Meet Megan - I think she was born first...
Supermodel!
Here's Amanda...
Her laugh is contagious!
Last but not least, Max...
He's handsome and kind!
These young people are blessed to have wonderful parents, Larry and Vicki. Three years ago, Vicki's earthly journey ended after a battle with cancer. She now watches over her family from Heaven. The warmth of her presence is still very much alive in the hearts of those who knew her best:
Danner Family - Your faithfulness and generosity have always been an inspiration to me. Thank you for your friendship and for letting me capture this special time for you!
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My, how Vivienne has changed since this time last year...
She is growing fast! She can even hang with her big brother, Vincent, now! I think he likes her. ;)
Daddy's little princess is also starting to walk!
Mama and her girl are looking pretty and ready for Spring!
This family is very dear to me and it was delightful to capture my friends playing around at home.
I love the emotion between Rachel and Ryan in this picture. I also like how this picture captures that Mommy was about two seconds away from having her earring ripped out and the moment turning really sour. Thankfully, disaster was adverted!
As you can see, this fam has a lot of fun together!
Beyond the playfulness, this family also exhibits tenderness and deep gratitude. I'll close with my favorite pics of special mother-daughter moments.
Vivienne at one month...
Vivienne at one year...
Gorgeous.
Happy birthday, sweet Vivienne! Rachel and Ryan - thank you for inviting me to capture these special moments.
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Welcomed home by big sis Gianna, age two...
Proud parents, Meaghan and Mike...
A mentor of my husband's once told him that this phase of life is the "rocket booster phase". A space shuttle has rocket boosters that power liftoff and the shuttle engines are at maximum throttle until the shuttle breaks through the earth's atmosphere and can more calmly cruise out in space. The rocket booster phase is a turbulent yet exhilarating time, just as it can be for a young family. These years are filled with adding children to the mix, and perhaps moving houses or even cities or changing job responsibilities. It is a thrilling time and adrenaline is often what gets you through! After breaking through the atmosphere of parenthood and things seemingly calming down a little, I imagine you get a beautiful perspective like an astronaut does in space. I'm thinking of all this as I look through the pictures of this beautiful growing family and imagine both the excitement and the craziness both Ellie's parents and grandparents might be feeling during this phase.
This is my friend and former colleague, Moira. She looks beautiful here, although she might kill me for putting a picture of just her on the blog. :)
Moira and Bob were married about 30 years ago...
They have five kids, including TWINS! Can you imagine the rocket booster phase turbulence of that time?!
Their beautiful children incldue Meaghan, Betsy, Ryan and Maureen, and the youngest is Robbie at age 16.
Add in a spouse...
... and two grandchildren...
...and you can sit back and marvel at what God has done bringing all these people into the world because of your love.
Not that the grandkids want to see your smoochy-kissy love...
I can only imagine what it's like in the next phase of life - to look at your children, mostly grown, and grandchildren starting to come along. I imagine it's pretty rewarding to look at the vibrant, full-of-love family you've helped create by your faithfulness in the daily toils of life...
The newest member of the family gets to reap the benefits of this love. What a beautiful and blessed little baby. :)
Moira and the rest of the crew: thank you for choosing Magnified Moments to capture this special time for your family! It was an honor to be with you on this happy occasion. :)
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Piper recently turned a whopping two years old and was the youngest of the four generations I had the pleasure of photographing a few weeks ago. Here she is in her great-grandpa's hat...
If there's one thing that is obvious about this family, it's that they were thrilled to have this little girl visiting.
Pure joy this girl brings. :) Here she is with her mama, Candice, who was back "home" in Kansas from her new home in Idaho.
Piper really was a delight during the shoot, which is no small feat considering how cold it was.
The first generation: my lovely Aunt Elva and wise-cracking Uncle Jim...
The second generation - Dan and Sandra... (I was the flower girl in their wedding!)
Generation three - Candise, Ashley and Jared...
Which brings us back to the fourth...
