West Kenya Photography

NEW BLOG!!

2010-04-13T09:34:00.003-04:00

We have moved our blog activity to a new location! You can check out the new digs at www.westkenyaphotography.com/blog.

Thanks!!

And The Winner Is...

2010-03-29T07:09:00.002-04:00

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Silly Face Contest (parents, voters, and of course...silly-faced kids). After combing over the 1,000+ votes from our contest, we finally have a winner. The parents of this little man - #18 - are the winners!

We can't wait for your photo shoot guys!! I'll be in touch...

Silly Face Contest Voters...

2010-03-24T01:52:00.001-04:00

Keep scrolling past some of our latest work to get to the Silly Face Contest Post. The parents of these crazy kids thank you for your votes! :)

Baby Brita - Fort Wayne, Indiana - Newborn Photographer

2010-03-24T01:42:00.002-04:00

We’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Kyle and Leanne over the past few years as Kylee and Kyle first clerked together and now are associates at the same law firm. So, naturally, I was excited when they asked me to capture some of those first precious moments of their life with Brita. Brita was even kind enough to stay awake for quite some time so we could get a good look at her gorgeous eyes! Congrats on your beautiful baby guys!

Let The Voting Begin!

2010-03-22T00:02:00.002-04:00

We’re really excited about the submissions we received for WKP’s Silly Face Contest! There are lots of great kids (and dogs) to choose from. Remember - you’re helping the parents of one of these silly kids win a date night photo shoot and dinner at Club Soda, PLUS a photo shoot for one of their friends!

To vote, simply scroll to the bottom of this post, and leave a comment voting for your favorite silly face. ONE VOTE PER PERSON PER DAY, AND YOU MUST GIVE YOUR FIRST NAME AND LAST INITIAL WHEN COMMENTING SO WE CAN TRACK THE VOTES. If no name is provided, the vote will not be counted.

EARN MORE VOTES:

1. Suggest us to your FACEBOOK friends (one time during voting period). Visit our Facebook page. Under the West Kenya logo on the top left, you will see a link that says, “Suggest to friends”. Click on that link, select all your friends, and send them an invitation to become a fan of our page. It’s that easy!

2. Update your FACEBOOK status telling your friends to vote in our Silly Face Contest and receive another vote. You can do this DAILY!

3. Post a message in your BLOG telling your followers to vote in our Silly Face Contest and receive another vote. You can do this DAILY!

4. TWEET about the contest, linking to our blog post and telling people to follow us! Use the @westkenya in your tweet. You can do this DAILY!

For each additional thing you do to earn a vote, leave a comment telling us what you did in order to place your additional vote. (EXAMPLE: “Hey WKP - I posted an update on my FB status today telling my friends to vote for #19” - John S.) Remember, you can do #2, #3, and #4 DAILY!

Voting ends at 11:59pm on March 28, 2010 and the winner will be officially announced on March 29, 2010.

HAPPY VOTING!!

Silly Face Contest!

2010-03-12T06:38:00.004-05:00

The snow has finally melted, and if your house was anything like ours this winter, you probably have a serious case of cabin fever. So, in celebration of warmer temperatures, sunny skies, and chirping birds - we are busting out a new contest! We know you all have seen some crazy faces on your kids this winter. You know...the face they make when they taste a lemon or a pickle for the first time. Or, if your kids are like ours, the one they make when you say “give me your silly face”. We want to see your kids’ craziest silly faces. No kids? Give us Fido’s best smile. Send your photos to West Kenya and we will compile all of the silly-faced kids and post them on the blog.

So...what do I win?

We’re really excited about this one. With two of our own silly kids, we appreciate the need to get out. So, the winner will receive a date night photo session! The prize includes a $100 gift card to Club Soda - one of our favorite Fort Wayne restaurants - and West Kenya tagging along for a couple of hours to capture those rare, just-the-two-of-you moments. And if that’s not enough, we’ll also throw in a date night session for a friend of your choosing who needs to get out of the house - big time! We know you already have someone in mind!

