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We Need Your Votes! | City's Best 2011

You did it! You got us into the Top 5 in KC Magazine's City's Best 2011 and now we need your help to make it all the way to the top.

Voting ends June 17 and it only takes a moment! 

(Please note that we were incorrectly listed in the wedding photographer category but your votes for us will count in the portrait photographer category.)

Thanks to all of our wonderful clients and friends for their support. We're definitely feeling the love! And a BIG CONGRATULATIONS to so many of our friends who were also nominated! 

Stem Hair and Body - Best Salon

The Artful Gardener - Best Landscape Design Company

Loren Halifax - Best TV Anchor/Host

Jenny Matthews - Best Radio Personality

Angela Watne - Best Hair Stylist

Karen Hutchison - Best Manicurist

Debby Snow - Best Massage Therapist

Harvesters - Best Philanthropic Organization

The Raphael Hotel - Best Hotel

Good Ju Ju - Best Antiques Dealer

Room 39 - Best Overall Restaurant

Oklahoma Joe's - Best Local Barbecue Restaurant

The Roasterie - Best Local Coffeeshop

Baby Cakes - Best Local Sweet Shop

Glace - Best Local Ice Cream

Matt Baldwin - Best Local Fashion Designer

Standard Style Boutique - Best Local Boutique

When you start typing it all out in a list, you realize just how awesome Kansas City really is!

Don't forget you can share this post with your friends by clicking the "tweet" or "like" buttons below.

Thanks for voting!

Small Business Saturday | Shopping Local

Black Friday is over, but Small Business Saturday is just beginning. The purpose of Small Business Saturday, which was founded by American Express OPEN, the company's small business unit, is to recognize the importance of small businesses to the overall economy and local communities. It’s a day to support the small, independently owned businesses we can’t live without.

We're proud to participate in Small Business Saturday by offering $150 off of 2011 portrait sessions. Whether you're giving the gift of portraits or simply want to save on your next session, now is the time to book. And don't forget you can save an additional $100 for each friend you refer!  

As always, you can share any of our posts on twitter or facebook with just the click of a button. 

Who Doesn't Love to Shop? | Keeping It Local

My 2010 seniors had style like no others.  Every year I continue to be both amazed and inspired by these girls and their sense of style, each one unique and fabulous in her own way.  We always have conversations about where certain pieces of their wardrobe are from and often times the answer is Standard Style Boutique, a local boutique where I also love to shop.

A couple of years ago I was lucky enough to shoot Emily Baldwin of Standard Style for Her Life Magazine.  I loved shooting Emily for many reasons.  Of course, there's her outward beauty that immediately catches your eye and then there's her undeniable sense of style, but this woman really is a creative force to be reckoned with.  

 

Emily and her husband Matt have brought high fashion to our city through their two boutiques, their line of baldwin denim, and they're raising awareness on the importance of giving back to those in our community by shopping local.  They're the ones behind Build Kansas City, an inspiring movement encouraging folks to shop local, eat local and spend local - a concept I truly believe in.

Build Kansas City from Standard Social on Vimeo.

If you're one of those fabulous 2010 seniors I mentioned above, be sure to stop by Standard Style Boutique for their Rush Week promotion.  For every $100 you spend Standard will give you a $25 credit to put toward accessories or more clothing. 

And if you're a 2011 senior and haven't shot yet, you definitely want to hit Standard Style when you're planning your wardrobe. 

Until next time - keep on keeping it local,

H

A Special Place

Last month I had the opportunity to shoot one of my favorite families in a very special place.  Little Guy wasn't exactly gung-ho for the photo opp that day, but like always, we made the best of it.  And we got some great shots in the process.  Thanks for a great day, guys!   










And here's a fun fact for you.  Kauffman Stadium is undergoing some major renovations during the off-season and the trademark Kansas City Royals scoreboard you see here is no longer standing.  Just a couple of weeks after our shoot it came down.  Check out this MLB video of some of the demolition, including the tear-down of the scoreboard and jumbotron.  WOW!  And wait until you see what's going up in place of the old one.  It's going to be amazing! 

My grandpa took me to my first Royals game when I was a kid (and to lots more after that).  He was a huge baseball fan and taught me a lot about the game so naturally, I couldn't help but think of him while I was shooting at The K.  Wish I could have taken him with me... 

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend,
H

Counting Her Blessings

I recently had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know Miss Kelly Littmann of Farmstead Lifestyle.  Kelly has an amazing story and I feel like a better person for having met her.  In just the small amount of time I spent with her I learned a very important lesson.  Count your blessings.  And count them one day at a time. 

Kelly owns Farmstead Lifestyle, a boutique in the historic Liberty Square.  Farmstead is filled with interiors, antiquities, jewels, clothing, inspiration and more (and a pair of cowboy boots I'm dying to bring home - just as soon as she gets them in my size). 

I photographed Kelly for Her Life Magazine at her Missouri farm house.  A lovely home, a barn and carriage house, a riding arena and lots of gorgeous trees filled Kelly and her husband's 30 plus acre estate, which would not be complete without Kelly's beautiful horses.  I won't spill too much of Kelly's story because I want you to read about her in the magazine, but let me just say I'm honored to now call her a friend.  She's a beautiful woman - inside and out, so full of energy, passion and love.

Meet my friend Kelly.

We also had the pleasure of working with makeup artist Karin Barragato of KAE Makeup, who did a fabulous job of making Kelly look her best.  Even if you're just having family portraits done I would highly recommend using a makeup artist.  Not only will you feel fantastic after being pampered but you'll look like a million bucks, too!  There's a big difference between everyday makeup and camera makeup and Karin is AMAZING!  I plan to use her for our family portraits this fall. 

Wishing you all a day filled with more blessings than you can count.
H

Denim, Envy and This Really Small World

If you haven't been to Envy yet, you need to run.  Don't walk. 

Run. 

Fast.

I stumbled upon this darling women's boutique the other day and snatched up an amazing pair of jeans they had on sale.  For those of you who don't know, I have a serious addiction to designer jeans.  It's a slightly unhealthy addiction/obsession, but it IS legal so I keep telling myself that things could be worse.

Envy is currently located in Historic Downtown Overland Park but will be relocating to Park Place in Leawood sometime in the future.  Established in February of 2006 Envy is owned by Susan Wilson and her daughters Lindsey Wilson and Courtney Kopmeyer. 

While I've only met Lindsey (and she's as sweet as can be) I did find out that her sister Courtney is married to the nephew of Brenda Kopmeyer-Kasper of ie Handmade, who I did some work for a few years ago.  I shot Brenda's daughter Whitney for the ie Handmade website and I've also been shooting Whitney's boys for a couple of years now.  Both of them are on the website and the youngest is also here on the blog.  What a small world! 

Envy is now one of my favorite boutiques.  For you moms and seniors searching for the perfect wardrobe for your photo shoot, you've got to stop by Envy.  There you just can't go wrong!  You can shop in the store, online and you'll also find them at the Junior League Holiday Mart October 18-21 along with myself and tons of fabulous other vendors.