Allison Carenza Photography

Little Beauty ~ Kansas City Photographer

2012-01-12T08:26:00.001-08:00

After all those cute 6 month olds here's a darling little 3 month old.

She has the most perfect little lips! I fear the boys are going to like them someday as well!

She was the most chillaxed little one. Not overly excited, but content, happy, and laid back. I loved photographing her.

And she's got two very obsessed parents. I always love watching the new parents. There is no love stronger than that between a parent and child. POWERFUL!

Oh beautiful little one, I just loved taking your pics!

Too cute to be real!

2012-01-11T09:57:00.000-08:00

She's like a porcelain doll. Perfect from her big, blue, shiny, blue eyes to her chubby cheeks, an of course her flawless skin. God has blessed this one!

But, I have a feeling she's going to have a crazy side!

Meet little River, her momma and big sister and kinda in love with her. I think she's in great hands with these two strong women.

Lexi and Heather have such a bond, it's kinda awesome to photograph.

Yes River, it is indeed all about you!

River, you are loved, but you've got big shoes to fill.

Oh River, it's true, you are to good to be real! I heart you!!!!!

Cute as a Cookie!

2012-01-11T09:19:00.001-08:00

This little dude is so cute I could just eat him up. I wanted to wrap my arms around him, and hug him, and squeeze him, and keep him as my own forever and ever. Unfortunately, his mom kinda feels the same way. So yah, I'm gonna have to make my own baby. But for now, I can just enjoy the adorableness of other people's kids. :)

This little man might look familiar because this is his 3 shoot since he was born, and he just keeps getting cuter!

Watch out! This cuteness is genetic!

I have the best job EVER. Period!

NEW BLOG!

2010-03-14T20:01:00.000-07:00

I have moved! You can now follow my blog at www.allisoncarenza.com ! My new website is amazing and I absolutely love it thanks to Jon for spending endless hours working on it. You can still follow the blog by subscribing at the bottom. Thanks for your endless support and encouragement. See you on the blog!
Allison

Baby Portraits~ Kansas City Photographer

2010-02-22T05:39:00.000-08:00

Are you ready to see some adorable baby pictures? This is Maven!!!!

Maven has a full head of hair, so she looks somehow older, but don't let if fool you she has all the perfect rolls that come with being a baby. With all that hair she's the envy of all the girls in her class.

She also had the most beautiful eyes.

I had a lot of fun taking these pictures. Matt and Lesle the parents were so relaxed, I can tell they really enjoy being parents. They were very natural with little Maven.

Matt, Lesle, and Maven thank you for letting me be a part of such an important event! I can't wait to do it again when Maven is a little bigger!

Children Photo Contest ~ Kansas City

2010-02-20T11:39:00.000-08:00

I am having a baby photo contest on my facebook page! It's easy just post a picture of your favorite little person and get all of your friends to vote for it by leaving a comment or saying they like it. Then the person with the most votes wins a free sitting fee with me and an 11x14 wall art print. There will be other winners as well. I hope you have some cute pictures because I want to see some cute kids. Just click on the link on the right to enter.

Here's a picture to get you thinking. This is Chloe, I took her pics last weekend. Look for more pics of her to come. I'm just having a very hard time picking.

Family Portraits~ Kansas City Photographer

2010-02-18T19:15:00.000-08:00

This week is all about families! Earlier this week I showed you a family of close cousins, well today here is a family of close siblings. So close! I had a blast taking their pictures. I would have taken a whole lot more, but Jana is smart and didn't want too many to pick from. It was hard enough. Here a just a few of my favorites. Easton is the only other girl in the family and she and her mom have the most amazing red hair. LOVE IT!

I think they look like a band!

Roye's thank you soo much for letting me take your pictures! You are so awesome! I love all your pics it was so hard to pick.

Children Photography~ Kansas City Photographer

2010-02-16T20:13:00.000-08:00

I was so fortunate to grow up with cousins. They were a huge part of my childhood, and I am still so close to them. There were 8 of us and we were all around the same age, it was great! We spent hours in Marnie and Papa's basement boxing, playing hide and go seek, and bumper pool. In the summer we spent our time in their pool or camping in the backyard. My cousins were like brothers and sisters and this is definitely the case in the following family. These kids love and adore eachother. I just know they will be close forever. I hope you enjoy!

Newborn Baby~ Kansas City Photographer

2010-02-15T21:12:00.000-08:00

You remember that beautiful belly witht the big ? we saw a few months ago, well that belly turned into a beautiful baby girl. Baby Kenley is a doll and doing so well! Here are a few pictures from her newborn photo session.

After getting her tummy full of food she was ready to go!

I just love baby hands, aren't these tiny hands adorable.

As you can see Stuart and Cindy make a great team. It can be really hard for the daddy's to bond right away, but Stuart is so obviously in love!

Cindy and Stuart you are great parents, Kenley is a lucky little baby. I can't wait to watch her as she turns into an amazing little girl.

Valentine's Day~Kansas City Photographer

2010-02-13T12:59:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. Tomorrow is Valentine's day and I happen to love V day. I know it's cheezy and overdone, but I like being reminded to slow down and look at the people in my life that I love. I have a lot of people in my life that I love. I hope all of you are have a great Valentine's day! I love you!

Here are some pics to make you smile. This is Michelle and Maguire. She decided to come take a few quick pics for her husband for Valentine's day. I think pictures are the perfect gift, almost as perfect as little Maguire. Check it out!

Michelle, I know Jeremy is going to love these pics! I hope you have great Valentine's day even if it is just staying home eating Chinese food. Sounds pretty perfect to me.

Portrait Photography~Kansas City Photographer

2010-02-03T19:44:00.000-08:00

It seems like just weeks ago I was at St. Lukes taking pictures of my adorable new nephew Hayes, but actually it was 3 months ago. It's time for an update of "the boys". Specifically Shannon's boys. Here are a few of my favorites from the shoot.

Juddy is the natural in front of the camera. He's been my #1 model since...well since his first breath, literally. On this particular shoot he walked into the studio pulled out his pappy and plopped down on the bench with the most perfect smile on his face. He'll smile all day long for me, it's just keeping his attention that's a challenge.

Then there's C who is equally adorable, but tries to give me all the most cheezy smiles. I love him soooo much! Oh and if you can't tell, he's 5! Carter you are growing up way to fast, I just let out a moan thinking about the day when he won't have a collection of superhero costumes that he changes into any chance he gets.

Finally the little guy! Hayes is a perfect mix of the two boys. His rolls are growing, his smile is getting more frequent, and his kind and tolerant personality is emerging. I love everything about you!

You can imagine what it looked like trying to get this shot.

I think Juddy has the exact smile above!

Carter still adores Hayes. He insisted I get a picture of him holding Hayes.

I love my boys!

A winter special!

2010-02-02T17:52:00.000-08:00

I got the depressing news this morning when a little groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow and reported that we had 6 more weeks of winter to look forward to. But it gets worse, much worse as a matter of fact, I can deal with the cold dreary weather, the lack of sun, and the short days, it's the snow that I can't stand, and apparently Gary reported another huge snow storm in the works for later this month. 15 more inches. YUCK!
SO to cheer myself up I decided to offer a groundhog special. Come see me in the next 6 weeks and I'll give you a free 12x12 collage like the one above, and you can thank Phil for even though he does not deserve it. Taking pictures makes me happy, and so does this collage! Have a wonderful week everyone!

Baby Portraits~ Kansas City Photographer

2010-01-27T16:14:00.000-08:00

Get ready, because you are about to look at pictures of an adorable one year old. This series of pictures is all about Hunter experienceing his first of many birthday cakes! I'm going to do my best to describe the emotions/reactions I think were going through his head. I'll say this, Marg, Jon and I were laughing histarically the whole time, so add that as background noise. I hope you enjoy.

Look at me standing up like a big boy. What are we doing anyway?

Wha Wha What?! That is colorful, what is it?