The details.

Send photo submissions to dustinshirey@gmail.com. No professional photos, please. Oh yeah, and you need to be the parent or guardian of the kid in the photo you're submitting. Deadline for photo submissions is March 20, 2010. The photo with the most votes will win. Voting will begin on March 22, 2010 and will end on March 28, 2010. In case you haven’t tallied the votes on your own by then, the winner will be officially announced on March 29, 2010. Details on voting will be posted with the submissions before voting begins.

Curious About WKP's Senior Rep Program?

2010-03-06T20:47:00.003-05:00

We've got the answers you want! Here's the breakdown...

We're looking for 2011 Seniors who:
- are stylish and energetic
- love getting their picture taken and are up to trying something different than the old studio photography of the past
- are actively involved in their schools and community
- are excited about spreading the word about West Kenya Photography with their friends

Our 2011 Senior Reps will get:
- a mini session this Spring
- a full session this Summer or Fall
- discounts on prints and other products
- other exciting incentives throughout your senior year

To get your hands on an application, email dustinshirey@gmail.com or click HERE to download. We are looking for reps in all of the Fort Wayne area schools - INCLUDING those in the outlying areas. This year we had reps at Northrop, Snider, Carroll, and Garrett High Schools in Indiana and Crestview High School in Ohio. We're planning to build on that next year - so get your applications in to be considered. APPLICATION DEADLINE IS APRIL 15th!

Now Accepting Applications - 2011 Senior Reps

2010-03-01T07:40:00.003-05:00

West Kenya Photography is currently accepting applications for our 2011 Senior Reps. Download the application HERE, fill it out, and email it back to us along with a photo of yourself. The application deadline is April 15, 2010 - so get to work!

Kenyah's Turning Two

2010-02-28T01:55:00.003-05:00

Getting great pictures of my own kids is a very difficult endeavor. There is usually some type of screaming, running away, or my personal favorite - laying down and playing dead. Today must have been my lucky day - because Kenyah worked it like a champ for her birthday pictures!

Here's what we got - enjoy!

Fort Wayne Weddings - Bridal Extravaganza

2010-02-23T00:05:00.002-05:00

We had a great time this past Sunday at the Bridal Extravaganza. The event was held at the Grand Wayne Center in Fort Wayne - which is an awesome venue! It was so much fun meeting all the brides and getting to talk with a lot of the other vendors at the show. We can't wait for the next one! Here are a few pictures of our booth.

Chad and Chanda - Fort Wayne, Indiana Family Photographer

2010-02-17T11:54:00.003-05:00

It has been a blast getting to know Chad and Chanda over the past couple of years while attending various events around Fort Wayne. This great couple is expecting their first baby early next month - and they are getting crazy excited! The nursery is all ready to go - but it's not pink or blue - they didn't find out the sex of their baby so it's yellow and green. (I don't know how they're able to wait! I'd go crazy!)

Enjoy the pics guys! Can't wait to meet the little one!!

Some Great Love Songs

2010-02-11T22:36:00.004-05:00

With Valentine's Day quickly approaching, we thought we would post a list of some of our favorite love songs. Some take us back to our young high school love and others are new favorites. Here's our list...

20. Help Me Make It Through The Night - Willie Nelson

19. So Are You To Me - Eastmountainsouth

18. All My Life - K-Ci & JoJo

17. Shameless - Garth Brooks

16. My Happiness - Elvis Presley

15. Only You Can Love Me This Way - Keith Urban

14. Kiss From A Rose - Seal

13. Whatever It Is - Zac Brown Band

12. More Than Words - Extreme

11. Come Away With Me - Norah Jones

10. I Need You - Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

9. Killing Me Softly - Fugees

8. Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol

7. At Last - Etta James

6. I Will Follow You Into The Dark - Death Cab For Cutie

5. This I Gotta See - Jason Aldean

4. Hey There Delilah - Plain White T's

3. I Lost It - Kenny Chesney

2. I Will Not Take My Love Away - Matt Wertz

1. The Luckiest - Ben Folds

We'd love to hear some of your favorites too - and songs that we left off our list. Leave your comments below!!

