Gehman Photography :: Iowa Wedding Photographers

Goodbye.

2011-03-16T21:00:00.000-06:00

Time to turn a new page! We're outta here! This will be the last post on gehmanphotography.blogspot.com.

The new blog location is http://www.gehmanphotography.com/blog

If you're reading this on an RSS feeder, or blog aggregator, make sure you update the link!

The new Gehman Photography blog is live here!

Lorelei :: ONE!

2011-03-07T12:09:00.000-06:00

A Case of the Mondays :: Part 11

2011-02-21T12:36:00.001-06:00

Here's my list for this week... I know I haven't done one for a little while. A Case of the Monday's is my personal list of things that intrigue, inspire and/or humor me. Hope you like it!

1. A collegiate quarterback with some incredible accuracy. (I got this off of one of my favorite blogs http://www.twentytwowords.com.

2. Google Weddings?

Here's the "funny" part, though. Look at Google's estimated photography budget.

A lot of people are going to be disappointed if they take that seriously. Last year, we had two couples bring their wedding photographs (from other photographers) to us asking us to "fix" the pictures. It's just not possible. You can't change light after it's captured the same as you can't change your Toyota Camry to an SUV. Sure you can put a lift kit on it, change some paint here and there, give it some big tires, but it still looks like a Camry. We can't change expression or focus or blurriness after the fact. Both of these couples hired photographers that seemed more affordable, but in it end up costing them beautiful memories of their wedding day.

I'm not saying you have to pay $20,000 to get great images, or that someone charging $400 will ruin your special day. But it's far more rare to hear someone say "we over-payed" than it is to hear someone say "I wish we'd invested in a better photographer."

So if you take Google's advice and your photography budget is $400...

3. Top Ten Wedding Regrets.

You can read the entire article here on how to avoid wedding regrets, but I'll just give you the quick version. Of course, each couple has their own priorities, so this list isn't necessarily one size fits all.

10. My dress didn't fit.

9. My ceremony was too far from my reception site.

8. I should have eloped.

7. I wish I wasn't so obsessed with not seeing my groom before the ceremony.

6. I wish we didn't leave for our honeymoon so quickly after the wedding.

5. I wish I would have been more comfortable at the reception.

4. I wish I had a video of the wedding.

3. I should have spent more time with my guests.

2. I should have spent the money to get a great photographer.

1. I should have slowed down and enjoyed the day.

What would you add to the list?

4. F-Stop Looking Key Cap

How cool is this? A clever little key-topper from ModCloth to help you quickly identify a certain key in your keychain!

5. Life & Death

We had the privilege of attending the most amazing funeral service I've ever been to this past week. A woman from our church, a dear friend, lost her battle with cancer at age 59. She was a wonderful, godly woman who lived her life with the glory of God as her focus. She had everything planned for the funeral exactly how she wanted it, with regard to her audience, and asked me to sing 8 of her favorite songs throughout the service. What an honor. Each song seemed more powerful than the one before it as worship rang through the rafters of the building that day. Throughout her life, and in her death, she inspired many people to live for what matters most, and to worship God no matter the circumstances.

You've only got one life... what are you doing with it?

6. Iowa Children's Museum

If you've been to the Coralridge Mall in Coralville, you've no doubt seen the Iowa Children's Museum near the food court. We've been blessed to have worked with them the past couple of years, creating promotional images for their website and marketing material. But we were stoked to find out that NASA is using a picture of our son Jackson, who happened to go with us one day we were shooting at the Musuem, on one of their posters nationwide! Just look for this image by the front door at the ICM.

7. Training Wheels For Motorcycles?

If you live in Iowa and like to ride motorcycle, but just can't figure out how to keep the thing from falling over all the time... help is on the way! "Training wheels" might be legalized! I just think this whole thing would make the Hells Angel's motorcycle gang a little less intimidating. Especially if the new law would provide for the gang to also clip a baseball card to their bike's frame so the wheel spokes make it sound like a motorcycle. :)

8. Is it summer yet?

Seriously. It's a dreary day today, and days like this make me want to sit by the fire with a good book, or just play games on the iPad all afternoon. I can't wait to take my golf clubs for a walk again!

That's the list for this time! There's some super-adorable kids/babies coming to the blog this week and next! Our first 2011 wedding isn't until mid-April, so we've been working with a lot of children and families recently, which has been quite fun! See you soon!

Scarlett

2011-02-17T10:53:00.000-06:00

Its been 3 months since little Scarlett entered our lives, and we couldn't be happier! She's got her momma's eyes, and her daddy's receding hairline. :) I'm sure the part about the hair will change at some point, but her eyes are just captivating. I captured this image at our photography convention last weekend, where she stole the show. Jodi finally admitted that she only took Scarlett along to get attention, and it worked. Ha!

This is how we roll some days.

Pierce :: Newborn

2011-02-16T07:12:00.000-06:00

"A Person's a Person No Matter How Small." - Horton Hears a Who

This little man has one of the most happenin' nursery walls of all time, right?! It's sweet! Well, so is Pierce, and while he's not as small as he once was, he is a handsome little fellow that Jodi had a blast photographing!

Happy Valentines Day!

2011-02-14T07:35:00.058-06:00

This was supposed to auto-post yesterday, but didn't for some reason. So, here's my late Valentine's Day video. :)

Iowa Convention

2011-02-09T13:16:00.001-06:00

In 2004, when I quit my construction job to join Jodi at Gehman Photography, one of the first things she made me do was go to our Professional Photographers of Iowa state convention with her. I was blown away. I couldn't believe that people who lived so close to us would be willing to teach us how to improve our work, when they knew full well we could end up taking business from them. It still makes some of our friends shake their heads to this day.

But we have come to appreciate and enjoy the friendship and competition that comes from knowing other photographers across the state. Iowa has one of the best associations in the USA, and we're proud of it. Some of our best friends are photographers, and if we're unable to photograph your event for some reason, we're blessed to have an extensive list of people that are not only trustworthy professionals... they are our friends and people you will enjoy spending your day with!

TEACHING

This year, we had the honor of co-teaching a class with our pals Dan and Alex McClanahan on how to use creative lighting. We've been blessed to sit under some amazing teachers and speakers the past several years, and it's awesome to be able to give back... to impart what we've learned to the next generation of photographers.

AWARDS

Each time our association meets, we have a print competition. We all put our best work out there for 6 out-of-state judges to look at, talk about, and give a score. We were excited and blessed to come away with a few awards, including...

JODI:
First place in the Non-Event Album category for her senior album: Taylor

Second Place in the Event Album category with her album: Shawn & Haley

RODNEY
First Place in the Wedding category with: "Soaking It All In". This same print also earned the prestigious Kodak Gallery Award for Photographic Excellence which is a tremendous honor.

HONESTLY...

We love our job, and know that we have a long way to go before we are the business we want to be, and wanted to tell you about this past weekend to show you that we are advancing. We know we have holes at Gehman Photography... but we're fixing that. We are dedicated to elevating professional photography and it's value for as long as we're a part of the industry. I know it seems cliché these days, but those who know us well know we mean it when we say we'd like to thank Jesus Christ, the One who gives and takes away, for blessing us with a job that we look forward to going to every day, and for allowing so many opportunities to come our way... it's all His anyway.

Much love...

R&J

Grace :: I'm One!

2011-01-31T07:30:00.001-06:00

Little Gracie recently turned one! She's got a great big set of bright blue eyes, and a crooked little grin to make her one adorable bundle of amazing! Her parents are getting ready to welcome another little one into their family in a few weeks, so Grace will have someone to play with before too long! We're excited for them, and can't wait to meet the new little one!

Madelyn and Connor :: Newborn

2011-01-24T07:30:00.008-06:00

Madelyn is one of the happiest little girls you might meet, because she has a new baby brother, Connor, and she's loving being the big sister! Little Connor was an early Christmas gift for Madelyn and her family, and he's growing up quickly.

"Madelyn, You are a wonderful big sister! You take good care of little Connor, and make sure your Mommy and Daddy give you lots and lots of candy for all the help you give them! :) We can't wait to see you both again, and hope that you're staying warm! It'll soon be summer and you'll be able to run and play outside again. Until then... keep on smiling!"

Hershberger :: Kids

2011-01-19T14:47:00.000-06:00

It's time to show you the Hershberger kids! We used images from this session for their birth announcements and Christmas Cards! We always enjoy working with these kids, as they are quite well behaved, and seem not to mind being in front of a camera! They were so blessed to have a new addition to the family right before Christmas, and I know they are loving on her even as we speak!

New Years Resolutions

2011-01-10T11:13:00.000-06:00

This year, I want to:______________________.

You filled in the blank, I'm sure, sometime after Thanksgiving as Christmas rolled into view, as you started making plans for what your New Years Resolution would be. The top ten resolutions are:

1. Spend more time with family and friends.

2. Exercise more.

3. Lose weight.

4. Quit smoking.

5. Enjoy life more.

6. Quit drinking.

7. Get out of debt.

8. Learn something new.

9. Help others.

10. Be more organized.

I don't know if you fit into that list somewhere, maybe multiple times, but most of us have pretty much the same goal... improving our lives. This year, one of my resolutions is to work less. Not in a lazy way, in fact, it will make me work harder. My goal is to be in the office less each day, but to make that office time count for more. Another one of my goals is to read through the Bible again. I've only done it once straight through. It's sad that this book is what I base my entire belief system on, the foundation of my faith, parenting, relationships, marriage, and my view of life and death, and yet there are parts of it I've only read a time or two. So I'm working on that.

