Troy's Bar Enagement, Earling, Iowa ~ Omaha/Council Bluffs Area Engagement Photographer ~ Troy and Emily

Anyone from the little town of Earling, Iowa, knows this place--Troy's Bar.

But I am willing to bet that no one knew it could be such a romantic place! ;)

I am so excited to be shooting a wedding for Troy and his fiancee, Emily!  They are so sweet and funny, and they each totally suit the other!  They work in Troy's bar together, and you can just see how comfortable they are here!  Capturing them like this was easy!

After some time in the bar, we headed out to the country and spent some time playing with their dog!  She was just as sweet and fun as her owners!

Troy and Emily and getting married in the spring, and I can't wait to see what they have planned!

Shelby, Iowa, Engagement ~ Omaha/Council Bluffs Engagement Photographer ~ Megan & Derek

Bringing it home to Shelby for this girl!  Megan and I were in the same graduating class and have been friends most of our lives, so you can guess that I am ecstatic to photograph her wedding to Derek!  It's coming right up too!

Derek isn't a huge fan of pictures, so I hope the wedding isn't too torturous for him!  Despite that though, he was a trooper and went all over Shelby with Megan and me to get all kinds of cute photos of him with his girl!  I picked out a few to share, and I can't wait to be sharing their wedding photos!

Elmwood Park, Omaha Engagement ~ Omaha/Council Bluffs Area Engagement Photographer ~ Ashlei & Tadd

North Omaha Horse Ranch Engagement ~ Omaha/Council Bluffs Area Engagement Photographer ~ Ashley & Kyle

Arrowhead Park, Neola Early Spring Engagement ~ Omaha/Council Bluffs Area Engagement Photographer ~ Caitlyn & Drew

Arrowhead Park, Neola Engagement with Motorcycle ~ Omaha/Council Bluffs Area Engagement Photographer ~ Mikayla & Angelo

Prairie Rose, Harlan, Engagement ~ Council Bluffs/Omaha Area Engagement Photographer ~ Megan & Ben

Harlan, Iowa Barn Engagement ~ Omaha/Council Bluffs Area Wedding Photographer ~ Johnni & Danny

One of the best things about being a photographer from a small town is familiarity.  Familiar faces and familiar places.  These faces are some of those that are familiar to me, and so is the church where they'll be married!

Johnni and Danny are from my hometown--as if you hadn't gathered that!  Even though the faces might have been familiar, I was grateful for this session so I could get familiar with the people.  If you read my blog regularly at all, you know how important it is to me to get to know my couples.  It makes everyone more comfortable the day of the wedding, which makes for better photos!  A person spends more time with their photographer than anyone else on their wedding day, after all!  I loved getting this time with them, as I do with all of my couples!

When I sat down with them for the first time, Danny and Johnni told me the story about how Danny proposed in the church where they'll be married.  That church also happens to be the very same church where Josh and I were married six years ago to the day that this wedding will be taking place.  I am so happy to have this connection with them and to share our anniversaries!  That will be a wonderful day--I know from experience!

Shelby, Iowa Country Engagement ~ Omaha/Council Bluffs Area Wedding Photographer ~ Nicole & Nate

I met Nicole and Nate at one of Willow Creek's amazing open house events--I have met so many awesome couples there!  I think we all hit it off right away, because they booked their wedding with me that same day, and I was so excited about it!  After several long, winter months, getting to do this engagement session was a much appreciated chance to get to know them!

When I get the chance to chat with my couples like this, I like to talk to them about how they met, what they're looking forward to most about the wedding, and just whatever else comes up!  I love that I got to know all of that about Nicole and Nate, and then some.  I don't think we ever had one quiet moment during their session!  And to top it all off, they have a beautiful, spunky little girl that I just couldn't get enough of!  She wasn't always excited about the photos, but her little personality wins you over, regardless of if she shares your goals!

This family of three is going to have an amazing wedding day this fall!  I can't wait to see it all unfold!

Midtown Omaha Engagement ~ Omaha/Council Bluffs Area Engagement Photographer ~ Alyssa & Anthony

I have had so many engagement sessions where I just gush on and on about how much I love the couple in the photos...  

Yeah, that isn't changing!  

I am so incredibly blessed to have a job that I am so passionate about!  I feel so grateful that I get to work with such amazing couples!  I don't know how it happens, but I am flooded by couples that I just click with!

Alyssa and Anthony are easy to click with--for anyone, I think!  Alyssa is my best friend's older sister, and I grew up in their house.  Over the years, she and Anthony have become friends as well, and I couldn't imagine anyone better for Alyssa!  They are both hilariously funny, and I think they complement each other perfectly!  

Taking the engagement photos for these sillies was so much fun!  I knew it would be!  I am counting down the days until their wedding...and once the photos are done, I will be dancing the night away with them!