Shelby + Lisa = Engaged! - {Lawrence, KS- engagement photographer}

My title should probably read, Shelby + Lisa + Bentley = Family. How could I have left him out? Oh, but we didn't. He was right with us the whole time & not too happy if he wasn't included in the photo.

Newly engaged. Sigh. They met as many couples do these days, online. I will date myself now, as that was not an option in my prime dating days. Maybe a few personals in the paper (ewww) but no real online presence like there is now. A first date to El Mezcal, a yummy Mexican restaurant in town, & the rest is history. They could not have been any cuter. So happy together and so excited to be getting married. I got an email from Lisa just a few days (maybe a week or so) after the proposal and we had engagement photos planned. A check mark on the long list of wedding planning. Although they are planning a small destination wedding. Smart, very smart.

We decided on a rural location and ended up at an apple orchard not too far out of town. Sadly their crop has a fungus this year so no apples. But the scenery was just as beautiful. The owners couldn't have been nicer to us. They allowed us to roam all over their beautiful property (in a golf cart even!)

I am so happy to have met you both - even though Lisa, we sorta met in our past.- Yes, Lisa figured out she use to be our mail carrier. How funny is that? You better be sharing photos of your fabulous wedding!

Front & center where he probably belongs

In the middle of the orchard

How funny is he?

After an outfit change, we drove up to the top of the property.

It was a gorgeous spot for the sunset.

Hawaii bound in May for the wedding!

Seriously?

This was the very last shot.

We were already in the cars, it was almost totally dark & I made them stop for one more

I like the feel...

Denver drama {Kansas pet photographer}

You are about to get a blow by blow of a photo shoot gone bad.

Meet Reiley. A sweet, cute, eight year old Weimaraner. Well, she looks sweet here doesn't she? Pictures never lie right? Well on this night she decided to show me her mischievous, playful-drama side. What started out as an amazing, beautiful evening in Denver made a minor turn but all ended well.

Dory works at VITAHL, my friend Tahl's medical spa in Denver (previous post). While out visiting a few weeks back we went out to capture a few fun moments of Dory, her boyfriend and her dog. They are just down the street from Denver's very own Wash Park. A great park that is ALWAYS buzzing. So we met at their house, snapped a quick few pics and headed to the park with picnic basket and dog toys in tow. {Funny, side note. They live on the same street I did while living in Denver.}

Now scroll down for the full story of how this night went...

On front porch. Happy.

Made it to the park. Cute girl.

How about we run off some of this energy so we can get some good shots. She may or may not have been let off the leash. Just sayin'.

Look of determination in those eyes!

oops!

Geese in pond are much too tempting for this trained bird dog. Gone swimming.

This one is for you Dory...Crazy local woman yelling at us and telling us to "smile, you are going to be on the news". Little did she know.

She wasn't happy that the dog was in the water with nature. Never mind that she has just been seen taking the geese eggs and putting in her basket. Yes, really.

Ok.

At least a half hour has passed and Reiley is not coming back to land. Gets close but then goes back out. We are all yelling and have now drawn in a bit of a crowd. All of us concerned that she will tire out and drown.

Solution?

David strips to his boxers (and nice leather shoes) and goes in after her.

-these aren't the best photos but you get the idea. I felt a bit insensitive for taking in the first place!-

He gets out to her and starts heading back to land pushing her along when...

we hear him yell out "HELP!" The large crowd gasps!

Dory doesn't hesitate a second, throws off her heels and goes after them both. Well, I know she was going after David for sure.

A woman is yelling at her to stop as we all envision this train wreck getting worse by the minute. "GIRL!!! GIRL!!!! DON'T DO IT" Dory didn't even hear that, she just heard David's cry for help.

Oh yeah, 911 is now called.

Emergency help arrives in the form of 3 fire trucks and paramedics. They couldn't have been nicer. All 3 of them are out and fine by this point, thank the LORD! David had yelled for help because he was helping Reiley out and she gave up swimming. He couldn't hold himself and her up. She then swam again.

The paramedics just talked to them and made sure they are really ok, offer blankets and

head on out. A local vet who knows Dory just happens to be out walking her dogs and checks out Reiley. She too is fine.

We then saw the news arrive, see the man on the lower right with tri-pod.

That was our cue to get the heck out of there, quickly!

Mama and her baby.

She wanted to hug her and yell at her all at the same time.

She only hugged.

The wet walk back home. Well, David is only wet beneath. His clothes were dry since he had gone down to his underwear.

Unused basket, frisbee and such.

Back at home.

"Sorry Mommy"

Doesn't that look what is being said here?

All smiles now. Everyone is ok.

I might be mistaken but I think these two got a little closer that night.

Oh, and Dory, you are even beautiful soaking wet!

Thanks for the fun! Took me a while that night for my adrenaline to come down! Definitely made for the most memorable shoot or attempted shoot. Yeah, no charge on this one.

Four-legged kids in the city

First off...yes, my blog has been neglected lately. I have been B.U.S.Y! Just that time of year with school ending, summer starting and everything in between. That said, I pulled off an amazing feat. A weekend away to visit a friend...by myself. Last Thursday I hopped a plane and headed to Denver. A friend I hadn't seen in 3 years and that was a brief visit, we were overdue.

I first met Tahl over 15 years ago when we blindly became roommates in Dallas while doing an internship. This was pre-mainstream internet folks, so we only shared one phone call before moving in. Lucky for us, it worked well. One of the best roommates I have ever had! We worked together, lived together, went out together, it was one FUN semester. I cannot believe that was 15 years ago. I shouldn't have just done that math. She met Pat while living in Dallas too. Another random phone call she made, they met and the rest was history.

Tahl went on to medical school in San Francisco. (I just stayed content with my BS, thanks.) She was in my wedding, I in hers. We have a history. She is now a successful Doc. in Denver. She works at a local hospital on weekends and owns a medical spa that is INCREDIBLE! If you live in or around Denver, you must check her out. VITAHL. (click to go). Yes, I enjoyed some treatments while there.

Now, that I have bored you with our past. Meet her cute little family. They all have four-legs. The two labs I had met. I even babysat Bodie, the eldest, when he was a tiny pup. We got out on Saturday before I had to leave to try and get some family pics for them. It was warm, not complaining, but was WINDY! We made the most of it and I enjoyed extra time with friends.

This is Bodie.
He was happy to pose for me.
He is almost 13.

Meet Wrigley.
He wasn't quite as still for me.
Cute none the less.

And the youngest member.
Botox.
He is the spa dog.
I fell in love with this guy, he slept with me every night.

Doesn't Botox look like he should be a gargoyle on this step?

We strolled the city.

Beautiful subjects make everything easy.

I just like this picture because it is so
Denver.
Active folks everywhere.
Bike riders with the skyline in the distance.

Thanks for a great and memorable weekend!