I don't know what you're up against this year; what you see looming ahead, or what obstacles you've overcome to even make it to 2011 alive, but one thing I know: you are still here for a reason. When you woke up today, you were given another chance at life. So the slate is clean! It doesn't matter how messy the slate was last year. It doesn't matter how messy it was yesterday. Today is new. 2011 is new. We were meant to live for more than just surviving, and life is too short to dwell on the past.

The slate is clean, so live like it!

Image by Moore Photography

The Rossiter Family

2011-01-05T13:58:00.000-06:00

It’s always a pleasure to meet with other families, and watch how their kids relate to each other. Each family interacts differently, and we always enjoy the uniqueness that sibling relationships and, sometimes, rivalry's can bring.

The Rossiter kids are a handsome crew, and we enjoyed working with them, although after a few minutes it was clear to see which of the three was in charge. She wasn’t about to be outdone by her big brothers, and she could hold her own quite well. The boys were pretty tough, and didn’t like to touch anyone, or have anyone touch them. But Jodi, as always, did great at getting them all to work together, and they did an awesome job!

Cash

2011-01-03T13:38:00.001-06:00

Jodi and I photographed Jesi and Nick's wedding a few years ago, and were thrilled when they called about family pictures before Christmas! We were excited to meet little Cash, and he's about as cute as they come!

Three Weeks Later...

2010-12-13T14:05:00.000-06:00

I'm in love again.

In between wedding albums and Christmas cards this morning, I took a break to post these pictures of our little Scarlett! It's hard to believe she's been part of our lives for almost a month already! We can't get enough of her thats for sure, and as much as I'm ready for her to be talking and telling me why she's crying, we're enjoying this stage of her life.

Huge props to our friend Danielle, who did a wonderful job with Scarlett. Thanks so much!

iBand

2010-12-10T00:09:00.000-06:00

Some clever chaps over at Northpoint Community Church in Atlanta GA make some Christmas music on their iPod/iPads:

The Moore Family

2010-12-06T07:35:00.001-06:00

Doug and Amy, have been awesome to work with the past couple of years. It's been a pleasure working with their family, but even more so, becoming friends. Both of them have a great sense of humor, and are honestly a joy to talk to. When I look at these images they make me smile, because I can just hear the family laughing, and enjoying each other. Doug and Amy love life, and their kids, and it's easy to see!

A Case of the Mondays :: Part 10

2010-11-29T21:49:00.001-06:00

Well, hello friends. It's been a while since I did an "A Case of the Mondays" list, and I realize that it's Tuesday, but I started it on Monday, so here goes!

1. The Dallas Cowboys. No "....Mondays" list of mine is complete without mentioning my favorite football team, who at this point of the season has thrown it all away for reasons no one could quite put a finger on. They've got a new head coach, and suddenly became disciplined and talented. Hmm. At any rate, they are 3-8 and their playoff hopes are down the drain, so I guess we'll wait till next year to see if they are for real or not.

2. Books I'm Reading: I am officially now a fan of audio books. I find that it's fun to listen to a chapter or so before I go to sleep, and it's quite inspiring, really. Right now I'm listening to "Good to Great" (Jim Collins) which I've been told is a must read for any business owner. Before that it was "Rework" (Jason Fried) which is about re-thinking the way we work, and why we do the things we do. I would recommend ReWork if you're looking for an easy read, and I'm not that far into Good to Great yet, but it sounds like a winner as well.

3. Friendship. The last couple of weeks, since our little Scarlett was born, we have really realized the value of our friends. You know, you appreciate them, but when they pull through for you in trying times, and walk with you through the big moments of life, you realize just how valuable they are. So, to all of you who have helped out the past 2 weeks, we can't thank you enough for the prayers, the hugs, the meals and the support... you're the best!

Also thank you to our wonderful clients, who have been very patient and gracious with us as we've been a bit preoccupied with the new baby, and more accurately, with getting our rest. We're starting to get back to full strength, so if you're waiting to hear from us, we should be in touch this week.

4. The Apprentice

We became big fans of The Apprentice last year during Celebrity Apprentice, and were anxious fo r the new season to begin! This year, we're pulling for Clint who seems to be the strongest player, although he's a bit of a cowboy. :) But, honestly, since David and Mahsa are gone, we cared much less who won! We didn't jive with those two. We've been keeping up with the show on Hulu.com where we watch all of our tv, and we're catching up on Episode 11 while I'm working on this!

5. Baby Update. I'm sure those of you who followed the blog the past few weeks are wondering how the new little Gehman is doing, and I'm pleased to report that she is just as wonderful as we could have imagined! Jodi has recovered well, and is doing a great job of getting a lot of rest. I know we haven't mentioned this before, but Scarlett was born at home... intentionally! ;) Jodi had always wanted to do a home birth, and with our first three children, I was the one dragging my feet. Well this time, I gave in, and it was the best decision we've made! There's a lot more to the story, and I'm sure Jodi would love to sit down with many of you, and tell you how it was, but we have nothing but good to say about our experience! It made the whole birth experience much more comfortable, and I'm sorry I didn't agree to it sooner!

6. Christmas Orders. Due to having out of town relatives, Jodi and I travel quite a bit every Christmas season, and this year is no exception. Therefore, any and all print orders that you want to receive for Christmas MUST be placed by this Friday, December 3. You may continue to place orders at any point after that, but you will not receive your order until mid-January. If you need reminded of your password, or need your gallery put back online, please don't hesitate to contact us at 319 683 3357, or email at info(at)gehmanphotography.com

7. Website/Blog Sometime after the new year, you will be noticing some major changes around Gehman Photography. In an effort to encompass all that we are becoming, we're going to shed some old layers, and put on some new ones. Mmmmm.... new web clothes!

8. Snowflakes. I just looked outside, and saw the first snow flurries of the year (at least for me), and I love it! I realize that some of you would appreciate a life without snow or cold, and that you'd be thrilled if you never saw the white stuff again. But in my opinion, if it's going to be cold, it might as well snow, right? I love waking up, looking outside, and seeing a few inches of fresh powder snow on the ground. I'm sure it's not going to do much today but it's fun to see snowflakes again.

Well, that should do it for now! There's more on the way!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T07:01:00.001-06:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Jodi and I would like to wish you and your family a wonderfully happy and blessed Thanksgiving weekend! We are especially grateful, this year, for the safe and smooth arrival of our family's newest addition, Scarlett! She entered our world a little over a week ago, and we have been mesmerized by her ever since. Of the four children, she has been the easiest baby so far... eats well, sleeps well, and when she pops those perky little eyes open and stares at me, it's game over. The whole event still feels a bit surreal, and it doesn't seem possible how quickly the last 9 months went by. But, here she is, a week old, and already looking like she's going to cost me a lot of money at her wedding someday. :)

Take time today to stop and thank God for all the blessings in your life!

Another one of the many blessings we're thankful for this year, is that my mother was able to come from Pennsylvania and spend the past two weeks with us, during the birth of Scarlett. Mom was a trooper, taking care of our other three kids while Jodi and I tried to catch up on sleep, and spent time in the office, and she even took a night shift for us! Between the meals and diaper changes and talks by the fire, we have so much appreciated having her around!

We love you, Mom!

Monica :: Senior

2010-11-22T13:58:00.000-06:00

She's a multiple-time volleyball MVP, leading role in the school play, a woman of God, and one of the neatest kids you could ever meet. She lives a corn field away from us, graciously picks up our kids for school every morning, and was a great scorekeeper for us when I coached basketball last year.

"Monica,

You are a wonderful young lady, and it's been a privilege being part of your life. Our kids adore you, as you well know, and we appreciate the great role model you've been for them the past few years! We wish you all the best of everything God has for you as you follow him through the next stages of life!"

Jim and Kristen

2010-11-17T07:15:00.000-06:00

Jim + Kristen's wedding was absolutely gorgeous, and we felt so blessed to be there to capture it all. They were one of the most relaxed couples we've worked with at a wedding, and that always leads to more natural looking images.

"Jim + Kristen,
You were a great couple to work with, and you made our job easy! We loved all the little details that made your day a great one, but the best detail of all is the way you two love each other! You have a sweet gentleness about you, and we loved how you interacted with each other throughout the day. We wish you all the best as turn a new page in your lives together!"

Ceremony: St Pius X Church, Cedar Rapids, IA

Reception: The Marriott Hotel, Cedar Rapids, IA

Trolley: Cedar Rapids Trolley

It's a Girl!

2010-11-16T09:05:00.000-06:00

This morning around 4:39, we welcomed a little girl, Scarlett Lauren (pr. "la-wren") into our family! We couldn't be happier, things went smoothly, and we have every reason to rejoice. She is perfect in every way, and we're all in love with her already!

Jodi is resting, and doing well. Thank you so much for your prayers, well-wishes and thoughts... we appreciate them so very much.

More later... R&J

November 15

2010-11-15T07:15:00.001-06:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEETHEART!

