Kenny Felt

autumn.jpg.jpg

2011-09-06T15:19:00.000-07:00

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Recent Shoots - AKA I've Been Busy!

2011-08-08T13:05:00.001-07:00

It's Thursday, not Friday...just saying...

2011-07-21T13:18:00.000-07:00

So I feel random today. My grooveshark playlist looks like this...

And my Blackberry is BLOWING up with emails and messages...yes...I love that sound. It's like, well, music to my ears.

There are 4 mints on my desk. I've had to go purchase them at Wal-Mart myself since Sonic discontinued using quality peppermints. Travesty if you ask me...dang it...just dropped one on the nasty carpet. Crap!

Okay..so you want to see a photo of something cool? How about a VIDEO of something cool? This is video of my little girl kissing her favorite person in the whole world! I couldn't ask for anything better...she amazes me...I love her!

She's Walking!!!

2011-07-08T14:07:00.000-07:00

Sort of. Really, she is. It's just not FULL-ON walking...ya know, the kind where we turn our heads and then look back and she's gone. It's more of a "Dada pick me up kinda thing" where we have to help her to her feet and then she wobbles a few feet and then BAM!!!...face first into the floor. Not good enough to be considered a pro but better than some drunks can pull off....

My new goal is to have her fully walking in 21 days - her 1 year birthday. Think we can pull it off??? We shall see....stay tuned!

Wedding Outtakes - Casey & Travis - Kansas Wedding Photography

2011-06-27T10:27:00.000-07:00

Weddings just happen to be one of life's biggest events. So it's important to catch all of those "big" and "important" moments. So I've included a few of those not so "big" and "important" moments...something only a few people see. Above you might think Casey is just sniffing her hand. Instead, she's trying to cover her laughter after having her butt grabbed.

Above you might think Travis is sniffing his buddy's arm pit. Instead, his buddy is just helping him put on his tie...

Ok ok ok...now for a few of the images they REALLY do want to see....

A Look of Love - Kansas Wedding Photography

2011-06-13T14:35:00.000-07:00

There's a reason I enjoy photographing weddings.

It's fun to be a small part of something they plan on holding on to forever. It's an amazing feeling to see the look in a couple's eyes when they say their vows to each other and then dance the first dance, shove cake in each others faces and then forget the rest of the world as they enjoy the company of each other and their guests.

Traci & Jason were no different than what I expected...in love with each other and with life.

field of flowers.jpg.jpg

2011-06-13T14:32:00.000-07:00

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Impromptu Photo Shoot - Kansas Senior Photographer

2011-06-02T07:29:00.000-07:00

Once in awhile I get this itch to go shoot something for no real purpose at all. It's sort of a photographer thing...most of us never leave our cameras alone....

Well I got a new lens (it's actually used but new to me) and decided it needed to be broken in. And I promised Jordan that if I ever needed a model she'd be the first I'd call.

Every image was shot with a Nikkor 50mm f1.8 lens. LOVE the lens! It's tack sharp!

Memorial Day Weekend Wedding Extravaganza

2011-05-31T09:39:00.000-07:00

This was my first 2-wedding weekend, with one ceremony on Saturday and another on Sunday. To say that it was a long week is an understatement. That said, I had a blast and made some good images I think!

Corey & Kiersten
Bayley & Brett

A First In Wedding Photography - Lindsey & Bo

2011-05-20T13:24:00.000-07:00

Ladies and gentlemen, I experienced a first at my last wedding: A bride and her bridesmaids jumping into a pool. Dresses included.

I mentioned the idea of jumping in as a joke...why WOULDN'T you? I mean, come on, it's a wedding in Mexico. Near sand and ocean waves. OF COURSE YOU HAVE TO JUMP IN THE WATER! Fortunately for me, and the rest of the guests, the ladies provided a bit of entertainment to end the evening.

Mahekal Resort

2011-05-19T11:35:00.001-07:00

A few pix from my recent trip to Playa del Carmen, Mexico. I was reminiscing today about how beautiful the weather was....

The view from my porch...

What Makes Me Happy - Part 3

2011-05-13T11:08:00.001-07:00

I'm back in the groove after a short trip to Mexico. Oh the pains I go through for photography...so hard to even WANT to go to a beautiful place and photograph beautiful people....but I guess I'll suffer through it.

Here's a few things that make me happy on this glorious - but slightly chilly - Friday.

1. Shallow Depth of Field. Photographers will understand what I mean...

2. My beautiful daughter, who will hopefully be the next big thing in the world of famous beautiful babies. She's already numero uno in my eyes.

3. BRIGHT COLORS! This was a wall at my resort in Mexico...just screamed TAKE MY PICTURE!

I'm Leaving On A Jet Plane

2011-05-04T12:59:00.001-07:00

Yup, tomorrow morning at 11:25 a.m. I'll be on a flight to Cancun, Mexico. From there I'll take a bus to Playa del Carmen for a beach wedding Saturday evening.

Lindsey & Bo tie the knot Saturday and then I fly home early Sunday. My shuttle picks me up at 5:30 a.m.!!!! I haven't been up at that hour in YEARS!

Friday is my down-time day so I'll probably stick to the resort to avoid kidnapping. I might actually get up at sunrise in hopes of photographing a beautiful panoramic shot of the beach and horizon...we shall see......

Hope everyone enjoys Kansas, Missouri and every other state in the Union while I'm gone.

Vote YES!

2011-04-01T12:48:00.000-07:00

YES!

Yes, I will vote for the one-half cent sales tax increase in Fort Scott on April 5.

Serving on committees and boards aren't really my thing. Several months ago I was invited to lend a helping hand and serve on the Community Health and Wellness Committee, a group of people assembled to promote the half-cent sales tax increase that would fund the $3.9 million renovation of the city pool and an addition to Buck Run Community Center.

At first I was skeptical if I wanted to be involved. It took less than a 1-hour meeting to change my mind. Later that evening I told my wife that I didn't want to be a person who supported an initiative but didn't back it up. I didn't want to be someone who complained about a lack of good opportunities in Fort Scott yet did nothing to fix it. So there I was, involved.

I've heard the bad. Why do we need a pool? Why does Buck Run need to be bigger? Fort Scott needs jobs...not recreational activities! And so on and so on. The thing is, I know we need good jobs in this town. We need to focus on that as well. But nobody wants to live in a town with nothing to do.

I've also heard the good. And there's been an overwhelming response from the YES voters.

So before I jumped to make a decision I wanted to know the facts. Fact is that the pool is OLD! Buck Run is small and crowded. It's going to cost money to fix both issues...

After hearing all the facts and opinion, it's been surprising how easy of a decision it's been coming to the conclusion that I came to. IT'S WORTH IT! Yes, we are raising the sales tax . . . but it's by half a penny per dollar. Before I dismiss the fact that a half cent seems trivial, I decided to figure up what I spent in Fort Scott last year. On debit card transactions alone, I spent right at $4,000 in Fort Scott establishments. That figures to be $332 dollars in sales tax that I paid out last year based on 8.3%. If it raises to 8.8% I would have paid $352. That's a change of $20!!! If we take that times 10 years, it's $200. I'll write a check TODAY for that amount with no second thought and I don't have a surplus of $100 bills sitting around.

Granted, that was just on debit card transactions. But I rarely write a check to a local establishment OR pay with cash. This was a simple decision for me. I'm giving up a few hundred dollars over the course of 10 years for a new pool and expanded Buck Run. The trade-off, for my family, is worth every penny.

I personally will likely not swim in the pool. My daughter, though, most assuredly will. And that's why I will vote YES on the initiative to build a new pool and expand Buck Run.

