Engagement: Alayna and Chris September 27, 2008

Alayna and Chris have a love story that began during their high school years. Now, they’re almost finished with college — and ready to start their married life together. Their engagement photo shoot was at Circle S Ranch near Lawrence, and I am so excited about the country-themed, relaxed photos that we got — it reminds me of a simpler time, lazy summer days and young love.

The ranch has some awesome opportunities for unique backgrounds with textures, colors and a great middle-of-nowhere feel. I love this shot:

I love how vintage and timeless this photo is. I just love the joy in their faces!

And, finally, these next two are some of my favorites from their session and ever. It just doesn’t get much cooler than a tandem bike, a big red barn and two people in love!

I couldn’t decide which version I liked better, so you get both!

Chris and Alayna, thanks for choosing ericamay photography! I can’t wait to photograph your wedding and work at Circle S again! You’re great!

Engagement: Amber and Josh September 25, 2008

Amber and Josh are one of the many couples whose love story begins at the computer screen. A success story of www.match.com, these two really are a perfect match! They were so cute together and know how to have a lot of fun — something that really shines through in their photos.

Amber and Josh’s destination wedding is next April on the Turks and Caicos Islands. They’ll be celebrating their marriage in tropical paradise with their parents…then coming back for a big party with friends and extended family members! So, for their engagement shoot, we set out to capture an “island feel” in the middle of city in Kansas… How did we do? :)

These next two are what I like to call Banana Republic ad style photos… :)

A fun ring shot on the dock:

Amber and Josh — thanks for choosing ericamay photography for your mainland photos! :) I can’t wait to hear about your island paradise!

Family and friends, click here to sign in for the entire online album.

Engagement: Kelli and Tim September 14, 2008

The cheering fans. The packed stands. The peppy cheerleaders and enthusiastic mascot. The time ticking away on the scoreboard. The band playing the fight song. The squeak of shoe soles on the freshly polished floor.

The spark of two die-hard KU fans in love.

Kelli and Tim met at a KU basketball game several years ago. Since then, their relationship has grown and their love has deepened in a way that can beat all odds…but who’s keeping score? :) 

I met these two sports fanatics this afternoon for their engagement session, and I could tell right away how much they had in common, besides their love of all things related to KU athletics.

I always love it when we can personalize an engagement session to showcase personalities and the history in a relationship. I’ve never had a sports-themed one before, so this was a lot of fun (setting my K-State loyalties aside, of course!).

We also took some time at the park to capture some non-KU themed photos, and they did such a great job! Check out how great they look together (and Kelli’s super cute pink shoes)!

Kelli and Tim, thanks for choosing ericamay photography to capture your engagement photos! Have a great time planning your wedding and starting this new chapter together.

Engagement: Beth and Geoff September 9, 2008

Beth and Geoff met as high school seniors. A time when a million decisions, plans and ideas abound — and for these two, that time included the first spark of true love. They met through friends, continued their friendship and began dating before they went off to college…both chose K-State.

She is a classical singer. He is a graphic designer. Together, they are one talented, artistic (and cute!) couple.

They wanted to do their shoot in downtown Kansas City, and I of course obliged. The result? An artistic, creative, urban vibe. I love it!

Beth and Geoff totally “got it.” Check out their strike-a-pose awesomeness. I LOVE these two photos!

Don’t you agree they are just too adorable together? :)

I also adore this shot of Beth (and Geoff)…she just has beautiful eyes! Check out that stare!

I love these book-shaped stairs at the library parking garage downtown. Being the book nerd that I am, I can’t believe I’ve never done photos here before… :)

Beth has a really great and unique engagement ring. We wanted to do some creative shots that really showcase the colors and design — I think we succeeded! This first one is my most favorite ring shot ever right now. And the second…so classic, yet so modern.

Beth and Geoff, thanks for trusting me to capture your special moments…I can’t wait for your wedding next May!

Engagement: Meryl and Greg July 7, 2008

Greg and Meryl’s engagement photos were a lot of fun — these two really understood that their engagement photos weren’t all about being posed and stiff in front of the camera. They really just hung out together and let me snap away with my lens pointed in their direction as they were all cute and engaged. :)

I’m looking forward to their wedding and some more fun, true-to-life images that capture their love story!