Update

2010-11-12T18:00:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone! We are loving all of the guesses (see previous post) so far, and it's been fun to watch the comment box keep piling up! :)

Well, here's the deal... there's still no baby Gehman here, so keep those guesses coming! :)

Talk soon... hopefully! :)
Rodney

Time to Get Personal

2010-11-10T16:41:00.005-06:00

Hello, folks. I realize that I've been quite less predictable at posting this fall than I once was, and I wish to address this problem. I also realize that making excuses, particularly online, is quite tacky and should at all costs be avoided, however, I will break my own rule and here goes:
ONE

The main excuse for not blogging is that we were photographing quite a few family sessions, and the desired intent of said sessions is to create a portrait that would be determined suitable for greeting cards that inspire Christmas joy and cheer to the recipient. Therefore, I refrained from posting such sessions, because it would, in effect, spoil the first impression of the card if the viewer had already seen the images. Makes sense, right? So, those sessions are being saved until after Christmas, when I will release them to you like a flock of doves... Joyful and cheerful doves!

TWO

Perhaps the most important thing we wanted to say is that Jodi and I are expecting our fourth child to make his/her (we don't know yet!) arrival any day now! This is something we are quite excited about, and while the past 9 months have flown like greased lightning on a rocket ship (that's fast, by the way) we know that the big moment is peeking around the corner and we're hoping we're ready!

So lets have some fun with a:

Baby's Arrival Prediction Contest!

This could be the shortest contest we've ever run, so you'd better get on the stick! Here's the deal:

I need you to write in the comment box below your best guess at these two things:
   1) Will Jodi and I have a boy, or girl?
   2) Your prediction for the DATE/TIME of our childs arrival. (Jodi is due today.)

Whoever guesses the correct gender, as well as having the closest time to the actual time of birth will win a little gift from Gehman Photography.

Rules: 1) You may only guess once. Or twice. No more than 2.
   2) Guesses must be entered here in the blog comment box, and you must sign your name (so we know how to get in touch with you if you win, duh!)

Have at it!

New sessions on the blog next week!
Thanks,
Rodney

Aaron :: Senior

2010-11-09T07:30:00.000-06:00

One of the perks of working with a musician is that when they sit down at the piano for a portrait, we tell them to go ahead and play, because a) it looks more natural that way, and b) we get to hear music! :) With Aaron, we should have just put the cameras down and listened to him as he played.

"Aaron, You have more musical talent in your little finger than most people do in their lifetime! Thanks for allowing us a little peek into your life, and for being a great sport about the whole thing. You've got a great foundation for your life, and God has big plans for you; we wish you the best in your senior year, and in the future!"

Jessica :: Senior

2010-11-05T12:32:00.000-06:00

Jessica is a great high school senior who is planning on a career in fashion and/or modeling. We had fun working with her, for several reasons...

1) Anytime someone brings 3 suitcases of clothes, we know they are going for the win, and for the record, when said suitcases are hot pink... game over. :)

2) She wore her prom dress into a swampy nasty little pond. I think each step she took she sank further into the muck, but the images she'll get from it are worth it!

"Jessica,
Thank you for trusting us with your senior portraits! You've got a great life ahead of you, and many roads yet to be traveled. You seem very focused in what you want to do, and where you want to be, and there's a lot to be said for that kind of vision! Dream big, trust God for each step, and you'll do more than you can imagine!"

Matt + Liz :: Love

2010-11-01T07:37:00.000-06:00

We had a great time working with Matt + Liz on their engagement session, and we hadn't worked in Iowa City for a long time, so it was fun to be back! They are a fun couple, and we're looking forward to their wedding next year.

Oh, and I climbed a tree.

"Matt and Liz,
You were both a lot of fun to work with... Thanks for the opportunity! We appreciate your love for each other, and how you both smile easily! It's great to see couples who really enjoy each other's company like you do, and we're excited to work with you again at the wedding! We're glad you chose us!"

Kelli :: Bridal "Day After" Motion

2010-10-29T09:24:00.001-06:00

A sheep pasture.

That's where we took Kelli for her bridal shoot a few days after the wedding! A couch, a chandelier in a tree, and an old bicycle made for a unique session. The great thing about a Bridal Shoot, or "Day After" session is that you're not under the same time and location constraints that come with a wedding day schedule. There's no guests waiting, no bridal party sitting around until it's their turn... just you, looking fabulous, and getting some great images!

We fused still images with moving ones, and we call it Motion Photography! Check it out!

Kelli+Cody, JJ+Megan :: Double Wedding!

2010-10-27T16:06:00.003-06:00

We've heard some great stories over the years of working with couples... how they met, how he proposed, that sort of thing.... and found out that from skydiving, to cooking classes, to learning a new language, to traveling the world, there is nothing that will stop love when it's on a mission! These stories are where we take our inspiration as photographers. True art comes from the soul, and when we have a bit of a storyboard to go off of, that's when we feel we can really shine.

We've been so blessed to get to know these two sisters, Kelli and Megan, and their fiancé's, over the past year or so. Those of you who follow our work have come to know Kelli + Cody as "The Fareway Couple", in reference to how they met at the meat counter of a grocery store, as well as the location for their engagement photo shoot with us. Megan and Jarvis met at a local fair called Sauerkraut Days when they were 16, and as each couple relived their story to the guests at their reception, you could still hear and feel the emotion that is tied to those memories as if it were yesterday.

"Kelli + Cody, Megan + JJ: We are so fortunate to have been a part of your lives, and have enjoyed each and every visit with you, from consultations to your GP Movie Premiere. You four have a wonderful bond with each other, and we consider it an honor that you would trust us to capture your wedding! We enjoyed seeing the strong connection you all have with your family, and how you wove those connections into your wedding, through Grandpa's pick-up truck, the many pumpkins and more. God has definitely had his hand in your life from your unique beginnings, and it will be great to see where He takes you from here!"

Kelli + Cody

Megan + Jarvis

Megan is a fan of horses, and one time when we were meeting with her and her sister, we asked if there would be a horse involved in the wedding. Sadly, no, we were told, and we left it at that... until, we were moving from the house where Megan and Kelli got ready, to the park where we would do bridal party portraits. We saw two gals riding their horses alongside the road, and if you know Jodi at all, there is no shame in asking anyone for anything when it comes to a bride! As you can see below, the girls said yes, and Megan got her horse pictures! It's a wedding day... anything can happen!

When Jarvis was a little kid he was the ring bearer in a wedding, and this little red firetruck was his motivation for going down the aisle. Now, many years later, it showed up at his own wedding, and seemed fitting for their ring shots.

•••••

Special thanks to Janene and Alyssa for helping with this wedding! We also shot Motion Photography, so it was wonderful to have extra hands and additional photographers along! Thanks you two!!

Bridal Preview

2010-10-19T22:24:00.002-06:00

Sorry I can't post more tonight, but I just wanted to give you a glance at Kelli's bridal session from last week. More to come later!

The Mercure's :: Family

2010-10-15T07:55:00.000-06:00

The leaves were just starting to change and it definitely looked like Fall had arrived. As the Mercure family hopped out of their mini-van, we knew the session would be a fun one! Mike + Audra have the cutest little twin girlies you'll ever see. They started off a little bashful, but with some help from Mom and Dad's tickles and Jodi's crazy high fives, they were good to go!

"Mike + Audra,

We totally enjoyed meeting your family, and getting to know you a little bit! You have the most adorable little girlies, and they were a lot of fun to ham around with! :) Thanks for trusting us to capture this precious stage of life... God bless!"

••••••

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www.gehmanphotography.com

Emma :: Senior

2010-10-14T21:21:00.000-06:00

Emma is a great gal that Jodi had the pleasure of working with a few weeks ago. It looked like the session was quite fun, and I love the picture with the VW Beetle!

"Emma, you've got a great personality, and were a lot of fun to work with! We wish you all the best as you pursue life, and all that lies in store for you! Enjoy your last year of high school!"

The McKay Family

2010-10-11T23:26:00.001-06:00

What do 3 boys bored with having their pictures taken do with dry leaves and a bug zapper? Try to make sparks and set the leaves on fire, of course! That's what I would have done.

Mike and Sherry have an amazing tree house in their backyard! To drive past their house, you would never guess it to be back there, but it is, and what great fun I'm sure it is for those grandchildren.

"Mike & Sherry, you have a wonderfully handsome family, and beautiful grandchildren! You are very blessed, as I'm sure you know. Thank you for letting us into your lives for a few moments, and the honor of capturing this important time in your family's life!"

••••••

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Hannah + Jon :: Graffiti Love

2010-10-04T07:20:00.000-06:00

Now, we realize that piano's aren't necessarily meant to be spray painted, but this one was! Hannah and Jon have a great story of meeting and falling in love, and it's been fun working with them and dreaming with them about their wedding later this Fall. Their love for each other, coupled with their love for God and his plan for their lives, will be a solid foundation for their marriage!

"Hannah + Jon,

We have enjoyed getting to know you both the past few weeks, and it's been great to hear your life stories and how you arrived where you are today. We hope you had as much fun at your engagement session as we did, and we're looking forward to celebrating your wedding with you in a few months!"

••••••

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Lorelei :: The Eyes Have It.

2010-09-30T07:30:00.002-06:00

••••••

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Chelsey and Keaton :: Forever

2010-09-29T09:19:00.005-06:00

I would liken it to a heat-seeking, laser guided missile.

