Why I do what I do

Everyone (at least who has commented) has been just so sweet to me regarding the "new brand."I'll be honest, I love it.  I know how I think and how I like things and when my blog opens up and I see it I think "Yes! That's exactly what I like!" 
So, why the re-brand right now?  Lot's of reasons.So let me tell you one of them.
A reason I re-branded was for all the grooms I have ever shot and will ever shoot.  I wanted the real, emotional, overwhelming wedding day feelings to be noticed more than ever.

It's for each groom who has been frozen, wide-eyed, at the end of the aisle, waiting for his bride.For each groom who can say "When she walks in the room, I can hardly breathe.  She's got a devastating smile that knocks a grown man to his knees."

It's for the men who see their lady and are stunned.Who see her and feel like they don't deserve the woman walking down to them.

To all the lip-biters who wait with racing hearts, knowing that she is coming down that aisle to marry you.

To the men who gasp and fall apart like dollar-store sunglasses when she looks straight into your eyes, with her perfect smile.
To those who can only wipe streaming tears from their eyes.
Physical pain, hard days, bad jobs, and mean friends can't get those tears out of you.  But her? You can't help yourself.

To the men who can only  smile and smile -- and even let out a hearty laugh -- as they lock gaze with their precious girl.  You know you have a lifetime to love her, enjoy her, protect her, help her and grow with her, and that makes your face light up because it's her.

I am in this business (with this new brand) because I know that this isn't the first time she has startled you when she has walked in the room.  I know that her presence can make everything sweeter, better and more wonderful.  I know that you will see her walk into many more rooms for the rest of your life.  Maybe as you come home from a day at work, and she's just thrilled to see you.Maybe someday she'll have a big ol' belly when she comes in.Maybe she'll be in smelly pajama's with a child on her hip.Maybe she'll come in with a tear-stained face after a hard day.Maybe she'll walk to your dinner table with a plate of food that tastes terrible that she tried so hard to make for you.Maybe she'll return from a quick "freshen up"  in the restroom on your 20th anniversary date, beaming with a mature, stunning elegance.Maybe she will hobble in with her walker one day, and you won't even know it because you are losing your hearing.
But you will still look at her the same way, because she's yours.

Joe and Janette - Wedding

"Hey girls, do you like my pocket square!"
"Baaahah! Daaad!"
I didn't really get the joke, and I was busy saying my "Hello, how are you's" but from the second I walked into Janette's wedding day, I didn't want to leave.

Janette prepped at her grandmothers lovely lakehouse in Gettysburg, PA. Donned in her light J.Crew wedding dress and her mother's vintage cathedral length veil, Janette and I strolled outside where the rumble of a motorboat and the screams of an inner-tuber kept us company. The sun was shining, the grass was green and today she was the bride.

It was funny though, as elegant and stunning as Janette looked, it almost felt like she was 5-years-old playing dress-up. She still only comes about half-way up her dad and can't weigh much more than an elementary school student. She still points out butterflies, "ruins" pictures by making silly faces and skips/hops in her backyard.

I wonder how many evenings were spent in this very yard, with little child-Janette running around in her swimsuit. I wonder how many times she drank lemonade and crunched on ice cubes overlooking this very lake.

Joe entered "little Janette's" world and has gone ahead and put "the icing" cookies, candy and ice cream bars on top of her "cake." Basically, her life was pretty sweet before. Now it's almost too sweet to handle. God has placed her "boundary lines in pleasant places." And I'm sure Joe likes how it all has worked out :D

I drove Janet from Grandma's house to the church. What did we do along the way? Well, we sang "In Christ Alone" with the Getty's. And we ran into a sunny Penn State field, overgrown with joy and happy. And we talked and laughed. I would have to say, God has put my lines in pleasant places too. Goodness!

We arrived at the church to find some charming little details:



This, ladies and gentleman, is one reason why I love weddings. Pictures like these.
You can't pose that. You can't re-do that. And you certainly can miss this moment.
I love that I get to be there to freeze this memory.

Ready for everybody's favorite? His face.
He sees her. She's coming to meet him. And I'm calling it, one of these days some poor guys head is going to float off like a balloon at the fair. I love these precious faces:

But really, how can you not react so sweetly when you see this little thing smiling at you?

Joe and Janette decided to have their wedding party just be their brothers. The boys were all so fun (and man oh man - zero drama! Taking pictures with no heels is amazing! haha)

Sometimes Janette wants to be cool?

Another "wedding favorite" picture. Janette's mom came over to talk with Joe and say how happy she was for him. Janette looked so proud of her man. She really stared at him so adoringly and I loved it :D

It was very important for Joe and Janette to have pictures with their parents, so we pulled them out to the middle of a Gettysburg battle field. Doesn't get more perfect than that!

Ohhh yes, yees please.

I'm pretty sure they wanted to stay there all day. They, like, wouldn't move haha

I don't know what it is about this one I love so much, but I keep coming back to it over and over.

Pfffft. Would you stop being so perfect already?

Ah great, go pull a forehead kiss on me.
My little heart can't take this!

I really love them so much.
Isn't adorable how he loves to hold her so close?







Prob my fave of the day - because it's pretty much exactly what the day felt like :D

Let's end with one more "hold her close" picture. That sounds good to me :D

I just totally love you guys. Joe and Janette, you really are amazing! I hope marriage has been wonderful the last few days, and I hope it only gets better :D

The Little Things

Photography changes the way I see my day-in day-out life. I notice things differently.

I mentally crop and clone-tool things with my eyes, I notice light on my friends faces as we talk, I think about how I am going to word my blog posts.
And thinking that way makes life a touch more "magical" - it's fun to look for the good in the normal, the special in the ordinary.

Back about 17 years ago (joke) when I attended Jasmine Star's workshop, I met up with some photographer pholks (;D) and had a lovely evening on the Balboa pavilion.

Now, if I had gone that night "pre photography" I probably would have complained about how cold it was. I probably would have noticed how most the shops were closed, and how the three that were open were had SUCH long lines. I might have been upset to come all the way to California, only to have it be a rainy muggy day.

But walking around that night with my "photography eyes" I noticed how the water was a really pretty green. How the empty beach was so peaceful. How the colorful signs just popped compared to the soft, dingy sky. How everything was so cute and 1950's. (ps. Pretty sure Jessica Claire got engaged on that ferris wheel...)

