.:heather & nate:.

The fantastic Lauren Lapoint told Heather about us and now here we are. (By the way, Lauren & Justin are getting married THIS NEXT WEEKEND and today is Lauren's birthday so go wish her some birthday love if you know her!)

When Heather contacted us for their fall engagement photos we were booked up pretty solid so we finally settled on a weekend in mid-October. Unfortunately, we had to move it due to some ugly weather (*sigh*, October, when will you ever be predictable in Missouri?). However, when we finally got to shoot them last weekend the weather turned out to be FABULOUS and we were all very glad we'd waited. We met Heather for the first time and her dashing beau and discovered that there couldn't be two sweeter, more genuine people. We took them on our "walking game" (just you wait, when we take your picture you'll find out what it is!) and just... wow, seriously people, they are stunning together!

Nate & Heather met through friends years ago, but at first Heather was totally opposed... until she actually saw the guy. Now they're inseparable! Heather's still here at good ol' Mizzou studying animal sciences for a short while longer (she's reached the legal limit of how many pets you can have in Columbia city limits-did anyone else know there was one?) and Nate is up in Kirksville finishing up. There are always question marks when it comes to the future, especially graduating from school, but the best part about it is that they have one another to figure out the rest of their lives with. *Sigh* I'm a sucker for love.

So check out how gorgeous these two are and what *amazing* models they made. It isn't every day your photographers will demand laughter and cheesy, lovey dovey smiles and people can hit them right on the nose every single time. Okay... so we didn't demand grins and loving looks, Heather and Nate just naturally bring out the brightness and best in one another. But a girl's gotta give herself some credit, right?

Now if I could only be tall, dark, and gorgeous like everyone else that seems to be surrounding me these days... (except for the dark, Brian is a little pale)

.:ah slideshows:.

So here's to my first posted slideshow! I've never been a slideshow watcher (which probably explains why it's taken me so long to do one) so let me know if any of you reading this are.

We're off to shoot Julie & Colin's wedding tomorrow. The two of them are so cool that they actually sat with us tonight at their rehearsal dinner! The four of us and a few of Julie's relatives shared embarrassing stories and tramautic experiences from our elementary school gym classes. We managed to touch on Cage Ball, Dodge Ball, Volleyball, Locker Rooms, Fungi, Smelly Kids, Birthdays, Rock Climbing, & Drill Sergeants all without ever leaving P.E. By the end, we all unanimously concluded that elementary school gym teachers are total creepers. (I apologize if you or someone you know is actually an elementary school gym teacher.) Did anyone else have these experiences?

Happy Homecoming everyone! Go Mizzou!

P.S. If you're reading this on facebook, you can subscribe to the actual blog at aviaphotography.blogspot.com or join our facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/aviaphotography. And don't be shy, you can tell your friends. = )

.:kaylyn senior portraits:.

One of the things we love so much about photography is the people! I often find myself a little despondent after handing off the last book or disc of images to people we've photographed. I start getting sad that we no longer have excuses to interact with these phenomenal persons with whom we just bonded on some of the biggest days of their lives! I am stoked to announce that since Misty & Jerome got married on New Year's Eve of 2008 she has contacted me not once, but twice now to do photos. When their little one turned one year old in February we took photos at Jaylin's birthday party and now Misty's little sister, Kaylyn, is graduating from high school. Woo hoo! Ah, to be a senior graduating from high school again...

Kaylyn was totally laid back as her sister and Mom carried all of her clothes and shoes in a laundry basket with us around Mizzou's campus. Brian amused us all with his continual ramblings about the type of pizza he was hoping to con me into getting after we all got done shooting. I think he got started on that after Noreen, Kaylyn, & Heather all decided to hit the famous Shakespeare's Pizza (if you've never been there, you have to go) after they were done.

The building I had in mind for the black and white photo was, apparently, locked to the outside world on the weekends. Luckily, as we were arriving, a stranger walked in right before us and we grabbed the door. We looked totally inconspicuous with a laundry basket full of clothes, a gigantic camera, and a 4 foot tall reflector in the very large and brightly lit science building lobby. Needless to say, after I got a few shots I loved, we all left very quickly...

Kaylyn does every sport known to man (well, maybe not all, but almost all) in addition to joining her two older sisters as an acro star (if you're curious what "acro" means, it's short for acrobatics, Brian had to ask as our towns are much smaller than Owensville where they drove in from). You will notice in her photos that this girl is not only absolutely *gorgeous* but definitely has some strength in her. *Sigh* Maybe someday I'll be super flexible or super fabulous or super gymnasticy. Or maybe I'll just settle with being able to do my first pullup.

Thanks, Kaylyn, for being a rockstar!