That's what the bouquet looked like when Chelsey let it fly during the wedding reception! Jodi and I photograph dozens of weddings each year, and have never seen a bouquet rocket before! And, the flowers made it to the back row of ladies, which also doesn't happen very often!

Chelsey and Keaton's wedding took us to Prairie Du Chien Wisconsin, even though the wedding itself was across the Mississippi River in McGregor, Iowa. This historic little river town quickly became one of our favorites! I was told that each business owner downtown is responsible to keep up the historic atmosphere of their property, and I would say that everyone's doing a pretty good job of it.

"Chelsey and Keaton...

You guys are crazy, and have some crazy friends! ;) We could tell that you love to have fun, but you also enjoy being with each other, and stealing kisses when no one's looking! We enjoyed working with you and your families, and know that you have a great support team around you as you move forward in your lives together. We enjoyed working with the two of you and you couldn't have asked for a nicer day. Thank you again for letting us be part of it! Congratulations!"

And here's a sneak peek at their video!

••••••

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Stacie + Matt :: Forever

2010-09-22T07:12:00.010-06:00

You dream the day... we capture it.

One of the things that sticks out in my mind about Stacie + Matt's wedding was the speech of Stacie's dad at the reception. There weren't too many dry eyes in the building as he shared how proud he was of Stacie, and how it didn't seem that long ago that she was just a little girl. It's moments like those that make us proud to be wedding photographers. Not only do we get the privilege of standing by couples on one of the biggest moments of their lives, but we get to capture it all, and preserve it for them... helping them create heirlooms for future generations to enjoy.

"Stacie + Matt: You are two very sweet people, and we appreciate the honor of working with you! You had a great group of family and friends surrounding you on what turned out to be a gorgeous day, and your love for each other was louder than all the activity of the wedding. Thanks for letting be a part of your special day!"

Church: First United Methodist, Iowa City, IA

Reception: Brown Deer Golf Course, Coralville, IA

Wedding Gown: Heart to Heart

Flowers: Hy-Vee

Limo: Charles from Express Limo

••••••

If you like the work you see here on the blog, leave a comment below or check one of the links below!
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Thanks for stopping by!

The Girls :: Family

2010-09-20T13:48:00.000-06:00

These three beautiful young ladies have a very special place in our hearts. We've been blessed to have watched them grow from little on up, and are glad to call them family!

"Brittney, Ashley, and Samantha... we love you all so much! Thanks for all you do babysitting and playing with our kids. They look up to you! We include you in our prayers often, and have enjoyed watching you grow up since moving back to Iowa. It's so good to have you around again!"

Shantell Gish :: Senior

2010-09-13T07:35:00.002-06:00

Say hello to Shantell Gish! She's a superstar volleyball player with a gorgeous smile, and great style. She split her session into two: straight and curly hair, and it allowed her to get quite a few more looks for her to choose from.

"Shantell,

Thanks for allowing us the privilege of photographing your senior portraits! You've got a great future ahead of you, and we wish you all the best in volleyball this year! We had a great time with you... God bless!"

Justin and Jordan Burns :: Seniors

2010-09-07T09:25:00.003-06:00

This year we've been blessed to work with some amazing seniors, each with their own unique abilities and interests. Justin and Jordan are two of those great kids with a passion for life and they are both running for the state's number one ranked Cross Country team in Class 4A this year. Along for the photo session were the boys' mom, sister and Jordan's girlfriend who will be featured in her own post in a couple of days here on the blog! Thanks for your help!

"Justin and Jordan...

Thanks for letting us hang out with you for a couple hours and get to know you a bit. You seem to enjoy life, and it's fun to see the way you connect with each other and your family. Thanks also for working hard to get those running and frisbee shots! :) You were great! We'll be cheering you on this season in Cross Country, and may God bless you both in your senior year!"

••••••

If you like the work you see here on the blog, let us know! Leave a comment below or make your voice heard on our Facebook Page. Thanks for stopping by!
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Email: info(at)gehmanphotography(.)com

Mallory + Trevor :: Forever

2010-09-01T07:01:00.000-06:00

Once in a while we work at a wedding where the bride and groom puts on a great display of personality, and no amount of stress, heat and humidity, or broken guitars can mess with their day. I think Mallory + Trevor were one of those couples. They weren't nervous. They weren't uptight.

They were ready.

"Mallory + Trevor...

There's a lot that could be said about your wedding... your faith, the heritage represented by the fire truck, and the little details that were the cornerstones of your wedding story. But we'll just leave the pictures speak for what your day was, and who the two of you are when you're together... a wonderful montage of serious and smiling, goofy and Godly all rolled into a love story that's only just begun! Congratulations!"

Church: St Andrews Presbyterian Church, Iowa City, IA

Reception: University Athletic Club, Iowa City, IA

Amber + Jordan :: Forever

2010-08-25T22:08:00.000-06:00

"Amber + Jordan...
We had so much fun working with you and your families at your wedding! We love the little things you brought to the day, like Jordan wrapping his groomsmen's gifts in tin foil, Amber having her grandma tie her sash (because she was the only one who could) and the comic book hero hats for the reception entrance. We love your personalities and can see that you two have a great love for each other... one that is rooted in faith. We wish you guys all the best in your future together, and God's blessing in all that you do!"

This little guy had a busy trip down the aisle!

The two dads getting their groove on!

Ceremony: First Reformed Church, Pella IA
Reception: Bos Landen Golf Club, Pella IA

Stella

2010-08-20T07:01:00.001-06:00

Here's our little Stella this afternoon waking up from her nap.

Oliver :: Newborn

2010-08-19T07:30:00.002-06:00

Jared and Mandi are good friends of ours, and recently welcomed their fourth child to the family... a handsome little fellow they named Oliver! We've enjoyed watching their family grow with ours, as our kids are close in age with theirs, and we're excited to get to know Oliver as he grows up!

Congratulations Miller's! We love you guys!

Jacoby :: Senior

2010-08-17T07:08:00.011-06:00

Jacoby is a senior at Iowa City Regina this year, and has one thing on his resume that should take him super far in life.... He's Jodi's cousin! :) Okay, maybe that won't help much, but it did land him some cool senior portraits, and we had a lot of fun with him. No one's ever ridden their 4-wheeler through our pond, but there's a first time for everything!

"Jacoby, you've got a great sense of humor, and seem to enjoy life! We've had fun getting to know you better, and wish you the best in your senior year, and beyond! God bless!"

Ben + Leibe :: Lifestyle

2010-08-11T07:01:00.002-06:00

We've enjoyed getting to know Ben + Leibe a bit better the past year or two, since they've moved back to Iowa. Ben grew up around here and both Jodi and I had the pleasure of being camp counselors with him a "few" summers ago. We'll also be getting to see a lot more of Leibe this year, as she will be Jackson's first grade teacher! He is extremely excited to be in her class, and the way we see it, any child that gets the privilege of her classroom is a lucky kid!

If you're new to Gehman Photography, Lifestyle Sessions are for those couples who have been married for a while, and most times haven't had professional pictures taken since the wedding. It's a fun way to spend time together, and to just be close and enjoy each other's presence, something that, sadly, doesn't come as quickly as it used to. So, maybe a Lifestyle Photo Session is just what you need to help rekindle the romance again! These sessions often include wall portraits, coffee table albums, Christmas cards, and the list goes on. Give us a call if you're interested... 319-683-3357.

Taylor Fulton :: Senior

2010-08-09T11:01:00.000-06:00

Meet Taylor Fulton! She has been playing the piano since she was 4, and being an only child, her family's life was full of piano lessons, recitals, and practices. We have been looking forward to being able to use this new piano which we've had stored away for a little while. The session started out on the family farm where Taylor lives, and moved to their gorgeous little lake about one mile from their house. Special thanks to Taylor's mom and dad for all of their hard work and help during the session!

"Taylor, we feel so blessed to have worked with you and your family. The three of you have a unique and special connection built on years of love and faith in God and it's evident in the way you all relate to each other. We enjoyed your free spirit, your beautiful smile, and your love for life. We wish you all the best for your senior year, and as you head off to college next fall, knowing that God has great things in store for you!"

Kristen + Jim :: Love

2010-08-05T09:12:00.000-06:00

We've worked with a lot of couples over the years, and we often tell them to "act normal", or "pretend we aren't here" to help them focus on each other, and to get natural expressions from them. Kristen and Jim take the prize for pretending we weren't there, as they would launch into full on conversation as if they were the only people in the room. Then, when we would stop them to move to a new scene, it seemed they would rather have kept talking! We loved it! It's plain to see that Kristen and Jim just love being with each other... simple as that!

Kristen's favorite book is "Pride and Prejudice", so Jim memorized the first few phrases of the book, and proposed to her with the line: "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."

We are looking forward to their wedding in October!

Megan + JJ :: Love

2010-08-03T15:21:00.000-06:00

Megan + JJ's story began on a ferris wheel at a county fair when they were teenagers, and now, they are planning a double wedding with Megan's sister and her fiance in October, one that we can't wait to be part of!

For this session, we first visited one of Megan's favorite things to do: fishing! Then we moved to the Johnson County fair to work with some carnival rides as a tribute to where their love began. Unfortunately, the fair didn't have a ferris wheel, so we settled for the slide and bumper cars instead!

