René Tate Photography

Archive for October, 2010

H_PPY H_LL_ _EEN

31.10.10 personal

Live from St. Louis, it’s… WHEEL – OF – FORTUNE!!!!

John and I are celebrating this crazy “holiday” with some dear friends of ours, Justin and Lauren, in the great state of Missouri.  We have had the best mini-vacation.  The fall weather here in St. Louis is just PERFECT.  Yesterday we went to this big wine festival and, sat on a gorgeous grassy knoll, and drank a bottle of wine with our friends over four hours of fantastic conversation.  Then last night, we attended the festivities in downtown St. Louis as Pat and Vanna! Justin and Lauren literally had THE most popular costume out of hundreds of people.  Scroll down and see if you can figure them out.

Today we went to the Apple Butter Festival in Kimmswick, MO and did just about everything  you can do at a fair… to include kettle corn and the consumption of a deep fried Twinkie.  (Not me, that one was definitely John.)

Gotta run, there’s some trick-or-treaters at the door!

Best line of the night to a little girl and her father:
John: “Oh! Is this an American Gladiator costume?
Little girl’s father: “Actually, Wonder Woman…”

haha!

Oh yea!  They’re speed cameras!

4 Comments

  1. Kami said

    Priceless :)

  2. Aundie said

    HAHAHAHA!!!! I LOVE IT!!!! Both couples costumes are amazing!!! Wow Rene, you look great!!!!!

    How fun!!! I’m so jealous!

  3. Leah Love said

    I love it Rene! You guys are so cute!

  4. Shannon Coker said

    Oh, that is too funny…the new photo cameras at intersections! A million points for creativity!!! And, girl…you look fab!!



Cripple Creek: Alyssa & Kevin Engaged!

29.10.10 engagements

It is with an extremely happy heart that I post this engagement session.  Because you see, this isn’t just any old engagement session (not that any of them really are ;-), but this is an engagement session that can’t get any more personal than if it was my own.  (And no, I’m not engaged, let me take this opportunity to dispel the RUMOR going around that honestly crossed my desk this week – René Tate is NOT engaged, but enough about me…)

Words cannot really express how much I love these two souls.  Kevin, only four years older than me, tormented me from a very early age.  Wedgies, boogers, farts (sorry mom, I know you don’t like that word – especially when it’s on my blog) you name it, he did it.  Good luck with that Alyssa… he still hasn’t really grown up. ;-) In all seriousness though, Kevin has the sweetest, softest heart.  I love him and I loved growing up with him.  If he wore a green Cabela’s jacket, I got the same one in red.  If he had teal hiking boots, I got the same in pink.  He had pirate Legos, I got medieval Legos.   He beat Bowzer, I had to also.  He’s my big brother.  He was and is always there for me.  He dropped me off at school every day, and I know I can count on him to pick me up any day that I might fall.

Alyssa, on the other hand, she’s not nearly as ornery as Kevin.  She too has the sweetest soul.  She’s sorta like my mom.  This is why these two work.  Kevin told me this story about how he went gold panning.  Yeah… gold panning.  He really is cool, I promise.  Anyhow, it’s like a hugely involved, LONG process and his sweet Alyssa just brought a lawn-chair and sat and watched all day.  That’s it.  She was as patient as… well, my mom!  She knows Kevin’s love-language is quality time and so she’s perfectly content loving my brother by just being with him.

I CANNOT wait to have this girl as a sister-in-law.  Heck, a SISTER.  I’m so stoked.  Alyssa, you are absolutely, 100%, as beautiful as they come.  I love you both so much!  I’m looking forward to being in your wedding and Jesie’s looking forward to shooting it!

I love you, I love you, I love you!

Yeah, my bro is a stud.

Not gonna lie, it was really weird photographing my brother.  He mostly dorked around, cause that’s who he is, but then he pulled out this super romantic looks like this one:

Absolute favorite of this girl on the right.  SO stunning.

