Allison Carenza Photography

One Year Pictures ~ Allison Carenza Photography, Kansas City Photographer

Allison — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:00:58 +0000

It’s scary how fast a year can go by. Or years for that matter. It seems like just yesterday I was sitting on the bleachers at a cooperate challenge volleyball game watching Jon play when I met Rebecca. We hit it off immediately and made plans to get together soon. Soon never happened, but we did eventually get together when Rebecca was expecting. Now Roman is a year old and I can’t help but think about how fast the time has gone by. It’s a reminder that we need to live it up every moment! Don’t waste your time on stress, negative feelings, or ugly thoughts. Look around the world is beautiful. Especially when I get to photograph life.

Roman then…

Roman now…

He’s a big boy with a huge personality. It took him awhile to get comfortable with me, but when he did he was all smiles and joy.

By total fluke I found this beautiful field of yellow blooming bean sprouts. At least that’s what I think they were.

I love Mike and Rebecca. We still have plans to get together for drinks. :) I know one of these days it will happen.

Roman is not lacking in the personality department. What a goof!

I’ve been doing this long enough now that I’ve seen kids go from crawling to Kindergarden. It goes so fast, I feel lucky to be the one to get to capture the moments in between. Have a beautiful day everyone! Take a moment to look around at the gifts that surround you and give thanks.

xoxo

Senior pictures ~ Kansas City Photographer Allison Carenza

Allison — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:56:11 +0000

I have been photographing a lot of seniors this month and it’s been so fun. One…they listen and stay in one place. :) Two…it’s like I’m capturing the big ending, but even more importantly the great beginning. I love it, and I loved taking these pics.

Meet Madyson. A bubbly, talented, fun loving, senior at Truman High School.

You would never guess it by looking at the pics, but Madyson was a nervous wreck when we started the shoot. Uncomfortable doesn’t really even begin to describe the way she feels in front of a camera, but it didn’t take long for her to relax and really work it. I think we were able to really capture her inner beauty. What a gorgeous girl, with a bright future!

FIERCE!

Madyson I have no doubt graduating high school is just the beginning for you. I had so much fun taking your pics!

xoxo

Baby Nolan ~ Newborn Pictures ~ Kansas City Photographer

Allison — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:40:09 +0000

In a newborn shoot there are a lot of quiet moments. It’s not the rowdy rambunctious kinda shoot like a 1 year old, or 2 year old for that matter. I love the quiet moments, mom is feeding baby, or rocking baby, or I’m carefully posing baby. It’s in these moments, when time slows down, and I get to be an observer. There’s nothing quite like watching a newborn fall asleep. It might take time, but it give me a chance to examine my job. And, I fall in love over and over again.

Meet baby Evelyn.

And rowdy brother Graham. Good thing he really loved that train table.

Not a day goes by that I don’t appreciate my job. I’m in love with my work!

XOXO Evelyn. You are such a sweet girl! I’ll see you in a couple months!

Senior Pictures ~ Kansas City Photographer

Allison — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:44:50 +0000

You can feel it. The excitement for the end of the school year. Everything turns green, it starts getting warmer out, and kids at school turn their brains off for summer break. For seniors in high school, the anticipation of the end of the year is on another level…senioritis. We all had it, even the most dedicated students. The idea of being done with public education, and moving on, is too much. So when I photograph seniors, I see a twinkle in their eye. It’s small but it’s there, and it’s my goal to capture it. That love for life that only happens those months before they graduate high school.

Chris was all smiles, and he definitely had a twinkle. He was a superb model and a complete gentleman, with the confidence of someone much older. It probably comes from all those years of strict practice behind the piano, or maybe the hours on stage competing with perfect poise in forensics. And of course, it could have been his adoring parents Julie and Paul that helped this senior make it. Congrats Chris. You have so much more to achieve, I wish you the best of luck. Remember to live in the moment, those college years will fly by, and they are oh so fun!

What a stud! Nominated for prom king and I see why!

Chris spends much of his time teaching other kids how to play the piano. So awesome!

maternity/ newborn pictures

Allison — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:00:05 +0000

I love taking maternity pictures! I mean I really really love taking maternity pictures. Pregnant women are beautiful and it’s not really about the bump, but what’s going on inside. I mean they are making another little person and it’s amazing! Not only that, but all pregnant women glow. And I love capturing those moments. I also love that I still do my maternity pictures in my house. My new studio is awesome, but I feel like I get closer to my clients when they come to my house. This below picture is taken in my bedroom. People walk into my house as strangers and out as friends. I love it!

Meet Kelli. She’s one of the lucky ones that somehow maintained her figure while she was pregnant. I do help the new mommas out with a little photoshop here and little there, but not necessary here. Kelli you rock! We laughed, told stories, and I tripped over cords because I was so distracted by this fun couple. That’s a lie, I always trip over my equipment. But this shoot was so much fun!