Have a great Valentine's Day - do something special for your someone special.

More of My Crazy Kids

2010-02-09T02:11:00.003-05:00

It's taken a while to settle into this "working from home" gig - but I'm really starting to enjoy the perks! I get to take pictures of these two crazy kids all day long! So - whenever I see something that looks like it's going to get a little nuts - I bust out the camera. Here is what I've captured in the last couple of weeks...

This is Wes trapped under his exersaucer. Don't knock it, real men roll in their big sister's old pink exersaucers.

Kenyah got into some of Kylee's hair stuff. A curler, a brush, and a look that says it all...

Wes popped a couple of teeth through last week!

Here are a couple of Colts fans trying to corrupt my Bears-loving daughter. Kenyah was slightly confused, in her OSU gear though. Oh well...football is football to a two year old girl.

Kenyah absolutely loves trying on hats. Here is one she threw on last week.

Nathan - Promo Shots - Fort Wayne, Indiana Photographer

2010-02-01T23:15:00.003-05:00

I was stoked when one of my best friends contacted me about doing some promo work for him as he tries to further his career in the radio biz. Right now, he is a DJ at a radio station out in Las Vegas - you can check him out and listen online at kluc.com

I had a great time shooting this session and would love to do more of this type of work - so if you know of anyone that is looking for promotional type photos (models, people in the entertainment business, etc) - give me a call!!

Little Buckeyes

2010-01-22T13:56:00.002-05:00

This may be a little late, but we're still basking in the glory of a Buckeye win! It was so much fun to watch our beloved Buckeyes roll over the Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl!! Here are a few pictures of my kids decked out in their OSU gear :)

Here is a picture of Wes - shocked by the AWESOME play of Terrelle Pryor.

One of the very few pictures of Kenyah and Wes together...

Kenyah cheering for the Bucks! She is her mother's daughter :)

I threw this one in just for fun! They'll love me for it someday :) I've resorted to confining them in a crib so that we can get pictures of them together. This is what we got.

Courtney and Butch - Ohio Wedding Photographer

2010-01-21T01:15:00.002-05:00

I had a great time getting to know Courtney and Butch during their engagement session last weekend! They seem to be a perfect match for each other, which goes a long way toward a happy marriage :) Butch is a true "country boy" so we hit up a few different country locations around the area where he farms then ventured to the "big city" of Van Wert to shoot in a few of their alleys.

Good luck with the rest of the planning guys! I can't wait to shoot your wedding next fall!!

Micah and Michael - Fort Wayne, IN Photographer

2010-01-14T23:27:00.002-05:00

I've been waiting for a long time to take some photos of my in-laws!! Kylee's brother and his wife braved the frigid temps last weekend for a winter session. We had a great time, hitting up some new locations and trekking through the snow. Thanks for being so smiley when I know the cold was not pleasant...almost painful :)

AND THE WINNER IS....

2010-01-14T07:26:00.002-05:00

#31 - Payton - I ordered your 16x20 print this morning!!

I also decided to give a free 8x10 to our second place finisher - #27 - Ava, who also got a lot of votes!!

Thanks so much everyone - and look for many more exciting things to come from West Kenya Photography this year!!

Best of 2009!!!

2010-01-07T13:32:00.003-05:00

Thank you all for a great 2009! I've went back through every session and picked some of my very favorite photos of the year!

Here's you chance to participate in helping one of our 2009 clients win a free print. After viewing all of the images, leave a comment on this post (one comment per day) letting me know which number is your favorite. The image with the most votes receives a free 16x20 print of the image! The contest will run until 12:00am, January 14th - so tell your friends - and get voting!!

