drumroll please......

Last Sunday kelly Manno and I did our first real Boudoir shoot and it was SOOOOOO much fun...I think I may even like it more than shooting weddings...which is a huge thing because I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE wedding photography! First off all the girls were awesome and were up for anything...they all gave permission to post too which totally rocks...but when you're as gorgeous as these girls I guess it's easy to say "yeah post them"...I cannot wait to do this again. We shot at the Ritz and the room was soooo nice! I want to set up a new marathon session. If I can get enough girls interested we can rent a room at the Ritz (possibly again) The price of the shoot was $250...but everyone got all their files on a high res CD, a passcode protected slideshow set to music, 50 4x6 proofs and a huge discount for a book made through www.life-in-print.com...also the price includes "retouching" of the images....which is a huge deal if there are "trouble spots"...If we can find a location cheaper than the Ritz (or free...like your house or mine) then the price can go down about $50...The room is expensive for me to rent there...I think they quoted us a price originally of over $400. We realized while we were there that these pics can really be taken anywhere...all we need is a bed and some nice natural light...and possibly a couch or chair...I highly encourage you to do this kind of shoot even if you are just in the "thinking about it" stage...Everyone was a little nervous and self consious at first...but within 20 minutes the girls realized...hey this is fun...and totally got into it. I promis it would be a gift that your fiance or husband would never forget!!
Here is a slideshow with some more images...check it out!
http://sjmacky.phanfare.com/slideshow.aspx?username=sjmacky&album_id=358692

YAY for me...

ok...I normally am very humble about my photography...but I am sooooo excited. I just found out that a photo I submitted to Schiller's for their "Celebrate St. Louis" photo contest won FIRST PLACE!!! The funny part is that normally I don't enter contests...I have only done it once before...both times it was a last second decision and both times I won 1st place...so now I guess I can call myslef "A two time award winning photographer" ha ha JUST KIDDING
this is the image I sent...because I thought it looked like Juvie and Eric were "celebrating Saint Louis"

soooo bummed

So most of you know I teach 4th grade. My school was the one that got burned in the fire this past 4th of July holiday. I went up there yesterday and was astonished at how much damage was actually caused. Even though the fire was isolated to one pod of 5th and 6th grade rooms (9 total), the damage goes halfway through the school! It looks like a wazone. My room didn't get burned, but I got a lot of smoke damage. It reeks so bad..even after they took down the ceiling tiles and had everything taken out and everything taken off the walls. It's going to be a nighmare coming back and getting everything ready for the new year. My room was the next one past the doors of where the fire was isolated. Everyone who teaches back there (some for over 15 years) have to throw away everything that was in their rooms...everything...file cabinet stuff, bulletin boards...ANYTHING in those rooms have to go due to health concerns from the smoke. So let this be a lesson...never play with fireworks near something that can burn down. It's truly devasting. I am just thankful no one was hurt.

this is my room with NOTHING in it...not even a ceiling

hallway outside my room

outside of where the fire started

this small little trash can is where the fireworks landed that started the fire




my friend sherry's room


this is what a melted tv/dvd/vcr combo looks like after a fire

baby Ava

Once of my really good friends, Christine, had baby Ava back in May and finally got around to getting her picture taken. This baby is going to be a red head...it's so cute to see the little orange fuzz at the top of her head!


ok, is this not the cutest thing ever??? lovin' the bikini...she's totally workin' it

Sam and Chris were one of the many "lucky" couples to tie the knot on the much hyped about date of 7/7/7. This was the most non traditional wedding I have ever shot...what makes it non-traditional you ask...well...the groom wore a red tux, the bride wore Sketchers...no bouquets, just cool red and black feather boas, and no boutineers (I think I am spelling that wrong-sorry)..just snazzy lapel pins. The parents walked down the aisle to "knights in White Satin" and the wedding party walked down to Bittersweet Symphony! The whole wedding was Las Vegas themed and it was so awesome. Sam and her mom really did a lot of neat little details. Make sure to check out the slide show below. COngrats guys! I had a lot of fun!

Click here to see a slideshow of the wedding highlights
http://sjmacky.phanfare.com/slideshow.aspx?username=sjmacky&album_id=340595

Hey ladies...wanna trash that dress??!!

Michelle Ross from www.undergracephoto.com is holding a "trash the dress" session and I get to go! Yay! I am just going to help out and see what all the hub-bub is about and maybe in between get a few pics for the portfolio...but here's the info if you may be interested!

Trash the Dress Bashes!
New events hot off the press! Three Trash the Dress Bashes in the next few months:
1. Urban Dress Bash: July 14th, 2007 (Saturday) in St. Louis City
2. River and Woods Dress Bash: August 11th, 2007 (Saturday) location TBA
3. Fall Colors Dress Bash: October 16th, 2007 (Tuesday) at the Daniel Boone Home

$200 for an hour and a half of shooting and a DVD of the images, and we will be shooting sessions from 10am to 6pm. E-mail me (ugphoto@gmail.com) if you are interested! Squeee!

Meghan and Bob

On June 30th, Jerren McKenny and I shot Meghan and Bob's wedding. Meghan had the most amazing "wedding hair" I have ever seen...and I tell you it stayed in place all day...sorry I can't direct you to who did it...but I digress
Anyways...The wedding was beautiful and I was in awe of all the hard work Meghan put into the planning...little details make all the difference! I was also impressed with how close both of them seemed to be with all their family and friends. They spent the night catching up with all their guests (which I thought was very considerate of them) and just overall having a BLAST! Jerren got some incredible shots and as usual I was thoroughly blown away...(I believe he is now booking his own weddings so spread the word...not that I am trying to send business away...ha ha but he really has a great eye...Click here to see some wedding highlights put to their first dance song!

http://sjmacky.phanfare.com/slideshow.aspx?username=sjmacky&album_id=332781

Love this shot of Jerren's


'nother cool one of Jerren's


my favorite one from Jerren this time

this is the cool hair I was talking about

how cute is she??!!

Meghan's shirt says it all...