BOLD

2011-03-24T14:27:00.001-07:00

I've decided that the best way to make a statement is to be bold. So, while it's always my goal to make all my clients say "WOW" when they see their photos...it's also extremely important when meeting prospective clients. So, for that reason, I had designer Brittany make me a new business card. It's not regular business card sized but skinnier. I'm attaching the front and back...email me what you think! kfelt3@gmail.com

What Makes Me Happy - Part 2

2011-03-11T10:23:00.000-08:00

It's the second week in a row that I've blogged about WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY! Expect these every Friday!

As a photographer, I enjoy when clients RAVE about their images. I love it even more when they buy big prints to hang on their walls. Sydney & CK were married in October 2010 and ordered these two 20x24 prints.

The bigger the better in my opinion...these are going to look great on their walls!

New Gallery Pieces

2011-03-09T13:11:00.000-08:00

We're getting closer to finally having the gallery redesigned!

Our center piece above the famous red leather couch consists of 5 print wraps of the Stanton family. They were photographed this past Autumn in Gunn Park here in Fort Scott.

The coolest thing about the print wraps is how they FLOAT off the wall for a cool 3D effect. And they are cheaper than buying a framed print!

To the right of the Stanton's are the Gulagers (related by the way!) in a "Collection."

An up-close look at one of our Collections.

Soon our WEDDING wall will be done...will one of your photos be printed big for the whole world to see?

What Makes Me Happy

2011-03-04T12:43:00.000-08:00

It's my goal to start blogging every Friday about things that make me happy. This is the FIRST EVER of those blog posts.

I combined two things that make me smile each and every day: my daughter Blair Harvi and my Blackberry. My wife (and sister, mother, grandma, long lost aunt, you get the picture) will kill me if she thinks I put them both on the same level of importance. THEY ARE NOT! Just so happens that Blackberry (which, by the way, runs my life thanks to its amazing calendar) released a new software (YIPPEE) and I did 7 month portraits of my little Tater (her nickname) all in the same week so I saved space by including the two things in one image. BLOG POST EFFICIENCY ALERT!!!

Adele's album is legit. So much so that if you stop by Captured Images, it's likely you will hear it blasting before you walk through the front door.

It's possible that nobody knows how much I love toast and jam. Not my mom. Not my sister and certainly probably not my wife. My father-in-law might but it's doubtful... Anyway, great client Tracey brought her little guy, Christian, in for 6 year old portraits. She loved the images so much she wrote a beautiful letter:

"Thanks for being so creative! Those of us who aren't really appreciate people like you! And thanks also for taking time to understand your subject. You make each of your customers feel special, that's a true gift. Captured Images is a great asset to our community but, speaking personally, you've given me some very cherished memories I can look at every single day!"

AND she brought us homemade jams...WOW!

It's been a long time coming but the studio gallery is finally starting to come together and that makes me UBER HAPPY! This is the Gulager family showcased in what we call a "collection" and we have several options available at a very amazing price!

Dumb Dad!

2011-03-03T07:57:00.000-08:00

I was a bit overzealous last night when doing my daughter's 7 month photos. She was smiling and I was trying to keep her attention on the camera, which was on the studio tripod. I "thought" it was aimed directly at her....boy was I wrong. This is evidence of one of the many errors I have made. Luckily she kept the smiles up and I got a shot (or 20) of her beautiful little dimples.

Could They Get Any Cuter?

2011-03-01T13:49:00.000-08:00

Winter usually brings LOTS of kids and babies to the studio. This year has brought us quite a few cute little ones, especially in the month of February!

First up we have Ceci & Joseph, siblings from Olathe, KS. Joseph is 7 months old and Ceci is a master dancer!

Above are Lincoln, Vaughn & Ainsley, a beautiful trio. This is probably my favorite image of 2011 so far!

Christian - 6 Years Old - Kansas children photography

2011-02-23T11:42:00.000-08:00

If you can't find the cuteness in this kid, you need to get your eyes checked. Christian is 7. He's shy at first but his smile is so electrifying you almost forget about the initial quietness. Having never photographed him before I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Luckily he followed direction very well in the studio and then once he got outside in his element, he cut loose and I was able to capture him in his truest form.

He LOVES to catch bugs . . . but since there weren't any buys he examined all the acorns he could find!

One of my favorite moments of the shoot . . we were almost done with his GQ look and I asked him to just look at the ground. Very quiet and reflective...

I asked him what his dad looks like after a long day at work. He made this funny face and let out a big yawnnnnnn. Perfect!

Couples Photography - Kendel & Justin/Jacy & Taylor

2011-02-22T14:11:00.000-08:00

I met Kendel & Justin about a week ago when they walked into the studio for the first time. A lot of times I will have met them previous to the shoot but this wasn't one of those times. I usually shoot better when I've had a chance to talk with them but this time was magic. They were AMAZING! It's hard to mess up when a great looking couple is in front of the camera...they were a joy to work with.

I've known Jacy since she was about 4 years old. She and Taylor stopped in to take part in our Valentine's Special. The shoes were quite colorful so I thought we would definitely have to show them off (see below).

Designer Brittany put together this composite . . . one of my favorites so far this year.

Tyler & Whitney and Creedyn & Chayden

2011-01-27T09:03:00.000-08:00

A recent Saturday brought Tyler and Whitney, who will be married this Fall in Missouri. Tyler was a senior client several years but this was my first meeting with Whitney.

When they arrived I noticed they were carrying leather cowboy stuff ... better known as chinks. They said they wanted to do something that was special to them and not a cookie cutter photo. We did several fun images but this is a simple one with two great smiles I thought I'd share.

Chaydon and Kreed were up next. Chaydon is one of those 4-year olds who just exudes happiness. He smiled non-stop the entire hour he was here.

His little brother, 1, was a bit harder to get smiling. This is my favorite image of Kreed from that session ... shows his personality quite well as he NEVER stopped moving away from the camera.

7 Month JW - Kansas baby photographer

2011-01-26T09:04:00.000-08:00

Little JW....such an adorable little model!

Elizabeth Sneak Peek - Kansas Senior Photographer

2011-01-07T09:26:00.001-08:00

Elizabeth visited me shortly before Christmas for her senior photos. It's hard to explain how I know if a shoot is going to be easy or not...but I can usually just feel it when I first meet someone. This was one of those times I knew we were going to have a blast!

My favorite photo from the session above...very pensive...I love moody images!

The image below is the best way to show how fun the shoot was...lots of smiles and laughs throughout...

Goodbye 2010, Thanks For Being The Best Yet!

2010-12-23T13:59:00.001-08:00

Goodbye 2010, Hello 2011.

Funny to think that only a few years ago we were worrying about Y2K.

This has been the most amazing year of my 28 years of life.

Professionally, it was better than ever. It's always a goal to make every year better than the last...this year I was able to continue my streak.

The best part of the year, though, came July 29. My little baby Blair Harvi was born. From the very first moment I saw her face, I was hooked. I was captivated by something so little, yet so breathtakingly powerful. Powerful because my life didn't matter as much anymore, only hers. Life changed in that instant. Now, she's nearly 5 months old and captivating me on a nightly basis. Her giggles melt my heart. Her tears make me realize just how precious she is.

I make a fool of myself with the songs I sing to her and the high-pitched voice I use when talking to her. And I don't care one bit who hears me...

You might ask what else happened in 2010 to make it so awesome? Plenty of things took place but once I get to talking about my little girl, everything else important fades away.

2010 was the best year of my life. Next year, it's my plan to write the same about 2011 and that every one of you can say the exact same thing.