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Christmas Morning

2010-01-05T00:11:00.002-05:00

Kylee and I had a great time with our kids this Christmas! Here are a couple pictures of the kids from Christmas morning.

Now that the holidays are over - it's back to work! 2010 is going to be an exciting year with West Kenya Photography! We've got some great stuff planned that I'm sure you all will enjoy! Check back often for more details...

Kenyah got a kitchen for Christmas and hasn't stopped playing with it since. She loves cooking us some interesting dishes - french fries and chocolate bars - just one of the many interesting combos she's come up with.

Wes enjoyed his first Christmas as well...I think. Kenyah is a little aggressive when it comes to package opening, so she helped Wes since he was a little slow.

Christmas Cookies

2009-12-21T20:40:00.002-05:00

In this family - we enjoy food. Tonight Kylee and Kemyah frosted some Christmas cookies. Here are some pictures of Kenyah enjoying her cookies.

Wes didn't get a taste this year, but he still seems pretty content just chillin'

Here comes the blue snowflake cookie...

This is what we get when we say "make a silly face"...

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Weston - 6 Months Old

2009-12-15T22:52:00.003-05:00

Wes turns 6 months old today! It's amazing how fast these first few months fly by! He is getting bigger and is spitting up a lot less these days. He really enjoys watching football or basketball with daddy, watching his sister dance, listening to his mommy sing, and chewing on his hand. Enjoy some pics of our little man.

Big sister picking at him already...

Garrett : Senior - Tinora High School

2009-12-10T00:44:00.002-05:00

I met up with Garrett and his mom last Saturday for his senior shoot. It was pretty chilly - we even saw a little snow - so we worked fast. Garrett played linebacker for the Rams this past season and plans to go to either Toledo or Ohio State (GO BUCKS!!) and major in Biology. Someday you will know him as Dr. Garrett. Best of luck in the rest of your senior year, Garrett!

Kaitlyn, Tyler, Lakin and Seth

2009-12-08T01:44:00.003-05:00

It was so much fun to meet up with this family again! Dan and Sabrina served with Kylee and I on youth staff at Calvary back in the day. Now their kids are all grown up...except their new little man, Seth. As I was trying to narrow down which pictures to put on the blog, I was having a hard time, so I just picked a bunch. I figure it's my blog, right? Anyway...enjoy this great looking family!!

And this last one is especially for my buddy Dan!

Baby Aleigha - 11 Days Old

2009-12-06T01:13:00.003-05:00

I had a great time photographing little Aleigha. Her parents are Tim & Alyssa, one of the maternity sessions I had earlier this fall. They are a great couple and a beautiful little family!

The Fast Family - Northwest Ohio Family Photographer

2009-12-04T01:03:00.002-05:00

I was really excited when MJ contacted me about shooting some family pictures of her crew...not necessarily for the photo shoot - but because one of my best friends was coming home for a visit!! I have known the Fasts for a long time, Nathan and Austin were both in the youth group when Kylee and I were on staff and I remember when Kylee made a little outfit for Logan for her 4H project when he was just a little guy. Time goes so fast...

Anyway - I had a great time, as always, with these guys and got to spend some quality time with my buddy Nathan later that weekend. I'm going to have to start working on planning a trip out to Vegas soon for another visit.

One last thing...check out Nathan on the Las Vegas airwaves at KLUC.COM!!

It sure was great to have you home for a visit man!

Ethan and Kaitlyn - Fort Wayne Indiana Children Photographer

2009-12-03T23:25:00.003-05:00

I had a great time getting to know this little family! They have a beautiful home, which made for a perfect place to get some great shots of their kids. The family had just gotten back from their vacation to Disney World and from the smiles I got, it looked like they had a great, relaxing time.

