jenn + josh ~ the wedding

On June 10th I had the honor of photographing Jenn and Josh's wedding in Sioux Falls, SD.  I also had the honor of being a bridesmaid!  In order to pull it off I called up my charming and talented photography partner, Lindsie, from the shutterpoet days of yore and asked her to help me out.  Mucho gracias to her for everything!  The following photos are a little sneak preview as I complete the rest of the post-processing.  I may have gone a little overboard the number of photos posted, but since I am particularly close to these folks, I couldn't help myself!

ahhhh.  I always love some good dress drama.

The bride prepares herself.  I can't quite decide why, but these are always some of my favorite photos.

veil detail--so delicate and pretty.

wowza.

adorable.

the groom sees the bride for the first time.  can you say smitten?

*sigh*

then we skidaddled off to give them a moment alone.

and we're off for creative portraits!

Dear Jenn,

You are holy wow gorgeous!

love, me.

And Dear Jenn,

Josh isn't so bad either...I guess.

love, me

:)

soooo, I never ever insert a "behind-the-scenes" photo like this one that Lindsie took, but I just couldn't help myself.  They are posing so nicely as I fiddle with my camera settings!  Plus, I just thought it was kinda funny with me in a bridesmaid dress (something I don't wear to weddings I photograph...typically....because that would be weird right?)  haha.  PLUS, I want you to see what we can do with what seems to be the average, everyday, boring old chain link fence......

skadoosh.  love love love.  We can take beautiful photographs anywhere!  My personal favorite :)

the whoooole wedding party!

merry maids

and dapper men :)

the flower girl and ring bearer....think they are siblings?  :) it's the eyes.

They were quite serious.

some of the time :)

the ceremony

bubble love :)

en route to the reception in a super flashy, super fun limo!

reception at CJ Callaway's in Sioux Falls--lovely place

gaaaar.....stowaways under the table!

 I just so happen to think the fact that she is holding her little fork up is too darn cute.

This was, hands down, some of the most delicious wedding cake I have ever eaten (and I have eaten a lot of wedding cake).  

Caramel and coconut--I still dream about it.

Speaking of dreams and dreaminess-the couple's first dance :)

 AND then you know what time it is....

ceeeeelebrate good times--c'mon!

Jenn and Josh, it was an honor to both be in and photograph your wedding.  

I love you two crazy kiddos :)

coming soon!

We have been on quite the hiatus lately and are finally beginning to get settled in Rapid City!  It has been a crazy spring, so I have been taking a bit of a break, but am coming back! :)  You can look forward to seeing some wedding photos this week!   AND just because we moved does not mean that I don't return to the Sioux Falls area frequently for photographic opportunities!  

:)  sara

new year.....new haiku!!!

You are probably wondering what in the world is going on here.  Well, let me explain.  Over the past few months I kept coming across more and more photography businesses that have a similar name to bliss.  Wanting to stand out and be more unique, I started to rethink the business name and logo. I am also branching out to the Rapid City area in the spring and felt that it was a good time to make the change.  One day, as I was writing poetry, I was considering all the different genres and forms, and haiku popped into my head.  A haiku is originally Japanese, and is a short poem meant to evoke an image of the natural world (a condensed definition).  It was one of those proverbial light bulb moments folks!  That would be the new business name, since my goal with my photography is to capture natural images of people!  I tried to keep it somewhat similar to the old brand and logo, and wanting a modern look with a vintage edge, I created the new logo; a camera photographing a heart (love!).  I hope you enjoy the new name and look as much as I do!  And I hope this new year finds you happy too!

p.s. this blog is still under construction-----bells and whistles are coming soon!

henry

my own sweet son.  time for his first year photos already!--and guess what, taking photos of a busy one-year-old isn't easy! for these shots, you can picture his daddy over my shoulder making goofy faces and noises so that we could get him to smile in my direction.  we really got our exercise--by the time we were finished with these we were both out of breath! he really put mommy to work :)

lucky for us it was in the 40s in rapid city so we took advantage of the warm weather as much as we could.  it did get a little chilly in some spots, so instead of shooting in an open meadow, which was the original plan, we decided to take shelter by a closed swimming pool!

oh this is the look  :)

i had to include this next photo, we fondly refer to this as the sumo squat :)  he will hold this little position for long periods of time--it all depends on how interesting the object is, in this case, wood chips were pretty darn interesting i guess

a few from the art alley downtown, we didn't have much to work with  since the rest of the place was like a skating rink! but henry did have fun running up and down a little cement path by the graffitied walls

 oh how i l-o-v-e this child more than words can say :)

peace, love, and happy photography!

AND happy first birthday to my baby boy, mommy loves you!

:)saralynn

jack & mae

this next photograph was incredibly special for me to shoot.  the aunt of two infants who recently passed away, asked if I could create a photographic memorial for her sister (their mother and her family).  we met at a flower shop where she wrote their names by hand onto the petals of a white orchid. what a beautiful and touching way to remember those dear little ones.  I am simply proud to have been a part of it, and to know such amazing and warm-hearted people.

 

conor

i took the majority of conor's graduate photos this past summer (he was the one with the really cool restored car--visit the website's gallery to check it our if you missed it), but we really needed some in the snow for my snowboarding brother-in-law, so we patiently waited for some powder and here are a few of the results!

 i am pretty surprised that he was able to pull off some of these relaxed, "serious" faces, especially when the person behind the camera was awkwardly squating above the snow drifts to get a great angle while simultaneously keeping their bottom warm and dry......which didn't work out the entire time.....

 okay girlios, get ready to swoon because you are now entering.....dimple city!!! love it--definitely my favorite--and i think mom's too :)

only in the winter can you get shots like these

thanks conor, for enduring the awkward snow drift hovering and for not laughing when i slipped and fell on the ice....too hard :)

peace, love, and happy photography!

:) saralynn

bryson and kaydyn

i have been soooo busy celebrating thanksgiving, early christmases, a baptism, birthdays, and rehearsing for holiday concerts that i haven't had the time to do the upkeep i should with the little blog here! but, well, family comes first :)  just so you know i didn't disappear, however, i thought that i should add just a few photos of my nephew and niece that i quickly snapped while they were visiting.  they are both absolutely adorable..i may be somewhat partial :)  i miss them so so much!  hmmm...traveling to north carolina for a visit would also create some great photographic opportunities too i'm sure...  :)

miss new big sis kaydyn lynn

 and mr. bryson james

  

peace, love, and happy photography!

:) saralynn