When in doubt grab it.

Mom is this ok, because that was gooey.

You mean it's mine, all mine, ALL RIGHT! Time to make a mess!

Yum!

I think I'll have some more of that, in fact I think I'll have a lot more.

Look I can be cute with food on my face. Who wants to be my agent?

What are you guys looking at anyway? Can't a baby enjoy his cake in peace?

Hunter you are adorable. It's hard to believe you are such a big boy, it seems like just yesterday we were wrapping you in blankets for newborn pictures. My how time flies.

Farmily Portraits~ Kansas City Photographer

2010-01-26T17:35:00.000-08:00

This is Chase Okerstrom. Believe it or not this is his natural camera face. Perfect!

Chase is one of the most polite 5 year olds I've ever met. He did everything and anything I asked of him with an ok. And then when I showed him the pictures he followed up with thank you. WOW!

This is Chase with his dad Haakon. I've know Haakon since he was itty bitty, or should I say Haakon has known me since I was itty bitty. You see he was my brother's best friend! I remember many trips to the lake when Haakon and my brother James would allow me to tag along while they wreaked havoc on the woods that surrounded our house. Hours of shooting BB guns off the deck, building forts in the trees and sloshing around in the creek. Good times! It was an honor taking his pictures, Chase is just a mini Haakon with a splash of Jennifer's sass.

Jennifer and I went to high school together and she was and still is one of the most lively, fun loving people I know. She has the most beautiful blue eyes, and lucky little Chase got them too.

I love this pic! It was not as easy to get as it looks. This little girl was shy shy shy!

Thank guys, I look forward to taking more pictures of your fam at your farm this fall!

Boudoir Photography~ Kansas City

2010-01-23T13:43:00.000-08:00

I told you I was taking some hot hot hot boudoir photography and I wasn't lying! These past few weeks have been all about beautiful women and I can't wait to share some pictures with you. I can't show you many though because most of the women are surprising their husbands, but Monika's boyfriend got word of our shoot and couldn't resist seeing them. He loved them so much he had to have them all. I can't take full credit for the following pictures because Monika is a natural in front of the camera, not to mention she's got a fierce sexy face. Check them out for yourself, just gorgeous!

Love Love the leather jacket!

Monika looks sexy and sassy here, but really she's a fun loving girl with the best smile. I might have to add some pictures of her contagious smile.

THIS is one of my favorites!

And of course I love this one because Tank is in the pic. He is the cutest most lovable bulldog pup ever! While I was on the floor taking pictures he was nuzzling on my neck. So cute!

Monika I'm so happy you came to me, I know these pictures are something you and your boyfriend will enjoy for years! Thanks for being so hot!

Kansas City Photographer~ Baby

2010-01-21T20:50:00.000-08:00

This is Harper Todd isn't she gorgeous!

This is Harper's mommy Tosha with gorgeous red hair, I'm hoping Harper has red hair too. I've never seen such thick red hair. Tosha you are so lucky. And, it photographs well!!!!

Yup this is a baby in a bear suit. Tosha and the fam were getting packed up when she put Harper in this adorable thing. I had to get my gear back out for a few quick pics. I'm really happy I did.

This is when we feel sorry for little Harper, you see she's got big brothers! Two of them Jonah, and Noah. Ultimately I think they will really take care of their sister, but also cause her a lot of problems. Just look at those innocent faces.

More of the bear suit! I couldn't resist.

Daddy's little girl. So cute. Michael you'll make a great dad!

Oh and I forgot to tell you that she has blue eyes that glow!

Thank you Todd's for letting me take your pictures! You guys are one fun and fantastic family! I look forward to watching little Harper and "the boy" grow up.

Family Portraits~ Kansas City Photographer

2010-01-14T19:29:00.000-08:00

Check one on part of goal 5! Jon and I updated my blog design. I'm so excited, I love it. Thank you Jon I love you so much. Now for some pictures of an adorable family. This is Gina and her blonde beauties Katie and Maggie. They were all so very photogenic!

That is one happy kid, look at that huge smile!

I have about a dozen pictures of this cutie all with different faces.

This isn't your typical family picture, but I like it because it's in close, and everyone is looking at someone else. Not to mention Gina and Brian and so relaxed with the girls. Getting your picture taken can be such a stress, but they just let it happen and we got some great pictures!

Brian, Gina, Maggie, and Katie, you are such a close family, I can't wait for our next shoot!

Family Portraits~ Kansas City Photographer

2010-01-13T18:13:00.000-08:00

I am so far behind on my blogs, but I'm going to get caught up this month. This is the Schunk family. Below is little Walt, and he is one of the happiest babies ever! Just look at that smile and big blue eyes.

This is Jersey and Kaeden and they have gorgeous blue eyes too. It must run in the family!

Did I mention Walt is flexible? Hehe

Coolest family of all time!

Merry Christmas Walt, this is the only year you'll fit in your stocking!

Just two teeth!

Schunks, thank you for allowing me to capture your beautiful family!

Baby Portraits~ Kansas City Photographer

2010-01-11T20:22:00.000-08:00

Are you ready for some fantastic pictures of a beautiful baby? Get ready. He is a cutie!!!

This is Elijah and he's growing up so fast! Just look at that big boy smile. Ahhhh....

I've been lucky to work with Elijah since he was a newborn, he's a bit of a natural in front of the camera.

He was awesome for his photo shoot as always, googooing and gahgahing. I loved it. What a talker, and flexible too.

Aaron and Katy, you are great parents and I love watching Elijah grow. I feel very lucky to be your photographer and now friend.

Not only does Katy have an amazingly beautiful baby boy, but she also has a great cake business. Please check out her website, I think she's very talented!

www.thehappycake.com

This is the back of her postcard. Aren't those cakes beautiful!

If you need a specialty cake Katy is your girl! Be sure to tell her I sent you for a discount!

Winter Pictures~ Allison Carenza Photography

2010-01-10T09:56:00.000-08:00

I'm excited to share with you some photos I took during this crazy winter. Above is a photo taken at sunset. I love the lines of clouds, I think they are cold too.

Beautiful and deep Lucy. She and Layla have been locked up in the house and are going pretty stir crazy. She's looking out at the yard mournfully. They have little paths in our yard where they go to the bathroom. I think they spend all of 3 minutes outside a day.

And then there's Layla. The crazy and loving one. She is much more willing to look into the camera than her sister, but she always has a confused look on her face. She has to wear a winter blanket or she shivers. She spends her days laying in patches of sunlight when she's not chewing on a bone or pestering her sister. Funny fact, she never sits on the ground, she always sits on Lucy. Even in this picture she is straddling Lucy.

The above pic was taken at night. It was a bitter night when the clouds lifted and left the full moon to light up the snow. Jon and I had just gotten done watching a movie when I saw this shadow on the snow, I couldn't resist.

I honked my horn in my car to get the geese to fly off. I love love this picture. Even though it's a sunset it reminds me of mornings duck hunting with my dad. You should know I never shot the geese with a gun, then or now.

I hope everyone is enjoying this winter, because it's really going to make us appreciate spring.

Boudoir Photos and a Valentine's day special!

2010-01-08T07:42:00.000-08:00

Today I have two things to talk about first of all my NEW portfolio is up and running! There are sooo many pictures, but I just couldn't resist. Check it out. www.allisoncarenza.com

Also I am running a Valentine's day special that I think everyone should get in on. Husbands you can get this for your wives, it's really a gift for yourself. Ladies you can get this for your husbands or boyfriends, it's really a gift for you too because we will have so much fun. From now until February 14th I'm offering my bloggers half off my sitting fee for boudoir photos. Basically for $25 you get an hour of photos taken, a 4x6 to give to hubby or boyfriend, and gorgeous airbrushed magazine quality photos. When else in your life are you going to get airbrushed? Don't get to worried, I love taking these pictures and making women look and feel beautiful. So if you are unsure just call or email and I can help you with any questions you might have. I can't wait to make you or your wife look sexy sexy sexy! For obvious reasons I can't share a lot of pics, but here is one of my favorite ones. It's all in the eyes!

