We’ve been away from Manhattan 5 of the past 7 Saturdays. Granted, the holiday season kept us running, but the truth is that this trend is actually pretty common in our household:

Work/live in Manhattan during the week, adventure/become “townies” somewhere else on the weekend. 

I’m so used to my Saturday morning road-trip urges and “found-a-great-deal” plans that they are second nature to both J and I. We love to travel and explore together and  this year I want to work on intentionally documenting, writing and remembering  these moments. I don’t scrapbook so this little corner of the interwebs is my next best bet for memory keeping. Plus, there is space for me to add and change here, unlike the unforgiving scrapbooks I used to try to create as a kid. But I’m not bitter or anything…..

2013 has already provided us with some must-share sights and sounds and I have a feeling they are going to keep coming as the winds of change keep blowing. So, at least once a month I’ll wade back through my pictures {fair warning: In my other life I’m a wannabe food photographer} and pass along our must sees/dos to all of you in a post (or posts) aptly titled:  off-camera adventures. (<—– this is what accountability looks like in my world. Organized titles and mini-promises to my teeny-tiny interwebs followers. Cool….)

So, here’s the first installment of our January finds! Also, you’re welcome to follow-along with our in-between and at home adventures on my instagram. I can’t promise intriguing photos/stories/adventures {here or there} but I share to learn from and meet others so, please join in if you’d like! Now, onto part 1 of our January off-camera adventures:

January 3rd | Abilene, Kansas

At the beginning of January my NYC dwellin’ sister came to visit. We stole her away from Kansas City for New Years Eve and got to {unexpectedly} keep her for a few days following. She needed a healthy ‘small town’ dose during her jaunt back to the midwest so I took a day off and we headed west for Abilene, Kansas.

 Abilene is one of my favorite go-to towns: it’s close, there’s great food, lots of charm and tons of history. Sarah’s not a big treasure hunter but she gave in and let me pop into a few of my favorite antique stores on their main street. We had fun picking up things that reminded us of our childhood and as well as treasures that screamed “I’m beautiful!”.

Like this awesome cake stand.

I don’t like cake or else I would’ve taken it home….

Every time I visit Abilene, a stop at Bankey’s Drug Store is a must. Tucked away in the back corner of this historic space is a perfect little soda fountain, original to the 1950’s when it was added on! Like clock work, a group of older gentlemen come in for coffee around 4pm everyday and high school girls drop their backpacks behind the counter to earn spending money shuffling cups and scoopin’ ice cream. It’s great and the malts are to die for. Oh, and they have penny candy. So fun. We were like little kids in candy shop {ha….ha…..}

Abilene, thanks for delivering a fun-filled winter afternoon. It was just what Sarah needed and I’m always happy to visit– you’re my favorite!

January 7th | Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City is home and it has become harder and harder for J and I to return and find something new to do. In December, however,  we discovered a first-friday event exclusive to antique stores in the West Bottoms district and fell in love with home all over again. We decided to take my mom and her fiance back in January and this time, discovered the deliciousness that is the West Bottoms cajun truck.

All I can say is yes and YUM. Go, order the jambalaya or the gumbo, and enjoy. We ate our truck goods standing on a street corner– no table or chairs needed. Epic, un-planned, happy discovery indeed.

This weekend our adventures took us to Omaha for an epic overnight of good eats and music. Once I can stand to re-visit the pictures of all of the awesome food we consumed, I’ll be back with part two of this month’s off-camera fun.

P.S. If you’d like to receive automatic captured in His image blog updates, sign-up in the left-hand menu. I’m just sayin’…..

Praying rest & energy for you this week!

in His love,

Laura

It’s hard for me to put myself “out there” especially with things I really care about {like my business}. Sometimes, however, out on a limb is exactly where I need to be.

A couple of weeks ago I posted photo on the captured Facebook page semi-joking about how “fun” my winter photo adventures had been and how I wondered if anyone else would brave the cold weather with me. Not expecting a response, I settled into Friday night in Kansas City with my family, excited to explore the West Bottoms antique market the next day.

Much to my surprise, I woke up the next morning to a message from an old friend from high school who was wondering if she could meet me downtown for a quick shoot. I was so thrilled! A quick text and we were set to meet later that afternoon. A reunion and a photo session– I love how God uses this business!

