Washington-Borrego Wedding: A sweet journey

I was so excited to photograph Traci and Fernando's wedding, my fabulous friends, that I don't think I was able to put the camera down at any moment in time.

There are cute couples, yes, and then there are cute couples who are your wonderful friends that you have watched grow from the sweet, "do you think he/she likes me?" stage to "I'm going to ask her to marry me" with God's blessings every step of the way. It has been nothing short of an honor and joy to see God's handiwork in bringing these two people together, and even more of a privilege to do my very best to capture not only their love, but their story.

I just had to shoot this wedding party at my favorite spots in Forest Park, in St. Louis, MO (Traci and I had every photography detail worked out almost a month before the wedding). It had been raining all week (gotta love St. Louis "winters" - rain???) so the ground was a bit wet. Well, Fernando being the fabulous gentlemen that he is whisked his lovely bride off the ground and carried her to our destination with a huge smile on his face. I mean really, who wouldn't marry a guy like that! Despite our sunny dispositions it was freezing outside, hence the numerous coats and blankets. We often had to stay wrapped up until we were all in place for the shot, and then quickly disrobe, think of a warm and sunny place so the goosebumps would subside, and then do it all over again. This was an amazing group - we really had a good time!

For my last wedding in St. Louis for the 2009 season, I could not have gone out with a better bang than these two. While you enjoy a SLIDESHOW of our time together, I'll be shooting!

Leslie

Summer in St. Louis

To say that I'm far behind in posting would be an understatement unless one believes 4 to 5 months is no big deal (smile). But, nonetheless, I have certainly been shooting, a lot, amongst a host of other things, and am finally stationary long enough to update!!!

Where to begin?? Well, we'll start with the summer and make this my summer update. This was certainly the summer for family portraits, which was really fun - and I was able to travel to various parts of St. Louis like Forest Park and St. Peters Rec Plex, and some which were new to me like various parts of St. Louis University's campus and South City, to capture these family moments.

The best part about family portraits is really the kids - you have absolutely no idea what will intrigue them in the setting you are in, and that really makes for a fun time. Will they be intrigued by a branch, a rock, a stick . . . your camera . . . (yikes!) Or will I once again be "forced" to act like a complete goof to get that million dollar smile and laugh, all the while trying not to laugh myself and actually do my job which is capture that moment.

Enjoy the pictures!!!!

Leslie

Busy Busy Week!

This was a wonderfully (is that a word??) busy week with an engagement shoot of Toni and Richard as the evening set in Forest Park, to their wedding a few days later (we were a bit delayed with the engagement pictures because of the rain, but they were engaged longer than 2 days - lol), to Kelsey's senior photo shoot in Carondelet Park (she is gorgeous!),

and topping it off with the Meuret maternity/family shoot at Studio Altius (and this family was too adorable!!).

I was busy but had a blast with each person!! Enjoy the pictures and more to come!!

Leslie

Delta Diva

I had the honor today to take the maternity pictures of my sweet sweet friend and soror, as she embarks on an amazing journey in her own life, to soon welcome her baby girl into the world.

As always, my friends are so good to me - I always have so many ideas, but it takes all the right elements to pull them off - and I was very happy with our time together. She agreed to meet me at 6:30a to catch some amazing shots just as the sun was coming up in Forest Park, and then we went on to have some more fun at Studio Altius in Maplewood - owned by the fabulous David Cervan.

We had a good time, as you can see. I'm not sure what we were talking about - but we were laughing pretty often even before daylight broke!!

Busy weekend of New Beginnings

Busy busy weekend - but lots o' fun! First, on 8/8/08 was the wedding of my dear friend Sherri and her fabulous guy Tim. "8" is the number of new beginnings- and I know this is an exciting one for Sherri and her family - so my prayers are with them for an amazing marriage! (Its always fun to "shoot" my good friends). See a sample video above!

Then, the next morning was the family shoot of another dear friend Melissa and her family at Forest Park near Government Hill.

And then later that night was the engagement of Felicia and her fiance Quincy, also at Forest Park near the Planetarium. Their wedding is 9/13/08.

All in all, fun, but busy weekend - I have lots of pictures to review!!

God bless,

Leslie

Katina and Scott are Engaged!

Well, they've been engaged for a minute now, but we just did their engagement pictures, so I can officially say - they are engaged!! =) I met Katina a few months ago and she is just super-cute, there was an immediate connection. I just met Scott at the session, and they are a really fun couple. I really look forward to photographing their wedding on August 16 at Forest Park in St. Louis. There are going to be 11 bridesmaids and groomsmen! My mind is already spinning with creative ideas for this large group!

Here are a few of my favorites.

Enjoy! Leslie

Sharhondia & Sean, Gorgeous Engagement Pics!

Today Sharhondia and Sean met me bright and early, at 8am, at Forest Park for their engagement shoot. We had a lovely time! I had Sharhondia walking through some waterfalls and everything, she did fabulous! Their wedding is August 30 and I'm looking forward to this special day for this beautiful couple. Enjoy!!!

Leslie

Felicia & Richard - Aren't they cute!!!

So today I was in Forest Park taking pictures of some of my friends, Felicia and Richard (top), and when we were finished I saw this other young couple at Art Hill, and they were just so cute, I had to take their pictures. Here are a couple pictures of Jackie and Joe (bottom) - what great sports!!! Enjoy the pictures!! Leslie