Well, let me first tell you that blogging every day has been SUCH a challenge, by far much more difficult that I had initially perceived. How hard could it be? Well alllmost as hard as Carrie Bradshaw refraining from Manolo’s hard. Although, this isn’t the last you’ve heard of me!! It won’t be everyday, but it will be much more often.

I however, did enjoy recapping the memories, laughter, and to the disdain of a few-blackmail. Get over it.

I’ve had drool worthy brides, painfully charming grooms, Ralph Lauren Magazine children, friendships made, laughter had, windy cities, Dog Maid of Honors, FireBling, homemade alien deflectors, “progressive” Bride and Grooms, the most utterly amazing weather, church coordinators that Hitler would fear, inspiration from the most amazing photographer friends one could have, heart palpitating “Reveals”, those RED dad pants, and as always Downright Dirtiness with a touch Sophistication. ; )

I tell 2010 to BRING IT!!!

Lastly, here are a few (9) photos that didn’t really fit into any of the previous categories, but nonetheless I wanted to share.

Thanks for blogstalking,

-A

GALLERY | SUBSCRIBE

P.S. – I just added a fun little Q&A public forum if anyone would like to take advantage of it. Its found under the socialize tab or you can simply click here.

Reception, dinner, dancing, toasts, cocktails, mayhem. Those are some wonderful words. (But this post isn’t about words. Trust me. You won’t need them.)

And now a little game I like to call, “What can we add to our Blackmail Gallery?”

Lets get the party started with a random drunk dude, shall we? You know which one I mean.

Sometimes my Blackmail galleries don’t have to be embarrassing, but definitely questionable or at the very least humorous. I think this is how I viewed the evening after 6 cocktails. So maybe jokes on me?

Dr. Kirby is THE BEST. I’m petitioning him to adopt me. (He’s the one with my homemade alien deflector.)

Blogstalkers, unite!

-A

GALLERY | SUBSCRIBE

I have nothing to write other than I adore these people. Oh, yeah-and the “9″ thing. Screw that.

You rock my socks high heels off.

XOXO, blogstalkers.

-A

GALLERY | SUBSCRIBE

What a killer bunch of hot tamales I’ve had in 2009! I think I get SO lucky with my incredible brides that I cannot justify taking credit for the beauty below. Classy demeanor, humor, elegance, and style radiate throughout these women. Here are my 9 favorites from this year. I had no picking process other than what first caught my glance when shuffling, otherwise I would have gone batty.

Ladies, thank you ALL for having such grace and letting me document your incredible lives with you. XOXOXOXO to you all!!

P.S. – I know lots of photographers think their brides are beautiful, but I’ve had one FINE lookin’ group of ladies this year. I WIN.

P.S.S – There are 10. Let’s pretend there are 9. K, thanks.

GALLERY | SUBSCRIBE

Wedding. Travel. Wedding. Wedding. Travel. Wedding…. Somehow we didn’t actually get to photograph that many portrait or engagement sessions this year-only a mere handful. I do think though that for lack in quantity, we made up for it in quality. We’ve had the most dashing individuals to capture; I love their smiling faces.

Honorable mention ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At this point, I don’t even know what to pick for my favorites. Do you all even realize the shear number of images we capture in a full year? Its daunting really. 9 is MUCH harder than I initially realized as I find so many photos that merit my smile and catch my eye just as much the photo beside it. I only want to let everyone know that I’m meagerly attempting to remember some of my favorite moments from the past 365 days, and I’m sure to forget one or eighteen along the way. We can all forgive me though, right? Good.

Thanks for blogstalking,

-A

GALLERY | SUBSCRIBE

First a few lovely details before we make it to my list of favorites….

…

…RINGS!

Honorable mentions first. (Okay, there are 4 this time. I’m seeing a trend in my cheating ways…)

(goes with #4)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

#9

#8 (Yep, they were like that in camera)

#7 Who knew carpet is so sassy?

#6

#5 (You should have seen the champagne mess we made to get this. Everything was sticky and smelled like a sweaty drunk.)

#4 8-tracks AND Marvin Gaye? Score!

#3

#2

#1. Three words. Lysol. Lighter. Bling.

….And here’s behind the scenes for this one. FireBling

What were your favorites dear blogstalkers?

-A

GALLERY | SUBSCRIBE

ETA: How could I forget about this gem? : )

To me the easiest part of the entire wedding day is the actual wedding (ceremony) itself. I get to do what I believe I do best. Document. I can’t interfere. I don’t want to interfere. I get to quietly observe and no one distracts me.