Call- 816 830 2127 or email acarenza@gmail.com

homeless hero

2010-01-06T20:52:00.000-08:00

The snow continues to fall, the windchill is dropping and the air is dangerously cold. The good news, I'm sitting in my warm house on my warm couch under a big comfy down blanket, with sweats, fuzzy socks and a dog snuggled up near my legs. I'm happy and comfortable, but there are many many people out there tonight suffering. One of those many people is someone I admire. He's a homeless hero.

There's not much to tell because his life is pretty simple. He loves to read books that he gets at the library, cheezy novels if I remember. He has a small bag of items that keep him comfortable. He told me that he didn't keep much in his bag so when it got stollen it wouldn't matter. Even his most precious belonging, his purple heart.

While fighting in the Vietnam war he was shot in the arm. One of his fellow soldiers was badly injured in the same combat so he carried him over his shoulder for miles to the nearest camp.

Now he's homeless, not because he has to be. He has a sister that keeps his purple heart safe at her house. He lives on the streets because he wants to or so he says. He said he still wakes up in the night with bad dreams and he doesn't trust himself around others even in the homeless shelter.

I have two questions first what has our country done to this man that had such strength, and what can I do to make it better?

My scary 2010 goals!

2010-01-03T17:22:00.000-08:00

   I can't believe yet another year has flown by, and when I look back I was really busy and some amazing things happened, but I didn't really do what I want to do. You see I always start a new year with fresh ideas, a big plate of ambition and the goal of being more organized in my bookwork. Haha, the bookwork never happens. Usually about mid February I realize I haven't worked on any of my goals, life or what we call life, gets in the way.  This year to make sure my goals become achievements I want to say my goals out loud, not an easy feat because failure is always luming in the corner glaring at me. Well not anymore I'm kicking those thoughts to the curb, and I'm going to feel the fear and do it anyway!

Deep Breath...here goes...

1. Grow my business, I mean really grow my business.  That means taking time to follow up with clients, ask them for referrals, and be brave enough to put myself out there. Part of this will come from being a part of a business networking group.

2. Have my first gallery opening!  There are really 2 sets of photos I want to have gallery openings for.  The first Indonesia, and the second women, beautiful women, normal women. You get the idea.  Photography is my passion, my art and I need to make that form of my expression a priority.

3. Have over 150 shoots.

4. Run a photography workshop, I want to share what I know with others, and hopefully learn something too.

5. Some small stuff, shopping cart for proof page, new blog, new pics on website (almost done with that one YES), you get the idea, for most of this stuff I need Jon's help.

6. Get 1,000 fans on my facebook page. I'm not sure if this directly results in new clients, but it can't hurt. Just 500 to go. Yikes that's a lot! Please suggest my page to friends, that would be awesome, and help a lot!

7. I have 2 photography book ideas, but I have no idea where to start. This year I'm going to start and see what happens.

8. Finally I want to start a charity organization that takes pictures of kids in poverty. I've seen those kids, I've worked with those families and those kids deserve good pictures too!

Ok that's a lot, and it might have to be a 5 year plan, but I've always had these goals in my head. It's time I put them into action. It's just when I say them to the world, it's different, it's real, it's scary. I hope the universe rewards my bravery. If you've made it this far, you've just learned a little bit about me that I don't often share. This year I'm going to buck up and be who I want to be!!!! Get ready world, here I come.

Merry Christmas ~ Kansas City Photographer

2009-12-23T21:25:00.000-08:00

More pictures of the awesome Salsman Family.

Owen always knows how to make me smile. I think he looks like a little elf.

So cute!

Happy Holidays Everyone! I hope you enjoy the season with good food, great presents, and memories that will last forever! Remember to take lots of pictures. I'll try to do the same.

Children Photography~ Kansas City Photographer

2009-12-21T18:39:00.000-08:00

When I started taking pictures of bellies, babies, and families I didn't realize how close to families I would get. I started taking pictures of these babies when little Lincoln was a newborn, and his big brother was barely walking, now a few years later the boys have a baby sister who is growing up way too fast! I don't really realize how much time has gone by until I watch my clients grow up. It's actually one of the best parts of my job.

Below is Kalea. I LOVE this picture for the teeth!

With 3 kids under the age of 4 Michelle has her hands full, but somehow she always arrives at my studio with a big smile on her face. She also is very realistic about the shoot knowing we're going to get what we're going to get so, on this particular day she didn't even want to attempt a picture of all 3. So we sat them down one at a time and had SUCH good luck. Kalea was a perma-grin. LOVE IT!

This is Lincoln and he too was a happy little camper, but all of these smiles belong to his much loved Grandama! She was behind me holding Kalea and saying BAM BAM BAM! It was awesome and he loved it. I'm really considering hiring her full time.

I love the faces that aren't smiles. This is what Lincoln looks like.

Awww, I can't believe he's this big.

After having such success with the other two we were pumped and ready to finish up with the easiest, or so we thought. Vance is a happy kid and old enough to pretty much do what we want, or so we thought. Haha he did not want to smile for us. The picture below says it all. Finally Grandma pulled through yet again, and I was quick to capture this one gift.

We were trying everything at this point, laughing, bribing, he wasn't having it, but I love this picture.

Michelle I have really enjoyed working with your kids, and watching them grow.

Birthday Pictures ~ Kansas City Photographer

2009-12-20T19:35:00.000-08:00

Remember the adorable sisters I posted pics of last week. Well here are more pics of beautiful Emily. I don't have much to say, these pics say more than a 1,000 words. I hope you enjoy...

Emily you are awesome! Thank you for being soo perfect.

Children Photography~ Kansas City Photographer

2009-12-14T17:28:00.000-08:00

This blog post makes me smile because these pictures showcase some of the most beautiful eyes I have ever taken. My photography is constantly evolving and in this set of photos you can see the evolution in the eyes. First let me tell you about this wonderful family.

Below is Hudson and he was a very easy 2 year old to photograph. His mom Meghan found me on the internet and scheduled a shoot. When she told me her last name was Duff I immediately thought of Justin Duff an old friend from junior high. I kept forgetting to ask her until she was on her way to my house. As it turns out she is married to Justin. It was so much fun catching up with Justin and telling Meghan old Justin stories. I'm so happy they found me.

This is his baby sister Avery with gorgeous blue eyes. Her parents Meghan and Justin got real Gerber Daisy's for the shoot and it made for some really cute pictures.

I love the affection big brother has for his baby sister in the picture below.

So CUTE!

Justin and Meghan you have a wonderful family!

Look at these gorgeous eyes!

Here's my question...why can't we stay as perfect as this? Seriously...

Justin and Meghan it was a lot of fun taking your family pictures. I don't know what I expected for Justin's future, haha, but he did really well, Meghan you're perfect for him, and Justin I'm happy to learn you haven't changed a bit. You always had me laughing. I look forward to many more shoots and watching these two grow up.

Newborn Baby~ Kansas City Photographer

2009-12-13T18:30:00.000-08:00

This is baby Izzie! A Thanksgiving baby, well close enough just after. She is one of the most perfect new newborns I have ever seen. Flawless skin, loads of hair, and a beuatiful round face. She also had some of the longest toes and fingers I've ever seen. She got those from her daddy Brad.

Even Jon thought she was adorable. He couldn't resist touching her little tiny fingers.

When I first saw Izzie I couldn't help thinking that she looks just like her momma. I can't wait to watch her grow and change.

Speaking of momma...Heidi was so in love. She had a perma grin and a glow that filled the room. It was such an amazing experience seeing her as a mom for the first time.

Brad was quick to cut off the pictures because he wanted to give his mom a chance to adore her.

Brad and Heidi you are so lucky, and beautiful little Izzie you are lucky too. Your parents are totally in love with you!