Happy December

2010-12-10T13:59:00.000-08:00

Currently on repeat is Katy Perry's FIREWORK. Spectacular song... love it!

Spent the afternoon Wednesday speaking to the high school art students at Uniontown High School, my beloved high school. Got me to thinking about all the special photo shoots I've had this year.....and quite frankly, there's just too many to freaking list!

2010 has been a blessed year, both personally and photographically speaking. Hopefully in the next few days I can share more in depth about a few photo shoots that really stick out in my head. For now, though, I'll tell you a bit about a recent concert I photographed.

Country music star Luke Bryan performed a benefit concert in Fort Scott back in November. Jason Aldean did the same last year and I was lucky enough to be the photographer for both events. Like last year, I was given full access to do whatever I pleased...even going on stage to shoot from the back and include images of the crowd.

Prior to the concert I also photographed the meet & greet session with Luke, opening-act Craig Campbell and MLB stud Adam LaRoche, whose family sponsored the event.

Hopefully in the next few days I'll be able to tell you more in depth about a few other shoots I've been part of in 2010.

Playing Catch Up!

2010-12-02T11:48:00.001-08:00

We've been playing catch up here at the studio...November and December are our craziest months with Christmas photo shoots and ordering prints for the holidays.

Outside of the normal family photo shoots, I've had the opportunity to photograph a few other types of sessions lately as well. Featured above is from a 13th birthday photo shoot. Bailey and her two best friends stopped by the studio before an all-night trip to Kansas City. This is one of my faves from the shoot.

Also featured are a few shoots I never got posted from the family special we had end of October. It's been THAT long since I've been able to post!!! CRAP!!!!!

Fall Special

2010-11-02T09:19:00.000-07:00

Our first segment of the Fall Photo Special was AMAZING. 7 sessions on Friday then followed by 5 on Saturday. Quite the busy week....

First up I had the Stewart kids, Cole, Mya and Avery. They were a hoot!

This is probably one of my favorite images from the day, as it's a pretty good portrayal of a big sister with her little sister.

Everyone wants to shoot their boss...including me. I got to do just that first thing Saturday morning when he brought his family to Gunn Park for a quick session.

CK & Sydney tie the knot!

2010-10-25T12:06:00.000-07:00

Congrats to my beautiful new cousin, Sydney Smith, and my near-brother CK. They were married Oct 23 and I had the pleasure of photographing their day. A few sneak peeks at the images taken pre-ceremony.

Levi & Savannah

2010-10-21T14:35:00.001-07:00

Seems as if every wedding I photograph, bride and groom just can't get enough of the other. They get all gooey-eyed (real word?) when they see each other for the first time, cry a bit, smile a lot and then profess their undying love. Yada yada yada. Each couple is the same.

Levi and Savannah made me remember why I love weddings so much. She was the perfect bride. He was the perfect groom.

His eyes lit up the size of flying saucers when he saw her the first time. And then there were the tears. He went first and she followed.

The speeches at the reception were about their love. His mom said Levi had been head over heels for her since they first began dating.

Don't think these moments don't happen because they do. At every wedding. But these two had a sparkle in their eyes when they danced for the first time. It was....refreshing.

Wedding Details

2010-10-21T14:24:00.000-07:00

In honor of the wedding I'm shooting Saturday, I'm posting a few of my favorite detail shots from the past 2 weddings I've photographed.

Whisper of Fall - Selected as KANSAS! 2011 Calendar Image

2010-10-15T10:52:00.000-07:00

Whisper of Fall has been chosen as one of the images in the 2011 KANSAS! Calendar. The image was made nearly a year ago at Rock Creek's waterfall, located in the center of Bourbon County, KS.

The calendar will be printed this year and be released before 2011. Whisper of Fall will appear on the November slot.

It's available as a limited edition print. Nearly 1/3 of the 50 images have already sold so get yours quick if interested!

Print Sizes: 8x10 - $40; 11x14 - $65; 16x20 - $125; 20x30 - $275; 30x40 - $550; 40x60 - $1000

More Than A Photograph

2010-10-06T14:18:00.001-07:00

Everyone I meet is a friend in the making. I've rarely met someone who I didn't like ... at least on the initial meeting.

As a photographer, I've been meeting a ton of new faces lately and each one of them brings something unique to the table. It's interesting to try and plan for a session based on preconceived notions and then to find out when you meet them, the person is nothing like expected. That's life. And it's quite amazing to go into something blind, which is essentially every photo shoot.

Photographer JoeyL said recently that photography isn't about just clicking a shutter, it's about what goes into the portrait. That's sooo true.

My sessions lately have produced seniors and families who I feel connected to as soon as they walk in the door and as they leave the studio. And then some of them become immediate friends who won't depart from my friendship box in the near future.

To me, photography isn't about snapping the shutter just so I can see the back of the camera and then show it off to all my good friends. I didn't become a photographer so that I'd be the cool guy (I'm a LONG way from that point). Photography is about more than a photograph. Its also about the experience and the relationship developed between subject(s) and photographer. I've shared Wendy's burgers and fries with some of the coolest people I've ever met and nearly lost a toe in the same afternoon with the same people. They put up with my rambling and I learned about their Amish adventures and hidden, stolen bikes in cars to avoid trouble from mom. We trespassed, listened to great music that I'll never be able to dance to and had a blast. Long story short, if you want an experience along with your portraits, I think you know who you can call. If you aren't interested in anything but snapshots, well, I'm into creating memories that last a lifetime....

Each person I meet has a story of their own and I love to learn it and remember it.

There have been people walk in front of my camera scared to death that they will look bad or "break the camera". It's not happened yet and my camera's been through more than 200,000 shots. When they see the results, there have been shrieks of joy, laughter and even tears because they didn't realize they actually looked as beautiful as they really do. And that to me makes it all worth it.

Nothing is more satisfying than capturing those first smiles of a brand new baby, the first kiss of a newlywed couple and every other milestone and everyday moment that happens. Photography is so important to me that I live it on a daily basis. Everyone deserves that one perfect photo that makes them say "I can still remember the breeze, the smell of the trees and why I was laughing! THOSE were the days...."

If you want that, let me know and we'll create something that will last longer than Facebook News Feeds.

I've Been A Busy Dude Lately!

2010-09-20T15:31:00.000-07:00

Many apologies for the crappy blog posting as of late. It's a good problem to have, being busy and all. But I miss writing and sharing my photos. Here are a few teasers!

Delynn - Field of Crosses

2010-09-10T08:13:00.000-07:00

A friend told me about this magical field of crosses several months ago. Before I saw it, I envisioned Celtic crosses in a weedy field. After I visited this field it was evident that photographing a model near the crosses would be incredibly difficult because of the problems with the light - the light would only have worked 10-15 minutes before and after sunrise and sunset (not an optimal time to photograph a senior!).

So instead I thought it would be cool to add lots of textures and do some design work on the images to help them come together (Thanks to designer Brittany for that work!).

Delynn's mom actually requested that we go here and I was quick to oblige. Getting to the crosses takes about an hour from Fort Scott so I didn't want to waste my time with just anyone and Delynn seemed to be the perfect fit! We had a great time and I love the images! Enjoy!

Arden & Sloane

2010-08-31T11:06:00.000-07:00

People come and go all the time, especially in my line of work...I meet a new person, photograph them and then never see them again. It's just the business...I don't like that part of it but it's the truth. But then again there are people I meet and become lifelong friends with.

I met a couple recently who I wouldn't mind if they became part of that smaller statistic of sticking around for ages.

