kristifoster

Wanna Get Married?

Published on September 15, 2015September 15, 2015 by kristifosterLeave a comment

Been thinking about getting married but really don’t have that dream of a large wedding? Don’t want to have to invite lots of people, or spend all the time in to planning and taste testing and then of course the money? BUT, you do want something that is special; something that you and your partner get to share between each other, witnessed by a few of your best friends and your family too?

Well, have you ever thought about eloping? You can pick a favorite spot and say your ‘I DOs’ with a real officiant. You can even wear a wedding gown (or your favorite pair of jeans). You can have beautiful flowers and rings and a professional photographer. And it is affordable.

If you want to learn more, check out Elope STL. I have been working with Carolyn for a few years now. She offers complete packages that include her services, flowers and a photographer. Carolyn is fun and accommodating and down right innovative if you need help planning. If you are looking for a low stress option yet still very special, then you will love an elopement!

Enjoy a few photographs from some of the elopements I have participated in with Carolyn.

Just a few of my Favs

Published on September 2, 2015 by kristifosterLeave a comment

Just moving August images into archives and I thought I’d share a few of my favorite images from last month.

Enjoy!

That was one hot morning! But the girls were so patient and gracious with their smiles.

What a sweet elopement this was. Were we outside the Faust Park with Carolyn Burke, the Elopement Connoisseur.

Mark is a Senior this year! First time I photographed Mark, it was for his bar mitzvah, he wore his pet snake around his neck!

Cover image for the Clayton Chamber Ensemble program at this year’s Midwest Clinic in Chicago. I can’t wait to see/hear them perform!

Sammy! You made me smile from the first time I met you!

Published on July 28, 2015July 28, 2015 by kristifosterLeave a comment

I met Sammy when he was 8, 9 or 10, oh, I can’t remember exactly. But I remember he was full of energy and driving his mother crazy. You see it was his brother’s bar mitzvah day and Sammy was having nothing to do with family pictures. In fact I believe his exact words were “NO, NO, NO”. And he meant it. After letting Sammy take a few pics with my “big fancy camera”, he warmed up to me and actually let me make some images of him with the family. He was cutting up and just making me laugh. He simply kept me entertained the whole night. Every time I’d see him after that, I would say to myself…”I love that kid”! So you can imagine how happy I was when his mother ask me to photograph his bar mitzvah, and even happier to have his mom call me for his senior portraits too. And yep, I’m holding out for his wedding (though he need not be in a rush!).

Here are a few pics from Sammy’s Senior session.

I’m back…reluctantly

Published on July 20, 2015July 20, 2015 by kristifosterLeave a comment

Well I am back from my fun filled trip with lots of photographs! Don’t worry, I won’t make you sit through a whole slide show….and yes, I have one; a very long one!

My trip started out in Budapest, Hungary where we had an extra day to look around before getting on our small river boat. We sailed from Budapest to Vukovar in Croatia, then to Donji Milanovac, Serbia, and off to Vidin and Rousse, Bulgaria (my personal favorite) and finally to Bucharest, Romania. Oh yeah and we stayed an extra day and took a day trip to Transylvania. Don’t even ask me about our driver, Stefan (hint; he is crazier than me behind the wheel). What a blast we had. I did not want to come home. Not only did I have fun but I learned a lot too. You know all the things they don’t teach you here, in America.

So enjoy some of my images. (click first image to scroll thru at a larger size)

I love weddings, can you tell?

Published on June 23, 2015June 23, 2015 by kristifosterLeave a comment

Erin and Jordon got married at the Chesterfield Doubletree. We started early in the day with “getting ready” pics, then to the ketubah signing pics, the ceremony and the party.

Erin looked fantastic! She had so many moments of almost crying and ruining her makeup; she was so happy with the way everything turned out, she couldn’t control herself. Jordon and Erin had a first look and well, Jordon thought Erin looked fantastic too. It was a special moment.

With a packed room, the ceremony began…. Rabbi Ari made everyone laugh and cry, feeling the special bond between two best friends!

The party? I think the pics speak for themselves!

Enjoy a few of my favorite images.

The Wedding….finally!

Published on June 17, 2015June 16, 2015 by kristifoster1 Comment

Mike and Darryl have been together for 13 years. That’s awesome. A few years ago they adopted 5 little ones, all brothers and sisters; they wanted to keep them all together. Wow, that’s even more awesome!

And finally Missouri said they could make it legal. It’s about time!

It was indeed a happy day for their family! Their church family was there too in celebration. It was a small inmate wedding with a Disney theme, of course. There was laughter, tears, good food and drinks and lots of dancing. Oh and Darryl surprised Mike with a drum solo too.

They belong to First Congregational Church of Webster Groves and have been planning their wedding with Rev. Denoon for several years. FCCWG, is one of the few churches in STL that allow same sex marriages to be performed by their clergy. I sure hope to see more churches marrying ALL loving couples!

Enjoy some of the images from Mike and Darryl’s big day!

say Hello to Marie!

Published on May 27, 2015 by kristifosterLeave a comment

I first met Marie at a wedding. That’s right, she walked down the aisle just like any other attendant at a wedding. Marie is the bride’s seeing eye dog. I’m not sure what makes a good seeing eye dog, but all I know is Marie is very sweet, social and obedient. So last week I got the chance to photograph her again. She really is good at posing for sure; makes my job so easy.

I don’t know much about Yoga either, but Marie obviously does; she is showing off her skills for me. Well after all, her mommy does teach yoga class and Marie goes with her to every class!

Enjoy the pics of Marie!

farm living is the life for me!

Published on May 22, 2015 by kristifosterLeave a comment

Who doesn’t love cows, chickens, cats and dogs? OK maybe lots of you. Who doesn’t love pics of cows, chickens, cats and dogs? Well I have some adorable cow images for you. I hung out with these cows last Sunday. They watched me closely, to see what exactly I was doing. I watched them too, on the other side of the fence of course. Hey, I didn’t want to get dirty.

Enjoy the images.

#ilovecows #lookatthelittlebabies

I do love a sweet wedding!

Published on May 11, 2015 by kristifosterLeave a comment

I photographed another elopement last week with Carolyn. She and I are beginning to make this an every Friday kinda date. And I have to say that works for me! I really enjoy photographing at all the cool spots in STL and getting to meet and know all the new couples. Last Friday we met at the Muny in Forest Park and despite the rain, Megan and Colt said “I do” along side of their moms and children.

While I don’t typically know the couples until I meet them minutes before the ceremony, I can usually connect with them pretty quickly. By the end of this wedding with Megan and Colt, I knew they were all gonna be one big happy family!

Check out a few of my favorite images. Aren’t those kids adorable in their pretty pink dresses?

It was about time!

Published on May 5, 2015 by kristifosterLeave a comment

I got to photograph a sweet couple for Carolyn Burke, with Elope in St. Louis. Wanda and Jan came all the way from Tennessee to be married after spending 20+ years together as a committed couple. We all met at City Hall in the Rotunda. They said their vows, played a song, and cried with joy. Thank you to the city of STL for allowing all people to be married with the dignity they deserve. Congratulations to Wanda and Jan, here’s to many more years or happiness!