Project 52 Week 49: Kansas City’s Claim to Fame

After living near Kansas City my entire life, I finally took time to photograph the famous Country Club Plaza holiday lights. I had planned to take photos Friday evening after watching the Christmas Carol nearby, but some much-needed rain put a damper on my plans. Saturday evening I made a point to go back to the Plaza, taking photos in several locations. Here are just a couple of shots. I’ll have a few Plaza prints for sale in a few months as a Relay For Life fundraiser.

Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza Lights
Abstract photo of the Plaza Lights in the rain

Family Photos | Third Time’s a Charm

I had a great time at all three of the holiday portrait sessions I did over the last couple of weeks, but I definitely think there are some keepers from this family photo shoot! We went to the Rivermarket area of downtown Kansas City, which offers a wide variety of settings, from parks, to urban, to everything in between. And Sophia is one of the cutest, most mature babies I’ve ever met!

Kisses from Mommy & Daddy
Yeah…I know I’m cute…
The happy family outside a unique building in the Rivermarket
A one-on-one moment with Daddy
I love capturing those laughs
Sophia The Wise (with her parents)
A quick moment of adult time
Laughing with Mommy

Project 52 Week 44: Lucky Number Seven

This Sunday I took family portraits for some of my favorite people: my cousin, her husband, and their five kids. And I now have a favorite place to shoot portraits … Parkville, MO. I’ve spent quite a bit of time in the town, but the huge park, river, quaint downtown, railroad tracks, and beautiful Park University all make great backdrops.

The entire Dill family
What a good looking group of kids
A more rustic look
The oldest & the youngest
I finally got a smile out of Daddy once he started holding his baby girl
*Do not attempt at home* I wouldn’t normally put your kids on a train track…unless you’re family.

Project 52 Week 43: Sweet Family of Four

On Saturday I had the pleasure of photographing  one of the sweetest families I’ve worked with. The seven-year-old and four-year-old were full of smiles and adventure, so we had a great time running around the park before sunset.

Family photos at Antioch Park
Family photos at Antioch Park
Checking out the chalkboard
Sweet mom & daughter
Adorable father & son
Stealing a few minutes of adult time

Holiday Portrait Special

The leaves are turning, the weather is cooling off … it’s already time to start thinking about holiday portraits. If you like to send out holiday photo cards or have a family portrait tradition, check out my holiday portrait special. I’m offering Kansas City area family portrait sessions up to one hour for just $49. Included in the cost are five high-resolution images to print to your heart’s content. Or buy the entire CD for $39. Offer expires 10/31/12 and must be redeemed by 11/18/12. Please allow two weeks to receive final edited photos.

First 2012 Holiday Portrait Session

Project 52 Week 39: Purple Light

Last week my extended family attended Purple Light – a vigil to honor & remember loved ones who have faced pancreatic cancer. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network hosts the event to raise awareness about pancreatic cancer and how desperately funding is needed for research to learn more about the deadly disease. Survival rates are the lowest among all cancers and haven’t improved over the last 40 years.

In memory of Aunt Jill.

Project 52 Week 36: Watchcat

On Saturday morning my husband and three of our friends ran in the Kansas City Zoo Run – a 4-mile run to benefit the Sumatran Tigers. After running 4 miles, we got free tickets to the zoo, so we walked about 4 more miles looking at all the animals. Even though I don’t have kids, I love going to the zoo because 1) I love animals, and 2) there are great photographic opportunities. My photo tip about zoos is to use the largest aperture (smallest number) you can, so the fences in the foreground are blurry and less of a distraction.

Thanks to the TV series Meerkat Manor, I bring you a photo of one of my favorite animals.

This meerkat, despite no chance of threat in the zoo, kept watch as two young meerkats wrestled below.

Irish Shenanigans

Here are a few “street photography” shots from the Kansas City Irish Fest last weekend. It’s one of the best places to people watch.

Green, green, and more green (and a cute baby).
The band Millish put on a great show. I’d describe their music as Irish jazz.
I’m glad I wasn’t any closer, or I may have learned what they really wear under their kilts.
Not your typical Irish Fest spectator. Notice her dainty hat and the run in her hose. 🙂
The authentic and the eccentric…together as one.
Streets in downtown Kansas City are closed off for Irish Fest, which brings huge crowds each year. Notice anything amusing about this photo?
Check out this handsome guy.

 

Project 52 Week 34: Union Station, Another Angle

On the long walk to the car after this weekend’s Kansas City Irish Fest, I grabbed my tripod for a shot of this Union Station sign. Photos of the front of Union Station are pretty common, but this angle is a bit different. If you twist my arm I may post some street photography shots of Irish Fest later this week – it’s a great place to people watch!

The back side of Union Station in Kansas City.