Children Photography~ Kansas City Photographer

2009-12-07T19:34:00.000-08:00

Perfection!

These two are regulars on the blog. They are adorable, animated, and always a lot of fun. Meet Emily and Natalie. The picture below is Natalie and she was perfect for the whole shoot. It's amazing how fast these little ones grow up. Just a year ago she was running around the studio doing everything we said not to do, but not this time. There were way to many pics to choose from. This one pulled me. It looks like one of those sad portraits from the 1800's.

And then Emily... she's happy and ready for anything and everything.

Both girls seem to love eachother. I stole this one from a magazine, I love the expression on Natalie's face. Beautiful.

This picture was taken while we were trying to corral Emily. She's entering the all over phase. Natalie was a big help and very patient with her 1 year old sister. I've loved watching these girls grow up, and can't wait to see what the future holds.

A few days after the shoot Karren, their mom, told me that they had been playing photo shoot since they left. Natalie was assigning roles. Daddy was Jon, Natalie was me, and Mommy was apparently the subject, but I'm pretty sure they changed jobs through the day. Priceless!

Look for more pictures of Emily to come...

Maternity Pictures ~ Kansas City Photographer

2009-12-06T12:58:00.000-08:00

I want to take a second to thank the person responsible for the maternity picture trend. I love love love taking pictures of beautiful pregnant women. There is something about their energy that makes for amazing pictures. The following pictures are of Amanda, a 3rd time mom, and the owner of one beautiful belly. The picture below surprised me with delight. I think it looks like old art. Jon and I were trying to figure out which artist, but it's been awhile since we've had art history. If you have an opinion please help me.

Barely enough room for all those hands big and small.

This is Zander and Tatum. As you can see they both take after their daddy. Aren't they adorable. I have about 20 similar pics they didn't mind having their picture taken at all. I had a hard time picking.

After taking this picture little Zander walked over and tried to take Damon's place. He said, "mommy I want to make a heart on your belly". So cute.

I've known Damon since high school, and I'm so happy to see him happy. He and Amanda make a great team, and their kids really reflect that. I can't wait to meet this new little guy.

It's true that pregnant women glow. I played with this pictue quite a bit, would love your opinion.

Amanda you go girl! After 3 kids you still look amazing.

Damon, Amanda, Zander, and Tatum thanks for letting me be a part of your day. I really enjoyed our time together!

Engagement Photos ~ Kansas City Photographer

2009-12-03T18:23:00.000-08:00

Wow! Words can't describe how much I love these pics and how much I loved taking them. This is Amber and Sean and they are getting married!!!!!! Before I tell you all about this awesome couple let me tell you about my wedding photography. I love love love taking pictures of weddings, it's when I'm most creative, not to mention I love seeing people happy. I only like to take on about 9 weddings a year which allows me to work with the best couples like this couple below.

For the following pictures we went to Swope park golf course, there is this interesting monument called the Swope Memorial. Hmmm didn't even know it existed until Amber told me about it. As it turns out it's a great spot for engagment pictures.

Sean and Amber are totally in love and super playful. I was able to capture them being them, here are some of my favorites.

I love this one of Amber she is stunning! She said this is the TV pose because this is how they sit on the couch when they watch TV. Love it!

We had the perfect light for this shoot, overcast, the clouds act as a huge softbox.

Amber has gorgous Pantene perfect hair!

Amber is super ticklish on her neck, Sean wasn't afraid to take advantage any chance he got.

I love this picture because it is so them. Sean is doing his reflection pose and Amber is thinking he is a total goober.

Sean and Amber I had so much fun taking your pictures, I can hardly wait for June. I feel so lucky to be a part of your big day. We are going to get some gorgeous pictures and not because of the setting, the weather, the church, flowers or even lighting. We're going to get great pictures because of you! Your love will fill the frame! Ok someone give me some wine to go with my cheese. :)

Baby Portraits~ Kansas City Photographer

2009-11-30T18:15:00.000-08:00

This is Katie with her parents Kristin and Shane. I first met Katie when she was just a few weeks old. She was of course cute then, but now she is just down right adorable. Her big blue eyes, contagious smile and long eye lashes make it impossible to take a bad picture. She had a cute little belly button too!

This is Katie with her favorite blankey bear.

Kristin is so good with Katie and obviously adores her.

Already a reader...I love that!

Look closely, there is drool in this one. Reminds me of when I had my wisdom teeth out. Haha.

Katie thanks for being such a beautiful model. Shane and Kristin thanks for including me in this very important part of your life.

Family Portraits~ Kansas City Photographer

2009-11-29T18:00:00.000-08:00

The following pictures are of the beautiful Smead family. With 8 adults and 6 kids Jon and I had our hads full capturing this very important family shot. I told Mary (Mama Smead) that she needed to throw a couple dogs in there just to make it exciting. Speaking of excited, we were really excited when we got everyone looking at the camera for this shot, but I will tell you we had to bring out our secret weapon. Little Layla! (our little 7 pound rat terrier) She was busy dancing on my head, while I snapped away.

A lot of people want pictures of their kids smiling, but I love it when the kids just look like themselves. I'm sure the parents are pretty familiar with these looks. Pretty priceless if you ask me. What beautiful girls.

I couldn't resist posting this picture, I love it when mother and daughter look so much alike.

Mary and I were talking about her awesome family after the shoot and she said "you know sometimes I stop and think this all started with the two of us". Mary you are so lucky to get to live with the joy of knowing you were responsible for bringing so much joy into the world!

Oh boy I'm a sucker for big brown eyes! This picture is stunning and we were really lucky to capture this little guy in his element. My light is actually turned away from my paper backdrop toward the couch in my studio. He was being shy and I was being flexible, and man I'm so glad we did, this picture is timeless! Pure perfection!

I'm experimenting with some photoshop in my spare time...haha! Any and all feedback would be much appreciated! I thought I couldn't go wrong with such a handsome couple.

More photoshop, however the web doesn't do it justice, her eyes are tack sharp, everything else is a gooey mess of blurred pixels! Yum Yum!

Thank you Smead's for your patience. I had a lot of fun taking your pictures. I hope I can work with your kids again in the future, maybe one on one next time.

The best Christmas Present EVER!

2009-11-24T15:24:00.000-08:00

This year give the gift that keeps on giving! Haha, just kidding, but really you can get gift certificates from me of any amount. Just drop me an email with the amount and the name of the lucky person and I'll drop it in the mail for you. Remember stuff is just stuff, but pictures last forever! I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. I absolutely love this holiday and can't wait to spend it with my family. I also plan on catching up on blogs so check back regularly. Happy Holidays!

Here is the front...

and the back...

Forget black Friday this is way easier!

My beautiful family! - Kansas City Photographer

2009-11-19T18:44:00.000-08:00

Remember my new nephew that was born just over a month ago. Well here he is, all cleaned up this time. He is one beautiful boy and I am proud to share some of his pictures with you! Meet Hayes!

Carter was and still is very much in love with his little baby brother. He is so affectionate it warms my heart just thinking about it.

My brother James and "the boys".

This picture reminds me of the babies we had when we were kids. They were so realistic looking.

After pics the boys got a bath. I just couldn't resist. There was a time when Carter couldn't stand getting his picture taken. Those days are gone, thank goodness.

Maternity Pictures

2009-11-15T18:43:00.000-08:00

Oh boy, picking pics to share was really tough with this couple. I had the best time taking their pictures, they were all about having fun, and those of you that know me, know that I'm always all about having fun. Let me tell you a little bit about Cindy and Stuart.

Stuart and Cindy married for love, while planning their wedding they decided waiting wasn't worth it and threw the wedding plans out the window to get married in a courthouse. Their passion for each other is so big it filled the studio. They are about to have one lucky little baby.

Cindy has a gorgeous soul, pure and sincere. I love this picture of her.

Believe it or not she can still cross her legs, a feat not many women 9 months pregnant can accomplish. This picture is simple and elegant.

