Noah the National History Bee Contender

Today I would like to introduce you to Noah. 

This past summer I had the chance to photograph him and his awesome family while on vacation at our favorite camping spot, Tablerock Lake.  Some things I learned about Noah in the short amount of time I spent photographing him:  1.  He doesn't like getting his picture taken.  2.  He is quite the jokester.  3.  (And ladies listen up)  He is a ladies man.

Let's just say he really didn't want me to photograph him and he really didn't want me to photograph him by himself.  So what happens when that goes on during a shoot?  I pull out the jokes and start talking to him and just do my thing.  Well, in the course of all this, I did my think and decided I needed to make him laugh and made the comment that I was gonna push him down the hill and we were gonna go rolling and I bet at the end he would be laughing.  The next thing that happened was one of the most hillarious but embarassing things a young man of his age has ever said to me -- "I think I would like that."   Myself along with his mom and dad, Lori and Denny laughed quite hard but the best thing is I got my sweet shot of Noah SMILING.  Good story.  :)

Here is the exciting thing about Noah I found out today:  Noah and another Piper Middle School student, Jacob Sharp are heading to Wichita today to compete in the National History Bee.  They competed against over 1000 kids in the opening test round and made the 10th percentile in their region. This covers all US and world history.  This is so awesome and such an accomplishment!  I wish them both the best of luck today!  You two have made Piper proud!!!!

Vintage Snow Senior Session

You always get an idea in your head of how things are going to be when shooting and you write down your ideas and you have a perfect location and then well things don't go as intended.  I have wanted to do my idea of a snow shoot for over a year now and it just hadn't snowed enough in Kansas City and if it did snow it was way to cold for me to take my plan into action.  Well yesterday we were getting "SNOWMAGEDDON" (of which I am quite certain the people on the east coast were laughing at us)  and my wheels started turning BUT I had a lot of obstacles in my way.

1.  Snow started falling at 8 a.m.  When it came it was thunder snow and not really safe to travel in.
2.  It was quite darn cold out.
3.  My beautiful model (my daughter) looked outside and then looked at me like I had four heads when asking her to go ahead with my plan.

Luckily Kylie is one of those teenagers that kind of just go with the flow so it wasn't too hard to get her on board.  Obstacle 3 out of the way.

Now obstacle 2 was a little different.  I knew I wanted her in something really big of which I hadn't really made yet because in my head I had this Sue Bryce (if you don't know who she is, in short description: a beautiful and inspirational photography mentor of mine) big tulle dress in my head.  That wasn't going to happen because of obstacle 1 and because you can't go outside in barely nothing because of the windchill.  So, after playing beauty salon and getting her hair how I wanted it, I went to work on her dress.   In a split second everything changed because I went to my coat closet remembering that at the beginning of summer I was at an antique store and saw this vintage lace dress of which everybody with me thought I was crazy.  I thought it had so much potential so I bought it.  When I pulled it out and paired it with Kylie's blonde hair and most of all her bright blue eyes it was like church choir music played out loud!  We still had the problem of 20 mile an hour winds and blowing snow, but I knew if I didn't do it it might now happen.  You see in my head there is snowflakes falling and most importantly a gloomier look.  Well, Kylie, God bless her was just willing to go for it and go for it until she couldn't anymore.  Obstacle 2 ninja kicked in the face!

Obstacle 1.  I wasn't going anywhere so it was going to have to be in my yard.  You made due with what you got.  Obstacle 1 diverted but with a sad face.

IT WAS COLD.  IT WAS WINDY.  IT WAS ALL OF LESS THAN TEN MINUTES TOTAL SHOOTING TIME.  BUT!  I love them.  I love them.  I love them.  I know she is my daughter, but it turned out just perfect for me.

I am woman. Hear me roar.

Today, I feel the need to talk about a part of my photography that causes quite a stir.  This is also a part of my photography that I absolutely love.  With that being said, there are so many misconceptions about what exactly it is.  I have clients that are so so proud of their images and have actually cried when they saw their images.  Does this sound like something that is wrong or personal or sleezy?  People have a predetermined idea of what glamour or boudoir looks like and it just isn't the same these days.  It is a wonderful area of photography that doesn't deserve the stigma of what it has.

If you follow me on facebook or have looked at my website, I have a section called "be{YOU}tiful".

What is be{YOU}tiful?

be{YOU}tiful is............. what they see 

they are a busy mom.  they are kind, funny and they worry about their weight.

they used to feel pretty, they criticize their wrinkles, they are passionate, they are humble, 

loving and they are courageous.  they want to always
remember what deep down they see in themselves.

be{YOU}tiful is.............what I see

they are radiant.  they are charming.

they are breathtaking.  they are intoxicating.

they are passionate when they talk about their kids.  

they sparkle when they laugh.

I believe that we as women need to celebrate who we are.  It has been hard for me to get to this point in my life where I realize that it’s okay to just be me.  I truly feel that every woman big or small, in their 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and on should know that they are be{YOU}tiful.  Every woman in their life deserves to feel special and deserves a portrait of themselves.

So next time you see a portrait of a be{YOU}tiful lady come across your feed on facebook, or on your instagram, twitter or on a photographer's website, tell them they are beautiful.   Don't be a bully and call them inappropriate names.   Those women weren't there to spread their legs and do a shoot to be in the next edition of Playboy.  They did it because they wanted to celebrate who they are.  They wanted to feel be{YOU}tiful for themselves as well as their husbands or finances or loved one.  They did it because they are proud of being a be{YOU}tiful woman.  

Senior Special!!

Hey Seniors!!  I have a special opportunity for you if you book a session in September or October!!  Every year I have seniors come and for the most part their mammas accommodate them to watch, to smile and to remember this very special time in a senior's life.  I have my own senior this year and I also will be doing this but I want every client of mine to have this too.  So every senior session booked in September and October gets a mini session with their moms.  Mom's are special you see.  They are your cheerleaders, they are your friends, they are your biggest fans.  You both should celebrate that.  Moms and daughters or sons and their mammas, either way when together it will be a beautiful special memory you will always have. 

Call or email the studio at 913.638.0225 //  nicole@nicolereneephotography.com

Carnival Mini Recap!!!

Woot woot!  The carnival came and went and boy did we have fun!!!  My clients and I met at the Wyandotte County Fair and the Leavenworth County Fair.  I even made a friend, Marlon, who ran the Fun House at the Wyandotte County Fair.  He was a very sweet man who has five children and travels all the way from Memphis, Tennessee.  He was so gracious to accommodate everyone in the "Grease" barrell.  So here is a recap of a two week stint at the fair.  I can't wait to see you all next year!!

2013 Senior Time!!!

I can't believe that the time has come for 2013 seniors to be in getting their senior pictures taken.  So far, I have had to much fun with all my beauties!! Spots are filling quickly for fall so email the studio to schedule your appointment and to find out about different promotions and specials!!  nicole@nicolereneephotography.com

Photography Idol

Having yourself critiqued among peers is a very scary thing.  But I also believe that in order to allow myself to grow as a photographer it is something that must be done.  Oh, and there may or may not have been some swanky prizes for the winner of this contest.  So I decided to enter the Photographer Idol contest with the  Chic Critique Forum The next step in deciding to do this is what image would I choose?  I have so many favorites!  So I asked for help from my oldest daughter with the very simple question, "If you have to choose an image of mine that just speaks to you, which one would you choose?"  Well it didn't take her but a second to answer me and I agree.  I fell in love with this image the minute I set it up.  I didn't need to even look in my camera to see what it spoke to me.  Wish me luck.