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Take Me Back Tuesday | A Trip to the Windy City | Chicago, IL

May 14, 2013 Posted in Behind the Lens,Take Me Back Tuesday

One of the greatest things about my job is the fact that I get to travel! I LOVE to travel so this makes me a VERY happy camper. Photography and particularly wedding photography has taken me all over the country and fingers crossed, I’m hoping that will turn international (if anyone wants a photographer for their elopement, destination wedding, engagement or ‘just for fun’ shoot abroad…let me know!!!). In the last year of my business, it has been so fun to see all the places ‘work’ has taken me. In the last 5 months I’ve been to wonderful places like Washington DC, St. Petersburg, FL and now my travels have taken me to the Windy City!

This past weekend I had a wedding just outside of Chicago (can’t wait to post pictures of that beautiful day) and so my second shooter and friend, Julie, and I decided we should make a fun girls trip out of it! Our friend, Kay, flew in on Saturday to join and we spent a couple days just exploring Chi-town. We were stand-out tourists with our cameras and ‘stop every few minutes to look’ pace, but we didn’t care. The Windy City was INDEED windy but it treated us well. In the beginning I attempted to brush my hair back in to a controlled state but I eventually just embraced the ‘wind blown look.’ Work it…that’s what I’d tell my clients. The city was at the peak of its spring blooms and so I spent the majority of the time ‘ooing’ and ‘awing’, desperately wishing I had a couple to photograph underneath the blossoms. Luckily my friends were willing to stand in for a few. They appease me.

So, in the name of travel, spring blossoms and the wind-blown look,

I Say, Take Me Back!

The Bean. We had to.

I’m officially a dork in front of the camera but I’ve decided to embrace it!

This is significant for all you Kanakukers out there! I’ve spent a good part of my life on Lake Shore Drive!

Oklahoma in Chicago! I was excited!

The Chicago Tribune was probably one of my favorite parts of the trip. They had pieces of buildings from all over the world and this quote is just awesome. 

This advertisement was ALL over the city! A little bit of our city in the Midwest! Crazy!

This guy was DEFINITELY jamming on this old boom box. Too awesome for words. 

We had to. 

The Trump tower…that we thought was the Sears tower. Oops. 

I LOVE the Joffrey ballet! Brought back fun childhood memories.

We found the real Sears Tower…and a unicyclist.

Well hello, Lake Michigan. You look like the ocean. Just sayin. 

We were high up…to say the least. The Bradford Pear trees I spent the whole time drooling over. Are these not breathtaking?!?!

Portrait time!

It was cold…probably the last time I’ll wear my coat for a while. 

Get it girls. I have taught them well…

This fountain was A-mazing. 

Again, such a dork. 

Julie is a champ. She is second shooting a good majority of my weddings with me this year and is a trooper. Thanks for being such a help and a good friend!

Wrigley field. 

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Bekah - May 15, 2013 - 2:37 pm

You might be dorky, but you’re stunning as well. Gorgeous, my friend, gorgeous. The pics of you don’t do you justice.

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Eleni Harper | Celebrating One Year of Precious Life | Oklahoma City, OK

May 13, 2013 Posted in Ten Fingers and Toes,We are Family

Lately I’ve been thinking that life feels like it’s speeding by me at 1,000 mph. Some days it seems like I blink and the world has changed around me so quick I can’t hardly remember how I got there. It seems like just yesterday my twin sister and I were meeting our dearest friend and kindred spirit, Emily, at the Baptist Student Union at the University of Oklahoma. Til this day, none of us can really remember when our friendship blossomed…it just did. Pretty much immediately. Things like that aren’t uncommon with kindred spirits…or at least I feel like Anne Shirley of Anne of Green Gables would agree. We were just friends from the beginning. Close ones. We have been roommates, confidants, supporters and laughed enough to make me smile just thinking about it. She is and always will be one of my dearest friends.

