cg photog blog

WEDDING - CHRIS AND KATIE

crystal — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:50:47 +0000

A couple of weeks ago I had the honor of photographing Chris and Katie's sweet and intimate wedding day. It was special to be there with their closest family members and friends to see them exchange their vows. The adorable pair married in Katie's parents' beautiful backyard on a very chilly October day. Steaming cups of hot cider and snuggly blankets in the couple's wedding colors were available to the guests to keep them warm throughout the night. It was simply a perfect wedding! Here are a few favorites from the day! Special thanks to my dear friend and wonderful second photographer Misty for joining me!

Katie's dress was perfect for her!

And I loved her shoes that she customized for the wedding! So cute! I love this shot Misty got against the yellow!

Just a simple and beautiful shot of Katie!

I loved Katie's bouquet, especially the green orchids.

A wonderful first look series. Chris was so sweet when he saw her for the first time that day!

Katie, you are too cute for words!

Katie is a hardcore Hog fan! Just before the ceremony started I went to grab my hat and scarf (yes, it was that chilly!) out of one of the back rooms of the house, and I was surprised to find these two sitting on the floor yelling at the small television! I had to grab a few photos....and then I joined them! :) Obviously, this shot was captured during a good moment!! Sadly, the Hogs still lost to the Gators that day... :(

I love this glance I captured just before her dad gave her away.

Chris and Katie wanted a photo of all of the wedding guests together, so just after the ceremony we took a few minutes to get that photo for them!

CLICK HERE to see more of their wedding in their slideshow!

Chris and Katie, thank you so much for allowing me to share your day with you! I have enjoyed working with you two so much over the last few months! I hope you had a wonderful time in Hawaii!!!

~ Crystal

WEDDING - ROBBIE AND LEAH BY SARAH

crystal — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:40:46 +0000

I'm so excited to share these images!! Robbie & Leah had such a beautiful wedding! These two have such an amazing love for each other totally and completely based in God. It was wonderful to see! I have known Leah's father and younger sister for a long time and have always known that their family shares a special bond. It was such a blessing to be able to share their special day with them! I could really ramble on and on about how wonderful it has been to work with Leah (who is an amazingly strong, gorgeous Christian woman!) and Robbie (who is obviously completely head over heels in love with his woman!) and what an awesome day it was....but I won't. Not too much anyways! ;)

Here are a few detail shots to start....

KILLER shoes. And by that I mean I would KILL myself wearing them!! :) But Leah totally rocked them!

This little detail was my favorite part of Leah's dress! I'm not sure what it was but I just loved the '20's feel to the teardrop beadwork...

I have to thank the uber fantabulous Misty Johnson for grabbing this amazing image!! You rock Misty!

One of the many, MANY reasons I love a caged veil!!

Oh look, here's another. :) I just love the movement in this one!

And total props to the amaaaazzing Tanarah for making such a beautiful, ethereal, wildflower inspired bouquet! She never fails to amaze!

So sweet!

FEAR THE TUSK!!!!

Tanarah didn't let me down at the reception either! Each and every table was different!

If this was the only dancing shot I had gotten, I would be happy. Ok, thrilled. I love beautiful mishaps!

Click HERE to view more images from their wedding day!! Congratulations to a wonderful couple! :)

-Sarah

BRIDALS - LEAH BY SARAH

crystal — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:30:24 +0000

OH. MY. GOSH. Leah is amaaaaaazzing!! I had a fantabulous time working with a stunning bride and I have been absolutely itching to share these images! This was such a great shoot. Leah had the foresight to bring a chair, different hair pieces, a mirror, ideas on different ways to wear her hair, and even ferns!! Uh, that makes a photog's dream. :) I will go more into depth about how fabulous she is when I am able to get her wedding post up but I just can't wait any longer to show these off!

Here are two words that kept popping into my head during this shoot: ETHEREAL and STRIKING.

I have to give complete props to the unbelievable Tanarah for creating such a beautiful bouquet! She always does amazing work!

AAHHHHHH!!!! MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE!!!!! SHE IS SO GORGEOUS!!!!!!! I JUST CAN'T GET OVER THIS IMAGE!!!!!!!! Oh geez, I'm drooling again........

I thought this was the perfect captured moment!

Leah has such a great laugh! AND great shoes!!

