Brian and Kelly and their families are people I could hang out with any time. They were wonderful and I really had a blast getting to know them all! Brian and Kelly’s day was enchanting and lovely. The weather was perfect and the day unfolded like a dream. I hope you love the photos, you guys.

After our preparations and the Reveal, and before heading off to the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, we traversed off in a KC Trolley to a hot, hot day for portraits at a local park and then downtown Kansas City, near Crown Center. We even managed to squeeze in a bunch of the family photos down there, too. Woohoo!

The ceremony at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception was gorgeous. The setting sun coming through the huge stained glass windows just takes your breath away. By far, it is one of the prettiest churches in Kansas City. Truly stunning. Brian and Kelly were fortunate enough to have their hometown priest come and reside over the ceremony. He was a great guy who ended up hanging out with us all evening…you’ll see him tearing up the dance floor a bit later, doing the twist.

The Madrid Theatre is a jewel in KC. I have never had the privilege of shooting there and I was very pleased with the space. I highly recommend it for other brides looking for a vintage, glamorous space with lots of room and a great staff.

Yes, I braved traffic on Main street to grab this shot. It was kind of fun getting all the parents and the bridal party together for this one. They were having a ball…I hope. LOL.

Recently, I shared a set of images from Keith & Kayla’s amazing wedding day … Well, I was stoked to have the opportunity to shoot a relaxed and very sexy fun Anti-Bridal session with them just last week. Keith had just had KNEE SURGERY  days before the shoot and still opted to go out and troop around hiking in a suit without wincing or complaining…he is just that incredible of a real hoss of a man. Not Hasselhoff … Hoss, like on Bonanza. Come on, people.

Anyway, we got a ton of fun photos! Keith & Kayla are GORGEOUS (Keith, you’re okay, but your new bride makes up for any looks you lack, am I right dude?) impossible to take bad photos of. Although we got a LOT of great portraits and fun story of the day, I was trying to get a few artsy shots on this session. What do you think?

Kelley Fantasma did Kayla’s hair & make-up and then joined me on our little excursion to a nearby state conservation reserve. Check out Kelley’s new blog. Also, my wife and two precious daughters also joined us and the lil’ girls actually proved to be excellent human light stands. Ha!

Keith and Kayla are two of the happiest people I know! Me thinks God made them specifically to be together … which becomes entirely evident when you are around them for twenty seconds. They are made for each other.

I have been blessed to have known Kayla and her family for many years. Greg, her daddy, who was the officiant at her wedding, was also the officiant to my two sisters’ weddings!

This day, seeing all the familiar faces from a lot of different avenues in my life, was like a family reunion of sorts and the celebration for this dynamic duo was truly a BLAST! Although the day was prolonged in certain areas and portrait time was cut short and it rained and was blistery cold, we still had fun and managed to snap one or two good photos. The day was full of crying, laughing, hugging, dancing, praying, singing, eating … passing out … nothing was left out. I hope you enjoy the selection of photos I was able to shoot and share here.

Please comment and let me know what ones you like the best!!

Jason and Megan may have decided to get hitched on a chilly day, but hearts and smiles were warm. They are two wonderful people who love God and each other just as much.

We kicked off the day getting ready at the Sheraton on the Plaza. We traveled to a stop for a beautiful Reveal and some very quick and super cold portraits, then were on our way to Jacob’s Well for the ceremony. Following a beautiful ceremony where Jason’s dad officiated and Jason sang and played a surprise song for his new bride, we headed to Brio on the Plaza for the rocking reception with phenomenal food and fun.

There is something else a bit unique to this … Jason is a designer at Church of the Resurrection (COR). That tugs at my own heart as I was a designer at First Baptist Raytown for several years and that is where I got my start with Five Loaves, and my re-introduction to photography, leading to what I do now. Kinda cool.

This is a quick ‘sneak peak’ at a handful of favorites from their day.

After a trying journey to the most southern point of the United States, three and a half hours from Miami, I arrived in Key West. That is a story unto it’s own.

Anyway, after a few hours of sleep, I was ready to get started. The first day included a “booze cruise” (essentially a huge sunset catamaran tour with nearly every wedding guest) then later we headed to Duval Street and Sloppy Joe’s for dancing, drinking and good times of celebration. Here is a quick, teensy, tiny preview to hold you off until later this week…

Which is your favorite? Do you have any suggestions or ideas for me? Would you want this at your wedding?