Jerome - Senior : Blackhawk Christian

2009-11-24T23:27:00.002-05:00

I had a great time with Jerome and his parents a couple of weeks ago shooting his senior pictures! He's a really laid back guy and didn't seem mind rolling with my crazy ideas. We also had some great conversation about BCS, as I spent some time substitute teaching there a couple years ago. I hear the fellas there are enjoying much longer locks than in years past...

Brittany and Danielle - Seniors : Van Wert High School

2009-11-21T23:45:00.003-05:00

I was super excited when these twins contacted me about doing their senior pictures!! My wife's family and the twin's parents go way back, and we all used to go to church together back in the day, so it was a lot of fun to all get together and hang for the afternoon. The twin's sister, Ashtin and their exchange student from Brazil, Vitor came along for the shoot, so we had to snap a few of them as well!!

Baby Zen - 13 Days Old

2009-11-19T00:06:00.002-05:00

I had a great time capturing such precious moments with these new parents. You, my faithful blog followers, will see much more of little Zen over the next year as his parents purchased our Baby's First Year Package (which I think is an awesome deal by the way - - 5 shoots throughout the baby's first year + a sweet custom designed album).

This family has some great looking kids. Zen is a cousin to another great looking crew I shot this past summer - Jalen, Jackson and Jersey. I can't wait to watch him grow over the coming year!

Todd, Erika and Braeden

2009-11-17T23:45:00.003-05:00

I loved growing up in a small town. I have known Todd and Erika since we were kids and was really excited when she contacted me about doing some pictures for their family. It is extremely flattering, that Erika, a photographer herself, thinks enough of my work to have me photograph her family.

Here are a few of my favorites from her session.

Brianna, Trent and Molly - Fort Wayne, Indiana Family Photography

2009-11-16T23:37:00.005-05:00

It's been great meeting so many new people this fall for family photo shoots! These three kids keep their parents plenty busy, especially little Molly! :) The two older kids were a great help with their little sister, always willing to pick her up or hold her hand. Enjoy some of my favorites from their session!

Alyssa - Senior : Garrett High School

2009-11-12T23:26:00.002-05:00

Alyssa was a real trooper on our frigid Saturday photo shoot. I guess frigid might not be the right word, as I'm sure colder temperatures are coming, but it was pretty chilly! As you can see, Alyssa was a natural in front of the camera, which makes my job pretty easy. Here are a few of my favorites from our session.

Nick - Senior : Crestview High School

2009-11-10T23:50:00.003-05:00

I had a great time with Nick and his dad shooting his senior pictures! Even though we had to work in the rain, I feel like we got some really great shots. Here are a few of my favorites from the session.

Brandon and Cathi - Engagement Session - Ohio Wedding Photography

2009-11-08T23:24:00.003-05:00

I am really excited my cousin Brandon and his fiance contacted me about shooting their wedding next Spring! We had a perfect afternoon for their engagement session in rural Continental, Ohio. Great locations, great lighting, and a happy in-love couple make for some great photos! Even if you have to sink your feet in the mud to get them :)

Ava - Fort Wayne, Indiana Family Photography

2009-11-06T06:38:00.002-05:00

I'm so glad that rain held off and I was able to photograph Ava and her family! She was full of great expressions and seemed to really take in all that was going on around her. Little ones are so fun to work with - even if it is hard to keep up!

Paige, Chloe and Jayda - Fort Wayne, Indiana Family Photographer

2009-11-04T07:00:00.002-05:00

I was really excited when the Hazeletts contacted me about doing their family pictures! They love the outdoors and had some great ideas about how to incorporate that into their pictures. We started out at Fort Wayne Outfitters, a local bike shop, and got to see a team of bikers training for an upcoming race - which was pretty intense.

The Hazeletts own a business here in town called Steppin' Up Physical Therapy. If you are ever in need of this type of service - Jason is the man to call!!

Tim and Alyssa

2009-11-02T23:29:00.002-05:00

Tim is the brother of one of my senior reps (Tiffany - Garrett High School). He and Alyssa are going to be new parents in just a few short weeks, so we captured some shots of them during this precious time in their lives. I can't wait to meet their little one!! Good luck guys!!

