Week 1: Free For All

For my first week of the 52 weeks of photos, I decided to post about Luke's job. Maybe it's because it's been on my mind all week or maybe I just didn't want to go outside and shoot in the rain, but I gathered some of his gear and had a little shoot!

Luke is a law enforcement officer, or in their abbreviated language, an LEO. He was a Sheriff's Deputy in Shawnee county for the past year and is now in training to be a Kansas State Trooper. He left yesterday for Salina and will be there 22 weeks, Monday through Friday. In all my life I never expected that I would be marrying a police officer, but I have to say I've never been more proud of someone. It's scary and I know there are many many things that I don't want to know about the job, but nonetheless I couldn't be prouder. Since he's already turned in his stuff and doesn't have his new equipment, I had limited things to work with for my little photo shoot.

He got this plaque for completing the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center or KLETC for short. Seriously I think I dream in abbreviations and 10 codes now. It's crazy.




I love all the pins and special things he wears. It looks so official! I never thought I'd be a sucker for a man in a uniform... but I am, not even gonna lie.


These are his "challenge coins". I think they're so cool and I get really excited when he brings home a new one. I hope to get him a special case to put them in someday.




Soon he'll be getting a whole new collection of uniforms and paraphernalia and he'll get to wear these patches.


I know that marrying a law enforcement officer means that I'll always worry about him while he's working. I'll have to always deal with the weird ever-changing shifts and long hours. Our house will have an endless supply of weapons and ammo. And, even though I'm already exposed to it, I'll have to get used to the never ending "shop talk" that occurs when meeting with other LEO's.

But I can handle it. One because I have to, and two because I love him and what he does. I'm proud to know that I'll be a part of the law enforcement family, which is full of amazing people who I've become really close friends with recently.

So I just want to thank all people who work in dangerous positions like my fiance, from police officers to firemen to those who serve in the military, and the families who stand behind them. I will from now on have a standing law enforcement/military discount because I feel that for these families especially family photos are very important.

And Lukey, I'm so proud of you! Be strong!

Hello Sunshine!

Isn't today gorgeous! Ah! I'm so excited for some nice weather finally!

So naturally I'm sitting at my computer rummaging through old photos... haha.

I'm ready for this...


And these...












And to be able to shoot without long underwear on!


I want to go back here...


And here...


And I'm REALLY ready to wear one of these!


(Nope that's not THE dress... just the dream dress... that was out of my price range... damn... but the one I ended up buying is really THE dress and I love it!)

I'm praying for no more snow, lots more sunshine, and some color back in the world soon!!!

And Happy Birthday to my seester Amanda today!! Love you bunches!

Disclaimer: that picture was scanned in... it wasn't mine. I'm not responsible for the crappy quality. Sorry!

And the Winner Is...

Jpyle! I don't know who you are and I don't have any contact information for you, so email me at linnie_a@hotmail.com to set up your 1/2 price photo shoot! And thanks for those who commented on the last post! Stay tuned for more giveaways like this going on through the blog and my Facebook "fan" page! Tootles!

- Linnie

New Project

I have a new project I'm going to start! I got the idea from a photographer I like Chris Hsieh of La Brisa Photography. Maybe it's the time of year and the gloomy weather is getting to me, but I've been feeling pretty tapped out creatively lately. I know I've heard of other photographers going through this, but I just feel like I've been in a funk lately. I think one of my main problems is that I don't just go out and explore and shoot photos very often anymore. So I'm going to try to get back into it and I'm going to the start the 52 Weeks of Photos project! I have a list of 52 weeks of photo subjects to expand my creativity and get me thinking in different directions. Here's the list:
1. Free for all
2. Introduction of yourself
3. Show us your hometown
4. Water
5. Sports (anything related, teams, players, equipment, etc.)
6. Botanical
7. One object shot at 5 different angles/distances
8. One for the road (signs, streets, traffic, etc.)
9. Objects that tell something about you
10. Things that make your life easier
11. Your favorite color
12. Household items
13. Foods
14. Something slimy
15. Sun (sunlight, sunset, sunrise, etc.)
16. Emotions
17. Something old
18. What you do outside the world of photography
19. Weather
20. Emotional attachment (heirloom, special gift, etc.)
21. Pets
22. Things you couldn't live without
23. Habits
24. Fire (candle, fireplace, etc.)
25. Scrapbooking (stash, room, lo's, etc.)
26. Texture
27. Hands
28. Shoes
29. Favorite jewelry
30. Generations
31. Hot
32. Fill the frame (close ups)
33. A week in our lives
34. Faith (what you believe)
35. Dance (body in motion)
36. Family & friends
37. SOOC... from this to that... before & after
38. Patriotic
39. Object: straight up shots and then straight down shots
40. Nighttime
41. Something that gives you the feeling of warmth or cold
42. Pictures of words
43. Chores I hate
44. Animals
45. Music
46. Reflections/shadows
47. Flowers
48. Sleep
49. Action shots
50. Wheels
51. Wrapping (gifts, baby, food, etc.)
52. Guilty pleasures