They are waiting to find out if they're having a little boy or a little girl. I think that's so cool. Jon and I always said we would be surprised when we have kids, but now I don't know. Yellow and green are not my favorite colors. Either way I'm so excited to find out!

Stuart and Cindy, thank you for the experience of taking your pictures! I had so much fun, and I can't wait to be there when little mystery baby is born! Your love for eachother is going to make parenting a breeze...you're going to be amazing.

PS I think it's a girl!

More KIDS!

2009-11-11T19:43:00.000-08:00

I am so far behind on blogs! I want to start this blog with I'm sorry for those of you looking forward to seeing your pics up here, and I promise I'm working on it. For those of you getting tired of looking at kids, I'll work on that too. Maybe Friday I'll grab my carmera and go outside for a bit, and see what I can see. Thank you all for continuing to come back to the blog. I love your support, and really appreciate it. Below are some pics of some outstanding kids.

Look at the muscles.

This little lady has to be tough with 2 older brothers. Believe it or not, she's just a 3 year old, but acts like she's 13. What an old soul.

We had a great shoot and it was really hard to pick which pics to share. Thanks you guys for being awesome! I can't wait to take your pictures next time!

Dog Photography

2009-11-09T19:49:00.000-08:00

Check out these beautiful puppies!!! This is Maverick, Icy, and Debbie. She's the beautiful person in the middle of these two gentle giants.

There is only one thing harder to photograph than 2 year olds...dogs. Big dogs! We had a great time chasing these big goofy babies around the studio. But they were sooo excited to have their picture taken, anytime we called their names they hopped up and ran over with their little stub tails wiggling back and forth like crazy. Debbie was on the floor wrestling most of the time, and laughing the whole time. By the time we were done she had her very own fur coat.

Below is momma Icy. Her favorite thing to do is sit in people's laps.

This is her big goofy son Maverick. His favorite thing to do is give big slobbery kisses. Just one lick and you need a towel. He was definitely the ham in the studio, and Icy was all about giving him the stage.

The girls!

This is Maverick just before he pounces into your lap to lick your mouth.

Debbie you have some beautiful doggies, and I really enjoyed the challenge.

In honor of Maverick and Icy all doggie shoots get a free sitting in the month of January. So if you're up for the challenge so am I, pack the dog treats and book now!

Maternity Pictures

2009-11-08T17:40:00.000-08:00

Last month I did so many colorful family shoots in the beautiful fall colors that it was a breath of fresh air to be back in the studio this week. I love being outside, but I have a lot less control of the light and in photography light is everything. These past few weeks I've been doing bellies, and beautiful babies!

Speaking of bellies this is Willam and Jennifer, and they have one beautiful belly!

I had so much fun taking their pictures, and even more fun watching William watch Jennifer. William wasn't the key player in the shoot so a lot of the time he would just sit down somewhere off set and stare at Jenn. Granted she wasn't always fully clothed, but it was obvious he thought she was gorgeous.

William you might have to come back sometime for your shoot. Great camera face here!

They were up for anything, and had a great attitude the whole time. As a result we got some amazing pictures. A lot of which I didn't share on the blog because they are so intimate. I love love love doing maternity pics, some of my most artistic shots come from these shoots.

Thank you Jennifer, and William for allowing me to be a part of such a substantial moment in your life together. Thank you Brandi for finding me and getting the gift certificate for Jennifer.

Salsman family

2009-11-06T20:15:00.000-08:00

I love this series of photos. Especially this one! His little eyes are absolutely glowing. Not to mention I chopped his mouth off. Not sure why, I can't remember now, but I probably had a reason like his little hand was in his mouth. This one says it all in his eyes.

This is his big sister Izzy and now you can see where he gets those bright blue eyes. I love it! I also love how you can see her little teeth peeking out.

This is Kim and her beautiful mom. In this family the blue eye gene is definitely dominant.

Kim's parents were celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary the weekend of our shoot, and you would have thought they were newlyweds. After 30 years they're still very much in love.

Seriously why did I get these boring brown eyes I want these eyes! Gorgeous.

I love this picture, but it makes me giggle. The woods look like a cheezy walmart backdrop. No offense walmart I just prefer the real deal. I think this is a timeless picture, when I opened it I said awww. I love my job!!!!

Kim and Rob I always love hanging out with you and your kids, and your parents are amazing. I hope you enjoy the pictures forever. You have a wonderful family!

The Fowler Family

2009-11-02T19:53:00.000-08:00

This is Faith! The daughter of one of my closest friends.
The story of the following pictures is bitter sweet for me...

You see, Matt on the left has been chosen to be a part of the FBI which requires him to do 5 months of training in DC, and then he and his family will be relocated to somewhere in the US. Sally is such a supportive wife she is about to give up so much to help Matt reach his dream. Don't get me wrong Matt really deserves to have his dreams come true and I'm so excited for him. He's one of the most amazing people I know. As you can see he comes from a long line of honorable men.

This is Matt's brother Mike and his brand new wife. Mike is also a cop and will really miss his brother I'm sure.

This is KT Matt's sister she has always been so close to her brothers.

Matt and Sally are such a wonderful couple and while I'm sad to see them go, I know that their future is exciting and wonderful.

Matt, Sally, Faith, and Mason I'm going to miss you guys. Make room because you know Aunt Allison will be visiting.

family photos

2009-10-29T19:50:00.000-07:00

Fall, Fall, Fall! What a beautiful time of year. I've done dozens of shoots this fall in the beautiful fall colors and I can't get enough of it. Not only am I in love with the colors, but I'm also equally in love with the families I'm getting work with. I can't believe how lucky I am to have so many amazing people to work with. It makes taking pictures an experience! The following pictures are of one of those families that oozes love.

Lexi is a gorgeous young lady with a glow to her eyes.

Misti and Steve you 2 very lucky people to have eachother and your cool kids.

Carter wasn't feeling well on the day of our shoot, but he gave me his all. I love the emotion you can see in his eyes in this picture.

This kids are so close they really seem to like each other. That doesn't happen often with siblings.

Misti has a heart of gold. She's that person that everyone wants as a friend because she's genuine, giving, and full of love. I'm very lucky to get to call her my friend.

Twinkies...

Nathan has such positive energy. He was totally down for any of my crazy ideas, I really enjoyed working with him.

McVay's... thank you so much for opening your arms, I look forward to many more memories.

Cute Cute!

2009-10-26T20:02:00.000-07:00

These pics were taken at Loose park. A fantastic location, unfortunately it was really cold outside. The kids were real troopers, and the parents were even more patient, so we got some really special shots.

I love Ella's big blue eyes, they absolutely sparkle. She was in a great mood and her grin showed up in her eyes.

The coolest family ever!!!

Check out Rudy's jacket...adorable!

Oh boy I love this picture! I love that you can see the movement in little Rudy, and I love the huge grin Karri has on her face. True joy!

Thanks again Karri and Chris for making me feel like a part of your family. Jon and I always enjoy seeing you and the kids!

Family Portraits

2009-10-22T19:34:00.000-07:00

Ok I think these might be some of the most amazing pictures I've ever taken! I know these are some of the most amazing people I've ever met. This is Rose and her boys Dalton and Garrett, and we had a blast taking pictures last week!

Dalton has the best smile and he was totally willing to ham it up for me.

Some people are so natural together and I would say this is definitely the case for Rose and her boys. They absolutely adore her, and treat her like a queen.

Most of the time I like to play music during my shoots, sometimes it's funky town, sometimes its relaxing baby music, and sometimes it's kids bop. This time it was pure funk, and Garrett became Mr. Giggles. Apparently Garrett is Mr. Giggles at school. He was dancing all over the studio cuttin' a rug and breakin' down. We were absolutely cracking up. I love this picture because it shows just how much fun this family has together.

BEST FRIENDS!!!!

Love, it's all about the love!

Rose, Garrett, and Dalton, thanks so much for making my job amazing! I had such a great time taking your pictures.

baby collages and more...

