As you all know, #storieslovewrites is the hashtag I use for my weddings because it encompasses the incredible legacy that happens through marriages. It’s really amazing that two people can come together and literally build generations out of their love, isn’t it?! Needless to say, my old soul heart (that also studied Marriage & Family Therapy in College!) thrives in the details, the stories, the history & the memories that come forward on each wedding day. So, you can imagine my thrill when this year’s October bride, Madison, shared about a very special portrait she wanted me to make when I was home in KC  last week.

What you see above is the most gorgeous gown, purchased in 1943 for her grandmother (seen top left) to wear for her wedding. Then, her sister borrowed it. Followed by Madison’s mom. And now Madison, who works in the designer bridal gown industry, will be the first to alter the dress to wear in October.

Obviously this dress carries an incredible legacy and these images of Madison wearing it in its original state as it has been worn over the last 75 years were very important, especially to her mom. Thankfully, her mom also got to be present as we photographed her at The Intercontinental in Downtown Kansas City, where the actual wedding will take place this fall. The antique wood, oversized staircase and looming chandelier only added to the incredible beauty of this gown!

Special thanks to Ashlie of Blue Bouquet for providing a lovely bouquet for a few of the portraits! We also managed to sneak in a prop “prayer book” to mimic what the women were holding in their portraits.

Oh this last one. Madison looks just like her mom’s portrait! Such an incredible legacy.
Happy Royal Wedding watching to those of you who will be up early tomorrow for it!

xo, Laura

It is always a wonderful experience when I have the opportunity to document life for people I love. So walking alongside Annabeth & Chase through friendship, pregnancy and now, Sadie Grace’s arrival, has been the sweetest! This little girl came right on her due date and is already so very loved by her family & friend from Texas, to South Carolina, to Tampa! She and McCartney are almost exactly a year apart and I’ll be honest, holding her today made me wonder if Mac was really ever as small as she is?!

These sessions are a marathon, not a race, with lots of breaks for nursing, snacks and snuggles. And it was truly such a fun day just watching these two love on Sadie Grace, Scout pup & each other so well.

So much love for you four! Can’t wait for all the sweet girlee adventures we will have together.

xo,
Laura

Ryan & Sarah dated from their sophomore year of high school until their sophomore year of college, having little idea that life wouldn’t let them be apart for long. Between PhD programs, jobs, and moves, these two have been best friends for over a decade and now, are FINALLY (ha!) getting married!

Growing up in Kansas City our closest family was a few hours away in St. Louis. But now, Ryan (my cousin!) & Sarah call Kansas City home! So while their wedding will be in their home of St. Louis, it was so fun (and kind of surreal!) to run around downtown Kansas City with them for their engagement session.

All of these were taken in just a 30 minute window before sunset and I adore the fact that we started at their old Kansas City loft! They know these streets well, though home is now a beautiful fixer-upper about 20 minutes away, and I loved hearing them talk about their favorite burger places, date nights to the arcade etc. For two people who really did not want their pictures taken, I think they did amazing. And at the end Sarah even said that she had so much fun (though I think the pre-session champagne might get credit for that more than I haha!)

Counting down until your wedding in June, Ryan & Sarah! Thanks so much for trusting me to document this season for you!!
xo,
Laura

I am so grateful to be able to come back “home” to Kansas City 3-4 times a year for weddings, portraits, Little Apple visits & time with friends and family. Spring & fall are the seasons I miss most living in Florida so it is especially fun when I get to come back and enjoy them here!

I’m currently in town for a slew of spring photo projects & to celebrate McCartney’s first birthday (HOW?!) and had the opportunity to meet Erin for a headshot mini session at Zona Rosa! Erin saw my work through a former client and booked me even though we hadn’t ever met (I love when this happens– what a compliment!). She is an adjunct dance instructor in the KC Metro and needed headshots for when companies share (with excitement I’m sure!) that she’ll be teaching for them.

I hadn’t been to Zona Rosa in years but found the perfect backdrops to compliment her. I love headshot minis because they only take 15 minutes but she’ll have 50 images to select her 5 from- hooray!

