Expressions KC

New Blog

2010-06-29T15:55:00.000-05:00

Visit our new blog! It's here: http://www.expressionskc.com/blog

Beautiful Baby Girl

2010-06-20T12:56:00.000-05:00

When some old friends contacted us for newborn pictures we were so excited... when we saw their beautiful baby girl and all of their props...well, excited doesn't even begin to explain it. As you can see there's a little division in this family, but it was all in good fun. Wildcats, Tigers, flowers and tutus...does it get any better than this?

2011 Seniors

2010-06-01T21:47:00.000-05:00

Maybe we're old fashioned, but we remember a time when senior pictures were taken in the summer before your senior year. Kids came to the first day of school with their wallets in hand, images sent to the yearbook. Now it seems like we're either rushing to get them done by the yearbook deadline in mid-October or skipping the yearbook altogether and hurrying to get them done before graduation announcements must be mailed.

Now we've seen over the past couple of years just how stressful a kid's senior year can be to parents...and we'd like to help alleviate some of that unnecessary stress. How? We're offering a major discount for all of those early birds who get their pictures done this summer. So not only do you save money on your pictures, you also avoid the stress of worrying about yearbook/announcement deadlines. How can you thank us for this? No need, just give us a call (816.377.6351) to schedule your session....today!

Good Friends, Great Pictures

2010-05-31T14:51:00.000-05:00

We always find joy in capturing the expressions of our clients, no matter who they are. But when you add in a beautiful family like the Hisers (who just happen to be some of our best friends) it makes the process so much more enjoyable. From the innocence in Ethan's eyes to Jack's infectious smile it was an amazing, energizing morning. Enjoy your sneak peek Shannon...

Rep Program Enhanced

2010-05-30T16:13:00.001-05:00

We announced earlier this month our first rep from the Class of 2011, Philip Freeman.

What we didn't announce (and Philip didn't know yet) is that the Senior Rep Program is about to get infinitely cooler. Reps can still earn the same great cash rewards as always but now...

1. As a rep for Expressions KC, you will not only receive the original $25 for each referral you send to us when they book a senior session, but we have added additional incentives, including an iTouch and ... [drumroll] ... an iPad!

2. We are extending the program to include two lucky junior representatives. As a junior rep, you will receive the same benefits as a senior representative, with the added bonus of having two chances to earn an iPad.

If you or someone you know is in the class of 2011 or 2012, they don't want to miss this opportunity...and it is a limited opportunity. Send us an email at sarah@expressionskc.com or call me direct at 816-377-6351.

Major Changes for Expressions KC

2010-05-29T21:01:00.007-05:00

Before we get too far into this, I want to reassure everyone that a few things WILL NOT be changing. Sarah will still be taking the same amazing pictures she always has...Our quality will continue to be focus number one...And finally, our prices are staying the same.

However, as with all things that grow, we've found that we need to make a couple of changes to continue to same quality customer service we've become known for. The biggest change you could probably gather from the second sentence of this post. No, Sarah has not begun referring to herself in the third person....there's a new blogger in town. Okay, not just blogger, more like Customer Relationship Manager.

As we get busier (professionally and personally) we've decided Sarah's time is better spent taking pictures, editing pictures and designing custom albums. The rest (customer communication, ordering sessions, blogging, etc) will be handled by myself (Heath, if you haven't figured it out). We feel like this makes us even stronger as a company as Sarah's strength is obviously in photography while the last ten years of my life have been spent in sales and customer service. We hope during your next experience with Expressions KC, you agree.

Instead of viewing this as more work for myself I'm viewing it as a promotion...and I want to make a big splash. Hence, we are making two major enhancements to our current student representative program...details coming tomorrow...

Anderson

2010-05-25T16:50:00.003-05:00

Every once in a while we get the chance to photograph our own family. The Andersons surprised their mom with pictures for Mother's Day. Despite the unseasonably chilly weather and wind, we were able to get some spring-y pictures at John Knox Village.

Prom 2010

2010-05-18T19:32:00.005-05:00

So we're trying to do some catch up from what has been a busy few weeks. We're going to try to have the self control to limit ourselves to one post per night, so we're starting with something a little bit different and a whole lotta fun...Prom! Sam Cooper's mom contacted us about taking pictures of their prom group and when we heard about the kids in this group we couldn't say no (no matter how crazy that day was)...and we're glad we didn't

We like to think the above picture is one of those classic pictures that someone's child is looking at thinking "Wow, dad used to be really cool!"

