TAISIA GORDON photography

Love + work = the best job in the world.

 

Head on over to my new blog to check out this recent wedding.  www.taisiagordonblog.com

Joe and Kelley. Vienna MO wedding.

Joe and Kelley.  There were a bunch of firsts I witnessed at this amazing couples wedding.

First couple to:

cause a traffic accident (two motorcyles collided as they slowed to check out Kelley! She's a hottie.)

put a picture of their first dog,(Max, who died last year) among the "family remembered" pictures (seriously, I was in love with Joe and Kelley once I saw this at the church)

decorate with mason jars as flower vessels in the church (loved this idea!)

convince me to dance at the reception (I would have done anything Joe and Kelley asked of me thanks to their dog-memorial)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Kim and Ryan engagement session.

Well.... I'm a bit behind here on posting all of these amazing weddings and engagement sessions that I've been working on this year.  Here's an engagement session from quite a few weeks ago... Kim and Ryan who will be getting married this fall.  A sweeter, more gentle couple you cannot find.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Sarah & Jamie. Vienna engagement session.

Sarah, Jamie, and I met up in Vienna a few weeks ago for their engagement session.  And who could forget their super cute son who came along for a few shots!  Love this kid because he is all boy, full of spunk and life and energy and smiles.  And Sarah and Jamie have such a joy for life and for their son, they are so patient and loving with each other.   

We first went to Jamie's parents property and then to a rock quarry that Jamie has access to.  I loved that they were willing to take a risk going to a quarry.  I mean, really, piles and piles of rocks?  YES!  And in the end I think they got images that are totally unique and special to them.  We timed the session for the best light at each spot and I was in love with the golden tones and dreamy backlighting we had the whole time.

 

Love, love, love this light!  And, Sarah?  You're gorgeous! 
 
 

Becca and Kevin. Columbia MO wedding.

Becca and Kevin were married a few weeks ago in Columbia Missouri.  Right on the MU campus where I first met my future husband.  So it felt like home to me.

If I could only use two words to describe Becca and Kevin's wedding it would be "elegantly understated".  With a combination of do-it-yourselfness and splurges in just the right places, their wedding and reception was unlike any other.  Their reception was held at a local park under one one of the pavilions near a lake.  It felt like a family picinic with extra-special touches like the wine bottles they washed and painted themselves, the fishing rods they provided for guests, the hand-made posters showcasing all of the countries and cities they've visited together.  Becca and Kevin were a class-act and it was such a joy to get to experience their wedding day.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Marin & Rebecca. Chicago engagement session.

I had been looking forward to this engagement session for months.  When Rebecca and Marin, who met and live in Chicago, first booked me for their Jefferson City wedding they showed me their wedding web page.  And I liked them instantly.  Their personalities shone through on that site and by the time I actually met them I felt like I was already their friend  They did not disappoint.  We met up in Chicago to take engagement pictures in the city where they met, fell in love, and currently live.  It was a beautiful, sunny, warm day (and super windy but that's Chicago for you).  Rebecca and Marin are sweet, fun, playful, sentimental and very very very special together.  Marin was such a gentleman.. brushing the hair back from Rebecca's face, protecting her from traffic as they crossed the street, serving her wine...  And Rebecca, upon learning that my plans had changed for my visit to Chicago, offered their sofa to me for the night.  What a classy couple.  Thanks Rebecca and Marin for a fab session.  I can't wait for your wedding in a couple of weeks!!

 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Katie and Mike, Westphalia engagement session.

And to think... we almost cancelled our session due to rainy weather.  I had lots of fun with these two and can't wait for their fall wedding.

 

 

 

 

 
And does anyone else think Mike kinda resembles Ashton Kutcher? 

Now if anyone has any ideas for what famous person Katie resembles they'll be my celebrity couple.  Thank you Mike and Katie for a great session and for being such a sweet, loving couple! 

Sarah & Derin. Freeburg MO wedding.

Even though I promised myself I would post all weddings and engagement sessions I'm already a bit behind.  Ack!  Time to catch up and what a better way to do so than with Sarah & Derin's wedding in Freeburg.  My favorite parts were:  Sarah's dress which showed off her curves beautifully, the handwrapped chocolates - so cute!, and the way Sarah and Derin danced all night... as if no one else was in the room. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gorgeous albums and a book

I am so excited to finally offer a flushmount style album in my wedding collections.  This album is gorgeous with a soft leather cover and thick, sturdy, richly-colored pages.  The nice thing about these albums is they are are such a high quality and yet produced so quickly and carefully.  And they stay true to my philosophy of straightforward pricing and options.

 
 

 

I've also found a new producer for my coffee table style books.  Again, the quality is so beautiful and these pages lie flat as well, something that I love for full-spread pages.

 

 

As a side note, a year or so ago I was wandering through a flea market and discovered a childrens book that I had to have.  It's message was perfect and I was charmed right away by the illustrations.  As a photographer it was a book I couldn't resist.

It's titled "Simple pictures are best" by Nancy Willard, copyright 1976.  It tells the story of a husband and wife who loved their simple life.  They also loved each other and so hired a photographer to come take their portrait.

 

Soon, though, the wife realizes she'd like to include some of her garden produce in the picture since they love their garden... then they decide to add his fiddle since he loves to fiddle, and then her paintings, and then a favorite hat.....  Their photographer warns "Simple pictures are best."

  

 

But their excitement cannot be contained and soon they are surrounded by all their possessions and things they think represent them.

 

At this point they are exhausted.  The photographers assistant tries to make them smile and laugh, chaos ensues and their final black and white image is not at all what they intended.

 

 

I love this book for the funny reminder that simple pictures without any gimmicks, tricks, or bright lights are the best thing.  But the deeper message I take away from this is that, not only in pictures, but in life we are not defined by our stuff, our hobbies, our interests, or family or our pets.  I think of myself as a wife, mother, photographer, runner, sister... the list goes on and on.  And all of those things fulfill me and bring me joy.  But when it comes down to it I am only truly defined by my very spirit and soul.  We are all only defined by our spirits and our souls, by the love and generosity that lives in us and in the ways we share it with others.  So in pictures and in LIFE simple is best.

 

Joe and Kelley. Mid-Missouri engagement session

After two previous attempts the rainy weather finally subsided enough this past Friday for an engagement session with Kelley and Joe.  What I loved about this session:  Kelley and Joe have been dating for 5 years.  They were in a class together in college but just never connected at that time.  According to Kelley it was because he was hanging out in the back of the class with "that other girl".  According to Joe it was because he was just too cool.  Laughter, you can tell, is a part of their daily lives.  It was a beautiful sunny day as we cruised around Kelley's family property and I felt completely comfortable with them.  Their connection and joy at being together was infectious and I left the session with a huge smile on my face.

 
 
 

Kelley is gorgeous!