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Tarrah & Justins Destin Florida Portrait Session

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Hi Again!

My favorite part of Destin, Florida was the portrait session we did of Justin and Tarrah on the wedding day. They were up for anything and the scenery was perfect! Great place, great light and a great couple. Here's a few of my absolute faves...
















~Lauren




Iris' 1yr Portraits - Cutest Baby Ever (sorry all other babies!)

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Hey everybody!

Two things about Iris: 1) I believe she (or actually her mom's instagram) was to blame for our baby fever, which has resulted in our current state of expecting.
2) We have a fear... not that our baby won't be as adorable as Iris... but that we will THINK she is, and everybody will look at us weird when we think our baby is as cute as this precious cherub.

We are so honored to be buddies with one of the coolest families around (hey Gills!), and that kiddo of theirs sure makes our portfolio look good! 

Now that Iris is 1ish, it was time to do another portrait session!  We went to a new location we found recently (and asked permission to use!) and let Iris be our guinea kid. :)  Here are my favorites...



















Talk to you soon,
Dale

Tarrah and Justin's Destin Wedding Portraits, (a few more!)

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Hey everybody!

Can you believe the awesomeness that Lauren captured?! She's pretty rockin. Well, I couldn't let the whole wedding go without putting a couple of my favorites that I took. :)










Tarrah and Justin, thanks so much for bringing us to Florida for your amazing destination wedding! We love to travel, but especially when it's to hang out with awesome, gorgeous couples! We are truly blessed to know you, and were truly honored to be your wedding photographers!

Talk to you soon,
Dale

Anna's Fayetteville Bridal Session at Pratt Place Inn

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Hey everybody!

Today, Anna is getting married at Pratt Place Barn in Fayetteville, AR. Though we were booked for her wedding (super sad face, because she's AMAZING!), she still had to have us shoot her bridals! (super happy face, because she's AMAZING!).

Seriously, Anna is a natural in front of the camera is one of those kind of makes-you-stop-in-your-tracks-and-stare kind of pretty! We're so happy for her because not only is she beautiful on the outside, she's the most darling and sweet person on the inside! Here are my favorite few from the session...









Talk to you soon,
Dale

Sunday Superthoughts: The Coolest Man I Never Met (tribute to Matt Turner)

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It seems totally unfair that while we all woke up today and got to do our normal Sunday/everyday things, Julee had to deal with the loss of her husband.

I never met Matt Turner, though I felt like I knew him... I felt like I liked him... and I knew that we'd be fast friends. Saturday night he died in a car accident, causing his family's world to be sent into a whirlwind.

Matt was the coolest man I never met. Always funny when he needed to be, solemn when he needed to be, and extremely knowledgeable in every situation I ever saw him in... I always watched him with lots of admiration. When Mere and I got to know his wife, Julee (read Julee's blog here), it just served as a testament to how great of a guy Matt must have been. She herself is quite amazing. That, of course, makes this whole thing so much harder. Then, compound it times a thousand when you remember they have a beautiful little girl, less than a year old.

Maybe that's the hardest part of all of this... for me to reconcile, for Julee to comprehend, and for Meredith to stomach (she's been crying and praying for Julee most of the day): that Preslee won't have memories with her daddy, who loved her above all things.

Then I get that feeling of it all being unfair, again.

It's so sad for the two of them; I don't think there is a limit on how many times the same heart can break over the same thing. Like a broken window, pieces of glass can always be broken smaller, even until the pieces are a fine sand.

I don't know the right words to say to console Julee and the Turner family. It's incomprehensible. The only thing I can think of to say has already been said:





Living a life that Matt would have wanted for his wife and his daughter is the only advice I have for them.

Talk to you soon,
Dale

A Double Blessing! Someone's Expecting TWINS!

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Hey everybody!

If you've been hanging around on this blog for awhile, you know the Walters family well. My lifetime best friend, Tom, and his amazing family have been through many ups and downs (most of which I've documented on here), and today I have a major UP for y'all!

After trying and trying and trying and trying to have a baby (including several procedures, and many heartbreaks), Tom and Emily are having TWINS!

(yes... I hinted to this news a couple weeks ago on the blog!)

I couldn't believe it when Tom told me the news... my eyes immediately filled with tears, and Mere went straight to the ugly cry.

We stopped over their house recently to shoot a few shots of the growing family. Here's a cool little composite Mere made (of course we included a skateboard!):


Talk to you soon,
Dale

Zac and Kristina's Wedding Portraits at Pinnacle Hills Country Club

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Hey everybody!

