Overland Park Engagement Photos: Robin and Chris September 2, 2009

I have the best clients. Seriously. I have the sweetest, smartest, prettiest clients in the whole world. :) I am so blessed to do what I do. If I don’t say that enough on here, shame on me. :) I love that my job means hanging out with some of the best people and getting to be  the person who captures memories for them. 

Robin and Chris are two people who I met and instantly liked. You just can’t help it. They’re great people, and their engagement session was really fun! They just bought a house, and wanted to take their photos in their new neighborhood area and in their backyard. I’m always up for personal touches and things that really have meaning for a couple, so of course I thought that was a great idea. :)

Here are a few of my favorites from their session.

I love when girls wear dresses for their engagement photos. :)

Robin and Chris were naturals in front of the camera — so photogenic and comfortable! If I didn’t know that they’re very busy people, I would think that they had been practicing… :)

After we visited the neighborhood pond, we went back to their house for relaxed photos in the backyard with their dog, Nellie. Chris has had Nellie for about 5 years, and she’s the sweetest dog. While they were changing into their second outfit, I had Nellie warm up for her portion of the photo shoot. She’s a golden retriever/hound mix… isn’t she beautiful?

Then it was out to the backyard!

I love this one. I think every couple should have a photo like this that lets them just feel the joy of being together. :)

And this one makes me feel all cozy! :)

I saved my favorites for last. These might be some of my all-time favorite engagement photos. Chris mentioned that they like to spend a lot of time relaxing in their hammock in the backyard, and that they’d love to have some casual photos like that. Um, yes! Count me in! :)

Robin and Chris, thanks for an awesome engagement session. Give Nellie a hug for me, and let me know if you try that chicken kabob recipe. :) I am so excited for your wedding next May! Congratulations!

Kansas City Engagement Session: Michael and Sara at Union Station and Crown Center July 7, 2009

Nine years ago. Okay, almost nine years ago. It was then that Michael and Sara started their love story. And today, nine years later, I have the extreme privilege of capturing their engagement and upcoming wedding this fall.

I met Michael through HOBY, which by now I’m sure you’ve all heard of if you’ve been reading this blog for very long. Michael joined our volunteer team and brought along his infectious smile and willing attitude. Everybody loves Michael. They have to. He’s just that kind of guy.

But nobody loves Michael the way Sara does. It was awesome to see the two of them interact together during their photo shoot. They have history. The kind of history that makes two people completely comfortable around one another, and the kind that allows them to be silly and have fun and share little moments together, even in front of my camera lens. 

I am so excited to share these photos with you, from our engagement session tonight in the Union Station/Crown Center area of downtown Kansas City.

Seriously… these two are cute! :)

I love the patterns that Union Station’s architecture creates:

I love summertime engagement sessions! The light is always so warm and beautiful.

Okay, I couldn’t resist posting this one — they’re so cute it’s killing me… :)

I asked Sara to take off her shoes for this one, so she’s be shorter. I wasn’t planning on doing a full-length shot… but I like it too much! :)

I love the steps that lead up to Liberty Memorial across the street.

As we were walking to the fountains at Union Station, I noticed these awesome patterns reflected onto the wall by one of the taller buildings downtown — they look like huge flowers to me. Of course, we stopped for a few photos. I love this!

The fountains are super fun. It’s a great place for kids to play in the summer, and a neat stop for engagement photos. :)

And the picnic tables are really cute with their bright colors. I also love the expression on Sara’s face in this one:

Michael and Sara, Jeff and I are so excited to photograph your wedding in October. You have no idea! :)

You can make a difference… and I can give you great portraits! :) May 12, 2009

I am so excited to share with you an amazing opportunity to not only get some great portraits, but to make a real difference. If you’ve been following this blog for very long at all, you’ll remember that I volunteer every year with an organization called Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) — a non-profit organization that hosts youth leadership camps at local sites, which are all planned and executed by volunteers.

I went through the HOBY program as a high school sophomore, and I can honestly say that it changed my life. I know that sounds completely cliche and  a little bit silly, but it did. I explored new topics like entrepreneurship (and look what I’m doing today!), met amazing people (you know, like my husband!), discovered my passion for volunteerism, and really discovered who I was as a leader. I have since returned every year to volunteer on the staff… and now I’m the Program Director, which basically means I plan the schedule of the four-day seminar and recruit speakers who will undoubtedly change other lives.

HOBY‘s mission is to empower young leaders and teach them how to think, not what to think. The entire local seminar (serving 125 sophomores from across the state of Kansas) is about exploring different and important topics, asking questions and interacting with leaders in fields like education, the media, volunteerism, business, medicine, etc. It’s an experience that puts a big emphasis on leadership through service.Since HOBY is a non-profit organization and is run by volunteers on the local level, there’s quite a bit of fundraising and behind-the-scenes tasks that our staff at HOBY Kansas works hard on all year long. I am so blessed to be a part of the team of people who dedicate so much time, effort, energy, resources and heart to HOBY year after year. So, in order to help give back to an organization that has given so much to me (besides letting me meet my super sweet husband!), I’ve decided to offer you all an awesome opportunity to be a part of something great.

Today through June 7th, every single portrait session that takes place will be discounted to $150.00 — as long as your check is made out to Kansas HOBY! That’s right… you will not only save money, but send some directly to support a great cause. How does that sound? :) Each portrait session will include a one-hour shoot at an outdoor location, an online gallery of images and a disc of your edited, high-resolution digital files! Seriously, it doesn’t get any better than this.

Time slots will fill up fast and your session has to take place before June 7th (the HOBY seminar is the next week). I will mainly be doing these sessions in the Kansas City area, although I should have a few Wichita area appointments available as well! To reserve your session, just send me an email: me[at]ericamay[dot]com.

And, because this is a photography blog… here are a few photos from different types of portrait sessions that qualify for this opportunity!

Children and families (perfect for a Father’s Day gift):

Engagements, anniversaries, or “just because” photos of couples:

Seniors, headshots or individual portraits (because everyone deserves great photos of themselves!):

Babies and newborns:

Pets! With a family or without… I love pets. :)

Don’t delay — you can make a difference today (and get some sweet portraits out of the deal!). Contact me via e-mail: me[at]ericamay[dot]com to schedule your appointment early. Remember, all sessions have to take place before June 5th (just in time for Father’s Day!).

How can we make a difference together? This is one way. :)