Shizzam!

Ugh, LOVE this one!

Kevin’s one request for these images is that we find some aspens.  :-) Good idea, bro.

This one makes me melt…. Oh you two.. I love you.

Now, this is what happens when you photograph your big brother.  He doesn’t take it seriously one bit.

Yeah, that’s his fake model pose.  It’s not real.

Enter Vail, Kevin’s crazy dog. ;-)

We found this really cool abandoned house in Cripple Creek and I’m pretty sure Kevin thought I was crazy for wanting to shoot their, but just you wait…

…cause we got stuff like this!

and this!

So good.

Oh Alyssa… You’re the best.

Favorites!

A&K, I am here for you.

Love always,
Your sister René

11 Comments

  1. Bill and Joyce said

    Great photos, we love them all. Excellent work Rene——for a great son and awesome new daughter-in-law to be.

  2. Tally said

    The very first photo and House 305 are my favs! Great photos.

  3. Kevin said

    I wish I could see ALL the comments. Is there a way Rene?

  4. Kami said

    Awesome photos! How fun!

  5. Shelley Freer said

    OH MY GOSH!!!!! “Little” Kevin is engaged! That is SO EXCITING! I remember him all the way back when he was about 5 years old! Congrats to them both!!!

  6. Leah Love said

    I love all of em. I can’t even pick a favorite. These two are adorable and I can’t wait to see the wedding pics. Congrats to both of you, Im so happy for you guys!

  7. Heather said

    Rene, these are beautiful! Congrats to your bro and his future wife!

  8. gina said

    I smiled from ear to ear for a solid 10 minutes while checking these out!!! I could feel the love between you too…it really shows. You are gorgeous together. I can’t wait to have a new sister, too! I’m so happy for you brother…..Love, me.

  9. Melissa said

    RENE TATE! You made me cry!!!! These are so beautiful!!!! <3

  10. Alyssa said

    Rene!! I love them all!! I can’t pick a favorite!!

  11. Kevin said

    Whoohoo! Thanks sister! Engaged and starting a modeling career! Jk. Thanks so much! It was a blast!



Announcing a New Photography Experience!

28.10.10 the latest & greatest

Yes, yes, yes… We have the Wedding Experience, the Engagement Experience, and now we’re so happy to introduce to you the….

the Gestation Experience!!!  Wait.  What?  The Gestation Experience?!  Sorry, I mean, we’re thrilled to introduce to you the…

Maternology Experience!!  Haha No, I’m only kidding.  Well, only about the title.  We are, in fact, offering a very special

MATERNITY EXPERIENCE. Woo!

(By the way, I totally looked up those other words on Thesaurus.com. You caught me.)

Something like The René Tate Maternity Experience has been asked about by many of our brides who are now, well, prego. You asked and you shall receive!  This is a special product for returning clients, whether you were a bride or family client.  This Experience will cover the first year of your newborn’s life, starting before birth in six different sessions.  If you’re an RTP patron and pregnant, or thinking of getting pregnant, please email me at info@renetate.com to learn more about this!

5 Comments

  1. Kami said

    Woooo! SO EXCITED :) You’re the coolest, and I can confidently say that Poppy loves you :)

  2. Emily said

    You thought of me when you created this experience… didn’t you?!

  3. Leah Love said

    Now I wonder what inspired this post?!?! Plus my beautiful niece’s pictures you took on it too. LOL Just Kidding. I can’t wait for you to meet our little one! We love you!

