A Picture's Worth | Photo Blog » weddings

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!

kelle + chris | slideshow

kristajean — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 20:51:41 +0000

Here are more pictures from Kelle + Chris’s wedding reception at Historic Locust Grove in Louisville, Kentucky. Enjoy the show!

Best viewed with high speed internet connection.

kelle + chris | first dance

kristajean — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 17:25:58 +0000

Working on Kelle + Chris’s wedding pics and had to share this series from their first dance. LOVE it!

Next up … their slideshow!

kelle + chris | historic locust grove, louisville ky

kristajean — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 16:05:22 +0000

Spent the weekend in beautiful Louisville, Kentucky for my best friend Kelle’s wedding reception at Historic Locust Grove. Wonderful weekend with friends and family. Lots more pictures to come!

sara + darrell | wedding slideshow

kristajean — Fri, 28 May 2010 04:09:20 +0000

It was so hard to narrow down pictures for Sara + Darrell’s slideshow. There were so many great moments throughout the day. Here are some more of my favorites.

best viewed with high speed internet connection

Enjoy!

sara + darrell | weddings

kristajean — Tue, 18 May 2010 23:51:05 +0000

Friday was a beautiful day for a wedding. Lindsey and I hung out with the bride at her mom’s house while she got ready and spent some quality time with her mom and her four best girlfriends. It was fun watching the girls play games together and talk and laugh. Such a great group of girls. It was fun to see their familiar faces as well since they were all in Kelli + Dan’s wedding, which I photographed a few years ago. Sara + Darrell chose to see each other before the wedding, which was so sweet. They exchanged gifts and lots of hugs and kisses. Then we were able to get the majority of the posed pictures done ahead of time so they could relax and enjoy themselves after their unique ceremony. I think this is the first ceremony I’ve been to where the bride was given away by six people – her mom, her dad, her stepdad, her uncle and her two brothers. It was very sweet. After vows and rings, the couple planted a tree alongside others they had planted over the years they’ve been together. Their recessional was fun with the guests setting off poppers with streamers in them as they walked back the aisle. Then they took off in the back of a monster truck and headed to their reception, where we all enjoyed a delicious meal before they danced the night away with their family and friends.

It was a fun wedding to be a part of. Here are some of my favorites from their day. Enjoy!

Sara + her mom. Love her mom’s face in the photo on the right. Such a proud mom!

Sara accidentally said the next line of her vows before the officiant told her to because she’d practiced them so much. Everyone got a laugh out of that. So cute.

Congratulations, Sara + Darrell! Have a fabulous Hawaiian honeymoon!

Officiant: Donna Moses 269.344.6311
DJ/Videography: Party in a Box – these guys are a riot and put on a great party! I highly recommend them.

lisa and brian | wedding slideshow

kristajean — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:08:53 +0000

Enjoy some highlights from Lisa and Brian’s Traverse City wedding!

brian + lisa | weddings

kristajean — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:30:34 +0000

I had the wonderful privilege of shooting the wedding of my cousin Brian on March 6th in Traverse City. It was an absolutely beautiful day and so great to be surrounded by family. I spent the afternoon with the girls getting Lisa ready and I loved being around them. Lisa has such wonderful friends and I could immediately tell that they all share a special bond. From the ceremony, which brought tears to my eyes more than once, through the reception at the Top of the Park (in the Park Place Hotel), with its gorgeous view of the sunset over the bay, the day flew right by before we knew it. I’ve said this before, but I love photographing family weddings. Some photographers will shy away from working with family, but I feel like God has given me this talent and I want to share that gift with the ones I love. It was a very special day! And now I have another wonderful cousin!

Here’s a little sneak peek from the wedding. Many more pictures coming in a highlights slideshow. Coming soon!

Beautiful girls! Not just on the outside!

As you can tell, the cake cutting got a little messy. More pictures of that coming in the slideshow.

Congratulations, Brian & Lisa! SO very happy for you! And welcome to the family, Lisa!

congratulations lisa + brian

kristajean — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:26:33 +0000

Had a wonderful time in Traverse City this past weekend for my cousin Brian’s wedding! Lisa is such a happy addition to our family. Sneak peek coming soon!

sara + darrell | grand ledge engagement pictures

kristajean — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:44:19 +0000

I had so much fun with Sara and Darrell last weekend in Grand Ledge. The colors were at their peak and made for some gorgeous pictures. The ledges along the river are so cool. There were lots of rock climbers out that day taking advantage of the rock walls. We also braved the railroad trestle just after a train went across. Crazy? Yes, but fun! If a train had come through, it would have been like this scene from Stand By Me. Here are some of my favorites from our afternoon together.

Can’t wait for the wedding next May!