Stacey is an interior architect in Kansas City and is as sweet today as she was when I met her in our high school choir. She’s bubbly and full of love for the Lord– it was so good to reconnect!

We hadn’t talked wardrobe or style because the session came together so quickly and I was absolutely blown away when she stepped in front of the camera. I immediately was transported into another decade. Her beauty and physicality was so unique and so flawless.

I had taken some engagement photos for my mom and her fiance earlier in the afternoon and suddenly found myself in a predicament– I only had room for 30 images on my memory card. Typically I carry spare cards with me but since I was visiting for the weekend and not planning to shoot, I hadn’t come fully loaded.

Obviously this was not the session to to run out of space with– I couldn’t get enough of the imagery that was happening in front of the camera! I whispered to myself “don’t stress and don’t end the session early. Stay calm”.

My goals suddenly shifted from shooting Stacy’s every move {my usual approach} to making my portrait visions a reality in each of the 30 clicks I had left.

Nervous yet inspired, I felt truly and deeply like an artist for one of the first times in my life.

I don’t know what affected me the most in this moment– the urban backdrop with new discoveries around every corner? Stacy’s inherent beauty? The realization that I am in control of my work?

Who knew perceived limitations could be so {surprisingly} exhilarating and blissful?

In a moment where both Stacy and I could have felt trapped/pressured/ rigid we both found freedom and my personal creativity soared.

On top of shooting with limited memory, I decided to shoot Stacy’s entire session with my 100mm 1.8 lens . This is not a lens I typically use for portraiture work, however, I’ve been falling in love with it over the past month….

If you’d been nearby to peek down an alleyway while we were shooting, you probably would have thought I was a dancing weirdo. Between the cold, my excitement and my desire to shoot and frame Stacy in new and interesting ways, I was all over the place.

I’d say it was worth it.

New goals? Limit my cards more often, don’t be afraid to put myself “out there” and end every session with an image like this: 

Stacy,

I’ve told you a thousand times over the past couple weeks but you are seriously, seriously beautiful. Thank you for reaching out and for stretching yourself in front of the camera– I am so appreciative!

Here’s to new challenges with beautiful outcomes, friends. Find the possibilities around you and face them head on– goodness is in store!

in His love

Laura

Happy 2013 to you!

Every year on January 1st I find myself baffled by how quickly the holidays escape me. There is so much anticipation, ritual and tradition associated with this time of year and yet there never seems to be enough time to soak it all in. This year is no different and as I sit in my semi-crazy living room {thanks to a few days of house guests} thinking about what to make for a soon-to-be {I hope} 9pm dinner while also preparing to head back to work tomorrow, I’m feeling {surprisingly} at peace about how 2012 wrapped-up.

Last night I sat with my husband, sister, and dear friend in our little apartment while we drank New York style chocolate martinis and recalled our 2012 highs and lows. It was profound to talk about things like purpose, trust, risk and fulfillment as they related to our pasts and futures. I’m not much of a goal setter or a list maker when it comes to my personal life so these kinds of conversations were really the perfect end to the year.

I hope that if you’re a follower of this business that you’ve been able to participate throughout the year as I’ve celebrated, adventured, explored and created behind the camera– bringing you along for the ride is so important to everything I do! Rather than walking back through my favorite moments and/or images of 2012, I channeled the last of my 2012 artistic juices into a snow-filled photo session yesterday afternoon. I couldn’t have ended the year with another session– the people, the setting….there are so many things about this session that I will likely never create again. Yes, a bold and beautiful end to 2012.

Thank you a million times over for your support in 2012. Your visit alone to this blog means a lot!

I believe that 2013 is going to deliver a lot of change for J & I. We’re hangin’ on, ready to go where the Lord leads us and are looking forward to bringing you along for the ride as His timing allows!  I am also looking forward to focusing on being more organic and intentional in 2013. These are my key words and I’m sticking to them!

Happy New Year to you & yours.

in His love,

Laura

In October, Jordan and I were blessed to be able to celebrate our one-year wedding anniversary. It was unbelievable to us that a year had passed and we felt so lucky to have an extended weekend together to celebrate {you can read more about it here}.