  4. Melissa said

    This is SO awesome Rene!!! :) Can’t wait to have my wedding done – and then have another little one. Guess who I will be calling! ;)

  5. Aundie said

    Rene…..I have something to tell you …………………… :-)

    JUST KIDDING!!! YAY for everyone elses babies though :-)



Spokane, WA Engagement: Kristi & Scott

27.10.10 destination engagements

When dreams become a reality…

It all started back in April.  With a Facebook message.  And two days later, another Facebook message, followed by a blog inquiry the next day. Her name was Kristi and she was wildly excited about René Tate Photography.  She used phrases like, “breathtaking,” “you’re my style,” and, “you have a gift of capturing people’s pure love.”  She wasn’t engaged yet, but was pretty sure her boyfriend, Scott, would propose that summer.  Though somewhat prematurely, she inquired about the possibility of engagement pictures in October in her hometown of Spokane, Washington.  We dialogued and brainstormed ideas.  Inspired by her and Scott’s song, Dancin’ in the Moonlight, we dreamed of shooting underneath the harvest moon. As fate would have it, Scott proposed that summer in Spokane’s iconic Riverfront Park, with their song accompanying the evening.  Her dream became a reality.

With a ring now in place, Kristi called me the very next day to plan her Spokane engagement session.  We exchanged numerous phone calls and e-mails and eventually a friendship bloomed.  And I have to tell you, this girl gets me.  She gets René Tate Photography.  She understands what we’re all about. One morning, I awoke to this lovely e-mail:

I am so happy that I found you and am lucky enough to be working with you.
When you told me the story about how some couples book you and don’t even see you until the wedding day, and how [you won't book those type of clients anymore], well, that just made me love you even more. I feel like most people would just want to do it because it’s another paycheck and booked event, but you are truly inspiring with your dedicated work ethic when it comes to not only becoming someone’s photographer, but someone’s friend too.
I hope that you get told enough how fantastic you are both as a person and a photographer.

I really appreciate how you asked me about my and Scott’s story, and took the time to listen to our song and come up with the fabulous idea of shooting against the moon. I know that it must have taken some research and a lot of ideas for you to come up with that, and email me right away. THAT is what a photographer should be and I thank you immensely for that!

Thanks for all you’ve done in these past 48 hours!

Love,
Kristi

Kristi and Scott, you share such a pure and sweet love.  I am the blessed one to have worked with you both and I thank you, Scott, for loving Kristi the way you do.  And Kristi, thank you for your constant encouragement and uplifting conversations.  You have a beautiful soul.  Thank you for letting me photography it.

With love,
René

We started the afternoon with some yummy pizza and then ventured to the Japanese Tea Gardens.

Kristi, you are absolutely striking!!

I can’t wait to see your kiddos. They’re going to be knock-outs too!

Then there were these flower gardens…

And they were perfect.

During a little Spokane research, I fell in love with this blue bridge at Riverfront Park and for some reason, couldn’t get the thought of balloons out of my head.

I’m not sure these two knew what to do with them, or me, at first as you can clearly see by their expressions above, but we ended up getting some of my favorite engagement images to date!

Love this one!

Absolute favorites from the day!

Wait, maybe these are… I love Kristi’s body language here.

Scott and Kristi are high school sweethearts and still support their team.

Love these reflections!

Love!

Scott was so awesome!  He had the best attitude ever and was game for anything. You’re the best, Scott!

And then there was this grungy alley…

We never got the chance to shoot under the harvest moon, but we did get the chance do these killer, moody shots.

Lifers:

K&S, you know I love you. Words cannot express how thankful I am for your hospitality, friendship, and awesomeness.

119 Comments

  1. Justin Byrd said

    Scott and Kristi, it is incredible to see how God has brought you two together. I admire you two and truly cherish our friendship. I’m not sure if I have already commented but just to make sure I want you guys to know I love you two and the pictures are incredible. Scott, thanks for the hours of batting practice, it paid off! Go Saxons.

  2. Rick Byrd said

    Terrific, creative, and emotional shots…great work. Looking forward to seeing the Seattle shots, too.

  3. Kim Bush said

    Beautiful couple. . .beautiful photos! Well done!

  4. sheri said

    We met u, daughter and prego wife at the airport; the kids were coming home from NYC,,ad we haven’t gotten any older? how does that happen?? she is beautiful. love the “tigress” in the jungle pic. too bad she isn’t engaged to someone that looks like her dad; the soon to be groom is really “cute”…

  5. Sean Nemec said

    Amazing pix!

