Archive for the ‘E sessions’ Category

What do I do with my hands? | Lisa Nikole

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010

I don’t know if I remember a time when I was on a shoot that I was not asked THAT question: “What do I do with my hands?”

As a photographer, it’s the last thing I’m thinking about. I look at background, foreground, lighting, shadows, positioning oh yes and then, those hands!

Until recently when I was photographed by my buddy James from JLS Studios did I even contemplate “where to do my hands go”?

I was in downtown Saint Louis at the amazing legal Graffiti Wall, getting set for a shot. There I was standing, leaning, moving left, move right, up, down and my hands…are just hanging there, what do I do with them? Ahhh, yes pockets, so I put them in my pockets and of course James tells me to take them out. So there they were hanging there. But, it did not matter, these were head shots and my hands could have been wrapped in a pretzel shape and no one would have seen.

So, to all my clients…I have to say I understand a bit more about the hands syndrome, but I have to tell you. My job is to make you look amazing, fabulous and off the wall hot! So, yes, I’m worried about where those hands are going, but even more so, I’m checking about 10 other things first.

It’s hard to tell what the photographer is going for, I see an image as we go. Every client is different and I never shoot different clients the same way. Everyone is unique and everyone has their own look. Not every one can pout, pull off sexy or just smile relaxed and look into the camera. My job is to get you to the point you are YOU when I photograph you!

This is why engagement sessions are so important with your wedding photographer, it’s a get to know you session for both the bride and groom and the photographer and at the end of that time together you both will have a better understanding of each other and when wedding day comes and I say something like “now melt into each other” you’ll know exactly what I mean!

So, just relax, take a deep breath and smile, look straight into my lens and let me make you the most awesome YOU you’ve ever seen!

Lori and JC

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

I first met Lori and JC at a bridal show in St. Peters. I remembered them because JC talked about his love of the Cubs! See, that stands out when your in the middle of Cardinals territory!

They called us for a meeting and when we met up and discussed the plans of their wedding and all the plans of an engagement shoot I was right on the board! They had ideas that were so fresh and exciting and…different. Cubs fans at the Busch!

The day finally arrives and we headed downtown. We hit up Busch, the landing, the arch and a place that for now, will remain my secret! We photographers have to have a secret now and again!

I was supposed to run that night with my boys, but trust me, we all did an amazing amount of walking, no one needed to do anything after that.

We had a blast. One of the best things about meeting a couple for an engagement session is to get to know them and them get to know you.

Lori and JC are so comfortable with each other and they knew just want to do, It was a blast to work with them. That is exactly what we did, we worked together. She had some awesome ideas and I shot them. I LOVE when my clients add to the shoot their ideas. Lori and JC were so easy to “melt” into each other posing was not even a thing I needed to do. I would say..stand this way, and I had a position planned but they would just melt into each other, into a comfortable position and BAM, that was it!

AND, they were up for anything!

So, for now…here’s a little JC and Lori and a short video from yours truly. ENJOY

Headed down to STL from Lisa Nikole on Vimeo.

Hope you enjoyed that video. I’ll be doing more and more of them as I work on my new venture a Vblog!
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Sneaky Peaky… Lori and JC

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

I can’t, no, I won’t even go into how fun this shoot was. I’ll save that for the rest of the images.

But, I can tell you that we are coming up with a new “sessions” package that came out of this shoot. More details to come, for now… here is a teaser!

Don’t you just love teasers? C’mon, you know you do!
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Holly and Jeremy

Thursday, August 27th, 2009

I went back home to shoot a wedding of an awesome friend and fun couple. I also used that time to book an engagement session of two really special people: Holly and Jeremy.

Jeremy is my nephew and I was so excited to be asked to cover their wedding as well as this session.

Jeremy has gone through a lot of stages in his life, but to see the care, passion and concern he had for Holly was refreshing. They both have this cute playful side too!

When a couple is so comfortable together and in front of the camera it makes our job that much easier! We had a blast…thanks to Holly and Jeremy for allowing us to capture a part of their life and relationship and to be able to share it with you!

Our session was held at Mill Creek Park, Rose Garden. It’s a beautiful place and a first choice for many couples on their wedding day!