How precious this little couple was. I've always wanted to go on dates to the beach, and Maryland's closest beach is about 3 hours away, so it's not likely that will happen.
But I liked that these two got to stroll around together on a date.

WAIT! Did he juuust?!

NO. He. Didn't.

That is stinking awwwesome! I was freaking out I was so excited. And I was all teary and chill-y.
How cute and exciting and random is that?

Our group just so happened to be walking by, and I just so happened to notice this cute couple on a date at the beach. And it made my day.
Yeah, that has to be an amazing feeling :D

Those little moments make me want to pay attention to whats going on around me more often.
Did that change my life? No.
But it changed theirs! And that's so exciting! Plus, it made me smile :D
I wonder how many times I rush through life or complain about my circumstances, and I miss something sweet or exciting.

Now I am off to our church's youth retreat to spend some time with my brother and sister, friends and whipped cream.

See ya!

Jason and Melinda - Married

"Confetti falling down all night
She's my kind of rain"
-- tim mcgraw

Who remembers Joe and Janette? Here's the scoop.
J & J have these awesome, married friends named Jason and Melanie.
Jason and Melinda are adorable, hysterical and madly in love.

However, they had a really, really bad photographer for their wedding (6 years ago).
They don't like the pictures, but even worse he was a criminal posing as a photographer. WAY sad.

Jason knew how badly his dear wife wanted good pictures of them together.
He pulled an Extra Awesome Husband Card out of his stash and gave me a call.
Since they were in town for J&J's wedding, it worked perfectly to meet up and do a fun "married" session!

They met 9 years ago at a restaurant where they both worked.
Melinda was new in town and wanted to find a good church to go to.
Jason was more than happy to bring her to church. What a saint.

"Did you like her right away?" I asked.
"Ha. OOoooh yeah. Yes. Yes I did." Jason smiled back.
"Haha nice! Melinda, did you like him right away?" I asked.
In her happy, high-pitched little voice "Mmmm! Uh huh! I very much did. We really have been together ever since."

Wa-la! Walk into work one day and then spend forever with the one you love. Sounds like a plan to me!

Goodness do they fit perfectly together. They laugh and tease, smile and roll in the grass. They skip and make little animal noises. In fact, here are their "cweatures." Cweatures walk all over the place and sometimes jump on each other.

I just really, really love laughing. And watching people laugh.

I guess kisses at sunset are alright too ;D



Waaaatch out! Look at these little fashionistas!

A little different, but I love the feel of this one :D

Smooch!

Aw, doesn't he look all manly with his gorgeous wifey in his arms?
And, sheesh, Melinda. You are SO gorgeous!

And the grand finale will be a little secret :D
(He told her her dogs were drowning. SO awful! haha but funny ;D)

You two were great and if I am ever in your area I will def have to stop by and say hello!
Hugs!

Paul and Mary

"sometimes bombs fall quietly..."
-- jason reeves

It was a crisp week in New York City, and I was enjoying hanging out with my buds at PhotoPlus. I was 17 and basically the wide-eyed-wonder-girl (I shoulda had a cape!). I had never been to a "photography convention" and I loved it. One evening, a group of us went to hang out with DJ in his sweet suite. All these "big names" kept strolling in. Me Ra Koh. Becker. Jessica Claire. Dane Sanders. I was excited, overwhelmed, an idiot and wearing too much blush.

Trying to find someone else in my element, I started talking with DJ's videographer, Paul Rogers - a nice, Christian, home-schooled guy from the middle of the country. That night when we left the get-together, my friends and I talked about who Paul would marry. "She'll be the nicest girl eeeever. He's such a great guy. I bet he'll marry this awesome, strong, sweetheart. He totally will."

Cue Mary Segreti.
Tough as nails, sweet as pie and perfect for Paul.

If you are facebook friends with Paul, you have probably seen the endless status messages with every variation of: "I love my best friend Mary Sgereti!"

Paul is one of 12 kids, as is Mary (she actually has 11 brothers! Maaaaan!). I think being a part of a big family helps people take life in stride. Little things don't stress you out, and the calm moments are extra special.

They were soooo hurt-my-heart cute. Paul just couldn't get enough of Mary.

He never took his eyes off of her, he rarely stopped touching her. He kissed her, whispered to her, laughed with her, hugged her. And sweet Mary smiled and kissed and hugged back.

I love them.

We went up to the mountain where they got engaged. Eh, it was alright. It'll do I guess ;D
For real, it was AMAZING.

Aren't they the most precious?! I want to put them in a locket!

And we will end with a big, romantic hug. Yes? Yes.

Congratulations Paul and Mary! Make sure you enjoy your wedding today :D Deal?

Pam and Allen

Like I said for their engagement shoot post, I loved Pam and Allen instantly.
I loved how comfortable they made me feel, how down-to-earth they are, how "best friend ish" they are together.

I love that they are highschool sweethearts. And that Allen had a really fab haircut back in the day ;D
But seriously, their wedding was pretty much as wonderful as I pictured it would be.

Pam got ready at her house and I don't think I can count how many times I was offered something to eat and drink. "Take a seat, Kristen! You are working so hard!" "Is this enough light for you?" "Let me get out of your way!" Pam and her family are so other's focused and are just the most pleasant, dear people.

And Pam herself, well, she couldn't have looked more stunning. MY jaw was dropping and all I could think was "Oh, just wait until Allen sees her!"

It was quite a moment when Pam's mom put her veil on. Mom was holding one hand over her heart and the other over her quivering mouth. Pam's sister was staring at her with huge adoring eyes. Everyone else had tears swimming along their eyelids. I had chills. Oh Pam, you were just a magnificent bride.

You really were. And sweet as a lollipop!


Ps. Aren't her flowers to die for?!

I love all the little pops of color! Blue and red and green and light pinks and creams! Oh so lovely.

I just look at this picture and smile. How happy?!

Remember how I couldn't wait for Allen to see her? Mmyeah, he couldn't stop looking at her. Cutest thing of my life.

My favorite part is when they are married. It's done. Vows made, promises committed and they are husband and wife. Loooove it :D

This is one of my new all-time favorite pictures. I love the colors, the lace, the ring on his hand, the simple romance - it's all so wonderful.