David, Cindy and Romita

2009-11-01T00:04:00.002-04:00

You can't ask for much more in a photo shoot than a great looking couple and a puppy!! This was my second meeting with Romita. We had the privilege of meeting her a couple of months ago when the Maurizi's hosted dinner for a couple of families from our small group at church. Cindy makes a mean enchilada!!

Here are my favorites from their session. Thanks guys!

Jacob - Senior:Anthony Wayne High School

2009-10-31T11:08:00.003-04:00

It's a great honor when your family likes what you do enough to have you shoot their pictures! A couple weekends ago, I made a trip up to Toledo, Ohio to do my cousin, Jacob's senior pictures. The only bad part about the day - a rough Buckeye loss. Enjoy the pictures guys!

Travis - Bryan, Ohio Family Photography

2009-10-29T23:54:00.002-04:00

I had a great time with Travis, his mom, and little sister! He was a great model and was up for just about anything...even walking through some really questionable stuff to get to one of our locations. Here are few of my favorites from our session.

Matt and Alisa - Post-Bridal Session

2009-10-24T16:25:00.002-04:00

We couldn't have asked for a better night to cruise Indianapolis and shoot Matt and Alisa's post-bridal session. It's been so exciting to see all of the "kids" we spent time with while on youth staff at Calvary grow up and fall in love and get jobs and still remain passionate in their faith. Kylee and I both cherish the friendships we made during that period in our lives and look forward to many more memories together!!

Here are a few of my favorites from our Friday night session! I think the post-bridal session is a great idea. It gives the couple a chance to get settled into married life a little, get their home in order, and then come out for a nice relaxing photo session in locations different than what we captured on their wedding day. Enjoy!!

Dan & Kim - Anniversary

2009-10-23T22:45:00.004-04:00

I had a great time going back to Paulding for this shoot with Dan & Kim. Kim wanted to shoot at a nature preserve just south of town, and it brought back some great memories for me. I remember hiking in the woods with my dad and brother and walking across the dam - trying not to fall in! It's great to go back and visit places that hold so many memories!

Dan and Kim celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary this past summer and wanted to get some photos to commemorate the occasion. I thought we captured their outdoor loving personalities well!

Elysia - Senior: Northrop High School

2009-10-09T07:39:00.003-04:00

I had a great time shooting Elysia's senior pictures a couple of weeks ago. We tried out a few new locations and Elysia was great about trying any kind of crazy idea I had. Here are a few of my favorites from the session.

Evan and Spencer

2009-10-06T06:57:00.002-04:00

These two are good friends with Jalen and Jackson, who you might remember from a previous post. They did a great job and seemed to have a pretty good time exploring all of our wild locations. Their dad always had a perfect answer for their "what's this thing" questions - but that's what dads are for!!

Thanks for a great session guys!!

Dustin and Kimberly

2009-10-02T21:04:00.002-04:00

Dustin and Kimberly are some new friends we met at a class we've been attending at church. They've got a little one on the way in the next couple of months, so we wanted to be sure and get some great pictures to capture this time in their lives. Dustin recently launched a new electronics/computer/home theater business. Check out his site at www.redfli.com!

Enjoy some of my favorites from the session! I can't wait to snap some pictures of the little one when he arrives!

Korland and Jamila

2009-09-30T07:30:00.004-04:00

I had a great time shooting some photos of Korland and Jamila. These siblings are naturals in front of the camera and are really good behind the mic as well. Check out www.chromecats.com to listen to these future hip-hop stars! Thanks for a great session guys!

1st Annual Jordan C. Shirey Memorial Golf Outing

2009-09-28T22:26:00.004-04:00

On September 19th, a golf outing was held in memory of my brother, Jordan Shirey, who passed away two years ago. The event was held to raise money for scholarships that are given in Jordan's name to two students at Defiance High School each year.

