Kansas City wedding photographer | boudoir photographer | family & newborn photographer » Darbi G. Hebrank is Kansas City portrait, boudoir and wedding photographer located in the Kansas City area ( including Lee

The hottest wedding I’ve shot in two years was a few weeks ago (go figure, since it IS late summer in the Midwest!) and it was that of Allison & Zach. These two–I tell you, if you left from their wedding not feeling as if you’d just witnesses two best friends whom EVERYONE SERIOUSLY ADORES…both separately and as a couple–then you clearly had cottonballs in your ears. From the get-go till my assistant, Seng, and I left… we heard story after story and example after example of why A & Z are perfect for one another. This wedding was so laid-back, full of laughter, wit and…LOTS OF WIND! AND HEAT! But the wedding party’s mood was not to be hampered. A few things I loved about the event will be sprinkled in between pictures!

 

I love that their wedding colors were vivid red and black! These days, you don’t see such dramatic palettes, so it’s refreshing to photograph something outside the norm. And the pic on the right…is…well…Dog. Dog was a garage-sale find for Allison’s family many moons ago, and he has since become akin to the traveling gnome, showing up sporadically at family events over the years. He of course couldn’t miss the wedding, though he was a bit bummed that the bride and groom didn’t think to get him a bone-tonniere. Ha. Sorry. Couldn’t help myself!

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The garter has been to sooo many weddings…wrapped around so many lovely brides’ legs! It is “something old. Something new. Something borrowed. And something blue.” Each bride has to sign the box with her date! 002-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography003-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography004-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography005-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotographyAllison & her girl time… with her mom and sister!006-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotographyI couldn’t have asked for better moments. Allison’s mom was not only sweet and funny, she was so affectionate. And I LOVE huggers!007-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography

This is EXACTLy how so many brides feel when the look comes together with the veil. And then the pic on the right is exactly how most brides do not feel when hairspray is out. Allison loathes hairspray. But you could never guess it by looking at the pic, no?008-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotographythe gents. Always smiling. Such good-natured lads!009-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography010-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography011-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotographyThe first glance took place on the stairwell at THE ELDRIDGE in LAwrence, Ks. It is a beautiful venue for weddings in general, though this wedding party just got ready there and headed out. 012-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography013-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography014-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography015-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotographyBecause it was a scorcher, the bride and groom provided guests with refreshers. And sunglasses. 016-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotographySorry about the horribly placed watermark on the below pic… my program botched. But moving on.. .the ceremony was outdoors, with glaring sunshine, at a grotto-like venue. 017-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography018-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography019-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography020-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography021-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography022-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography023-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography024-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotographyDo you love the simplicity of the floral usage? And the color is like KAPOW! Allison also let her ladies pick out their own black dresses. It’s always fun to see the different personalities that come to light. 025-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography026-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotographyOH! there is that dashing DOG. And these are the happiest bridesmaids’ feet I’ve ever worked with. 027-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotographyYou can tell how happy they were. So happy, they weren’t fearful of taking to the air!!! Do you spot the flying flowerhead?028-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography029-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography030-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotographyMAMAs are the best! (and yes, another badly placed watermark. Sorry!)031-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography032-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography033-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography034-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography035-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography

Their reception was at the super-artsy and fun Van Go event space. 

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041-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography042-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography043-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography044-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotographyThey win the award for most speeches ever at a wedding. I can’t remember exactly…but I think there were close to 10 or 12! The good news… every speech was warm, emotional and touching. And some were really funny. 045-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography046-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotographyAnd then to put another spine-tingling event in the mix, Allison’s mom gathered the family and friends to sing a Mennonite worship song. It was so beautiful to hear all the voices, no instruments, joining for such a wonderful occasion. 047-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotographyAnd then the first dance!!!!048-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography049-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography050-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography051-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotographyThese two didn’t have a wedding cake. BUT THEY HAD THE ICE-CREAM TRUCK parked outside for hours! Guest got to eat their choice of a dessert. how freaking cool…literally AND figuratively is that? 052-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotography053-KansasCityweddingphotography-DarbiGPhotographyIt is here that I must sincerely apologize to Allison & Zach because I COMPLETELY forgot to get a picture with them. I think this is the first time in 2 years I missed the personal must-have shot. I AM SO SORRY! {It might be better off because after sweating as much as I did that day, I was not very photo-friendly.) But to you and all your adoring fans (Friends & FAMILY!!!)… I wish you the merriest of lives together. I have no doubt you will do great things together…and share in so many laughs. xo to you all!

