Kansas City, I’m so in love.
As we grow older, life changes. Life changes, a lot. Duh, obvious point, Miranda. Yes, I just used myself in third-person and now I’m cringing (and crying on the inside). Back to the important point: when you grow up, you don’t see the people you used to see regularly. Friendships change, you meet new people, and sometimes you lose touch with old friends you never meant to lose touch with. Being from Kansas City and moving to Denver, Colorado right after high school, this all came very quickly for me. I would scroll through social media and see people from back home continue to hang out like nothing had changed, while I was stuck in a situation where I was forced to become friends with complete strangers right off the bat. I had no comfort zone to retreat to. This was just my perspective though, as I had no idea what the people were going through back home. Every time I came back to Kansas City for holidays, I would always run into someone I knew, and most of the time it wouldn’t be too horribly weird. As years passed, I started seeing fewer people each time, which I honestly didn’t mind, but when I rarely did, it was SUPER awkward or I just pretended like I had no idea who they were (yeah, I’m the worst). Thinking about it, I don’t actually have any idea who these people I went to high school with are anymore, because everyone has changed. I’m a completely different person than I was at age 18. Sure, I still have my weird quirks, and my dorky personality, but man have I grown, and I have learned so much. We were babies at 18! There’s a point to all of this, so hang on.
The reason why I choose to take photos when I return back to Kansas City is because I want people to reach out to me and vice versa. I want to see the faces I haven’t seen in years. I want to be pushed to my uncomfortable limits (which in this situation is running into people I don’t know all that well anymore). I want to grow. I want to reconnect. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for letting go of the past and letting go of the people who have wronged me, but I have no problem with seeing old faces that I never thought I would see again. Especially when I can share my gift with them. There’s a sense of familiarity there, but also a sense of being a total stranger. This is why I am so happy to be writing about Emily Bouvier and her husband Ryan.
Emily Bouvier was one of the first people who reached out to me when I posted about coming back to Kansas City to take photos. I hadn’t seen Emily in at least eight years, but talking with Emily over text, I knew that I was going to be comfortable with her when I saw her again. Emily was a good friend of my brother’s back when they were in grade school, and I had played high school soccer with her twin and her older sister. She had told me that her and her husband were going to be celebrating one year of marriage and she would love photos for their anniversary/holiday photos. I gladly put her on my calendar. I was so excited to meet the man who had captured this sweet girl’s heart, because he had to be a good one.
The day I took Emily and Ryan’s photos was a cloudy one, way too humid for this Colorado girl, and all I was hoping for was good light. I needed these photos to be flawless, because it would be incredibly awkward if the friend I hadn’t seen in eight years hated her photos (which hasn’t happened to me yet, but cue nervous laugh).
As the couple walked my way, their German Shepherd was out in front. Emily had texted me earlier that morning asking if she could bring their dog, Addi, and obviously I said yes. Dogs are a part of the family. Not only does a dog help their owners relax, but it also calls for more candid photos, which are my FAVE. Addi was a hoot. All she wanted to do was check out all the other dogs that were out and about that day and she definitely let you know about it. I think my favorite thing about her was the way she walked while on her leash: never in a straight line and always making sure you were behind her so she knew she wasn’t alone. She was entertaining and so fun to have for photos. *Shout out to Michaela Remijio for helping significantly that day*
I wasn’t sure what I was expecting before I met Ryan, but immediately after I did, I could sense his and Emily’s connection. He was very quiet at first. Most people are when they have a camera in their face (sorry, not sorry, I love my job), but the best part of that job is to help make the situation as normal as possible. As he loosened up, I could tell my couple was becoming more comfortable. Emily kept telling him to “be photogenic” and to not be awkward in her sweet, teasing way. Having your photo taken is not everyone’s cup of tea (I hate being in front of the camera; shocking, I know), but they made my job pretty easy.
I think my favorite thing about watching these two interact with each other was how subtle the attraction was. Don’t take that the wrong way, it was VERY apparent that these two love each other with their whole hearts. The way Ryan moved around Emily, the way he kissed her, the way he looked at her was just heart-melting but it was subtle and I LOVED it.
One of the best parts of the hour was when I sat Emily and Ryan on a park bench and asked them to look at each other. At first, I asked them to just have a conversation about what they were doing with the rest of their day, but then I asked them about how they met. These stories are my favorite. I am a sucker for a good love story (yes, hopeless romantic right here). Everyone’s is different and I love asking my couples this question. The greatest part about this is that during the story-telling, I get to see them remember the sweet moments, the beginning. I watch them as they recall their first date and their first kiss. The way they look at each other as they remember is what I love to capture. That’s the key, you guys. That’s where I get those genuine smiles and I am so happy to have been able to hear their story.
Emily and Ryan Bouvier were a dream. If I hadn’t decided to step out of my comfort zone and open myself up to the possibility of photographing someone I haven’t seen in years, I wouldn’t have been able to capture their sweet love. Photographing a stranger is one thing, but photographing someone you used to know is a whole new intimidating level (for me, anyway). Needless to say, I will be coming back to Kansas City to do more photoshoots, so keep your eyes and ears open, ladies and gents.
I love ya’ll so much,
Miranda
