TASTE- Overland Park Photographer

In June I had the honor of photographing a really great event. It was called TASTE and was a benefit for The Kansas City Autism Training Center which is a really neat school for Autistic children.

I went and took photos there a couple of months ago and was so impressed with what they do there. The ratio is 1-1 which is incredible and expensive maintain. What they do there is so amazing, I think anyone that has had a special needs child would understand what it takes to have one on one care for their child all day. These parents have to really sacrifice sometimes in order to give this kind of schooling to their children, but it is so worth it.

The fundraiser was a success and a lot of fun. There was a fashion show, amazing food provided by Lon Lanes Inspired Occasions (which was soooo good!), Photo booth and a beautiful Martini Ice Bar created by Cool Carvings. Great music was provided by Kenneth Ham of DJ Kreations. (All links to follow)

The event was orchestrated by Laura Van Zante and Emily McNulty of Moxi Events and they were really amazing and soooo great to work with. I highly recommend them for any event large or small that you want to be extraordinary. They have a contact in KC and St. Louis.

Kansas City Autism Training Center
Catering: Lon Lanes Inspired Occasions
DJ: DJ Kreations
Ice Sculpture: Cool Carvings
Event Space Host: Arsalon Technologies
Photo Booth: Say Cheez Photobooth
Mercedes Giveaway: Aristocrat Motors
Coordinators: Moxi Events


Now, onto the photos!


Arsalon Technologies



I'm pretty sure these girls are from HERLife Magazine!













I was really hoping the Mercedes winner would be there...what a great shot that would have been. But they weren't! :(


Some of the wonderful teachers of KcATC...and their husbands!! :)

Lon Lanes did such an amazing job. The presentation was beautiful, the servers were incredibly friendly...and those chocolate cookies below. OMG, soooo good!!! I could have eaten 20.



The slideshow from my visit to the school. The kids were so wonderful!!

I cant go on about the food enough...

Some of my amazing clients got to spend a night out there!! So glad they could come!!








If you were at this event and would like to see more go to www.luckyphotographer.net and click on clients. There will be a thumbnail to click on to view them all. Remember, for each image ordered $1 will go to KcATC.

Oh and to my sister...THANK YOU for coming with me!

Sometimes we need a reminder...

of how wonderful life is.

How grateful we should be.

How important our family is.

How special the everyday moments are.

What makes a personal beautiful.

That everyday is a gift.

This video has made the blogging rounds as of late, but I cant help sharing it again. I personally need reminding of these things DAILY. I read Stephanie Nielson's blog periodically before her accident. I remember liking it then, and even remember seeing her featured on another photographers blog I read. She had the most AMAZING photos of her family taken. I remember hearing about her accident thru the blogging community and was so sad for her. Now reading her blog is such an inspiration, I believe one purpose of her life now is to be an inspiration to others but especially mothers. Mothers who forget about the importance of the little things, and take for granted the importance of what we are to our children.

She has made this video and I just love it. I personally am not part of this religion but whatever religion you practice this video will speak to you. Hope it makes you feel grateful today.

The Meades...Yes You Counted Right! ~ Spring Hill Family Photographer

This is a special family to me...because I'm friends with the Mommy of this clan. And yes, she has 7 children. I've posted photos of them before when she was pregnant...some of you may recall. If anyone should have 7 children it is this Mom. She is amazing.



She gave birth to those 2 sweet twin boys about 9 months ago I believe...and she sadly had to receive the news that one of them had a Congenital Heart Defect. His specific defect is called Tetralogy of Fallot. (Click on the link to learn more.) Of course she was devastated, but this mom has been so amazing. I've watched her blog go from a place where she just share photos of her kids for friends and family (which is great) to a journal of her sharing her thoughts and fears of having a baby with CHD. She has visitors from all over the world, my blog gets hits off her blog all the time from all over!! It's amazing. Heart Moms have a very special bond that other moms that have not experienced this can not understand. I guess like any moms who have a child with any sort of health disorder, they connect and give each other wonderful support. I encourage anyone that knows someone that may be or has gone thru this to check her blog out. I know it has helped her immensely to know that she is not alone and others have and are going thru it also.

Yesterday he underwent his corrective surgery. It's been very scary to wait for this day. Necessary and exciting to have it done, but scary to have your sweet little baby go under and have his heart repaired. So far it appears the surgery was a success and he is in the PICU trying to recover his little body from this trauma it's just been thru. She has kept updates throughout on her blog.

She asked me to take some photos of their family last week and of course I was so excited. I LOVE what we got! Oh, and for a family with 7 kids....I was amazed at really how easy it was. I've shot families with 2 kids that were more difficult than this! They are such a great family!






I affectionately name this....."2 Cue Balls in a Field" :)



Awwww...Daddy! He carries 2 babies so easy. I couldn't believe when he scooped them both up like that!! :)


Yes, i took photos of the other children...but this post is about the twins! :)