As the end of our adventure-filled weekend drew to a close, we felt ourselves wishing we could give just a fraction of the fun we’d had to another deserving couple. From this urging, the Celebrating Love contest was born! Entries poured in and Jordan and I read the stories of each couple, amazed  by their words and images. Finally, we selected a winner and anxiously awaited Maren & Sean’s November session.

Maren and Sean have been together “over half their lives”, having grown up on the same block as kids and sharing nearly all of their life experiences together. Their love was palatable and our time together priceless! If Jordan and I’s marriage looks anything like theirs does in 16 years I would be overwhelmed. These two were seriously awesome.

I met Maren and Sean at Manhattan’s old railroad bridge and we spent the afternoon walking around and talking. I learned about their kiddos, their life together. My heart was so full!

Maren & Sean,

Thank you for entering the Celebrating Love contest and for coming to Manhattan for your session! Many blessings on your marriage and family this year.

in His love,

Laura

When I was young, about once a year my parents would secretly pack suitcases and subsequently surprise my siblings and I with an overnight getaway to a local hotel. These unexpected getaways {which always included time in the pool, order-in pizza and lots of bed jumping} are some of my favorite memories from my childhood. They still provide me with a beautiful snapshot of my family and they taught me to cherish quality time with friends and family over gifts and presents. You just can’t wrap-up  the late night giggles that echo between the walls of a packed hotel room, you know? Especially when the giggles are coming from these three….  🙂

{Can you find me? I’m the one with the awesome glasses….yeah… 😎  }

 A week ago I wrote about Jordan and I’s goal to be more intentional this season (you can read more, here if you missed it). To tell you the truth, it really has been amazing so far. We’re still two weeks from Christmas and yet my heart is feeling very full, my pace steadied and my body sound {all things that are typically feeling pretty out of whack by this time of the year}. I think the Lord is providing.

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” Matthew 6:31-32

 

With our focus on intentionality and memory making running full steam ahead this year, Jordan and I packaged our 2nd Christmas {which we celebrated this past Friday} around #1 on our tradition/goal list:

See a professional show every December.

We surrendered our Christmas gift ideas for each other, finagled our schedules, scoured for getaway deals and hit the road! It was *almost* like the secret getaways I experienced as a kid– Jordan booked the hotel without me knowing and everything!

P.S. Check-in for a surprise overnight looks a little different when you’re an adult but I didn’t  complain… 😉 Thank you to The Aladdin Hotel for fantastic service, as always!

We were blocks from the theater with a dinner reservation just around the corner– I couldn’t have felt farther away from the Little Apple we currently call home. We soaked it all in and after a quick change of clothes and a picture in front of the hotel’s Christmas tree, we were feeling like our Christmas had officially begun.

Now it wouldn’t be a “Christmas-without-gifts-and-stuff” kind of night unless the Foote’s consumed lots o’ calories in the form of yum-o food. Check, and check at our new favorite KC Restaurant, 12 Baltimore. So classic, so delicious.

Timing worked beautifully for our show this year and we were able to snag tickets to see my favorite musical of all time, Les Miserables, at the Kansas City Music Hall. Jordan hadn’t ever seen it on stage, we were excited to say the least.

The buzz inside of the Music Hall was the perfect capstone to our evening. The red, well worn seats, the Playbills that we poured over while the lights were still up, the orchestra tuning for the overture…. we were definitely meant to live our life in and around the theater.

As we moved to our feet to give the cast a standing ovation, I looked around and thought, “how lucky are we to experience moments like this together”. And it’s true. The sights and sounds of the evening had left their mark and we could sign-off on another one of our 2012 goals. It was a great, blessed, night and I wouldn’t trade it for presents if you made me  😉

I can’t wait to check-off our final holiday goal tomorrow night. We get to meet the family we adopted for Christmas! I hope they’re ok with our not-so-pretty wrap job on their gifts –say a prayer for grace….. 😉

in His love,

Laura

Earlier this fall I had the opportunity to meet the beautiful & sweet Adkins family. Little Miss Reagan had just turned a year old and we had so much running across the bridge, exploring the trails and playing on the playground at Annenberg Park  🙂 It’s always great to meet new clients and when a cute little girl is involved, I of course am totally hooked!

Thanks, Adkins family!  I hope to see you all again soon!

in His love,

Laura