Couldn't decide what was more beautiful; the girl or the dress...but they both made for beautiful pictures.

You know they had proud moms...yeah, they clean up nice.

If this doesn't say fun, what does?

The whole group. See why we couldn't say no?

This is one of those pictures that poses more questions than answers...and we love it!

They just look tough.

Dipika and Sunil

2010-05-02T15:18:00.006-05:00

We were lucky to be able to schedule an e-session with Sunil and Dipika. This lawyer/doctor couple had a long weekend together last weekend when Sunil was in town from New Jersey for a wedding. I hope you had a good trip, Sunil. Let me know if you decide to cash in on the Italian ice/soft serve ice cream truck. Enjoy your preview, guys!

Miss Melanie

2010-04-18T10:53:00.006-05:00

One of the many joys of on-location photography in Missouri: unpredictable weather. On our original session, we changed times last minute to try to avoid the rain, and by doing so landed right in the middle of it, so we made an executive decision to reschedule. Attempt #2 was a huge success. Enjoy!

What I want to do after High School: go to cosmetology school and become a hair dresser

Biggest Accomplishment: Graduating high school

Biggest Fear: snakes!!

What do you most love? My family, friends, and God.

What can't you live without? My phone or clothes :)

What was your last purchase? Puma Tennis shoes

Your Fave Color? Blue. Any color of blue

Describe your perfect day: Just any day on the beach with my family

Describe your life in one sentence: Enthusiastic amazing and wonderful.

If you could have one super power, what would it be and why? Mind control, I could make people nicer.

What is your favorite part about being a senior? Knowing that I accomplished and made it through everything.

And last but not least, a picture of Melanie and her friend, Lacy...

Sam, Class of 2010

2010-04-16T22:15:00.006-05:00

We've been neglecting the blog recently and have a few sessions still to post, but we promised to have these posted today and couldn't wait to share a few pictures of Sam in all of his awesomeness. Cooper, quarterback and star basketball player, is taking the spring season off and making the most of the months he has left at Harrisonville High School. I had a blast at our shoot, Sam...hope you enjoy your preview!

What I want to do after High School: Play Basketball in college somewhere

Biggest Accomplishment: Being named a First team All-State Guard

Biggest Fear: Failure

What do you most love? My Family

What can't you live without? My Family and Sports

What was your last purchase? Prom Tickets

Your Fave Color: Blue

If you could have one super power, what would it be and why? Flying because i hate car rides more than anything.

What is your favorite part about being a senior? knowing that I'm moving on with my life

Jordan

2010-03-21T20:24:00.002-05:00

We'd like to thank one of our favorite seniors from last year, Justina Ward, for sending us the beautiful Jordan Campbell. Our third senior session of the week provided an entrancing set of eyes and one super-fly hat. Here's a chance to get to know Jordan, and preview her senior shoot.

After high school I am attending the University of Central Missouri and getting my bachelors degree in interior design.

The things I love the most are family, friends, and my boyfriend.

I fear spiders lol

My favorite colors are orange and purple.

My favorite part about being a senior is getting ready to leave high school and go to college plus we get a lot of privileges.

My life is eventful.

Samantha

2010-03-20T17:36:00.004-05:00

Samantha and I go way back, so it was great to have the opportunity to take her senior pictures on what turned out to be the best day of the year. A future Bearcat, Samantha plans on pursuing a career in journalism. See below to find out more about her.

Biggest Accomplishment: Either being a UDA All-American Dancer or Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper for two years.

Biggest Fear: Failure.

What do you most love? My God, my family and my friends.

What can't you live without? My mom, she gives me all the strength I will ever need.

What was your last purchase? $11.10 worth of sour candy :)

Your favorite color: Yellow.

Describe your perfect day: My perfect day with be breakfast with my two best friends Katie and Kimmie, a picnic with my boyfriend, dinner with my whole family (aunt, uncle, cousins, grandparents) and then to end it all a game of Sorry with my Nana.

Describe your life in one sentence: I, myself, am made entirely of flaws, stitched together with good intentions and the love of Christ.

What is your favorite part about being a senior? The excitement of knowing high school is almost over and I'm getting closer to starting a new chapter of my life.

Kaitlin, Class of 2010

2010-03-17T16:34:00.004-05:00

We braved the cold March weather with Kaitlin for our first senior session of the season and got some amazing shots. Kaitlin is an amazing, strong young lady with big dreams for the future. Take a minute to get to know Kaitlin...