It was so cute hearing Piper - who is still learning to talk - say, "E.T. E.T. E.T." :) Her mama is passing down the love of this crazy stuffed animal from one generation to the next. I LOVE their smiles in this pic. It speaks volumes.
I'll end with a few beautiful formal family portraits...
Thank you guys for inviting me to do your pics! It was so nice to capture the joy your family radiates. I'm sending these pictures with much love. :)
I was so excited when Cynthia originally asked me to do these portraits because she sent several pictures as vintage inspiration. The shoot was a lot of fun. :) These pics are now a few months old but I wanted to wait until after Christmas to post, in order to not spoil their value as gifts for James and Cynthia's families. :) Thank you guys for choosing us to do your pics!
Ahh, mother-son love. Finally face-to-face after anticipating this child's arrival for so long. Bee-u-tee-ful.
Aidan and Maeve seem to have warmed right up to their baby brother. This sibling-cuddle picture just might be my favorite pic from the entire shoot. They are all so young and precious! Conor fits right into the fam - he just needs to catch up on his freckles! :)
We tried to duplicate a dog-pile pose as seen on Pinterest. Conor wasn't sure what to think of this...
Big Brother Aidan is ready to show Conor the ropes to boyhood...
Maeve is also ready to be a big helper. I love this picture of the two together. Conor is perfectly happy and content in the arms of Big Sis.
She is such a cutie-patootie. Here are some of my fave pics of itty-bitty Conor...
Conor has some pretty stellar parents. Mike isn't just a Notre Dame fam - he is an alum. His bride, Ellen, went to school just down the road at St. Mary's. I met this couple through a mutual friend at - of all things - an Irish Breakfast on St. Patrick's Day several years ago.
They're still just a couple of kids in love...
There are just a bunch of kids at their feet now, too. :)
Thanks so much, Ellen and Mike, for inviting me to capture this special time for your family! It was a blessing to spend time with you and your awesome little kiddos!
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We also got some time indoors at a bowling alley, since Matthias is an awesome bowler! I like the vintage look of this shot...
What teenage boy doesn't love McDonald's?! We had to stop by and get some fun and unique shots of Matthias in this shirt...
I wanted to get Matthias' lovely mama, Debbie, in a few pics too.
Isn't she purrrty? :) I actually grew up admiring Debbie - a third(?) cousin - and her sisters because they were always so warm and friendly and fun. It was a good thing she was along because she certainly knew how to get Matthias to crack a smile. Despite his best attempts to not show those pearly whites, we caught a few glimpses of his teeth!
Thanks, Matthias and Debbie, for inviting me to do these senior pics! I had a great time with you on the shoot and I'm so glad we were blessed with a beautiful evening. Enjoy the rest of senior year!
They may be twins, but they're each one-of-a-kind.
Matthew:
I think these pictures tell you that he's the ornery little brother...
Next up, Jacob:
Older bro has plenty of personality too...
Something the two share in common is wrestling...
In addition to senior portraits, we added in a family shoot at the same time.
I know it must be a bittersweet time for these almost-empty-nesters...
Their two little baby boys have grown into kind and bright young men.
It looks to me like Terry and Annette have one of the things we all desire in life: a close-knit family.
There's lots of brotherly love to show for it...
Paxton Fam: Thank you for trusting Magnified Moments to capture this precious time in your life! It was my pleasure.
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It was also fun to capture the "mini-me" versions of Jill and Jeff. :) Meet Camden and Brynn.
As I edited this family's pictures, two things stood out to me. This crew is FULL of personality and they are on the MOVE!
Truly, these high school sweethearts have much to be grateful for! They are rich in love and laughter.
I enjoyed getting some individual shots of each family member. I like the pictures that put in perspective how small these little ones really are...
Little people can still have big personalities!
Jill and Jeff are as good-looking as ever too...
No family shoot is complete without trying to get a few good group shots for the Christmas card! ;)
Jill, Jeff, Camden & Brynn - Thanks for inviting me to do your family portraits. It was a privilege and a treat! Sending much love your way, Adrienne
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We had a fun shoot several weeks ago. It was a gorgeous evening and Hannah is a lovely person - inside and out. We started at Crown Center...
