St. Louis Wedding Photographer Lisa Hessel

The Blog has moved

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Hessel) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 17:27:00 +0000

Just in case you missed it, my new, improved, and much bigger wedding blog now lives here:

www.lisahesselphotography.com/blog

See, I told you it was bigger and better ;). Go check it out and don't forget to add the new URL to your RSS reader!

www.lisahesselphotography.com/blog

Hello :: Goodbye

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Hessel) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 05:49:00 +0000

In the last week, I think I've been up past 2am more days than not. While I clearly define myself as a night owl and NOT a morning person, I have to admit that not sleeping at least 6 hours a night has left me a bit -or a LOT- exhausted. What was I doing until the wee hours of the morning, you may ask.

I can't wait to tell you! I've been working on THIS. After months of prep work and consultations and testing and long long nights that became early early morning, I am so excited to tell you all I have a brand new and absolutely improved blog and it's finally LIVE!!!!

Check it out here:
www.lisahesselphotography.com/blog

While you're there, you'll notice new colors, new fonts, a totally redefined look. My new logo and branding, which I am head-over-heels in LOVE with, is featured on my new blog as well as my new website. Oh yes, you heard that right... I have a new website as well! You can find it at the same URL as my previous site, but the design is a far cry from my previous look. You can take a gander at www.lisahesselphotography.com

During this redesign and rebranding process, I've had the opportunity to work with the amazing team at Second Street Creative ... and if you're looking for a designer for any project, I highly recommend chatting it up with Ryan because he's a genius. GENIUS, I tell you! Look for a full recap and theory of rebranding and my new logo soon on the new blog.

If you've subscribed to my blog with an RSS reader, be sure to add my new blog to your feeds because this one won't be updated from now on :). Of course, this older blog will live on here at this URL, but for everything new and updated, be sure go to the new blog.

So head on over and let me know what you think. I'd love to hear to your thoughts :). And while you're there, be sure to check out Rachel and Dave's engagement session.

Tara and Adam :: Engagement Guestbook Album

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Hessel) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 04:43:00 +0000

I LOVED LOVED LOVED this session! I met up with Tara and Adam last fall at New Town in St. Charles for some engagement photos, and just love these two :). They were so laid back and easy to work with... just what I love in an engagement session :). Here are a few of my favorites:

New Town has such a variety of architecture and scenery to photograph, but I was especially drawn to the farm area on the outskirts of town.

Love these next two. Tara, you are gorgeous!

I did an engagement guestbook album for Tara and Adam, and I was thrilled with the way it turned out. When clients choose to do an engagement guestbook, I always get a little giddy because engagement photos + signatures = a great coffee table book and conversation piece that can be enjoyed for years after the wedding is over.

The outside of the book has a photo cover from edge to edge, making even the cover a customized piece.

The spine is also customizable with names and wedding date.

The pages are cut down the middle, which allows the spread to lay flat. Definitely convenient for guests as they sign the pages.

One of my favorite spreads :). All the spreads have extra white space for your guests to use as a guestbook.

To see a slideshow of their complete album, click here.

Spring Family Mini-Sessions :: Sunday, April 11, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Hessel) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:10:00 +0000

I'm so excited to announce that I will be hosting Spring Family Mini-Sessions this April! I always have such a fabulous time with my families and look forward to these sessions every year. I offer mini-sessions twice a year -once in the spring and once in the fall- and only have a limited number of time slots open at each event, so if you're interested in booking a session for your family, please let me know so I can reserve your spot!

When? Sunday, April 11 from 2pm-6:30pm

Where? Forest Park

What's included? A 45-minute outdoor family session with Lisa Hessel PLUS a disk of the high-resolution images from your session

Cost? $150

How do I reserve a session? shoot me an email or give me a call! Your session fee is due upon booking and is non-refundable.

I did a mini-session marathon last fall and had a such great time with all of the families that I photographed. I've been photographing this family for quite some time now and was so excited to spend the morning with them!

The very first time I photographed the family, Gabriella was just about to be born.

Meet Christian, their newest, and oh-so-happy, addition

Christian cracks me up here!

She is so fun and full of life, as you'll see below :).

Kisses

For questions or to schedule your spring family mini-session, email me anytime. Looking forward to a great spring session!!

An Impromptu Maternity Shoot with a Beautiful Friend

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Hessel) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:43:00 +0000

Working from home is such a blessing. Really, it is... but it also comes with challenges I never quite anticipated. And having a husband who works from home (and from Starbucks from time to time) doubles our joy... and distraction :). One of the biggest challenges that we face is that we're so connected to our email and computers and phones because they are always there... and as a result, we sometimes feel like we're always working. Like all the time working. At 2am and sometimes into the wee hours of the morning. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't change my work environment for the world... I mean, today, I wore workout clothes to work and watched the Biggest Loser while I edited... it's the best! But sometimes, we just need to get away from it all. And watching tv in the living room doesn't count. We have to get out of town.

So, Jon and I started talking about where we could go to get away for just a day or two that wouldn't break the bank and lock us in the car for an eternity. And almost immediately, Jon suggested we drive to Cincinnati to visit some of our good friends who had just moved away from the Lou.

So we were off. As we headed toward the city, I was totally expecting to see a vintage town a la WKRP in Cincinnati with everyone wearing plaid polyester blazers and feathered bangs. I guess that's kind of telling of how much tv I watch....