Bo & Lindsey and their two beautiful girls, Sloane & Arden, were recent subjects on two different shoots in the Kansas City area. Sloane captured my heart at Loose Park (near the plaza in KC) a few months back when I photographed her 18 month portraits. Then, a few weeks later, I got to meet Arden at their home in North KC. She was a beauty and I had a blast trying to make the perfect images of her little features.

We battled torrential rain, monsoon winds and tornado sirens but she was a piece of perfection and stayed calm through the whole shoot. This is one of my favorite images - taken in their front yard about 4 minutes before the storm hit.

In total, I've spent less than 4 hours of my life with the 4 of these people but I felt an instant connection with them all and hope to document their lives with my camera for many years to come.

Busy Busy Busy

2010-08-23T14:32:00.000-07:00

First off, we have the Allen Community College Red Devils volleyball team. This is the 2nd year I've photographed the team - all gorgeous of course - and I'm glad they found me as I enjoy each shoot immensely!

Secondly, the book I did the photography for is now available in stores (life + style in Fort Scott; the Fort Scott Tribune are two that are for sure carrying it) and online at http://www.thechefslife.com/. Get your copy soon!

We are wrapping up our senior photo specials (they run June - August) and we've had some GREAT senior models come in. Below are a few examples:

Miss Pat & Her Glamour Girls

2010-08-19T08:56:00.001-07:00

Miss Pat is well-known in Fort Scott as the owner of the Lyons Mansion. I've known her for awhile and have done several photo shoots on her property.

This was my first time to photograph she and her 5 granddaughters - it's a yearly tradition for them but I've not had the privilege. It was a little stressful thinking of where to take them and how to pose them...I had tough shoes to fill as Gary photographed them last year here at the studio. But they were a delight from the start. Each of the girls wanted to come up with their own poses so that made my job a bit easier.

Hopefully next year we can do another shoot and top this one...it's one of my faves so far this year. :)

The Taylor Family

2010-08-18T07:11:00.001-07:00

Troy and Penny Taylor will leave the country this fall and won't return for 5 years. As missionaries, they have been called to witness in Verona, Italy.

When they called a month or so ago to do family portraits, I felt honored to be the one to capture their small family of 4. These images will be given as gifts to family and friends before they leave.

Noah & Rowen, 4 and 2 years old, were a delight to photograph, as were mom and dad and a family friend who joined them for a few photos.

They stopped by the studio to select the images they wanted and handed me a prayer card (above) with one of their photos on it. It's now sitting beside my desk...every day when I get to work I'll see it and hopefully remember to pray for their adventure.

Been Gone Awhile - New Addition!

2010-08-10T15:39:00.000-07:00

Sorry I've been absent from the blog. I have a new addition to the family..Blair Harvi...who is now nearly 2 weeks old! I love her immensely and finally understand what everyone meant when they said life would change as soon as I saw her the first time. It did. And it's the coolest thing EVER. Hard. Frustrating at times. But it all gets better when she smiles.....

Ellie and James

2010-07-26T13:09:00.000-07:00

I've been swamped. I've been bad about updating the blog. Sorry!

With all the photo shoots lately and planning for a baby (Due Aug 4!) my life has been a bit hectic.

The pleasure was all mine for Ellie & James' photo shoot a few weeks ago. James is from Australia and met Ellie while she was studying for her Master's in Wollongong, Australia. Later this year/early next year she will head off to live in Australia and conquer that part of the world.

While they were in town we had them stay with us ... getting to know James was pretty awesome. They seem to go great together and I can't wait to hang with them in the Land Down Under sometime soon.

Ashley Greene & Jordan

2010-07-20T14:46:00.000-07:00

It's not every day a guy like me photographs one of the most amazing actresses of the moment. Well...I didn't quite get to photograph my favorite vampire (although I'm gonna make it happen soon!) but I got the second closest thing....Jordan! I didn't see how much they looked alike until I was processing the image on the right. More images of Jordan to come soon..I promise!

Seniors - Logan

2010-07-09T11:39:00.001-07:00

Logan was my first guy of this senior class. He brought along his cousin, Brooke, to help keep him smiling. She did a great job ... and used a variety of assets to keep him grinning from ear to ear.

In Between The Lines

2010-07-07T12:38:00.001-07:00

The question has been asked "What goes through your mind at a photo shoot?" or "How do you prepare for a shoot?". All legitimate questions...I just wish I had a better answer than what I'll probably type in this blog.

For starters, I usually do have a plan of sorts. It might be like this: Head shot in studio, something edgy in studio, something fun in studio, head outside and do crazy things. That plan is actually scarily close to what happens EVERY shoot.

It USUALLY looks more like this though...Look at clothes and act like I know my fashion, decide on outfit, set up lights for head shot, fiddle with something, fiddle with something else, shoot head shot, forget that I should have turned on some sort of background music, fiddle, fiddle, stare at the subject hoping something jumps at me, shoot something else, change a background, etc. Basically I typically spend 10 minutes mentally killing myself trying to come up with ideas instead of just chilling and letting it happen.

Then I realize how organic my process is when everything is clicking and images are running through my head. Not just snapshots but killer images that make the subject smile with delight when they see the proofs. I've tried to explain the process but it really isn't a process at all. When good images are made, it's because my mind has shut off and I just roll with the mood. Usually I know it's happening...but sometimes I don't realize it until after I finish the session, much like the images in this set.

So anyway enough rambling. Here is Devan. I photographed her last week. She was a joy and an inspiration.

Seniors - Logan, Devan & Audrey

2010-07-02T12:22:00.000-07:00

For the sake of saving time and inundating the blog with lots of posts, I'm going to do just one blog for this trio.

This is Devan from Fort Scott High School. She's a softball stud and also a natural poser. Makes my job just a bit easier when they are used to posing!

Logan was my first guy senior this year and is an FSHS student. He brought all sorts of horsepower and gunpowder. Two guns and a 4-wheeler and one crazy friend made for a fun shoot!

Audrey is just a sweetheart. She's a senior at Uniontown High School and even has two railroad cars that we got to photograph in and on! Totally cool session.

Summer Wedding - Aimee & Jesse

2010-07-02T08:27:00.000-07:00

"I Aimee take you Jesse to be my husband. To love, honor and occasionally nag at. I will be your best friend, as you have been mine for the past 11 years of our lives."

Aimee and Jesse were married June 5 in a country setting outside of Nevada, Mo. To say it was a hot day would be an understatement. To say it was beautiful would be an even bigger understatement. It was a gorgeous affair that one really had to attend to understand the perfect love connection of Aimee & Jesse.

I met Aimee several months back after a mutual friend semi-introduced the two of us.

Weddings are one of my favorite things to shoot and I continue to luck out on awesome couples!

Senior Sneak Peek - Kalee

2010-06-29T12:47:00.000-07:00

I've always enjoyed surprises, especially happy surprises. Had a senior this morning that had me fairly nervous because I'd never met her before. Those always throw me off.

As soon as Kalee walked in I knew it would be a blast. Anyone who plays guitar, sings and wants to wear their prom dress on railroad tracks is legitimate in my book. She even offered to do a rope swing off a bridge 25 feet in the air. The insurance company wouldn't have approved so we nixed that idea pretty quickly.

Here are a few teasers of her shoot. The first in her prom dress and the second with her electric guitar.

Kalee will be a senior at Fort Scott High School this coming semester. She's one of my first sessions and I can say that, even though I only spent 3 hours with her, she's as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. She's a great kid and easy to photograph.

Colorado Adventures

2010-06-23T14:09:00.000-07:00

First I must start off by saying that I've experienced Colorado in all sorts of forms. Every season, every conceivable method of travel and seen quite a few of the natural wonders it has to offer. This was possibly the best trip I've had yet.