Married secrets are probably really good ones. At least they make for pretty pictures, so I like them!


I LOVED their venue. Such a pretty church! I could have shot here all day!

Sadly, it was raining during most of the pictures at the church...

... but, in a very happy turn of events, by the time we made it to the reception, it was perfection!

So we grabbed some more pictures in the hazy, wet summer sun

I tend to think smiles are extra pretty when there is sunshine around. But maybe it's just me...

Sometimes I can be artsy-fartsy if I want to.

And one last breathe-in-deep-sweet-one. Yes please :D

Time for ze party (that was decorated very nicely! I was spellbound by the flowers. LOVED them. Also loved the little Lego cake topper that Allen made :D How cute?)

One of my favorite parts of their reception was when Pam's sister (along with her buddy) gave a toast to Pam and Allen. It was so special and so happy - I know it meant a lot to Pam.

And we'll close with a happy dancing picture. I love how they are surrounded by their friends, yet so "into" each other. Just how it should be :D

You guys were wonderful and I am so excited for you! Congratulations!

Brand Inspiration

With the dawning of this new score of life (hehe. Abraham Lincoln and I are pals?) I have decided to take the opportunity to re-brand my business.  After J-Star's lovely workshop a few months ago, I got busy sketching, doodling, idea-ing and making plans for the new "me."
I hired David from Smrvl to make my fabulous new logo (as seen on all my latest pictures).Myntd is on the job working on my new ShowIt site.Katie Jo is being a dear and has been hired to make my new blog.Photographers Reel and SmithPixels are in charge of the new promo video.And I came up with my name (yes, my neeew name. Kristen Leigh Photography is getting left behind with teenage me.)
I feel like this was the perfect time to re-do everything.  In this last year, I have really been able to nail down what I want my business to scream.  I can take a picture and know if it goes with my brand. I feel like I can articulate exactly what I am going for through words and pictures.In this whole process I made an "inspiration board" that I feel like gathers all the feelings I want my company to contain.

Fun.Adorable.Hysterical.Ridiculously cute.Hold-your-hand-over-your-heart-tear-up-and-say-"Aw!"
That's what I am going for.  I briefly scanned through some of my last blog posts, and I feel like these pictures really do nail the inspiration board on the head.




Yes? I think so.

It's like all the feelings I get when I go to the fair with my best friend.If I could get that in a photograph, I would sing a sing a song of sixpence.
I do have those best-friend-fair feelings nearby.  Because on our way home from a wedding a few weeks ago, we found a fair.  We were tired and smelly.  It had rained that day.  We were still a way's from home.  But there was a FAIR.  We had to find it.  The possibility of riding on swings was to strong to resist.
We pulled into our muddy parking space and voila! Swings.
Lydia and I love swings.  I don't know what it is exactly about them (I really do hate spinny rides.)  But somehow the lame, ice cream truck music that plays, and the stomach dropping feeling, the wiggling toes, the clinking of all the chains, and the 360 view of the park along with pretending to fly, or trying to kick your friends seat without the ride operator seeing, makes it a wonderful ride for us.

It makes us so utterly happy.

Even just walking around a fair has that "utterly happy" effect.  Life is a little slower, children are buying ice cream, and there are colorful lights.  What could you not like?!

We kind of look like Winnie the Pooh and Jane Austen, but we're happy :D

Our last ride of the day was the joyous ferris wheel. 

We almost broke our faces from being so excited.

And that's the goal with my new up-coming brand. It should make you that excited.

Birthday Countdown

Today is officially two until weeks until August 20, my 20th birthday.(Go Golden Birthday! It's your birthday! Yeah.YEah.)I'm not gonna lie, it's crazy to me that I'm about to be 20.
20. What on eeearth?One day, back years ago, when I was eight, I was sitting in my messy room, leaning on the window sill watching life unfold in my neighborhood.Mother's loading up their vans to run errands, mailmen delivering dreaded bills, lawns filling with weeds, squirrels wreaking havoc in the automobile world, men pulling home from a long day at work. I was intrigued.
Then, coming down the sidewalk was Haley Brighten's older sister.
She was sooOooo cool.
She had her blonde hair and brown roots in a high messy bun. She was wearing tight jeans and a short pink shirt. And she was walking all by herself on the sidewalk near the road. Ohhh sigh. "I can't wait until I'm 13. I want to be 13 so so so so bad!"
I had this earth-shattering desire to be a teenager. And couldn't wait. I tried to imagine how cool and beautiful I would look when I turned 13. (The glorious picture of my imagination is definitely not what happened in reality)"Mom, I can't WAIT to be 13!"

The wise sage that is my mother told me "Kristen, trust me, someday you are going to wish you could be eight again. Growing up happens too fast, and you are only a kid once. Before you know it you'll be 20. Enjoy this now."
I kind of "hmmphgrred" my little child-self back to the window and watched Haley Brighten's sister fade into the distance. "But I wanna be big now."
I distinctly remember sitting there and thinking about that. Will I really be 20 in the blink of an eye? Will I really wish I could go back to being eight? Will growing up happen fast? What will happen in my life before I turn 20? And most importantly, will I be cool as a teenager?
World, I have answers.
Yes, it happened in the blink of an eye.Yes, sometimes I do wish I could be eight again.Yes, this growing up thing is happening much too quickly.
Since I was eight, I have moved three times, had the joy of becoming big sister to three more kids (making that seven Snyder children!), I have graduated highschool, played and coached 25+ seasons of sports, started my business, traveled ALL over the country and enjoyed the company of my darling friends :D
I've seen my mom lose her mother to breast cancer. I've also feared losing my mom to breast cancer (she's almost in remission!)My soccer coach and best friend's mom is now enjoying the glories of Heaven, as are the two babies that we never got to hold (And Grandpa George, Darcy, Micah, Chase, Alivia, to name just a few who are missed).
I've been with friends in hospitals, memorial services, and graveyards. I've cried on the phone, cried in the bathroom at church, cried in the car - regarding anything from lost phones to heartbroken woes.
Do I share these sob stories to make life seem horribly gloomy? Not at all. I say it because when I think back on the last 20 years, I hardly think of these difficult things.
"For you will not much remember the days of your life,
because God has kept you occupied with joy in your heart."
Ecclesiastes 5:20
It's so very true. God has kept me occupied with the joy - how can I be upset, when I see all He has done?! He's been quick to show even a little good in what seems like a dreadful situation. And oh, goodness, my life has been so wonderful! Such a blessing! He has been so kind to me and I don't deserve one bit of the goodness I have been given.
One thing I have learned is that life just doesn't go like you have planned, and I'm sure the ideas and notions I have about the next 20 years are going to be blown out of the water. It will probably be harder than I am picturing, and also much better and more wonderful. I'm excited :D
Oh, and no. I was not cool as a teenager. However, I can walk on the sidewalk by the road alone now, so, yeah. Don't be jealous.