I think it will be fun! So every week I'll try to get these done and then post them on here. Hopefully I'm not like how I usually am, and I actually finish this project!

In other news, Luke and I are having our engagement photos taken this weekend. My sister is taking them for us. She's second shot for me at lots of weddings and I trust her completely. She knows my style and what I'm wanting and I'll be able to talk her through things, so I think it will be fun! But I'm really nervous about being in front of the camera. I'm not a fan of having my picture taken. Ick. So unless I look stupid in all of them, I'll post some from our session next week!

Also, Luke is leaving for the highway patrol academy in Salina next week. I'm very excited for him because it's his dream job and I'm so proud that he got in, but I'm really sad for him to leave. He'll be there 22 weeks Monday through Friday and I get to at least see him on the weekends. But it makes planning a wedding a little difficult. He was assigned to Johnson and Wyandotte counties when he graduates the middle of August, so that means after his graduation we have to move. Sad, but kind of exciting. We've been looking at moving to Gardner because it still has the small town feel we're looking for but close enough to the city that we can drive in to do some fun things. So in the next 5 months, Luke will go to the academy, I'll move back in with my aunt (which I'm excited about!), we'll get married, he'll graduate, and we'll move to Gardner. Talk about crazy!!

I think that gets you up to speed on me. I've been having lots of fun putting things together for the wedding! It's finally feeling real since we're buying things for it. Before it was just plans, now it's tangible things that are in my office! Ah! And we're only 136 days away... whoa. I'm bursting with excitement to show what I have so far, but I want to keep some things to myself, so here's a hint at part of the day!



Dying with the suspense aren't ya! Ha!

Also, I've been reading a lot lately, which isn't a new development... I read all the time. But I want to know what you're reading! So the first person to comment with their favorite book ever gets 1/2 off a portrait session! So let me know!

Savannah {senior session}

I know... it's been an embarrassingly long time since I posted any pictures other than just personal stuff. Sorry!! I really have no excuse! But here they are... I've been planning our wedding! And Luke is leaving for the academy in about a week! And other things! Ok there. Anyway, yay for real photos!! Here is Savannah! She is a rockin' awesome senior girl from Highland, which is near my hometown, Hiawatha. She and her mom came down to Topeka just to take her photos. So Savannah and I rode around in my PT while her mom shopped, and we got some really fun shots! She has such a fun style which I loved photographing and was willing to do whatever I asked. Here are some of my favorites... there are a lot.





Love the Chucks!







This green railing is part of a parking garage downtown. Just another example of finding great photo ops in unlikely places.





Holy eyeballs!



I think this one is my favorite.



These red sunglasses are, I think, her most prized posession so we had to feature them prominently in her pictures!







She's really lucky she got home with that scarf! I about stuffed it in my camera bag!



Ah yellow wall!!

Thanks Savannah for such a fun time! Good luck in everything and remember to just be you!!

Spring Special!

So since I'm optimistic that spring is around the corner... fingers crossed... I've decided to run a spring special! This special is in effect until May 1, 2010! So call or email me today to set up your family or kiddo session!



I've been looking at photos from my last spring/summer season and longing for the sunshine, so here are some of my favorites!