I don’t have a big photo blog ready, so you get a little random tid bit about me today!

Last October hubby Steve and I took a little weekend mini-break and headed down to Memphis. And did we test our livers! We expected them to function as if they were twenty-something vs. thirty-something year old livers. Seeing as I work most weekends, the poor thing is a little bit out of shape! And the hangovers are brutal. But there is one thing I ALWAYS crave after a night out on the town (or a whole day out on Beale Street!)

A fountain Sprite. Every time I’m feeling a little under the weather the next morning, nothing tastes better than an ice cold Sprite. And it is always the best Sprite I have ever had. Every time.

So instead of putting up a really cool photo of Beale Street on the wall, I decided to put up a couple of photos of Sprites I had that weekend…aptly titled “The Best Sprite Ever” and “The 2nd Best Sprite Ever.”

Steve and I’s little inside joke hangs on the walls of our upstairs bath and always brings back memories of our crazy weekend.

L Photographie Wedding photography by Liz Sloan

I don’t get to use the other side of my brain all that often in this job. Not that that is necessarily a bad thing (I’m definitely not complaining!) but the other, more structured, logical side is always trying to find reasons to come out and play. A select few of you may know that before I decided to try and be artsy photographer girl, I managed to get myself a minor in Chemistry. I’m sure you see the relation! Any-who, I have since forgotten pretty much everything I ever learned of that discipline (sorry for the money down the tubes mom and dad!) but something must have stuck.

Last weekend I had the honor of shooting my cousin Niki and Ronnie’s wedding reception at Palladium St. Louis (photos to come in a week or two!) It’s a cool, new reception venue down near Soulard as part of the City Hospital redevelopment. And I thought to myself, I’m pretty sure Palladium is an element. And I was taking the below photo of the Palladium logo at the entrance when it hit me…

I wonder if all of those dots in the logo have anything to do with the electron shells corresponding with Palladium? So when I got home that night I looked it up and sure enough – they do! Quick science lesson – electrons float around the nucleus of an atom in shells. The first shell can hold up to 2 electrons, the next 8, and on and on. Now, let’s pull it all together. Below is a diagram of palladium’s electron shells.

See the resemblance? Props to the creator of the Palladium St. Louis logo for pulling science into a very nice modern logo design! I’m pretty proud of myself but I’m also positive I’m not the first to figure it out.

Ok, enough science for the day…back to non-linear creative thinking!

L Photographie Liz Sloan St. Louis Wedding Photographer

I was wondering around my little back yard with the doggies when suddenly I was smacked in the head by a piece of nature.  Which we don’t have a ton of being city dwellers.  Low and behold, it was one of these little guys…

A helicopter seed from a nearby maple tree.  Then I took a minute to look around and saw a bunch of them stuck in my gutter (damn!) as well as floating through the air…spinning in little circles.  Nature’s design is truly amazing.  I picked a bunch of them up off the ground and threw them in the air – weeeee!  They all spun in cool little circles and fluttered to the ground.  And then my head started spinning…what if you put these in little paper cones like you do with rose petals for a fun exit for the bride and groom?!  Talk about a fun/green/natural wedding tie in!  Of course you would have to run around parks and collect them now while they are out. I don’t think there is anywhere to order helicopter seeds in bulk online.  But I haven’t looked – you never know!  Happy Earth Day!

I’m turning over a leaf to be better blogger.  Kristie is kicking my butt this year.  Maybe I’ll be able to make up some ground when she goes on maternity leave!  For those of you not aware, Kristie is due in early May with her first little guy!  We’re going to go out and take a few maternity photos in a couple of days so hold tight for that fun little sneak peek coming up soon.

Although I have obviously not been busy blogging, I have however been busy editing this beautiful late March wedding.  March is an odd time of year for photos – flowers aren’t quite blooming, trees haven’t really filled in and the earth is just showing it’s very first early signs of spring.  And I know they say April showers (as we may well see this weekend) but March has it’s fare share too and was threatening to dump some on us all day.  But the gods decided we would stay dry!  Had it rained though, we had it made.  Both the church, Memorial Presbyterian on Skinker by Forest Park and the reception location, the Renaissance Grand Crystal Ballroom downtown on Washington are absolutely gorgeous.  Of course I may be a little biased as my hubby Steve and I had our reception at the Renaissance a little over 3 years ago.  I try not to be but it’s tough to control little emotional attachments!

Green was the color of the day and the bride had all kinds of fun little ways to tie it in…all the way down to her green J Crew wellies her husband to be apparently dislikes and has threatened to destroy.  I personally think they are stinking cute.  So knowing they were Tim’s faves I made sure to get plenty of pics of them.  Hee-hee…

A great big thanks to the fabulous Kate Silsby for shooting with me all day!  She is a wonderful photographer and although I missed my Kristie, I couldn’t imagine a better substitute.  Enjoy the photos!

L Photographie St. Louis Wedding Photography by Liz Sloan

St. Louis Children’s Photography.

This post makes me want to remind you all that Mother’s Day is coming up in exactly three weeks – Sunday, May 9. (and is actually the day after my baby’s due date). Do something special for your Moms this year! They mean so much.

I got a sweet note from this Mom in my ‘Client Info’ form asking that I just capture the special bond that these two have together… and boy do they. They were so fun to watch interact with each other. I really could have just hung out with them all day and taken photos.

by the way… if anyone wants to use this tutu in a shoot, it’s a new prop of mine so just ask me to bring it along! (thanks steph!)

St. Louis Children’s Photography.

This little one was a bit fussy when we started to shoot. Although you’d never know it by the smile on the first photo! Here’s the secret…

Not my secret, but her Mom & Dad’s. A hair dryer. Yes, that’s right, a hair dryer. As I was setting up the first shot, and rubbing her back a little trying to get her relaxed, her Dad looks over at Mom and says, “Should I go get the hair dryer.” The what? I was thinking. He came back, turned on the loud hair dryer, pointed her way, and instantly she stopped fussing and calmed to sleep. Amazing! I don’t know that I’ll be packing a hair dryer in my camera bag… but just thought I should share that little secret for any parents looking to “try anything” : )

Now on with the photos…

St. Louis High School Senior Portraits.

Wow. Is April flying by, or what. I’ve got some blog catching up to do!

Let’s start with Natalie and her gorgeous smile. It’s contagious. Every time I asked her to do a “serious face” we would just both start laughing … which made for good photos too!

Here are some of my favorites from our session. I’ll have the full gallery to you tomorrow Natalie!