The barn cat decided to jump in for a few shots!

Isn't this light amazing?!?

Ok. I'm running out of words.....oh here's one! Breathtaking.

I hope I have used enough adjectives to describe how awesomely amazing this shoot was!! :) I hope you guys love them as much as I do!

- Sarah

ENGAGEMENTS - SHAWN AND RAGAN BY SARAH

crystal — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:15:07 +0000

I am totally in love with this couple!! They are too much fun! I really didn't want our session to end because I was having so much fun just talking to these two. They have such an awesome relationship! I absolutely cannot wait to shoot their wedding in February! Oh, and I'm SO ready to have Ragan's bridal session later this month! I know she's going to rock it for me :)

I love a couple who's up for some fun shots!

But can also rock the sweet ones too ;)

I love this one!

TOO cute!

This is definitely a favorite! :)

I just looooove the feel of this one! And yes, that is the moon. Thank you 5DMII!

You two were absolutely fabulous to work with and I can't wait until your wedding day!!

- Sarah

ENGAGEMENTS - JARROD AND ASHLEY BY SARAH

crystal — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 01:34:53 +0000

I just couldn't wait to share more of these awesome engagements!! These two were such an AWESOME couple to work with! They had so many of their own ideas coming into the shoot and they were up for absolutely anything I could throw at them, what more could a photographer ask for?! They wanted to make sure they had some really unique images and I think we accomplished that goal :)

There's something that a lot of you may not know about me, and that's that I am an old soul! I absolutely love all things vintage! My favorite actors are Audrey Hepburn & Cary Grant and one of my favorite singers is Dean Martin. I collect images of 1940s pin-up girls. I used to help my dad rebuild antique British cars, you can't beat British automobile design ;) While I was in art school I actually did quite a few paintings on antique British car hoods. Sometimes I wonder if I was born in the wrong era! So when Jarrod told me that they had an antique restored Stinson that they wanted to incorporate into their pictures I was BEYOND thrilled. And then when Ashley told me that were wanting a vintage vibe for the shoot, I was pretty much in heaven. :)

Well now that I've rambled on and on let's jump into the pictures shall we? :)

I don't know what it is about this one but I just love it! I think it's my modern/edgy style coming through...

Purple is Ashley's & my favorite color so we just had to incorporate this door!

CANNOT EVEN EXPRESS HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS IMAGE.

Too cute ;)

I seriously feel like I could have been photographing Humphrey Bogart & Katherine Hepburn. You guys ROCKED the '40s vibe for me!!

To grab a lot of these images I was in some pretty crazy positions! If you've ever seen me shoot, you know I pretty much lose my mind when I'm working :) I do just about everything but stand on my head to get the perfect angle! So next time you see me laying flat on my stomach, with my face in the grass, muttering to myself....keep in mind that I'm grabbing an image like this one!! :)

With such fabulous things to work with I just had to grab a shot of Jarrod! He's been so involved in everything & it's been fantastic having a groom so interested in the photography aspect!! (By the way, I'm actually standing on a ladder that Jarrod 'just thought I might need'....Thank you for thinking about this!!)

And finally, the many faces of Jarrod & Ashley...the goofballs. ;)

I can't tell you guys how much fun I had working with you two!! I'm in love with your images and I hope you guys are too!! THANK YOU for rocking it out for me!!

- Sarah

ENGAGEMENTS - JARROD AND ASHLEY SNEAK PEEK BY SARAH

crystal — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 04:33:01 +0000

"SHUT YOUR MOUTH!!!" That is exactly what I said to Jarrod & Ashley as I was rolling on the ground off my stomach on their airstrip to grab some amazing shots. Yes, airstrip. Plane included. :) I know they thought I was absolutely crazy but it was worth it! If you don't know this couple, you should!! They are tons of fun! We hardly stopped laughing long enough to grab some serious shots! But enough with the talking...Here are just a few pictures to hold these guys over until I can go through all of the fabulous ones we grabbed!

Love the '40s romantic feel...

SHUT YOUR MOUTH!!! Fan-FREAKIN-tastic!!

You two ROCK! I can't wait to show you more!!