Chris and Connie - Wedding!

"The sight of you leaves me weak,
There are no words left to speak"
-- lauryn hill
...

...
Do you remember my dear, dear art teacher from this post (she has a name. Connie. And her man is Chris. Theeey are awesome)
Anywho. She got married. She had a wedding. And she was the bride.
I think she somehow turned 5 on the morning of the big day, because she was grinning from ear-to-ear and hopping around like a rabbit. It was soooooo cute!

Connie's amazing bridesmaids MADE the boquets on the morning of the wedding. Pfh, take that bridesmaids. Game on! Connie's friends are awesome :D

And since I know Connie loves her bold, strong color - and was flipping out all day about her beautiful red flowers - I will show them off to you all. Stunning much?

This corn is an angel (Any Dan In Real Life fans out there? Yes?)

Oh Connie, you look dazzling. I really don't think you could have possibly looked better. I think you knocked Chris's socks off - poor guy ;D


As a photographer, I tend to fall asleep at night and have "photographer dreams." I go to do a shoot, the couple is amazing, the pictures are perfect and I can't WAIT to put them on my computer. And then it's a dream. It's the worst.
But these pictures are like my dreams. PERfect! I couldn't ask for anything better!


Ooooo gorg :D

You know how I love emotional, teary moments. Siiigh.
Chris wrote Connie a note before the wedding. She just saw the envelope and lost it.
Then I lost it.
I love those little wedding moments - it's what makes my job the best in the world.

Off to get maaaaarried! And become a wiiiife!

Connie made the back-drop for the ceremony. How fabulous is it? I adore it.

More tears (I believe these are unity candle tears :D)

We had a special red-barn custom ordered for the pictures ;D

If it was possible, being with Chris made Connie even more lovely.

And they were so giggly and mushy together. It was WAY fun seeing them like that.

Mmmm. Very nice.

(ps. We even found a red shed for the background! Yay!)

Red reception details - basically perfect in every way!

The reception had some amazing dancing (Chris and Connie have some PARTYanimal friends! Sheesh!) It was a blast :D It started to pour down rain....

... So naturally they went out and danced in the rain :D :D :D They spoil me.

Then God spoiled me with summer post-rain light. It was misty and golden and silky and romantic. Every romantic-comedy-director and set-team are jealous of us right now. But wait.

There was a rainbow!!!!
Doesn't every little girl picture that?
"I want a knight in shining armor aaand a pony aaaand a princess dress aaaand a rainbow!"


Chris and Connie - it was pure JOY to be a part of your day and I loved every second. Congratulations!
Ps. Thanks to Lydia Jane for second-shooting! She's just the best :D
Enjoy the show!

Abs and Sarah - Wedding

"If I was a flower growing wild and freeAll I'd want is you to be my sweet honey bee."- barry polisar
Sarah and Abs are my little goofball couple.  They really are.Like cartoons!  They are SO funny!Except that they are gorgeous, with amazing taste.So, when you find a cartoon series like that, let me know.  Because that's what they are like.(ps. Aren't her green Charles by Charles David shoes fantastic?!)

Their wedding took place at the awesomely fab Torpedo Art Gallery in Alexandria, VA.  Laura Auer of Wish Special Events coordinated the day and it was simply perfect!
The moments before the wedding was filled with inside jokes, ripped dresses, "Maybe Jooo-lisa, Always the same, That's not my name!" and big, gorgeous smiles.
Wooo-eee!  What a drop-dead-stunning group of ladies.(And really, really they were SO funny!)
Sarah could not have looked more beautiful.  Plus, her attitude all day was so calm, excited and wonderful.  She was the opposite of Bridezilla.  She was beaming :D
I'm pretty sure that all the people who were walking around the pier in Alexandria were trying to figure out which celebrity Sarah was.   "There is a celebrity wedding today!" Nope, just gorgeous Sarah's wedding!
Pffft. I'm already bridesmaid jealous.  So won't look as great as these girls when I am a bridesmaid next month! Oh well hehe
This was great - an awesome guitar player started singing a wedding song for Sarah as she walked back into the gallery."Ooooh, have a greeeaat weeeedding!It's beautiful today and your weeedding!"
Aaaand back to the hysterical-cartoon part ;DBy the way, Abs and his groomsmen were some of the kindest gentleman ever at a wedding.  They listened to what I said and were so helpful!  Thanks guys!
And now it's wedding time!During the ceremony they had a very adorable poem read.  You should read it too:
"I wrote a good omelet,And ate a hot poem,After loving you.
Buttoned my car, And drove my coat home, in the rain, After loving you"

"I goed on red, and stopped on green,

Floating somewhere in between, 

Being here and being there,

After loving you."

"I rolled my bed, turned down my hair

Slightly confused, but I don't care.

Laid out my teeth and gargled my gown,

Then I stood and laid me down to sleep,

After loving you."

I wish I could shoot married couples every day. It's absolutely wonderful.

Especially awesome couples. Awesome cartoon-like couples with excellent taste who like adorable poems and make hysterical faces. Hahah Oh they make me laugh.

Mr. Random Stranger wanted a quick pic. Um, ok?

A little dark romantic blur never hurt anyone :D

MmmmMmm, yes please!

Gorgeous!!!

And then the ridiculously awesome details (Thanks again Laura!)

I'm missing words again - I don't know what to say! Aaah!

Mi bella fantastica woopwoop amamamzing!

The reception had delicious food brought to us by: Windows Catering Company! Yummmmy!