Zac and Kristina are about as photogenic as a bride and groom can be. I'm going to be sharing their wedding and Pinnacle Hills Country Club reception with you over the next couple days, but I had to get these pretty portraits posted asap! :) (btw, these wedding portraits were also shot at Pinnacle Hills Country Club)
















Story and details from this amazing wedding tomorrow!

Talk to you soon,
Dale

Zac + Kristina's Wedding +Pinnacle Hills Country Club Reception

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Hey everybody!

I've got an oh-so-gorgeous wedding to share this week! Kristina and Zac were married in Rogers and had their reception at Pinnacle Hills Country Club, who had the perfect space for her wedding. Also, Amy Bates and the team at Bates Marketing and Events did a perfect job of making the day go well (and look beautiful)!




Gorgeous Monique Lhullier gown!



Dad moments are the BEST!















DJ Greg kicked off the party with the first dance and parent dances. Zac brought the moves.



















We have some REALLY great portraits of this fabulous couple coming up on the blog, so c'mon back tomorrow!

Talk to you soon,
Dale

Zac and Kristina's Wedding Portraits at Pinnacle Hills Country Club, part 2

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Hey everybody!

I have more from the fabulous Zac and Kristina today! They had so many wonderful wedding portraits at Pinnacle Hills Country Club that one post wasn't enough!





I love the "almost kiss!"









Kristina is SO silly! I love that! :)



Oooh, and an action shot of me:



Kristina and Zac - y'all rock!  I have the best clients in the world!  You make me love my job!  Thanks so much for an amazing day and for asking Mere and me to be a part of it!

Talk to you soon,
Dale

Taffy's Beach Portrait Session!

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Hey everybody!

When I was in Destin, FL, recently for a destination wedding, my favorite teenager Taffy came to the beach for a portrait session. I think it's a secret so I can't say what the session was for just yet, but I can show off a couple of my favorites!













Talk to you soon,
Dale

Kristina's Springfield Bridal Portraits

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Hey everybody!

I just remembered... now that Kristina is married, I can show off my favorite bridal portraits we took of her in Springfield, MO! Yay!











Talk to you soon,
Dale

Sunday Superthoughts: ...Brave

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Hey everybody!

I remember the first time I went to a spook house. I was in 2nd grade and my step-dad-at-the-time (long story) drove my little brother and me up to the spook house, said a quick prayer with us -- at my request -- and it was time to muster courage. (was the prayer a stalling technique? possibly.)

Though I don't remember many details about my first spook house, I do remember this: the fear that I felt BEFORE I entered was worse than any I had felt while inside the spook house. Maybe we should remember that! The worse part of anything new is usually the fear that something bad might happen... that we might fail.

Secondly, I do remember how proud I was after I left the spook house that night. I know I didn't look older, but I felt it. I felt more mature, I felt like I had grown, and I felt like I accomplished something and changed for the better.

That, most importantly, is what I think the sunday superthought quote is all about:




Fortune might mean money in some cases, but as I think fortune means many other things before money is ever considered... I think this is a quote about taking calculated risks, and not allowing fear to get the better of you and keep you from doing certain things and making certain decisions.

What decisions are you struggling with? Is it fear that's holding you back?

Talk to you soon,
Dale

Ashley and Dave's Fayetteville Engagement Portraits {part ONE}

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Hey everybody!

One of my very best friends in the world is getting married! Ashley, who not only shoots for Benfield Photography, but who is an amazing friend with a huge heart, is marrying Dave in December! Meredith and I couldn't be more excited to see how happy she is, and to see how great Dave treats her!

We recently met up with the lovebirds for their engagement session. I'm breaking it up into TWO parts: 1) today's post which contains their first location and outfit (shot with our typical style), and 2) a super cool idea we had - that Ashley and Dave totally went for! It'll be on the blog tomorrow, so you HAVE to check back! In the meantime, here you go...

Does this not MELT your heart?! The color is perfect... her hair, the blue, the background leaves... and her LOOK!  {sigh...}






This is literally the FIRST of hundreds of shots I took.  I knew I was in for a good shoot!



He makes her SO happy!!






Okay, seriously... come back tomorrow for something great I've got in store for you!  Such a neat engagement session idea!

Talk to you soon,
Dale

Pumpkin Patch Engagement Session in Arkansas

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Hey everybody!

I LOVE this shoot! It was so fun to sort of accompany Ashley and Dave on a date to the pumpkin patch for their engagement session. They searched out a few pumpkins, picked them, wheeled them, and cuddled like the sweet lovers they are! It was such a neat idea for an engagement session, and something that was a little bit different, but still allowed us to shoot our typical engagement style session. Enjoy!

(see if you can spot the pumpkins in the images below!)

