  6. Reagan Oliver said

    You can see their love through the photos…fabulous and lovely1

  7. tammy holeman said

    Wonderful pictures..you both are very photogenic!!

  8. Brian Lubanski said

    Clock Tower and Grungy Ally were THE BEST!!!

  9. Mercy said

    What beautiful photos. You captured the true description of love. What a beautiful couple that will soon be sharing a lifetime together.

  10. Stacy said

    Beautiful pics! Love the Saxon jerseys.

  11. Ellen said

    Terrific pictures….very creative & fun! Congratulations to the happy couple!!

  12. Ellen said

    Great selection of pics! Very creative—they will be keepsakes for sure! Lovely couple…congratulations to you both!!!

  13. Hanne said

    The magic of love was captured in each and every photo.

  14. Heather said

    What great photos! Rene, you really know how to capture Scott & Kristi’s emotions in each frame. Congrats to Kristi & Scott! May you have many years together.

  15. Janice Moreland said

    These are such beautiful pictures! They look like such a great couple!

  16. Shannon Tucker said

    Love the ones in the alley

  17. Michele said

    Beauitful photos…my fave is the one with the flowers…very photogenic couple…congrats!

  18. Dina Patrick said

    beautiful and creative- congrats!!

  19. janet said

    janet said loves shines in every picture

  20. janet said

    janet said beautiful pictures love shows in every picture

  21. Julie Heath said

    Great pictures – beautiful!

  22. Holly said

    Amazing pictures, very creative

  23. Jalena P. said

    Wow, these pictures are amazing. I love the shots with them in the jerseys.

  24. Cheryl Krustangel said

    These are so fun! Love how you capture them in the sunlight.

  25. Barb said

    Beautiful just like her mom,and Scott is very handsom

  26. Monica Douglas said

    Beautiful!

  27. Judi Sposito said

    These are spectacular! Kristi & Scott, you both look so happy! Congratz :)

  28. leslie huppin said

    beautiful

  29. Marci said

    Unbelievably creative. Lighting is great and really shows your wonderful smiles…. and true love for one another. Nicely done.

  30. Alex said

    These pictures are so pretty!! You two are amazing :)

  31. Stacy said

    Absolutely amazing – very creative!

  32. Rian said

    Beautiful!!

  33. mona said

    Awesome!

  34. Nadine Woodward said

    Kristi…
    Your pics are gorgeous. Can’t wait until the wedding.

  35. Nadine Woodward said

    Kristi…
    Your picutres are gorgeous. Can’t wait for the wedding.

  36. Steven Birkeland said

    Great pictures! Congratulations and many happy years of joy and love to you both.

  37. Di said

    Great pics!

  38. Anne said

    Beautiful pictures of a beautiful couple!

  39. terri said

    your dad must be soooo proud!!
    beautiful pics! I’ll remember your photography for my daughters senior pics next year.

  40. Wildflowers Florist said

    What a beautiful couple, the pictures are amazing!!! They look so very in love!

  41. Kevin said

    awesome photo’s

  42. Nakoma Love said

    These are SO beautiful! Show more personality and fun and local scenery – definitely the best engagement photos I have ever viewed. Lovely couple! :o)

  43. Ted Roberts said

    Great photos! Beautiful shots of the Love between these two. I know the wedding photo’s will be even better.. Awesome job….

  44. Merlee Moffit said

    Wow! Incredible pictures!

  45. Stacey said

    Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous pictures! Looks like you had so much fun!

  46. Linda said

    Great photography! Photos are ‘outside the box’ and unique.

  47. cheryl said

    Very Nice Photo’s/Congrats

  48. David Knutson said

    Very nice pics… congrats to the young couple!

  49. David said

    Beautiful young couple…congrats!