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There is nothing I love more in my job than when a past bride & groom start a family and look to me to capture the first year of their baby’s life! Kim & Mike got married last summer… and now…they are complete. 😉 When I saw Kaelynn, I giggled with glee. She’s so cute. As all babies are. But her full head of hair took it to a new level. There aren’t enough squeals to express how perfect she is. And she was so happy for her session. Mike is a football coach for Emporia State University, so of course we HAD to do a pose with the good ol’ pigskin. What pushed their session to a new level of fun was their dog, Koda. She wanted to be involved in every step, and when we did the football photo, Koda was right there, wagging her tail and eager to steal the ball from us. And she managed to do it several times!

Kim & Mike, congratulations once again on starting this amazing journey with your newest love. I know you guys will be amazing parents, and Koda will be a great big sister!

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  • Darbi's Mom - Aw-w, Kayelynn is such a beautiful little angel! And Koda is simply adorable! I can tell they are buddies already. Amazing beautiful job Darbi!ReplyCancel

  • Becky (Grandma) - Beautiful pictures Darbi love them all.
    Of course how could they be bad when you have such wonderful subjects 😉
    Thank youReplyCancel

  • Cindy Linsey - These are amazing photos!! Love all Kayelynn’s hair and Koda looks like her protector.ReplyCancel

  • Ginger brown. Great aunt - Such great pics. Great subject , great photographerReplyCancel

The following is a post as part of Project 2996, in which I originally participated several years ago. I have decided to post it for the sixth year in a row because doing so underscores how much I think it is important that we don’t forget there are faces, there are stories, there are left-behind loved ones to every name of every victim that was taken from us on that fateful day 13 years ago.

I’ve tweaked it a bit, after having received a book four years ago called “REQUIEM: Images of Ground Zero” in the mail from Gary’s sister, Christine, who read my 2009 blog post. (Christine, if you ever read this, thank you sooooo much for sending it to me..!!!)

In the decade plus three years that have passed, so much has happened in this country. And to each one of us on a personal level. We should always keep in mind every day how very fragile life is. I would appreciate if all of you to read below and think for a moment about the man whose name I was given in the original project efforts, and the 2,995 others whose names are just as important, including those on United Flight 93 that went down by Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania, near my husband’s hometown of Latrobe.
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Thirteen years ago today, the nation was rocked to its core. At the hands of hateful cowards. At the cost of nearly 3,000 hearts, minds and bodies. 5,110 days have passed, and so easy it is for many of us to move on. To focus on the patriotic spirit that rose out of that grim, ill-fated September day… to harness our own hatred in the name of the U.S. of A. and aim it at the sources of evil. Or to just put in our crosshairs people in our own country who have different beliefs or different colored skin or different political views. To literally FORGET what it really means to be an American.
But it has not been easy for those who were left in the wake of the tragedy, left to deal with a senseless loss of someone they loved, someone who loved them. Time might heal, but healing is hard to do when the loss always feels like it just took place yesterday. And time doesn’t bring back any one’s father, mother, sister, brother, husband, wife or best friend.
As part of Project 2996, I would like to shine a light on one man of whom I had never heard until until Sept 10 of 2009, …but now after reading about him and hearing the memories of those he left behind, I understand how important it is that he is remembered. That he is honored. Now, 13 years later, and every year thereafter.
His name is Gary P. Geidel, and he was a fireman for New York City Fire Department. He was one of 10 in his company who died in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks. He was 44.
Firefighting was in his blood. His father had walked before him; one of his brothers walked beside. All three Geidels shared a rescue company, Rescue Co. 1, which dates back to 1915 as the first rescue company to be established in the United States. Unfortunately, Gary was no stranger to responding to terror attacks; when the Twin Towers were bombed in 1993, Gary and his company were there, eager to save lives and help others.
His retirement from public service was a mere 20 days away when the calendar turned to September 11 in 2001. He awoke that morning, ruefully told his wife of almost 11 years that he put in for overtime and headed to the firehouse. But not before returning to give the love of his life another kiss and hug.

Their last kiss and hug.