With the world moving at lightning speed, this dear friend has gotten married (which I take credit for…I played a significant role in setting her up with her husband which is a funny story if you ever want me to tell you), had a beautiful little girl and just recently celebrated that sweet little child’s 1 year birthday!! Time is racing by! When Emily called to ask me to take pictures of her sweet little Eleni for her first birthday, I was thrilled. How fun to be able to use what I love to document people who I love! It was a strangely cold day in April but we managed to make it work. Eleni Harper has my heart and I LOVED getting to take pictures of this cutie.

Enjoy some of my favs from their family session!

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Abby + Chris | A St. Petersburg, FL Bay Wedding | Vinoy Hotel

May 10, 2013 Posted in White Lace and Promises

‘This day is holy…’

That’s what was found on a wooden sign at their reception and it struck me as being so profoundly true. In so many ways, this day was holy. Holy because it was blessed. It was set apart. Set apart as a day to honor God and the work He had done between two people. Two ordinary people and yet extraordinary in their selfless commitment to each other and ultimately, to their first Love.

It was a day that was blessed. The weather was a perfect 80 degrees and the venue was a beautiful seaside hotel overlooking the bay. Yet, it wasn’t the weather or the location that made this particular day a blessed one. No, it was the central focus of love, faithful commitment and selflessness. As Abby walked down the aisle to Chris, his reaction was one of the sweetest and most moving that I have ever seen. Immediately after the doors opened and she stepped out with her dad, the tears started to flow. Overcome with emotion, he buried his head in his hands. You see, the love of his life, the woman he had wanted to be his for so long, was approaching him to forever be united as one. It was a breathless moment and as I think about it even now, it reminds me of why I love what I do. Those are the moments that remind me of the beauty of unconditional love and relationship.

Abby and Chris, your wedding was a dream. The entire experience was a testament to the caliber of people that you are and the way that you serve others. On your most special day, you were still concerned about the well-being of everyone around you, including myself. I cannot express the privilege it was to be a part of it and to have played a small role in documenting such a glorious day. I wish you ALL the best in your marriage and can’t wait to see where this path of unity leads you.

Enjoy some of my favorites of their GORGEOUS wedding at the Vinoy Hotel in St. Petersburg, FL. There are a LOT…sorry, not sorry.

Happy Friday!!

(You may remember this beautiful couple from their Washington DC engagement session earlier this year! If you missed it, you’ll want to check it out here.)

Aren’t her shoes just ridiculously cute? Abby carried with her this pendant and two hearts cut out from a shirt that one of her best friends who had passed away had given her. It was the sweetest commemoration. 

An inside joke= Super cool socks. 

Exchanging gifts. 

Not only do they think alike…but it gives me great joy to know their marriage will be built on such solid ground.

Abby, you are too gorgeous for words. Simply stunning. 

Are these polka-dot dresses not just wonderful?! So cute!

Just stop it. The cuteness was unreal. 

They got a bit out of order so it read, “The Bride Here Comes.” Hilarious. 

And then the flower girl got a bit distracted on her way down the aisle…

I have to say it, Chris had THE best reaction I have ever seen in a groom. It was priceless and so sweet. 

FAVorite shot.

LOVE this.

We took their engagements at Alexandria harbor outside of Washington DC, so it was only fitting to do some bride and groom portraits by the bay as well. I was in heaven. 

Abby’s parents surprised her with a Bentley to drive away in. I was probably even more thrilled because I got to ride in it with them!!!

Money shot.

Favorite.

Autumn, the maid of honor,  is one of my dearest friends and a past bride (you may remember her rainy day wedding). With all three of her sister’s giving a speech, Abby didn’t stand a chance at having dry eyes. 

Love these two. So great when I get to continue ‘working’ with previous clients. Their wedding is being published soon so stay tuned!