"Megan+JJ,
We loved photographing your session! The vintage styles, antique fishing rods, flowers, the boat... it all fit together to complete your look! Sorry the fair wasn't quite as stellar as we all hoped, but you made it look good. ;) It was a pleasure working with you, and we're looking forward to your wedding!"

Lindsey + David :: Forever

2010-07-27T14:18:00.000-06:00

"What do you do if it rains?" David asked me the day before the wedding. "We bring umbrellas and have fun with it!" I said. Well, we couldn't have ask for a more perfect day. The rain stayed away, and in it's place were some great moody clouds. We thanked God for answering our prayers, and couldn't have been happier with the looks we were getting in the camera.

"Lindsey + David,

We've enjoyed getting to know you both, and it's been fun to work with you during this exciting time in your life! You both are a pleasure to be around, and we are honored that you would trust us to capture the emotions, details and celebration of your wedding day. Thanks for everything... we wish you all the best God has for you in your lives!"

Rodney & Jodi

Wedding Venue: St Mary's Catholic Church, Riverside, IA
Reception Venue: Holiday Inn, Coralville, IA

.

Hallie + Cobi :: Kids

2010-07-21T07:32:00.001-06:00

Jodi always does a great job working with Hallie and Cobi, and I thoroughly enjoy working up images from their session every time, because I know there will be great images to work with! We've been working with this family for a while now, and it's been a lot of fun to watch the kids grow up over the years, and they seem to just keep getting more beautiful!

Leah + Scott :: Forever

2010-07-19T21:53:00.002-06:00

We had been looking forward to Leah + Scott's wedding for a long time, as we love outdoor weddings in new places! Their celebration was held at the Rock Island Arsenal Golf Club, and was a day full of beauty and style, and ended with Independence Day fireworks over the Mississippi River. Can you get more American than fireworks on the Mississippi River?

One of the more special things about the wedding was how Skype was involved. Leah's first cousin was recently diagnosed with leukemia, and due to treatments was unable to attend in person. So, one of the family brought her along on his laptop, and she was able to watch the whole wedding and was passed around at the reception, able to talk with family and friends, and give the bride and groom her best wishes and congratulations from Texas!

We love photographing significant moments in people's lives, and it's a huge honor and privilege to be part of more than one event in Leah's life, having created her senior portraits a few years ago. Her family has become an extension of our family as well, and Scott just fits right in with all of it! I get to hang out with the grooms and groomsmen at most weddings, and I'm pretty sure Scott was one of the most un-nervous, laid-back grooms I've seen in a while. He was so confident in the day that he changed out the black shoelaces in his tux shoes for the colors of the day... pink and green!

"Leah + Scott:

Congratulations on an incredibly beautiful wedding! You both have great friends and family surrounding you, and cheering you on... that's something special. Thank you for making us feel part of the celebration, and being flexible with all that was going on that day. We wish you all the best God has for your lives together, and I'm sure you'll find a way to make Iowa City feel like San Diego... although, truth be told, when football season is over in January, I'm guessing it'll be a lot more difficult! :) See you soon!"

-Rodney & Jodi

Ceremony + Reception: Rock Island Arsenal Golf Club, Rock Island, IL

Cupcakes: Krumpets Bakery & Cafe, Clinton, IA

Hair: Anna Issen (Leah's sister)

Allison + Adam :: Forever

2010-07-13T09:02:00.098-06:00

Adam+ Allison had a scorcher of a humid summer day. But the power of love was hotter, and the day turned out to be a great one. They made us feel like family from the word "go". Thanks guys!

The Hawaiian themed reception was a hit, from the sand, to the palm trees, to the steel drum band... it all made Iowa feel just a little more tropical! You have to take a look at the cake image below... unbelievable. Props to Adam from Tip Top Cakes for creating two delicious pieces of art! Another special touch were the authentic lei's shipped in from Hawaii for the bridal party.

"Adam + Allison: We've enjoyed getting to know you both this past year, and the honor of working for you on your wedding day. Thanks for braving the intense heat and humidity... it was worth it, and you can brag that yours was the hottest wedding of the year! You both truly are fun to be around, and may God bless you in your marriage and in all that you'll accomplish together."

Rodney & Jodi

You have to watch out for any bride who seems to be quiet... You never know what conspiracy they might have up their sleeves!

Ceremony: St Mary's, Riverside, IA
Reception: Holy Trinity Hall, Kalona, IA
Cakes: Tip Top Cakes

Miller :: Children

2010-07-01T10:32:00.000-06:00

This photo shoot was made special by working with the help of our friends Brock and Danielle from Moore Photography. Danielle helped with lighting and props, and Brock worked wonders with kid control! Thank you guys!

"Jared + Mandi: I know this isn't the first time I told you, but you have three of the most gorgeous kids we've ever known! We've been blessed to have you guys as friends and it's been fun to watch our families grow together over the past six years. We look forward to some of our kids getting married to each other in the future, and.... well, maybe we should just wait and see on that one! ;) We can't wait to meet your newest addition in the next week or two!

We love you guys!"

Rodney & Jodi

Andrea + Bobby :: Forever

2010-06-30T15:01:00.046-06:00

Andrea's mouth dropped open in disbelief. Bobby's face blanked. The pastor froze, with his hand out, waiting for the best man to produce the ring. The groomsmen stood in a row, arms grasping as the bride's wedding ring tumbled out of their hands and into the gaping air conditioning vent located on the floor beneath their feet.

Or did it?

No, it didn't. It was a joke, and it worked pretty well!

Andrea + Bobby's wedding was a great one, bursting with personality. Their original church double booked, so they were forced to find somewhere else to have the wedding, and I think they are the ones who ended up winning. The little church called Sts Peter and Paul Chapel near Solon, IA, was a wonderful historical surprise in the middle of what seemed like nowhere. It was the perfect place for this intimate wedding.

Jodi and I have photographed over 100 weddings in the past 6 years that we've been working together, and we've got to throw this out there. Live bands are the way to go. Bobby is a long time musician, and he had some connections to throw together an all-star jazz band for the beginning of the reception. In fact, the vocalist was booked 5 years ago when Bobby heard her sing somewhere. Her voice was enough to put you into a coma, it was so amazing!

"Andrea + Bobby: Who knew when you two met in the 4th grade that you would be spending the rest of your lives together?! We love your story, and how passionately and detailed you recall it. We also loved hanging out with you, and just how open and friendly you were even in the midst of the busyness that is a wedding. Thank you for letting us into your lives at one of life's biggest moments, and trusting us to capture it all! God bless!"

Rodney & Jodi

Ceremony: Sts Peter and Paul Chapel, Solon, IA
Reception: Bella Sala, Tiffin, IA

Courtney + Matt :: Forever

2010-06-28T18:11:00.001-06:00

Matt and Courtney's wedding day started off in downpour, but the clouds eventually took their rain elsewhere, and we were able to jump outside for a few scenes before the wedding started.

We've photographed at St Mary's in Riverside quite often the past several years, and one of the cool things that Father Adam does on occasion, is to have the couple write letters to each other during their meetings with him. At Courtney + Matt's wedding, he read those letters aloud, and the love these two share for each other was very moving. It is a true love story of how these two hearts still beat for the other....

On the way to the reception hall, we stopped at the tractor dealership to shoot a few scenes with Matt's brand new John Deere!

Kari + Brad :: Forever

2010-06-24T07:15:00.001-06:00

Kari + Brad had a gorgeous day for an outdoor wedding! It was pretty hot, but everyone hung in there, and kept a great attitude throughout the day. We had heard a lot about Fireside Winery, in Marengo, IA, but this was the first time we'd been there.

"Thanks for allowing us the honor of capturing your wedding, Kari + Brad! We loved working with you, and appreciated everything about your day! We hear wedding toasts at receptions every weekend, but I don't think I've laughed quite as hard as I did during the toasts at your reception! There were some memorable lines in there!
You two are great together, and we wish you all the best marriage can bring! Congratulations!" - Rodney & Jodi

Wedding Venue: Fireside Winery, Marengo, IA
Reception Venue: Iowa Memorial Union, Iowa City, IA

Kelly + Brent :: Disc Golf Love

2010-06-23T07:32:00.001-06:00

"Kelly + Brent: You guys did great on the engagement session! You both have these beautiful, contagious smiles, and we loved how you got into the pictures and made them your own. It's been fun to get to know you both a little better the past few months, and we're excited about the wedding next year!" - Rodney & Jodi

Corrie + Myles :: Forever

2010-06-22T07:32:00.001-06:00

Corrie + Myles' wedding day started out pretty soggy, and when we awoke, the sky was hosing rain! But, it cleared off in time for us to get some outdoor photos on a local farm, where Myles had arranged for his grandfather's tractor to be there for pictures. He had passed away last year, so the tractor was pretty special to Myles and his family.

"Corrie + Myles, we were honored to capture your wedding! We loved the little things that made your wedding special, from the cuff links, to the garter, to the tractor, to the bird cage, to Corrie's shoes. We wish you both all the best God has for you, and your marriage!"

Rodney & Jodi

Wedding Venue: West Union Mennonite Church, Parnell, IA
Reception Venue: Upper Deer Creek Church, Wellman, IA

Stacie + Matt :: Picnic Love

2010-06-21T07:33:00.002-06:00

Stacie + Matt's engagement session was one I wish we could have stayed at for another 2 hours. For one main reason: Food. Not that Stacie + Matt weren't a pleasure to photograph... they are awesome together and very enjoyable to work with. But food and I go way back, where we forged a friendship that continues to this day, and Stacie brought enough for a tribe! Sandwiches, chocolate-covered strawberries, grapes, candies, fruits, champagne... you name it. It was amazing. But alas, they had to eat it all themselves as we had another appointment right after theirs, and couldn't stay to picnic with them.