I thought the outing was a huge success - 17 teams! Many thanks to all of those who supported the event with their time and finances. Special thanks to Auglaize Country Club and their professional staff, Chad Shirey for his countless hours of logo design work, and Abe Jacob for his mad publicity skills!

Here are some of my favorite photos from the day!

Birthday Bonfire

2009-09-24T21:56:00.004-04:00

Last weekend we traveled to the Schick Homestead in Oakwood, Ohio to celebrate Kylee's grandma's birthday. It was really nice to see all of Kylee's cousins that we don't see too often anymore, now that everyone has spread out across the area. We were able to get a big group shot of the whole family in front of Bobby's truck and couple candids of the grandparents.

Can't wait to see everyone at the next big family gathering!!

Kenyah and Weston

2009-09-20T08:12:00.003-04:00

We were able to take our kids out last weekend for Wes' 3-month shoot and Kenyah's 18-month shoot. We have yet to get any great sibling shots because, for as much as she adores her little brother, Kenyah absolutely refuses to sit with him for pictures! I suppose we'll try again in a couple months when it's time to do our annual Christmas photos. Where it appears Kenyah is sticking her tongue out, she is saying her version of "cheese", which actually comes out "deeeeees". Too cute.

Andrea - Senior: Garrett High School

2009-09-19T07:32:00.003-04:00

Andrea's parents were a little hesitant at first - when we started off in the family's pig barn - but I think they grew to appreciate my flavor. Andrea was a trooper and fell in sync with all of my other seniors so far this year - they're up for anything!! Enjoy your pictures Andrea and good luck in your senior year!

Andy - Senior: Concordia Lutheran High School

2009-09-15T22:33:00.004-04:00

I had a great time with Andy and his mom last week shooting his senior pictures. His mom had a lot of creative ideas and was also great adding some background music on guitar! Good luck in your senior year Andy!!

2 Years

2009-09-12T23:39:00.003-04:00

It has been two years since my youngest brother passed away. I remember the day like none other and replay it every time I get a phone call from someone out of the ordinary. His death has caused me to look at things - everyday things - in life, in a very different way. One thing that I have learned in this loss is to soak up life. We are not guaranteed a tomorrow. I want to make the most out of every single minute of every single day. I want to have meaningful, quality conversation with my wife. The kind where you look into each others eyes. I want to hold hands in the car and when we're walking in the store. I want to squeeze my daughter and melt when she hugs me back. I want to hold my son and put him to sleep in my arms. I want to take time to play with my kids - whatever - whenever. I want to soak it up - all of it.

"Find what you love in life - and do it." This is the quote that is on my brother's headstone. Another thing that has caused me to pause and reevaluate portions of my life. This summer I finally decided to take the leap and turn one of my passions into my career. I'm so excited to have my own photography business and have enjoyed the many blessings God has granted us so far. He is so good.

In all things - He is good. His plans are not to harm us. Sometimes we don't understand and it hurts more than words can say. He never loses control. My God is big and loving and holds me in the palm of his hand. Such a comfort to know that He is in the driver's seat - especially when I don't know the way.

Say a prayer for my family tomorrow - especially my dad and step-mom. Having kids of my own now - I can't imagine ever being without them.

Katelyn - Senior: Snider High School

2009-08-29T23:40:00.004-04:00

I had a great time last week shooting Katelyn's senior pictures. It was a very muggy August day but we ended up with some great shots! Good luck in your senior year!!

Jalen, Jackson and Jersey

2009-08-13T23:06:00.003-04:00

I had a great time with this exciting bunch of kids. Jersey was full of funny faces and the guys did a great job posing for the camera. Thanks for the great shoot!

Payton - Senior: Crestview High School

2009-08-08T00:29:00.004-04:00

I ventured over to Ohio for this one. Payton is our senior rep from Crestview High School. My wife and I were friends with Payton's sister, Natalie, in high school, so taking her senior pictures made me feel especially old. We had a lot of fun and got some great shots of Payton in her prom dress against a gorgeous sunset. Good luck in your senior year Payton!

