Rhode Island

Today as I'm sitting back and relaxing before another big wedding
weekend...and waiting for my flat tire to be changed...I'm anticipating my travel to Rhode Island next weekend.
As I'm sure you've all heard from Cory Ann's blog, I'll be headed to Providence to second shoot for KristinCioffi.
I'm uber excited because I have never visited Rhode Island, and I am helplessly in love with the crisp shoreline of the east coast. I'll be staying with Kristin in her flashy loft and I have the great opportunity of not just one, but TWO amazing weddings for the weekend. I look forward to posting about my trip and the experience that comes from it!

On another note, this is what I came home to today. (After having bought 4 new tires and an oil change....) For all of you that don't know, my husband Kris is traveling to and from Mitchell, SD for culinary school every day. Once in awhile he will stay with some friends for a couple nights to save on gas -and to keep him from falling asleep at the wheel! When we got home from the tire place today, he brought a bag to me that had these contents in it. He let me know that there were 3 cards for the 3 gifts and 3 items because he misses me so much.
*sniffle*
How lucky I am to have married someone that cares so much!

Have I ever mentioned that Kris loves kitty cats???

And puppy dogs???

And Kris is the only person I know that brings home a healthy version of chocolate...chocolate covered sunflower seeds!

Excitement In The Workplace

So, as everyone has heard and seen, I can now say I am the newest face of AC Ellis Inc. Pretty exciting I might add! I have had a great opportunity of studying with Cory Ann the entire summer and traveling with her to weddings to put my studies to practice. (A special thanks to John & Danae, Bo & Jen, Desirae & Troy, and Katie & Travis.)
I'm really pumped about getting to share my growth with everyone as I approach the 2008 wedding season with AC Ellis Inc. I look forward to meeting all the new brides and grooms and sharing the excitement of their big day!

Desirae + Troy: 08.04.07

Desirae and Troy's wedding was the first of the two weddings in Huron. (The second being Melissa and Kevin's.)
The whole day was exciting and bursting with energy from the entire wedding party.
When the wedding was over, Desirae, Troy, and the bridal party piled into a 12 passenger van and followed Cory Ann and I to a nearby field where the horse roamed and the electric fence purred. Later we proceeded to downtown Huron where we had some time to play and get some great images. The reception was beautifully decorated and reflected the personality of Desirae and Troy.
I am very lucky to have been a part of their day. (Plus, I enjoyed Joey shooting Cory Ann's camera!!)
Thanks you guys for a great time and opportunity for me!

Isn't her dress gorgeous?!

Where the horse roamed and the fence purred...

This woman cracked me up the entire night! Everytime she spotted me with my camera in her general direction she thought of new and interesting poses for me to capture!

Reception: Crossroads Hotel and Huron Event Center, Huron SD
Photographer: Cory Ann Ellis, AC Ellis Inc.
Second Photographer: Maria Lavallee, AC Ellis Inc.

Melissa + Kevin: 08.05.06

I was able to photograph two weddings this past weekend. Saturday I had the opportunity to second shoot for Cory Ann, and Sunday she became my sidekick. *hehe*

Melissa, who is a cousin of my husband, had asked me to photograph her wedding in Huron - which I was more than happy to be a part of.
The day of the wedding, one of the salons opened their doors just for Melissa and pampered her with a French mani and pedi, as well as gorgeous looking hair. Later at Melissa's parent's house, we set up the bride and groom's first meeting outside the home. What a better way for them to see each other than with family members silently
onlooking from the porch?!
After stopping at the church for family pictures, we rode to Grandpa Bud and Grandma Rita's house for some portrait time. Besides the few spiders *yuck!* we had a great time.

The day was over all too quickly, but I'm happy I had the opportunity to capture their memories.

Here's a few pictures from the day.

This one brings me back in time.

Kevin couldn't keep his eyes (or kisses) off Melissa the entire day!

And to think that they started out walking??

Reception: Crossroads Hotel and Huron Event Center, Huron SD
Photographer: Maria Lavallee, AC Ellis Inc.

Bo + Jen: 07.28.07

Awhile back I traveled with Cory Ann to Eureka, SD to shoot Bo and Jen's wedding.

*sidenote*
Now, to anyone who knows Cory Ann, you'll understand when I say that I really got to bond with her on a five hour middle of the night drive with a watered down McDonald's iced coffee - both ways. (Only the second time it was good C-Store Starbucks Frappachino.)

*back on track!*
Bo and Jen were a great couple, and I found Eureka to remind me a lot of my small hometown- even down to the Lakeside Motel.
It was a beautiful day with smiling faces and gorgeous weather. Had we not had to drive so far to get home again, we would have stayed another night to make more friends!

Just look at her laughter!