Below is an image of the Crystal Mill, located near Marble, CO. It's accessible by a 6-mile drive along a one-lane road that lends itself to death on many occasions. We drove 2 miles down the trail until we decided the rocks were to sharp and the cliffs to steep (50-75 feet straight down in some areas) to proceed in a vehicle. We hiked the last 4. It was tough but well worth it.

The second image is a panoramic from Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. I'd never made the drive but definitely glad I did. I think it's probably my favorite image from the trip.

Last time I was at the Maroon Bells near Aspen, the peaks were covered by thick fog so all I saw was the lake. This time they showed their pretty faces and I'm glad they did!

Senior - Hali

2010-06-16T11:59:00.001-07:00

What a great shoot! The light was beautiful and Hali was up for anything. She was a blast.

I had envisioned the perfect outfit for this first location. When she showed up and showed me the cowboy boots I knew it was going to be a great shoot!

I took her inside my favorite grungy building for the prom dress shot. While this isn't anything technically great, I love the light and mood.

Would love to write more but I'll save that for her next shoot in August!

KNOTS

2010-06-14T15:11:00.000-07:00

Life for me is pretty cool. I'm surrounded by incredibly talented folks day in and day out. That includes other photographers, designers and just all-around brilliant minds. Creating things with my hands has always been something I have failed miserably at doing so I have a newfound respect for KNOTS creator Megan Malone. Her abilities are up there at the top of the list when I think of those around me who can create pieces of art from nothing.

Luckily for her I'm having a baby girl - Blair Harvi - in the next few months so my wallets has been emptied a few times already buying pieces from her. And every dollar has been well spent.

I'm gearing up for a shoot in the coming weeks to showcase her work in a reginoal magazine. This past weekend I picked up a bunch of pieces and will post a few images on here as a sneak peek to what I'll be shooting with some local babies and toddlers.

Mr & Mrs Tarchala - Part 2

2010-06-09T12:08:00.000-07:00

Brittany & Steven are back from their honeymoon in Key West so I thought it would be okay to go ahead and post some portraits and a few more detail shots. The above image was taken at the ceremony and reception location. The image below was taken on the University of Kansas campus.

And my favorite things to shoot- the details! This was the cover of their program, which also had a crossword puzzle on the back that Brit created for her guests to try and complete.

And then this image was shot with the purpose of using as a background image in her custom album. She typically uses flower shots when she designs the albums and this will fit perfectly into her scheme.

Senior - Kim

2010-06-08T11:24:00.000-07:00

Our senior portrait specials are INSANE this year. Call me today at 620.223.5375 or email at kfelt3@gmail.com to find out the details!

Cowboys of Southeast Kansas - Rd 2

2010-05-28T15:13:00.001-07:00

Went out and photographed some of the area's best cowboys today. These guys are the real deal. They don't just wear the clothes, ride the horses and look the part...they really are complete studs. All the images were made at Rafter Bar G Ranch in rural Bourbon County.

The modern Marlboro Man.

Last time out I forgot to get a group shot. Pictured above are Travis Duncan and his boys, Jeff & Charlie Madison, Jake Gross, Amy Younger, Tyler and Troy Felt. A great crew to work with. They might not admit it but they enjoyed having their photo taken!

The image above is one I had in mind before we started. Luckily, the clouds were perfect!

Another shot I had hoped for. The grass was tall enough to make it look like they were in untamed prairie...just what I wanted!

The cattle belong to Jake Gross, who can be seen acting like Spiderman in the photo above. Shortly after this he performed a circus trick to get down. Missed the shot of the day!

Cookbook - Coming Soon!

2010-05-25T11:52:00.000-07:00

I mentioned quite a few months ago that I'd been working on a photo project for a cookbook.

Well.....drumroll please.....it's going to be available this summer! Every photo in the book was taken by yours truly and I'm proud of the product. I'll keep you all posted when I have a better idea on cost and where it can be purchased!

Bridal Portaits - Jaime

2010-05-21T11:34:00.000-07:00

Taken inside the lovely Lyons Mansion.

Well Jaime got married last weekend so it's safe for me to show off the bridal portraits she had taken about a month ago!

These were a surprise for her husband, but due to time constraints we weren't able to prepare an album before the wedding. I think, though, that when he sees them he will definitely enjoy them!

The image with the cat...definitely not a planned moment but Mr. Kitty wanted in the photo shoot so we let him chill for a bit!

I think we all know that this is the last time we will see Jai pushing around a vacuum. KIDDING!

Mike and Jaime - Wedding

2010-05-19T13:32:00.000-07:00

Jaime and I go back several years as her and my wife are best friends and have been for awhile. Mike and has become one of my best pals ever since he and Jai met up thanks to a meeting of fate in Fort Scott.
Mike's groomsmen were RELENTLESS. His wedding day turned into a ROASTING. Knowing his sense of humor and love for laughter, it only seems fitting. I'd not met any of them previous to the wedding so it was nice to finally meet the people he had bragged so much about.

I always try and get something of the bride and her father before the ceremony. It doesn't have to be anything earth-shattering ... just a nice moment between a father and his baby girl. Sam came into her dressing room as she was being laced up and immediately it was evident how special his daughter was to him. I stood in this same room less than two years ago while photographing his other daughter's wedding. He loves his girls!

Mike with his guys right outside the church entrance. Since it rained steadily all day long we were only able to shoot outside for about 15 minutes - my usual mode of operation is to shoot outside the majority of the time so this was unusual!

Mr & Mrs Tarchala

2010-05-10T12:35:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time coming.
Our designer, the one and only Brittany, got married in Lawrence Saturday. She married Steven Tarchala, a really amazing guy.

Enough of that...on to the wedding details!
Gary and I both photographed the big day so as to provide her with the best wedding coverage money could buy.We arrived at the Country Veranda Inn around 1:30 p.m. and started the photo coverage immediately with a few detail shots before heading to the University of Kansas for some cool portraits near the century-old architecture.

Because there were two of us, I focused mainly on details while Gary did a large percentage of the portraits. We both shot the ceremony and the reception from different angles...she's going to have a KILLER album!

Don't wonder where all the portraits of them are...I'm withholding those as long as possible just to make them want them more! They are enjoying beach time in Key West, FL right now...so they are doing JUST fine I assume!

Brittany is sort of like a little sister to me, as I've been around her for as long as she and Steven have been dating. I wish her well and I know he will treat her greatly. As I was photographing the "reveal" when they saw each other for the first time he said to me that his heart was beating a thousand miles a minute and then he stood there in silence and said a prayer. The look on his face was priceless and, in my mind, was evident that he knew just how special that day was and although looking forward to seeing his bride in her gown for the first time, he was also envisioning many years ahead with her. God Bless!

The Martin Family

2010-05-04T13:41:00.001-07:00

Saturday's rain showers pushed back our photo shoot until last night (Monday). Thankfully it did because the weather was PERFECT. We had beautiful blue skies with ginormous puffy white clouds. A photographers dream....

I've known Tyler practically my entire life. I went to school with his brother Kyle and we played a few games of WAR on the family farm through the years. And Rachel I first met in college when we shared a journalism class together. Good people and I enjoyed the opportunity to photograph their family!

And these little ones were fun to photograph. The girls had beautiful smiles and the little guy was full of energy and laughs. Loved every minute I got to make images.

The funniest moment of the night occurred when the youngest grabbed hold of her sister's hair and tried to

0 for 3 - Sports Illustrated Leading Off

2010-05-03T11:55:00.001-07:00

Another one bites the dust!