Our friends Adam and Ashley met us shortly after we woke up (around 10am... hallelujah for sleeping in!) and took us on a tour of the city, which, much to my surprise was not laden with ultra-wide bell-bottom wearing radio personalities. Cincinnati is actually pretty cool. Really, it's way cool. I should know... I ate my way through the entire city, and I had more fun than I can recount.

And, as an added bonus, our beautiful friend Ashley is going to have a baby! We decided to have an impromptu maternity session about mid-way through our tour of the city (or as Kevin would say, a bit after 1st lunch and right before 2nd lunch).

Seriously, Ashley has got to be the cutest preggo ever. She makes me regret eating all those eggo waffles when I was pregnant.

Seriously, check her out. Is she one hot mama or what?!

Adam and Ashley are having a baby girl, but they're keeping her name a secret. I kept hoping it would slip out, but much to my chagrin, it didn't. I did have time to think about it, though, and I'm pretty sure I have it figured out. I guess I'll have to wait to find out, though... and we all know how much I LOVE waiting :).

Love these of Ash. Beautiful.

We miss you already, Adam and Ashley! We can't wait to meet your precious baby girl and are excited to witness you enter the joy of parenthood. You will be incredible... it's inevitable :). Much love to all three of you!

Unaltered

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Hessel) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 18:37:00 +0000

When I married Jon, I married into a great family. If you know the Hessels, you know what I mean :). One of my biggest supporters of my photography dreams when my business was just in its infancy was Jon's cousin Kathy and her adorable family.

I first started photographing their family way back in 2007 when I just starting to explore family portrait photography. If you've followed my blog, you may remember Maddie, Sarah, and When Colin came home. More recently, I photographed the entire family this summer on an unusually warm summer day with lots of golden sun:

My latest session with this wonderful family was earlier this winter. But this time, it was just for Kathy. And it was totally different from all the other sessions I've photographed for them.

As 2009 was winding to a close, Kathy stunned the entire family with a startling revelation.

She had cancer.

Kathy was diagnosed with stomach cancer, a type of cancer that is usually found in only the elderly. So at only 31 years old, it was quite a shock to learn that this type of cancer had invaded Kathy's body. The doctors immediately started Kathy on an aggressive chemo therapy treatment.

I remember when we first heard news... it just seemed so surreal. I mean, Kathy is young. She's healthy and in good shape and has three little children that she pours her life into daily. She SHOULDN'T have cancer.

I saw her at a family gathering not long after she had started her first chemo treatment. But she wasn't what I was expecting. I mean, she just found out her life was about to be altered by intensive chemo and a very painful surgery. If that had happened to me, I can imagine I'd probably sit in a corner and pass the time by worrying. and probably eating more cookies than I could count.

But not Kathy.

She was the same Kathy she had always been. Lively. Funny. Full of life. Unaltered.

I told her that I really admired her for having such a positive outlook. She told me she just didn't know any other way to be. And that right there sums up who Kathy is. She wouldn't let something like a chemo pump attached to her neck, or thinning hair, or the uncertainty of cancer steal her joy. She continued to LIVE. Really LIVE.

So when she asked me to come do a photoshoot of her after the chemo had taken her thick brown locks, I immediately agreed. She said it would be empowering. I couldn't agree more.

Her eyes are stunning and captivating. truly beautiful.

And this pretty much sums up how Kathy is facing life... with unaltered joy and a positivity rooted firmly in her faith

Kathy and her husband Mike have been blogging throughout their journey here . It's always entertaining to read Mike's witty posts, and I find it even more encouraging to read about their faith that has held firm day by day.

On Monday morning, Kathy entered the hospital to have her entire stomach and part of her esophagus removed. She has a long road ahead of her with recovery, more chemo, and the addition of radiation, but when we went up to visit her today, the same smile and joy that we've always seen in Kathy was still there. Unaltered.

If you're the praying type, send up a little prayer for our dear cousin Kathy. Please pray that the treatments would be effective and any lingering cancer would be eliminated. Pray that her recovery would be speedy and she can return to life a little more quickly than expected. Pray that she'd be able to enjoy her precious family and savor the moments.

We love you, Kathy, and we're praying for you always.

Avery and Greta :: Twins!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Hessel) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:57:00 +0000

When Kendall and I first chatted over the phone about photography, Kendall was still pregnant. She had called to inquire about newborn photography, and I was so elated when she said she was expecting not one, but TWO sweet baby girls! This is the first time I've had the pleasure of photographing twins and I loved every minute of it!

And now, meet Miss Avery and Miss Greta :).

These little eight-day-old girls were the picture of serenity. There was hardly a peep throughout the entire shoot

Can you believe she had twins -TWINS!- just eight days before this photo was taken?? Seriously, Kendall, you're gorgeous.

Holding hands already. I have a feeling they're going to be bffs.

Pretty much my favorite photo of the day.

Kendall had an Etsy seller make her girls these adorable hats.

Kasey and Jordan

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Hessel) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:58:00 +0000

For several years now, I've been shooting photos for collegiate perfomance groups, and last spring, I shot this photo for a group of actors who were performing in a showcase in New York:

I have been photographing this group of actors for most of their college years, and it has always been such a pleasure to work with this talented group. But during this shoot, I noticed a ... friendliness... that I hadn't noticed before. Mostly between the two on the left side of the photo. I later learned that they had started dating and I was thrilled to find out late last year that they were engaged!

