WORKSHOP

The official announcement:

Gina Dreher and Lindsey Penney of Gingeroot Studios are proud to announce ROOTS: Photography from the ground up.
This is going to be an amazing time of learning and photography fun for beginner photographers. It will be June 16 from 9am to 2pm. We've only got 8 spots to fill and you must have your own SLR camera. The cost will be $100. We'll be covering the following:

-Manual camera settings
-Natural light
-Working with people/models
-Location scouting
-Basic Photoshop
-and a few more things

We will have a downloadable application sheet and more info soon. So keep checking back here, or send your email address to me at gdreherphoto@gmail.com.

And, because I really wanted to say this in the title of this post, but thought it might be "unprofessional," I might be referring to this workshop as ROOTIE-TOOT-TOOT.

ARRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

Well. Hello there. Washington was really great, but you want to hear about my coming-home present? My computer decided it'd be a good time to DIE. It just started freezing every two seconds. Macs are not supposed to freeze. Lucky me, I get the ONE that does. Can you tell I'm a little upset? I know many of you are waiting on prints and proofs and all things photography, but you're just going to have to wait a little longer. I'm so sorry...I'm as frustrated as you are. The geniuses over at the Apple store said it should take about a week to fix. That means I have a week of going crazy thinking about all the stuff I could be doing for you all. ARGH! Send me some cookies to make me feel better. Chocolate chip. THANKS! :)

Off I Go!

Well folks, I'm off to Washington for a wedding and to visit Adam's brother, Craig. I'll be back Wednesday, so I'll be returning calls and emails then. Have a great weekend!

Laura & Ky

Yesterday's e-session with Laura and Ky was so much fun! Laura told me beforehand that they wanted something unlike anyone else's engagement photos. So I took them to some new places including a construction site with concrete barrels and a dandelion field. We even ended the session playing in the fountains at the Hyatt, which felt wonderful for all of us since yesterday was quite warm! They brought their ADORABLE dog Jackson, who is a Chorkie (Chihuahua/Yorkie mix) and he was full of spunk. He got really sad when we put him in the fountain and I just wanted to schnuggle him to make it all better, but Laura took care of that. :) I had a really hard time narrowing down my favorites, but here they are!

Things Lindsey Says...

"It's summer on my driving wheel."

Melissa & James

Saturday, Lindsey and I photographed Melissa and James' wedding at the Magdalen church. This couple was so much fun! I love when everyone is expressive with their faces - it makes for great pictures. After the ceremony, we took the whole wedding party to a cool grungy location downtown that made for some great photos! It was cloudy the whole day except for during those photos, but we were able to use the sun to our advantage. At the reception, James loosened up a ton and turned into one of the funniest grooms I've worked with. He even made Lindsey and I jump in a photo with him! Here are some favorites from their day.

Ginger, Joe, and Baby Makes Three!

This morning, I took my close friend Ginger's maternity photos. She's due one month from today, but she's just about to pop! She was telling me how "large and in charge" she felt, but I thought she looked so beautiful for her pictures! Her sister, Sage came along and took care of hair and makeup, as well as wardrobe changes. Sage is such a sweetie and she just had her first baby in November. These cousins are going to be so much fun together! And a big thanks to Joe for enduring all my antics and helping me carry stuff. Thanks, buddy.

New News

Well folks, I have a bit of news. It's a little sad, but mostly good. This summer, I have decided that I will only be taking on two non-wedding related sessions per month. I've found with all the portrait work that I've been doing, my weddings aren't getting the attention they should. This new policy doesn't apply to engagements, since those are wedding related. So, if you're wanting family, baby, maternity, or senior photos this summer, please schedule your session now, as the 2 spots in June, July, and August will be filled quickly.

Thanks for understanding. This is great news for my wedding clients, as they'll be getting better photos than ever since I'll have more time for them! And always remember that my biz partner Lindsey is here too and would love to take your photos!

Conrade Family

Last night I photographed the Conrade family at Eastborough Park. I hadn't been there in quite awhile and was happily surprised to find that it was green and blooming! I have quite a few crazy connections to this family. Cynda babysat me when I was really little...their family lived on my same block. Ryan, the youngest, was in my class all through grade school and high school. A few years after high school, I met our friend Scott at church, who ended up being a groomsmen in our wedding. Little did I know that his cousin, Dawn, married into the Conrade family. If you followed all that, you get a gold star. Oh, and you might recognize two of the members of this family, they're a little famous in Wichita. Ten points if you leave me a comment telling me where you know them from. :) I love contests.

Their oldest was throwing grass at them while I was trying to get a nice picture...

Things Lindsey Says...

Gina: "You like Oksana?"
Lindsey: "She has nice Baiuls."

Janessa

Last night I photographed yet another senior from my church! I took Janessa's older brother's senior photos a couple years ago, my first year in business. Janessa brought her friend Ashley along, who was very helpful! She made Janessa give me some real smiles and also served as a shade for a few photos. They were troopers...we trekked around in mud and through some really grungy places. Here are the faves.

Things Lindsey Says...

"I'm going to make paper airplanes with knifes on them and throw them at you."