Stacie is also a photographer, and it's an honor to be asked by one of our industry peers to capture their wedding. Thanks to the Internet, there are a gazillion photographers to choose from at any given moment, and we're grateful to all of you who choose Jodi and I.

••••••

We also have a winner in our Caption Contest!
Tim Stauffer, you win with Caption #3! Shoot us an email, or phone call, and we'll get you hooked up with some awesome coffee!

Thanks to everyone who entered, and voted!

Contest :: You Decide

2010-06-15T10:54:00.000-06:00

If you're on Facebook, and a member of our awesome Wedding Photography Fan Page, you've no doubt seen the Caption Contest we ran last week on this image. So, as always, it's tough to choose a winner. This time around, we'll let you choose!

We've selected our top 3 captions, now it's up to you to decide the winner. You have until Friday morning to cast your vote... simply write 1, 2, or 3 in the comment box below, and we'll count them up at the end of the week.

I should also point out that the prize is coffee from Hemisphere Coffee Roasters. They are good friends of ours, and the cool thing is that this coffee goes beyond Fair Trade. Head over to their website and learn all about it... it's pretty cool. Anyway, Gehman Photography will buy you a 16oz package of coffee if your comment is chosen as the winner! You win... and the coffee farmer wins.

Here's the image which I took with my iPhone at the I-80 Truck Stop a few weeks ago.

Caption #1: "Should have ordered the 'tow' package!"

Caption #2: "Headin' to the Redneck Yacht Club"

Caption #3: "Saving money on the Turnpike" (although you probably have to travel toll roads a lot to appreciate this one)

Thanks to all of you who entered! Now get your vote on, and in the comment box, write 1, 2, or 3.

••••••

Oh, and on Thursday, there will be a sweet engagement session hitting the blog, so check back for that as well!

Victoria + Eric :: Forever

2010-06-14T07:32:00.004-06:00

This was our first experience photographing at The Barn in Solon, IA. If you've never been there, you owe yourself a little drive up there to check it out. Dick Schwab is the guy who built the barn, and he was more accommodating than we could imagine. From helping us pose the bride's shoes for a shoe shot in the barn, to driving us and our gear to a photo location on his John Deere Gator, to checking in from time to time to see if we need anything... we've never met a nicer guy.

Anyway, back to the wedding.

Victoria and Eric's wedding day was about as perfect as they could have asked for, with a beautiful blue sky setting the backdrop for the outdoor ceremony. We loved the style of the wedding, from the simplicity of Victoria's gown, to the light colored guys' suits, to the place settings, pies instead of a wedding cake... it was all unique, and very much Victoria and Eric.

"Victoria and Eric: You two are truly a special couple. We loved the way you both carried yourselves on your wedding day, and at your engagement for that matter. You both seem to have confidence and direction in where you're going, and in who you are. Together, you have a wonderful spirit about you. You were so great to work with, and your wedding was beyond beautiful! Thank you so much for allowing us the honor of preserving your memories!"

Rodney & Jodi

Victoria + Eric :: Love

2010-06-07T17:07:00.001-06:00

I won't say too much on this post about this wonderful couple, because I'm saving it up for a smashing good wedding post next week. :) But I will tell you that Victoria + Eric met at The Java House, in Iowa City, so it seemed natural to start their engagement session there. It was pretty crowded, so we didn't last long. We then moved outside where we quickly discovered that Victoria was a natural in front of the camera... more so than most people. After Jodi mentioned this to her, Victoria explained that her father is a photographer, and the pieces came together.

Victoria + Eric's wedding images are scheduled to hit the blog next Monday, so check back for them!

Lori + Bill :: Wedding

2010-06-02T10:27:00.000-06:00

Lori and Bill: "We had so much fun working at your wedding! It was beautiful, from start to finish, and so much in between. The butterflies, the boat, the great wedding party... I hope you had as much fun at your own wedding as we did photographing it! :) Thank you so much for letting us be part of your big day, and entrusting us with your memories! We wish you both many blessings and God's best for your marriage!"

Rodney + Jodi

We had a blast with this wedding, for several reasons:

1) I was shooting video all day. If you're new to Gehman Photography, we have added Motion Photography to our services this year, and so far, half of the weddings we've done in 2010 have included video. Now, we don't plan to take the place of your videographer, but we create a 7-12 minute DVD that hits all the highlights of the wedding, combining stills and motion in a smooth Hollywood style film. I totally enjoy the video world, although I'm not ready to give up photography completely! :) These videos will be able to be seen online very soon!

2) We had our good friends Brock and Danielle from Moore Photography along to help second shoot. They both hit home-runs with their images, and were a blessing to have with us!

Home on the Range :: Hochstedler Family

2010-05-27T07:00:00.000-06:00

For this photo shoot, we traveled back to 1884, but took our color cameras along for something different.

I'm not sure if I should admit this to the world, but the Hochstedler Family is related to us! ;) In fact, Leonard and Twila are Jodi's aunt and uncle, and they have a wonderful family as you can see! Actually, Twila has a stockpile of old clothes, and from time to time, she and her friends would dress up and randomly visit their friends and neighbors, catching them off guard and leaving them wondering who exactly that was at the door!

So, all of Leonard and Twila's children and their families were together this Spring, they wanted to try something out of the box for their family pictures. They came from Ohio, Indiana, and Ontario, so it's not very often they are all in the same place at the same time!

"Hochstedler Family... We love you!"

Leonard and Twila with their grandchildren...

Amber + Jordan :: Love

2010-05-24T07:00:00.001-06:00

Amber + Jordan are two wonderful people, who very much enjoy loving each other! Jordan is a whiz at getting Amber to laugh, and it makes for some really fun images. They both went to Central College, in Pella, Iowa, so we decided to work there, never having been to the city that's famous for it's tulips and Dutch architecture.

It was also a really special treat that they took us to the very place where Jordan asked Amber to marry him... this romantic cliff overlooking the water. It was little bit treacherous going, and I was trying to watch my step when something black that resembled my lens went bounding past me on the rocks and leapt into the water! My heart flipped until I realized that it was my plastic lens shader... with no lens attached to it, thank God! Jordan grabbed a long branch lying nearby, and fished the lens cap out of the water as Jodi and I quickly took inventory of what was strapped to our shoulders and what wasn't!

"Jordan + Amber... You guys rock! We loved everything about your photo shoot... the pretty tulips, your laugh's, the way you held hands even when you weren't being photographed, and just hearing you reminisce about the moment at the cliff when you were engaged... it all points to a great love, and a deep appreciation for each other, both of which make a great foundation for your marriage!"

Jemma :: Children

2010-05-19T08:13:00.001-06:00

Little Jemma and her parents were guests at the wedding we photographed in Florida a few weeks ago, and after seeing some of the wedding images, John and Julie wanted a family photo session the next day! They loved the look of Fort Pickens, and the beach, so we went back to those locations with them, and had a great time with them! Little Jemma, like most 2 year olds took a little while to get warmed up, but once we got to the beach with the water the seashells.... she was golden!

"John and Julie.... you have the most adorable little lady in sweet Jemma! Thanks for letting us into your lives on that windy Sunday afternoon! You are a great little family, and we really did enjoy our time with you!"

Shawn + Haley :: Wedding

2010-05-18T07:19:00.001-06:00

Haley + Shawn were both working at Enterprise Rent-A-Car when they met. Haley is a true Southern belle with that sweet Alabama accent, a great big infectious smile and a heart of gold. Shawn is the guy who would rather not be the center of attention, and the whole experience had him a little out of his comfort zone. But, he would do anything for Haley and he proved it.

After Shawn and Haley got ready, we drove out from Pensacola Beach into the Gulf Islands National Seashore to an old civil war fort called Fort Pickens. We would have loved to spend the whole day there, but we moved on to the beach on the way back. The wedding was held at the Pensacola Yacht Club, and although the weather wasn't quite what we had hoped, it was still a great day for a wedding!

"Haley + Shawn: We very much enjoyed working with you two! You were great to work with, and you had a wonderfully beautiful wedding, even though it was a little windy! Okay, a lot windy. :) God bless you both as you begin this new journey of married life! Thank you for the honor of capturing your wedding!"

The Winner!

2010-05-17T08:32:00.000-06:00

Happy Monday, everyone!

We wanted to take the first little bit here to thank you for sticking with us through the winter! We intentionally slow things down in the late winter-early spring so that we can take in education, learn new equipment, and plan ahead. It's like a time-out in a close game... a couple moments to catch our breath and get ready for the next wedding and senior season.

All that to say that at times it can be difficult to know what to blog during those months, and I'm glad you stuck around! We'll have new photo sessions coming to the blog every day this week!

••••••

Well, folks, you've done it again. I love hosting contests on the blog, because it's fun to hear from those of you who have to hear from me all the time! You are all very creative, and artists of your own accord, and some of you have quite the imaginations!

So, out of the 30 comments to the previous post, my favorite title to the following picture:

"Scratch the paint, and you're going back in my wife's purse!"

