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Dec 16 2012

Kendra+Dave :: Hermosa Inn Engagement Session

Posted in: Engagement

Who would have thought that a simple game of shuffleboard would change their lives forever?!

Kendra + Dave met while playing a game of shuffleboard. It was ‘friends at first sight’. Yes, Kendra made Dave work for her love! After spending more time together, Kendra soon realized that this guy was special. Their friendship grew into a beautiful love story; one that will continue for the rest of their lives as husband and wife!

K+D, Congrats again on your engagement. Your wedding is going to be AWESOME!!

xo, Stacy Kokes

I loved how they incorporated their love story with these custom shuffleboard discs!

Ummm gorgeous much?!

Awww, aren’t they just the cutest?

Dressed up and lookin’ glam!

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December 17, 2012 - 3:33 am

Bernetta Cochran Puthoff - love the pictures, you look beautiful.

December 17, 2012 - 5:37 am

Dave Hall - Beautiful! Love youall

December 18, 2012 - 4:12 pm

Kendra Schultz - David and I absolutely love these photos – thank you again for doing such an amazing job Stacy!

December 20, 2012 - 2:08 am

Tammy Riley Golbach - Love your pictures…My beautiful kids!!! <3

December 20, 2012 - 2:11 am

Cindy Willis - Beautiful pictures. :)

December 20, 2012 - 3:57 am

Betsy Bailey - david Riley, you are precious and what a beautiful fiancee, Kendra – I am so happy for you both – love you!

December 21, 2012 - 2:08 am

Susan Forman - Love the photos… but then you can’t take a bad photo when the subjects are so wonderful and in love… congrats

Dec 11 2012

Adoption Mini Session Fundraiser-Round 2!

Posted in: MY Life

Our first round of mini sessions were so much fun that we decided to do another. And the turn out for round 2 was more than we could have asked for! Joe and I had the pleasure of doing SEVEN back-to-back mini sessions last week with all of the proceeds going towards our adoption fund. From the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank everyone who came out on December 1st to support us. We are grateful for your donation and excited that we are able to bless you with some images :).

Perhaps a Round 3 should happen…?? Stay tuned!

We started the afternoon with our good friends and fellow adoptive family, the Hagensens. We LOVE this family more than words can say :)

Next, I had the pleasure of photographing Irena + Bogdan, parents of one of my recent brides. They have been married 34 years and this was their FIRST professional photo session together. They rocked it!

Next was fellow photographer Stacey Poterson and her adorable family. They are such a trendy lil’ bunch!

Next up: the Bates! Joe and Victoria are good friends of ours. Their two daughters are adorable as they come. We love this family!

Lil’ Owen gave me my workout for the day. This kiddo is quick on his feet and absolutely adorable. Little boys in bow-ties steal my heart in an instant!

Next was Jessie+Conrad. They swore that they were camera shy but I just couldn’t believe them. These two brought it!

Last on the agenda was one of my former wedding couples: Chris + Liz Burns. Only this time there were two additions: their adorable german shephards. As always, Chris+Liz brought their hilarious, quirky, awesomeness to the table. They were the perfect couple to end the night on a high.

Thanks again to everyone who came out for this fundraising event. We are blessed by your giving!!!

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Dec 10 2012

Coffee Talk Monday #84

Posted in: Coffee Talk Mondays

My dog has urinary incontinence. Happy Monday, everyone! I have a feeling this is going to be very random today. But seriously, my Faith dog was officially diagnosed with urinary incontinence today. The poor girl wets her doggy bed when she’s in a deep sleep which leaves me on cleanup duty. Thankfully we got her some medication that is supposed to stop this issue. However, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I’m having to clean up potty messes just months before our baby boy arrives. I think the Lord is preparing me for what’s to come LOL!