Which is your favorite? Do you have any suggestions or ideas for me? Would you want this at your wedding?

Be sure to visit these Photographers’ blogs to see more from this collaboration of 6 photographers at one wedding, including some really cool video and amazing photo style.

LemonLime Photography (Eric Linebarger & Neal Troester)
Domingues Photography (Jason & Allison Domingues)
PhotoMementos (Marco & Jan Simonelli)

Strings filled the air…

Laughter with tears of joy filled the hearts…

A speechless groom glimpses his bride-to-be…

Hands were held and emotions arose…

Joy was brought forth…

Compassionate and quiet moments in the small Danforth chapel…

The love and bond of sisters united…

The Eldridge, filled with warm wishes…

And a small preview of what is to come tomorrow…Can you guess?

Be sure to visit these Photographers’ blogs to see more, including some really cool video and amazing photo style.

LemonLime Photography (Eric Linebarger & Neal Troester)
Domingues Photography (Jason & Allison Domingues)
PhotoMementos (Marco & Jan Simonelli)

Last fall, a unique opportunity presented itself when Megen and Matt contacted LemonLime Photography for what was supposed to be a typical client interview. The newly engaged couple came to LemonLime with an open mind. Neal & Eric with LemonLime saw an amazing opportunity before them …an opportunity to both participate in a random act of kindness, and to allow unrestricted creative thought by multiple photographers as a learning experience for everyone involved. We are humbled that Megen and Matt gave us full creative freedom.

The Photographers

LemonLime Photography (Eric Linebarger & Neal Troester)
Domingues Photography (Jason & Allison Domingues)
PhotoMementos (Marco & Jan Simonelli)
Steller Photography (Dustin Steller)

Over the course of the last few months these four studios have selflessly worked together to create a plan for the day that would allow each photographer the freedom to explore their ideas and focus on a specific portion of the wedding day while maintaining a photojournalistic flow that documented the day.

In addition, we took it one step further and contacted a local florist and cake designer to see if they too would like to take part, and with Megen and Matt’s blessing they joined forces with us to contribute their time and talents for this unique opportunity.

Florist – Ornamental Petal (Bridget Kelly)
Cake – Cakes by Joe (Joe Schutz)

Over the next week and a half all four studios will display their contributions to this project. We hope this project shows the power of teamwork within our industry, compels you to find new ways to challenge yourself, and inspires you to make a difference in someone’s life. A special thank you to everyone who gave selfless of themselves to make this project come together.

Three more posts will follow over the next week with the rest of my contribution to the project. Check out the other photographers above for their individual contributions.

Today, two abstracts.

The brilliant moon that night. Hand-held shot on a 200mm.

Jake and Ashley’s day was awesome! It was a wonderful, windy day in Independence that kicked off at the Hilton Garden Inn. The whole crew was there getting ready for the day and soon we were rolling out the door and into the stretch Hummer to head off for photos and the ceremony and reception at The Rhapsody off 23rd street in Independence, MO. I always love shooting pretty couples and these two were smoking hot!

I had very special help from Katie Mae, whom I know from her Flickr. Check out her views of the day on her blog. Thank you, Katie (and her awesome husband, Evan)!!

You all just have to let Ashley and Jake know how you feel about their photos and their day. Leave a comment with some love for them, you all.

I loved this look. So pretty.

Looooong Hummer.

Look at that pretty group! Rock on!

Wow….WOW!

Isn’t she so pretty?

One of my favs from the day. It was nearly dark when we shot this, but I got lucky.

I did another version of this one that I will surprise you all with later.

This was my absolute favorite from the day.

Happy, happy bride to be, in just a few more minutes!

Stoic daddy with his little girl.

The noisy, windy tent was flapping and a stormin’, but the ceremony was beautiful nonetheless.

See what I mean??!

I was digging the details of the day!

Sticking your tongue out always helps. I know it does with me.

The couple’s first dance was joined in by one of the beautiful little nieces.

Open up the floor and everybody was dancing!

….and rocking out!

Hot couple and hot rings!

Whoa!