Kasey contacted me last year about shooting their 2010 wedding, and I was unfortunately already booked for their date, but I had the pleasure of meeting up with them this month for an engagement shoot. So, very fittingly, we began their session outside the Fox Theatre.

Quite appropriate :)

FAVORITE. BY. FAR. Jordan and Kasey, you're so romantic.

Just a short drive down Washington Ave is one of my favorite coffee shops in St. Louis, so we decided to stop in for a bit to warm up. (If you missed my crazy coffee house guy story, you'll definitely want to check that out :) ).

Love these next two.

Best of luck to you, Kasey and Jordan! You two are rockstars :).

For more, check out my facebook page.

Jordan Proposes to Kasey and a Crazy Coffee House Man

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Hessel) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:07:00 +0000

During an engagement shoot last week with Kasey and Jordan, we stopped at one of my favorite coffee shops downtown and warmed up for a bit. While Jordan was changing into his second outfit, Kasey sipped on her latte and told me about their engagement story. "Have you seen it on YouTube?" she asked me. I was giddy with excitement and immediately pulled out my phone so I could watch it. I big puffy heart LOVE a good engagement and I love it even more when I get to see it on video! Kasey and Jordan were both very active in theatre during college and Kasey was recently in a performance of "Bye, Bye, Birdie." During their dress rehearsal... well, I'll let you see for yourself...

(click here to access the video on YouTube)

While Kasey and I were watching the video, I heard a man who was sitting a bit away from us start talking. I assumed he was talking on his cell phone since he was alone, but after the video was over, he got up and walked straight towards me.

"I saw you," he said. "I saw you aiming your cell phone waves at me. Turn it off. It's getting white stuff all over my tea."

He pointed the lid to his hot tea, but there was nothing there. I told him I didn't understand, and was waiting for him to crack a smile. I figured he was just being silly and wanted to have a little joke with two girls in a coffee shop.

That was not the case.

"You were aiming it at me. Turn. It. Off."

His eyes were starting to look a little crazy... kinda like John Locke in recent episodes of LOST.

"I wasn't aiming anything at you," I said as I slipped my phone in my pocket. It was getting a little tense and I suddenly wished we weren't the only patrons in the coffee shop at that moment.

"TURN. IT. OFF," he said again. His brow started to furrow and I wondered who this guy was. He was clean shaven and dressed in a nice, clean wool overcoat. His eyes looked they could be kind, but he wasn't being too kind at that moment. I wasn't about to cause a scene in the middle of what was a really enjoyable engagement shoot, so to appease him, I took the phone out of my pocket, switched it to vibrate, and dropped it back into my coat.

"It won't bother you anymore," I said to him with more confidence that I really had. I didn't let my gaze waiver and he knew I wasn't afraid of him. I could tell. These last four weeks of working out with my trainer have obviously made me a force to be reckoned with. Don't hate. You know it's true.

He turned to walk away, but not before he looked over his shoulder and called me some words I'd rather not repeat on my blog. I raised my eye brows as if to say "oh no you di-ent" and the barista who had been observing our altercation sprang immediately into action. He asked me what happened, and I repeated the conversation verbatim. Without hesitation, the barista walked over to the man and said, "We're going to have to ask you to leave. You can't talk to our customers like that. It's not appropriate."

Our hero.

We laughed a little about the audacity of what had just happened after he had exited the building. At that moment, Jordan came into the seating area and said, "hey, what just happened in here??"

Kasey and I laughed with the barista as we retold the story to Jordan.

What a night. A story we won't soon be forgetting, that's for sure.

I'm still finishing up editing their photos, but here's just one appetizer photo of Kasey and Jordan from the coffee house. Aren't they just the best?!? More to come soon :).

Need Inspiration?

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Hessel) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 03:46:00 +0000

When I got married almost six years ago, I planned my wedding based on what I knew about weddings... which was all gleaned from weddings I had attended or episodes of "A Wedding Story" I had watched on TLC. I WISH WISH WISH I had done a little more research on what was available, but I just didn't have the time... or so I thought. More so now than 6 years ago, an overwhelming amount of resources are available literally at your fingertips. Blog, websites, and message boards provide an amazing wealth of information for all things wedding.

So, even though my wedding has come and gone, I'm still addicted to wedding sites, so I thought I would share a few of my favorites :).

Style Me Pretty
www.stylemepretty.com

(from the Style Me Pretty website) All About Style Me Pretty
Style Me Pretty is a style savvy wedding resource devoted to the modern bride. We cover everything from gorgeous real weddings to up and coming vendors and seasoned pros in the invitation, floral, fashion and photography industries. We feature only the most chic and style centric wedding related content, continually discovering new and brilliantly talented vendors, brides with an eye for all things gorgeous, and the personal loves of editor, Abby Larson.

Wedding Bee
www.weddingbee.com
Another site I could peruse for days on end... Wedding Bee has a host of brides-to-bee's who blog about their wedding planning journeys and provide valueable tips and resources. And you might just recognize the newest Bee, Miss Argyle. She's one of my fantastic clients and is a wedding planning genius :).