I think the store Hobby Lobby exists outside of time. Usually when I go, I have a goal in mind; buy this and that and then get out. But whenever I leave and finally check the time, somehow several hours have passed. It’s one of the only places where I can go hours without checking my phone, my email or facebook. Instead I just daydream about all the fun projects I want to do or how I know the perfect spot for the latest piece I find. Sweet, sweet Hobby Lobby :)

Today I got to be a participant in someone’s dissertation research. The topic…Adoption and Blogging. I was so, SO excited to get to share our adoption story and why I chose to blog about it. I may be a bit biased, but I think this is the coolest dissertation topic EVER! I am just blown away by the ways in which the Lord is connecting us to some amazing people through this process :).

T-59 until our son is born! I am trying to make the most of this time by getting the nursery ready, reading mommy books and having some ‘me’ time. I have about a half dozen half read books on my shelf right now. I always tell myself that I’ll read it later…when I have more time. With baby B’s arrival right around the corner I realized, NOW IS THE TIME! I have made it a point to finish some of the books that are sitting on my shelf while starting new ones as well. Today I finished ‘the Explicit Gospel’ by Matt Chandler. Ummm…incredible! Now I’m onto Dr. Sears’ ‘The Baby Book’, ‘Shepherding a Child’s Heart’, ‘Give them Grace’ and ‘Future Men’. Looking forward to enjoying my quiet time while I still have it!

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Nov 29 2012

Sam+Nate :: Gold Canyon Resort Wedding

Posted in: Weddings

Sam + Nate are two people that not only love one another deeply, but they love deeply in their lives as well. This was made evident by the 22 people that made up their wedding party; dear friends that have been touched by Sam + Nate’s friendship and stood beside them in their new journey together as husband and wife. If I could use one word to describe their wedding day it would be ‘celebration’. The day was filled with joy and laughter by all who were in attendance. Joy for this beautiful couple who were committing their lives to one another for the rest of their days. It was a blast to be a part of!

Their ceremony was beautiful and Christ-centered full of wonderful truth and great reminders for all of us that are married. The location was gorgeous, a photographers’ dream! Sam had been praying for a beautiful sunset ever since they got engaged and man did the Lord deliver! It was one of the most incredible sunsets I have had the pleasure of witnessing. Vibrant colors filled the sky and served as the perfect backdrop for their romance photos. As the night went on, the celebration only got better with LOTS of dancing and tons of fun. We finished out our 2012 wedding season with this wedding and I couldn’t have asked for a better one to end on!

Congrats again Sam + Nate!! We LOVED working with you and your friends :) xoxo

Team Bride!!

The guys…

The lovely ladies…

Showtime!!

Romance shots…my favorite part of the day! That moment when the couple gets to love on one another :)

H for Mr. + Mrs. Hutchinson!!!

The backdrops at Gold Canyon Resort were incredible!

As we were finishing up the romance shots, the sky lit up. It was perfection!

Let the celebration continue…!

The tears were flowing during the toasts!

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November 30, 2012 - 2:55 am

Danielle York - Love them

Nov 21 2012

Catherine+Matt :: Desert Botanical Garden Wedding

Posted in: Weddings

Catherine+Matt are the type of couple that when you meet them you think, ‘these two were meant for each other…’. Their love for one another is evident in every smile, every glance and every quirk.

It was a pleasure capturing their special day amidst the beauty of the Desert Botanical Gardens with my good friend Charity Maurer as my second shooter for the day. The sweet desert light played in our favor from the moment we started shooting. And Catherine+Matt’s adorableness certainly didn’t hurt!

Congrats again to your beautiful new life together :)

Vendor Love:

Venue: Desert Botanical Gardens

Second Shooter: Charity Maurer

Florist: Butterfly Petals

Cake: Caketini

Hair: Autumn’s Hair Studio

I was loving the flowers. Butterfly Petals rocked it, as usual!

The gorgeous bride and groom :)

First Looks are my fave. F’reals!

Can’t get a better backdrop than this! GORGE!

Desert Romance portraits….be still my heart!

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