The picture above makes me think of your classic All-American "Girl Next Door": beautiful, kind, unassuming and honest.
Hannah had some amazing cowboy boots with her, so we headed to the Kansas City Crossroads Art District to find both some old red brick and greenery. By this time, Hannah and I had established a good photographer-client connection and she really started coming out of her shell. :)
Being a photographer is more than just technical knowledge and posing. The most important thing is to quickly build a relationship so that the client is relaxed and free to be herself or himself. People are multi-faceted. It's important to capture the different "sides" of a person and be sure to get to the core. The more straight-faced pictures can tell you something about a person's essence.
As captivating as those pictures are, Hannah is a light-hearted senior and so mostly we just had FUN! I enjoyed seeing her silly side and encouraging her to work the camera. I told her this series made me think of the song "Rock My World (Little Country Girl)". :)
Our last stop was the new Kauffman Performing Arts Center downtown. I still have a bazillion "favorite" pictures to share, so without further ado...
Thanks, Hannah, for choosing Magnified Moments to do your senior portraits! It was such a blessing to get to know you. Enjoy senior year and your adventures beyond!
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Sometimes they're tired...
Sometimes they're mad...
In many ways, newborns really aren't that much different than us adults. But newborns are new. Newly born...
They have fresh eyes to take in this colorful world around us.
They are pure, simple and good. 
I had the privilege of photographing Colt just a few days after he came into the world. It was fun to hang out with these brand new parents and see how they are learning - everything from diapering to how Colt prefers to be held.
They are learning all Colt's wonderful features and mannerisms.
Sometimes mom and dad might wonder, "What did we get ourselves into?" :)
In fact, they're getting into a whole lot of pride, joy and love.
That kissy picture above is my FAVORITE of the whole shoot. Can't you see that Colt can FEEL the love?! Ahhh! My heart delights in this. Again, what a privilege it is to be a part of these intimate moments, as a family transitions to having a new life in the home!
I also love these pics of Colt on a tiny little couch. I think he enjoyed his little snooze on the sofa too. If you look close, you can see him smiling in some of the pics! What a treat to see newborn sleep smiles.
Special shout-out to Nana Melody who knitted all the lovely hats, blankets and outfits you see in these pics.
Thank you, Laura and Jacy, for trusting me to capture these precious moments for you! It was a blessing! Enjoy getting to know your new little man!
Seriously, this girl was sooo good for her six-month portrait session! We started the day in her familiar home environment and later moved to the park. We thoroughly enjoyed our morning with Adelynn and her parents, Katie and Dan.
I have known Katie for almost a decade. Our paths first crossed when we individually made up our minds to study abroad in Scotland. We ended up being European travel buddies and close friends. We have so many cherished memories together. As you can tell from her laugh below, Katie is a fun gal. I'm so thrilled that she found a great man in Dan.
I love this black and white pic of Addie and Daddy. She's a dainty little girl safely surrounded by big strong daddy arms. It's beautiful that this tiny little person has melted her father's heart - and it shows.
When baby came along, she stole a certain someone else's spot as "star of the show".
Chester, the dog, wanted to join in the fun.
Addie was very excited about going to the park...
I was personally very excited to finally put this vintage quilt to use in a photo shoot. I found it hiding at my parents' house months ago and it begged me to rescue it from a dark corner and give it some fresh air.
Just when I was thinking this little girl's energy knew no boundaries, she let out the cutest little yawn...
Addie agreed to hang tough and give us the perfect Christmas card picture, as long as she got to claw Daddy's nose. The girl drives a hard bargain.
I love this picture of Katie as a mom. It's so beautiful to see the reciprocal love between mother and daughter.
"Um, guys, please don't step on me."
"Aaaahh! What the heck is this thing? I'd rather be snug in my daddy's arms!"
"Oooo, sidewalk chalk. Very pretty."