Green Wedding Shoes
www.greenweddingshoes.com
I know, I know, this site showcases Southern California wedding style... but it's one of the most beautiful places in the world with, in turn, some of the most beautiful weddings on the planet. Great details and great photos.

The Bride's Cafe
www.thebridescafe.com
Another lovely blog to garner lovely wedding inspiration... and to top it off, the coffee foam art in the header looks so good I can almost smell a tasty caffeinated concoction.

What about you? What are your favorite wedding sites for information on all things weddings?

Shane and Patty :: Married in Kansas City

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Hessel) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:34:00 +0000

I love getting the opportunity to go back to my hometown of Kansas City to shoot a wedding. It's great to photograph a couple there because, even though I grew up there, I hardly explored the city at all. Every turn and corner and alley and eclectic neighborhood... they're all fresh to me. And I love that.

So when I found out I'd be shooting Shane and Patty's wedding at Club 1000 in Kansas City, I was elated.

Shane and several of his groomsman are serving our country in the Marines.

Because the sun sets so early in the winter, Shane and Patty decided to see each other before the wedding so we could enjoy the sunlight in their photos.

Jon and I drove around the day before the wedding scouting out locations for the wedding day and I came across this parking garage that I though would work rather well. Jon looked me like I was crazy... a parking garage?? But I think it was a pretty fantastic setting, don't you agree?

Cute kids make me smile :)

These next two are my favorite favorite favorite.

Beautiful candlelit ceremony in Kansas City's Club 1000

When the evening is over and I see something like this, parked outside, I get excited

Happy Valentines Day to lovers old and young

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Hessel) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 17:22:00 +0000

WARNING: If you are my personal trainer or know my personal, please do not continue reading. Seriously, stop it. You will not like what you will find.

------

It's kind of wonderful being a wedding photographer for a lot of reasons, but one thing I really adore is being able to witness the inevitable excited that beams from two people as they become husband and wife. It's the beginning of an adventure; the start of something new. Nearly every time I photograph a happy couple recessing back down the aisle, I can totally remember what that felt like when Jon and I strode hand in hand out of the church and into the rest of our lives.

The first few weeks as a married couple are wonderful... the gifts, the honeymoon, the continual congratulations... it's all such a rush and I so wish I could go back and relive June 2004 all over again. It was really a great month.

But time moves on and things change. When Jon and I first got married, we used to eat like crazy together. And I do mean crazy. Our two staples from the grocery store were nacho cheese filled soft pretzels and bakery-fresh miniature chocolate chip cookie and icing sandwiches. Now, our metabolisms have more than caught up with us and our 14 month-old keeps us from getting to the gym as much as we used to, so gone are the days of fattening indulgences and in their place we instead purchase non-fat greet yogart and spinach. I'm still trying to convince myself that "it doesn't taste as good as thin looks" every time I see a cookie, but my hearts breaks every time I pass by my favorite delectable treats.

Last night, Jon and I had the rare chance to escape our hectic lives and steal away to dinner and movie together. We chose wisely at the restaurant (we were both quite surprised at our healthy selections), and then headed to our favorite AMC to see "Valentine's Day." As the movie began, scenes featuring young couples in love at the beginning of their relationship filled the screen, and it made me remember how exciting and responsibility-free our relationship was in the beginning. And I kinda missed that. Don't get me wrong, I love Jon and he continually gives me more reason to love him, but that beginning phase.... you just can't get that back. There's only one beginning of a story...

After the film ended, I couldn't stop thinking about cookies, so we headed off to the nearest cookie kiosk, even though I had sworn off cookies just earlier this month. Much to my dismay, they were closed. "I guess it wasn't meant to be," I said a little too dramatically as we walked away from the barren cookie oasis. We got in the car and headed home, but for some reason, Jon took a wrong turn. Before I could ask what was going on, I had it figured out. He was going to get me cookies :).

We pulled into the parking lot of the grocery store that was located just a block away from our first apartment, and we headed inside, both of us salivating at the thought of our treasured chocolate chip cookie and icing sandwiches. When we got back to the bakery, we scoured the shelves like ravenous scavengers looking for our prize. But alas, we couldn't find them. It didn't even look like they were out... it was more like the bakery didn't even make them anymore.

Sadness seemed to drop into the grocery store, almost like a dark cloud had settled into every aisle. Ok, well, maybe I'm being a smidge dramatic again... no one else in the store seemed to share my feelings of torment, but I was certainly disappointed to say the least. Jon grabbed a container of miniature cookies, though, and didn't seem sad at all. Then he grabbed my hand and we walked quickly to the icing aisle. We were going to make our own.

So when we got home, we put on the Opening Ceremonies that we had recorded on the dvr, and opened this

And these

And what ensued was a heavenly creation that can only be described as a siren to the taste buds.

And as Jon and I sat there together, making more delicious cookie sandwiches than I can count, I realized that these tasted better -nay, MUCH better- than the cookie sandwiches we used to buy when we were first married. We'll probably never be able to find those cookies again anyway, but it's ok because what we made was a whole lot better anyway.

And you know, while I can never go back to the very beginning of our relationship, that's really ok with me, because what we have now is a whole lot better anyway, too. And I'd never trade our healthy shopping trips and distracted workouts for all the cheese pretzels in the world. Really, every day gets better and the ability to soak it in and see the beauty in the now... that's where the excitement really lies.