This series of photos I picked because of peaked emotion, not because of venue, flowers, dress, etc., etc., etc. While I’m still considering everyone’s suggestions for the next series, I have to include the ceremony portion, right? Somehow none of you have mentioned that so far…

First, I have 2 honorable mentions. (Okay, I’m kind of cheating. Get over it. …there will probably be a lot more cheating around here! Just 9 is tough, alright!)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Blogstalking is nice. : ) -A

GALLERY | SUBSCRIBE

So as I was thinking about what I was to post for my next 9 favorites, I started to feel a little bad for the guys. I mean, they all but lost out totally in the last post. So, I’m here to redeem them! Even though we all tend to get lost in the overwhelming girl-factor a wedding plays more than not, the boys need credit. Almost always I can count on the guys for comedy relief. I try not to take myself too seriously, and they do a good job not taking me seriously…at all. : ) In fact, you would think that the guys would moan and groan to have to head out to take some time with ugh, the photographer?, but so many of you men really get into it! They start asking if they can do crazy idea a), b), c) and I say YES! I hold almost no responsibility for setting up these photographs. In fact, only TWO I helped them in the general idea of what I wanted to achieve (and NOT the ones you’d think!), and even then I never force the real outcome. Guys, thanks for being my good entertainment. And being handsome. That always helps. : ) These are actually in order leading to my favorite.

This one brought a good awkward laugh for everyone

No, this wasn’t my idea. Although…

I love when I catch a groom dutifully rockin’ the flowers for the Mrs. : )

Favorite! So dapper, gentlemen.

…honorable mention….this is another one that just makes me laugh!

Once again, I still want to know what you want to see! We still have at least 7 more posts to go!

To my blogstalkers, MWAH!

-A

GALLERY | SUBSCRIBE

So get this groupies: For the next nine CONSECUTIVE days I’ll be posting my nine favorite images (can I cheat??) from this fantastic and wonderful mess of a year in categories that I still haven’t even decided. How about that?!

While I still am continuing to finish up this years sessions and weddings, that due to an insane travel schedule (which will look wussy compared to this 2010 season!) mixed in with the occasion flu (thanks for the germs people! : ) )  I’ll be “getting my rear into gear” for all my outstanding bride and grooms, and I’ll hopefully maybe even sneak in a real post or two while I’m at it! That would ShamWow 2009 out of its socks, fo’ sho’.

Without further ado, how about we show my favorite prep photos? Sorry boys, but the girls always tend to steal the show in this category with the makeup, the hair, the veils, the mimosas, the dress….you get the idea. I managed to sneak one good one in there though for the boys!

P.S. – Keep an eye out for photographs that haven’t even been blogged yet. ; )

Isn’t it quite odd that the one groom photo is also the only photo with just one dressing solo and absolutely no fuss? Oh girls and their girls…. I love it.

What’s up next? I have my own thoughts, but am up to suggestions. Thanks for blogstalking, you wonderful, wonderful people!

-A

GALLERY | SUBSCRIBE

As is the life of a photographer, many of my mind numbing hours behind the computer are spent dredging through literally thousands of images per week. Editing, emailing, editing, editing, editing, emailing, and a dash of blogging pushed somewhere in the mix tends to be the norm these days. While I am a confidently focused person on the task at hand, sometimes I just have to let my mind wander the internet and alleviate the perpetual brainstorm. Or just walk away from the computer. Not that this is particularly interesting, but I have acquired some pretty good time wasters distractions. In no particular order:

http://foodgawker.com/

I’m the self appointed Anti-Susie-Homemaker, but sometimes a girls gotta give a make 6 desserts for absolutely no reason in the span of 48 hours. Jus’ sayin’.

http://www.decorpad.com/index.htm

DecorPad is an online network mix of professional interior designers as well as people like myself. My favorite part is that it holds a huge gallery of photos to browse and find ideas that coordinate with a style or color palette. Once you click on a room you like, it will show you similar designs. I’m totally addicted. Here are some of my favorite rooms so far (as you can see I have multiple personality decorator disorder, otherwise, MPDD):

Okay, I’m guilty. I can’t actually believe that I’m putting this out here. Here are the 3 most things that I feel deteriorate my IQ, with the worst of them first.

Perez. Yes. Perez. I gotta know about Brangelina, okay? In a far second and third place, respectively, comes Twitter and Facebook. I’m not evening going to put a link to these. If you are reading this, there’s a 99% chance you know how to find it yourself.

http://beautifulpaper.typepad.com/

Being a lover of all things beautiful, Beautiful Paper makes my list.

I love the examples of letterpress, and endless array of fonts, designs, and yummy ideas.

That’s it for now. I want to hear what is in your browser! I’m in dire need to shake things up at the office in my downtime. Won’t you share? I would love to hear the unique sites you visit often and maybe why they keep you coming back.

Thanks for blogstalking!

-A

GALLERY | SUBSCRIBE