Oh, and aren't these shoes a-MAZING? Her entire class (if I understood correctly) got a pair and decorated them. Class of 2010... that makes me feel old!

.:a quick appearance:.

So it finally happened, life caught up with me!

As of late, I am one worn out woman! Seriously, as I go to bed I am haunted by all of the wonderful things and stories I have floating around in my head about each of the couples we shoot and the events we get to attend. I've written and re-written every blog post for each wedding multiple times as I drift off to sleep.

I despise the typical blogs I see with photographers: "The wedding went smoothly, the food was great, the couple was easy to photograph, and everyone had a good time. Now look at the pictures!" If you just knew how amazing each of these people are... it is an injustice to write something so generic. So, until I can begin to breathe again (which may possibly be February) here's a sampling of some of what you have to look forward to:

Lilly & Adam - Columbia, MO

had the best vows EVER

Botanical Gardens - St. Louis, MO

Sarah & Kris - Columbia, MO

i can't even begin to describe their sweetness

Ann & Rakesh - St. Louis, MO

love across all cultures

Lindsey & Guy - Hannibal, MO
quite possibly our best models EVER

Elaine & Justin - Columbia, MO

one of the most loving and loved couples we've ever seen

(Brian's work) Jimmie, Rap/R&B - Columbia, MO

Elaina & Ben - Mexico, MO
they are so fun to watch together!

Josepha Frederika Reinkemeyer Brandt Bock - Linn, MO

(Brian's work) Chaz & Jordan, Blues - Columbia, MO

(Brian's work) Victor, Acoustic - Columbia, MO


Katie & Jeremy - Jefferson City, MO
giddily enamoured with no signs of stopping!

Julie & Colin are getting married in 2 weeks!

The Grass Harp, Mizzou show - Columbia, MO

Kate & Kevin - Mendota, IL
just get one another

Seriously, for each and every one of you, it has been a privilege and an honor to be a part of your lives! We are incredibly blessed to photograph such amazing people. Fo' serious, ya'll.

On another note. We do have good news! I've finally started experimenting with slideshows to use on the blog so you just may see some soon. But don't expect any music! That's my Christmas gift next year.

.:for lindsey:.

Even if it may be awhile before I get to write about how spectacularly amazing the two of you are... here's proof.

.:megan boyer band:.

Megan Boyer and her band (the Megan Boyer Band) needed a promo shot, and fast! We went to Lucy's Corner Cafe downtown yesterday morning (we've heard that they have the best biscuits & gravy ever!) to take a few quick shots.

If you haven't heard their band yet, you're in for a real treat as Megan (the blonde bombshell in the center) and her blues band have incredible talent. They play all the time around Columbia, especially at one of our favorite restaurants called Jazz and generally rock the house.

This one was my favorite. = ) But what do I know about band promo shots?

.:meet the bennetts:.

I promised in their engagement post that I would save more of their background for later. Katie and I went through discipleship with the great Jen for two years (along with three other BEAUTIFUL ladies-holla Laura, Kelley & Kyrsten!). During this time, Mitch came up more than once in our talks. He was always the tall kid who came to Navigators who was very friendly but we all knew he was in love with Katie. After all, who wouldn't be? I do not think that Katie has a mean bone in her body. Ask anyone who knows her. So we all saw Mitch watching her and knew it was only a matter of time. Eventually, Mitch went off for a Navigator's training summer where he grew in his faith tremendously. Upon his return, Katie and Mitch knew that it was time to begin their courtship--they were ready.

Funny thing, Brian went through discipleship with Mitch and several other guys for a year. When I tried to ask him about their time together Brian just shrugged and said, "I dunno... Mitch is a laidback, cool guy. We like sports so that's what we talk about." Men and their brevity! It is true, when we showed up to Katie's house (where only a year earlier we were taking pictures of Katie's sister's wedding) Brian, Mitch, and the fellas all got sucked into a sports conversation immediately.

Their wedding reflected them-simple, elegant, beautiful. I don't know what it is about their wedding day, but brides look absolutely, positively, radiant. I couldn't help but stare at Katie all day long, this beautiful young woman I'd known for years who just looked... well... stunning. Katie and Mitch have made their home in the huge metropolis of St. Louis, quite a difference from Eldon, where Katie grew up. They'll have one another this year as they begin not only their new lives together, but new careers (though Mitch already began). They both teach, which is how they met--in a learning community at Mizzou full of pre-teachers.

Looking at their photos again gives me a big warm fuzzy. = )

(Oh, and if you know Katie, ask her about her dress. There's a pretty cool God story there!)

(I'm inserting a confession. I LOVE shooting really dynamic people. I have a tendency to find someone who is expressive behind the lens and gravitate towards them. I have never met this couple, but I ended up with more than a few photos of them. What can I say, I love joy!)