Elle

I love photographing Elle. She is SO cute and has such a fun personality!!!!

(ps--wedding clients, don't forget to check out the post below this one for an announcement on pricing!)

Sneak Peek of Elle and a PSA

Last week Amelia went with my to take pictures of Elle. (you may remember her from a previous blog post....as I have been photographing her for almost 2 years!!) and I just love this image of them hugging. There will be a full sneak peek soon, Jenny!

And, just a friendly little heads up to everyone considering booking a wedding with me. Prices will be going up at the end of this month. SO....if you want to book, book now! (of course, this doesn't apply to weddings already booked, or weddings whose contracts are "in the works")

For Anne

Because Anne (mother of the bride from Shanna and Dustin's wedding) wanted to see this picture, I am posting it for her. And for Dustin too

(i know that some photographers feel that jumping photos are cheesy and overdone. and perhaps they are. but they are so much fun if you get the right group. and if they enjoy it...which these guys totally did...then pfffft on the people who think that they are anything other than fun.)

I'm BACK!

I am back. I had a GREAT time in Baltimore. I really loved the city. I have heard some not so great things about Baltimore, but the area I stayed in, Fells Point, was awesome.

So.... a couple little lists about my stay

The good stuff:

* Fell's Point. Seriously, I loved the area. It had tons of character, fun shops, and yummy restaurants. next time when I go I need to take someone with me so I can eat at some of them.

*The Admiral Fell Inn where I stayed. I loved it. It was this quaint European-like Inn. Again, with tons of character. And SUCH yummy room service food. (of course, I ate my awesome chicken club with avacado and oreo ice cream parfait at 7 pm after eating NOTHING all day....but it was GOOD)

*The quesadilla I had for lunch on Friday. I don't remember the name of the place I ordered it from...it was right across the square from the Inn, but it was GOOD. I ordered hot sauce on it, and it was HOT. but ohsoyummy

*the cute shops. I went into one kids shop and it was just SO cute. I had to indulge in some things for Amelia.

* MOST of all... Melissa and Rob. They were a fabulous couple. On Thursday night I went with Melissa, her cousin Claire and her sister in law Cathleen to downtown Baltimore to do an almost bridal shoot with Melissa. It was a BLAST. It felt like I had known them for forever. And then the day of the wedding. WOW! I just really loved this couple. You will see in the pictures. But they were AWESOME. and oh so in love. I am SO honored they flew me out there for their wedding. It was just great.

SO I would definitely go to Baltimore again. So....someone else fly me out there for a wedding ;)

There were a few mishaps....

namely, I got lost on the way home from the hotel that we took Melissa and Rob's pictures at..... well, not really lost, just on the wrong roads, so I took a half an hour detour, but I found my way home pretty easily.

THEN I got back to the hotel room and found my suitcase zipper was broken, so I had to make an unexpected pit stop at Wal Mart the next morning for a new one.

I also had some not so yummy pizza that night. blah! and then in the morning no hot water in my hotel room (still love the hotel though)

but, for traveling to a new city for a few days, those mishaps were SO minor and being able to photography Melissa and Rob's wedding more than made up for it.

I promised them I wouldn't post pictures until they got back from their (very cool and envy inducing) honeymoon.... so everyone will just have to wait!

I'm Off....

Kind of like Amelia is when I want to take her picture lately.

I will be out of the Office until Monday January 13th. Thurs-Saturday I will be in Baltimore to shoot Melissa and Rob's wedding, etc. Sunday I will be catching up with family.

I will return all emails when I return. Have a great weekend!

Shanna and Dustin

What a way to start out the year. I have known Shanna for about 14 years and so it was SUCH an honor to shoot her wedding to Dustin. They are an AWESOME couple. Their love for each other and for God was just so evident in every part of the wedding. Thank you guys SO much for having me as a part of your wedding. Really it was gorgeous.

(and hey...the day after the wedding blogging. a NEW WORLD RECORD for me. lol) hope you guys are enjoying your honeymoon and the two fireplaces!

Anne (Shanna's mom) checking out Shanna's hair progress. (Heidi--the bridesmaid in the mirror was one of "my" brides from this summer).

kind of random, but i liked the bouquet with the architecture of the church.

Shanna just glowed. She was gorgeous.

I adored her dresses AND her bridesmaid dresses. It made such a dramatic statement.

Can you see the bridesmaids checking out the crowd from their bridal room?

Anne and Jaime (Dustin's mom) enjoying the cute slide show before the start of the ceremony
The ceremony was awesome and the church had gorgeous natural light.

evidence you can take pictures anywhere. this was taken in the bathroom of the country club.

a quiet moment before entering the reception

playing around with texture again. i was really feeling black and white for their portraits


Their reception hall was decorated like a true winter wonderland

Their flower girls were adorable! This is one of my favorite pictures so far.

an emotional first dance

the best man and matron of honor's (my beautiful cousin Mandy) speeches were great.

Shanna's dad Paul sang her a song that he heard the same day Dustin had asked him for Shanna's hand. It was SO touching. I got pretty teary a couple of times during the day, but I full on cried when he sang this to them.

despite a broken toe from his groomsmen's shenanigans the previous night, Dustin still tore up the dance floor.

and so did Shanna

thanks again guys! I had such a great time. I know you will have a long and happy life together!

I have a hilarious picture of the guys, but Matt talked me out of posting it, so you guys will have to wait for the gallery to see that one. ;) Dustin, I am sure you know what I am talking about.

A New Year!

I am back! Just in time to be out the door for my first wedding of 2008! I am so excited to go down to shoot Shanna and Dustin's wedding on Saturday. I will be out of the office from 3 pm tomorrow until Sunday afternoon.

I will also be out of the office next weekend Thurs-Monday to shoot Melissa and Rob's fabulous wedding in Baltimore! I can't wait!

I have another 20 or so weddings on the books for 2008 and I am so excited for each one. I am not accepting any more weddings for this year to give each of my already booked clients my full attention and care!

and because I just can't post without pictures. two of the most fabulous 2 and 4 day old EVER (okay, i am a little biased!)

THANK YOU and A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS

First off I just want to say a huge GINORMOUS

THANK YOU

to all my clients this year

Whether you allowed me to capture your wedding day memories, or invited me into your family for a couple of hours to record a snippet of your life, or asked me to document you as a "Senior" entering your last year of high school, I sincerely cherish you all. I am convinced I have the most wonderful clients EVER. If it weren't for each and every one of you I wouldn't be able to have the most fabulous job in the world (okay, second to being a mommy, of course). You really all mean the world to me and I thank you AGAIN from the bottom of my heart.

(how is that for some crazy run on sentences.)

Basically, you all ROCK.

I also want to wish everyone a

VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS

I hope your holidays are bright and full of wonderful time with your family and friends.

I leave you with our family Christmas photos.

Also, please note, Krystal Muellenberg Photography will be closed from Friday December 21- Thursday January 3rd to allow time for celebration of Christ's birth and time with family. I will return all emails and phone calls after my return. Thank you and again have a most joyous Christmas season.

Pokela Family