dn.jy | Blog

Engagements are such happy news — I realize this reality increasingly as more of my friends are becoming engaged to be married…it is such a joyful experience for everyone!

I met Andy and Meg at Vine, and they are such genuine people.  As a couple, they are so very handsome together!  Cobden and Alto Pass were fitting locations to express their fun-loving and peaceful personalities :)  If you’ve never been, Yellow Moon Cafe in downtown Cobden is a contemporary-rustic hangout spot filled with friendly people, and that’s where we began our photo-journey :)

It’s hard to miss the Cafe during the day because there is this beautiful midnight-blue wall with a huge yellow moon on the side of the building :)  I love this sequence below on the blue wall — shows off their goofy side!

Meg brought a quilt that her grandmother made to be featured in the photos — which also helped keep them warm in our weird southern-illinoisan winter

This yellow wall is pretty striking as well!!

Andy made wooden flowers for Meg to mark significant moments in their relationship: the white daisy on their first date, all the way to the full bouquet when he proposed — such a unique and heartfelt way to symbolize love :)

Getting to Skyline by the sunset was perfect, as we got different colors and lights to match the epicness of the bluffs and mountains.  It was completely breathtaking.

So. Epic.

I’m ending with some shots from the Cafe, where their deep, deep joy was evident from the very start :) 

Canon 7D, 35mm f/1.4L; VSCO

Remember baby Eloise?  She is ONE!  Better believe it…PINK — everywhere!

Eloise’s outfit is fantastic - especially the crocheted crown/headband, the tutu, and glittery-squeaky shoes!  Gorgeous birthday girl :)

and, of course, joyful parents :)

Eloise eating cake, non-stop :)

HUGE pink balloon!

Happy 1st Birthday, Eloise!  I know you will only grow more and more beautiful and strong, just like your parents :)  Zach and Colleen, thank you so much for letting me capture the growing Joy in your family.  Eloise’s first birthday is indeed a milestone, so congratulations and keep up the amazing love…oh, and don’t forget to celebrate always!!! 

Canon 7D, 24-70mm f/2.8L, 35mm f/1.4L; VSCO Film

WHAT: this is an experiment in the power of community. It’s smple: Art for Change!

“For every photo you take home, drop some change into the rice bowl.”

ONE full bowl feeds ONE child for ONE month

Common Grounds Coffee House, my favorite hangout and study spot in Carbondale, graciously hosted this community experiment this Fall.  I heard about RiceBowls and thought it would be fun to try out this idea, since I had a lot of extra prints of my random travels lying around.  All these pictures span about four years of my life and feature locations from all around the US!

Words fail to capture how meaningful this journey was — meeting new people who have amazing passion and kindness, inspired artists who also love their community, and of course, the amazing work that the staff and partners of Rice Bowls do everyday to bring food and Love to orphans all around the world!  I am blown away by their commitment to doing all they can to spread this joy!

I would collect the full bowls every other night or so, and mark them off — super exciting! 

I should have taken an “aftermath” picture, as there were about 20 pictures left out of about 3/400.  

Needless to say, the project was a HUGE success, as we raised $320!!! Thank you for your extraaavagant GENEROSITY, coffee-lovers!!!

I realized that I didn’t actually own a hammer, so I had to smash these with the backs of screwdrivers…sorry for the random bangings, neighbors!

Be sure to check out Rice Bowls for truths about malnutrition around the world and how you can help! 

Jennifer is one of my really great friends from Vine — as my first small group leader, and partner-in-crime for so many videos and creative projects, sometimes I think she knows what I’m thinking even before I say anything :)  It’s always good to have that kind of connection :)

Yancey has grown so much taller in such a short time!  Super rambunctious and fun-loving personality aside, Yancey expresses a growing courage to me.  In fact, both Jenn and Yancey stand for an enduring courage.

They picked out a pair of costumes just to be silly and warm up for the shoot, and how awesome is this?! Robin Hood and Jenn the Princess :)

It was one of the rare sunny days we’ve had here in wintery Southern Illinois, so it was nice to take advantage of lens flares and the such :)

Silly Faces!!