What I want to do after High School: be a psychiatrist

Biggest Accomplishment: my rehabilitation last year: learning how to walk again.

Biggest Fear: failure after high school.

What can't you live without? music.

Your Fave Color: purple or teal.

Describe your perfect day: going to an amusement park with my friends.

Favorite Season: summer because of my birthday

Describe your life in one sentence: This can pretty much be summed up in my favorite quote : "Each difficult moment has the potential to open my eyes and open my heart."

What is your favorite part about being a senior? the fact that I'm almost done with high school!

Coffee Cats Display

2010-01-06T07:48:00.002-06:00

Sister Session

2009-12-01T00:17:00.011-06:00

These sisters couldn't have made Friday's shoot much easier. We had an unseasonably warm day after Thanksgiving, which provided perfect conditions for an end of November session. Each with a distinct personality, the synergy between these three was undeniable. Thank you, Valarie, for letting me spend a couple of hours with you and your daughters - you have three amazing girls - what a blessing. We hope you enjoy your preview!

The Briggs Family

2009-11-29T16:58:00.002-06:00

Around the holidsays, thoughts always turn to family. At Expressions KC, things are no different and so we present the Briggs. Led by Silverback, the Guns and Hoses Champion, they were a blast to work with.

Even though they've already seen their proofs, we thought they'd enjoy showing them off before they get their order...we sure do.

cutest. nephew. ever

2009-11-20T17:56:00.006-06:00

It's time for Carter-man's annual Christmas pictures. Could he be any more handsome?

Elijah

2009-11-13T16:37:00.006-06:00

Taking advantage of an unseasonably warm November afternoon, we headed to the park for the first part of little Elijah's photo shoot. He even brought along his toy snake (which was a little more realistic than we might have hoped for...).

Hope you enjoy the pictures, guys!

Justin & Alicia

2009-10-28T21:05:00.004-05:00

This adorable couple is expecting their first little one (another boy!) in the heart of the holiday season. Alicia is one of the cutest pregnant woman. ever. It was great to see you guys again - I can't wait to photograph your little man!

Megan & Ryan

2009-10-28T06:25:00.004-05:00

Megan and I went to Northwest together and she is a fellow Sig Kap alum. She and Ryan are one of the sweetest couples we have had an opportunity to photograph. It was great to see you, Megan! I'm so excited for you and can't wait to photograph you big day next year!

Tess

2009-10-27T17:49:00.008-05:00

Custom Cons. Blue bubble gum. And a rockin' prom dress.
A trombone and some big, furry boots.
An after dark trip to the laundr-o-mat.
Need we say more?

Introducing Tess. Tess is a senior at Harrisonville High School with serious musical talent and big dreams for the future. We had so much fun dodging rain showers with Tess for her senior session!

What I want to do after High School: Go to Pittsburg State and major in English with an emphasis of Creative Writing so I can be an author/editor

Biggest Accomplishment: Surviving my teens. Haha

Biggest Fear: I don't really know that I'm scared of much. That sounds odd and all, but, really, stuff happens. If you dread anything, especially the little things, you won't get anywhere fast.

What do you most love? Music and writing

What can't you live without? Playing trombone

Your Fave Color: Electric blue Describe your perfect day: Relaxing at the beach with my boyfriend

Favorite Season: Summer

Describe your life in one sentence: Complicated, but with vibrant and wonderful memories so that I know it's just getting to the good part

What is your favorite part about being a senior? Knowing I'll be able to get out on my own soon and stop having to be dependent on other people

Strickland/Becker Wedding

2009-10-23T10:37:00.005-05:00

We feel so lucky to have been invited to be a part of Kris' big day! We met Kris and her family over a year ago at church and were amazed to see how many members of the church at their wedding - Kris' family is such a valued part of the congregation. Enjoy your preview, Mr. and Mrs. Becker!

Leela and Russell

2009-10-21T22:33:00.006-05:00

Leela and Russell were the first of many in what may easily be our busiest week ever. For this engagement session, it seemed fitting that we take their pictures in the place their engagement began: Loose Park, which is quickly becoming one of our favorite locations. After a dreary week, the weather cooperated (somewhat), and we were able to enjoy the temporary lack of rain and capture some shots of this awesome couple. I had a great time getting to know you guys - enjoy your sneak peak!

