Christine Guest Photography

KICKIN IT JORDYN STYLE ~ Saint Louis Senior Portrait Photographer ~

6:30 am.  6:30 am???  Yes.  6:30 am.

That is what time this sweet senior agreed to do her Senior Pictures.  Can you believe it??  We booked her session when it had been 100 degrees almost every day.  Even a sunset session during those weeks was miserable.  Miserable I say.  Plus, we were having a hard time coordinating our schedules.  So I talked them in to a SUNRISE session.  In downtown St. Louis.  At 6:30 am.  :)

I have to admit I've never done a sunrise session.  I had good reasons.  And they all seemed legit.  It seemed like SUCH a good idea.  But I must confess that at 6:15 am, as I was driving to the landing thinking about what time this girl had to get up to get ready for her session....I started to worry.

So we all meet up.  And usually I take some practice shots just to get the client used to me and to get my creative juices going.  Here is my first shot at the crack-of-dawn-drag-your-ass-out-of-bed-was-this-a-bad-idea Senior portrait session:

ummmm....yeah.  THIS was the BEST idea EVER!!!  This girl can rock it at 6:30 am.  ROCK IT, I say.  This might be my favorite shot of the day.  And the first shot is NEVER my favorite.  My last shots usually end up being my favorite.  This session worked backwards.  Which is why I am a firm believer in LIGHT.  Late in the day, the light is best = which is why my last shots of session are always my favorite.  The earlier in the morning it is = the better the shots.  So yes.  Yes.  Yes. YES!  Sunrise sessions are fabulous too!  

And we'll just let Jordyn show you for herself.  

Jordyn's dad and step-momma are dear friends of mine.  I have so much respect for the way this family has brought up Jordyn.  Jordyn's mom, Jordyn's dad and Jordyn's step mom all came to the session together.  Talk about support!  And the way they all get along is beautiful.  It's easy to see they all have one common goal.  To love this sweet girl.  

So usually I like to take the Senior away from their parents for a few shots.  Sometimes they seem to be a bit more composed around their parents.  Not always...but sometimes.  It just worked out that Jordyn's entourage found some benches around the corner and Jordyn and I found a cool little alley.  This next sequence of shots might very well be my favorite set from a Senior portrait session.  Like watch out world...here I come!

You are gorgeous.  

Are you kidding me??  This girl rocked it out of the park.  At 6:30 am!!  Geez....

Oh my goodness.  Are those to die for??  I love em!  I'm sure her dad isn't too thrilled with them...considering she looks so grown up.  Sorry Joe.  You know I'm a bit of an envelope pusher.  :)

Sweet Jordyn.  Thanks for trusting me and getting your butt out of bed so early in the morning.  I hope that you love your images.  You are a sweet sweet girl and I wish you much success and fabulous moments.  Make the best of your Senior year and go out in to the world with as much confidence and love that you conveyed to me this day.  You are beautiful and wonderful.  I can't wait to see where you go....

And how ironic is it that I just happened to post 21 images.  :)  Kick it 2-1!!

COURAGE

I just did this football ad for Lafayette's program.  I kinda like it.  Plus...the cool cat in the pic is my nephew.  ;)

LOOK...McCOOK! ~ St. Louis Family Photographer ~

This family session started off hilarious and just kept getting better.  When they pulled up for the session, dad went around to the back of the SUV and opened it to get the dog out.  Out comes tumbling one of their sweet boys.  Literally.  Like a sack of potatoes rolling out.  He hit pavement and looked up and smiled.  The other boy had a pair of broken glasses.  He was instructed not to breathe. The little Miss...well...she's just about the cutest thing ever.

So look.  It's the McCook's!

I am in love with these boys.  They are so stinkin cute!!!

And this little Miss.  Well.  She had me at hello.  

And when we went to say goodbye, she asked if I could come home with her.  :)  

This next shot might be one of my favorite momma shots ever.  

McCook's...I loved spending time with you.  Your family is beautiful...and funny...and fabulous.

Oh.  And I have something funny to tell you.  See this picture?

