Gene and Joslyn met in October of 2008. Gene heard Joslyn singing and approached her about working on music together. She came over his studio without a pen, pad, or anything else so they could work. Ever since then, they have been together. So in honor of their beginnings, we started off their engagement session in their studio.

Love, love, love!

After finishing up in the studio we all headed over to the Nelson Art Gallery for some shots with the whole family. Tristan was rockin’ that hat too! He is so hilarious.

Gene came up from behind and surprised Joslyn. Their reactions are priceless.

…and one last one of the whole family!

I had such a blast! Can’t wait to see you all again!

Janna and I go way back to high school when we were in P.E. class together. So when she contacted me about setting up a session a few weeks ago, I was more than happy to oblige! It was so great seeing her again (after about 9 years or so)!

Upon meeting Shahrukh, the first thing I asked him (after asking “Kya haal hai?”–it was the only thing I could think of to say in Urdu!) is what I’m sure he hears everyday from anyone that has some remote knowledge of Bollywood cinema:
“Your name is Shahrukh? Like Shahrukh Khan?” But he was a good sport and answered the question anyway, lol.

Shahrukh and Janna are so down to earth, have a lot of fun together and I had a blast photographing them!

A few of their favorite things! …and yes that is an airborne Winnie the Pooh headed straight for Janna’s head.

I saw this Kermit hat lying around and asked Shahrukh if he’d be down for wearing it and he was. Janna kissed his Kermit hat to which he responded: “Kermit gets all the lovin’ sometimes.” But I mean really, why WOULDN’T Kermit get all the lovin’? lol

Janna: “He says ‘everyone loves this face’.”
Shahrukh: “It’s a work of art.”
–why Shahrukh opted for a solo shot, lol.

LOL

I love this shot! Janna you are so beautiful!

A couple of cones were just hanging out behind the bench. I honestly think they’re more comfortable on top of human heads, lol.

Towards the end, at sunset.

Fun times! I can’t wait to see y’all again!

Since I’ve titled this post “State of the Union Address” feel free to picture me delivering this address from a desk, with some flags behind me, in a stately-looking office, wearing a cute power-suit with some even cuter shoes, because I’m totally not right now lol. (It’s called using your imagination people!) Anyhoo…

Can you believe that another year has passed? I, for one, am pretty excited for what’s to come this year. 2011 was a really great year for me. I met some fabulous people, shot some even more fabulous weddings, lost 20 lbs., got published on a wedding blog, and discovered my love for: music photography, the city of Los Angeles, California, vegetable pakoras, mango lassi, and Twitter.

Now as for this new year, I’m starting off with a fresh new blog and website design (head on over to my website to check it out)!

And there is another change: I’m transitioning my way into shooting weddings only (in case you’re wondering why my website only has engagement and wedding photos posted). If there is any other kind of event or session you would like covered, just contact me and we can work something out.

I’m also embarking on the world of music photography! If you’re on my friends’ list on Facebook, you might have seen a little taste of that. If you would like to check out my growing music photography portfolio, head on over to courtneycherron.com.

So that’s about it for now. In light of the new year, I thought I’d leave you all with this cartoon I stumbled across:

I hope that you all have a happy and prosperous 2012!

Tomme’ and Brittany have been engaged since May, but Tomme’ had known for a very long while that Brittany was the woman he was going to marry. He said that he was more nervous about what he was going to say when he proposed more than whether or not Brittany was going to say yes. Apparently whatever he said worked because they’re getting married in September 2012! I for one, am EXCITED.

I enjoyed this session so much I love how much fun Tomme’ and Brittany have together!

Bling, bling. On the dominoes shot.

I asked Brittany and Tomme’ to get a scratch sheet of paper and a pen and write down the first word that comes to mind when they think of one another and this is what they thought:

During this part, I told Tomme’ to sneak up behind Brittany and surprise her when I gave the signal. Needless to say, Brittany was very surprised.

I had so much fun with you two! I can’t wait to shoot your wedding in September!

This is my first step in exploring the world of film photography. I have been a completely digital shooter the entire time I’ve been shooting but have always loved the look and the quality of film. Some of the photographers I most admire and look up to have been film shooters–photographers like Alfred Eisenstadt, Margaret Bourke-White, Gordon Parks, and more contemporarily, Jose Villa and Jonathan Canlas.

These past couple of weeks I’ve been scouring the interwebs doing some research on film and I now have in my possession copies of Fine Art Wedding Photography and Film Is Not Dead, two of the best purchases I made this year, especially with me being someone who has ZERO experience with film, lol.

If anyone has any tips for film shooting, please post in the comments below–I’d greatly appreciate any pointers

So stay tuned as my exploration begins!

It was really wonderful to see Lewis and Angela around their friends and family throughout the day; you can tell they were all ready to get this show on the road!

Many, many, many thanks to Casey Wright for second shooting with me on Friday!

Angela was such a beautiful bride! And Lewis and Angela’s daughter Anaya is so cute too. It was so funny watching her practice her flower girl duties before the ceremony. “Walk and throw, walk and throw…” lol

While I was with Angela and her bridesmaids while they got ready for the wedding, Casey took the men outside to get some shots of them.