Jill & Eric

Friday evening, I met Jill and Eric and photographed their engagement session. This couple was so easy going and fun to get to know! We started downtown, where Jill had the cutest black dress with bright yellow shoes! Then we spent the majority of the session getting back to nature. During the course of their session, they told me their weekend Easter plans, which I think involved about four states in four days. Crazy! Here are some of my faves from their session.

Easter

I couldn't let this day pass without mentioning the meaning for it all. I am so, so thankful to serve an awesome and mighty God who would willingly lay down His life, dying in such a horrific way, all for me. What an amazing God. Lyrics from a song have been playing over and over in my head the past few days:

"Freely You gave it all for us, surrendered Your life upon that cross. Great is the love, poured out for all, this is our God."

I don't deserve anything He's done for me, and yet he keeps on giving. Keeps on blessing. What an amazing God. :)

"Lifted on high from death to life, forever our God is glorified. Servant and King, rescued the world! This is our God!"

Things Lindsey Says...

"I'm having an out of bauhn experience."

Matt

Last afternoon (can I say that? you know, instead of last night, last afternoon...?) I took Matt's senior photos over at the Great Plains Nature Center. His bro and sis and mom came along to take a family photo to surprise dad with for Father's Day. If you're a long time blog reader, you may remember Matt's older brother Remmy - I took his senior photos last year (he was the one with the crazy cool ballet jumps in front of the graffiti wall). I go to church with this family, so I've known them for awhile and we've got one more sibling to go...she'll be a senior in two years. Here are some of my faves from Matt's session.

Free Stuff

In light of the crazy government stealing all my money since I'm self-employed and this is tax season...Lindsey and I have decided to come up with a list of things we've gotten for free this week, and things you can do for free.

1. Adam and I went to the dog show on Sunday and saw lots of cute little doggies, including some Min Pins, which I'd never seen in real life and looked like miniature Axls.
2. Lindsey got a old school desk from her neighbor to use in pictures.
3. I've taken my dogs on a walk a couple times this week, and the excitement that they show when I get out the leash is worth at least $1,000. But I got to see it for free.
4. I had blood taken this week, and my insurance paid for it, so it was technically free to me.
5. I LOVE LIBRARIES. All my friends seem to feel the need to buy the books they read, but I'm a fan of the good ol FREE library.
6. Facebook is free.
7. Blogging is free.
8. Sitting in the backyard throwing a ball for Diesel is free.
9. High-fives, hugging, and smiles are all free.
10. Lindsey usually gets at least one thing free at Home Depot each time she goes because they can't ring stuff up correctly. So go to Home Depot.

2010 Wedding Season

We are now booking 2010 weddings! Be sure to give me a call ASAP to reserve your date, as they'll go very fast. I look forward to working with all you future brides!

Natalie + Garrett

This weekend, Adam and I photographed Natalie and Garrett's wedding in Newton. They are two of the coolest people you'll ever meet. They both went to Adam's high school, so he's known them for years, and they've been dating for quite awhile...everyone agreed that it was definitely time they got hitched! Natalie was a bubbly, happy bride, and had paid attention to every little detail of the wedding. The church was decorated perfectly with bright flowers and the dessert reception was one-of-a-kind. The couple was very sweet - they gave me a corsage...I felt so important. :) Natalie and Garret - thanks for letting me be a part of your day! You're perfect together, have fun in St. Lucia!

Heather + Dan

Friday evening I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing Heather and Dan for their engagement session. These two are getting married in Manhattan in May and I can't wait for their wedding. I told them at the beginning of the session that they had to act like they were in love, and they had no problems with that. Dan even did some of his own posing.

Experimenting with motion:

A Neeeeeeew Caaaar!!!

Please say the title to this post in a game show announcer voice to get the full effect. :) I finally have photos for you of our new car. Isn't it so pretty? It was a little sad to get rid of the ol 89 Nissan Pulsar, but I think I'll live.




In other exciting news, I don't usually do a lot of traveling, but I'm going to Kansas City, Manhattan (Kansas), Washington state, and Louisiana all in the next month! Three of those in one week! Should be exhausting but fun! I'll be shooting weddings in KC, Manhattan, and Washington, and going to a sweet photography workshop in Louisiana.

Bailey

Yesterday evening, Bailey and I braved the Kansas wind for some senior photos. She is a super laid-back and sweet senior from Heights. Good luck at WSU next year!

Things Lindsey Says...

"Usually my farting involves two legs."

Kim & Posse

This morning I photographed Kim, two adorable kids with her soon-to-be third kid. These kiddos love me for some crazy reason and it's just so fun! Brooks told me what a great job I was doing and Evin ran around the studio yelling "Gina! Gina!" Kim and her hubby Thom will welcome their new little girl in just a few short weeks. Here are my faves from their session.

Josh

FINALLY!! Yesterday, I finally took Josh's senior pictures. I've known him since he was a little bitty freshman and it's been great watching him grow up. I took his family photos and I photographed his sister Helen's wedding where he was a groomsman, and he's been dreading his senior pictures all that time. He just hates being forced to smile! So we started out at NewSpring with the drums because Josh is an AMAZING drummer. I'm not just saying that. Sometimes during church, I just sit back in awe of his talent. Little sidenote: he even played drums in my wedding! He was in on Adam's scheme to surprise me during the ceremony by singing to me. We ended the session at a park and got some great, laid back shots. Now....to the photos!