And there were also very heart-felt, meaningful toasts where the idea of "home" was echoed time and time again. It was very sweet :D

And we will end the post with Sarah and Abs just being themselves on the dance floor. Love it:

Congratulations Sarah and Abs!  Thanks for letting me celebrate with you - you both are awesome :D

Neil and Jessica - Married Shoot

"Kiss me in sweet slow motion
Let's let everything slide,
You've got me floating,
You've got me flyin!"
-- faith hill

I just. Iiiii just need more words. I am going to pull a Shakespeare and start making new words.
(Clearly Shakespeare and I are the same, right? Of course.)

Jessica is my ridicuful (ridiculously beautiful) friend. There is so much that I love about her, so in no particular order: She loves Jesus, but isn't "Ahem. Holier than you." She is kind, loving and genuine. She is a very, very talented dancer, but doesn't brag about it. She is is married and committed to her wonderful husband, Neil. 5 years now :D She is also a momma to Mini-Jess and Mini-Neil. They are her little buds and it's special to see this young, gorgeous lady taking care of her husband and kids :D

I also love her because for her 5 year anniversary she wanted to do a shoot in her wedding dress.
Of course she still fits into it. Duh.
I'm gonna fit into mine 5 years after marriage, too.
(Upside down, though. The big bustle can go around my waist and the top can go around my ankles. That will be so attractive ;D joooke jooke)

The timing couldn't have been better for this "5th Anniversary Shoot" since I needed models for my interns.
All week long I was looking for a carnival to do this shoot at. I was online googling my fingers off.
I found nothing :(
Boohoo.

But wait! Hark!
Is that a maiden fair,
Beheld with love
At county fair?
(Told you Shakespeare and I were the same.)

Why yes, yes world, we.found.a.fair.
Yayaya! It was actually on the way to Joe and Janette Lovebirds shoot that the interns and I spotted a carnival. Oh I was thrilled.

In little Urbana, MD we spent the golden hour of that Wednesday night shooting away.
It was just magical.

Some might go to a county fair and hear the ketchup squirting onto a gross corn dog. Or onto a funnel cake (people at fair's are weird.)
Or some might see the mobs of smelly, sticky, cranky people.
Some might see the dollar signs and clutch a bit tighter to their wallet, knowing that the car ride to the carnival is more entertaining than the $5 dollar rides at the carnival.
Some might hate the lameo music, the socially awkward teenagers manning the rides and the germs that are almost visible.

But happily for me, our little posse didn't see the carnival like that at all.
Jess, Neil and the interns were amazing as we ran this carnival-shoot.
We heard the little rickety roller coaster with girls screaming and laughing.
We loved the adorable 6-person-band singing their good ol' country hearts out.
We spotted the high school sweethearts operating rides together.
"She'll take your ticket, while I take her heart..."

We saw the colorful lights, sparkling in the country side.
We laughed and ran around like kids again.
Smelling popcorn, buying tickets and feeling bad for the guy in the "Bathtub Remodel" booth.
It was just fun, everyone. Plain, simple, old fashioned fun.

And maybe a little romantic :)

Oh! This was great. Jess and Neil did that water-gun "race" game. They were all talking smack and taking it so seriously.
Who won?!
Little girl down at the end who couldn't even push the trigger.
Nice :D

This screams America to me! Like apple pie! And baseball games!
Young, colorful summertime love!

I support this.

As the sun tucked itself into bed, I got to have some fun with my 50 1.2 lens, doing what it does best! Low light.

Mmmph.
So adorable.

I really wish you could have seen how dark it was. SO dark.
1.2's rock my houuuuse and my faaaace! Yay!

And so do Jess and Neil who were WoNdErFuL models, but are even better friends. I LOVE you guys!
(ps. I am in need of one more couple for Thursday, August 6th - my last group of interns! If you live in this area and you and your man are interested in something like this, let me knooow, yo.
kristen@kristenleigh.net)

Engagement - Joe and Janette

"She's got whatever it is,
It blows me away"
-- zac brown band

Alright everyone. Stop right now. Seriouslyseriously.
Stop what you are doing, turn down the music (or put on whatever you deem romantic) and seriously slow down.

You don't want to rush this couple - oh.my.goodness.

Also, prepare yourself, because you are about to fall in love with a couple. It's cool, cause I totally have a crush on them.

A few months ago Janette booked me for her wedding, and we began getting all the details in order. I loved her from the very beginning :D
I loved her enthusiasm, I loved her facebook pictures from Egypt and I loved that she sent me an e-mail of her and her fiancee eating pancakes. "We love pancakes," she said. Any bride that jumps right into food is the bride for me!

I was eager to meet Janette and her fiancee, Joe, at their engagement shoot. The interns and I happily sat at a park watching kickball, waiting for them to arrive. I turned back and saw some brunette hair bouncing and flopping just above the tops of the parked cars. "I think I see them..."


The body underneath the dancing hair was Janette and she was holding the hand of her "man beast man's man" fiancee. I just loved them so much already. We started the shoot and I asked them to sit on the grass while I tested light. Really that's all I said.

"The light is great here! Why don't you two sit down and I'll tell you what to do in ooooone sec. Just gonna get my camera settings all set."
Then they did this.

"Wait! Waitwait! You are being too cute! I'm not ready!" Of course I didn't say that - I just hustled to get ready. My heart raced a little bit watching them, though.
Are they for real?
I say "sit" and they wrap each other in a hug, and roll around in the grass, and playfully tackle each other and giggle and sing? Really?

Yes, really.
People tell me "Oh Kristen, movies make love and romance so mushy - it's not like that in real life. Oh Kristen, it's never like the movies."
False. Faaaaaalsehood. These two were better than any movie I have ever seen. More romantic, more friendly, more wonderful, more precious and MUCH more honorable.

Of course everyone isn't this way - and that's totally ok!
But I would like just to declare that I did find a couple who makes love seem better than any screenwriter and director could.

Part of that probably has to do with how CUTE their story is!
They met at school nine years ago. They were fast friends, and Joe wanted it to be something more.
"Nooo. We're so young and such good friends, why ruin anything?" Janette reasoned. I'm sure little pieces of Joe were breaking hearing that, but he stuck around his great "friend."


Two years later, they split ways.
Joe headed to San Francisco, Janette flew to Florida.
They lost touch and the next few years they didn't talk at all.
Eventually the both made their way to New York - and missed each other by one month.
And then Joe found her on Facebook. Hm.