Gary was a 6 ft. 2 romantic, avid birdwatcher, Eagle Boy Scout, former Marine and a member of a neighborhood softball and football team. He could fix parachutes, sew costumes, whittle gifts for loved ones and make toys for his daughter, Tillie. (At one point in the years since I’ve been doing this, Tillie contacted me through blog comments and on Facebook, and each time it warmed my heart that she has been touched by this small shout-out to the noble acts of her dad. Tillie, thank you for reaching out. And best wishes to you and your family!!)
Even if it’s just through memories, I’m glad I’ve come to know about Gary P. Geidel, who some called “Mule Bone.”
Many called him a friend.
Three called him a son.
Three called him a brother.
Some called him an uncle.
One called him a husband, a best friend, a soul mate.
One called him Dad.
And I know am not alone when I call him a hero.

 

Please remember Sept 11, 2001. And please remember Gary P. Geidel.


(B&W photo originally posted by jessica_foley62; other photos from Gary’s sites.)
Sources:
http://www.9-11heroes.us/v/Gary_Geidel.php
http://www.9-11heroes.us/v/Gary_Geidel.php
http://www.silive.com/september11/lr/index.ssf?/september11/lr/geidel.html



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Morgan & Nick’s engagement shoot was pretty much perfect! For starters, it took place where Morgan grew up… on her family’s lovely farmland just south of Overland Park, KS. There were gorgeous trees…fields…and ANIMALS. Which is perfect for them because Morgan is going to be a veterinarian! Her sweetness and compassion for the furry creatures was apparent right off the bat…and even more clear in her career goals of working in shelters.

So on to her 3 guys. Of course, her number 1 is Nick. Who is SUCH an amazing sport… and who puts up with Morgan and her love-y-ness with her other two lads…Tuff & Leroy. (HOW CUTE ARE THOSE NAMES???)

And the last element that came together for the shoot is their chemistry and amazing looks. We had a great time…even with the cute photo-bomber who wouldn’t leave us alone (which I didn’t mind!!!)… and the fear of bugs that Nick and I unabashedly share… I think we all nailed this shoot.

And faithful blog readers probably know how I have this thing where clients tend to look like celebrities…or what I call a “secret love child” of two celebrities… And this session was no different. Nick looks like what would happen if Matt Damon and Michael C Hall (DEXTER!!) had a baby…and Morgan looks like the chick who plays Melissa on Pretty Little Liars, with a bit of Bachelor reality star Courtney (but no worries! Morgan is totally the sweet version!!! haha) Do you agree?

They are getting married next May and after spending such a fun evening with them, I am even more pumped!!!

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  • Darbi's Mom - Oh my gosh! This couple is beautiful! Pictures are beyond perfect! Darbi, amazing job as a photographer. Can’t wait to see the wedding pictures!ReplyCancel

  • Grace Davis - too much beauty. Love the shot of them against the woods.ReplyCancel

  • DIANE (BIRCH) WILLIAMS - THESE TWO ARE BEAUTIFUL!
    TOO HARD TO PICK A FAVORITE PIC BUT I SEEM TO BE DRAWN TO
    THE BLACK & WHITES.ReplyCancel

I can tell you one thing about Hayley & Josh. (Well, i can tell you lots of things, but let’s stick to this ONE thing)… THEY ARE SMITTEN with their little boy. At the time we took this session, he was just over 7 months old. Remember him from his “new” status?

This turned into one of my favorite sessions this year. He was so adorable, full of expressions… and easy to photograph. What more could I ask for?

How about perfect weather? Ok, fine. I had that too. How about a fun and photogenic mom and dad? Yep. Check! And lastly, how about tons of favorites? Um…totally check.

The only sad thing about this session was knowing that once it was over, it wouldn’t be until December that I’d get to shoot this family again!

So enjoy the top-dog pics of oh-so-many… and leave Hayley & Josh … and baby Henry … some lovin’!

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  • Josh Renaud - Darbi,
    Once again you did a magnificient job! Henry had a lot of fun and really enjoyed your company! You are wonderful with kids, as well as adults, and I had fun as well.
    Thanks for all of your hard work and pictures,
    JoshReplyCancel

  • Darbi's Mom - Aw-w, what a little cutie Henry is! Just adorable! Darbi, you did a wonderful job of capturing so many cute shots of the whole family! They have to love these!ReplyCancel

  • Abby - Absolutely adorbs!!!!ReplyCancel

  • Ashley Griffey - Such a beautiful family and phenomenal pics!ReplyCancel