Katie and Josh’s wedding was picture perfect just outside the Quad Cities at St. Anne’s in Long Grove. The surrounding soybean fields provided an interesting foreground texture.
The rose-red colored wood of the buildings in the “Pioneer Village” around the area complemented the romantic feel.
This silhouetted image came naturally with the setting sun – we’re sure their future holds great things!
With the entire wedding and reception taking place at Lake Ahquabi State Park in Indianola, IA this event was unique for a couple of reasons. For one, it was the first time we had shot at the lush green location, but more apparent perhaps was the extraordinary theme chosen by the couple. Everything was done up in a Renaissance type style, right down to the eye-catching attire of the bride and groom.
It was a good thing everyone was in warm clothing! By the end of the outdoor shoot, Stephen’s shoes were so badly sopping wet he had to get in the car for a number of minutes to warm up. Luckily, the light snow had just decided to quit.
Wade and Meredith’s personality came through wonderfully and we were happy to be able to document their special day. All the best!
Amy Carnahan recently decided to Giraffe the Dress, a photo opportunity we offer to newlywed brides that gives them the chance to kick back and have a little fun in their former wedding day duds. A lot of brides choose to take part in this free-flowing photo session prior to getting their dress cleaned once and for all. This time, we our bride to Fejervary Park in Davenport where she took full advantage of the blooming fall colors. The contrast between the reds, yellows and oranges of the leaves and Amy’s white gown (which she paired with some great calf-length boots) was fantastic. Amy and her groom Alex were married 3 weeks before (see our Weddings page) and she couldn’t wait to showcase her happiness in a more relaxed setting.
Babies change so much in their first year, many of our clients enjoy documenting the process with our Watch Me Grow panels. As part of our Baby Giraffe Club, your little one gets pictures taken at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months which are then incorporated into a wall panel display that is custom designed by us! Cecelia just turned 1 year old and we had tons of fun working with her and Mom Samantha.
Another beautiful fall wedding! Sarah and Kris were married amidst an outstanding backdrop of color at Cornerstone Baptist in Eldridge, Iowa.
First moments of their new life together, the happy couple passes by family and friends on their way to the reception.
Everyone looked great, and we loved the variety of shades chosen by the ladies. Mixing of colors and styles adds interest and lets your bridal party exhibit more personality.
That said, black and white can be especially romantic and works wonderfully for candid images. All the best to Kris and Sarah from Giraffe Photography!
Emotions ran high for Joe and Cheryl as they invited us in for their large, formal ceremony in Dubuque, Iowa.
Cheryl was classic with a gorgeous fall bouquet showing lots of contrast.
Photographer Elaine followed the couple to several outdoor locations prior to the ceremony, complementing the fall theme and colors. The reception was held at the new Grand Harbor Resort & Waterpark (also in Dubuque). It was the first time we’d shot at the facility – very impressive!
Enough said. We wish them well!
Tess kept it casual and sophisticated for her outdoor shoot.
Danielle was candid, flashing her fantastic fall smile.
Bride Amy looked on while the rain continued outside, but that was no matter…
Her groom, Alex, was waiting in the wings and guests were preparing to arrive for their wedding, held at St. Ambrose in Davenport. The location was special to the couple since Amy is employed by the college.
The reception at Abbey Station made it easy to capture the fun going on indoors, as there was plenty to celebrate!
Perfect smiles come easy, too! Thanks Alex and Amy, for letting us share your day – and an extended thank you to Amy, who came back to visit us a couple weeks later to “Trash the Dress” (photos to come soon).
It may have been a bit chilly the Saturday that Stephanie and Nick declared their love for each other, but everything certainly seemed to go just as planned with a slight rain stopping just in time for the ceremony.
We love it when couples share their passion for vintage autos with us, and whether the sun was shining or not Nick and Stephanie’s 1966 Chevy Nova sure caught our attention!
Held out of town at Hickory Hills Park in LaPorte City, Iowa, this quiet wedding destination offered a nice road trip for us as we stopped a couple times along the way to stretch our necks and admire the country setting.
The beautiful tranquility Stephanie and Nick found underneath the stars was just as inviting for this photo. Congrats, guys!
With the wedding and reception held at the Figge in Davenport, Kevin and Sarah had prime diggs for the ultimate celebration.
On our way!
Side by side in front of their family and friends, Kevin and Sarah had many great candid moments for us to capture.
Ok, so we almost couldn’t help dancing ourselves. This was one awesome party that we really could have shook our tails to, or what we have of one. Nevermind. Anyway, congratulations Kevin and Sarah on a fantastic day and a wonderful future. Hope we could help in creating some life-long memories!
Natasha and Daniel chose the ornate stone architecture of Rivermont Collegiate as the backdrop for their wedding.
A laid back style allowed everyone to have tons of fun, which made it easy for the couple to show off their contagious grins.
Natasha also showed us her mysterious side…
Coloring the day! We wish them all the best.
A wedding on the hill, Joe and Lindsey tied the knot at St. Piux’s in Rock Island amidst beautiful weather. Even the breakdown of the bus couldn’t diminish the high held spiritedness of the day. And since Lindsey happens to work for a car dealership she used her skills to attempt a diagnosis of the problem. Did anyone gift the bride and groom a set of tools by chance?
Problem solved! Time to get rolling, everyone!
None of it compared to the lovely ceremony that took place. Joe and Lindsey exchanged their vows under the light of the welcoming inside glow. There was no need to ask for smiles here!
The details were not left untouched either, right down to the intricacies of Lindsay’s dress. Congratulations to the couple as they celebrate their new life together!
Ellen and Tyler’s wedding offered plenty of unique photo opportunities, from the cake to some, shall we say “sweat-worthy” transportation. The pair are both preparing to become chefs, and as such their cake reflected their creativity following the concept of a work in progress. We try not to dig up too much dirt at the events we attend, but for a construction site this one looked pretty darn delicious!
Then, of course, there was a small issue with the trolley breaking down. Not to worry, there’s muscle for that!
All in all it was a great wedding, with the bride and groom going happily off into the sunset (once things were moving again!). We look forward to seeing and tasting some more tasty culinary creations now that Tyler and Ellen have officially combined their talents. Let us know when we can invite ourselves to dinner, guys! Fair warning: giraffe’s have weird preferences when it comes to our palates and pepper induces sneezing – which you probably don’t want to witness.
Two year Peter has been coming to Giraffe since he was 3 months old. I’ve watched him go from propping himself up, sitting up and even walking. But it doesn’t stop there. His mom brought him back for his second year portraits. I will admit, he was a bit more a handful this time around, but c’mon he’s two. It just take a lot of patience and persistance and the reward is beautiful portraits that tell a story of a kid just being a kid.
Peter at 3 Months…