Their friendship kicked back up through Facebook chat and email. The next 12 months were spent re-getting to know each other, then Joe moved to Florida to be with this girl he certainly did not want to lose.

As Jason Reeves says:

"I can't give up on you
Even if I never win
Cause this could be a feeling
We'll never find again"

And now they are getting married.
Oh.sigh.

I wish you all could have been there for this shoot. I wish you could have watched them. They skip, they burst into song, they make voices, quote movies and do handstands. They just seem to absolutely love being together and honestly it's like nothing else is going on in the world.

Their hugs are sincere, their humor is hysterical, their joy is contagious.
It brings so much warmth to my heart - how kind of God have them fall in love!

Two people who have spent their lives serving Him, coming together in His timing and being passionatley committed to each other. Again, everyone doesn't need to be "as cute" as they are, but I am so grateful God has blessed them with such a special love.

Kisssssin in the sunshine! Ohhyeaah.

I just want to put them in my pocket.

It so doesn't hurt that they are gorgeous. Little superstars :D




"When she walks in the room I can hardly breathe..."

Ah, a man who makes his lady laugh :D I support that!



For the last 2 minutes of the shoot, I told them to pick a location. "Anyyyywhere you want!" I said.
They picked the swingset! Sca.Ore.

Oh Janette I love you!

One last squeeze before we called it a day. Perfect way to end a shoot. Aaaaawh.

Needless to say, I love you both and can't wait for your wedding! Enjoy the slideshow :D

Intern Re-Cap

"Today you are you, that is truer than true!
There is no one alive who is youer than you!"

That Dr. Seuss quote is one of my favorites for my business. It's the whole idea behind personalizing business, branding, target marketing and styling. But sometimes, it's hard to figure out "you." At least the "you" that you want to put on display for your business.

This past week I had three wonderful interns - Jessica from Texas, Julia from Minnesota and Ica from Virginia.
During the internship, we spent a lot of time on the "you" part of their businesses.


Let's start with Julia Mary. After making an inspiration board, looking at other photographers pictures, and assessing her own work, she narrowed her business down to a few words: Bold, editorial, beautiful.

Soooo try to imagine pictures in magazines. But not Real Simple, more like an Elle magazine cover. That is the vibe she is going for :D Please check out her blog: Julia Mary Blog! You all know how wonderful it feels to have support when you are starting ANYthing that's a big deal for you. So show your support!

And what do we think? These headshots capture bold, editorial beauty? Isn't SHE a bold, editorial beauty?
---
Next up, we have the southern belle, Miss Jessica Shae!

She evaluated, deliberated and decided that her brand would consist of vintage, charming, fairy-tale images. Think Breakfast At Tiffany's becoming bff's with Disney's Cinderella.

Add her southern flair and I think she's irristable :D

Don't you just want to hire her?! Sheesh. Dallas folk, get on it. She's amazing and takes the sweetest little pictures. GO LOOK AT HER BLOG. And then comment! Jessica Shae Blog!

And last, we have Ica.
Ica is a little rockstar. She's got mad style and the loudest laugh. I loove it.

Her brand is something quite whimsical and vintage-ly funky. Think Allie & Noah falling in love during that first summer and The Ting-Tings. Bascially, think awesome.

Ica Images is going to take off - I call it. She is wonderful, her business is wonderful and if you want wonderful pictures, contact her! Here's her blog: Ica Images blog.

On the last day, I had them take some pictures for me -- fooor my new brand. Woohooo!
The idea of it isn't changing, but almost everything else is (like the watermark sported on this blog post and this one too.) The new stuff will still be fun, hysterical and ridiculously adorable.

If you weren't convinced that you need to check out their stuff, I will show you right here! These girls are greaaaat!








They did a great job :D I'm like a proud little mother hen watching her little chicklets :D

ps. Since when are interns stunningly beautiful and amazingly godly? I'm pretty sure I didn't get that memo... My girls are just THE best!

Veronica and Ryan

"Eyes closed, we're gonna spin through the stars
Our arms wide as the sky ...
You and me together, we could do anything, Baby"
-- dave matthews band

One of the neat things about this world is that everyone is different (Never heard that one before? It's ok. Not everyone can be as brilliant as me ;D) But I love how different each couple is! Fooor example, Veronica and Ryan. They are chill to the core. So relaxed, so easy-going, so cool.

They came strolling up to their engagement shoot in t-shirts and jeans. They are like the perfect summer couple! Veronica with her gorgeous yet casually down hair, her freckles and her big smile. Ryan with his bright t-shirt, hysterical humor and love of Dave Matthews Band.

Even though I hardly know them as a couple, the whole shoot was like hanging out with old friends. Seriously! It was as natural as going to 7-11 for a slurpee run with your highschool bestie. Does that makes sense? It's like if Jack Johnson's "Banana Pancakes" were people, instead of a song, but funnier.

They are refreshingly un-uptight, they are goof balls and they make being together seem so simple. I know relationships are a lot of work, but they have this fantastic "ease" about being together.

It's so childlike and fun and exciting!

And he makes her laugh. You all know how I feel about that :D
I support laughing.

I also support beautiful girls who are going to be beautiful brides!!! Yay!

And lets end on a nice romantic note :D

You two are awesome -- and your wedding is going to be the coolest ever. SO can't wait!

Update!

Hellllllllooooo!

So, since I have left you to wait for days and days, I can officially announce the winner of the "contest" from the last post.

First, here is the answer:

The "new" blog item was: My Logo
My favorite Taylor Swift song is: Tim McGraw
Aaaand my favorite state is: California!

Congratulations to Peeeeter Bang! First one to guess it right :D
Let me know if you want an iTunes or Starbucks card :D

Meanwhile, The Interns and I have been having a ball. Shoots everyday, early mornings, late nights and pretty much the best pictures your eyeballs have seen - it's been good times. This is Ica (who has an AMAZING new logo and business name! I'm SO jealous!) and Julia (who is from Minnesota and is the easiest girl to work with! Ever!)


(And the cute Texan with the pizza is Jessica - she's just adorb. My adorb is jealous of her adorb.)
I've been treating them right and showing off Maryland to them - the countryside, downtown Frederick, Urbana's county carnival and last night we went to the hip and artsy Adams Morgan.

