Lauren and Kody’s engagement session was one I’d been looking forward to since Lauren and I sat down over lattes in February and gabbed for two hours. What I love about her is knowing with 100 percent certainty that she booked me for me. Not because I happened to be “some photographer who’d do”, but because she found something in my work and my personality that she wanted represented in her wedding photographs and because she wanted a relationship with her photographer that went beyond me being “just” a vendor at her wedding. All of which makes Lauren and Kody the type of clients those of us who are wedding photographers love the most. And, without any surprise, I had a blast getting to know these two better on a quiet, laid-back Sunday morning earlier this month. We were up with the birds, which meant we got to take advantage of the yummy morning light without anybody else to keep us company. Lauren and Kody, if I didn’t know it before, I definitely do now——I cannot wait until your big day in October!

VIEW THEIR SLIDESHOW

See what I mean about the light? I’ love morning sessions like this because it’s just a beautiful time of day that you’d normally be under the covers——too pretty to miss for that!  Lauren, you are B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!!Oh, girl, go ON with your pretty self. Seriously….(I told Lauren she’s the taller, brunette sister that Reese Witherspoon never knew she had)LOVE this next series! After a little wardrobe change, we hit up the deserted streets of Noblesville — it’s so nice to shoot at a time of day when you have an entire town to yourself. On this day, 8 a.m. seemed to do the trick! FAVORITE!You’d be giggling like these two here if you knew that 5 seconds before I took this photo, Kody almost fell off that pipe. Kody, we weren’t laughing at you, we were laughing with you. ;) I adore clients who trust me when I ask them to sit down in out-of-the-way, random places. Good light trumps location any day, right photographers? And this is some GOOODDD light! Lauren had her self some sweet cowboy boots from Tennessee — love that she brought ‘em along for their session.And one last shot at a random barn we spotted on our way for a Starbucks pick-me-up. Can’t think of a better shot to keep us waiting until we see them again as a bride and groom!

See more of Gail’s work at www.gailwernerphoto.com. Become a fan of Gail’s work on Facebook. Follow Gail on Twitter.

1) My Ray Ban aviators: So technically I bought these at the end of May, but it’s really been the month of June I’ve gotten to break them in. I have coveted a pair of Ray Bans for so long (like, before I had my driver’s license long) and could never justify buying them because I am ALWAYS loosing my sunglasses. So last year, I told myself if I could hold on to my pair of Target cheapies for the whole year, then I could splurge on a pair of Ray Bans. WELL DONE GAIL! The fact these babies come in a uber-protective carrying case makes me feel a little easier about treating them with kid gloves. Hey, for some women it’s a Coach purse. For me, a pair of Ray Bans. I guess I’m trying to channel my inner Top Gun.

2) Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris”: The first few minutes of this film? It’s like Woody Allen is giving The City of Light a big ‘ol French kiss. It’s beautiful! All the iconic imagery you’d expect and it makes me want to go back so so bad! What of the rest of the movie? Well, I pretty much fell in love with the plot line, one in which the charming Owen Wilson finds himself nursing a case of writer’s block by paying a visit to the legends of the inspiring Lost Generation before him (and, speaking of, 1920s Paris? If I could teleport back to one era, I think it’d be that too…but since that concept of “The past always seems greater than the present” is kind of what the movie is all about, I’ll say I like living in 2011 just fine…) At any rate, go see it—classic Woody Allen (and all that historical name-dropping? Will raise your IQ a bit!)!

3) 20×200: As I’m decorating our living room, I’ve been on the look-out for some new art. I fell in LOVE with this print from 20×200 and snatched it up right away. (It’s perfect for this book-loving girl, right?) Some of my readers are probably already familiar with 20×200, but just in case, I thought I’d share the site because it’s such a great place to find awesome AFFORDABLE art. Their slogan? “Live with art. It’s good for you.” LOVE IT!

4) Rebecca by Daphne Du Marier: This is one of those classics I can’t believe it took me this long to read. I mean, the plot just pulls you along (and everywhere I turned there was another positive review). I was reading this same version of the novel as you see above and Nick was all, “Uhh…is that, like, a Danielle Steele novel or something?” And I’ll admit, the mass market paperback certainly makes it look like some tawdry romance! By way of reply, I had to tell him, “No, Nick, it’s actually a suspense thriller set on the grounds of a 1930s English estate where the upper-crust Max de Winter can’t seem to shake the ghost of his late wife, Rebecca, but he’s remarried this young, naive narrator to help try…” kind of summary. MAJOR plot twists galore and, for those who’ve read it, you’ll join me in reciting its opening line: “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.”

5) Bon Iver’s “Bon Iver”: Oooohhhh Internet. I joked on Twitter that I was so in love with this new album of Bon Iver (Justin Vernon)’s, that I was ready to off and elope with it. Nick joins me in being a big fan of this moody musician but this second album—which has a lot of new sounds from the first (more techno, experimentation)—is still growing on my husband, whereas I’m ready to stand on the street corner and sell you copies. We’re seeing him perform in Indy next month and I CANNOT WAIT!