Tiffany - Senior: Garrett High School

2009-08-06T22:47:00.004-04:00

Another great photo shoot with our senior rep from Garrett High School! If you are a 2010 graduating senior at GHS, talk to Tiffany about having us take your senior pictures and receive a discount on your print order!

Avery

2009-08-01T08:49:00.004-04:00

I had a great time over in Van Wert, Ohio with an old friend and her family! Avery is a really cute girl and did a great job...even without a her morning nap. Thanks guys!

Ashlee - Senior: Carroll High School

2009-07-23T23:45:00.004-04:00

We had a great time with our senior rep from Carroll High School. Ashlee was a natural in front of the camera. Best wishes on your senior year!

Alisa & Matt - Wedding

2009-07-18T22:44:00.003-04:00

We had the privilege of shooting our first wedding last weekend in Indy for our very good friends, Alisa & Matt. It was so much fun getting to document the details of their big day! We were able to capture a few shots at the rehearsal on Friday evening, as well as on the morning of the wedding. Although it rained most of the day, the wedding could not have been more beautiful. There were so many photos we loved, we had a very hard time choosing which ones to post here. There are several here, but more will be up on the website soon! Congrats Alisa & Matt, and best wishes on the beginning of your journey together!

Matt was trying very hard to make sure his hit to the face was not visible by wedding time!

Kaitlyn - Senior: Northrop High School

2009-07-14T23:51:00.004-04:00

We had so much fun shooting our first senior session and enjoyed our time with Kaitlyn and her mom. Kaitlyn was truly adventurous and was up for trying anything. We couldn't have asked for a better senior to help us kick off the season!

Lindsay & Jared - Engagement Session

2009-07-13T13:41:00.003-04:00

We were so excited for the chance to shoot an engagement session for our super talented designer, Lindsay Thompson, and her fiance Jared. Lindsay designed our incredible logo and and some advertising materials we will be distributing soon. These high school sweethearts were a blast to shoot, and we're looking forward to their June wedding next year!

Welcome Weston

2009-07-09T21:23:00.004-04:00

Almost a month after his arrival, we finally had some time to do Weston's first photo shoot. He's a pretty sleepy baby, so it wasn't at all surprising that he dozed right through his first pictures. Kenyah is loving her little brother, so we're excited to do their first sibling shots soon!

Olivia, Maddux and Addison

2009-07-04T09:26:00.007-04:00

We had a great time with this family, even though our plans for the splash pad were foiled by the cool weather. The girls were both great models and Maddux showed us his best Ray Mysterio. Thanks guys!

Grace, Callum, Gabe and Josiah

2009-07-02T08:47:00.006-04:00

I had a great time taking photos of my sister-in-law's niece and nephews. They started off a little slow (blinded by the bright sun) but had a great time once we hit the park!

2010 Senior Representatives

2009-06-24T21:13:00.002-04:00

Earn your way to discounted senior pictures! West Kenya Photography is currently looking for one representative from each of the Fort Wayne area high schools. As a representative, seniors will receive a complimentary 2-hour session and the opportunity to earn free prints. If you or someone you know is a 2010 graduating senior, please contact West Kenya Photography for more details.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

2009-06-22T21:53:00.004-04:00

A coach from one of the local little leagues contacted me about doing some action shots of his team. Being a sports junkie, I was excited at the opportunity. Here are some of my favorites.

Payton & Gillian

2009-06-07T15:49:00.005-04:00

Friday was a perfect day for a photo shoot in Fort Wayne. I was thankful to share it with two great models. Gillian was a little hesitant at first, but warmed up when she saw the pool. As you can see, Payton was a natural!

Matt & Alisa - Engagement Session

2009-05-05T22:52:00.009-04:00