If you are ever in the area, you MUST stop at Pizza Mart for a slice of pizza that is about as tall as a kindergartner. And it is SO delicious.

Here we are, on a glorious cellphone picture.
Would you call me a failure if I told you that three days in, and this is the only group shot we have? Please don't, cause its true.

Make sure you check out their awesome new blogs!
Julia Mary
Jessica Shae
Ica Images

Tony and Tori

EDIT: We have a winner!

Side comment: If I were you, I would read alllll the way to the bottom of this post. You could win a gift card :D

I broke the number one "proffessinal busines person" rule.
I was late to meet with my clients. Aack!

Five minutes late because you hit three red lights, ok, not horrible.
15 minutes late because there was an accident - forgivable.

25 minutes late because you were at the wrong Starbucks? Um. SUPER embarrassing.
But happily, the clients I was meeting with were fabulous in every way.

I pulled up to the correct Starbucks, and I saw them in the window, sipping coffee and smiling the evening away. I almost felt like I was intruding on their date when I walked in!

But Tony and Tori greeted me with huge smiles and big "Oh-don't-worry-about-it's!"
We hit it off right away and I left that first meeting on top of the world.
I love my couples.

A few evenings ago we met again for their engagement shoot. I don't think I will ever tire of shooting couples in love, in the splendor of God's creation. The.night.was.GORG.eous.

Oh. And Tori.was.GORGeous. Sheesh a lou.

And here's the thing. They are just so ridiculously cute. They just so happen to have won the Salisbury Co-Ed Football Championships together - that's a way to meet a woman (adooorb!). Tony is such a strong, big protector and Tori looks so small and precious next him.

He holds her carefully, watches her constantly and makes her laugh so sweetly.

Plus, he was an amazing sport (pun?) with this whole picture-taking thing! Most guys really dread it, but Tony had such a good attitude that I am sure blessed his bride, and also helped me out!

She looOoooves him :D

And some kisseskisseskisssssses to wrap up!

You two were a ball (second athletic pun!) and I loved getting to know you! I can't wait for your wedding!
Enjoy the slideshow :D

Ah-ha! Gift card time! Soooo, notice anything different with this post? First one to comment with 1) the "something new" on this post, as well as 2) my favorite Taylor Swift song aaand 3) my favorite state will win $5 to iTunes or Sta-bucks :D Woop!

Jonathan and Susie

I heard a message once by R.C Sproul and he talked a bit about his wife on the day they got married.
"When I saw her coming down the aisle to me, I felt like she was royalty. A queen."
That sentence struck my little love chord and I remembered it. I think husbands should treat their wives like royalty - delicately, respectfully, honorably, gently and magnificently.

Jonathan, the now husband of little lovely Susie, treats Susie like royalty. He truly does. In all the weddings I have shot, I think I would be hard pressed to find a man who treated his bride better.

But I rush ahead of myself, as always :D Two weeks ago I second shot for my best friend Lydia.
Back in February, Lydia called me and left me a six-minute long message that began with this "Kristen, you have to shoot this wedding with me!" The rest of the message was Lydia reading to me the falling-in-love and proposal story of her new couple, Jonathan and Suzy.

Just a brief version is that Jonathan planned to take Susie to the top of a mountain, where a picnic, album of their relationship, flowers and candles awaited them. On the way up the mountain 5-foot-tall Susie didn't feel well. Jonathan scooped her up and carried her up the rest of the mountain.
Like, really.
Really. I am going to be ruined for men if I keep hearing stories like this. How precious is that?

I promptly called Lydia back and told her I would absolutely shoot the quaint, adorable, farm wedding with her. I was intrigued -- is this couple too good to be true?

Internet, they are real. They are as cute as they seem and they really are real.
Here is an example of the cute that they are. After Suzy had gotten her dress on, we headed upstairs to take pictures. Lyd was counting bridesmaids and someone was looking for the bouquets.
All of a sudden I hear this little squeeeeeal! of delight behind me. Then a soft "clunkclunkclunkclunkclunk" of heels. I turn around to see Susie twirling on the dance floor, spinning her dress, grinning ear-to-ear. All alone. Just enjoying the moment as a bride.
CUTE.

Another precious moment was when Susie's dad came to see her for the first time. They talked alone, and prayed together. It always brings tears to my eyes when I see dad's with their baby girls as brides.

Wedding day could not have been more stunning. Even though it was gloomy and even raining before the ceremony, it ended up being just glorious out!

Here are some "second shooter" details from the ceremony:


Now it's looOooove bird time!

One of my favorite songs in the world is "Little Moments" by Brad Paisley and this line always gets me:
When she steals my heart again
And doesn't even know it,
Yeah, I live for little moments like that

Throughout the day, thats what seemed like kept happening.
Susie just had this way of stealing Jonathan's heart over and over again.
While she was giggling, while she was looking at a bird fly by, while she was singing a little song about sunshine.

It was ridiculously cute. I could have watched them together for hours. If they were the stars of a movie, I would see the movie opening night, and go again the next day and pre-order my DVD copy.




He carried her again :D :D :D Oooh my my my.



Jonathan and Susie, I have no words to let you know how excited I am that God has brought you together! You are going to have an amazing life, serving and glorifying Him!

And Lydia, thank you for bringing me along :D

My Friends

I am sitting here in San Francisco, watching Cake Boss with my two friends.
I write a sentence then backspace. I scroll the pictures again. I type a sentence. Backspace. Scroll. Jump on the bed during the commercials and make fun of Jamie. Type. Backspace. Scroll.

It's been a wonderful six days. In case you didn't know, I flew to San Francisco (ps. the airport code for SanFran is SFO not SOF -- SOF is Sophia, Bulgaria and I almost booked my flight there. Bad news bears) and met up with Jamie Delaine and Sarah Barlow. We roadtripped to Santa Barbara and stayed with David Jay for ShowIt July 4th festivities :D

Yesterday we drove up The One (and we met The One. And drank Pepsi One. haha joke joke) to Carmel. If you have never taken that two lane road down the coast, I think I will pay for you to be able to. You just gasp at the beauty. I can't even describe it (pictures to come :D). It seriously made me love God more just looking around for those two hours.

