair trendsetter! It wasn’t until a few weeks before the wedding that they informed me they were planning on pitching this wedding to Martha. That’s when the pressure really turned on for me! Eeeek, can you imagine?! To be honest, I was extremely excited, but exxxxxtremely nervous. (Poor Ryan working with me that day!) But really, I do better under pressure and because I knew of every detail involved, well in advance, it made things a lot easier on me.

Styling is something I love doing and I think it’s one of my strongest skills I can incorporate into my photography. I’m super thankful for all that I learned about styling during my fashion industry stint in New York City. Styling + photographing the stationery suite for this wedding was such an honor + probably my favorite part. Well, the stationery along with the white J.Crew dinner jacket that Michael sported for the reception!!

If you haven’t already, check out the Martha feature here.

I’m gonna zip it and let the photos do the talking! … And we might just saber another bottle of bubbly tonight to celebrate (again). 😉

xox

HSR

Vendors –

Ceremony: Our Lady of Lourdes

Reception: Spink Pavilion, Missouri Botanical Gardens

Ceremony Music: Rosewood Ensemble

Event Coordination: Kate & Company

Gown: Modern Trousseau, Fleur De Lis Bridal Boutique

Shoes: Manolo Blahnik

Hair: Bonnie Boze

Make up: Makeup by SHE

Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale

Groom’s Tuxedo: Hugo Boss

Floral: Hello Darling

Bouquet Ribbon: Frou Frou Chic

Paper Goods: Courtney Callahan Paper

Calligraphy: Calligraphy by Cristine

Cake: Knodel’s Bakery

Rentals: Vintage Plate Rentals

Videography: Lovebird Studios, Here’s a link to the video!

Band: J-Rob

Mollie + Aaron | Cedar Creek Wedding

Nestled in New Haven, MO is a new wedding venue! It was the perfect setting for Mollie + Aaron’s refined wedding in the beautiful countryside. As I’ve mentioned in many recent posts, film is my latest adventure. This was my first wedding really managing a mix of both film + digital images, what other photographers like to call “hybrid photography.” So, I thought it would be neat to share my progress and love for this medium in Mollie + Aaron’s wedding post. 🙂

Some will not be able to notice, but those with a creative eye will be able to discern the difference in color + skin tones that film images create. Shooting film does not change my style, and I don’t plan to alter my digital work to mimic a film image. When I first began shooting, I would shoot and shoot and shoot thinking I would need all these images, and that’s what makes a client happy. But over the years, quality over quantity has proven to be the best way to approach a wedding day or really any type of session. I start by working my standard poses to get a couple comfortable, and then really the rest is up to them. I give them pointers + tips and let them naturally go with it. I think this is what attracts other couples to my work. My couples really are relaxed + having fun!

Enjoy!

xox

HSR