Sometimes we get really lucky, and the client brings a few of their own ideas to the session. This was a special request from Leela to recreate a special engagement picture of her grandma and grandpa.

Ingold wedding

2009-10-11T17:13:00.008-05:00

We found a hidden gem in the Mandy and J.P.'s wedding venue. The Pavilion in Overland Park, KS, is hidden behind a humble entrance. What we found upon entering the doors was a great surprise: not only a beautiful ceremony location, but a staff that makes transitioning to a reception a breeze. We feel lucky to share such a beautiful day with an amazing couple. Hope you had a blast on your surprise honeymoon, Mandy! Congratulations, J.P. and Mandy...enjoy your sneak peak!

The Man with Many Hats

2009-10-01T11:56:00.009-05:00

Maddox came to us as perhaps the brightest eyed little boy we'd ever met. We've photographed his mommy, daddy, and brother in the past, but they never brought a collection of hats like this with them. Heath's favorite was the cowboy hat, but we're saving that for mom and dad. So, first, with the hats we are showing today...

Of course the hats are not the story, the eyes are...and wow, what eyes! Also, a couple of his big brother (we wouldn't miss an opportunity to get new pictures of him)...

Introducing...

2009-09-21T18:06:00.006-05:00

In our last post, we introduced Lucas, who was the newest member of Expressions KC. With this post, though, we would like to introduce an even newer addition: our new camera. Just in time for a busy month of weddings, seniors, engagements, newborns, and maternity sessions, this camera will help us take our photography to a whole new level. Here are a few of the first images captured with the new camera:

Baby Lucas

2009-09-10T14:12:00.008-05:00

It's been a while since our last blog posting, but not without reason. Introducing the newest addition to Expressions KC (and the Cummings family) : Lucas. Even though I'm on maternity leave right now, we couldn't resist making a special post for this little guy.

We picked our favorite pictures from the hospital, but truth be told, we couldn't wait to get him into the studio! While it's certainly nice to have the time off for Lucas, he has done a fantastic job of satisfying our desires to keep taking pictures (get used to it, Luke).

And these are a few of our pictures from his first official shoot. We got Lucas into the studio for his announcement photo shoot yesterday afternoon. He's a natural!

Hillary

2009-08-07T11:48:00.004-05:00

We had a blast with Hillary on her senior shoot last week! Although this summer has been a mild one for the most part, we managed to find the hottest day of the month to venture out for her senior session. We hope you enjoy your sneak peak, Hillary - we can't wait to show you the rest!

The Thompsons

2009-07-21T18:14:00.004-05:00

This past weekend, we joined the Thompsons for their vow renewal at Longview Lake. The weather couldn't have been more perfect, and combined with the amazing location it made for a great afternoon and beautiful ceremony. Congratulations, Mike and Jody...we can't wait to show you the rest!

Expressions KC's new talent?

2009-07-09T20:44:00.003-05:00

What started out as a Mother/Daughter afternoon out may have unearthed a new photographer for Expressions KC. Sarah and Kaitlyn hit a couple of our favorite spots with fantastic results. While the pictures of Kaitlyn are as beautiful as we've grown to expect, the pictures she caught of Sarah absolutely took my breath away. Now if you're someone who likes bare pregnant bellies, you may be disappointed, but if not...well...enjoy...

Wood Wedding Storyboards

2009-07-06T23:00:00.009-05:00

We enjoyed Christin & Josh's wedding so much, we decided that one post just wasn't enough. While we have designed many storyboards in the past, these are the first of our wedding storyboards. These combine the two ideas of the wedding album and the large wedding prints on your wall...now you kind of get two in one. The first combines a couple of Sarah's favorite pictures, and a quote from our quote machine (really!). The third is an ode to Christin's request for "black and white with a little pop of color." The rest combine highlights from the cermony and reception. Enjoy!

Wood Wedding

2009-06-27T10:48:00.010-05:00

For our first wedding of the season, we packed up the car and made a trip to St. Joseph for a beautiful outdoor wedding in the heart of the city. Despite a few minor setbacks (initial rain, missing wedding dress pieces, and a temporarily broken limo), it turned into a perfect day for a June wedding.

Christin was a stunning bride and the chemistry between her and her new husband, Josh, was evident from their first step out of the limo. Congratulations, Christin and Josh! We hope you enjoy your sneak peak!