Thanks to Jordan Jaspering for the winning comment! Jordan, you win a 10x14 of any of the images I posted from our trip, a 10x14 from your engagement session, or a $15 Starbucks Gift Card. Email us, at info(at)gehmanphotography.com and let us know which of the three you want!

Here's a few more of our favorites:

Second Place: GPS for Taco Bell

Third Place: Little Dog and His Big Hog

Fourth Place: little beauty and the BEAST!

Thanks to all of you who entered the contest!

Caption Contest #2

2010-05-08T22:31:00.004-06:00

Okay folks, I had a lot of fun with the last caption contest we ran on the blog, and since I was fortunate enough to capture another interesting image... I thought it'd be appropriate for another contest!

Here's the image I captured in New Orleans... you supply the title or caption.

The winner gets an autographed 10x14 of any image that I blogged from our trip ($100 value), or a $15 Starbucks gift card!

The contest will run until Thursday, May 13 at midnight. You may submit as many captions/titles as you like.

New Orleans

2010-05-06T07:35:00.002-06:00

Today, I saw it. The image that moved me.

No one spends much time with average. We don't stop and gawk at average architecture. We don't last very long at an average accident like a fender bender. We don't get a thrill out of staying at average hotels. And we don't pause and stare at average art. But today I met an image that stopped me in my tracks. It wasn't quite perfect, technically speaking, but the "stare-ability" level was off the charts. I could link to it, or put it on here, but it wouldn't do it justice. You have to stand next to it. Next time you're in New Orleans, visit the gallery of Louis Sahuc just East of Jackson Square, and you'll see it.

Anyway, here's some of our images of New Orleans, as we walked the French Quarter, visited Bourbon Street, Jackson Square, Cafe du Monde, and the Garden District.

We got a guy walking by to snap this photo of us. I love how everything is in focus... except us. Oh well, he was really nice. :)

Beignet's at the Cafe du Monde.

•••••

There is another Caption Contest coming up on Friday! I captured an interesting image while we were in New Orleans, and it needs your creativity to come up with a caption. :) So, be sure to stop by again on Friday to see the image and suggest a title!

Cheers

the Trip continues...

2010-05-05T07:52:00.001-06:00

Our Monday started out by driving down Government St in Mobile, AL. I've never seen a street quite as beautiful as this one... from the massive oak trees that reached across the road to form a canopy of shade, to the gorgeous old homes that lined the street.

After driving around the harbor for a while trying to get closer to some of the large ships in the harbor, we headed South to Dauphin Island, where we visited Fort Gaines in the rain. Both Jodi and I are fans of American history, especially the Civil War era. I'm not sure which era this photo belongs in, but we passed this truck on the way to the Fort.

Had the driftwood that took this picture not cropped it so narrowly, you would see oil rigs in the distance.

On the way back, I saw a Pelican, and really wanted a picture of one, but as you can see... the bird flew away when it saw me coming.

This bird, unfortunately, could not fly away due to a mangled wing.

The yellow thing is an oil boom, which is used to keep the oil spill from reaching the shore. We are seeing them all over the coast. We also passed a fleet of tanker trucks that will be used to help separate oil and water, or oil and sand.

We then stopped at a little BBQ shack for lunch, where I indulged in fried green beans! The cook told us they were to die for, and he was right!

Monday was kind of rough. We kept checking Google Maps on the iPhone for bed and breakfast inn's on the Gulf coast, and NO ONE would answer their phones. Some of them had their phone number disconnected and everything... we were getting tired, frustrated and annoyed. Finally, we stopped and asked somebody where a good bed and breakfast was. They kindly reminded us that we were on the Gulf Coast and that of 14 bed and breakfast inn's on the Mississippi coast, only 2 remain intact after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

We drove through Pass Christian that evening and all you can see are empty lots, most of which are for sale. A few buildings survived, and a few have been rebuilt, but we were told that most of the rebuilding has happened in the last 1-2 years. The locals are a little miffed that New Orleans gets all the press for Katrina, when the worst of the storm came to shore and sat on top of Pass Christian for 10 hours.

We finally found a bed and breakfast near the Louisiana state line and we made our way there.... only to find it had also been destroyed in the storm! Talk about unlucky. So we finally broke our own rules, and ate at Ruby Tuesdays and crashed at a Best Western. :)

Mobile, AL

2010-05-04T07:00:00.001-06:00

I know there is way more history to some of these Southern towns and cities than we could ever take in in a day or probably a month, but we're taking in as much as we can!

We rolled into Mobile on Sunday night and checked into the Malaga Inn which is an historic hotel built from two townhouses in the 1860's. We have a wonderfully gracious hostess, and we took a little stroll downtown tonight, finding that this part of Mobile is strangely like Kalona on a Sunday evening... dead! There was absolutely nothing going on!

Here's the Malaga Inn...

And just a few from downtown...

Florida #1

2010-04-30T14:05:00.001-06:00

We made it to Pensacola Beach yesterday for the wedding, and it's been a blast hanging out with family and eating some great seafood! It's storming right now, and everyone's huddled up indoors waiting for it to blow over. The rehearsal dinner and the wedding are supposed to be outdoors, so hopefully this gets out of the system this afternoon!

Here are a few images I snapped with the iPhone as we toured the island today.

A Case Of The Monday's :: Part 9

2010-04-26T07:12:00.002-06:00

1. Last week was an awesome week. Probably one of the best I can remember. I feel so alive, physically, spiritually... God has just been renewing my vision for what my life is supposed to look like, and it completely reaffirms why I've chosen to follow Him. Stuff like that is hard to put into words sometimes...

2. I know I said it last week, but we're amped for the first wedding of the season that kicks off in Florida this weekend!

3. I love my parents. I talk to my dad at least once a week on the phone, and it's often pretty difficult to live 1000 miles away. Mom + Dad... you have given me every blessing I could ever ask for in life. Thanks for not buying me my first car. Thanks for making me get a job when I was 10, and making me buy my own clothes after that. Thanks for teaching me how to manage a checkbook, and for not giving me a credit card. Thanks for teaching me the value of your faith, that it was much more than empty words and rituals, but a lifestyle of learning, growing and serving. It wasn't always gravy back then, but today I couldn't begin to thank you enough. I would formally like to repay you by letting my kids come and live with you for the summer! :)

4. We're excited! See #7

5. New music I've been digging: Planetshakers, Manic Drive, Jason Gray, Michael Bublé. I know they don't all fit together, stylistically, but I'm all over the place with music. Ask me my favorite, and it depends on the day.

6. For you video editors out there, I'm trying out Adobe Premiere Pro, instead of Final Cut. Anyone have a compelling argument for me to use one or the other? They seem fairly equal as far as performance, although I'm leaning towards Adobe for this one.

7. Change is coming! Here it is....

8. Thanks to our good buddies Dan + Alex at McClanahan Studio in Ames for the sweet photo.

9. We've been blessed with 3 wonderful kids, and we're excited to meet the fourth one this fall! Jackson says he would like us to keep going to at least 8 children! This will be a great opportunity to teach him how to handle disappointment. :)

Kendal :: Senior

2010-04-19T07:35:00.000-06:00

Kendal is another one of the guys on the Pathway Christian basketball team that I had the privilege of helping coach this year. Kendal was one of the leaders on the team, and really came alive the second half of the year, taking the court by storm and hitting some clutch shots in big games.

We've also enjoyed having him as a trustworthy method of getting our kindergartner to and from school every day! Thanks, Kendal!

He said he's considering going to a local community college for business classes next year, and we wish him well!

Dillon :: Senior

2010-04-14T13:31:00.000-06:00

I had the wonderful opportunity this year to be an assistant basketball coach at Pathway Christian School, in Kalona. One of the greatest joys as a coach was getting to know the kids, and watching them grow and improve as the year goes on.

Of all the players on our team, Dillon was one of the hardest workers on the floor. Besides his hustle, his long arms made it easy for him to pick off passes and knock the ball loose, and I think he was the first player in PCS history to successfully dunk a ball in a game!

As of the photo session last week, he's planning to go to work for his dad's business next year and we wish Dillon all the best that God has for his life!

A Case of the Monday's :: Part 8

2010-04-12T11:00:00.004-06:00

I apologize for my lack of posting recently! We're trying to get things finished up around here before May, and blogging kinda took a backseat. That's also why my two weeks of iPhone photos only lasted 11 days! Anyway, here's the list for this week!

A CASE OF THE MONDAY'S.

1. Our wedding season kicks off in lovely Pensacola, Florida in a few weeks, and we are STOKED! Seriously. We love working destination weddings, and when it's somewhere warmer than Iowa... we're in!

2. For those of you who are using Facebook, I encourage you to visit our Gehman Photography Page sometime and make your voice heard by answering the Questions of the Week! Also, follow us on Twitter!

3. Crazy Love. Francis Chan has been one of my favorite Christian speakers/communicators recently, and this book of his blows me away. If you are searching for answers to what the Christian life should really look like, other than the Bible, this is the book I would recommend. This book is slowly wrecking me for the kingdom of heaven, and it's been tough. Jesus didn't go to the cross, and die for me so that I could ignore him for the rest of my life and still get into heaven. If the story of Jesus Christ coming to earth (Christmas) and then dying on a cross and rising from the dead (Easter) is true, then we can't just move on unchanged.