Happy Valentines Day, to lovers old and young.

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Hessel) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:07:00 +0000

Engagement shoots are my some of my very favorite sessions to photograph. EVER. It's such a great opportunity for me to get to know my clients a little bit better and to see how they interact together in front of the camera. I always try to encourage my clients to pick a location that's meaningful to them because I think that makes the resulting photos just that much more meaningful. Kate and Ben picked a perfect spot for their engagement photos... City Garden. It's not only a great urban landscape, but it's also the location that Ben proposed :).

Love laughter :).

And this is where their story began... right in the middle of the triangle. I've been to the City Garden a dozen times, and I've never even really noticed the triangle, but I LOVE it!

Love these next two bw's.

What is that golden orb I see? I used to know what it was called, but I haven't seen it in so very long...

Thanks for braving the cold with me, Kate and Ben! Can't wait for your wedding in March!

Faux Hawk

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Hessel) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:08:00 +0000

In case you've wondered what my favorite little guy has been up to, here he is in all his cuteness:

Yeah, I know, he's pretty cute in that hat. What you don't know, though, is that he HAD to wear that hat... not because it was too cold outside, but because THIS was underneath:

He wasn't just having a bad hair day... this is his every-hair-day. It was getting long and out of control and kind of old man-ish, so we had to do something about it. We took him to this super-cute place called Snip-Its and it was on.

They even put on a cute movie to distract him while he was getting his trim

I think he kinda liked the trimmers

And a style I just adore

Pretty sure he digs it too

Clayton and Kinsey :: Finally

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Hessel) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0000

I don't even know how I can possibly sum up the story of the people in this shoot. It feels like I've been waiting 5 years to take these photos... well, because I have. Let me explain...

Clayton and Kinsey both attended the University where my husband and I worked (Jon still works there, but not me). We knew Clayton and Kinsey in so many capacities... they both were undergrad students, then student workers, then part-time employees, then graduates, then full-time employees. In the middle of all that, though, they were Resident Assistants and worked really closely with my Jon. From the start, Clayton and Kinsey were really good friends and their banter was so familiar and easy and just so.... right.

Clayton would make a silly joke... Kinsey would call him Clay David... we would all watch, wondering when one of them would make the first move. "We're just friends," would be the response when they were asked about each other. I hated hearing that because it was so painfully obvious to me that were, without a doubt, made for each other. I wanted to hold a pillow over my face and scream into it every time I saw them. Ah, the suspense.

I think I was especially annoying to Clayton ... I was always trying to get information out of him and telling him to just ask her out, dang it. He was taking it slow, though... much to my watchful chagrin.

During the course of their time at the University, Clayton and Kinsey started dating. "Finally!" I thought to myself. But it was weird. Not to me, of course... I could see that they were destined to be together forever. What can I say, I have a gift. But it was weird, because it wasn't the right time. So their short stint as a couple ended. I was super bummed. My pillow screaming resumed.

In typical annoying fashion, though, I kept my finger on the pulse of their friendship (through my bff facebook, of course), and wondered if anything would happen between the two of them. And then, a few years after they graduate and when Clayton was on the brink of moving across the country, Clayton called and asked if he could stop by our place to talk.

I waited on pins and needles.

After what seemed like an eternity of small talk, he said it:
"I like Kinsey. I'm gonna talk to her."

Clayton seemed so mature in that moment... a far cry from the 17-year-old we had first met so many years ago... and I knew that he knew she was the one. It had always been her, and now the time was right.

And now they're getting married! It's been such a huge honor for me to witness their story unfold through the course of time. And now, I'll have the distinct privilege of documenting the culmination of something I've been looking forward to for years.

Just a few photos we took on a frigid winter's day. Actually, I think frigid may be putting it a bit lightly... I've NEVER been that cold before on a shoot. But it was worth it :). As always, more on facebook.

something about this photo looks kinda out of place....

Love this one of them. They're gonna be together forever.

I just can't believe they're getting married!!! So excited beyond belief!

Clayton is pretty excited too

Can't wait till July!

I'm terrible at waiting

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Hessel) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:06:00 +0000

Ugh. I hate waiting.

I'm terrible at it.

I remember one time when we were in Chicago with some friends, we were looking for a good restaurant for dinner on a Saturday night and had just a terrible time finding something. The first place we stopped was way over-priced for our walking attire, so we left just after looking over the menu posted outside the entrance. The second place we stopped featured all outdoor seating by the river... and a big fat rat who liked to dine on the leftovers. We were out of there before we could say "Ratatouille." Knowing that the Grande Luxe on Michigan Ave would for sure be delicious, we decided to head there. A friend had told us they had amazing beignets and dang it, I was going to have one and it was going to be delightful. Well actually... I didn't really know what a beignet was at that point, but I WAS going to find out. I heard it was like a donut but more fattening and better tasting and more expensive. That's my kind of food right there.

The wait at the Grande Luxe was about an hour. Did I mention I hate waiting?

We decided to just stick it out so we could finally get some food (two of us were pregnant at the time and waiting for food was like torture), but after an hour passed... and then an hour and a half... and then almost two hours... my patience had run very thin. Ok, who am I kidding... I didn't have any patience to begin with. I was so hungry that I started eating them lemon in my water. It was gross. I didn't care.