:) :)

Canon 7D, 16-35 f/2.8L, Rokinon 85mm f/1.4

This is a post that is close to my heart, as Omar and Mayumi were the first people who really reached out to me right from the first weekend I moved to Carbondale, and have since then become like family to me!  

As with all families, there are ups and downs, and this year was definitely not an exception.  This blog is my way of remembering Omar and Mayumi’s first year with Leah, and a glimpse into the strength and depth of love that continue to baffle me :)

Part One: Leah entered the world at the end of last year, so we did a Winter photoshoot to celebrate!

Part Two: Mayumi surprised Omar after work one day with a picnic at Evergreen Park.  We had an awesome get-together just to hang out the week before Omar had to start chemo.  It was a difficult time, but having Leah there and so many people praying really brought out a Joy that is like the diamond in the rough.  Mayumi wrote Omar a sweet love letter, and made these loving notes with encouraging verses.  It was a great Spring afternoon, and the rain stopped for an hour just for us :)

Part Three: This December will be Leah’s FIRST birthday, time passes by so quickly!  She crawls, talks, sings, and, last I’ve heard, has eight teeth now.  EIGHT TEETH.  We brought some color-fun balloons and had some fun around Walker’s Bluff, which is turning out to be an amazing resort and landmark for Southern Illinois!  

Taking advantage of WB’s Christmas decorations :)

On top of everything, Omar is now cancer-free, and we are all so incredibly thankful and joyful for that.  What a year!!!

Canon 5D Mk II, 7D, 24mm f/1.4L, 35mm f/1.4L, 45mm TSE f/2.8, 70-200mm f/2.8L

I love doing family portraits because every family has its own personality, and everyone in the family matters.  Josh and Brittney’s family is unique in this aspect because every single one of them - yes, even Peppa - brings in a different flavor to the family, and together, they create a great masterpiece (see evidence below).  I was going to say that it’s like they create an awesome ice cream sundae, but ice cream melts and masterpieces are timeless :)  The kids might like the ice cream analogy better though.

It was great fun to learn about how their home was built, to stroll through the wheat field, and to hike up to the bluffs that are in their backyard!  I love exploring, so getting to do it and take pictures at the same time was a blast!  Further, I thought it was apt to have their family pictures by the bluffs as the grandness and formidability of it all was expressive of their family.  It’s like Josh and Brittney so effectively created a fierce shield of love to protect their family. 

THANK YOU, fabulous Franklin family, for letting me hang out and showcasing the beauty of wide open spaces.  Enjoy!

It was great that Mr. Moon came out to be in the shot :)

Canon 7D, 24mm f/1.4L I, 45mm TSE f/2.8

She said, “YES YES!!!” :)

http://www.weddingwire.com/sarahandkaleb

Music: “101010” by Sleeping at Last, “You Make My Dreams Come True” by Hall and Oates, “Next to Me” by Sleeping at Last

I am breaking the norm and blogging at the end this time.  All I really need to say [after all these expressive portraits] is that every night, I thank God for the people I have and will grow to know and love in my short life here on this planet we call Earth.  Kaleb and Sarah are great examples of people who have become such great friends to me, no words can describe it.  Perhaps this is indicative: there is not a time when I don’t laugh until my stomach hurts when I am around these people! :D

I met Kaleb and Sarah while helping out at Vine with videos for the kids’ program.  Not only are they super fun people, they are incredibly talented as well — acting, singing, stand-up comedy (shout-out to Kyler!!!), filmmaking, and arts of all kinds.  More importantly, they are incredibly genuine and kind in a way that is extremely rare and valuable.  

If you watched the video above, you’d have caught a glimpse of the amazing love they share.  If they hold this kind of love and patience now at the engagement, I can’t help but be extremely excited for what their marriage holds as they cultivate and grow further down the years together :)

I love you both so much, and I can’t wait to party at your wedding!!! :)

Canon 7D, 16-35mm f/2.8L, 35mm f/1.4L