Would anyone else notice the little tag Mrs. McCook has sticking up underneath her sheer shirt?  I did.  So I asked them to stop.  I balanced two cameras in one hand and took my other hand up under the back of her shirt to tuck the tag in.  Just as I was doing so...I felt this warm goopiness run ever so slowly down my head, neck and back.  I slowly remove my hand from up my client's shirt.  Calmly tell them to continue walking.  And then click this frame:

We got the shot.  AND the client was none the wiser that their photographer was just shit on while having my hand up her back.  That's professionalism baby.  Calm.  Cool.  Collected.  

And yet totally grossed out.  :)

Love ya McCook's!  Can't wait until you are saddled up over here in my subdivision.  Giddy up!

MY FAVORITE DOCTOR

I have a favorite Dr.  I just love him to pieces and SO wish that seeing him more often meant that we were just friends and NOT that he was delivering another child for me.  HA!

I will never forget.  I was photographing a wedding while 7 months pregnant.  My Ob-Gyn and his wife just happened to be guests at this particular wedding.  During the reception, I was doing my normal thing...standing on chairs, laying on the floor, running around like a crazy lady.  I thought his poor wife was going to have a heart attack.  I heard his wife say "She's your patient...get her down off that chair!".  I however, felt perfectly safe and comfortable.  I mean after all....if anything were to happen the dude I needed to call was RIGHT THERE!  ;)

Not only did my favorite Dr. deliver two healthy and happy babies for me...he kept me healthy and happy too.  I loved being pregnant and thought it was the greatest thing ever.  EVER!!  Perhaps I was just lucky.  But I feel I owe a great deal to the whole 40 week process being laid back, fun, funny, easy and comfortable.  And Dr. D and Frannie made sure that was always the case.  And St. Luke's labor and delivery nurses rock too!

I love ya Dr. D!  I love your wife and your kids and wish that we could all drink beer and hang out together.  I mean just the adults drink the beer and the whole family hangs out together.  HA!  I guess that would be kinda weird.  But I so wish that it wasn't.  My husband and I think your cool.  And your family is adorable.  We miss ya!

OK.  I have to share this one too.

"Clowns to the left of me.  Jokers to my right.  Here I am stuck in the middle with you.  Yes I'm...stuck in the middle with you"

I mean seriously.  What mom doesn't feel this way!  But I love that amidst the craziness of her life...she just smiles and sits there lookin good!  Sally...you're my idol!!

THE SHARKEY FAM

Quick sneak peak for my quick Michigan family session.  Thanks for coming all the way to visit!!  It was wonderful to visit with your family.  I loved spending time with you guys!!

FIRETRUCK!

Just a quick sneak peak from a recent family session at a FIREHOUSE!!

HONK!  HONK!

Totally cool it was.

But the best part was that I knew "Firefighter Joe" way back when he wanted to grow up and be a firefighter.  "Grow Up" as in let's-stop-hanging-out-at-the-bars-and-flinging-drinks-I-should-probably-get-a-real-job-growing-up.  :)  I watched his worry and hope in some crazy lottery system, the agony of almost missing the birth of his daughter while in the academy, missing my wedding because he was low man on the totem pole ladder to finally...seeing him through the eyes of his children...

As a real.  live.  fireman.  

ok.ok. I know that fireFIGHTER is politically correct but fireman just sounded better.  Bear with me. 

With enough rank that we could just get the ole' firetruck out and let his kids relish in the fact that their dad has just about the coolest job EVER!

Although I must admit I kinda miss him slingin drinks at cool places.  :)

Love this next one.  Little Miss is sweet as can be lovin her brother and little bro is trying to squeeze the beejeezus out of his big sister.

I like to think that I am hilarious.  Truth be told...Little Miss is an aspiring actress.  ;)

 

So while the session was more for the kids...

For me...it was more about this:

Fireman.  Paramedic.  Proud Papa.  Coffee Connoisseur.  

My friend Joe.

I've loved watching you grow up.  You've done it so well.