I did a shoot of these brothers the week before Christmas, and finally got to use the new UI Business building as a location. This place is super sweet for portraits when it’s nasty outside because one wall is 3 complete stories of windows. A photographer’s dream!!

Here’s the shot they picked:

Jody works at the new Institute of Genomic Biology on the UI campus. I like the way this woman thinks! She contacted me about getting her headshot done before the end of the year because she likes the way her hair is right now.

Her husband Brian also works there, and he jogged over from Mumford Hall to meet us as well.

Yours truly is getting married! Aaron asked me to marry him on Nov. 19 and I finally got some good shots of my ring. More about that in a bit…

For now, I’m announcing CANS FOR COMMENTS! For every comment I get on my blog between NOW and next Monday, December 15, I will donate one non-perishable food item to a local food pantry. It’s a win-win situation really: I get comments and people in my community will get some nourishment they may be needing this holiday season! So comment away!

To answer a few questions that I know will be floating around about my engagement:
1) My friend Rob at Still Life Photography is going to be my reception photographer, but we’re eloping, so I’m going to have a couple other friends help out with various other events. We’ll have someone on hand to get a few images at the courthouse and then once the weather turns nicer again in the spring, we’re going to put our wedding outfits back on and get some fabulous outdoor shots. It’s is the only way to go from a photographer’s standpoint!!

2) The stone in my ring is a spessartite, or mandarin, garnet. Yes, a garnet. You might be surprised actually at what other stones come in orange. Sapphires, for example.

Sara called one night and asked if I could do a set of just black-and-white portraits with a plain dark or light backdrop as a Christmas present to her parents. She wanted to bring her brother Nick along too, and these were a few of the results.

I’ve known Scott probably since he was about 4 years old. We were in the same 4-H club, his sister Tara (hi Tara!) is a really good friend of mine, and his grandma was my kindergarten teacher. Oh man, as I’m typing those things, I’m realizing that list goes on and on because we also showed cattle together and I have some great stories about Sid his dad. LOL… oh, memories. I don’t know Ashley quite as well, but it seems like she and Scott have been dating FOREVER, so I have hung out with her a few times.

My friend Shelley tagged along for the shoot as she wanted a behind-the-scenes look at a portrait session with Holly Birch Photography. Thanks for coming along Shelley! I hope you learned a couple things.

It’s so cool to see people you know falling in love and taking the plunge. I know I have a VERY anxious Ashley waiting to see these, so here they are, in probably the longest set of favorites I’ve posted yet.

This pose was Shelley’s idea:

I had them do “serious” a few times and they rocked it! I have a feeling Ashley uses her sexy pose every once in a while. Or when she’s mad at Scott.


This was a new pose that I tried. I think it turned out alright!

Then we had Ashley pull Scott, to which Ashley said “This is more like it!”

I love shots of grooms looking at their beautiful brides.

Kissing on the dock

Swings!! Are you serious? Yes, please!!

Then there was the covered bridge, which we took full advantage of. How can you pass up those red walls? Really, you can’t.


This is hot. I think I might order a 16×20 for my office.

This is Ashley working my lens. Oh my goodness.

Thanks you guys for a great session even though it was kinda cold, there weren’t many leaves, and we saw some snow flurries!

You might know that song line from the movie “White Christmas,” or not if you’re not a dork like me!

I’ve known these two ladies for a LONG time. I went to jr. high and high school with Ann and she’s been one of my closest friends since we met in 7th grade. She now has a master’s degree and is teaching college English (hey, Dave, if you’re reading this, she still needs to email you!!). Ann aspires to someday be a famous author. She has some GREAT ideas, one of which I’ve been pushing her to write for at least 2 years (*hint, hint* Ann!!).

Mary is a few years younger than Ann but is equally amazing. This girl is an avid runner and is really into a healthy lifestyle. They’re both fashionistas, dating way back to when I was still wearing corduroy and flannel (I’m serious!) and they were hard-core GAP followers. Now I shop at the GAP while they’ve graduated to, oh, I don’t know Banana Republic and AnnTaylor or something. Ann also has an adorable dog named Audrey and two kittens, Josh & Ella. It would’ve been fun to have Audrey at the shoot, but then the kittens would have felt left out.

Without further ado, I give you the photos:
Mary

Ann (doesn’t she look sassy here?)

I of course brought my favorite chair again!


Serious shot in case she ever needs a photo for her book dust jacket.


Together for Mom (Hi Kathy!)

This one’s not the greatest shot, but I love it anyway.