2009-06-13T15:01:00.001-05:00

Sabrina's shoot marked another first for Expressions KC: pageants. Congratulations, Sabrina, and good luck at Nationals!

Congratulations, Class of 2009!

2009-05-24T13:09:00.008-05:00

With graduation right around the corner, we thought today was the perfect opportunity to honor the Expressions KC Class of 2009. From football players to artists, dancers to musicians, no two shoots have been alike. But the one thing they all had in common is that they were awesome to work with. Thank you to the Expressions KC Class of 2009, and more importantly, congratulations!!!

Sarah

2009-04-26T14:07:00.003-05:00

We had a great time with Sarah and her mom during her shoot. Sarah is an amazing girl whose love for life can be seen be seen in her beautiful smile and sparkling eyes. We had so many good pictures to choose from for this preview. Hope you enjoy them, Sarah...we can't wait to show you the rest!

Caitlyn

2009-04-19T10:53:00.009-05:00

While Caitlyn's face isn't completely new to Expressions KC, I was able to spend the afternoon with her last weekend to do her official senior session. After a little time in the studio, we ventured out to her house to get some pictures with her horse. Once we got to her house, Caitlyn escorted me around her property on her six wheeler. We braved the chilly wind and were able to get some really cool shots. I hope you enjoy your preview, Caitlyn!

Olmsteads

2009-04-13T10:41:00.005-05:00

Today's blog is kind of a trip through time. Fairly appropriate I guess, since it's been so long since our last posting. We start off almost 18 months ago with one of our first weddings, and we were intrduced to one of our favorite clients, baby Talan. As you'll see through the pictures, he's gone from baby Talan to an adorable little man with the most recent pictures coming just last month. One of our favorite things is to watch children like him grow up right before our lens...

Updates

2009-04-11T15:24:00.002-05:00

It's been awhile since our last post; we'll be the first to admit that this blog hasn't been at the top of our priority list. There are several reasons for our absence, but we'll just mention a couple of them:

1. Pregnancy. Not sure how many of you have gone through the first trimester of pregnancy, but those who have I'm sure understand that we didn't take on anything extra during those first few months...in fact, a lot of days it seemed like 4:30 should be our new bed time. But we're firmly entrenched in what everyone tells me is the "easy" trimester, so we're ready to do some work.

2. Work. While we took quite a few reorders in January and February, new business came to a halt. We kind of think that everyone is else is like us and spending money was the last thing on their mind right after Christmas. Because of reason #1 we were pretty okay with the temporary slowdown.

With a due date in early September, we realize that we may not be available for at least part of the early senior session season. Because of that, we're offering an early bird package for 2009 seniors. Anyone who books their senior session for June or July by May 31 will receive a 10% discount on all package prices and 32 free wallets. I know a lot of you may not have seniors in the upcoming class, but as always, our referral program does apply to this deal...so tell anyone who may be interested.

Finally, we'd like to mention one last thing. There are some seniors in this year's class who still haven't taken their senior pictures. We'll call them the Notsoearly birds. Anyways, we've come up with a special package including a three hour session, 96 wallets and 4 5x7s for just $275. That's the least expensive package we've offered this year. Again, if you know someone in a panic because they still haven't gotten those pictures done, please let them know about this offer.

Special Designs

2009-01-13T20:19:00.002-06:00

When we started this blog, we did so with plans to keep you updated on Expressions KC news and promotions, to let you know what was going on with us, and to share some of our new products. What we realized is that we've done a lot better with news & promotions and what's going on with us than we have with products.

This isn't exactly a new product, but it's probably our favorite (and has proven to be a favorite among customers): the storyboard. One benefit to a storyboard is the ability to display multiple pictures and personalize it to fit your style. Storyboards can be designed and printed in a number of different sizes. While some people use storyboards like a traditional photograph and frame them, that's not the only option. Since they're mounted on matboard, they can even be placed on a bookshelf or displayed on an easel.

2009-01-01T09:48:00.000-06:00

Christmas came early for today's family when the newest addition to their family made an early arrival. This little guy was quick to steal his daddy's heart and big sister's attention. After the on-location portion of the session, we headed back to the studio where it was her turn to shine. In a dress that was made for spinning and dancing, this little girl just lit up in front of the camera. Here's a quick peak for the family.