I know you didn't come here for a sermon, but this is my list. :)

4. Dear Photographers, Designers, and Digital Artists: Adobe Creative Suite CS5 is scheduled to release mid May. From what I've been hearing, and reading, this will be a game-changer for all of us.

5. Here's another senior session sneak peak from Kendal's session. More of him coming later on as well....

6. Spring is here, and it's lawn mowing time! I'm sure most people don't enjoy mowing the lawn, but I sure do. Something about getting to be outside in the sun for a few hours every week that makes me smile, especially when I'm working inside looking out on these gorgeous Spring days. I read online the other day that most people get 80% of their lifetime sun exposure before the age of 18. How sad that adults aren't going outside!

7. Turns out that previous statement isn't true, according to a 2005 study by The Skin Cancer Foundation. The SCF says most people get less than 25% of their sun exposure by 18. Here I thought everything I read on the internet is true!

8. Everything you read on the Gehman Photography Blog is guaranteed to be true... unless I say it's not.

9. The average Facebook users spend more than 55 minutes a day on the site. They use the Like button nine times a month and write 25 comments each month. (Random Facts)

Photo of the Day #11

2010-04-02T11:53:00.000-06:00

Last night we were visiting our new friends, Brock and Danielle, at Moore Photography, and the two little girlies were watching the older ones play outside.

Photo of the Day #10

2010-04-01T07:19:00.003-06:00

Today's Photo of the Day comes to you courtesy of our youngest daughter, Stella, who's giant pop-knot on her forehead is getting her a lot of extra attention. :)

Photo of the Day #9

2010-03-31T09:45:00.000-06:00

Jackson and I played some checkers last night. He's only six, but he's still all like "oh dad,
you don't want to go there. I can jump you like this..."

Photo of the Day #8

2010-03-30T07:35:00.002-06:00

In case you're new to the blog and wondering why all the "Photo of the Day" stuff, I'm doing a two week project of only taking photos with my iPhone. It's been a challenge but it's also been fun.

This was the view from the back yard last night. I loved how the light broke through the trees. Not sure I'm a fan of this filter on the iPhone, but it's something different, and sometimes that's good.

Photo of the Day #7

2010-03-29T15:42:00.001-06:00

This photo comes from our garden.

Great Video

2010-03-29T12:09:00.000-06:00

I'll have my Photo of the Day on here a bit later this afternoon, but just wanted to show you this sweet video if you haven't seen it before. This one's for all you creatives out there. Hopefully it inspires you to do something out of the box today!

Photo of the Day #6

2010-03-28T08:06:00.000-06:00

The photo of the day comes from our basement where the last of our winter decorations still hang. We're pretty redneck when it comes to taking decorations down.

Photo of the Day #5

2010-03-27T08:33:00.000-06:00

Here's one last parting shot from our little mini-vacation. We had a great time splashing around and frolicking with the kids in the pools and waterparks. Probably the best part of vacation is seeing how excited our kids get when they get to do something out of the ordinary.

Photo of the Day #4

2010-03-26T07:35:00.005-06:00

Sorry, this one wasn't from the iPhone, but I thought you should see just how seriously I take the bumper cars, okay? Jodi caught me in action looking to give some little kid a bad case of whiplash. What you can't see in this image is Alana sitting next to me hanging on for dear life. :)

Photo of the Day #3

2010-03-25T08:46:00.000-06:00

Photo of the Day resumes from the swimming pool at our hotel near Wisconsin Dells.

Photo of the Day #2

2010-03-24T07:45:00.000-06:00

Photo of the Day #1

2010-03-23T07:35:00.002-06:00

I took this image in our backyard. I'm not sure what else to say about it other than that these weeds were like 12ft tall.

A Case of the Monday's :: Part 7

2010-03-22T07:38:00.003-06:00

Hey good people! Sorry I missed a week there, I'm back with a vengeance now. Who's up for another installment of Case of the Mondays?!

1. I saw this product, Vibram Five Fingers, mentioned on a friend's Facebook page the other day. What do you think: gross? or clever?

2. We've had Spring Fever around our house the last week or two, as I would assume many of you have also had. The trees are starting to bud, and the yard gets a little greener every day. But, with Springtime comes the runny noses and we've had our share of it. Seems to get only one of us at a time, which means that for a solid month, one of us is blowing our nose every few minutes.

3. Update on my reading list: Well, I started off with a bang, and it sort of slowed down a little. I finally finished the "E-myth" a few nights ago, and now I'm into a book by Seth Godin, called "Tribes" that my pastor gave me yesterday.

4. Photo of the Day. I'm starting a new personal project tomorrow, called Photo of the Day. I will be pushing myself to take one photo every day, for two weeks, only with my iPhone. I'll put them on the blog here so keep checking in.

5. Broccoli has to be one of the worst smelling foods of all time.

6. Jodi's aunt/uncle and cousin live in Haiti providing clean water wells for villages, and were blessed to survive the earthquake two months ago. They spoke at a local church last night about their experiences and the vast array of needs that still abound. Their goal when they return this week is to drill wells in the tent cities that have sprung up all over Port Au Prince, to provide much needed fresh water for the people living there, and to help people who lost their businesses rebuild, and get back on their feet again. If you'd like to help, please contact their organization Water For Life.

7. Health Care Reform. That's all the further I can talk about that subject without getting angry. I probably shouldn't have even mentioned it. Speaking of Haiti, lets send them our government so we can get a new one.

8. Seriously.

9. My top 5 favorite TV shows, since you were wondering. Jodi and I do not have TV (unless we carry the business TV downstairs), so we watch our favorite shows on Hulu.com the day after.

1. "The Office" - This one is tough to beat, although the last 2 episodes since the birth of Jim and Pam's baby haven't been quite as good.

2. "Shark Tank" - I'm intrigued by everything business these days, and this show is inspiring. I initially wondered why these billionaires aren't giving $10,000 to someone with a dream! What is it to them... a dollar to normal people? I'd give someone a dollar if it gave them a chance to realize a dream. But the thing is, these guys didn't get to be billionaires by tossing away chunks of money, even if it's small chunks. They are smart. That is why they are rich. I don't really care about the inventions, I just like to hear the questions the investors ask.

3. "LOST" - Someone tell me what the sam hill is going on here. This show has been one of my favorites for the past couple of years, but now everyone on the show is annoying in their own special way. Just get it over with already.

4. "Undercover Boss" - Again, another cool business show, but it's "feel-good" in every way. Almost makes me cry every time, kinda like Extreme Home Makeover.

5. "The Marriage Ref" - Some married couples have issues that just need to be resolved on national television by people who will make fun of them.

* Honorable Mention
6. "Flashforward" - I'm not sure why it's suddenly cool to have the main characters whisper their lines, but apparently it is. Same with LOST. So I've been using this technique around the house just to help me be more dramatic. It hasn't been working very well. Also, the word "Flashforward" is used way too much in the show.

••••••

There you go. Two lists for the price of one. See you tomorrow with the Photo of the Day!

Alana :: I'm 4!

2010-03-11T07:01:00.000-06:00

It was kind of funny.

We started out planning to photograph all three of our kids last week, but Jackson and Stella fell asleep! So, Alana got all the attention instead! :) She just turned four years old, the end of February, and received a warm, loving gift from her brother... a hair cut! So, it's good to have some new photos of her with her short hair. The only problem is, now she has to wear dresses or skirts all the time to avoid being called a boy. In fact just today, someone said, referring to Alana: "Ooooh, he has such beautiful eyes!"

She's our little actress, dancer, artist, and chef. She has always had a very sensitive heart, although she knows exactly when and how loud to whine to make herself heard. She says she "only has a few hugs and kisses every day", so if you're not lucky enough to get one of them today, you'll have to try again tomorrow. She loves dresses, the color purple, and can't sleep without her animals or a nightlight. She still sucks her thumb with her index finger up her nose as she has her whole life. She loves cereal, cookies and whatever food or drink is on daddy's desk at any given moment. She is an excellent singer, storyteller and can hold her own in an argument with her older brother. She's innocent and guilty at the same time, and it's wonderful!

She's our middle child, our second gift from the Father... and we love her like mad!

Grace :: Newborn

2010-03-08T07:35:00.001-06:00

I'm a proud uncle again!

My brother, Greg, and his wife, Monica, were here this week visiting us, and introducing us to their 6 week young bundle of joy named Grace! She's a little sweetheart, with great big blue eyes that take everything in. There is a video on my phone of me and Grace. Apparently, when I rocked her to sleep I also rocked myself to sleep. I woke up to find Jodi, Greg and Monica in close proximity trying to figure out how to extract little Gracie from my arms without waking either of us. Yeah... that didn't happen. :)

You think your heart is about as full as it can be, and along comes a new little one, and you just squeeze them in, and make room. :)

We always enjoy the time we get to have with family, since we live so far apart, and this week was no exception. One of the highlights of my week was working with Greg to create an Easter video for his church. He's a pastor at Harvest Community Church in Marietta, PA, and wanted something modern and real life to give a little spark to the Easter service this year. So, we got up before the sun two days in a row, and shot in a cemetery as the sun was coming up. I'm not posting the video on here because, without the accompanying sermon, it has holes and might not make 100% sense, but if you're interested in seeing it anyway, send me a message on Facebook, or email us and I'll link you to it.