Just got an email from the Sports Illustrated photo department letting me know that they had looked at this photo for the Leading Off section of the magazine (the BIG two-page layouts) but that it didn't make the final cut.

So what's the big deal? Well, it's not that big of a deal except that I've received the same email 3 times in the past few years. Close...but just not quite there!

One of these days...I hold out hope that I will land one of those coveted spots!

Cheers and have a great Monday!

Bryson Paul - 3 Days Young

2010-04-30T14:51:00.000-07:00

This little guy gave me all I could handle and I still wanted more!

At only 3 days of age, he was still a bit fussy. In all honesty, we were probably pushing the envelope a little since he was so young but I'm pretty sure mom and dad are going to fall in love with him all over again when the photos are finally ready. And grandma and grandpa AND aunts and uncles. And cousins. And siblings. And etc.

The above images are a few previews just to keep mom and dad from going too crazy waiting!

Whirlwind Monday - KC Royals

2010-04-27T10:58:00.000-07:00

My childhood baseball idol was Seattle Mariners outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. So when I saw that the Mariners were going to be in KC to play the Royals, I got credentialed to shoot the Monday night matchup.

So I got there in jeans and a light fleece. Bad move. Before the game even began, I was covered in rain and on my way to becoming frozen solid. FAIL!!!

The rain continued through the first 5 innings but finally moved on for the last part of the game thankfully.

The first frame I made was this rainbow. I had a really awesome shot lined up where I thought Ichiro and Ken Griffey would walk together under the rainbow but it disappeared before either took the field. BUMMER!
Ken Griffey Jr aka The Kid.

Screwin Around - Boredom Days

2010-04-23T10:18:00.000-07:00

It's not like there isn't PLENTY to do here at the studio. But sometimes we just have the need to do something stupid/crazy/fun/etc. Just to stay fresh.

So here are a few recent crazy shenanigans that were caught on camera.

Family Photos - The Brown Family

2010-04-21T08:45:00.000-07:00

The Brown Family is beautiful. Not only on the outside but on the inside as well. My wife and I would be blessed if our kids turn out as well-behaved and respectful as Bailie, Gunnar and Allie.

These photos are sort of the perfect way for me to say THANK YOU to Danny for helping me out awhile back in a situation that could have proved disastrous for my camera. Thanks again!

I just love Allie and her attitude pose!

Cowboys of Southeast Kansas

2010-04-19T11:06:00.001-07:00

Once in awhile we all find a gold mine. It might not be literally filled with gold...so don't go thinking I've been drinking the crazy juice again.

Last week I found one of these rare gems. My uncle has asked me to come photograph him and his buddies while they were working cattle. First, I thought it would be cool. Then when my day filled up with appointments I found it harder to fit in. Luckily, thanks to a few people encouraging me to go, I made the trip to the ranch.

These images are what I found. And they have become some of the most popular images I've ever made.

New Products!

2010-04-16T10:51:00.000-07:00

So I have a new product for you all to see. It's called an accordion book. Bottom line: These are amazing! And cheap!

It's a 3x3 inch book with magnetic covers. Open it up and view the collage of photos printed both FRONT and BACK! Seriously didn't know how awesome these would be until I got my first book in the mail today. It's the perfect way to show off a lot of your photos to family and friends and literally fits in the palm of your hand!!!

Best thing is...they stick to the fridge so you can look at them all freaking day!

Can't wait to debut these for our 2011 Seniors!

Senior - Heather Part 2

2010-04-14T11:21:00.000-07:00

The first blog with Heather has drawn so many hits that I decided to make a second post with a few other images!

For those of you who are interested in Captured Images as your senior photographer, you can call us at 620.223.5375 or visit the website at www.capturedimages.net. I really believe you won't find a better value for your money when it comes to top-notch photos. If you want the best and the latest in photography trends, look no further!

Senior - Heather

2010-04-11T09:41:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers:

Meet Heather from Raymore, Mo. If you get through reading the following comments and photographs and do not come to the conclusion that she is possibly one of the sweetest and coolest people in the world then I have failed you. My writing will have failed you. So for the record - she is by far the most amazing senior I have ever photographed. Ever. And those are pretty heavy words considering all the seniors I've done.

Heather is a senior and will be attending the University of Missouri next year. She's got a bit of spunk and a bit of awesomeness not found in many kids these days. It was a refreshing photo shoot. It lasted 5 hours and included a run-in with a possible meth lab location, losing a cell phone in an alley near the meth lab, dodging rusty nails, running from an 89-year old man who had a crush on her and then to end it all we saw a shooting star at dusk. I think that was God's little way of showing satisfaction of great photography with a great kid.

100 Crazy Chickens & A Baby

2010-04-09T08:18:00.000-07:00

What happens when you combine 100 baby chickens, a dog and a baby? Pure pandemonium.

Not too long ago I got pooped on by a baby chicken. I didn't think it was all too cute. Same thing happened last night. And I still didn't like it.

What was cute, though, was the fact that there were 100 baby chickens and a baby girl who was the center of all the attention.

Little Kenlee was the subject of all this mess and she didn't really care for the baby chickens either. We did produce a few pretty cute photographs of her and a few of the chickens and one really interested dog.

Shoes

2010-04-06T09:02:00.001-07:00

I have a fascination with shoes. I didn't realize it until recently but the things people put on their feet are so important of a detail that I'm not sure how I missed it!

We all have our own sense of fashion but we generally really express ourselves through what we put on our feet. My style a bit deranged and generally crappy overall. If you ask my wife or my mom or my twin sister - just about anyone actually - what my shoe style is...they will immediately say "all white sneakers." No questions asked...it's always all-white sneakers. What does that say about me? I'm really not sure but if anyone has a clue, let me know!

So in the past year I've really tried to give myself a requirement of doing a photograph of the subject's shoes to showcase who that person is. See if you can determine the type of person each is just by looking at the shoes.

New Displays at Captured Images

2010-04-01T07:58:00.000-07:00

With the wedding season already beginning and senior season just about ready to hit full force, we have started designing our new windows at the Captured Images storefront.

I'm not sure what our theme is but our studio printer has been cranking out the large prints that will fill the windows. We always try and print up quite a few larger prints and as you can tell below there are two 16x24 prints that have great color and will look amazing once sprayed and mounted!

I'm especially proud of these images because these are all my photos. Gary has several prints up to but it's pretty sweet seeing my stuff printed big.

There are lots of changes happening here so keep your eyes peeled for more and more exciting tidbits on the blog!

We have goals every year for our seniors and mine this year is to really bring my A+ game and produce some killer images! Get ready!!!!

Easter Special

2010-03-26T08:41:00.000-07:00

Well folks I got pooped on today. Yup...as in #2! Thankfully it was by a baby chicken. This, as I hope you can tell, is not an everyday occurrence.

What's the special occasion you ask? Well...tomorrow (Saturday, March 27) is the Easter Special at Captured Images, 118 S. Main St., Fort Scott. It's running from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. with no appointment necessary. Bring your kids and get a special Easter photo taken!!! Package prices range from $25 - $125 so there is something for everyone!

This year's background is country-themed with live baby chickens, a clothesline with KEY clothing hanging from it, a chicken coop and various other country-ish stuff.

Snowy Weekend

2010-03-22T10:16:00.000-07:00

Had the biggest snowfall in March that I can remember. Despite crazy low temps I photographed the birds in the backyard....the cardinals were out in force Saturday and Sunday!

Ellie

2010-03-17T14:24:00.000-07:00

The fantastic and bodacious Ellie visited me on Saturday for a special shoot.

