KathyFreundel Photography Photography

Classic DJ’s Carl Brashears

Reid Robinette Officiant

Occasional Flowers Floral Design

Rachel Piet  Hair and Makeup

In ninth grade, she settled it. It was nursing. She carefully boxed her dream of becoming a writer, set it on the bedroom shelf, and began to apply herself to her new dream. After all, her family never failed to dream big, and after graduating from her Vancouver high school, she continued on to Trinity Western in British Columbia, spent time traveling in Asia, South Africa and Europe and eventually landed at the top of the heap at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where that young girl’s dream came to fruition.

He was equally ambitious, wanting to discover a cure for cancer as a young boy in Blue Springs, Missouri. In high school he dreamed of becoming a nuclear physicist and
solving the world’s energy problem by developing viable nuclear fusion technology.  He eventually headed west, to Caltech, where he earned his first degree in Mechanical Engineering. He earned a master’s degree at Washington University in St. Louis and landed at at Robitics Inc. where he is a robotic manipulation researcher at Motile Robotics Inc. He is concurrently pursuing a PhD from UMaryland in mechanical engineering.

This is what happens when the smart people crash into one another.  It happened in a ballroom dancing class.  There is NOTHING that these two don’t do well. I call it purposeful living. They take nothing for granted. Their spiritual journey, their romance, their personal growth . . . Karen and Chad live full, rich, purposeful lives. I LOVE these guys . . . Renaissance power couple, Karen and Chad Kessons.

Karen and Chad chose to see one another before the ceremony . . . they wanted that  moment to be theirs alone. Look at Chad’s face. He knows she’s coming, but he promised he wouldn’t turn around until she spoke his name. That’s one happy groom. Sweet. Love.

“Remember. Don’t lock your knees.”

Seems that Colin has a history of hitting the deck when the stakes are high. A couple of big concerts in high school and BOOM, he was out. I’m happy to report that the only lightheaded behavior on this day was fully functioning.

We met in my studio last spring. April and Colin were so excited to be marrying at Historic Savage Mill, an former cotton mill that boasts an truss bridge known as The Bollman (c. 1869). April, Colin and her parents sat in my studio and excitedly showed me lots of great photos that they had taken of the venue.  I could tell that photography was of real value to all of them.

Can I tell you, it is so much fun to shoot a wedding when bridal is couple is down for just about anything. April and Colin were that couple. So much fun. So in love.

Reason #1 that everybody wins when Tim comes to shoot a wedding with me.  He goes to the inner chambers in guy-ville.

April had some pretty hot kicks. We were shooting those shoes all day long.

A little pre-ceremony run through for Mr. I Got the Ring.

Reason #2 I’m grateful for Tim. Hidin’ the bride, pre-ceremony. Fifteen minutes to ceremony and wait till you see the cool shots he got of the groomsmen.

April was ultra fun during a pre-ceremony session. So relaxed, so full of of laughter and anticipation. So chill. It’s the Pre-K teacher in her.

Meanwhile.

And the guests arrived. Right through the shops at Savage Mill. So while your wedding is happening there are voyeur shoppers vicariously joining in the celebration. Pretty cool.

Reason #3 for a second shooter.  This is Tim’ shot of Colin and April.

Same moment, my shot. It’s so much fun to look back through the day and see two different perspectives. It’s a win-win-win.

Okay, so I’m getting to reason #4. Watch the bottom right corner of the frame. Do you see him???

BAM! There it is. Reason #5. Father of three. Multi- tasker extraordinaire. the gear, the flowers, Mr. I Got the Ring . . . and he smiles.

I’ll just say it. You can’t go back an capture more images of your wedding day. Go for the second shooter. It matters.

Okay. Back to the party.

I’m not the only one that loved the shoes.

You know that look.

And the clean up.

April and Colin, your love for one another is tender, intimate and a blessing to witness. I am so grateful that you allowed me to share in your day and opened your lives to me.  You are on the beach in Hawaii right now, but when you see these images, I hope all the joy, laughter and tears of the day flood back. You guys ROCK and so did your wedding day.

Laurie and Skip have one of those marriages that inspires me. It inspires me to work at keeping my own exciting. To invest. To nuture. And to laugh. Alot.  Laurie and Skip are now empty nesters . . . both girls in Florida now. And they admit it’s bittersweet. Yea, they just got back from a Caribbean cruise, and they have that sun kissed glow on their cheeks and  joy in their voices, but, oh, to turn back the clock and wake up with Libby and Ava in their bedrooms.

Whenever I’m with Laurie, I get a golden nugget. This time it came from both of them. Don’t rush through the child rearing thing. Plan for long, relaxing breaks and stretch those periods of “family fun” whenever possible. It all goes so fast. Laurie and Skip . . . I hear ya.

Laurie and Skip are wise about so many things. They are building a marriage . . . after 27 really great years, they are still building. They also realize that capturing who they are together is an heirloom . . . a forever legacy.  It had been five years since they had a “couples” photo . . . time to document love. Really smart. Cause you can’t turn back the clock and go back get what’s already gone.

Meet the Schultz family.

Teresa and her guys. Teresa and  Bruce have just completed a beautiful addition on their home . . . Bruce has been working like a dog and it shows! Teresa is not an interior decorator but she should be. Her home is stunning, full of personality, and warm and inviting. Her front room was even featured in a design magazine. So, Teresa saw these cool DIY wall design templates on the Home and Garden channel, and wanted to get some black and white photos of her family to put on the warm golden wall. Black and white prints, framed in black. It’s going to be sleek and classic.

Enter moi. With the charge of capturing this family in all it’s glory, including the pups. We were chasing the light all evening, but we won! Check ‘em out. Great family.

Dave.

Matt.

Nick.

trouble. of the sweetest kind.

I can tell. Teresa and Bruce share that “we’re on the same team” kind of love. Precious.

Bruce is looking at me that way ’cause I just asked him to throw Teresa into a dip and kiss her

Couldn’t resist.

the brotherhood.

They might rib and jeer, but these guys totally know how good they’ve got it.

Two parents in love. That’s a gift.

Frank.

I couldn’t resist this shot, Teresa. As I was going through your bedroom on the way back from using the second story balcony to shoot, I saw this on the wall above your bed.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this.

That about sums it up.

]]> http://kathyfreundel.com/blog/lifestyle-sessions/schultz-family/feed/ 0 http://kathyfreundel.com/blog/weddings/backyard-wedding-photography/ http://kathyfreundel.com/blog/weddings/backyard-wedding-photography/#comments Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:45:45 +0000 Baltimore | DC Wedding Photographer Kathy Freundel http://kathyfreundel.com/blog/?p=2066 Connelly. The slide show. ]]> http://kathyfreundel.com/blog/weddings/backyard-wedding-photography/feed/ 0 http://kathyfreundel.com/blog/personal/hello-world/ http://kathyfreundel.com/blog/personal/hello-world/#comments Tue, 22 Sep 2009 03:59:29 +0000 Baltimore | DC Wedding Photographer Kathy Freundel http://kathyfreundel.com/blog/?p=1 It’s fresh. It’s new. And I LOVE it! I’ve had so much fun designing the new blog and will continue to tweak as the weeks go on.

SUBSCRIBE to receive my blog through your email. It’s simple using the link on the header.

Just as a preview, here’s how the photos will look.

Nice, huh? This is Lisa.

{And the image is straight out of the camera . . . gorgeous bride}

And this one is just straight out of the camera. Okay, so it was a five minute blog post . . .

but you get the picture. The Big Picture.

If you’re feeling nostalgic for my former blog, “through the lens,” it still floating out there.