When we finally got a table, I immediately turned to the dessert section of the mene. And then I found the beignets. Score. Then I noticed they took 45 minutes to cook. Boo.

By the time we FINALLY got our food after waiting for honestly an unreasonable amount of time, it was well after 10pm. I didn't care about waiting for those beignets anymore. I just wanted to go back to our hotel and prop my swollen feet up and sleep. So I asked for them to be boxed up so I could take them with me.

We walked across the street to our hotel and I think I still had a scowl on my face. I told you I was terrible at waiting.

After we switched on the television, I settled into bed and started to drift off to sleep. And then I thought about the beignets. "I wonder if they're still warm," I pondered as I sat up and made my way toward the sweet smelling box of delights. "It's late, but maybe I'll just eat one right now. I did wait all that time. I think I deserve a reward."

A few moments passed and then I gave in. Just one beignet. And then one beignet turned into two. And then three. And then almost the whole order (and not surprisingly, I gained double the amount of pounds I should have during the course of the pregnancy.). Jon looked at me disapprovingly as I devoured the tasty french treats. I wouldn't look him straight in the eye because I just couldn't. I didn't want to take my gaze off my prize. Those beignets were incredible!! Everything about them delighted my palette and warmed my soul. If I had had a guitar with me that night, I would have written a sonnet about them at set it to music... and I don't even play the guitar. My scowl melted into a smile almost immediately and the world seemed like it suddenly became a better place. Every hurried bite was more delicious than the next.

Even though my cheeks were puffy because I was eating so fast, I found the strength to look over at Jon and say, "This was SO worth it."

And on a related note, I wanted to let you in on a little behind the scenes info... I've been working on designing a new blog this winter with bigger images, easier navigation, and a couple of cool features that I really just adore. I told quite a few people about this, and I had planned to launch the blog on January 1, but, as you can clearly see, that didn't happen.

The design work for the blog is pretty much complete -and has been since December- but as I was evaluating my business goals for 2010, I kept circling back to the idea of developing better branding, and creating a clearer image of who I am and what I love.

So that's what I'm doing right now. I'm overhauling everything with the help of a fantastic creative team, and to encourage a cohesive design, I'm going to wait to launch my new blog until the creative process is complete. I haven't been super consistent about blogging new images from wedding and portrait sessions because I wanted to fill my new blog with content from my amazing 2009 clients. But I hate waiting :). I'm going to start posting like a fiend now. Just watch out... I have a lot to say :).

Until then, my nearly-finished, shiny new blog with giant images will sit hidden in the land of internet code. But someday in the future -hopefully sooner than later- I'll be able to share it with you.

I'm terrible at waiting, but I know when my creative team has put the finishing touches in place, I'll let me eyes peruse my blog and then I'll look over at my husband and say "This was SO worth it."

And as if I weren't already salivating at the thought my precious beignet's, here's a peek of a bridal luncheon I shot in 2009. Watch for the entire wedding soon!

Take a look at those eggs. I must have some now!

have you ever seen French Toast that looked like this? I'm much too hungry to be looking at this right now...

All yummity goodness served up by Companion in the CWE.

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Hessel) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:22:00 +0000

You know those days where you feel like you need to be inspired and renewed and just plain alive again? I feel like that every so often, and I always find myself waiting for inspiration to come along. But it usually doesn't. And I think that's because sometimes you have to go looking for it. Finding inspiration isn't really a passive gesture.

This year, I've determined to chase after what makes me feel alive, and for photography, that means pursuing personal projects for the sake of inspiration. There's nothing that makes my artistic heart beat wildly as much as capturing a beautiful story with my camera.

But sometimes it's nice to try something a little different.

...more to come

I've waited my whole life for this

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Hessel) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 22:31:00 +0000

At the end of 2009, on a wonderfully wintery day, I was honored to be a part of Phillip and Rachel's wedding day. I had met Rachel sometime last year and immediately knew she was the real deal. She's wise beyond her years, and her commitment to her convictions is pretty amazing. When I met Phillip, it was evident he was a worthy match :). He's her one and only, and she is his.

Rachel's the type of girl who values heritage and tradition, and the details of her wedding were a testament to that. The dress Rachel wore belonged to her aunt. And her boots... love them!

Rachel finished getting ready using the mirror of an old travel bag that belongs to her mother.

As Rachel's mother was putting her pearls on her daughter, Rachel smiled and said, "It's my something borrowed." Her mom paused and said, "No, it's your something new." One of the best parts of my job is getting to document moments like that. Melts my heart.

This is Bailey, who I adore :). Bailey is getting married in just a few months and I could just image the excitement that was building as she stood by Rachel's side as her maid of honor,

Beautiful Rachel.

Phillip doing some last minute prep before meeting his bride

Phillip and Rachel chose to each other before their ceremony, which is almost an absolute must in December when the sun sets in the afternoon :). While I was with Phillip waiting for Rachel's grand entry, his excitement was palpable. He looked over at me and said, "You know that song Lost in the Moment? There's a line that says 'I've waited my whole life for this' and that's how I feel right now. I've waited my whole life for this moment and it's finally here." Seriously. It was one of the sweetest, most genuine things I've ever heard.

So when Phillip saw this

this was his reaction

pre-wedding prayers with the ladies and Rachel's parents

The beautiful ceremony at Covenant Presbyterian

Jon grabbed this shot right before the reception

I couldn't stop watching Rachel's mom throughout the evening. Every time she saw her husband, she lit up. Such a beautiful picture of love.

