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

October is always a great month — not only does it kick off the holiday season, it brings the joys of Fall, the breezes of change.  The only downside to October is that students have midterm exams and papers and projects.  Insert mournful sigh.  

This particular afternoon, though, I was stoked to have something to look forward to after exams.  One of the most awesome people I know from Law School, Tess, gave me the privilege of taking chill-time portraits of her and her childhood-friend, Miranda.  We hung out by the Campus Lake peninsula and had fun, as proven below :)

It was awesome to be around two people who have been friends for what would seem to be forever.  Sometimes, I feel like true friendship is rare in our modern, tech-infused world, so it was fun to see how Tess and Miranda are so incredibly comfortable with each other and can carry on a true conversation without thinking about it :)

All in all, what a great afternoon.  Tess and Miranda, THANKS so much for letting me capture your friendship! Enjoy the pictures!

Silly faces!

The Lake was absolutely beautiful

Shot on a Canon 7D, with Canon 35mm f/1.4L

First of all, there is a back-story to why this shoot started out in a laundromat.  To summarize, I have enjoy exploring and I might be an old person.  That’s not what this blog is about.  This blog is about three lovely ladies I have gotten to know through my local church family, Vine. 

Devin, Michara and Tashina met through Vine as well, sharing small groups and were also roommates!  The idea of doing “Friends” shoots came to me when hanging out with Devin one afternoon when she was helping out with some videos for church.  These girls were just so close that I wanted to document the beauty they shared :)

Each of them has such unique and fun-loving personalities, it was easy for me to capture their joy.  Thanks, ladies, for being spontaneous with the laundromat idea and for being so joyfully beautiful in everything that you do and say!

Mama’s Little Helper:

Downtown Carbondale:

This last picture is one of my all-time favorites.  If pictures do really speak a thousand words, this one speaks ten thousands of the Love that lives in their hearts.

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

This Retro post is close to my heart as it is the first shoot that Dan and I ever did officially as DN|JY Productions.  Tia was a pleasure to meet and hang out with, as she was just graduating and starting out her acting career.  She has been doing so well ever since, and has effectively proved herself to be extremely talented so far :)

About “Retrospect” :: Dan and I started this blog quite a while after we first started shooting, so we have a lot of projects that have never been blogged but that we have a lot of fun revisiting. Hope you enjoy them!

Info: Canon 5D Mark II, 50mm f/1.4 // USF Botanical Gardens, Tampa, FL

Exactly one week ago, we welcomed one more member to the Paper Crane Studios family, little baby Kai :) 

We instantly fell in love with Kai upon seeing her at the puppy store. She is hands down the chillest puppy ever. We initially just intended to look around at the store, but after about 2 days of hesitation Dan couldn’t resist but to pick her up and take her home. 

Naturally, a photoshoot followed soon after, and based on how unbearably cute Kai is … this will not be the last time you see Kai Bakst here. 

We’d love to hear what you think about the photos, let us know which ones are your favorites in the comments? kay? kay thanks :)

-Dan 

Dan and his infamous hoodies:

My Favorite :)

Little Kai exploring :)

Love the stillness of these black and whites:

and finally, a few pictures inspired by Dan’s lomo camera

Love this last one:

That’s all for now :) sorry if I overwhelmed you with so many pictures :P It was really hard to decide which one’s to include in the blog … but if you wanna see more of Kai: click here

Technical deets

Location: Casa Del Toro

Stufff: Russell

           50mm f1.4 

           100mm f2.8