shakespeare for kids | the tempest

Every year for the past four, we've helped document the impressive, and often hilarious, Shakespearean theatre productions by the Blazing Star Players -- a growing group of budding actors from the O'Fallon/Lake St. Louis, Mo. area. On this year's playbill, The Tempest. 

This year's makeup, costumes and staging blew away all of their past productions. For that matter, it far surpassed a great number of amateur productions we've ever seen. These kids and their director and coaches are seriously talented!

Do you have an upcoming event you'd like to have photographed? You know how to reach us!

the gang's all here | tenney family

A tripod and cable release helped capture enough light shortly before sunset of this beautiful, colorful family in Chesterfield, Mo.

just plain great | morgan family 2012

It's not fair to try and write words to accompany the Morgan's photo shoot. Such good friends and such dang good-looking kids. Love these guys like crazy.

I mean, who really likes to cooperate all the time anyway? It makes for a better storytelling image sometimes, like the one above.  

Isn't this what being a little boy is all about? Shiny toy guns, big brass belt buckles and cowboy hats don't always make the man... Or do they?  

Faith refashioned an old yellow cardigan of hers just for her beautiful daughter. Dedicated and talented. 

"C'mon, sis! Let's get out of here before they try to make us do another pose."

forget the park: family photos @ home

It's always such a joy to photograph the Tilton crew -- more so when it's actually above 40 degrees, which has hardly ever been the case! And although our favorite locale this year has been Faust Park in Chesterfield, Megan talked us into photos at their O'Fallon home.

Good call, Megan.

sisterly love

We absolutely love this photo for its colors and the love and humorous interaction between the Brown sisters.
This photo was made around 10:15 in the morning in late September. { 100mm, f/3.2, 1/160 }

the haarbrinks, in living color

What great color choices by the Haarbrink crew for their early fall photos. The blues, purples, reds and whites worked perfectly with the scene at Faust Park in Chesterfield.

tech specs: 2007 time travel

Just before one of our hard drives crashed and burned, I found this. Our sweet niece, back in '07. 122mm, f/4, 1/160 sec.

happy accidents

Ahhh, posing. Good when it's good. Bad when it's bad (ahem, see Awkward Family Photos). And then there are those awesome accidents that come about when you're just out having fun. Like these guys. We love this shot!
About the photo: 50mm, f/4, 1/160, ISO 250. No flash.

love. synonymous with family.

All this talk about travel and family, we figured it would be downright dumb not to post at least a few pictures from our western adventures during the month of December. And so, with that:


Ahh, these crazy, sweet kids. Love them and their beautiful smiles. Funny that it was colder in California (the bottom pic) than it was in Utah (top pic). Who woulda' thought?

Two kids. Too cute.

"Ummmm. I'm telling Mom."

175mm. f/4.0. 1/160. ISO 200. Colors edited in Lightroom.

photography = ...

Today, we're giving away The Secret. More than the camera. More than the lenses. More than the lighting, location or angles.

Yes, this season we have discovered the magic formula: Photography = one part stress + one part timing + two parts pure joy. Seriously. Busy? Yes. But we love what we do. Especially when you get to watch a person or a family--like the Streichers in this case--grow so much and change over time. It just helps put it all into perspective, that you're doing more than just snapping photos. We record history.

the martins on main

Good luck finding a better looking family in all St. Charles County. Seriously, you guys. If there were an award out there (who knows, there probably is...), you'd have our votes!

lakeside beauty

Kids. Outdoors. And a million-dollar smile. So. Sweet.
Enough said.

If you don't like smiling, look away.

We warned you.