The first dance

And there's Rachel's mom and dad again... adorable and in love.

The mid-reception caffeine bar.

Well look at that... two of Kaden's favorite ladies :)

Congrats, Phillip and Rachel!

So, what ya been doin....

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Hessel) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:23:00 +0000

I woke up the other day to this text message:

"This is your blog. I'm feeling neglected."

I know, I know, I'm horrible blogger and terribly behind in sharing with you what I've been working on BUT... I do have a good reason :). I'm working a brand spanking new blog, with much bigger images, along with a whole new look for Lisa Hessel Photography. I'm so excited to share with you!

Until then, however, here's a few photos from a wedding I shot in Kansas City at the end of the year. Much more to come!

Brit and Brady :: Engaged!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Hessel) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:48:00 +0000

Brit is one of those brides who really, really understands weddings. I mean, she's on the cutting edge of trends in every genre, she loves all the details, and she has some really brilliant ideas. When we first met, I could tell right away that she was going to be a dream to work with and would no doubt have an incredible wedding. And then I found her blog. Known to her readers as the Landlocked Bride, Brit regularly provides excellent inspiration and ideas for brides-to-be. Her blog has a wealth of information for all things wedding, and I read it quite regularly :). You should check her out. No really, check it out. Now. Go. You'll be inspired fo sho.

If their engagement photos are any indication of the loveliness that will be their wedding day, I think we're all in for a treat:).

We started the day off underneath a blanket of clouds in downtown St. Charles. The weatherman promised the clouds would break, but it wasn't looking likely. Luckily, Brit's dog Katie didn't seem to mind

Brit told me that saying "Christmas Tree" would perk Katie right up. She was right :).

I love this series. Happy couple walking, walking... and little boy in red hoodie darts into the frame.

After a quick outfit change, we headed over to Creve Coeur Park. And as we drove, it looked like the weatherman might know what he was talking about...

And then the golden sun peeked out from behind the clouds, just in the nick of time.

How fabulous are these balloons? I love when clients take initiative and incorporate beautiful, meaningful, or downright fun things into their session.

Fabulous Brit.

Gorgeous soft light+a beautiful couple+love=this lovely

How cute is Brit's ruffled blouse? I love love love it.

I think Brit and Brady look so classic... they look like they could be in an ad for J. Crew. Don't you agree?

Brit and Brady, I can't wait to see what you cook up for your wedding :).

As always, more on facebook.

Ellen and Jay :: a Beautiful Wedding, Pt. 2

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Hessel) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:54:00 +0000

And now more photos from Ellen and Jay's lovely wedding:

Ellen and Jay met while studying at Fontbonne University. It was important to them that we incorporate Fontbonne into their wedding photos, which I think was a truly splendid idea :). So we took a stop by the lobby where they first met for a few quick images.

I asked Ellen and Jay what they typically did in the lobby while they were students, and they motioned me over to the computer stations. I imagine that when they flirted in the lobby those years ago, they may have been dressed less formally ;).

And then the bridal party took a quick stop by Chuy's in the CWE for a little mid-day salsa and margaritas. Props to Ellen for planning her day out so well. Brides, if you have quite a bit of time in your schedule between the ceremony and reception, scheduling something fun for your wedding party to do together is always a hit. It gives you time to relax with your bestest of friends before mingling with the entire guest list, as well as providing giving you another opportunity to show off how fab you look in your dress :).

After our quick stop at chuy's, we headed out for some more photos. First up, the lovely ladies

The bridesmaids wore the most fab shoes. I need a pair of these for myself.

And the gents

Photographing a bride and groom together is my absolutely favorite part of the day.

This makes me smile

and then my smile gets a little bigger when I see this

The beautiful bride. Breathtaking.

And the handsome groom

And then it was off to the reception. During the cocktail hour, Jay and Ellen had the chance to see their evening decor before the guests had entered. Stephanie Burke of Fete Stl (left) did an absolutely amazing job designing the event. I mean seriously, it was beautiful.

This cake was so beautiful, I'm not sure how anyone could eat it. Oh, who am I kidding... I'd eat cake no matter what it looks like....

Ellen's mom and sister looking on during the father/daughter dance

Jay and his mom took dancing lessons for the mother/son dance and it was so adorable that it made me get a little teary.

A good friend of Ellen and Jay's couldn't attend the wedding because he is teaching English in southeast Asia, so he skyped in during the middle of the party.

He even got a chance to be with everyone out on the dance floor

And speaking of dancing, the floor was packed all night... because all of Ellen and Jay's friends and family know how to have a good time AND because Boogie Chyld was the band that evening. I think they may just be the very best band I've ever heard. For real.

It was truly my pleasure to be a part of this lovely day. I have the best job :)

Much more on facebook.

Ellen and Jay :: a Beautiful Wedding, Pt. 1

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Hessel) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 03:02:00 +0000

From the moment I arrived, I felt like I was part of the party. It was such a beautiful day -pretty much perfect in terms of a wedding day- which was perfectly complimented by a perfectly lovely couple. I just can't say enough good things about Ellen and Jay. In fact, my camera and I loved their wedding day so much that I'm going to have to split up their post into two parts. Too much loveliness for one post :).

