Capturing the Joy in Life

Aug 23 2010

Two Illinois Sessions at Allerton Park

I heard from 2 different sources that Allerton Park was a great preserve that offered lots of trees and unique structures. It was about a 30 minute drive from my friends home in Champaigne. I held my other 2 mini sessions here, and it did not disappoint. Jill and Becky…thanks for your patience, and here is your sneak peak!

First I met Becky and her family who live fairly close to the park (by the way, the cutie in the brown and his sister are twins):

Then Jill drove over and hour to meet us with her husband and daughter:

I just LOVE meeting new friends!

by Kristen Duke

4 comments

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Jill WatsonAugust 23, 2010 - 8:30 pm

All except the “me” in them, they’re great!! Thanks! I love the Deyrl and Alex picture and the toothless smile!!

BeckyAugust 23, 2010 - 10:31 pm

Thank you for making the drive to meet us. I love how these turned out! You captured the perfect expressions on each of the kids – it’s so them! Thank you so much!

HollyAugust 24, 2010 - 1:12 am

love those!

amandaAugust 24, 2010 - 11:21 pm

I’m crazy for brick – love your use of it in the background here.

Aug 21 2010

2nd Family at the barn~Illinois mini sessions

I photographed these 2 mini sessions back to back in the evening. The little guy in the previous post was feeling a bit shy, and this one was more than happy to ham it up for me. I loved the energy and the enthusiasm. Kristyn, thank you for patiently waiting for your sneak peek!

by Kristen Duke

2 comments

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brooke schaeferAugust 21, 2010 - 10:12 am

This little boy is beyond cute. I feel in love with the one were he is jumping in the air, but then I got to the picture of the whole family were they are swinging him up in the air. AMAZING. I can;t wait to try these. I have just the shoot coming up for this. Thanks for the inspiration. AND PLEASE keep up the great work on the idea room. I am learning a lot

Jenny PolsonAugust 23, 2010 - 4:07 am

What a sweet family, and what a cute boy! LOVE the jumping & swinging photos!!!

Aug 20 2010

Post #1 of 2 families with a Big Red Barn on a Cornfield~Illinois mini sessions

I got to photograph 2 different mini sessions on such a fun property. Both of them are friends with my friend Linda (family in the post below), and it was fun to get to know them!

The property owner was so gracious to share his land, after I stuck a note on his porch asking permission. He said he and his wife were shocked that someone asked, most people just walk up and assume they can.

First was Rachel and her family. Let me first share a story about Rachel that Linda told me. The week before I flew to Illinois, Linda was sick and her husband was out of town. Though she randomly posts updates on facebook, she casually wrote that she wished she had lotion kleenex in her home. Rachel saw that post and within 15 minutes, was on Linda’s doorstop with not only kleenex but ice cream as well. What a friend! We should all act on promptings to do nice things for others. I wanted to hug Rachel when I met her, but in all the chaos, I completely forgot to tell her thanks for being a great friend to my dear Linda….so THANK YOU, Rachel! Here are some pics for her, including grandma in a few:

My friend Linda chatting with the property owner. He maintains it all himself. Impressive.

by Kristen Duke

8 comments

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brooke schaeferAugust 20, 2010 - 10:18 am

I ADORE the one were the little girl is standing close and the rest of the family is standing against the barn. And I love the last one. Parents loving on each other, but about to have to get back to work. Great moment in time. Wonderful pictures.

MeganAugust 20, 2010 - 3:42 pm

I love them all! What a beautiful place to shoot!

RachelAugust 20, 2010 - 6:13 pm

My hope from the whole experience was to get one good picture. I wasn’t sure it would happen with the weather and the uncooperative kids, but you did it in spades. Thank you!!!

HollyAugust 20, 2010 - 6:32 pm

those are great and what a great location!

LindaAugust 20, 2010 - 7:34 pm

You shared my sweet story about Rachel. It almost brought me to tears yet again! What a beautiful family they are!

TidyMomAugust 21, 2010 - 1:37 pm

Gorgeous shoot and family!!……though I love all of the pictures, the one with the steer staring at the little girl was priceless!…..