See more of Gail’s work at www.gailwernerphoto.com. Become a fan of Gail’s work on Facebook. Follow Gail on Twitter.

1. What’s the perfect meal?

Oh man, these “perfect” questions are so hard! I’m gonna go specific with this question, so I can think of two that readily come to mind:

MEAL No. 1: The time Nick and I ate at this hole-in-the-wall (but seriously gourmet) restaurant called Bonge’s (if you’re reading this and live in Indiana and have never been, you MUST go — totally worth a splurge!) We had these mouth-watering wild mushrooms for an appetizer, then this AMAZING homemade tomato basil soup and then I had a BBQ bacon-wrapped duck breast. OMG, just thinking about it now makes my mouth water! I did a review for a magazine so it was awesome to get to sample so much!
MEAL No. 2: The pizza we ate at this little Roman pizzeria last year on our vacation. With the wine and the atmosphere and the man I love, I wouldn’t trade that delicious memory if my life depended on it.

2. What are the perfect pair of shoes?

I should be all girly and say a pair of beautifully constructed Louboutins or something, right? Instead, I’m going to be clever and say whichever pair I happen to be wearing when I’m traveling. Because if I’m traveling in them, that’s already perfect.

3. What is the perfect afternoon?

When I can bliss out with a book in our amazing hammock followed up with a walk with Nick and Daisy and a yummy meal grilled on our back patio. OR, shopping with my mama. That woman gives me the shopping mojo. Seriously.

4. What’s the perfect house?

Anything designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Butttt, I’m a pretty big fan of Nick and I’s cute little modest ranch home too.

5. What is the perfect outfit?

A pair of jeans that make your behind look good (and fit perfect even after they just came out of the dryer), a favorite snug tee and a comfy wrap-around cardigan. I want to be wearing that right now.

6. What’s the perfect wedding song?

Well, I’d be remiss if I didn’t pick Nick and I’s own wedding song, right? Ahhhh :)  (PS – Just listen to the song, don’t pay attention to the weird Star Wars-esque treatment of the lyrics in that YouTube video – haha)

7. What is the perfect job?

I seriously love the two that I have now! I’d love to be a writer who writes amazing books and never has writer’s block. Or a respectable actress who stays out of the tabloids. (Paging Laura Linney) Or a journalist who gets to do one-on-one style interviews a la Barbara Walters (we’re dreaming big here, people…)

8. What’s the perfect hairstyle?

Well, I mean, has Jennifer Aniston EVER had bad hair? I’m just gonna go with that.

9. What’s the perfect music festival?

I’d say Bonnaroo if I didn’t have a weird fear of massive crowds and a total hatred of public bathrooms and feeling like a sweaty, dirty hippy.

10. What’s the perfect day to yourself?

Can we repeat that book + hammock equation?

Topics from Roots & Rings

See more of Gail’s work at www.gailwernerphoto.com. Become a fan of Gail’s work on Facebook. Follow Gail on Twitter.

I’m getting ready to leave for Michigan with Nick to see U2 tonight, but before we head north to get our Bono on, I wanted to take a few minutes and post a sneak peek from my Fort Wayne wedding yesterday with Melissa and Andrew. A beautiful bride and groom plus an absolutely BEAUTIFUL, 75-degree day? How lucky can a wedding photographer get?! You two are so blessed and I could just feel the love surrounding the both of you as all your family and friends celebrated with you on your wedding day. Can’t wait to share so much more with you!

See more of Gail’s work at www.gailwernerphoto.com. Become a fan of Gail’s work on Facebook. Follow Gail on Twitter.

OK, so, truly, I adore all of my 2011 couples. Honest I do. But I’d been lying if I didn’t admit to being a teeny tiny extra smitten with Jennifer and Chris. These two bowled me over with their fun ideas for their engagement session—I just loved how they embraced the occasion and set out to make it special to them. For me, the bonus was that Jennifer gave me complete creative control while, at the same time, bringing to the table her amazing ideas, from locations to props (she has a knack for this, I’m telling ya!)

What she and Chris also brought to this session was an ease to being in front of the camera. These two might deny it…they might say they’re camera shy (which they did) and they don’t normally like having their pictures taken (which they also did), but you guys, my camera doesn’t lie, does it? These two look good in front of my 5D! They let me create some of my favorite images to date. And now I am counting down the weeks until their wedding cause if their engagement was this much eye candy, can you picture them in a tux and wedding gown? I’m already giddy at the possibilities of what I know they’re dreaming up for the big day!

VIEW THEIR SLIDESHOW

Jennifer and Chris brought with them a yummy mead from a Hoosier winery that we all kicked back and enjoyed. Sweet wine on a hot summer night with a good-looking couple. How am I getting paid for this? ;) Jennifer, this image is magical. (PS – Internet, who does Jennifer remind you of? I kept telling her she reminded me of someone famous, I just couldn’t quite put my finger on it! A young Winona Ryder, perhaps? GORGEOUS!) LOVELOVELOVELOVE

See more of Gail’s work at www.gailwernerphoto.com. Become a fan of Gail’s work on Facebook. Follow Gail on Twitter.