The Gehmans | Photography Blog

Krystal and Ryan are two of the coolest people we know, and a wonderful match for each other.  Krystal is a dear friend of ours for many years now, and we were thrilled to be asked to photograph their wedding early next year. We’ve worked with a lot of couples this year with some cool stories of how they met, or were engaged, but this one is unlike any other.  You’ll see what I mean.

SO, HOW DID YOU TWO MEET?

“I, Krystal, was at the Younkers department store shopping.  It was one of those days where I just couldn’t decide on anything. I’d find two items I liked but couldn’t decide between the two. I know some people would have just thrown both in the cart and figured it out later, but I wasn’t in the mood to spend a lot and have to return half of it later. So, there I stood with yet another top in hand, holding it up to the mirror trying to make up my mind when….”

“I, Ryan, was on a mission to pick up some new cologne, and when I pulled into the mall, the store with the closest parking spot to the front door was Younkers, so in I went. Straight to the goods, I knew what I was looking for. As I stepped up to the counter I blanked and couldn’t remember what my empty cologne was called, but I knew what color the bottle was, so I grabbed the two brands with black labels and sprayed them into the air knowing I would recognize the smell easily.

That was when I saw her through the faint haze of cologne.

She was holding up two shirts to a mirror with a lost look on her face, and although it wasn’t like me at all, I put down the spray bottle and walked right up to her, my heart pounding. The first thing that came out of my mouth was ‘Baby, it doesn’t matter which you choose… you’ll look amazing in either one!’”

“I, Krystal, was amazed at the boldness…. and tacky sweetness…. of this guy. I laughed nervously and said ‘Thank you!’, grinning from ear to ear.  He then introduced himself, and we ended up talking for about an hour. Before we went our separate ways, I gave him my phone number and the rest is history!”

…. Or is it?

Images first. The rest of story comes after.

Now for the twist in the story!

The above is Ryan and Krystal’s story… but isn’t true. Not one word.

Here’s the truth:  Ryan and Krystal met on eHarmony.com.  However, one particular time when someone asked them how they met, Ryan just blurted out that they met at Younkers, and on the spot fabricated the above story. Krystal stood there, wondering what had gotten in to him and where it was going, but as he went on, she jumped right in and added her own details of the day, together formulating what has eventually become the story they now tell to everyone who asks!

***Special thanks to Matt at Younkers for letting us work in the store!

We’re proud to call the Bishop Family some of our newest friends! We met them through our church, and have been truly blessed by their lives. They have been working overseas and came home this summer for the birth of little Zephie!   They are headed back in a couple of weeks, and while we’re a little bummed we won’t get to hang out with them, we are super excited about what they are doing.

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Emily is a senior at a local high school, and we were honored to create some images of this memorable time of life for her and her family!  We always appreciate and enjoy families who send multiple children our way, and Emily is the second one from her family to be a GP Senior!  That officially qualifies her as awesome. :)

“Emily, we wish you the best as you pursue your future…God bless in all you do!”

You know you have a great couple to photograph when at the end of a 2 hour session, the guy is still smiling and excited about being close to his lady! Kyle…. you’re the man. Thanks for being a good sport and rockin the bowtie.

We often ask couples what they like to do when they are spending time together, and for Kyle and Jamie it was a lot of things! Camping, fishing, and more.  So, Jodi, being the creative genius that she is, set up this DIY campsite by the river, and it looked pretty special by the time it all came together.

Part of the story of how Kyle got Jamie to go out with him is that he convinced her that he makes the best spaghetti and that she should give it a try. It must not have been too bad, because here they are planning a wedding!

“Kyle + Jamie,

We thoroughly enjoyed our time spent with you two! You are a special couple, and it’s clear that you enjoy life by the way the laughs come easy.  We look forward to your wedding next year, and wish you the best as you plan for the big day!”

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.

When we do portrait sessions at home, it’s generally my job to watch the kids while Jodi works in the studio. During one point, while Jodi was photographing Anastasia outside, one of the children wandered into the studio and a second later came running back into the house excitedly yelling “There’s a bunny out there!” It was all I could do to keep them in the house the rest of the time, until the session was over and Anastasia kindly let them hold Eeyore.

“Anastasia, 

Thank you for allowing us to document this special and important moment in your life! We wish you all the best in your last year of high school, and pursue what’s next. You are a beautiful, gifted young woman and we know God has great things in store for you!”   -R&J

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!