2009-10-21T17:12:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been really reflecting on myself as a professional photographer. Trying to figure out what makes my work stand apart from the rest. There are so many amazing photographers out there so why should someone come to me? Well I've learned a lot about myself this past year. I learned that I love people and their faces in particular. I love to get up close so you can see the details in their eyes, their teeth and and even the little bit of drool that slips out at all the wrong times. I think the eyes show so much emotion and really when you look at someone you can tell so much about what their thinking, and feeling through their eyes. The collage below is exactly what I'm talking about. Just look at those faces!

I don't do a good job of advertising my collages and design work, because quite frankly there's so much out there on the internet it's really hard to compete. I can, and do, design pretty much anything from collages, to canvas prints, to birthday thank you cards. If you can't find the perfect design on the internet just ask, I might be able to help.

The following 2 pictures were printed on canvas. Talk about art. I love it!!!

Children Photography

2009-10-19T19:38:00.000-07:00

This blog has a funny story. A couple of weeks ago I took pictures of a birthday party, and met some great people. One of those people passed my card on to another person. That person (Emily) looked at the card and said I know this person, they live up the street from me. Needless to say Emily stopped by and booked a session. We had a great time, and it's just proof that everything happens for a reason. Here are just a few pictures of her beautiful family.

Meet Shelby and Landon...adorable and spunky. They were all smiles during out shoot. It was awesome!

I had a ton of cute pictures of these two. I just couldn't pick.

You can tell they are very close, they were both full of smiles.

I love getting close enough to see the teeth. It's all about the little teeth. Someday those little teeth will be big teeth.

This wasn't my most favorite family picture, they didn't even know I was ready. I just think it shows this family in their element. Happy and close...

Emily I'm so happy you found me, your kids are so awesome. I look forward to hanging out more in the future.

Blonde hair, blue eyes!

2009-10-15T20:06:00.000-07:00

This is Sumerlyn, and she is just as beautiful in person as she is in these pictures.

Being an only child she is very loved by her parents and also very grown up. I had a blast working with her. I will say she had a lot more fun playing with Lucy and Layla than taking pictues, but she was a great listener. Layla is actually our best prop. Go figure.

She was not afraid to be herself, it was awesome!

I love that they look so much alike! Blonde hair, and blue eyes... Todd you better watch out the boys are going to be knocking anytime now. One of which might be my nephew Carter. Sumerlyn and Carter will be starting school together next year at Chapel Lakes.

I can't wait to hang out with Sumerlyn more, she is such a sweet girl. Julie, and Todd, thanks for letting me take your pictures.

MY BRAND NEW NEPHEW!!!!!

2009-10-14T18:40:00.000-07:00

I am one proud aunt! Meet my new nephew Hayes Christopher!

These pictures were taken only hours after little Hayes was born. I love baby feet. Hayes happened to have awesome nails. We were in need of baby nail clippers, the hospital gave us a baby file. Have you ever tried to file a newborns nails. Yikes!!!

Carter was absolutely infatuated with Hayes. he wanted to be around him at all times. He has already given him a new name "Peanut". In the picture below he was trying to tickle him. It was adorable because he was being so gentle.

My mom is so obsessed with babies even though she works with them all day every day. She spent most of her time staring at him and saying ah I want to take him home.

Again, Carter was so obsessed!

I love the way his little hands are cupping his head. He's a little natural.

Juddy on the other hand was more interested in...well everything else. The gloves were very entertaining.

Carter back with the baby, my mom thinks he's the next Pediatrician. Maybe he'll take over the family practice. You might also want to notice the shirt. Too cute!

Shannon got the boys gifts on Hayes's b-day. Juddy got boots and he was so excited. You can't tell but they were green with a dragon on the side. He imediately threw his shoes off and put the boots on.

Even next to a 5 year old Hayes has tiny hands.

Carter may be the oldest of the 3, but he is totally momma's boy!

Oh my gosh, it doesn't get much better than this.

Little Peanut opened his eyes just long enough for a few pics.

Juddy, my dad and I roamed the halls so Shannon and the baby could eat. Otherwise he was wreaking havoc by jumping off the bed repeatedly. While walking the halls Juddy had to stop and talk to all the nurses (ladies man). He told them all about his new boots, and when they asked what they had on them, he told them humpty dumpty.

Shannon I don't know how you do it...amazing! You are and always will be the queen of the house.

I can't wait to get to know little Hayes. I am one lucky aunt.

Senior Pictures in KC

2009-10-11T08:10:00.000-07:00

Meet beautiful Loni.

Loni is from Mound City, MO and not only is she beautiful, but she is also sincere and kind. I had the honor of taking her senior pictures and I had so much fun. The picture below is one of my favorites. It's so hard to look good serious, but Loni was a real natural.

As you can see she was really relaxed which makes for great pictures.

The first thing I noticed about Loni was her eyes. She's got huge brown eyes that quite literally steal the picture.

I like to capture people in their natural state. Loni's mom told me she stands like this a lot. Her exact words, "That is so Loni."

While waiting for the train to go by we snapped off a few next to a moving train. It was intimidating to say the least. I don't even think the train was going that fast. This picture doesn't do the movement of the train justice, but I love the graffiti.

Loni is a strong, smart, athletic girl. I can't wait to see what great things she achieves in the next phase of her life.

Loni thanks so much for letting me take your pictures. I hope you love them as much as I loved taking them.

Meyer Famiy pics!

2009-10-07T18:17:00.000-07:00

The love in this family is so obvious it's refreshing.

See...

And look at this...

What a beautiful couple. I also love the light in this picture. Stunning. Claudia is a Brazilian goddess. I just loved taking her picture.

Mama Meyer with her big boys.

Check out these handsome guys. These are the Meyer men and they are some of the most good looking guys in KC. Shawn, Tony and Marcus.

Shawn is a junior in high school, a star basketball player and an all around wholesome guy. He even said thank you...WOW! He was also very tolerant of my antics, which is saying a lot.

This is Marcus and he's in 7th grade but all smiles. As you can see he loves football. With those hands I imagine he'll grow up to be a high school star like his big brother.

Thank you guys so much for allowing me to take your picture.
You're a beautiful family.

Happy Birthday Presley

2009-10-01T17:54:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I had a brand new experience as a professional photographer. I got to take pictures of a little girls 5th birthday. Not just any little girl, but beautiful Presley. Everything about Presley glows from her eyes, to her hair, to her big personality!

Here are her birthday presents. I remember as a kid loving the presents. Who am I kidding, I still love the presents.

This is one of those cool cupcake cakes.

Opening the presents, that must be the best as a parent. I just loved her many faces. I couldn't even pick which ones to share there were so many big smiles and great expressions.

Yum...

Seriously does it get much better than this?

Presley's friends were absolutely adorable too.

I love this picture because you can see the smile in her eyes. What is it?

Must be good!

Ok this is my favorite picture, however I'm still trying to figure out why. Maybe it's what she's doing. See she's running across the little bridge and it was an all kid moment.

Ok wait... maybe this is my favorite. Her idol is Taylor Swift and I think she could be her little sister.

This is Madi another one of my clients that I adore. When I got there she goes "there's Allison our favorite photographer lady. " She smiled for me the whole time. Fantastic!

Oh the joy of a slide.

I hope these girls stay friends through high school. Wouldn't that be awesome to recreate this picture when they're 18.

This is a picture of her when she was being a drama queen!

This is Braxton, Presley's little bro. More beautiful blue eyes.

Happy 5th Birthday Presley! You are one rockin' chic!

I really loved doing this birthday shoot, and would love to do more. So for the next 3 months I'm offering my clients 2 hours of birthday photography and a high res CD for $300. Drop me an email with your birthday date so I can put you on my books. October is almost full.

Senior Pictures

2009-09-23T20:13:00.000-07:00

Looking for some senior models in the month of October. If you know any models please send them my way for some awesome packages.