The fountain on the Plaza in Kansas City where Greg proposed (and Meryl said yes!):

Engagement: Nick and Sarah June 27, 2008

Nick and Sarah are one of those couples that make you wonder how they didn’t know each other and start dating sooner! I have worked with Nick for the last seven years on the volunteer leadership team for Kansas Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY). We have spent a lot of quality time planning the summer seminars, and had one fun time flying to Washington, D.C., together for the World Leadership Congress and thoroughly enjoying the in-flight XM satellite radio. :)

I met Sarah just a few months after that trip, when I began my first year as a Resident Assistant at K-State and she worked at the front desk. We soon realized that she had gone through the HOBY program in high school, and when Sarah became an RA the next year in Moore Hall — where Nick was also an RA — the two obviously hit it off. :) Sarah is now a HOBY volunteer with us, so we all have this crazy leadership-related connection. Confusing enough?

So their love story really begins as RAs in Moore Hall on the K-State campus…which is, naturally, where we began their engagement photos.

First, with a ring shot with their K-State Housing and Dining Services on-duty badges. Next, a shot in front of the hall’s mailboxes (hint: click on the photos to get the big versions!):

Then we headed around campus for the rest of the session:

And, finally, back for a visit with their then brand-new puppy, Bella, the Shih-Tzu! Check out how tiny she is!

Thanks so much, Nick and Sarah, for letting me capturing this awesome stage in your relationship! I can’t wait for the January ’09 wedding! Family and friends, click here to register for the online album with ALL of the photos (including some sweet shots of little Bella!).

Engagement: Jessica and Seth May 6, 2008

This past weekend, we traveled to Springfield, Missouri, to visit Jeff’s family and take some engagement photos for Jessica and Seth, both good friends of Jeff’s. Their shoot was so much fun, in two parks and the downtown square in Springfield. The morning started out cold, windy and with thunderclouds overhead — thankfully, the clouds parted and revealed an absolutely gorgeous morning of shooting!

I’m really excited for Jessica and Seth’s park wedding at the end of June!

Only the coolest public library I’ve ever been to…connected to a coffee shop, with these cool little cushioned refuges for reading, drinking coffee — or taking engagement photos. :)

(click on the photo to enlarge the book title! too fun).

Jessica and Seth were great and willing to climb into any alley we suggested. :)

Engagement: Julie and Nicolas April 22, 2008

I was so excited this past weekend to photograph the engagement session of my good friends Nicolas and Julie. These two couldn’t be cuter together — and I am really happy for them, as they take this journey together. I can’t wait to be there as they become husband and wife this September!

I owe Nic most of my business success, for designing my current website and encouraging me to showcase my photography online. He’s an amazing friend, and has a really neat website of his creative drawings. Julie is a beautiful lady — inside and out, and is as graceful as a dancer as she is in her interactions with other people. Everyone should have a Nicolas and a Julie in their lives.

For their engagement photos, we trekked around the Crown Center area in Kansas City — on a morning that was supposed to be sunny and nice, but turned out to be a flashback to wintertime. They were troopers, though, and I don’t think you can see the goosebumps on Julie’s arms in the photos. :)

My job sure is easy when the people are wonderful, beautiful and creative…and these two certainly fit that description. A few highlights:

The entire album and online print ordering is available here: See more of Nic and Julie!

Engagement: Rachel and Jonathan April 16, 2008

A few weeks ago, I was able to capture a few photos of my good friend Rachel and her then brand-new fiancee Jonathan. We did their “official” engagement portraits last weekend, and I am so excited with how they turned out. I think we were really able to capture the fun, love and excitement these two have for each other. Here are a few photos from our evening photo shoot at the Plaza in Kansas City. To view the entire album, click here.

Engagement: Emily and Nate April 6, 2008

On Friday night I had the chance to see and hang out with my good friend Emily and her fiancee Nate. I have known Emily for several years, through our volunteer involvement with HOBY, a youth leadership organization for high school sophomores. Emily has been my right-hand woman for several years as we provide meals and take care of logistical details for a summer camp for sophomores learning about leadership, volunteerism, business, education, etc.

Anyway, it was so awesome to see Emily and her love, Nate. They are getting married in August and I’m really looking forward to capturing their wedding day. Here are a few photos from their engagement session at Sar-ko-par Trails Park. If you are family members or friends of Emily or Nate, the photo album is online and ready for viewing. Click here to view their online album.