In the Bible, the book of Genesis refers to Eve being Adam’s helper, or “completer”.  I couldn’t think of a better way to describe Zach and Jennie’s relationship than that they complete each other. Zach is laid back and steady, while Jennie is detailed and driven.  Together, though, they are one. Complete. Together they will go further than their individual strengths would take them, and they are eager to follow God wherever he leads them. It’s exciting to see posts on their Facebook pages that their passports are updated, extra thick, and they are ready! I’m so inspired by their willingness to serve the world, and know that they will make a difference wherever they end up.

One of the other great indicators of a solid relationship is the supporting cast… who you align yourselves with. Both Zach and Jennie have a great lineup of friends that encourage them as a couple and bring out the best in them. I enjoyed listening to the prayers of their friends before the wedding began. They longed to see Zach and Jennie do great things with their lives and their marriage and spoke of how they were always willing to serve their friends… even just to pray with them.

Congratulations, Zach and Jennie! You are an inspiration to me and Jodi, and we know God will do great things through you!

Their Motion video is a little over 13 minutes long, so grab a coffee for this one…

Motion Pictures from Zach and Jennie’s wedding! More to come!

Ryan and Krystal both know what it is to have a deep faith in God, believing that he has a plan for their lives and that together they are better than apart. (A lot of you got a kick out of their unique engagement session last year, and to say that they are full of life is an understatement.) The theme of their wedding was “the puzzle” for the very reason that everything that happens in life is a piece of what makes you who you are, even though some pieces take longer to find than others. They knew when they found each other that they had each found a very important piece their life’s puzzle and that they fit together well.

Thank you, Ryan and Krystal, for allowing us the privilege of being part of your big day! We’ve appreciated getting to know you better as a couple this past year, and have enjoyed the friendship that’s developed. You two are dynamite together, and we know you’ll do great things! God bless… R&J

PS…. if you live in the Iowa City/Coralville area, and you appreciate a great massage, Krystal is best around (in our opinion)! Check out :Krystalee Massage Therapy in Coralville.

Happy New Year!

Weston and Emily live in New York, but made their way back to Iowa along with their lovable pooch Charlie, for an incredible October wedding.  From start to finish, everything seemed scripted to tell the story of their lives and their love for each other, from the details in the barn, to their personal and unique vows they shared with each other. You can check it all out in the Motion Picture below the images!

Many thanks to Shannon Murphey at The Celebration Farm for helping to make this day memorable for Wes and Emily, and being an amazing host.

And here is their Motion Picture!

We had a crazy past couple of days, and are finally finding ourselves back at home after traveling quite a bit. Our week started by flying to Arizona for some photographic education from some excellent speakers and artists in our industry, and we came home ready to raise the bar even more in our work.  I was able to study with some excellent cinematographers, so our Motion productions will be getting even better. Jodi studied with some of the industry’s top photographers/business people, and we are expanding our product line to include more items that are customizable to your liking.

That’s all well and good, but there is one special person that you may have seen with us at weddings this summer, and a couple of sessions in between. Her name is Nastaran, and she has been interning with us, looking to gain as much insight into photography as she can.  She is the fastest learner we’ve ever worked with, and has gone from a beginner to creating some amazing images in a very short time.

We took her along to Arizona, and one morning Jodi decided that Nasy should be on the other side of the camera!  So, we borrowed a wedding dress from the workshop models, and she became our model for the morning.

Meet Nasy…..

Then here’s a few other scenes from around Tuscan, Arizona.

JJ and Michelle wouldn’t take “No” for an answer.

We’re glad they didn’t!

When they contacted us about photographing their wedding, we were already booked. But they were willing to think outside the box, and came to us a few days after the wedding for a relaxed and personal session.

“JJ and Michelle… Thank you for the privilege of working with you two! We’re so glad you decided to go with us after all, and we wish you all the best in your new life together!”

For a full explanation of a “Day After” session, keep reading below the images.

DAY AFTER SESSION:

The typical wedding day has two downsides when it comes to photography.  One, there are guests waiting. When we are with the couple, or bridal party, we work very quickly and efficiently to achieve all of the images we set out to capture, because back at the reception venue, 100-300 people are hungry.  This is where having an experienced professional pays for itself.  Jodi is brilliant at posing a large group of people very quickly, and our team works well under pressure.  Secondly, a typical wedding in Iowa starts at anywhere from 3-6pm. This means that the daylight fades quickly after the ceremony, and again, we have to work as quickly as possible to avoid photographing in the dark.

The Day After Session takes those two downsides and throws them out the window. There are no guests waiting, so you can go to any location you can think of, up to and including international travel. Also, you can schedule the session at any point of the day so that we have all the time and daylight necessary for the scenes you’re in.

Some guys just wear their own suits, or an entirely different outfit than they wore at the wedding. A bride could redo her hair as it was for the wedding, or try something new.

Additionally, if you’re a couple on a smaller budget, the Day After Session is a great option to still get some solid images.

All in all, it’s one our favorite types of session to photograph. We enjoy couples in love, and we enjoy time to create. The Day After gives us both, and it gives you some amazing images.

We’ve been blessed to have had a lot of outdoor weddings this year, and perfect weather for all of them. Outdoor weddings are a bit more casual, not only in nature, but for us as photographers as well.  Some churches have fairly strict rules as to where we can and can’t go during the ceremony, and outdoor weddings give us more freedom to move around without being too noticeable.

Angie and Carl’s wedding was absolutely beautiful! The outdoor setting faced a large rock waterfall that was a perfect backdrop to the beginning of their new life as husband and wife. The gals from Bella Sala had the place looking sharp, inside and out, and Rock’n'Thunder DJ kept the party hopping late into the night!

Thanks Angie and Carl for entrusting us with one of the most special days of your life!  Many Blessings ~

JOY.

That was theme of Ben and Julie’s wedding and from start to finish, joy was present… on their faces, in their hearts, and in the festivities of the day. There was an ever-present smile on Julie’s face, and Ben was just as relaxed as a groom could be.  They have spent their lives investing in young people’s lives… Julie as a youth group leader and Ben as a school teacher… and it was plain to see by the large group of people on the dance floor at the end of the night that Ben and Julie are well-liked and doing a great job of spreading their joy.  In fact, the wedding favor that everyone was given was a jar of jam, with those very instructions printed on the label… Spread the Joy!

Ben and Julie…. thank you so much for the allowing us the honor of being part of your special day!

Bouquet: Julie’s Fountain of Flowers
Ceremony: Parkview Church
Reception: Celebration Farm
Photography: The Gehmans 

Bill and Maura knew what they wanted for their wedding… something small, intimate and special. Tuscan Moon in Kalona was an excellent choice… an old hotel that has been restored to a restaurant and small event venue.  The day unfolded exactly as described, and the friends and family that packed into the room would agree that Bill and Maura’s wedding was something quite special.

The day began at the Riverside Casino and Resort where Maura had a unique answer to the age old question: Which shoes should I wear with my wedding gown? Her answer: Take all 3 pairs and change throughout the day!  Why limit yourself, right?!

Maura’s son Samuel is one of the most polite young men I’ve ever met.  He was proud to walk his mother down the aisle, and did a great job!

Here’s the Motion Picture from Kara and Damon’s wedding!

For more information on this product, visit the Info/Motion Picture tab above, or call 319-683-3357!

Have a great week!