Bar Mitzvah Pictures

2009-09-21T20:03:00.000-07:00

I was one lucky photographer to be picked to take Ian Roozrokh's Bar Mitzvah pictures. It was hands down the most fantastic party I've ever shot. In the morning Ian had his ceremony, but before it got started I got to take a couple quick shots.

Here's Ian and his beautiful family! When I got there in the morning they greeted me with big hugs and smiles. There was so much joy.

Ian wasn't nervous at all, he seemed cool, calm, collected, and confident. I don't know many 13 year olds, but I know they aren't usually as nice as Ian. In fact he even thanked me for taking his pictures.

After his ceremony there was a brunch, with some of the most amazing food. This was just party number one.

Rachel, Ian's mom used pictures we took for the newspaper for table centerpieces. Ian is all personality so the pictures looked great with his many expressions.

I LOVE COOKIES, and these were delicious.

Ian is a bit of a ladies man. All the girls wanted their picture with him.

His guy friends didn't want to be left out so they got together for a group shot. Totally different feel here. All boy!

...and all boy.

This is the reception site for the party. It's a beautiful and unique facility in Overland Park just off Mission Rd.

http://www.leawood.org/parks/lodge.aspx

Yup the tables were all decked out with glow in the dark stuff, popcorn and everything kid. The kids even had their own food... pizza and pasta.

The DJ was great and had games for the kids, I was daring enough to get in the middle of this one. I only got knocked down a couple times.

Meet David, Ian's dad! He was the life of the party. I think he missed his calling, he should be a party starter as his full time job. He was so much fun. I don't think he sat down all night.

So much movement! To this day anytime I hear the new Blackeyed Peas song I can't help but smile. It was the theme song of the night.

Even the adults were having a ball. They were dancing just as much as the kids! I love this picture because there is so much going on, just look at those faces.

This last picture is meaningful to me. It totally sums up the night. Kick your shoes off and get down!

There were random shoes all over the place, even flats.

There were over 400 pictures that I couldn't choose from. So many memories, Jon and I had a wonderful time, thanks Roozrokh's for opening your arms to us.

Rusty Stout

2009-09-18T19:38:00.000-07:00

It's not often I get to take pictures of adults. I love occationally taking pictures of adults because they actually listen. I know exactly how the shots are going to go for the most part. The following pictures are of Rusty Stout, a wonderful adult and a close friend.

Rusty had to have his pictures taken for an award. He was chosen to be the alumni of the year for North Kansas City High School.

The picture Rusty had to use was a plain head shot, but I couldn't put that picture up here because it's just not unique enough. Rusty is way more unique than the picture showed. I love the following picture because I think it shows his class.

Rusty has had a successful career in optometry. You might have even seen him on the commercials for Discover O, he is one of the owners. I think Rusty really deserved to win the alumni of the year, BRAVO Rusty! It couldn't have gone to a more deserving person.

Hot portraits!!!

2009-09-16T20:54:00.000-07:00

Meet beautiful Maggie!

There are so many amazing things I could say about Mags, but really all you need to know is that she is the best friend anyone could ever ask for. She's supportive, understanding, open with her heart and beautiful...as you can see!

She's even more beautiful in person. I am one lucky girl to have my Mags.

I love you Mags, thanks for EVERYTHING!!!! I can't wait to see you in Florida in just a month. And for those of you that are wondering, that hair of hers is all natural! Seriously!

Macon Missouri's, Fork and Food Festival

2009-09-13T19:04:00.000-07:00

This weekend Jon and I were suppose to go on a float trip with the llamas. With bad weather in the forecast we decided to cancel the float and find another adventure. Jackie searched the internet high and low for something fun and different, and came acros little Macon Missouri and their fork and food festival. We booked a b and b and were on our way. We had no idea what to expect, but ended up having an amazing time. Here's a little bit about our adventure.

This is Jon and I at the winery on Main street. The name of the winery is West winery and it's got some fabulous Missouri wines. They have a sweet red wine that rivals Riverboat Red. I also like their dry red and dry white. Yum we tasted about 12 wines before we setteled on a bottle.

Their downtown was surprisingly big, this building was an old bank and it was a beautiful. Most of the stores were filled with antiques and thrift store type stuff. I really love small downtowns it's always such a shame that they aren't as unique on the inside as they are on the outside.

This gorgeous dog is a little rat terrior, just like Lucy and Layla! The owner agreed that they are the smartest, most wonderful breed of dogs.

No festival can be complete without face painting.

OK! Here is one of the members of the Krazy Kats. This band has been together and performing since 1957. They only had one break up and it was because one of the members was drafted.

He was a great Elvis.

Jakie found her sweet wine.

This is the owner and wine maker of West Winery.

I took lots of pictures of the locals. So much fun. Everyone recognized us as outsiders, they were shocked people from Kansas City would come up to their little festival. It wasn't long though before we felt like a part of the small town.

It was a great day for sitting outside drinking wine and enjoying music. After the festival closed down we headed to a local bar where we danced like crazy people. Jon was unstoppable. I'll have to get some pics of the dancing from Smitty and add them later.

Remember these things. Were people supposed to tie their horses to these? I have no idea, but I would love to have one someday.

This is my favorite picture. The drive in was up and running until about 3 years ago. This picture is just a blast from the past.

That night we stayed at the Phillips House b and b, carriage house. http://www.phillipsplacebandb.com/ This house has history to say the least. It is the oldest building in Macon, built in the 1800's. Apparently it's haunted, which really doesn't surprise me it totally looks haunted from the outside in. We didn't find out that it was haunted until breakfast the next morning.

Jon told me on the way home that he had something weird happen to him. I guess he was going to the bathroom with his shirt off when he felt something lightly brush against his shoulder. At the time he thought it was a string from a light switch. After looking around he found nothing that could of touched him. He thought it was really weird. Hmm... I'll leave you to think what you want.

This is a picture from the original home owners. The house honestly doesn't look any different.

If you need evidence that this house in haunted just look at the door.

The home owner told us that people often notice two men that walk up and down the stairs, and a women in the bedroom Jon was in.

This is the real b and b and it's beautiful. We had an amazing breakfast in this house. I liked the little haunted house, but I think next time I come to Macon I'll stay here.

Allison Carenza Wedding Photography

2009-09-10T20:24:00.000-07:00

A wedding is quite simply a love story played out in ceremonies and rituals. These pictures are a serious of shots I captured of Kersha, a beautiful bride, on her most lovely day. I hope you enjoy looking at Kersha's love story!

In the above picture Kersha is reading a letter the groom wrote to her. She got teary-eyed and giddy at the same time. It was adorable.

These were the hottest bridesmaid shoes EVER!!!! Nice pick Kersha!

The shoes, the gown, what else do you need?

Kersha is ready to go see her future hubby.

I love the above picture for the golden light. Ooh lala!

She peeked around to get a quick look at the handsome groom.

Their first kiss as bride and groom.

The best man!

You can't tell in the picture, but her shoes were gold so she looked like the child of a greek goddess. What a doll.

There were some llamas in the house!

I hope I remember Brian and Kersha like this forever! This picture says it all! Thanks guys for letting me be a part of your wedding. Your future is looking so bright you gotta wear shades!

Senior Pics in Kansas City

2009-09-07T19:42:00.000-07:00

I was driving around this weekend when I saw the most perfect spot for senior pictures. A huge field of tall Brown Eyed Susans, they were everywhere. The problem is I don't have much time and this spot isn't going to stay perfect for long. I need seniors for this month preferably girls since boys and flowers don't go together. If you know anyone that is looking to get senior pics please send them my info. If we can find a time to get the shoot scheduled in the next couple of weeks I'll give them a free proof book of the best shots. PS this picture isn't of the field, it's just one I had on my computer. I'm not very good with flower names, but I'm pretty sure these are daisies. I hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

Cute kids!

