A Picture's Worth | Photo Blog » other events

looking back and moving forward

kristajean — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 18:49:21 +0000

As I look at all the beautiful couples below and think back over the past six years, I have so many wonderful memories. I have been so overwhelmingly blessed to be part of all of their weddings – some family, some friends, some strangers who I now call friends. Taking the leap to start my photography business was so scary, but it was one of the best things I ever did. I set out to do something and I did it. I wanted to shoot weddings and I did. Lots of them. All along, I have said that I truly believe God brought each and every couple my way and I’m so thankful for that, because I have worked with some of the most special, kind, thoughtful, beautiful people in this world.

Over the past couple of years, though, the business has slowed way down for me and I have spent a lot of time searching and praying and asking God why. This year, I have put a lot of my focus on my family and spending time with my kids, who really took a backseat more often than I’d like to admit because of all the time devoted to editing photos. I have felt for a while now that this little business of mine may have run its course. This post has been such a long time coming, so here it is … I am officially stepping back from A Picture’s Worth photography. I’m embracing my kids, my husband and our life as it is right now and turning my attention to other things. There will always be a love of photographing weddings and I’m leaving that little place in my heart open to the possibility of doing this again someday, but I truly believe this is the right decision for me at this time.

THANK YOU so much to all of my wedding couples. Thank you for choosing me to capture your most important day. And to the dozens of families whose pictures I took along the way, too. It’s been such fun getting to know all of you. THANK YOU all from the bottom of my heart.

I will be keeping this blog up indefinitely since so many couples’/families’ pictures are here, so feel free to browse through all the posts. I may check in every once in a while, so keep me on your RSS feeds and Google Readers just in case.

Happy New Year!

50th anniversary slideshow

kristajean — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:12:08 +0000

Here are some highlights from Lynn and Emmalene’s wonderful 50th wedding anniversary party. Click the image below to begin the slideshow.

best viewed with high speed internet. Enjoy!

lynn and emmalene • happy anniversary | hastings michigan event photographer

kristajean — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:54:21 +0000

Last Saturday afternoon, I had the wonderful honor of photographing a 50th wedding anniversary party here in Hastings at the Walldorff. I find it hard sometimes to put into words how I feel about the people I photograph, but I will just say that it was such a blessing to be a part of Lynn and Emmalene’s special day. The party was the first time I met any of them and they were a wonderful group. It was great getting to know a little about the couple through all the kind (and funny!) things their friends and family had to say about them. Narrowing the pictures down for this blog post was difficult. There were so many great shots of the guests laughing and having a good time, but those will have to wait until the slideshow.

Members of the original bridal party as well as family sat at the head table with the couple.

There was a lot of this throughout the party …

and lots of this …

and a little of this, too.

There was music. So beautiful. Such talented grandchildren they have.

And their guests took turns “roasting” them. The stories they shared were so hilarious! What wonderful friends and family they have and such fun memories!

There was even a little bit of dancing!

Happy Anniversary, Lynn and Emmalene! It was such a pleasure to meet you and photograph your party.

happy first birthday | baby + children birthday party photographer

kristajean — Mon, 25 May 2009 15:18:49 +0000

Spent last Saturday in Ohio for the first birthday of my cousin’s twins, Graham + Cooper. It was such a fun time. They are the cutest little guys. It was so funny to watch them each react in their own distinct way to their first piece of birthday cake. Graham dug right in while Cooper took about five minutes before he even knew what to do with it. Here are a few pictures from the day:

rachel’s baby shower

kristajean — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 06:12:27 +0000

Rachel’s Baby Shower, Zeeland, MI. Rachel is so beautiful pregnant. So cute with her little baby belly. It was so great to see her family and spend the afternoon with them on Sunday celebrating the little boy who’ll be arriving in a month. I’m sure I’ll soon have pictures of the little one to share.

Also fun to have three of my brides together!
I photographed Rachel’s wedding in July 2004 …

… and her sis-in-law Julie’s wedding in the fall of 2004.

Then in February 2007, Becky married Rachel’s brother Jeff.

Up next … Sarah and Joel’s slideshow.

heather’s bridal shower • 9.22.07

kristajean — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 18:29:45 +0000

My sister-in-law is getting married soon (I am so excited to be their photographer!) and my daughter Chloe and I went to a bridal shower for her a couple weeks ago. It was a lot of fun! Here are some pictures from the day:

the bride with her soon-to-be mother-in-law, who is just the sweetest lady ever.

mother of the bride (and my wonderful mother-in-law!)

i seriously loved this salad so much that I went back for seconds! yum!

shower game time!

jeff arrived in time to help open gifts

the little girls in the wedding are so cute. this is the groom’s niece. and I’m biased about the other little girl in the wedding, who just happens to be my little Chloe.

chloe made a new friend …

… and they were thrilled when Jeff’s mom gave them a special gift.
Chloe doesn’t look very thrilled, but she really was.

Can’t wait for the wedding!

heather’s bridal shower | bucyrus ohio event photographer

kristajean — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 18:33:31 +0000

Drove to Ohio on Saturday with my mom and my daughter. My cousin is getting married this June to his sweet girlfriend, Heather, and this trip was for her bridal shower. We had a good time (despite the 4 hour car trip with a whiny 4 yr. old).

[ fun + games ]

[ opening gifts - the little girls helped ]

I’m so excited to photograph Heather and Brian’s wedding. One of the sweetest things was when they were trying to figure out what date to get married. The original date they wanted was June 9th, but I’ve been booked for that date with another couple for over a year. I was disappointed thinking I wouldn’t be able to be there, but they asked what dates I was still open that month and changed their date so I could be there to take their pictures. That was the HUGEST compliment to me. I’m so thankful for my family!

erinn’s shower • slideshow

kristajean — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 18:19:32 +0000

Click the picture for a little slideshow from Erinn’s bridal shower last weekend!

The song I used for this particular show, well, it’s a bit of an inside joke. We used it at the shower of a friend several years ago …. remember that, Erinn?

Enjoy the show!

erinn’s bridal shower | hastings michigan event photographer

kristajean — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 15:14:20 +0000

Erinn’s bridal shower was this weekend here in Hastings. It was a lot of fun and so good to see everyone. Erinn and I have been friends for many years. Her sister and I were the best of friends in our church youth group, so I first knew her as “Michelle’s little sister”, but we have since become good friends. In the late 90′s, I lived in Germany with my husband while he served in the US Army. Erinn was one of my favorite connections to home through our many many emails. I’m so very happy for her and Kevin. One of the best things about my job is that I get to use my talents to do special things like this for my friends.

Erinn’s mom made all these great finger foods for us. Everything looked great!

It was a lot of fun! Can’t wait for the wedding!

I don’t shoot many bridal showers, but it’s always fun to do something a little different. So, if anyone is having a fabulous bridal shower with great details and lots of fun planned, contact me and I’ll come and capture it all!