Raquel and I had a fun time walking and photographing Holly and Jeremy and being able to spend some time with them before their wedding.

It’s going to be a beautiful day! Thank you for allowing us to capture these memories for you!
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Kristine and Dan…..

Friday, May 8th, 2009

I’ve talked to Kristine on the phone a few times, we’d never met before but we were going to do her E-session. I was excited to meet them both. I love to meet couples in love, there’s something special about people who are so fixated on each other.

The world could just crumble, but as long as they have each other and their love nothing else mattered!

That’s what I saw in Kristine and Dan! It’s refreshing!

I shot this E-session last weekend at a favorite location! We had a blast and even though Dan had spent a day filled with kids, picnics and fun, he was so tired, so I promised him the best and quickest E session so he could get on to his next function.

They did great, and we had a lot of fun….and as you can see….so did they!
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Tony and Annie

Sunday, May 3rd, 2009

This past weekend I had the opportunity to photograph Tony and Annie’s E-Session.

We had a beautiful day and they picked an amazing location: New Town! I told them I’d have a hard time NOT talking about their shoot location so I’ll just say now, this place is amazing! It’s almost a gated community with just about everything they would need within it’s framework! It’s a beautiful place to walk around and enjoy, and we did!

We’ll be shooting Tony and Annie’s wedding in June, we can’t wait to capture the emotion of their day!

I think we covered almost every area of New Town, and walking and talking with Tony and Annie I could tell they have a very solid relationship. Both are very committed individuals who have come together to become an amazing couple!

No matter what was asked of them, they did it, easily. Tony even scouted and found us an amazing wall that they were photographed by.

There’s a special bond between couples and this is so evident with Tony and Annie, they were so complete together it was such an honor to experience and to capture.
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Jen and John, It’s Fun, It’s Fantastic and It’s Love…

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

I had the opportunity to head down to St. Peters Park in Missouri Saturday to shoot a super fun couple, Jennifer and Jonathan!

St. Peters City Park is generally a very quiet and tranquil park, but Saturday it was hoping with a small festival and tons of people and children. Still, The park was big enough to accommodate all of them and us!

I saw Jen and John coming from a distance they thought it was their cute matching shirts, I knew it was because they had no children with them!

We had a fun time, we walked over to the children’s playground and thought about tossing a few kids off the swings to get some shots but, opted to let them play and we did a few other shots instead! We then did a fun walk around the park and got to do all the shots we wanted.

Both Jen and John were up for anything and had a couple cute ideas themselves for what they wanted to shoot. I’m up for just about anything and I love when my couples get to do what they want in their images.

A loving and fun couple. It was an honor to meet and help share in their loving memories!

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What’s On Your Ipod?

Sunday, April 12th, 2009

I get asked all the time what music I play to get prepared for my sessions and since I had an awesome E-shoot today, yes the images will be up soon, I thought I’d share with you some of the music I listen to in order to get prepared for the Engagement Sessions!

Unlike a wedding where I need to be really pumped up, to me an E-shoot is much more about two people, one on one with me and my camera, it’s romantic, it’s sexy and it’s fun!

I download some special music to get in the “mood” to shoot! I am generally always in the mood to shoot (ask my family), but there are days you have to shake off some debris to get ready to Bring It!

Today on my to St. Peters Park, I listened to these songs…I suggest you look them up, Leonia Lewis is AMAZING!

So here you go:

Leona Lewis:
Forgive me
Better In Time
Whatever It Takes
Here I Am

One Republic:
Say

Natasha Bedingfield:
Pirate Bones (I know, but I love the beat of this song)
Put Your Arms Around Me
Pocket Of Sunshine

Colbie Callat:
Oxygen

Matthew West:
You Are Everything

Israel Kamakawiwo’ole:
Somewhere Over The Rainbow… I LOVE this song and the story behind Israel’s life!

Each of these songs have special meaning to me, even as mellow as they sound, they really work for me. Plus I’m pretty hyped up shooting couples!

Now weddings, that’s a totally different ball game, and I’ll share those songs with you in a few weeks, right now I have my hands full on a few projects.

So, for now, enjoy the music and I’ll put up a sneaky peaky of today’s shoot in a bit.

and because a blog is only good with pictures -

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