Connor's birthday party!!!! {Collinsville, IL Photographer}

My little man turned 7 a few weeks ago and had his very first friend party! We celebrated by getting hay bales, a hot dog machine, cotton candy machine and a KNIGHT! We were doing a baseball themed birthday until a week before the party we took Connor to the St. Louis Art Museum. He had saved some money and wanted to buy a knight figurine. When we walked in the door there was a knight standing against the wall. We thought that it was a statute and Connor ran up to the knight and stared up with excitement. Well, imagine his surprise when the statute moved and Connor realized it wasn't really a statute at all but a real life knight! Well, Connor was intrigued and asked a few questions. When we left the knight gave Connor a little card with a knight on it and his website. I immediately got on the website when I got home to see if he did parties. Well he does and he came out to celebrate, with chivalry of course, Connor's 7th birthday and entertain a bunch of first graders. This fine knight's name is Karl Kindt III and you can read his story at www.knightforhire.com. His story is pretty amazing. He told wonderful stories to the children that taught them morals and about Jesus. Thank you to all of Connor's friends, his friend's parents and Knight Karl for coming out and celebrating with us! Blessings :) Amanda







He sliced right through a pumpkin!!!! Connor was a dragon! He loved it!



Uh oh! Dragon down!



The kids then played a game where they had to tell Connor if he was getting closer to his present from the Knight.





The boys loved trying on the Knight's helmet but the girls were not so much into it :)




Thank you Knight Karl for celebrating with us :)

Craig and Misty {St. Louis Wedding Photographer}

I met Craig and Misty exactly 4 years ago when we moved in next door to Craig. Craig and Misty were dating at the time and they both came running over and introduced themselves. They are so much fun and full of life that it is hard not to fall in love with them. They are the kind of people that you want to be around. I will never forget the night they got home from Vegas and Misty called and said that she had to come over to tell us something. Of course she was beaming when she walked through the door and showed me the amazing ring and that Craig had made for her. You can see it a few photos down :) This is a long-awaited wedding of two people meant to be together. Thank you so much for making Brett and I part of your special day and for being such amazing friends. Oh yeah, and putting up with Tupper when all he does is bark ;) Love you guys! Amanda

Nico is Craig and Misty's dog. I started out with his photo at their house. Misty had no clue!







Love this photo of Craig waiting for Misty to walk down the aisle.






Misty is GORGEOUS!





















They had an amazing band. I will be posting their info!

Gorgeous Gwen {Edwardsville Illinois Photographer}

I love the fact that when Kate contacted me that she wanted simple, timeless photos of her family for many generations to look back on. Isn't that what a photo is for? To look at and remember good times and the faces of those that we love that are forever sketched in our hearts and minds. I hope that the memories that I captured on this beautiful October day will forever be hung in the homes of the A family. That they will smile everytime they look at the photos of where there family was at this day and time and the beautiful face and soul of their daughter.

Thank you for letting me capture this beauty today. I had a wonderful time. Love, Amanda









I love the way her head is resting on her hand! Too cute :)






This is in the books for one of my favorite all-time pictures.

Katie {O'fallon, IL Senior Photographer}

I am going to warn you, this may be the most photogenic person on the face of the planet. Seriously, look at those dimples? Could she be any cuter? Plus, she is soooo sweet!

Thank you Lois and Katie for surviving the cold October air! And Katie did it without sleeves and no complaints :)

A visit to a farm {Marine, IL Photographer}

A few things happened this day that I am proud of - 1) I made it to Marine without getting lost. For those of you that know me this is a huge accomplishment, 2) I hung out with cow manuar and didn't gag (I have a bad gag reflux) and 3) I got to photograph an amazing antique John Deere tractor :)

I met up with the R family on their beautiful farm. I don't think photos could capture the beauty of the rolling hills, trees and cows that graced the fields. Plus, while I was with the R family they were so sweet and welcoming I could have just stayed for the chicken soup that Lynn made :) I had a lot of fun on this shoot and discovered an apple farm that I am so taking the kids too! And I may just have to stop by and visit the R family!!!!! Of course if they would have me!

Thank you for being so welcoming. I had a lot of fun :) Amanda

I absolutely love this picture. This is Kenny's grandpa's antique John Deere tractor. I think it was purchased by his grandfather in 1939. Amazing. That is the farm that Kenny grew up on in the background. I was mesmerized.