Engagement - Aimee & Jesse

2010-03-17T08:44:00.000-07:00

Had a blast with Aimee and Jesse this past weekend. They are two of the easiest people I've ever posed. It's natural for them. Of course, being beautiful doesn't hurt the image quality either!

I'll be shooting their wedding in June 2010 in Nevada, Mo. Can't wait to spend more time with them and make beautiful images!

Favorite Winter Photograph

2010-03-12T14:09:00.000-08:00

I just realized I never got around to blogging about this photo here. Crazy story. Actually not really but now I have to live up to the hype and write something entertaining.

Okay, so most of you know that my favorite place in the area is this waterfall. For every 4 trips to this waterfall I might get 1-2 good images. That's it. This is one of them. At least in my mind!

I made this image about the time the sun went down. It was winter (Duh!!!) and there was plenty of ice (as you can undoubtedly see) and it was cold. And I was standing in the water. Somehow my feet didn't get soaked as I was wearing my $30 waterproof boots from Wal-Mart. Best $30 I ever spent!!!

Anyway this was shot at a pretty low ISO and low shutter speed with a 14mm aspherical lens.

Moore Family - Teaser

2010-03-10T11:51:00.000-08:00

The Moore Family was in the studio late last Fall. Their order is ready and it's going to be a few days before they can pick them up so I wanted to tease them just a bit and show a photo of a bunch of wallets spread on the sorting table. See you soon Stephanie!

Senior Photos - Ben

2010-03-09T13:29:00.000-08:00

Ben Ben Ben.

Seems like it took FOREVER for us to get our schedules matched up just right. But once we did it was glorious! He and I had a good time shooting Saturday morning in some of the nicest weather we've had in 2010.

Ben will graduate in May from Uniontown High School. He's a good kid and pretty witty...and even a bit of a daredevil. Thankfully I didn't get him killed during our photo shoot on the old railroad bridge. I'm sure his mom will appreciate that!

A Weekend of Fun Photos

2010-03-08T12:18:00.000-08:00

A death-defying stunt by hanging off the side of an old railroad bridge that spans the Marmaton River. Don't even think about asking where it's located...

Hello Mr. Hawk...
THIS is why I love my front yard. Every night...we get something like this...and a good view of the distant Wal-Mart parking lot.

Baby #2

2010-03-03T13:07:00.000-08:00

My wife and I are having a baby! Woot woot. We've known this since a few weeks before Christmas but I don't know if I've made it official, aka put it on THE BLOG!

We already have one child - her name is Mocha and she's a cocker spaniel. You laugh....she's more spoiled than most human beings. She sleeps with us. Pukes on the floor. Pees on visitors. Essentially, we should be prepared....though she hasn't ever worn a diaper...

In less than two weeks we will find out if its a girl or a boy. My preference? Health and adorable.

I used to want a girl to spoil. Lately, though, I've been hearing that boys are easier to raise. So I'll take one of those please!

Early on we had a sonogram to check if it was a single child or multiples. Thankfully it came back saying there was only in there! I'm a twin...so I wanted to make sure early if I should stick around or run for the border. I'll be sticking around...

Two weeks from today is the official sonogram so we will know if its a boy or girl....photos soon!

Gunn Park Turns 100 This Year

2010-02-18T13:17:00.000-08:00

Gunn Park will celebrate it's 100th birthday this year. What started out as a normal park (in my mind) 10 years ago when I first came to Fort Scott has now turned into a magical place of beauty and endless creative possibility.

It's a go-to location for any type of portraits, regardless of the time of year. The flowers bloom in spring, there's plenty of shade in the summer, the fall colors are phenomenal and the snow sits untouched in the winter. It's a photographer's oasis.

Here's a look at a few images taken throughout the park.

Chef Michael Richardson

2010-02-17T09:20:00.000-08:00

For the past few months I've been involved in a project with Michael Richardson, who is publishing a cookbook. Back in the fall I shot the first images that he planned to use for the back cover of the book and since then we have completed two additional shoots for the same purposes as well as for cover photos, inside images and marketing materials as well.

The title of the book is not yet complete so I won't spoil anything and write it here. What I can tell you is that it's going to be an amazing book, printed and bound just as nicely as any other book you can buy. It's going to be twice as thick for a similar price of a book with half the recipes.

It comes out in June! I'll be updating more and more as the design is complete. It's exciting to be a part of!

Wyatt - 1 Year Old

2010-02-12T14:31:00.000-08:00

Truth is, this kid NEVER stops moving.

Mom and Dad are always on the move as well, trying to keep him out of trouble. This is typical of most 1 year old boys. I couldn't have asked for better interaction with Wyatt and the camera, as he hammed it up the ENTIRE shoot. I shot over 100 images but trimmed it down to around 50 just to make it manageable to edit. Like his moving, his smile never stops either.

Here he is trying to catch up to mom as she walked out of view.

Beeping the non-existent horn! So cute.

All-Star Model - Carissa

2010-02-11T11:43:00.000-08:00

Carissa really helped me get out of a jam Sunday. I've been working on a photo spread for a bridal mag issue coming out later this month and I really really really needed someone to "trash" their dress. Due to sickness two of my other models couldn't make it to shoot so I did a bit of last minute scrambling and Carissa came through in a big way!

Despite the name of the session (Trash the Dress) we never actually trashed it. It looks the same now as it did when we began plus maybe a bit of dirt.

Fabulous 15 - Jessie

2010-02-08T14:51:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I had the real pleasure of photographing the world's biggest Green Day fan. Her name is Jessie and she plans to someday marry the lead singer of her favorite band. My promise to her last year was that the next time I was in Coral Springs, Florida (near Ft Lauderdale), I would give her a photo shoot as her birthday gift - She would turn 15 a few days after the photo shoot.

She's full of smiles, charm and a little bit of attitude. And she loves Chuck Taylor's - the same shoes I wore in my wedding. How could a person not like her?

I've never had the opportunity to photograph a person in front of palm fronds, so I made good use of a grove right behind her. Love the texture and patterns.

My favorite image from the shoot.

I've always loved it when there's a slight wind during a shoot. The wind was pretty calm during the shoot but it picked up just enough to throw a few pieces of hair over her eyes ... perfect!

Life + Style - Fort Scott

2010-02-05T13:53:00.000-08:00

Jim and Cynthia, owners of a new gourmet store in Fort Scott, called a few weeks back in hopes of getting a few images for some advertising they would be doing in a local publication. I was happy to oblige. I've never really been much of a cook but I've always had a fascination for the utensils used in preparing the food.

For the above shot, I used quite a few mini spatulas to make this circular shape on their hardwood floors.

A few months back when I first visited the store I immediately fell in love with the clock and had to make a photo of it!

Life + Style can be found at www.fslifeplusstyle.com.

Stevi - 18 months

2010-02-03T12:21:00.000-08:00

Stevi is one of the most beautiful toddlers I've ever photographed. If everyone had eyes like her, we photographers would always be a happy bunch!

When her mother emailed me and asked to do a shoot in her wedding dress I immediately thought it would be an awesome shoot. But then I realized I'd never seen any images like what she was requesting before and didn't have any clue where to start! Luckily, when we pulled the dress out Stevi immediately found an interest in playing with it...just goes to show that a few sparkles will always catch the eye of a

Haiti - $10 Can Make a Difference

2010-01-25T10:22:00.000-08:00

The people of Haiti need help and I feel powerless.

I am at home, sitting in complete comfort. There are very few real worries. My wife is here with me and my bills are paid. There is food on our table and will be for as long as we need. Our roof is solid and our bed comfortable and warm.