  50. Ami said

    Beautiful pictures!! :)

  51. Chris Hjelm said

    What a beautiful gift of capturing the perfect emotion! Great job, Beautiful Pics!!!

  52. Zane Grey said

    The pictures are awesome. Good luck to you both.

  53. Robin said

    I love the pics.

  54. Shannon Bucher said

    I love these shots! You really captured them beautifully.!

  55. Debbie Morano said

    These photos are beautiful! Every time I think I have a favorite I see another one that’s my favorite. Love them all. What an amazing photographer and a beautiful couple!!!

  56. mike varner said

    very cool great pics

  57. Amy said

    Beautiful pictures!! What a great looking couple.

  58. Angela said

    Congrats you two! What fabulous pictures!

  59. melissa said

    absolutely gorgeous pictures.

  60. Chad Lindsey said

    WOW… stunning photographs!

  61. Melanie said

    Just beautiful! Congratulations you two

  62. Jackson Williams said

    Wow. You are so gifted, Rene. Very nice job!

  63. Sydney said

    Beautiful couple & great pics! Congrats on the engagement! :)

  64. Jen said

    What a beautiful couple!! These pictures are breathtaking and the true love is totally captured!!

  65. Diana said

    There are so many I love!!! Great pics!!

  66. Dave Jackson said

    Marvelous photos and a fine looking couple. I love Scott’s haircut. Right on !!

  67. Fianna Dickson said

    Kristi, congratulations! What a beautiful couple, and awesome photos. So happy for you! -Fianna

  68. Hollie said

    you two look great!! Love the pics

  69. dan mcconnell said

    you guys look great!!!

  70. Brittany McConnell said

    cute pics =)

  71. chip ray said

    Nice pics, should of had some of me in them.

  72. Ashley Harris said

    O my goodness! I am blown away by the romanticism, life-light and “dream” influences of Rene’s work that has come flowing from Scott and Kristi’s beautiful relationship! I love you both so so so much and am looking forward to all the beauty that you will continue to bring to this world as a married couple :).

  73. Roxanne said

    Beautiful pictures of a wonderful couple

  74. Cheri Shigeno said

    These are great! Loved the grungy alley with formal wear contrast!! K and S, you guys are so great together! I cannot wait to see you guys as Mr. and Mrs.! <3

  75. Kathy said

    Beautiful Pics, very creative.

  76. Brett Ward said

    Wow, these are so perfect :)

  77. Lois (Thursday Girl) said

    The pictures captured something special!
    Was great to see the variety and looks as though you certainly were enjoying every moment!

  78. Vibeke Stamatz said

    These are lovely photos!

  79. Lindsay said

    Congrats! They look beautiful!

  80. melissa ready said

    Great photos guys! You both look amazing!

  81. Gisela said

    Wunderbar!!

  82. Sheri Taylor said

    Beautiful pics guys. So in love.

  83. DAVID said

    gorgeous photos

  84. Debbie Schmick said

    Wow, what creative and fun photos. I LOVED seeing them!

  85. Blake Bozett said

    scottt is so sexy, and kristi is so beautiful.
    I LOVE THESE PICTURES AND EVEN MORE THIS HOTT COUPLE:)

  86. Darci said

    Love those pictures with the sun flare!

  87. Kathy said

    you two look fantastic congratulations

  88. Mardelle Shagool said

    Oh, my goodness! How will you ever pick a favorite! Lovely photography! Perhaps my favorite is first one in front of the old doors on the street!

  89. Nelli said

    Pictures are amazing and have lots of thought put into them!!!! I am happy to see Kristi & Scott so happy=)

  90. sarah gust said

    wow I love the photos congratulations kristi!! I wish I had stuff like this done when I was getting married

  91. Stacey said

    I just love these pictures! The joy and love is so clear. They are beautiful pictures of a truly beautiful couple.

  92. Sara said

    I think I like the balloon ones the best too! Although the last pictures, the “moody” ones are pretty good too. You both look great!