Welhoffs

2008-12-31T09:36:00.004-06:00

We're going to backtrack a little for today's post. The Welhoff shoot was done about a month ago as a Christmas surprise for their grandma and grandpa. Despite the cold weather and huge wind gusts, it was a success. Now that Christmas is over and the secret can't be ruined, it's time to share some of our favorites from the session.

The Skeen family

2008-12-29T11:02:00.002-06:00

Every once in a while we're fortunate enough to be presented with the opportunity to give back. Sometimes it's a fundraiser auction, or something like our recent Christmas giveaway. Each of these times, we're rewarded with a warm feeling inside and several thank yous. Often, in fact, another reward shows up later in the form of bookings or sudden good fortune. I think that's what they call paying it forward.

As our church is redecorating the foyer, we were recently approached about providing pictures of the Pastors and their families. The reward for the Skeen's family pictures was instantaneous as we were blessed enough to come away with some fantastic pictures of this beautiful family for our portfolio (not to mention the McDonalds).

Eidsons

2008-12-23T10:36:00.000-06:00

I had the opportunity to take family pictures of a sorority sister and her beautiful family. We've never had a baby as cooperative as baby 'N'. He shared his bright, shining eyes with us almost the entire session. Here are a few of our favorites:

Carter

2008-12-18T10:55:00.000-06:00

This week, we did a Christmas shot for one of Expressions' favorite subjects - my nephew, Carter. We may be a little partial, but have you ever seen a cuter Santa?

Yes, this next one is exactly what it looks like...we are training him for the 2026 Kansas Jayhawks...wait, did that make anyone else feel old?
These next three illustrate why we chose our name...Expressions... During every shoot we really try to let your baby (or child, or family) be who they really are...because you don't want to look back at a picture 10 years from now and see one just like the one every one has...you want to see your child...and their expressions...

Road Tripping

2008-11-30T20:17:00.014-06:00

It's been awhile since we've had a new posting. Things are going great at Expressions KC and we have been busy with both business and fun. While we've been fortunate enough to be able to work with some amazing people and are excited about the two families we get to photograph this week this posting is not about business. We'll spend the next couple of days recounting some of our favorite photos from the very best week of our lives...our Blode? (Blog Ode) to a week of love and laughter:

With new iPods loaded up with new music and playlists specially designed for a 34 hour road trip halfway across the country and back, we woke up early, filled the car with everything needed for a week of fun and adventures and headed off for the best week ever.

Some of the highlights:
Tennessee: A stop at Sun Studio in Memphis to tour the place where Johnny Cash, Elvis and others recorded some of their best music.

And in Nashville, tours of Willie Nelson General Store and Cooter's Place - a museum dedicated all things Dukes of Hazard.

A trip to the Frist Center for Visual Arts followed by a fancy dinner at Sambuca: complete with our very own table in the corner, a show by Peter Moon and a specialized dessert.

A very special wedding in Aiken SC...

...followed by an amazing three days in Charleston where we had some of the best food of our lives courtesy of The Mellow Mushroom, Charleston Crab House, Sticky Fingers Rib House, and Cupcake.

Stay tuned during the next day or two for more pictures and stories from our trip.

music. art. photography.

2008-11-12T09:00:00.001-06:00

Alisha was the third and final senior session of the weekend. While the weather was a little more cooperative than it was on Saturday, by the end of the afternoon we all left the shoot with numb fingers. An artist in more than one sense, Alisha shared with us her amazing talents on both the guitar and on canvas. Alisha's love for black and white photos and artistic flair inspired us to expand our horizons a little with our post-processing (you'll see more of these later, Alisha - I'm saving some of our favorites for your viewing session). Thanks again for sharing your afternoon with us!

Ashley & Codi

2008-11-11T20:28:00.000-06:00

Last Saturday, despite the frigid weather, we loaded up the car with outfits and cameras and took a "trip" to downtown KC and Westport for a dual senior session with Ashley and Codi (sorry girls, I couldn't resist). New winter coats and 'Libby Lou' gloves helped the freezing weather become more bearable - too bad everyone couldn't share my appreciation for fingerless gloves. Braving the cold proved to pay off, though. Between several trips to the car to keep us thawed, we managed to get some really fun shots. Enjoy the sneak peak, girls!

Love

2008-11-02T09:13:00.000-06:00

We've covered a lot of expressions in this blog, but maybe never have we seen more love in one posting. Anyone who knows the Coulters would agree with us when we say that they are a great example to everyone of what a loving family is. Just spending the afternoon with them, we were able to see the love shared between the parents and kids; we are truly lucky to have had the opportunity to share this experience with them. Thanks, guys...we had a blast!