Speaking of loving God more... Wow. He just fascinates me daily. It's not like I needed better friends - in quantity or quality. Really! I have been blessed with many wonderful friends back home. I mean, hey! I am one of seven kids! I am surrounded by great people all the time!

And yet God chooses to bless with me with these two lives. One life who takes residence in Vancouver, BC (wasn't that proper of me, Jamie?) and another life who parties like a rockstar's cousin in Nashville

I love them.
I just do.
I love how Jamie has a wailing, long laugh.
I love how she has to visit the restroom every 20 minutes.
I love how she is straight forward, direct and focused.
I extra love when she gets out of "work mode" and crosses her short little legs and rolls around in her seat laughing at the stupidest statement from Sarah and I.
I love how she uses her talents excellently, how she uses her time efficiently and is a joy to be with.

I love how Sarah laughs like a 6-year-old flirting, high pitched and fast giggles.
I love how she bounces up and down whenever "fun" songs come on.
I love how she gets so passionate about whatever she believes (including that suncreen causes skin cancer and that kidney beans go straight to your kidneys - since they are the same shape. No joke. She was dead serious.)
I love how she wants to spend her life reaching out to people and sharing the joy and love of Jesus!

To me Jamie shows so much of our Savior's order and peace. She is so disciplined, diligent and hard-working. She does things with all excellence and it points to God.
Sarah shows the Savior's joy. She is tender and loves to focus on others. She does things with a beaming smile, with lots of passion and energy.

When we are together, we bring out all those qualities in each other. We laugh, and we work. We giggle, and we tease. We are silent in moments of hilarity and also in moments of serious conversation. We are open and vulnerable with each other. What you see is what you get!

It's so refreshing and uplifting to me to have really only seen these girls a handful of days in my entire life, and yet have such a deep bond.

Jamie Small Bladder Delaine. You are hot, you are going to marry Reid Rosenthal and thanks for telling me my blog layout stinks. I'm on it.

Sarah Can't Run After Travel Barlow. You are hot, you are going to marry Matt Costa and please don't put your website up yet because it's going to make mine cry!

Carrot Top. Thanks for being a gentleman and letting me get on the elevator before you, and holding the door open so my friend could get on. You weirder looking in person, but also kind! (Yes, def saw him in the San Francisco airport. It's always good to have a "Praise God for friends" post go with "I spotted a celebrity" post. Keeps it classy?)

Ok, little travel bee me is going to get in bed now. I fly all day tomorrow. I don't know when I will see these dear ladies next, but man has it been good. I hope everyone has friends like I do :D

I'm rolling around slowly this morning at a very slow pace. But I think it's ok to move a little slower when you are in Santa Barbara :D
After a long day of travel, my good friends (Sarah Barlow and Jamie Delaine) made it to our other good friend, David Jay's, house.

I'm not gonna lie - glad I am here. And not traveling for the moment haha
There is something about airplane travel. It’s a special little part of life.

People get weird on airplanes. We touch each other – quite comfortably – for hours on end. I mean, there is no where else to go, but I def had an arm and yellow shirt sleeve of Mr. Grandpa on my shoulder all flight.

We freak out about little packs of food. We are such preschoolers.
“It’s snack time kids!”
“YAYYAy!!!”
“You need to sit still and wait patiently. Now, who wants water and pretzels?”
“MeeEeee! Pick me!”

We all pretend we know how high a “cruising altitude of 30,000 feet” is and how that will interfere with the “south-easterly winds coming from the gulf” but since “it’s dry and around 70 degrees” we should be able to descend on time. Clearly. Duuuh.

It’s good times.

Oh! And airplane air conditioning. We all know the little nub of a fan on the roof of airplanes. Why do they never work quite right? I will admit, I am bad at aiming the thing to begin with. Either it’s pointed at the top of my head and my bangs are blowing like the American flag at a highschool football game, or it’s pointed at my neck drilling a hole to my bones.

But that’s more my deal. I take the blame. However, I don’t know what to do with the temperature. When I first sat down, the air was blowing so hard and so fast and so coldly. My cheek fat was swirling around and my eyelids were rippling. I looked like a dog sticking it’s head out the window on a summer day. Def too strong.
I had to turn it down. I nudged it a bit.
Just a sweet, gentle nudge.
Oh oh, Wait. Did I turn it off? My trusty pointer finger reached up to feel – yes, it was on. I had to leave my finger there, resting on top of the valve just to feel any air. I was trying to get any cool air I could. Just a drop, please? Please, cool air, run down my finger and down my arm and to the rest of me and cool me off! Wasn’t happening.

So the whole flight I battled the devilish air conditioning, remembering it’s so not the worst thing in the world. There are much rougher things. Like I could be in a wheelchair! I could be in a wheelchair with no phone on me! Or cash! And I could be trying to go visit my children in San Francisco and the flight attendants could wheel me off in Phoenix. And I could get lost in the Phoenix airport, like the dear woman on my plane did.

That’s right. The flight attendants lost a passenger.

Missing luggage is one thing, misplacing a passenger is kind of different. After waiting an extra 30 minutes, the little lady was still missing and our plane had to leave without her. SO SAD! I felt horrible – I do hope that she made it to San Francisco alright and that her family wasn’t too worried!

But my air travel is done for now. Holla. And now small-bladder-Drill-Sergeant-Delaine is trying to get us to go running. And Sarah is catching up on Kevin Jonas and listening to Michael Jackson.

Seeeee ya later!

Allison and Angel

"I can't believe that it's really true
Suavecito
'Cause you know that, girl, I love you"
-- malo

A little while back I got to do a wonderful (and blazing hot!) engagement session for Allison and Angel. Allison is one of my previous brides' sister and I am so excited to get to do her wedding.

Angel was such a trooper in the heat. It was fantastically hot. The whole shoot wasn't his favorite thing in the world, but it was so sweet how he kept interacting with his almost-wife. He makes her laugh and laugh and laaaugh.


Sometimes it's nice when things aren't clear :D

These two "click" perfectly. I hardly had to do any posing or helping them. They just smiled and laughed and cuddled. I guess thats what happens when you are in love with your best friend, huh?


He was singing her a little tune...



Preeeecious!

I just love how they laugh ALL the time! I love it!





More smiles cause they can't help it :D



Hellloooo summer love!

You two were wonderful :D I can't wait for your wedding!