So you may have been wondering where have all the blog posts been? Well for one I update my business Facebook page more than I do this blog and two, it has been a crazy few last few months at the Johnny household. One of the biggest reasons for the lack of posts is that we have been preparing for the arrival of our third daughter, Hadleigh Alexa Eaker. I am happy to report that she entered this world at 2:49pm on April 9th, 2012. Mom, Dad and big sisters Mackenzie and Addison are very excited to see her.
Here are a couple of my favorite photos from yesterday followed by a quick video I put together (LOVE the song by Ryan Huston).
Here is the video – I still cry when I see all three of my girls together – enjoy!
In early October I had the opportunity to be involved in a group of professional photographers called Joplin Smile! which gave free professional photographs to those who lost everything in the devastating Joplin tornado.
I was actually on assignment for State Farm covering their response to the catastrophe and arrived in Joplin the day after the tornado hit. This is an image that I took which will always be with me, this family was searching for a 15 month old baby…
So when I got the information to get involved with Joplin Smile! I had to do it. There are so many times in your life when tragedy strikes and you WISH you could do something and to me this was the perfect opportunity to actually DO something for those affected.
The first family I got to photograph was a perfect start to a great trip to Joplin. I can remember during the 4 hour drive that it rained off and on and I just kept hoping that it would clear up in time for the sessions, and it did!
Sarah, Ryan and little Adelie are an adorable young family – love this image of them together.
Hard to believe that they were actually home when the tornado hit – luckily they were able to get the cellar and remain safe but they lost everything they had. But even in the 5 months after the event they were still all smiles for the camera – Adelie is TOO CUTE!
The Cameron Family – Karen is a music teacher in Joplin. Her parents drove over an hour to meet us so we could create a new family portrait for them. Too cool.
Day 1 ended with another fun family – Ella is 5 and Kennady is 2 and they were so much fun.
Love outtakes – I was photographing Mom and Dad when Kennady had to be close by
Ella is too precious.
Sisters.
As a dad, images like this one are what it is all about…
The next day I got the chance to meet Atticus and his mom before I left town. What a cute little man!
What you looking at giraffe?
Big thanks to the families that signed up for sessions while I was in Joplin. So very glad to help out in any way that I can.
I would highly encourage anyone out there reading this – Joplin still needs help. Progress is being made but still a long way to go. Visit REBUILD JOPLIN and learn more – consider giving if you can.
These are great photos Johnny! Bless you for going to Joplin and taking part in this activity. It takes all of us coming together to do our part for those in need when tragedy strikes. Thanks for reminding us to continue to give because they still need help. Will do.
Melanie Rich -November 17, 2011 - 7:14 am
What an amazing experience for you! Those are beautiful images! Thank you for sharing!
Sarah, Adelie, and Ryan Knust -November 17, 2011 - 10:20 am
Thank You! Our family is truly grateful for these pictures..youre an amazing photographer and person. Bless you
FYI – this post is long but there are lots of pictures to hold your interest (I hope) – there is a slideshow at the very end of all my favorites.
Big thanks to Nichole Manner, the second photographer – as always, couldn’t have done it without you!
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Well October has come and gone – flown by in my opinion! I had the pleasure of starting the month of October by photographing Stephenie and Jason’s wonderful wedding. I had the opportunity to really get to know these two at the engagement session which I was so happy that we were able to squeeze it in prior to the wedding day. What a fun couple who were up for anything fun and exciting!
I had the opportunity to photograph the rehearsal dinner which took place at Churchill’s – located in the Holiday Inn Executive Center – if you haven’t eaten there, do it and do it soon! The food was so very good and as a photographer I was able to create images like this one. Bananas Foster – Yummy!
Many fun images captured during the rehearsal dinner (Stay tuned for the slideshow at the very end of the post and see all my favs!) and the very next morning I caught up with all the guys from the wedding party to capture them playing paintball! Yep, you read that right, paintball. I have often tagged along to many golf outings but never paintball, I was pumped to get some great images. For those that dont know, those paintballs come out of the gun at a very high rate of speed – check this one out!
Here is poor Jason who was just ambushed by all his “friends”
I didnt have a paintball gun but the guys told me my long lens looked like a gun so I managed to get hit a couple (read that to mean A LOT) of times. I can vouch for you Jason – getting hit doesnt feel the best but at least you got to shoot back
From there I caught back up with the gals who were getting ready for the big day.
Stephenie looking absolutely stunning!
The First Moment – those that follow my work know that there are two events during the wedding day that I absolutely love; the first moment (where the bride and groom see each other for the first time) and the first dance. Both events always produce such real emotion – Stephenie and Jason were no exception.
Stephenie + Jason each had gifts for each other. Love these moments as well.
Before we headed out around downtown Columbia, I spotted this mirror in the elevator and it had to be photographed. So cool.
Favs from downtown…
Stephenie + Jason with their ginormous wedding party – lots of people who were lots of fun!
Caught this moment during the formals – too cute!
The ceremony provided so many moments – plugging the slideshow at the end of the post – keep reading, it’s worth it– but this was my favorite. Jason drops the ring and everyone is laughing. If you look close you can actually see the ring as he is trying to catch it.
Portraits in the Park is the one time a year that I block out an entire day to photograph family and children’s portraits. Looking through my portfolio you will mostly see wedding images but little did you know that I used to co-own a studio downtown and we photographed a lot of families, kiddos and high school seniors. Nowadays I still do family and senior portrait commissions when asked, so dont be afraid to ask!
This year Portraits in the Park was at Nifong Park and it really was so much fun!
Rather than go one by one with each family and share my favs, here is a sildeshow of some of my favorite images from the day.
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Thanks for looking and I hope you enjoyed the images!
Rachel and Mark are both teachers. In fact, Rachel was my daughter’s first grade teacher last year and my daughter LOVED her, I mean like a lot – like as much as a giraffe, and she LOVES giraffes (hey, the kid is 7 – don’t judge) So you can only imagine how excited my daughter was when she came home to tell me that her teacher was getting married. Long story short, things fell into place and I am so excited to be photographing Rachel and Mark’s wedding in June 2012.
For the engagement session we got to hang out on a property owned by Rachel’s family which is just outside of Columbia. It offered all kinds of cool opportunities – here are some of my favs from the session.
So much of what I do is about expression and not so much the pose – love the happiness here. (don’t worry Mark, I wont tell them how Rachel was making fun of you – secret is safe)
Turned the corner and saw this cool, old fence – love these next two.
A little sun, a little love = pretty cool image.
Really like the colors here.
Sun bursting through, you guys are making this field look pretty good (and thanks for putting up with the bugs!)
Normally I am not a fan of “look at the camera and smile” photos – I do get these photos during a session and on the wedding day, strictly for Mom and/or grandma but I had to post the next two because of the story behind them. This one, notice Mark’s hand in his pocket. Every time I put these two some where, the first thing Mark would do is put his hand in his pocket and rock the J Crew pose – I kept giving him a hard time about it which made for many laughs during the session. So Mark – this photo is for you bud!
Now this photo I had to post because Rachel and Mark are St Louis Cardinals fans and so am I. The Cards just won the National League pennant last night and are on their way to the World Series after an amazing baseball season. I thought is was only fitting to post this photo. Go Cards!
Rachel and Mark – SO looking forward to the upcoming wedding! Rachel, thanks for being a great inspiration to my little girl – she still talks about you and your class. Mark, you were not an inspiration to my little girl but I still think you are a pretty cool guy. Keep practicing the J Crew pose for the wedding
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