- Sarah

WEDDING - JASON AND KELLY BY SARAH

crystal — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 01:59:08 +0000

Jason & Kelly have both been such a pleasure to work with! They have always given me complete creative freedom and have had great ideas of their own! I will miss my weekly email sessions with Kelly now that the wedding is over! :) The weather was not very cooperative but these two certainly made the most of it. They were both all smiles all day long. And they couldn't wait to get on the dance floor once the party started! Here are some of my favorites (which I had trouble narrowing down!!):

I love Kelly's 'something blue'!

This was such a touching moment during the ceremony!!

Some gorgeous reception details...

Both so suspicious!

I am IN LOVE with this ring shot!!!

Reel her in girls!!

Kelly sandwich!

Picture wars! I'm not sure why but this picture reminds me of me & Crystal.....

The happy couple...

And finally, a fitting tribute to the late great Michael Jackson....

And of course a special thanks to the always fabulous Misty Johnson for helping me shoot such a fun-filled wedding!

Click HERE to view more images from their wedding day!!

- Sarah

WEDDING - BRAD AND ANNA

crystal — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:35:18 +0000

I had the honor of shooting Brad & Anna's engagement session back in January but was unable to come along with Crystal for their wedding this July since I had one of my own that same day. But from what I've heard & seen, it was an amazing day!!! And I know Crystal was thrilled to finally welcome Anna to the family as her sister-in-law! Crystal has picked out her favorites for me to share with you guys, so without further ado....

Doesn't Anna make a beautiful bride??

Their first look...

Brad opening his gift...

And now onto what I hear was the main attraction at the reception...Brayson! :)

Hmm I wonder where Brayson gets that look from....

And finally, Crystal getting to dance with her man! ;)

Click HERE to view more images from their wedding day!!

- Sarah

WEDDING - CHAD AND BETH BY SARAH

crystal — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:05:40 +0000

I have had the most amazing time working with Chad & Beth!! They are such a fun couple, always up for anything I could throw at them! And I came to find out that their wedding party was the same way! It made for a day FULL of laughs :) The ceremony was a beautiful Catholic mass held at St. Joseph's in Conway with the reception at Centennial Valley. Anyway, I'm going to stop talking now because I know Beth is just dying to see the pictures!!! ;)

The girls helping Beth into her dress...

The hilarious wedding party!

Chad is an expert dipper...

While his best man is secretly a ninja....

We were able to take time to grab some shots of just Chad & Beth downtown and I am sooo glad we did! The wind LOVED Beth's veil!!

BAM. Oh yea.

The fabulous bouquet by Monica Griffin of Curly Willow Designs...

These two knew how to par-tay! Professional margarita machines? Yes please!

The super sweet first dance...

Then onto the party!

This is the very last image I grabbed and I LOVE IT! As I was walking away I turned around, they were giving each other a kiss, and I had to get a shot of his hands on her hips!

Click HERE to view more images from their wedding day!!

Beth & Chad, I wish you guys the very best in life and thank you thank you thank you for being such an awesome couple to work with!!

- Sarah

BRIDALS - ANNA

crystal — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:01:53 +0000

I am pleased to introduce you all to my new sister-in-law, Anna! As of last Saturday she is officially a part of our family, and we are so thrilled for her and Brad! I have been so anxious to share some of these bridals with you. I am in love with them, and Anna is just so stunning!! And, yes, while this post is for Anna.....it's REALLY for Brad too. You see, ever since I started the business and posting photos on my blog it seems like every time I would see Brad he would say to me, "Heeeeeey, Crystal! You gotta hook me up with that latest bride on your blog!! She's HOT!!" (Yes, Brad, I am calling you out! But I love you.) And I would have to retort jokingly, "BRAD! She's ENGAGED oooooor she's MARRIED! She's off limits!" LOL! Well, Brad, here you go! Here is Anna! And she is ALL YOURS!!!! :)

Classy and Sassy....

I really like this one a lot...

SO. FIERCE.

One of Anna's favorites....

I love these next few!!!

This one was in close runnings as one of my favorite from the day....

This one is the winner! I love it!! It's just so fun! And isn't Anna so darn cute?!

Love this one too! See - I have lots of favorites....

Love this angle. And I learned on this shoot that Anna does not have a BAD angle....anywhere! So not fair.

I hope you enjoyed these as much as I did! I am working on their wedding sneak peek and should have it posted on the blog soon!! Everyone have a great day!

~ Crystal