Ryan & Courtney

Ryan and Courtney are from Kansas City so we had to try to plan a weekend while they were back in the area for their engagement session. We couldn't have asked for a better day on Saturday, even if it was just a little windy. We agreed to meet at Glen Oaks Country Club where Courtney had once worked & it was absolutely beautiful. We jumped in a couple of golf carts and hit several places along the course, Courtney's mother Judy gave me the grand tour and put the brakes on anytime that I saw something that looked good (and there were a lot!). I had a great time talking with everyone and we were able to get some great shots. Thanks so much guys, I can't wait to see you again. Talk to you soon!

Erik - Inspired Images

Joe

I had a really fun time with Joe tonight as we took his senior pictures. We started in the studio with some standard shots for the year book, and then headed to a few of the local haunts to get a couple of outdoor shots. It was really overcast and getting dark fast but we were able to manage. After coming back to the studio we did a few more shots of Joe doing some writing, something that he really enjoys doing. I think they turned out great. Thanks guys, we'll talk to you soon!

Erik - Inspired Images

Mandy & Paul

Tonight I took the engagement pictures for Mandy & Paul and we had a great time. We met at 5:30 and drove to a park so we were cutting it a little close on time, but we were able to get in all of the pictures that we wanted to. These guys were great, and were up for anything. They brought their dog Tucker and even though he was a little excited about being there we were able to get some good shots with him as well. We took some shots all over the park and after the park ranger came by and closed half of the gate we figured we had better call it a night and get out of there. Thanks guys, I'll talk to you soon!
Erik - Inspired Images

Michelle

After the great wedding that we had on Saturday I took the senior pictures for Michelle. We started early in the morning to avoid some of the heat, and luckily it was a little bit cloudy out. The location couldn't have been any better as we took all of the pictures on Michelle's family's acreage. The leaves are just starting to change and we took full advantage. This just so happened to be nearly in my childhood backyard so I knew of some other locations that we could try as well. Michelle did great and we had a really long session and got a lot of great shots, here are a few.

Thanks again Michelle, I'll talk to you soon!

Erik - Inspired Images

Matt & Lisa - The Wedding

Who would have guessed that on October 6th the temperatures would be in the 90's, but that's what we had on Saturday. Just like during their engagement session Matt and Lisa were real troopers and we were able to get some great unique shots. The wedding was very nice and simple and very laid back. The reception was at a new venue in Maquoketa and it was beautiful. With a great outdoor area as well as a tent many of the guests enjoyed the night air as it cooled shortly after the sun set. I would like to thank Matt and Lisa for including us in their great day, and wish them the best in the future.

Erik - Inspired Images

Travis Stewart

This was the second half of our session with Travis and we had a great time at East High. We took advantage of the great architecture there as well as the sunlight that followed the tremendous storm from earlier in the afternoon. Travis and I had a good time talking about where he was planning on going to school, as well as how his classes were going during his senior year.

Talk to you guys soon!

Erik - Inspired Images

Todd & Rhonda

Following our wedding on Saturday I had the opportunity to take the engagement pictures for Todd & Rhonda. We met on Sunday morning in Bellevue and Todd had picked out some great places for the pictures. We were worried about the weather as they were saying that there was supposed to be high winds but we were fortunate again with nearly perfect conditions. We had a great time at the state park with the people that were oblivious that we were in the middle of a photo shoot, (I guess me posing them and having all of my camera gear wasn't clue enough) and then at the creek with the horse that just had to be involved in the pictures! Thanks guys for a fun time, I can't wait for your wedding!

Erik - Inspired Images

Chris & Ashley

There couldn't have been a more beautiful day for an outdoor wedding than the one that we had on Saturday. The wedding of Ashley and Chris Trzaskos was a really wonderful event at the Maquoketa Country Club. Going back home for a wedding is always a fun. Ashley was a great friend to Tara and I all throughout highschool and beyond so it was just a great opportunity to be able to take the pictures on her wedding day. Having the golf course available as a backdrop was a nice touch and we took advantage. Being huge Iowa fans Ashley and Chris took that theme into the reception with a poem regarding Iowa football being read by Ashley and of course the Iowa fight song being played during the dance. Iowa nearly pulled the upset in Madison on Saturday night and gave the guests plenty to cheer about for the majority of the game.

I don't think that I can accurately describe the dance that followed, but I will say that a very good time was had by all.

Ashley and Chris, I hope that you have a wonderful time in Hawaii and I can't wait to hear all about your trip. Talk to you soon!

Erik - Inspired Images

A few New Zealand pics

Okay, so maybe it's more than a few but I couldn't narrow it down and I will probably just keep adding additional blog entries on here until I find time to make a website for them.

Tara and I got up early one morning before the sun rose to see if we could see some of the rare yellow eyed penguins leave their caves and waddle into the blue ocean for the day. Luckily we did get to see 3 of them and were also treated to a beautiful sunrise.

This is Queenstown on the first night that we stayed there, we arrived early in the morning and drove through rain nearly the whole way, and little did we know that it would rain continuously the rest of the day harder than any other on our trip. We made the most of it going to little shops and eating at one of the local cafes. When we were sufficiently water logged we decided that we should go to a movie. Being such a small town we were limited in our selections since the theatre only had 3 screens. We settled on "The Simpsons Movie" and found it pretty funny. When we left the theatre it had stopped raining and we were able to grab this shot through the low lying clouds.

We were fascinated with all of the sheep and got many pictures of them, this is one of our favorites.

Abel Tasman National Park. This is where we were able to go on a sea kayaking trip and had a great time with our guide Eric. I still think that our rendition of "Go Cubs Go" should have taken first place in the Abel Tasman Idol competition that we had while kayaking!

A beautiful waterfall that we came across on one of our many little hikes that we took along the way.

I have a lot of wedding and engagement pictures to go through from this weekend so I will be posting those soon - keep posted.

Erik - Inspired Images

Kaylee Miller

We had a great time taking Kaylee Miller's senior pictures last night. We started off taking some at their house in their beautiful back yard, and then some lounging in their really cool lounge chairs in the living room. We followed that up with a road trip downtown to get some with an urban feel. Thanks Kaylee, Michelle, and Marty we had a great time. Hope to see you soon!




-Erik Inspired Images

Jon & Kelly

I've said it before and I'll say it again, we have the best couples! Jon and Kelly are a couple of the most fun and down to earth people we have met. Their wedding was really beautiful and everyone in their wedding was just great. We had a blast taking all of the pictures, riding the party bus, and hanging out at the reception. I'll be in touch with you guys soon. Jon, we need to go riding sometime before the weather turns cold this fall!

Erik - Inspired Images