They're only tiny for a little while! Give us a call if you'd like Magnified Moments to capture the essence of your family! The leaves are already starting to fall, so it's the perfect time to get your family photo shoot on the calendar.
Happy six-month birthday, Addie! I look forward to watching you grow up!
... the one that exudes excitement for the very last year of high school. I love that enthusiasm! I also love that seniors are always "up for anything". They don't flinch when I ask them to sit on a pile of old junk. Still, I felt the need to explain it will give us a unique look and some good masculine color.
Dudes need some serious and manly poses too.
I love this background. Old silver tin with a pop of green weeds. Does it get more perfectly country?! (By the way, I did an online search for green weed to figure out a proper name for this but instead an illegal substance came up. Ha!)
A windmill pic with a storm brewing in the background is also what I'd call perfectly country.
A field of golden wheat and various farm equipment can provide great color too.
Off the farm and back in town, we gave Hanover High School some love. It was good to see the bricks of my alma mater.
H-H-S, Hey, Let's Go 'Cats!!! (Sorry, that's the high school cheerleader in me.)
In case you didn't notice that bling in the last picture, let me give you a close-up...
That's right - a state championship ring. There are a lot of small towns in Kansas, so it is quite a competition to see who is the best of the best in small-town football. Ryan started off his high school career with a championship and he is hoping that the team can deliver another trophy for Hanover this fall.
Ryan is also on the golf team, so we grabbed his clubs for a pic. Gotta love props!
Thanks, Ryan, for choosing Magnified Moments to do your senior pics! Have a great year!
Blog Readers: We would love your support in helping us get our foot in the door at more high schools. We have a special for 2013 seniors running until Labor Day. Check it out HERE!
Laughter.
Tears.
Playfulness.
Tenderness.
Big kids.
Little kids.
Babies.
Growing up before our eyes...
Daddies.
Mommies.
Families.
Grandma.
Grandpa.
Knowing everything about one another...
Keeping a sense of humor...
Choosing to care for and love one another.
Isn't this the beautiful stuff of life? No wonder I love photography.
Seniors are quickly growing up. Senior year is one of stretching and preparing. Soon seniors will be launched out into "the real world". The excitement of the 3-2-1 countdown to graduation is palpable. The sparkle in their eyes right before this big transition is amazing.
Since we love seniors so much, we want to get our foot in the door at more high schools. This could mean good news for you! Be the first 2013 senior from your high school to book your senior pics with Magnified Moments and you will get some awesome deals! While seniors can easily spend over $1,000 on their senior portraits, we make you look just as gorgeous but we stay affordable. Our package is $300 - with that you get multiple outfits and locations, a DVD of high-resolution edited images (so you can upload them to Facebook and print them anywhere), and one 8x10 professional print plus free shipping on any other prints you order the first two weeks after receiving your pics.
We are sweetening up this deal even more for THE FIRST 2013 senior from each area high school who books with us. This offer is good until Labor Day, which is September 3rd. (Pictures must be booked - not taken - by Labor Day.) Keep scrolling down to learn about all the goodies we're offering!
Here's the overview: BE THE FIRST and get $50 in free prints, $50 off a family portrait session, and your choice of a free iPhone case or an iPad case or holiday ornaments. Plus all the usual stuff you get for the $300 investment. I had my trusty little assistant give a visual for the overview...
Here's the detailed version. For starters, we will give you $50 worth of free professional prints! This can get you 100 free wallets - in up to 25 different poses! Professional prints have beautiful color and quality. They won't fade and your wallets come with rounded edges. Time to "ooh" and "ahh" over the rounded corners, which is something that you don't get when you print at many locations. (This is the first senior I ever shot. Isn't she lovely?)
You know Mom would love to have a family picture before you leave home, so we will also offer $50 off a separate family photo shoot that is booked within a year of your senior portraits.
On top of all that, you can choose to receive one of three products: a custom iPhone case ($30 value), a custom iPad case ($35 value) or custom holiday ornaments ($13 each - you will receive three, which is a $39 value). Holiday ornaments are a perfect gift for grandparents and other relatives.
