I have been waiting...

SOOOO long for this! Not in the sense that shipping took a long time. But I've been waiting to actually get a chance to put together a guest book using a couple's engagement photos.

And I'm smitten. I love the idea of preserving your engagement photos. Sometimes people get them taken just to have something to publish in the newspaper announcement. But it's important to remember the two of you. Before the beautiful chaos of your future life together starts.

Whoever thought to combine that with a wedding guest book is a genius! And I was so excited to take a look at Ariell and Jared's for the first time, I took a photo of every. single. spread.

The font is a little hard to read in the photo from this angle. It says "The Funks - Ariell and Jared"

And they lived happily ever after! :-)

Mike and DeAnne: Engagement photos

Mike worked in Des Moines and had fun playing and hunting with his yellow lab, Tess. DeAnne spent her days studying vetrinarian medicine at Iowa State in Ames.


Life is unexpected. Just when you think you've got it figured out. It changes. And sometimes, it changes for the better.

A cross your fingers chance turned into a lifetime. After they met online, Mike and DeAnne realized they had mutual friends in common. They had just barely missed seeing each other on a couple different occasions. Fast forward to July and the two will be married in Dubuque, Iowa.



'Close calls' like this warm my heart. Ryan and I *almost* met several times before we were actually introduced.



I also love it when past clients come back. *Still working on a different word for client; I think I'm close.* Mike works for the Iowa Motor Truck Association. I photographed their Truck Driving Championships and their Management Conference. When Mike called asking about engagement photos - in the snow - I said yes please!



Considering they also wanted a few indoor shots, we brainstormed locations. Mike contacted the Tournament Club of Iowa in Polk City. The club house gorgeous. And the staff was so accomodating. I'll definitely keep that place in mind for the future!



And so, without any more delay... Mike and DeAnne. Enjoy!

Doesn't DeAnne look amazing! The girl is beautiful.

She claims she's notorious for smiling 'weird' in photos. I beg to differ.

Hello lovely white stuff...

And Tess. She's far too cute to leave out.

I think...

everyone should...

take photos....

SLEDDING!

Thanks Mike and DeAnne. I had a fantastic time!

Sneak peek: Mike and DeAnne

Ooh, am I excited to share these engagement photos. I've been waiting to do a session in the snow. So when Mike called, I pulled out the snow boots and Thinsulate. I'm not quite ready to share the whole session yet. Here's a little sneak peek to tide you over...

Amber and Dan: Engagements

Amber.


Dan.


Amber and Dan. It just fits. She's an artist and a dreamer. Seriously... when I met up with them for photos, she had an old 1950s television. Why? To retro-fit with a digital photo frame of course. She saw it in a magazine and thought it would be cool. That's all.


Dan, however, is a thinker. He doesn't say much; he's too busy listening. And doing. Amber dares Dan to reach beyond the clouds, and Dan keeps Amber from floating off the ground. They are... perfect. And I'm lucky enough to call them friends.


On March 5 these two will become the perfect team. We met for engagement photos at the Guthrie County Historical Village in Panora, Iowa this week. The place was a photographer's gold mine!

A little close up of the 'bling'...

Amber was wearing the cutest shoes! And I was super impressed with her ability to maneuver around the rocks along the river in them (photos later in the post).




I wish every town had an old train depot...

Amber is a teacher so the one room school house was a must visit on our photo excursion...

Hello beautiful silhouette!

After a quick trip to the general store we headed around the corner to the river access.

March 5th seems SO far away! With Amber's creative streak I can't wait to see what she's got in store for their wedding day. And I got their 'save the date' in the mail earlier this week - so I'll be sure to post photos. It gives a great hint at what to expect from their big day!

Ariell and Jared: Engagement photos

She's a little on the shy side. He's a little more outgoing. She is a listener, and he's a talker. And they just happen to be perfect for each other. Ariell will always listen to his stories. And Jared will always be there to help her find the right words... starting with "I do" next spring.


As per usual it seems - this couple is also very special to me. Once upon a time, several years ago, I used to babysit Ariell. That's right, I said babysit. Translation... I'm old.


Saturday we ventured out to take their engagement photos... on the second hottest day of the year. After catching a few on the golf course (visit my Facebook page for more photos) we headed east to the Mississippi. Many thanks to the Brady's for letting us shoot on their river side property.