2009-09-06T14:38:00.000-07:00

Meet Hunter and Anna! Two of my favorite kids. Anna is so sassy, and Hunter is the laid back cool guy. During this particular shoot Hunter was all serious on us. As you can see he's still absolutely adorable. He's got the round chubby cheeks and gorgeous blue eyes. She's got the big brown eyes and to die for dark Italian skin. Hunter takes after his dad in all ways, and Anna looks just like her mom. It's pretty cute really.

I love this pic because Anna looks all little girl here, what a cute smile with those tiny teeth.

In an effort to get Hunter to smile Marg and I went to all extremes next to standing on our heads. I'm pretty sure this look is saying "what the heck are they doing that's not funny just weird".

Anna's serious face...

and her sassy face...

In this photo Hunter is just amused.

I love this shot because it shows just how much Anna loves her baby brother. I also love it for the story. Take a look at her hand. Yes that is a Jesus action figure. She came into the studio with it and said "I found Jesus in the bar" I love my job, I never stop laughing!!!!

Fire Helmet

2009-09-03T20:08:00.000-07:00

Typically I'm not a huge fan of colorized pictures or props, but I love this fire helmet. Having baby Maguire in black and white allows the richness of the red helmet to come out. Also, Maguire has a grandpa and uncle that are firefighters so I think this picture is precious, and the helmet has a lot of value.

Briarcliff

2009-09-01T20:30:00.000-07:00

Meet Greyson! This 2 year old is a happy little ball of energy! Jon and I meet Greyson and his cool parents at Briarcliff, a new shopping area just north of downtown. We had a great time and got some wonderful shots. Look at those dimples. He's already a heartbreaker.

This one isn't so great in terms of light, but I love the artistic effect of the shadow. It really summarizes a 2 year olds mind set, a big person in a little body.

That hill was really big for such little legs, but he was a real trooper.

He has the most gorgeous blue eyes. Again with the heartbreaker thing.

I'm just experimenting with this shot. You can see the city in the background, but it's not big enough. Hmmm... Also we started our shoot at 9, but it wasn't really early enough. That summer sun acts as a hot light. My favorite light is the golden hour around 6.

I love Greyson's smile here. True joy.

What a beautiful family. Thanks guys for letting me take your pictures! It was great catching up.

Quantity vs. Quality?

2009-08-31T19:52:00.000-07:00

Recently I had a conversation with my good friend Maggie about quantity vs. quality in photography. In todays digital world 1000 pictures is the norm for a wedding. 10 years ago 200 pics was a lot. And of those 200 pics you might have gotten 50 good ones. Now you get 1000 pics and 200 good ones. So my question is, which would you rather have? 1000 pics to pick from, or 100 really good ones. It's tough, but I want your opinion. On the right you can vote! Give me your opinion and comments if you have any.

Bridal Pictures

2009-08-30T11:22:00.000-07:00

Meet beautiful Kersha. A few weeks ago Kersha and I did both her Bodouir photos and her bridal photos. I had to wait to share her bridal pictures because her wedding was just yesterday and I didn't want anyone to see her gorgeous dress before the big day. She was absolutely stunning.

The back to the dress was unique, I love the way the light is just barly catching it here.

Kersha's eyes almost glow! She has such a great serious face. Not many people can pull of the serious face, myself included, but she totally rocked it!

This dress was the perfect dress for her.

The one below is one of my favorites. I love the color of the chair and fact that she's just chillin'.

Finally this picture below reminds me of a pic I once saw in a bridal magazine. Of course that picture was in black and white, but I like her color here. This is pretty much how Kersha looked all day on her wedding day. Smiling and happy!

This is new genre for me so I would love feedback and comments if there is something you see that you like or if there is something I could have done better those comments are even better! Thanks for taking the time to look at my work. I hope everyone is enjoying these last few days of pseudo summer.

The most perfect 2 year old!

2009-08-26T19:50:00.000-07:00

I may be biased but this guy is the cutest 2 year old in the world. Ok, so I'm his aunt, but you have to admit he is pretty adorable. In just 15 minutes and 45 pictures we captured some of Juddy's most infamous faces. Shannon and I learned that he is most photogenic when his distracting 5 year old brother isn't around. In the above picture he is trying to put 2 fingers up and say two. He pretty much talks non stop.

He's going to be such a heart breaker.

You can't see but in this next picture he has his legs out with his ankles crossed. Totally posing.

Say Chheeessse!

Juddy I love you and I hope you know that someday I've got some really great material for your high school graduation party and or wedding. Like this next one!

Photo Contest

2009-08-22T08:17:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been trying to get more traffic to my blog. Reading articles, signing up for random blog blaster things, and just posting more. I decided I shouldn't be trying to do this alone. So I'm asking for your help. Anyone that does 2 of the following 3 things will get a free sitting fee to use anytime. Seriously it's really easy. Ok here are the 3 things!

1. become a follower of my blog ( you may need a google account, not sure )
2. become a fan of my facebook page, Allison Carenza Photography
3. email a link to my blog, to all your friends

If you do these 3 things, just leave a comment on this post or email me. Thanks so much for your continued support. I am so blessed to have so many amazing people in my life.

Amelia

2009-08-21T22:14:00.000-07:00

Adorable, beautiful Amelia. There's not much else to say, these pictures say it all. She's a lively, beautiful, crazy 2 year old. I love taking pictures of 2 year olds. It's the most challenging age, but the most fun because you never know what you're going to get. One minute they're smiling for the camera the next second their running across the room for their mom. 5 minutes later they're screaming and having a fit. All 2 year olds are the same in that they're unpredictable. I'm pretty laid back about the 2 year olds so if you're a parent and your 2 year is old is acting their age, don't worry they're all the same. Crazy, hilarious and unpredictable all balled up in a little body with too much energy. I get the best expressions at this age, pure genuine emotion. We get to see their true colors and that's what pictures are all about. I love 2 year olds so much that in the month of September all 2 year old shoots are free! If you're up for the challenge, so am I! I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather, and I hope to see you soon.

Boudoir Photo!

2009-08-17T19:42:00.000-07:00

The new trend in the wedding world is boudoir photos. These photos are given to the groom as a gift from the bride. I love taking these pictures. I get to be completely creative with light, and make beautiful women look even more beautiful. Kersha, the bride in these pictures was absolutely gorgeous during our shoot and we got some amazing pictures. If you're interested in getting your own hot pics for your hubby or boyfriend don't hesitate to call. Taking these pictures is a total collaborative effort. I want to make it personalized. Kersha brought lingerie, a John Deere hat, MU clothes, and even a shotgun to her shoot. We got some hot photos. I can't wait for her future husband Brian to see these on his weeding day. If you're interested in scheduling, email me and I'll send you some more examples. Even though the pictures are tasteful, classy and elegant, these images are private for obvious reasons. Thanks so much for reading!!! Also, don't forget about my wedding special. A massage and a boudoir photo!

Looking for an easy, fun gift idea for the bride to be in your life? Caring Touch Massage and Allison Carenza Photography (http://www.allisoncarenza.com/) have teamed up to offer a package that includes lasting memories and a pre-wedding stress buster for your bride-to-be!

For just $110.00 you can boost the bride's confidence with a sexy boudoir photo shoot and a free 8x10 photo with Allison! Then, you can whisk the future Mrs. away to decrease her pre-wedding stress with a 60-minute massage from Erin! Both services can be used on different days, or they can be scheduled back to back for a full day of relaxation.

The best part about this gift is you don’t have to leave the house to get it! Just hop on your computer and go tohttp://www.caringtouchmassage.biz. Click on the online gift certificates link, and choose the Pampered Bride Package. In just a few seconds, you can give your bride lasting memories and the pampering she deserves!

We look forward to working with you!

Allison Carenza
Allison Carenza Photography
http://www.allisoncarenza.com
acarenza@gmail.com
816-830-2127

Erin Parish
Caring Touch Massage
http://www.caringtouchmassage.biz
e.parish@yahoo.com
816-506-6091