Thanks so much for trusting me with your headshots, Erin!
Kansas City– lots of good stuff happening this week! Stay tuned for more!
xo, Laura

I met Janelle and David two years ago when they graciously modeled for my first styled shoot! They are the sweetest couple ever and working with them felt like we’d been longtime friends. So, when they found out they were expecting their first baby and contacted me, I was thrilled! Adele was the most precious little girl and I could not get over her “Hello” nursery, which was curated before the “other” Adele’s song had been released! 

Soak up every minute with this sweet girl, Janell and David! So grateful to have captured this special season for you!!

WHAT THE 5 YEARS BATMAN?! I just can’t believe it, yet he’s been here for just about as long as I can remember, and every year I just grow more and more grateful. 

Needless to say, this was a special #lfpcelebratinglove year because 5 years feels special! We’ve shared our story over the past few years as we’ve done this giveaway and continue to be blown away by the #storieslovewrites that you share with us in return. It’s just amazing, really, where love takes us and there always is surprise, heartache, determination, and adventure mixed in! 

This year was no different. Our couples shared their stories on Instagram and we were blown away by the grace and love filling their lives! From newlyweds to longtime sweethearts, the legacy of relationship was undeniable in these stories and J and I (as always) had the hardest time choosing our winners. I mean, just look at these faces! 

BUT. We had to choose. Because that’s the blessing of this contest! And so, I’m thrilled to announce the year 5 Celebrating Love winners. First up, Cindy and Tom from Illinois won our date night box (yay!!!). Here’s what Cindy shared about their journey: 

“Tom and I met when I was a freshman in high school. When we met we didn’t exactly get along. After a year we somehow found each other again. Tom was having back surgery to prevent paralysis. I was in the hospital visiting my grandma and decided to visit Tom. I just knew there was something about him and didn’t want to give up. A few months later he asked me to be his girlfriend. That was September 23, 2006. Ten years later, 3 states, multiple trips to Disney, the deaths of many of our favorite people, and here we are. We’ve been married for a little over a year, and it still is just as magical as it was when we were kids. “

We are so excited to encourage these newlyweds with some special gifts and hope they can enjoy a fun date night soon! 

Next, we’ve got our *drumroll please* Tampa photo session winner! This couple’s story spans decades– something we hope we’ll be able to say someday! We loved his pursuit of her, even at age 15, and got goosebumps reading about how they were married 7 years and 1 day after they met as freshman in high school. In this season of parenting K, our 18 year old foster daughter, we were also excited to read about their teenage kids and are SO excited to give these two portraits together. We understand now more than ever how much (fill in the blank!) raising teenagers takes and how much parents are sacrificing to make it all possible. Here’s a bit of their story in their own words-

“When I was 15 years old, I got a phone call from a boy I barely knew. He’d asked a mutual friend for my number after we’d run into each other the previous weekend. If I’m being honest, I wasn’t really interested, but I didn’t want to hurt his feelings so I talked to him for a few minutes that night. 
He called me back the next day and we talked a little longer, and a little longer the following day, and after a couple of weeks our conversations started lasting late into the evenings (without my parents finding out.) Then, one day he told me he was in love with me and asked me to be his girlfriend. Whoa! It was that very moment that I realized I was head over heels in love with him, too. 
We started dating at the end of my freshman year of high school and were married 7 years and one day later. We’ve been together 25 years, married for 18 years, and have two of the most wonderful teenagers that have ever walked this planet. I’m not going to lie and say it’s been a cake-walk, because we’ve had several ups and downs in the 25 years we’ve spent growing up together. 
We’ve gone from teenagers, to young adults, to parents, to entering our middle age together. We’ve been together longer than we were alive before we started dating! It’s been a journey and I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Thank you, thank you, thank you for another amazing year of this little contest, friends! We skip cards and gifts every year to enjoy a mini fall vacation and always “unwrap” your stories sometime during our anniversary weekend. It really is the best gift! 

Until next year 🙂

Laura & Jordan (who got to meet their idols Jack & Sally for their anniversary! AH!)