"I will delight in the sheer pleasure of being with you...just being with you. Days spent with you are among the best in my world." -Lance Wubbels

Taylor

2008-10-28T20:47:00.000-05:00

For some reason, we've shot a lot more girls than guys this year, but we're proud to showcase our first of the Class of 2009. Taylor came to us through his girlfriend, Kaila, who you've seen here before (and will again). Taylor was obviously proud of her, but as a member of our state champion Wildcats, he was also proud of his rings.

2008-10-22T18:10:00.000-05:00

We had a blast during this photoshoot of brother and sister duo Laelle and Triston. Perfectly coordinated outfits, new shoes, and perfect smiles made shooting this session a breeze. We were lucky enough to be blessed with a beautiful fall day and by the end of the shoot, with cheeks sore from smiling, we squeezed in a few last shots as the golden light shined through the leaves before heading home for the evening. Here are a few of our favorites:

Up Close and Personal

2008-10-13T11:51:00.000-05:00

Okay, we got a little silly with that last post (although I think they really liked it). Today, we've got Jennifer, our most recent senior. We had a blast with Jennifer and her dog, Gater. She did present us with one of our biggest challenges yet...trying to incorporate a large part of her even larger t-shirt collection. Thanks for sharing your senior portrait experience with us, Jennifer...we hope you enjoy your preview!

Family Fun Time

2008-10-10T06:37:00.000-05:00

We had the pleasure of shooting the Maxwell family this past weekend as the first of our family sessions in October. While we did take the typical structured family and individual poses, we wanted to show something a little more entertaining. Thankfully, they cooperated. From a really fun family, here are some really fun pictures:

2008-10-01T22:18:00.000-05:00

You know how men do one thing around the house and want credit for it, even if the their wife has done ten others that day? Well, I'm no different. We told you in our last posting that this was our first Class of 2009 session where both Sarah and I took pictures...I just wanted to get a few of mine on here (with my thoughts):

I'm really proud of this first one. Either she should be a model for Urban Outfitters or I should be a photographer for them...or both.
Sarah did an awesome edit to this one, and added a fantastic texture, making it awesomely fantastic.
More edits and textures from Sarah. Can you believe this one almost didn't make the top 80?
Okay, more of me pandering for credit...Not only is this my picture, but the pose was my idea too.In all seriousness, I recognize my lack of talent in comparison to Sarah hence the 10 to 1 chores reference. I was just really proud of these and wanted to share.

2008-09-29T20:40:00.000-05:00

This weekend we had our second senior session of 2009 with Justina. She brought us all kinds of new experiences with a three generation picture, some sentimental shots and even a few with her poodle puppy. Also different about this shoot was the fact that both Heath and Sarah were available to shoot the outdoor shots.

Since we don't like to give everything away in the blog, we chose a more serious approach to what we're sharing from Justina's shoot:

A fun picture here (love those boots!), that we had even more fun adding a texture to:
In case anyone was concerned that we couldn't catch Justina smiling, we got a lot more than a smile:
Okay, no more smiles until the viewing session... but here's one more picture, with a vintage action and a beautiful back drop:

Birthday pictures!

2008-09-17T05:48:00.000-05:00

We were a little late in taking this year's birthday pictures and even more late in posting them. Thankfully, we've been too busy with clients to work on our own pictures, senior season is here!

One month ago today Deuce turned 7, and nine days later his sister Kaitlyn turned 9. Here are few pictures from their birthday shoot:

In other news we're getting closer to the holiday season and we are excited about the Christmas special we're getting ready to announce. If you're already on the mailing list, you can look for the special the first week of October. If not, email us at expressionskc@gmail.com and we'll add you to the distribution list.

Kaila

2008-09-01T20:16:00.000-05:00

After several weeks of newborn shoots, we had our first senior of the 2009 class this weekend...lots of outfits, lots of expressions, and lots of fun. Here is a small sampling (they were hard to narrow down!):

Hankins Family

2008-08-30T19:40:00.000-05:00

Emily Elizabeth Hankins arrived Jul 20 and this week we were lucky enough to take her pictures. While she didn't seem thrilled with the idea at first, we think she warmed up enough to take so really sweet pictures...especially when Mommy or Daddy was holding her.