Paying tribute to a temporarily absent groomsman, lol.

Yeah, he was really ready to get down the aisle.

Seeing his bride for the first time…

…and she’s not able to hold it in for much longer!

Shot by Casey

After the prayer, ring exchange, unity candle lighting, and first kiss, Lewis and Angela take their first walk as husband and wife, along with their daughter.

Angela made her own bouquet. I loved it. Isn’t it gorgeous?

Delicious cake from Rebekah Cake Artist. Not only was the cake beautiful, it was really, really, REALLY good.

Maid of honor and best man toasts.

Congratulations Lewis and Angela! I had so much fun shooting your wedding! You two were a blast to work with and can’t wait to see y’all again!

As I was sitting at my computer today prepping for Lewis and Angela’s wedding (that’s happening on Friday and I’m SUPER excited for it, by the way), I just took a moment to reflect over 2011. Wow, what a year! There were a lot of new things that happened to me this year and I decided to just sum them all up in one post.

•This year, I had my first full wedding season. Last year, I was honored to be able to shoot my first three weddings ever. This year, things got into full swing and I’m incredibly blessed to continue this ball rolling into 2012!

•I got to check a goal off of my list of things to do in 2011: being published in a wedding blog! I had Kenneth and Kameron’s engagement session featured on the Middle of the Map Weddings wedding blog.

•Anyone who knows me knows how much I adore Rooney. So when I heard that Rooney was coming to Kansas City on their tour, I knew that I HAD TO BE THERE. I own pretty much any song they’ve released and I listen to them endlessly. So imagine my delight when I actually got to meet the lead singer after the concert and he complimented my camera! SCORE! This was my first time ever meeting the lead singer of any remotely famous band, let alone my favorite!

•I went to my first soccer game last night! I’ve really enjoy the sport and so it was a blast to be able to go and experience it firsthand.

•I have never really had a significant change in my hair length until this year. I decided to get it cut. And last week it got cut even lower. AHHH! I still can’t believe I did it. It took me weeks to get the nerve to even cut it the first time. I almost cried. As a matter of fact, I think I did. I can get pretty weepy at times–like when I get my hair cut, when someone does something nice for me, when I watch P.S. I Love You and Rudy…you know, things like that :/

•Last week, I also tried something that I am now convinced that I love: Indian food. I can sum it up in one word: AMAZING.

•In other “firsts” news, I also had my first car accident, which definitely wasn’t fun. I’m praying that it was also my last too! Thankfully no got hurt.

So here’s to new experiences! Have any of you had any “first time” experiences this year?

Jarrett and Jackie got married in August and wanted a few more shots in their wedding attire, so of course I was more than happy to oblige. We headed over to the beautiful Nelson-Atkins Art Gallery for their session. It was such a beautiful day and they are such a beautiful family! I feel like I’m tearing up over here, lol.

LOL, I just thought this was really funny. Jaida was determined to get some camera time!

Bling, bling.

I say it all the time, but I’m going to say it again–Kansas City really is a small town lol. Sure the metro area has almost 2,000,000 people in it but it seems like everyone knows everyone! It was at this point of the session that I discovered that Jackie is friends with one of my previous wedding clients (and friend), Taryn.
And I asked Jarrett and Jackie how they met and they said that they met through different Greek functions and that’s when I found out that we were all members of Divine 9 organizations (historically black fraternities and sororites). I’m an AKA, Jackie is a Delta, and Jarrett is an Alpha. It really is a small world!

I had so much fun with you all! I am truly, truly happy for the both of you. Can’t wait to work with you again!

I loved the Crown Center hotel rooms with their floor to ceiling windows. The sunlight that came into the room…sigh. It’s what dreams are made of, people!

Taryn, you were such a gorgeous bride! I can’t wait for future photo ops with you and Shug in the hopefully not-so-distant future

Lewis and Angela are so great together–you can definitely see the love they have for each other. They met 3 years ago when they both worked at Lowe’s Home Improvement Store. Angela was quiet and didn’t really say much to him but Lewis noticed her smile. One day he got a call at work from whom he initially thought was a manager, but actually turned out to be Angela–the woman who he thought was beautiful, but a little mean to him . He told her that he didn’t appreciate her not talking to him until then and that she had to make it up to him by calling him. That definitely worked, because they’ve been together ever since!

Last Thanksgiving, Lewis blindfolded Angela and took her (along with their cutie pie daughter Anaya) to the hospital where Anaya was born. He took her to the spot where the three of them stood when their families watched as Lewis took his new family that he was now responsible for home. He got down on one knee and told her that he wanted to be responsible for them forever and asked Angela to marry him! Awww!

They are getting married in a couple of weeks and I, for one, couldn’t be more excited!

It was around this point in the day that I asked Lewis to whisper something in Angela’s ear. Not sure what it was, but hey–it got some laughs!

Bling, bling.

After leaving Power and Light, we headed a couple blocks over to the new Kauffman Center for Performing Arts. I had never been there before this day, but now I’m pretty sure I’m in love with it. It reminds me of the Sydney Opera House. But maybe it’s just me lol.

Dance break! (Even though there was no music. But who needs music, right?)

And a surprise attack…

Can’t wait for your wedding day!