Ashlie + Jess | Forest Park Visitor’s Center

It’s gonna be pretty easy to fall in love with everything about this wedding. The little hints of gold, the sweet little origami birds hanging above the alter and this very sweet couple! After a not-so-nice spring it was nice to have one of those Summer days that was juuuuuust right. At least I can’t remember it being that hot… because now I can only remember the really hot ones!

Ashlie + Jess were one of those couples, like many of our couples, who met in college at a fraternity party. They instantly started a friendship and dated several years before Jess proposed. It didn’t come as a surprise either, because Jess kept asking questions about the exact type of ring Ashlie wanted. 🙂 (My favorite part!) Let’s just say he wanted it perfect. And perfection is what he got – it’s just beautiful!

Something I want to point out because we really appreciate it. The couple added a little (but very important!) hint in the wedding program. And I quote: “Please do not take photographs. Our photographer will capture the entire evening so just relax and enjoy the celebration. Thank you for turning off your cell phones during the ceremony.” If only everyone would do this! We get it. It’s a really exciting time and we live in a social media era! I confess I’m one of those who likes to Instagram pretty much every moment I’m doing something (fun) or interesting. But from a photographers perspective, it’s really distracting and extremely difficult to capture a moment when someone is in our way. Most of the time, they don’t even realize they are harming our photo. And really, let’s be honest, a phone or point-n-shoot is not gonna capture what we can. 🙂 Thank you so much to Ashlie + Jess for asking your guests to enjoy themselves and hide their cameras! It definitely made our jobs easier.

Enjoy the photos!

xox

HSR

P.S. Shout out to the cute bridesmaid with those aaadorable pink glasses – will you tell me where you got those cute specs? Pretty please! I think I need a pair! 😉

 

Vendors:

Ceremony – Overland Baptist Church

String Quartet – Rosewood Ensemble

Reception – Forest Park Visitor’s Center

Catering – Catering St. Louis

Gown + Dresses – Town & Country Bridal Boutique

Floral – Bloomin’ Buckets

Cake – Sugaree Baking Company

Paper Goods – Morgan Hutcherson

Reception music – Dueling Pianos, Spanky Entertainment

 

Hayden + Mason 1st Birthday | St. Louis Baby Photography

I found two boys with a crush on me! Okay, so maybe the crush is the other way around. These two cuties, Hayden + Mason, are irresistible! I first started photographing these little tikes at 4 months old and here they are turning ONE! A quick cat nap in the car made for two happy boys! How neat are these faux-cupcakes Mom brought along to use for the shoot? I’m just not sure if they like the cupcakes or the rocks better. 🙂

Enjoy!

xox

HSR

Eden | St. Louis Senior Photography

Okay, so I’m a little emotionally attached to this one. Eden was just a little thing (just 2 years old!) when I first started baby-sitting her and little brother Garrison. Best job a girl could ask for in college! And now here she is all grown up! This year, Eden is a 2014 Senior in Springfield, MO. Every time I say it, I can hardly believe it myself. That just means one thing – I’m.old. (!)

So this shoot was pretty darn easy. Eden is unbelievably darling and has the sweetest demeanor. The girl can take some photos! She fell in love with the locations at the Wash U campus and Forest Park. Eden is an artist, and I like to believe she got those abilities from me. 😉 She has an exciting life ahead of her, and I’m beyond excited for the opportunities that are going to cross her path. Now, if I can just talk her into moving to St. Louis!

The day started with hair by Meggan with Pixies Hair Design and make up by Nicole with NB Artistry. Two talented ladies I can always count on. The day was super gloomy, but since Eden and her Mom made the trek we were shooting no matter what. It only started to rain when Eden, who has been in dance and gymnastics since she was little, decided to do a few ballet moves. The girl didn’t even stretch before she was 3 ft off the ground! I was hiding under a tree, since it was pouring rain, yelling GO! over and over. 😉  Eden – I hope I got the perfect shot. I certainly don’t know good form, but girl, I wish I could do that! I do know amazing when I see it.

I LOVE doing Senior sessions, especially for girls with an eye for fashion and the arts. If you know someone fantastic that fits the bill, please send them my way.

Enjoy the photos!

xox

HSR

Jessica + Ryan | Overlook Farm Wedding Photography

Happy Friday! What an added bonus – a 3 day weekend! I almost didn’t even realize it was a holiday weekend! 🙂

Have you ever been to Overlook Farm in Clarksville, MO? If not, it’s a must-go for a little romantic bed + breakfast getaway! Ryan and I took his parents there to celebrate their 45th Wedding Anniversary recently. We first experienced some great times on the farm at Jessica + Ryan’s Ralph Lauren-esq wedding! I love everything about this special day, Jessica’s layered lace dress, the colorful flowers!, (location, location, location), the farm-to-table food, and of course, the groom. He definitely wins for best-dressed –  one of my absolute favorite looks. 🙂

So maybe the day didn’t go quite as planned, but oh well! That beautiful sunny day we started with ended quickly with a down pour right before the ceremony. White chairs all in place and lemonade ready to quench the thirst of warm + toasty guests – unfortunately it all got moved inside. 🙁 One thing I liked about Overlook is that they waited to make the final call, only after consulting with the couple, just 15 minutes before the ceremony!! With a quick change they turned the inside of Avalon Hall to hold the ceremony. (The same place where the king’s tables were lined up for the reception dinner.) Crazy to think they were standing in front of a lit fireplace in late June to say their vows! Unheard of! But of course, with the ceremony underway, the sky began to clear and that sunshine started all over again to give the guests the opportunity to have cocktail hour outside taking in the views and celebrating with the happy couple after the ceremony.

We had more than a ball on this day! Thank you Jessica + Ryan for sharing this wonderful place with us. 🙂

Enjoy the photos + your weekend!

xox

HSR

Vendors:

Venue – Overlook Farm, Clarksville, MO

Gown – Wedding Gallery Couture

Headband – KM2 Shoes + Accessories

Flowers – Peacock Blooms

Suit – Nordstrom

Rings – Lordos Diamonds

DJ – Millennium Productions

Make up – Kim Stuart

 

Sara + Will | St. Louis Engagement Photography

Is the weekend here yet?! I’ve been editing up a storm lately, and I think I’m beginning to develop “editing elbow.”  (It’s sort of like tennis elbow, but for photographers.) 😉

Say hello to these two sweeties! It was so nice to head back to Faust Park with Sara + Will for their engagement session. The evening couldn’t have been more perfect for this adorable couple.

Enjoy!

xox

HSR

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