Hubby Adam was so much fun to work with. It’s always the best when the dad’s are just as much fun to photograph!

Beautiful light!

I’m kinda getting into out of focus pictures on purpose. It’s a phase I’m sure, but I’m diggin it!

Then baby Corbin arrived.

And slept like a dream!

Kelli smiled the whole time!

And Adam was a natural.

First family portraits are one of my favorites to capture.

I know I started by saying I love maternity pictures, but I also love those sweet moments during newborn sessions when the parents are all lost in their baby. I love my job!

Thanks Kelli, Corbin, and Adam for making my dream a reality!

9 months old and growing

Allison — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:05:58 +0000

It’s Friday and dreary here in KC, so to help brighten your day I thought I’d share some pics from an AC photography favorite. This guy has been popping up on the blog all year, Alex is now 9 months old and growing fast!

It’s so fun to see these babies every 3 months. They’re always so different physically, and emotionally. Right now Alex is a momma’s boy and oh so attached. I spent the first 15 minutes of the shoot just hanging out with mom and Alex getting him to get comfortable with me again. It was such a great investment of my time because he gave me 30 minutes of awesomeness!

By the end of the shoot, he was cuddled in my lap on the floor while mom was shopping through Mudpies and Lollipops, and sister was bouncing around the studio in new squeaky shoes! I live for these moments.

The future Godfather below.

Oh Alex, you bring me so much joy!

xoxo

Baby Love

Allison — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:48:37 +0000

All new moms are in love with their babies. But some have this all over glow about motherhood and that’s just how I would describe Jennifer. She is obsessed, in love, totally addicted to her little girl Macy. Even being pooped on, peed on and spit up on can’t discourage her from her job of being the best mom ever.

Meet little Macy, she is one lucky little lady!

Macy did a fabulous job on the shoot.

Daddy Dave was just as adoring.

Baby Macy, you totally made my day. I loved getting to take your pics. Grow up to be big and strong just like your parents.

xoxo

One Big Smile! Kansas City Baby Photography

Allison — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:23:53 +0000

Babies don’t always come in smiling. In fact, at little adorable Claire’s last shoot she was in, a not so happy mood. But the stars aligned for this shoot, and I was able to capture her at her very best! I love this little girl! Meet Claire.

Momma Melissa is all love. Her energy is calm, fun, and absolutely adoring when it comes to Claire. So much for for me to photograph. I have a feeling this is a picture she will cherish forever.

OH YAH! On the left, this is Claire’s normal face. She’s all about having fun! On the right is her less common, more subdued take care of me face.

Claire is all… Mom, Dad stop it! Really, stop it, but keep kissing me.

Oh how I love this family. When Claire, Melissa, and Michael come into the studio, I get giddy. It’s like seeing long time friends. I say…make more babies so I can keep seeing your regularly!

xoxo my friends.

Tough Guy…

Allison — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:24:15 +0000

The shoot started just like any other newborn shoot, with a sleepy baby in the arms of an adoring new mom. Everything seemed normal, but as we progressed little Riddik started spitting up. A lot. Jason and Kathleen looked worried, and I assured them I see tons of newborn that spit up all over place. I tried to comfort them by explaining it was probably something Kathleen had for dinner, that had his stomach upset. But Kathleen’s ancient motherly instincts were telling her otherwise. And she was right.

As it turns out, my mom is Riddik’s pediatrician and he had been to see her that morning. Everything looked fine, but as the day progressed he was keeping less and less food down. So by evening they made the decision to take Riddik to the hospital. He had surgery for intestinal mal-rotation done and is 100% great now, but it was a very trying time for the new parents.

I’m just so happy Riddik is on the road to recovery, and that I get to be a part of this strong little boys life!

Kathleen you are such a natural at motherhood!

Just look at all those wrinkles. Adorable!

Since the pictures my mom has seen Riddik and he is gaining weight and growing all the time! So happy for this family!

5 year olds matter too!

Allison — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 01:24:35 +0000

5 year olds might be the most perfect age for pictures. They have developed their unique personality, they are usually good listeners, and love having their picture taken. Not to mention they still have that magical wonder for life. Alyssa was no exception. In fact, she was complete perfection! She gave me her all, and I was able to capture her big and beautiful personality. Just check it out!

Alyssa’s grandma Kim, made her 5th birthday so special. Hair, nails, and pictures. What a lucky little lady.

She is all silly and fun, but then makes faces like this! Fierce and sweet!

Totally sassy here! Watch out world!

We snapped a real quick pic of grandma and granddaughter. Yah! I know Kim looks like her mother. Great GENES!

Alyssa, you’re a doll baby and I had a blast taking your pictures. I hope you are forever strong, confident and ready to have fun in the blink of an eye. Please come back to do pics with me again soon!

xoxo