Talk to you soon,
Dale

Harwelden Mansion Wedding of Melissa and Ben

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Hey everybody!

Today and tomorrow I have a beautiful wedding at a stunning location for you to see. The location, Harwelden Mansion in Tulsa, was absolutely breathtaking - the first time we've ever shot there - tomorrow's portraits REALLY shot it off (so come back!).

Today's post is all about Melissa and Ben's details and story...






What a spot for a special first meeting! TDF!



I'm man enough to admit... I cried too.



Melissa and Ben are so cool - they asked their guests to instagram from the wedding.



Such sweet ceremony moments.  Don't you agree?



LOVE the piece she put in her hair for the reception, and here... the first dance.



To the bride and groom...



Magical ending... magical couple... magical night.



Talk to you soon,
Dale

Harwelden Mansion Wedding Portraits of Melissa and Ben

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Hey everybody!

Ready for some pretty portraits at a fabulous wedding venue?  These were taken in and around Harwelden Mansion in Tulsa, OK.  We love shooting in Tulsa - not too far of a drive for us - especially if the couple is as cool as Melissa and Ben (our new foodie friends!!).




I thought this one was my favorite...



Until I saw this one. Awwwww!!!!










Talk to you soon,
Dale

Melissa's Mayo Hotel Bridal Portrait Session

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Hey everybody!

It's time to show off Melissa's beautiful bridals, which we photographed at the super chic Mayo Hotel in Tulsa, OK. The Mayo has great light if you know how to use it, and Melissa definitely rocked out an amazing session!














Talk to you soon,
Dale

Pumpkin Spice Photoshop Action

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Hey everybody!

Every year when Starbucks brings back the pumpkin spice drinks - it's all the rage on social media. Every photographer and their cat (no... literally...#catsofinstagram) post a picture of them with their beloved pumpkin spice drink. Well, I'm officially on the pumpkin spice bandwagon, and not just with drinks! I have a great new action called the Pumpkin Spice Action that adds the warm fuzzies on fall mornings! Again... literally!


Add to Cart get it for $5

Here are a few examples of before and afters...

(boost/warm up awesomeness with fall colors)


Aaaaand... Have a cool (blue) photo that you want a great effect on? Look no further!


Aaaaand... It even looks rad on black and white photos!

Add to Cart get it for $5

Talk to you soon,
Dale

P.S. I have more actions, too, and sell a new one just about every week in my Photo Tips of the day! Subscribe using the link to the right!

Sunday Superthoughts: Rejection

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Hey everybody,

Nobody loves getting rejected. In the business of wedding photography, we deal with rejection: maybe a bride can't afford us, maybe she can't change her date for our schedule, or maybe our style isn't what she had in mind (I'll be the first to admit that we are not for everyone - and sometimes my personality is too upbeat for people). We shoot 30 weddings a year, and normally get 100+ inquiries. So, there is definitely rejection.

I hate that some people don't like me (I think everyone who works for me, including myself, are huge people pleasers!), and I hate that some people don't book us, especially after we are Facebook friends and I see their super fabulous wedding on Facebook (and sometimes... accompanied by bad wedding photos).

Dealing with rejection is hard for all of us, regardless of our job. I've been cheated on, broken up with (once, and it was AWFUL!), turned down for scholarships, and all sorts of other forms of rejections. It never gets easier, and it always sucks... Like a black cloud that hovers overhead.

It's during these times of rejection (and any other dark-clouds moments) that we need to embrace the following quote/lyric from my favorite musician, Jason Mraz:




To help me get through hard situations in my life, I have a secret weapon: Ellie. That kid can brighten up my mood even in the midst of a deadly tornado that destroys our hometown. When I see her face, it's like the world fades away and all that remains is her. Her smile can melt any hurt, and as they say... Turn frowns upside down.

Have a look at Ellie's recent dance performance at Joplin's 3rd Thursday. Don't worry, you'll spot her.

Just look for the girl who is smiling ear to ear, like she could burst into laughter at any moment.



Talk to you soon,
Dale

Maura's Beautiful Outdoor Southern Bridals

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Hey everybody!

I've been so excited, for so long, to show off these pretty bridal portraits of an amazing bride, and person, Maura! Maura is a photographer herself (nope, I don't get nervous, if that's what you're asking yourself), so I was doubly excited that she entrusted her bridals and wedding to Benfield Photography!

I found a new place to shoot! It's pretty rad, no?



Since Maura is a rockin' little photographer herself, we thought we should incorporate that into her portraits.



Just beautiful!







And of course... a little "Benny Backlight"!!!



Talk to you soon,
Dale
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