Happy Tuesday! Actually, happy June 1st! I hope everyone had a long relaxing Memorial Day Weekend.  Was it just me, or did it feel longer than three days?  It was a busy three days on this end with a couple engagement shoots, meetings, and a family shoot.  Yet, I also managed to spend some quality time with my family, the boy, and his family.  Best of both worlds I call that.  In addition, I think I was able to sleep off the rest of this cold that hit hard last Wednesday while in Kansas City for Tonya and JP’s engagement shoot.

I tell ya, I didn’t know how I’d get through their shoot!  I landed in Kansas City at 9am on Wednesday of last week and spent the whole day in daze, all plugged up, exhausted, miserable.  I wasn’t meeting with Tonya and JP until three that afternoon, so I spent the morning drinking water and tea and popping cold medicine.  You can imagine how I was feeling, never having met this couple before and feeling like a biohazard.  But let me just say something happened.  This ended up being one of my favorite shoots of the season.  I’m rather proud of it, actually.  I wasn’t sure how I was going to get through it, but somewhere between CVS cold medicine, a few Facebook-solicited prayers, and Tonya and JP’s dynamic personalities – I felt like I million bucks at the end of their shoot – completely energized and ready to to it all over again!

I can’t brag enough about my brides and grooms.  I don’t know how I get so blessed to have the easiest and most fun people to photograph.  Tonya and JP have this perfect recipe of sugar and spice.  They’re sweet yet spunky.  Endearing yet oh-so sarcastic. Bold but laid-back.  I just love how they love each other.  This is an über long post – it was far too difficult to narrow down these images! Lucky for you. ;-)

After the shoot, Tonya sent these words that meant a lot to me.

We can’t stop raving about the photo shoot.  It was soo much fun.  JP keeps telling me that he had a great time.  I wanted to tell you this….. I think as a couple, who have been together for a few years now, with children involved, it becomes challenging to find moments of romance….. when it’s just about the man and the woman – nothing more, nothing less.  René, we had more than just a fun time.  It was incredible for us as lovers and best friends in soo many ways.  Thank you for that!

JP and Tonya, I adore you two.  Thank you for being you.

Love you,
René

I couldn’t pass up the awesome light pouring into the coffee shop where we first met.

How perfect is that shot on the right?  I call that the “mom and dad” shot.  Moms and dads always want a good “looking at the camera” shot. :-)

GQ!!

Now I have a bit of an affinity for pointy-toed pumps.  And so does Tonya.  Love her!

Oh yes, sometimes the stars really do align.  Teal eyes, teal post, teal background.  Shizzam.

This girl knows. how. to. work. it.

Favorites!

Tonya, you are FAB YOU LUSS! ;-)

Rrrrawr!  Work it, JP!

Oh yeah.  Artsy, I am.

Love this set!

If Jesie were present for this shoot, she would’ve said, “If you find that your shoes are missing later, they might just be in my bag.”

Okay, can we talk about these colors? I always tell our clients to bring “the more the merrier” regarding wardrobe, because you never know what will inspire me and what will compliment certain backgrounds.  When I saw their purple outfits and then saw a nearby yellow (complimentary to purple) wall with purple accents, I knew it was meant to be. These are some of my favorite images solely because of the colors. Wardrobe can make or break your shoot, kids.

*sigh* Don’t you just feel at peace with all those complimentary colors? So easy on the eyes.

I think bright colors are my new fave.

Top favorites from the entire shoot. Love his expressions!!

The next three are favorites too.

Who am I kidding? They’re all my favorites… Geez a loo.

Tonya and JP.  Can we do it again?  Oh wait, we still have your wedding.  ;-) It’s going to be soooo good! I absolutely cannot wait!