Oskee, Joanne and I set out one afternoon to get a bunch of pictures for a book Joanne is writing. They used to live here on campus and has many interesting stories from his time here. He cooperated for the most part, but by the end of our 2-hour shoot, he was tuckered out and kind of mad that we kept teasing him by saying “Grandma’s” and “ice cream.” He did get a lot of treats though!!

CONTEST
Upon further review, I feel that some of these photos need LOLdog captions. Leave a comment with your best idea (you can get ideas here)! I’ve numbered the photos for you to reference in your comment. Winner will receive a free individual or family session ($55 value!). Out of towners can participate too, and if you cannot redeem your prize, I’ll figure out something else for you of similar value.

Isn’t Oskee just the cutest thing?
1.

“So truuuuuuuuuueeeeeee…!!”
2.

Here Oskee plays “dead” on a bike path on the Quad.
3.

“No, you can’t throw shade on the corn.” (I think this was my favorite from the whole shoot.)
4.

Dee for Three!
5.

Joanne and Oskee pose in front of Foellinger Auditorium with a Petsmart toy (she knows someone important there, but I can’t remember who!)
Sorry, no LOLdog comments here.

Holly Birch Photography is available for pet pictures!!

K-I-S-S-I-N-G!

Ok, guys, so I’m this close to becoming one of those photographers that has to combine multiple photo sessions into one blog post. I don’t want to do it, so I can’t let myself get behind. Leave me a comment of encouragement so I know you appreciate my blog efforts!!

Today’s blog features Mindi + Marty, the uber-cute couple (Marty will hate me for calling them cute) who found me on Google. This was one of my favorite e-sessions to date and the day was just perfect. It was 80 degrees in the middle of October! I couldn’t wait to get home and process their photos so even though I told Mindi they’d be up in a week, I put them up in less than 48 hours.

Oh, it turns out that Marty went to the same high school as my boyfriend. M+M live in that same town now, and since it’s a small town, they knew each other. And, Mindi’s cousin Kacie is a friend of mine. She saw the teasers I posted on Facebook. Small world!

On to the photos…

This one makes more sense in context, I promise…

LOVE this one… and how hot is that pink shirt? HOT, I tell you.

Purple door? Yes, please.

Have to show off the rock!


Again, out of context. I love the silver/concrete collaboration here…

I told him to whisper something in her ear. It was gibberish, but it worked!

I’d never done this pose before, but isn’t it awesome! It always makes girls’ hair look amazing.

A little sun flare action…

Alright, now who wants an e-session like this? Call me before the weather gets crappy!

I know someone out there was wondering, right?

These photos are courtesy of my good friend Allyson from Sweet Pea Photography. I decided it was high time I had some good headshots done and a few shots with my beloved Nikon D200 and Shootsac. I also want you beautiful brides out there to know a little bit more about who I am!

I have to say that it was really weird being on the other side of the lens. Allyson had to keep reminding me to “real” smile instead of fake smile. Sadly, I think I like my fake or half-smile better. And I realized that my posing eye works better when I’m holding a camera. I was still pretty good at scoping out good spots at least.

I’ve just ordered a bunch of these from my lab to hand out at Thanksgiving to some of my family. I mean, really, I don’t think I’ve had a professional picture taken since my senior year of college. It felt kind of like ordering senior pictures again (I even got some wallets!), but I know my grandmas, mom and boyfriend will at least appreciate the gesture.

I like this one more and more all the time

Now I know what my clients see!


My new Facebook profile pic

I don’t normally shoot in RAW, but Allyson shot these that way, and I had LOADS of fun playing with Adobe Camera Raw. If I play with it a bit more, I think I could possibly become a convert. At least part-time.

My “serious” face

Do you like any of them? Which poses do you like especially? Which one should becoming my avatar on www.hollybirchphotography.com?

These girls were full of energy and totally adorable! After chasing them around for 45 minutes, I now have a greater appreciation for what my friend Allyson does.

I mean, it doesn’t get any cuter than polka dots on sweet little girls, does it? Look at that seemingly innocent face!

M didn’t look at the camera too often, so catching her eyes was gold, Jerry, gold!

This to me says, “I just stuck my hand in the peanut butter jar, what are you gonna do about it?”

J waits for her sister at the bottom of the slide

A smile!

We kept bribing her with the promise of corn dogs for dinner if she cooperated.

Consoling the little one

Baby blues

M LOVED the swing

I’m not sure what to caption this one. Leave a comment with yours!