Baby Tews

2008-08-22T12:18:00.000-05:00

We've finally discovered that blogs don't write themselves, and with that discovery comes a new commitment to blogging. We intended on starting this blog as a way to both show our work and share our passion and last week's shoot of beautiful new Baby Anna gives us an opportunity to do both. Thank you to Anna for your beautiful eyes, and the inspiration to start this blog again. To the Tews, thank you both for sharing your house with us and letting us help capture the first weeks of your little lady's life. With that, here are a few pictures to hold them over until the proofing process is complete:

Studio Space!

2008-08-04T19:56:00.000-05:00

Expressions KC now has studio space! Okay, it's a setup in our basement, but it's a start. Check out this link for pictures from our new space...we think you may recognize the "models". Just click on 'Client' in the bottom right hand corner of the page, and enter the password, 'newstudio'.

Textures

2008-03-18T14:43:00.000-05:00

If you know anything at all about Expressions, KC you should know these three things:

1. We believe what truly makes a photo is capturing you...your expressions...your personality...100% you.

2. We don't believe in editing photos to the point that don't even look like you any more.

3. We aren't so caught up in photoshop that the focus of the picture ends up being something other than the subject itself.

Those things being said, we're also always looking for new ways to enhance the service we provide. Recently, we feel like we've found a new way to do that: textures. Textures help add depth to a photo and can help turn a good photo into one that really stands out. For an older feel or for a fresh new look to your photo, textured photos turn each image into a work of art. If you're looking for a way to make sure your pictures are one of a kind, this is a great way to achieve it. Some images can provide a softer feel for babies or kids, while other textures are perfect for making senior pictures fun and trendy.

While it's something that we've dabbled with in the past, only recently do we feel like we've truly mastered the art. For a better idea of what we're talking about, check out a few of our favorites:

Behind the Scenes

2008-03-15T14:50:00.000-05:00

In brainstorming ideas for our new company name and new website, a recurring theme kept creeping its way to the top of the list...expressions... After several variations, we finally decided on ‘Expressions KC.’ The idea being that the most important thing we can do as your photographer is to capture the expressions that make life so special. This led to the decision to have the home page scrolling through pictures with different expressions.

Here's a behind the scenes look at the Expressions KC home page shoot...

Bundle of Joy

2008-03-11T13:51:00.001-05:00

We were lucky to be able to share some time with the Perry family for our fist shoot of the season! Baby ‘J’ has been blessed with an amazing family in a house overflowing with love. Adored by his big brother and sister, it’s easy to see how J is one of the happiest babies we’ve worked with. Thanks again for letting us get to know your family…we can’t wait to see him grow!

I Hear America Singing

2008-03-08T16:57:00.000-06:00

Second graders at Harrisonville Elementary School performed their musical, I Hear America Singing, on the 28th. Nearly two months of practice prepared them for a spectacular performance. See below for some of the highlights from their performance:

Under the Sea

2008-03-03T13:28:00.001-06:00

The Harrisonville Early Childhood Center held their spring play, Under the Sea, on February 26. Here are a couple of our favorites:

Expressions

2008-02-29T11:56:00.000-06:00

Welcome to our new blog! While the content of the blog is still to be determined, expect a mix of photos from recent shoots, profiles of people we’ve met, trips, inspiration, photo tips, products and promotions.

The promise of a couple just married, the innocence of a child's curiosity, the independence of a soon to be graduate... All of these expressions share the common bond that they'll be treasured by all who witness them, and longed for long after they're gone. At Expressions, LLC we capture them for you and preserve them for a lifetime of reminiscing. For the father whose little girl grew up too fast... For the best friend who is headed off to college...For the grandma, so proud of her new status, and her daughter, who made it possible.

Expressions has a casual, more documentary style of photography. We love to capture the moments between families and friends…the times when your most natural expressions shine through. We prefer to observe you and the interactions between members of your family, offering suggestions for posing only as needed to ensure that our images capture as much of you as possible.

At Expressions, LLC we provide high quality images that capture all of life’s fleeting moments. Contact us today to find out how we can best capture yours.

We have recently restructured our packages and pricing, so if you would like more information about pricing or packages, or if even if you’d just like to know more about us, leave a comment and we’ll make sure you get our updated information. We’ve got a lot of new things planned for this spring and summer, so check in often to stay up to date and to see more of what’s to come.
For more information on Expressions or to view samples of our work, visit us at our other sites:

· Expressions
· MySpace
· Flickr