I shot this at the beginning of the day and knew it was going to be lovely. "No one else comes close." Melt my heart.

Lovely invitations by the ever fab Rachel.

Adorable flower girls make me smile. And I'm betting they made you smile too.

Some pretty deets

Nothing beats a bride getting ready.

Ellen, you're amazing

cuteness overload

The back of Ellen's dress is ca-razy awesome.

The wedding party got ready at the Moonrise Hotel in The Loop. I had heard so much about this hotel and I was so excited to see it from the inside. Eclectic, mod, and swanky.

Meanwhile......

Get ready for it again... adorable flower girls on the move.

Jon captured this moment. Makes me remember what it felt like to walk down the aisle.

I love the kiss that ends in a huge, relieved, joyful hug.

Married!

more tomorrow :).

Really really ridiculously good looking...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Hessel) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:30:00 +0000

In the midst of all the rain and cold and unpleasant climate we experienced this October, there were just a few days that were nothing short of lovely. And the day I shot Tiffany and Ryan's engagement session was just one of those days. The clouds were thick and heavy during the morning and early afternoon, but as the time for their shoot drew nearer, the sun broke through and gave us warm, soft light, which always makes this photographer smile:).

Tiffany and Ryan are really really ridiculously good looking, and I have so many favorites, so brace yourselves...

See what I mean? Really really ridiculously good looking. Definitely one of my faves.

Bella came along for a few shots. I love well-behaved dogs who sit and stay when you tell them to sit and stay. Maybe Bella needs to hang out with my dog Stella for a few days so she can teach Stella how to not be insane...

love this

I love how small the world is.... Tiffany and I went to the same college and Ryan and my husband Jon went to the same high school.

Tiffany, you are going to be one gorgeous bride.

two of my faves right here

Ah, fall colors in the midwest.....

Another favorite.

And the winner is....

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Hessel) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:05:00 +0000

And the winner is.... chosen completely at random....

Ellen!

Thanks for playing :). More contests to come soon!

thankful? then do something.

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Hessel) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:47:00 +0000

I love Thanksgiving. I mean, who doesn't? Turkey, family, football, pumpkin spice lattes.... it's pretty much a holiday WIN. I love to just stuff myself silly with food and then spend way too long on the couch, watching tv, napping, chatting, or all of the above. It's like a little slice of heaven...

Every year on Thanksgiving day, I've made a habit of taking a few quiet moments to myself and reflecting upon my blessings. With each passing year there are so many more things to be thankful for, and mentally noting those things is quite cathartic for me, as I'm sure it is for many of you. Nearly every pumpkin spice latte I've indulged in has reminded me that Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, and as a result, my thoughts have turned to thankfulness and what it really means to be thankful.

While recognizing your blessings is a huge step toward true thankfulness, it's only one piece of the equation. It seems to me that action is required in most cases. I mean, if you're truly thankful for something, shouldn't your actions show it? Take the Thanksgiving Day cook, for instance. I love me some good food, and you know I always have my fill on Thanksgiving day. When I take my moment of thanksgiving and think about how thankful I am for the good food, perhaps that will motivate me to verbalize my thanks. Or better yet, I may show my thanks by doing the dishes and letting the cook take a rest. If I only think about how thankful I am for the food, maybe I haven't really become thankful. Maybe I'm just a little lazy.

I've been thinking about that a lot lately. I mean, I keep saying that I'm thankful for things, but many times you wouldn't know it by my actions. In fact, sometimes my actions and attitudes seem to indicate a root of ungratefulness for the very things for which I say I am thankful. You know what I mean? Have you every felt that way?

So this year, I'm making a conscious effort to do things a little differently. Sure, I will still have my quiet time of deep reflection on my blessings and hopefully I'll verbalize where verbalization is appropriate. But instead of letting it end there, I want to have a true heart of gratefulness that motivates me to action. So instead of just telling my husband Jon that I'm grateful for him, maybe I'll make sure he changes a few less dirty diapers and has a few more moments of relaxation... not because it's my job to change diapers, but because I'm truly thankful he always helps with those diapers and I want him to know how much I appreciate him. And maybe instead of just thinking about how nice a person she is, maybe I'll send an old fashioned letter to the amazingly talented photographer who once took me to lunch and inspired me more than she could ever know by just chatting with me about photography. The more I think about it, the more things I want to do to show so many people in my life how grateful I am for them.

One of the things that I'm so thankful for this year is you. Yes, you. And I want to show it. I feel so honored that you take the time to read what I've written, comment on my notes, or even chat with me in person about what you've read. It means the world to me, without a doubt. Your encouragement has oftentimes kept me going when I lack the strength to do so. So, as a small token of my appreciation, I'm holding a little contest (I used to do these all the time in the beginning and I'm not sure why I stopped!). All you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post and fill in the blanks to this statement:

I am truly thankful for ___________ and I'm going to show it by ______________.

I'll choose a winner at random (not based on content... I hardly think I could be non-biased if I chose based on content since I know so many of you personally:) who will receive a $50 iTunes gift card. The contest will end at midnight on Thanksgiving Day and the winner will be announced on the following Friday.

I truly wish you the most wonderful of Thanksgivings. Enjoy your loved ones (and your dinner) to the fullest. Bless and be blessed. Experience true thanksgiving.