Zao Photography |Blog

Josiah+Blake=Married

ZaoPhoto — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:40:35 +0000

Ahh Blake. I’m tearing up as I even write this. You are a married woman. I look back on all the times we talked about our own weddings. Giggled over dreaming of our honeymoons and being married. And I begin to think how crazy it is that we are growed up

I was so honored and blessed to of been able to witness this wedding. This couple has such a evident love for each other. I think complete stranger could tell they have something special. I love how their ceremony was wrapped around Gods word and promises. He truly was invited into this wedding.

I also got a glimpse of how special a bond between Air Force brothers truly is. I wish I could hire this group of guys to come to every wedding and be the groomsmen. They were so helpful and sweet and always listening….. But yet they could get crazy when it was a good time to be! Two of them even thought to bring water to Blake and Josiah while we were waiting for family photos to start. How amazing is that?!?

I pray your life is just as sweet as you both dreamed it to be. You have waited such a long time for this. Remember all those lonely nights of being apart, being separated by distance, and saying goodbye all the time. Remember that and then remember how amazing it is to never feel that again!! Love you both.

Jerad+Danielle=Engaged

ZaoPhoto — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 19:36:13 +0000

Danielle used to play basketball with my older sister when they were in High school. We both loved her right away because she was TALL

Danielle has to be one of the sweetest brides I have ever worked with. The way she is so easy going and yet fun and enjoys the moment is really fun for me as a photographer. Not a whole lot can upset this couple it seems.

Even though their wedding is next week I really really wanted to work with them before their big day. And I can’t tell you both how much I appreciate you taking time for it. Can’t wait for next weekend!

Ryan+Lizzy=Married

ZaoPhoto — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 19:57:47 +0000

This couple was such a sweet blessing to me. Even though we may not be friends or know each other we have lots of mutual friends and it was so crazy how easy it was to shoot their wedding.

I really loved being able to be apart of your big day! And thank you SOOO much for letting me capture it. We both had such a great time!

Kamp=6months

ZaoPhoto — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 15:44:37 +0000

It was a pure joy to me to see how amazing this little guy was doing. I got to do his newborn (three month photos) so it was great to see how much he had changed.

He definitely wasn’t sure about the whole smiling thing. But after a bit we got a couple out of him. And then of course when his daddy started talking to him in his stroller he just smiled and laughed away. Little stinker!

David+Jessica=Part 1 engagement

ZaoPhoto — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 18:40:00 +0000

Its so much fun shooting family. These two definitely feel like family and in a way they are! David is my brother-in-law’s cousin and Jessica is actually a distant cousin of ours. It was really hilarious seeing how alike David and Jason are. They are more like brothers than cousins. The way David kept making faces or goofing off was like dealing with Jason

I love how easy to photograph these two are. You just kind of pose them and they go into being super adorable and cute. I am beyond excited to be shooting their wedding in September. I had suggested doing two small shoots so that we could for sure get some sun shots…. and then we are going to play around with sunset light and flash next time.

Alex+Darla=Married

ZaoPhoto — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 16:52:02 +0000

Seeing Alex and darla was a little weird for me. I knew darla from when my sister played basketball back in junior high with her. And then met Alex when Adrian and I started being “friends”. The first time I met Alex I think was when we went to see iron man 2. Right away I could tell Alex could make anyone feel at home. He knows how to listen to anyone. And darla has such a sweet spirit.

As many of you know Alex and darla always wanted a outdoor ceremony. And even though it was super super cold, windy, and thankfully no rain they still wanted that outdoor wedding. Which I completely understand! It’s so much more personal.

BUT while we were taking photos Alex slipped really fast off the sidewalk and hit his head on the brick road. It was one of the scariest things I’ve ever had happen as a photographer. Knowing how long these two had waited for their special day and then not knowing what was going to happen was very scary.

But as Alex kept saying when he didn’t remember anything…. GOD IS GOOD! And he has everything in control especially when it feels like it’s out of control. They were able to go through with the wedding and at the end of the day they were married!

There comes a point in most weddings where it feels like it’s so crazy that I get into this mode of ok. This day may not of gone like I pictured it. But I’m here to capture these memories! And that’s exactly what I got to do. Thank you both so much for asking me to be your photographer. I am glad we got to be apart of the day that Gods hand put you to together.

Alderman Family

ZaoPhoto — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 19:18:31 +0000

I got a text message on Friday from a past client asking if there was anyway I was available Sunday evening to do a family session. This amazing family is heading back to Africa where they are full time missionaries there.

I was so thrilled to get to work with this sweet family!!! I just love it when God lines up schedules and timelines so that these last minute sessions can be possible. They are leaving on Wednesday so I thought why not get it all edited up and to them before they go.

Here are some of my favorites!

Kaelin+Chelsea=Married

ZaoPhoto — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 16:13:58 +0000

For all my couples I require a engagement session. Even when they have already had one its really really helpful to have worked with the couple before the big day. (I’ll explain this in a photography FAQ post this week). BUT not always is that possible.

When I got a email from Chelsea saying their photographer was unable to photograph their wedding a month before…. I really just wanted to work with these two and it was such a God thing that my one Saturday in April and May that was available was their wedding day.

Thank you both so much for using me. I am super excited to share these photos with you!

TalleyAnn=2 years

ZaoPhoto — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:18:36 +0000

This little girl is the EASIEST girl to photograph. She giggles and laughs and smiles within seconds of asking her too. And she makes the most hilarious faces ever!!!

I am so excited to photograph miss TalleyAnn and her going to be baby sister later this year!!!! YAY for new siblings and amazing clients.

Oelke Family

ZaoPhoto — Tue, 28 May 2013 17:58:46 +0000

Oh how honored I am to be showing you guys these photos! I remember going to Phil and Debbie’s wedding when I was littler. And then I remember praying with my family that God would bless them with kids. And then praying for so long for little Lakin to get here…. and here she is in all her little chubby adorableness!

Thank you guys so much for allowing me to take your first family photos being a family of FIVE!!!!