  93. Tom Sherry said

    Beautiful pictures of a great time in your lives.

  94. Kayla said

    I LOVE all of these… especially the ones with the balloons! You both look so incredibly happy! I also love the picture with you both by the clock tower, it took me a minute to figure out where you were!

  95. Mel and Darlene said

    What great pictures these are, the best I have ever seen taken of two lovely young people getting ready for the greatest adventure two people can take together. Love you both.

  96. Faith Clark Doebler said

    The pictures are amazing. Congratulations to you both of you…I’m so happy for you guys.

  97. Ryan Minnerly said

    Sweet pictures, you guys are studly. We should have had a picture of us playin ball in the driveway like the good ol days… Congratulations!

  98. Hailey Tibbett said

    These look great you guys congratulations :D

  99. Darby Bundy said

    These are so beautiful! Congrats to you both!

  100. Dave Spencer said

    Beautiful pictures of a great looking couple! Congratulations!

  101. kim said

    Your mom told me to go to this page. The ring is beautiful. Pics are wonderful. Many memories.

  102. Dwight Karr said

    WOW, great job Rene, so beautiful I love the black and white shots! Kristi you’re awesome.

  103. Heather said

    Kristi and Scott love the pics!!! You look amazing together!

  104. Dave Sposito said

    Fantastic work!! These are all great!

  105. Kristi said

    Oh Rene! These are wonderful! So glad we get to be part of the Rene Tate Photography experience. Thank you for all that you do.

  106. Marilee said

    Congratulations You found a photog that caught your personalities and didn’t just take pictures…Anyone can do that.
    M

  107. Patsy Borland said

    Great pics guys! Can’t wait to see the wedding pics! Can’t tell which ones are my favorite, I like the one with the tall building, but also the ones in the garden. They are all very fun!

  108. Leah said

    Love them I really can feel the love and passion which is really good :)

  109. Leah said

    Love these they are absolutly wonderful =)

  110. Alex Watson said

    sorry for the multiple comments saying the same thing, it said it didn’t post before!

  111. Alex Watson said

    You guys look amazing! Rene you are such a talented artist! Not only are they beautiful picutres but your fun loving personalities are captured in the photos too which I love! ahhh I’m so glad they are up, love you guys!!! xoxo

  112. Alex Watson said

    Ahhh these are beautiful! You are such an artist Rene! Kristi and Scott you look amazing and I definitely think she was able to capture your fun personalities! :) ahhh so exciting!!! love you guys!

  113. Tanya said

    Kristy, You are just as beautiful as your mom!!!

  114. Robin Reno said

    Kristi and Scott your so good looking together! Rene thank you for doing such a wonderful job. I may be a little prejudice but you had two beautiful people to work with. Kristi had nothing but praise for you. Thank you for being so kind to my daughter and future-son-in-law. The pictures are absolutley breath-taking. They made me tear up, Lord help me at the wedding! sincerely, Robin

  115. Angela Trickler said

    These photos are so amazing and breathtaking. Rene did an awesome job. Kristi and Scott congratulations on your engagement. Kristi is was nice seeing you at the Ferris Craft Show. Enjoy the holidays and can’t wait to see the wedding pictures.

  116. Kami said

    LOVE all of the variety in this shoot! How fun!!

  117. Lauren Hubbell said

    I love love love these!! Kristi and Scott are my favorites ever :) Rene, as ALWAYS, you are INCREDIBLE!!

  118. Scott said

    Oh my gosh Justin just posted on my facebook that these were up!!! These are unbelievable I can’t even describe how awesome they are. Thank you so much for the priceless photos and all of your kind words! I look forward to seeing you again. Thank you so much Kristi is in class but when she sees these she will absolutely love them!

    Scott

  119. Aundie said

    OMG I love the sport shots!!! I’m so jealous!!! And that balloon ones!!! Too cute!!! also I love her red dress at the end!!! Killer!!!