OpenSource Photo - Indianapolis trip...

My 48 hours at Indy was a blast -- had a great time reconnecting with old friends and making several new ones. Here are a few "quick hit" shots...

My dear friends, destination wedding photographers (and role-model husband and wife photo business owners) Garrett and Joy Nudd have such a cute little girl -- I finally got to meet the light of their lives -- two year-old Graycen.

Supremely-talented wedding photo-journalist Kevin Swan's son was not camera shy around me. (I guess he could tell I also have a three year old son...)

Here are some other cute kiddos -- the ("almost-related sisters") daughters of best friends Amy Enderle and Kim Wade (they run Silverbox Photographers in Columbia, MO)...

Here are a few images of one of the models who volunteered to help us last night during a night-time location shoot...

No, those weren't actually models (above) -- my pals Jim Cook (whom you may remember from his role in the "trashed by dan" experiment of 2007, as well as the lovely couple Brandy and Sticky Rammel treated me to my annual apple martini.

Mackinac Island Wedding Photography...

One of my "bucket list" items is to photograph a wedding on Mackinac Island, Michigan. If you (or someone you know) are planning to be married on Mackinac Island -- please visit my web-site: www.danieljwatkins.com

I'd love to help you capture the day of your dreams -- and you can help me realize one of my dreams. :-)

Meramec river floods on the way...

As promised, I'm posting some pictures I took 2 weeks ago in and around Minnie Ha Ha state park near my house. I love taking pictures of snow on clear days. Anyway...the tremendous amount of rain that has come through over the past couple of days has forecasters predicting that the Meramec River will crest in Valley Park at around 36 feet -- about 15 feet over flood stage and within about 6 feet of the record floods of December 1982.

Our kids love playing at Minnie Ha Ha -- it's a very new park (~ 3 years old?) and has a lot of new jungle gym equipment. I've done some engagement photos down in that area (esp. on the old Gravois Road bridge which was closed last August after the I-35 bridge collapse in Minneapolis, but remains open to pedestrian traffic...which means it's one of the sets of my outdoor Fenton studio...he-he-he). I'm just sitting here in awe of the contrast in imagery -- 2 weeks ago, beautiful snow...while within the next 24-48 hours Minnie Ha Ha will be covered by 5 to 10 feet of water in most places.

So, here are the pictures of the early March snowfall...the area will look radically different very soon...

The shot below is pretty neat -- wet leaves froze and then blew away, leaving this pattern in the concrete under a picnic shelter (hence, no snow)...

I've walked this trail many, many times...before work, after work, during work (okay...lunch time)...

This little shrub already looks to be flooded...by snow. It'll be deep under water in a matter of hours.

Below is the Old Gravois Road bridge -- a hiker and biker bridge now. Obviously I was not the first one to the bridge that morning...oh well, the existing foot prints show depth. And, like the true experiential nature dork that I am...I took care only to walk in the existing foot-prints. LOL

The shelter you see in the middle of the picture below...will likely have flood water up to its' roof by Friday morning...

Not deep snow drifts (below), still...I had to get down for a low angle shot...

Below -- I've driven away from Minnie Ha Ha and past Sunset Lakes golf course for some drive-by shooting. This golf course will be mostly flooded by Thursday evening...

I guess you could say I'm a flood junkie. You kind have to be when you live in St. Louis -- where two of the largest rivers in the United States come together. Floods -- Nature's reminder who's the boss.

Lauren and Megan - sisters session

Sisters Lauren and Megan came over and played in my studio a few days ago. :) I photographed their mom and dad's wedding fifteen and a half years ago (seems like last fall!). Lauren just turned 6 and had two new permanent teeth to show off. Megan was adopted 2 years ago from China -- this was the third time I took Megan's pictures...and perhaps the fourth or fifth time for Lauren. They are to the point they just want to play with me...so I let them. :) They had lots of fun jumping...and I had lots of fun grabbing shots as they entertained me. Here are some of my fave's...

You can check out their slideshow by clicking here. Thanks for stopping by. :)

Erin and Nathan engagement

Erin and Nathan "met me in St. Louis" a few days ago for their engagement session. It was a convenient meeting place as Erin currently lives in Chicago and Nathan lives in Kansas City. They will be getting married in Chicago this fall -- I can't wait to travel to the windy city to photograph their wedding!

Here are some pics from Erin and Nathan's engagement session -- they brought along their dog, Leala, for some fun "family" shots! :)

You can check out some more images from Erin and Nathan's engagement session by watching their slideshow -- just click here! :)

Morna and Jay's Engagement

On Saturday I had the pleasure of shooting Morna and Jay's engagement photos. Morna and Jay live in Nashville and will be married on June 7th (6-7-08!) at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Clayton, MO. They were on a tight time frame in St. Louis this weekend so we did sort of an express engagement session at Morna's parents' house. It was really cool -- the house was filled with lots of beautiful antique furniture so I was able to do some very cool pictures using the existing backgrounds! Here are some of the images...

Click here to check out a short slideshow.