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Yvonne @ StoneGable - May 10, 2013 - 3:27 pm

What beautiful photos of a most perfect day! Mary you are a true blessing! Thank you! xo

Abigail Pratt - May 10, 2013 - 3:47 pm

WE LOVE THESE!!! Thank you thank you thank you for capturing our photos on our special day so that we can share them with our kids one day. we love you!

Christopher Pratt - May 10, 2013 - 3:51 pm

Mary, thank you so much for using your gift to bless both me and Abigail with such beautiful pictures. We absolutely love them and are very excited to have them hanging in our home.
-Chris

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Take Me Back Tuesday | Featured | Stone Gable

May 7, 2013 Posted in Featured,Take Me Back Tuesday

Ok, Internet, I cannot tell you how EXCITED I am for this Take Me Back post!! I have giggled already a ton this morning so get ready! Today’s post is a mix of a little Take Me Back and a little ‘Featured Fantastic-ness’… and yes, I just made up that word.

Last month I had the absolute privilege of shooting the sweetest couple’s wedding in St. Petersburg, FL at the Vinoy Hotel. You may remember Abby and Chris from their picturesque engagement session in Washington D.C. earlier this year. These two lovebirds got married on a beautiful spring day and it couldn’t have been more wonderful. I was giddy with excitement the whole time and if you know me or have been a previous client, you know that I’m not kidding! When I went out to DC last January for their engagement session, Chris told me that his mother was actually an avid blogger and is the author of the greatest creative home living blog called Stone Gable. After hearing that, I could NOT wait to meet her and pick her brain on everything blogging related. At their afternoon wedding brunch, we found each other immediately and started chatting. Yvonne is the warmest, most encouraging and sweetest person! It was so easy to see why her blog is so successful and I feel like if I ever visited Stone Gable, she would make me feel like I was right at home. If you love anything to do with home decor, cooking, creative projects or just a good life-inspiring blog with your morning coffee, you MUST check hers out!

Yvonne contacted me last week to ask if she could feature Chris and Abby’s wedding on her blog and I was of course quick to say YES! What an honor! So head over to Stone Gable blog to see a sneak peek of their wedding. To see a full feature of this beautiful Florida wedding, check back to my blog at 9 am CST this Friday!! I’m itching to show you the rest!

Until then…

In the name of giggles, blogging friends, Tuesday features and creative living,

I Say, Take Me Back!

 

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Yvonne @ StoneGable - May 7, 2013 - 6:29 pm

HOW ABSOLUTELY SWEET OF YOU, MARY!!! We must be kindred spirtis (just decades apart) because I feel the same way about you too!
Your blog and photographs are so so inspiring!

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Behind the Lens: Crazy and I

May 6, 2013 Posted in Behind the Lens

Well, Internet, here is the deal. My goal is to blog every Monday, Tuesday and Friday. It was a New Year’s resolution and though difficult, I was determined because consistency in blogging is crucial. Life though has a way of faithfully providing obstacles to overcome in accomplishing your goals. My Monday posts are consistently the ones that get neglected. After shooting a wedding on Saturday, it is hard to pull something together for Monday. If I was more gifted in time management, I’d blog ahead. While that happens sometimes, a LOT of the times, it just doesn’t happen. This past weekend was NUTS…absolutely nuts, although crazy and I seem to go hand in hand. Friday was packed full of errands, birthday parties and prep for Saturday’s wedding. Saturday was a fun day of shooting a wedding in Fort Worth and Sunday morning (bright and early) I headed to Oklahoma to throw my sister a baby shower. I just got home and am off to shoot a bridal session. Yes…like I said…crazy and I are old friends. All that to say, today’s post is late and lacking! However, in the name of my New Year’s Resolution….it is here!! One day I may get the ‘pre-blogging’ down but until then, I suppose I’ll just comfortable with craziness. After all…we go way back.

Since every post is better with a picture, here is a sneak peek of Saturday’s wedding! Do I have gorgeous clients or what?!?!

Happy Monday!

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