Jill WatsonAugust 21, 2010 - 10:56 pm

Oh my goodness!!! I am so in love with the farm pictures!!!

Liz HAugust 22, 2010 - 3:41 am

love the last pic! that is just so my life right now! little hands always reaching up to me love it!

Aug 17 2010

The Nosboh’s Family~

Oh my, I had so much fun on my little adventure to Illinois. Mainly because I got to hang with my friend and had some quality time with my son, but also because I got to photograph some fun new places! This shoot is the reason I went…and though it was shot last of all the others (Saturday night), I had to post it first. I did a “day in the life” with this family also…as I followed them around the house, at an ice cream shop, you name it (be patient, you’ll see them soon enough) just as though I was the papparazzi!

Below, we are at the beautiful Curtis Orchard. It is just around the corner from this familys’ home and very special to them. We got exclusive permission to go after hours, and the owners even lent us props (red crate, apple picker poles, yellow bags, and wagon) and allowed us to drive beyond the gate to get where we needed. SO grateful, because we found a nice spot in the back of the orchard. (In my scoping days before this, I purchased cold peach pie from their store and it was DE-licious). I wish we had a place like this in Texas.

Had fun helping in the outfit coordination from afar as well as once I got there. I love aqua and red together and we started with that idea in mind. It was crazy HOT, but we had fun!

Beautiful family. Adorble kids. Stunning Location.

by Kristen Duke

13 comments

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Shari HansonAugust 17, 2010 - 8:32 pm

simply gorge kristen!

love them! love the outfits too…great color scheme.

CourtneyAugust 17, 2010 - 9:12 pm

These look beautiful!! I love the colors they chose!

MichelleAugust 18, 2010 - 3:08 am

Love these!! So glad you got to go there it is one place that holds many childhood memories close to my heart The pie is SOOO good (and so are the donuts!)

LindaAugust 18, 2010 - 3:32 am

We love them! This captures the orchard and our family so well. I am dreaming of everything else! Sooooo excited. Having you here was so much fun. Thank you! Thank you!

AmyAugust 18, 2010 - 4:51 am

Love these pics! I have been dying to get some family photos in an orchard! Love how they turned out!

brooke schaeferAugust 18, 2010 - 9:28 am

The colors are stunning! And the little dresses are so pretty!

Jennifer WatersAugust 18, 2010 - 8:53 pm

LOVE the pictures ADORABLE!

HollyAugust 19, 2010 - 2:04 am

fabulous photos as usual!

Corey~ living and lovingAugust 19, 2010 - 8:49 pm

Fabulous…I love that you are brave enough to ask. I just don’t shoot there, if it is private. It bums me out. I need to get brave.

how did you do the one of them looking up at you? did you have a ladder? or a big wide angle?

TidyMomAugust 21, 2010 - 1:42 pm

OMG I LOOOOOOVE this shoot, and the clothing color make it all POP (you KNOW I’m a fan of turquoise and red!)…..VERY VERY hard to pick a favorite, I bet they order every shot you took! lol….but I really loved the picnic shots with the soda bottles……too fun!! They look like they should be in an advertisement!

TracyAugust 23, 2010 - 12:36 am

I’m not sure how I wound up on your website, but WOW!! These pictures are gorgeous! I wish I knew such a talented photographer in the Tampa area! Love the turquoise/red color combination – one of my favorites. I have a lot of those fabrics in my sewing stash. Amazing work!

TamielAugust 25, 2010 - 2:21 am

These are amazing!! I love the colors!

NatalieSeptember 1, 2010 - 4:56 am

Love the one of Linda throwing her head back laughing while holding the soda. Very cute. Amazing work Kris.

Aug 17 2010

Gracylu Originals

In my hurried frantic state to get the La Tee Da images up before my trip, I forgot to add that the beautiful hairpieces on the 2 blondies are from Gracylu Originals. The designer of LaTeeDaKids, Debbie, contacted Tristian to make pieces specifically for these outfits/this photo shoot. I actually met the owner of Gracylu last February in Houston, so it was fun to use her designs! Click here to become a fan on facebook and the link above will take you to her website.

The above is a headband. The first is a clip.