More importantly - all of those things are present in our lives. We have beds. We have food. We have water. Our lives are blessed more than we deserve. We have more than we need.

Those in Haiti have fear. Some know they have lost family members while others are still searching for theirs. They have little to eat. They have no homes to go to. They have very little, if anything at all.

I feel powerless because I can't be there to help. There's nothing I can do sitting on my couch...or that's how many of us feel.

But the fact is, I'm not powerless. I can donate $10. So can you. And when we all give, it gives us immense power. It gives us power to help many, many people.

And that gives the people of Haiti the chance for hope. And so now they have something. They have hope. And hope can overcome anything.

Text "Haiti" to 90999 and a $10 donation will be made to the American Red Cross.

Engagement - Amanda & Blake

2010-01-22T14:36:00.000-08:00

Amanda radiates amazing vibes. It's one of those unexplainable qualities. I know her so very little that I can't really tell you much about her except that she and her dude are in love! But in the short time I got to photograph her and her fiance, Blake, I felt like she was a person that others gravitate to. Sorry to leave you out Blake...you were awesome too! I like nice people. They are more fun to photograph!

Great light. Great kiss. Great photo!

I asked Blake to use his amazing muscular ability to fling her around, which he did quite well. But my camera didn't focus in time on the PERFECT moment and we never got it back. No worries. I like it fuzzy as well!

This was my favorite image from the shoot. There's something very perfect about it, something that says she feels safe where she is. And that to me is amazing.

The Fabulous and Beautiful Brittany

2010-01-13T12:30:00.000-08:00

This is Brittany.
She's ALWAYS up for a fun, unscripted photo shoot. There wasn't much direction here except that she had to wear her wedding gown.

This is my favorite photo (below). There's a bit of attitude (come on ladies, we know you all have a LITTLE) and a hint of sexy as well. She's going to be a beautiful bride come May 8. She's marrying her long-time beau, Steven, near Lawrence, KS. Cant' wait!!!

Out for Delivery

2010-01-13T12:26:00.000-08:00

Something new I'm going to be trying is to photograph myself signing large pieces before they go out the door. It's fun (for me) to see the larger prints in person...it's so hard to see something on the computer and realize how it would look in a big print but hopefully this shows the true size of it!

I'll be delivering this to a client in Kansas City early next week...I think they will be pleased!

Gary and Ky - Engagement

2009-12-21T13:16:00.003-08:00

I've been working a lot in the cold thanks to several engagement sessions. I can't complain. The light has been phenomenal, especially for the session of Gary and Ky.

Engagement - Mike and Jai

2009-12-15T18:48:00.000-08:00

What a shoot! 4 hours of photography wears a guy out! Mike and Jaime spent the weekend in Fort Scott for their photo shoot. We knew it was going to be a big shoot and it turned out to be an amazing time - except for the weather didn't cooperate like we had hoped. It would have been nice to have 80 degree temps but instead we got 30s!!!

They were troopers and hung with it and I'm glad they did because some of my favorite shots were taken outdoors.

I stole the above pose from Vanity Fair and loved the way it turned out. Mike's the perfect match for Jaime and she is the perfect match for him. I'm glad we know them so well and got the opportunity to photograph them before their big day - May 15, 2010!

Engagement - CK & Sydney - Blue Springs, Missouri

2009-12-08T10:37:00.001-08:00

I used to catch frogs and build the most amazing hay forts with CK when we were just tiny little farts running around grandpa's farm. There were near-death experiences - including but not limited to: fingers hanging by threads after playing with knives, rolled ATVs, making too much noise late at night and countless others.

My life has been blessed - I can call my cousins my best friends. It's great to know that you can count on them when needed. CK was my best man when I married Megan. He was the first person I wanted to call when I proposed. Even though we live a few hours apart and don't see each other often, I know that if needed he would be there.

So I really didn't give he and his fiance much of a choice when they began planning their wedding - I was going to be their photographer, regardless of how they felt.

On Saturday I met them at their home in Blue Springs, Mo., for an engagement shoot. We did most of the images in Lees Summit but my favorite photo was taken in their home. I used paint to write words on their arms as they embraced...and well...here is the result and the cleanup afterwards.

Blinn defeats FSCC For NJCAA National Title

2009-12-08T09:54:00.001-08:00

Blinn's Cameron Newton superman's into the endzone for the game's first touchdown. I don't care how good this kid may have been (He backed up Tim Tebow at Florida), he's a punk. All day long he walked around like he was a Greek god.

Newton races past an FSCC defender.

FSCC's Jasmin Hopkins was named the offensive MVP of the game after rushing for more than 3,000 (He actually rushed for an astonishing 210) yards against Blinn. He was a total animal but even that couldn't keep Blinn from winning.

The Eden Family - Fort Scott

2009-12-02T08:42:00.000-08:00

Where to begin?

I've known Jon since I left the womb - he's my cousin and been one of my best friends for as long as I can remember. Not many of my greatest memories happened without him. We've camped together, beat each senseless with foam toys in the pool, golfed together and I doubt it ... but it's always possible we've even streaked together. Doubtful though. We also used to have a jackalope when we lived together in college. Life has been a treat for sure....

I've photographed Jon and his wife, Meredith, several times over the past 3 years (They were married one week after Megan and I). This was the first family photo they have had with their 3 month old Kenlee, named after me of course! ;)

Cagle Family - Olathe

2009-12-01T13:06:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since I photographed the Cagle family. I first photographed Madalyn as a toddler and she was quite the little model.

A few years later I photographed Braedon and Nicole in their wedding near the Country Club Plaza in KC.

Fast forward to present times and I had the opportunity to photograph the newest addition, Vannah, as well as the entire family for the Christmas card. We had a great time shooting outdoors and then around the Christmas tree in their living room.

A beautiful family! I look forward to more shoots in the years to come.

Vannah - 1.5 years old and a little cutie!

Madalyn - ALMOST 7!!! She was one of two flower girls in my wedding 3.5 years ago.

Madalyn peeks through the Christmas tree as she hangs her favorite ornaments. My favorite image from the shoot.

Florida Vacation Redux

2009-11-24T16:38:00.000-08:00

It's been super hush-hush the past few months because of a surprise Megan and I were hoping to pull off but finally it's all over and I can talk about it.

We returned home from Florida - Boca Raton to be exact - Monday night after a vacation to stay with several family members. Amy's 40th birthday is in December and we wanted to surprise her so we arranged to fly in for a few days and stay with her and the family. She was shocked!

Megan flew in on Wednesday and I flew in on Friday - twice the surprise!

Most of our time was spent shopping and eating - Felt Family Professions.

Scott took me to a beach and pier at sunrise on Sunday morning so I could photograph and see my first ever ocean sunrise. I wasn't let down one bit. Here are a few of my favorites. The first is titled "Our Love Won't Be Washed Away".

Fort Scott Community College #1 in the nation

2009-11-19T11:14:00.001-08:00

I Had the pleasure of photographing several of the core members of the Fort Scott Community College Greyhounds football team on Wednesday evening. This shoot took place for a few reasons - 1. They are the top ranked team in the nation; 2. The photos would look great in the local paper; and 3. For an agency I shoot for. I thought there would be a lot of interest locally and possibly nationally.

QB Dominique Davis and RB Jasmin Hopkins

LB Lavonte David

The prospective all-americans.

Kansas loses 5th straight

2009-11-17T07:47:00.000-08:00

After starting the season 5-0, the Kansas Jayhawks have lost their last 5 games with the most recent being to Nebraska at home this past Saturday. It was disappointing to say the least...