Ready to jump in?! Contact us today and BE THE FIRST! This offer only lasts through Labor Day. (Reminder: Pics must be booked - not taken - by September 3rd.) We look forward to hearing from you! Call/text (913) 461-6143 or email [email protected].
"Big B" is a rural playground - a beloved family reunion spot.
The grand finale for the evening included some after-sunset pics. The trick to this photo is exposing the photograph for the sky and its reflection in the water, then adding a little flash to properly light the subjects. What a sweet couple. Thank you, Adam and Cyrie, for inviting Magnified Moments to do your pics! We had a blast!
Chris and Sarah invited us to their new home on Ethan's birthday, so we were the first to get to help them celebrate!
Ethan was happy to show us some of his toys.
Sweet gum balls make great boy toys.
I brought along a big number one, which he promptly turned into a toy as well.
He also proudly showed us his room. "I'm the king of this crib."
Mostly, Ethan just wanted to play with Mommy and Daddy.
What a happy family of three...
New parents go through A LOT in the first year - there are both joys and sacrifices. The first birthday is a big milestone for parents, so I thought we'd celebrate Mom and Dad with some pics focusing in on their love for one another. After all, their selfless love helped bring forth Ethan's wonderful life!
Happy birthday, Ethan. Thanks for letting us share it with you!
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Quality stuff!
With the Olympics coming up, my friend Kelly at Swim Quik was looking for pics of special goggles they're offering.
I also turned the camera on some of my personal favorites. There are so many cute things at her place!
If you're in KC, visit the shop near 135th & Roe! With the hot summer we're experiencing, you know you want to be at the pool!
While portrait photography is my sweet spot, it's fun to mix things up and shoot products too. Have a nice weekend!
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Because the forecast was 105 degrees, we decided to start the shoot an indoor location. The beautiful cathedral in Kansas City, Kansas, has been the family's spiritual home for decades.
The Cathedral was just big enough to hold a whole lot of personality. I think this picture was taken right after Mike planted a big wet one on his bride.
This family was looking a little stiff, so I asked them to throw their heads back and laugh. The kids took me quite literally. That's okay, it's the genuine smiles in the following picture that I was waiting for anyway.
Once it cooled off a little, we headed for a gorgeous outdoor location. Don't get me wrong - by the end of the shoot, sweat was dripping down my back. I'm pretty sure we were all in the same boat. I think this fam is lookin' pretty darn good given the circumstances!
When the family started looking a little bored again, I had to ask everyone to take a look at Jake's muscles:
That lightened things up.
This little cutie was unaware, but she was the impetus for getting the whole crew together. She didn't mind all the commotion and she had made up her little mind that the heat wasn't going to get her down! Bless her sweet heart.
Look at those perfect little lips!
This is her mommy and daddy feeling quite grateful when reflecting on their newest blessing:
Grandma and Grandpa are pretty pleased too.
Susan and Mike - thank you for inviting me to be a part of this special gathering!
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A wide-angle lens is key for showcasing what the entire room looks like.
Nice work, eh? If you're interested in a remodeling bid I can put you in touch with him!
Just for fun, here's a pic I took of a neighboring condo building when we were living downtown. I like the contrast of the gold city lights against the darkening sky and the blur of headlights whizzing by. (Hey, that rhymes!)
Focusing the camera on upgrades or recent home improvement projects can help with renting or selling real estate too. The following photos showcase a shiny new backsplash.
That's a wrap! Oh, if you haven't seen the special we're running, check out our Facebook page. If you get your shoot booked (not taken) by Thursday, you get five free 5x7 professional prints (a $17.50 value)! Woohoo!
Happy weekend!
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Like the Brad Paisley song says, "Every one of us is here all because two people fell in love." Well, check out how many people are here because these two fell in love!
The occasion for having the whole family together was a baptism (to take place the following day) and this sweet angel certainly stole the show. I was amazed at how good 8-week-old Ellie was even with the heat and after a long day of traveling.
Look at that cuteness! I'll share a few more of my favorites on the blog next week!
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