Category Archives: engagement

chloe+greg | engaged!

these two are just fun. chloe is always smiling and laughing, and greg is always ready to go along with her. i love being around them. somehow, we chose the hottest day of the year for photos, but luckily greg is a sweater too, so we were both dripping sweat together. TMI? 😉 their dog, isabella, was perfect. she smiled, she posed, she chased her ball – everything i want when a pup comes to a photo session. their wedding is just about a month away, and i can’t wait to see all the fun they have planned!!

kansas city location guide

i am always trying to choose the perfect location for our photo sessions.  i want to make sure the location fits the personality of the person, and also that it matches the vision the family has in mind for their images.  i am hoping this little location guide will help us all make sure we are in the perfect spot!

CROSSROADS ART DISTRICT

i love love love the crossroads district! it has a little bit of everything.  there is graffiti…brick walls…garage doors…vines and leaves….alleys …and TONS of color!

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RAILROAD PARK

railroad park is a great park in blue springs.  it is exactly what you think of when you think of a park – lots of green, trees, a lake, and (bonus!) a gazebo.

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DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY

now that we are growing a cool downtown area, it is fun to head down there for some adventures in photography.

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UNITY VILLAGE – THE WOODS

my favorite secret spot is the back woods at unity. i love going back here! normally there aren’t any other people back there, and there are un-mowed fields and quite possibly the coolest bathroom structure i have ever seen.

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THE WEST BOTTOMS

this is a great spot for graffiti.  the colors are super bright, so it makes for super happy photos.  there is also a lot of grunge down there – plenty of old doors and ramps and metal stairs.  definitely plan to come home dirty, but it is such a fun experience!

    

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BURR OAK WOODS

Burr Oak Woods is a true treasure in Blue Springs. it is beautiful at all times of the year with lots of trees and fields and trails. there is a gorgeous area of woods that is perfect for so many different ideas.

 

KAUFFMAN STADIUM

so many of us are royals fans, and what better place than to show of that love than kauffman stadium?

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LAKE JACOMO

if you wanting a raw, outdoorsy style of photo, this is the place.  there are so many little spots at lake jacomo that i haven’t even begun to discover them all.  the lake is huge, and there are tons of trees and coves, and a lot of sailboats!

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LIGGETT PARK

i kind of made up the name “liggett park” because it really isn’t exactly park.  it’s more of a parking lot with some cool surroundings.  that said, i LOVE this little bit of beauty.  it’s a great location for boys (little boys, senior boys, and especially daddy boys)  because it is small enough that they know it will be a quick session, but it has a lot of nooks for tons of variety.

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LOOSE PARK

loose park is kansas city’s version of central park…wowzas.  it’s always gorgeous.  it’s full of trees, a lake, a rose garden, fields, bridges….sigh, it’s just all around lovely.

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DOWNTOWN BLUE SPRINGS

downtown blue springs is a great location for a mini session. it’s not gigantic and overwhelming, and yet it is super charming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DOWNTOWN LEE’S SUMMIT

if you want a mini downtown, lee’s summit has it! there is an urban feel to it, but there are also bits of small town. it has so much to offer, and something different around every corner.

 

JAMES A REED WILDLIFE RESERVE

this is one of kansas city’s most beautiful, serene locations. there are lakes, docks, trails, fields, flowers, bridges – everything you want from a nature location. depending on the time of year, you can find sunflowers, wildflowers, berries, field grass, but it is always gorgeous.

 

LIBERTY MEMORIAL

this is the place if you want our city skyline in the background. they have a huge yard to play in as well as lots of stone and tile textures. there is also a huge stairway that looks great too!

 

PINK HILL PARK

pink hill park is located in blue springs. it is a small little park with lots of grassy area and trees – it is gorgeous in the fall and spring. there are lots of huge trees too that make for great climbing.

 

POWELL GARDENS

Powell Gardens is just outside of Kansas City, and it has a million beautiful little spots for photos. there are bridges, pergolas, water, and obviously, TONS of flowers. There is a small fee to enter the gardens, but it’s worth it.

 

 

simply|moore STUDIO “PARK”

i wish it was as big as a park, but the yard at my studio is quite nice for photos.  it works best for small families and kids or seniors.  i have some huge boulders, a wildflower garden (in the summer), a koi pond with waterfall, and trees.  it’s perfect when you want outdoor images, but want to keep it simple.

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making photographs

welcome to the newly revamped simply|moore blog!  I have tried blogging several times, and I just never follow through.  the thing is – I love writing!  so, this time, I am all in! I want this blog to be a place where I share my photography and my life.  you may learn more about me than you care to.  😉

I have always been making photos.  I love that phrase – making photographs.  it sounds so beautiful.  making portraits really is a beautiful thing – as long as I don’t have to be on the other side of the camera.

that’s sounds terrible, I know.  I am trying to be better.  I really am.  I realize that there are very few photos of me and my mom when I was a little girl.  there are tons of me and my sister, but few of us with our mom.  the two I have found are true treasures to me, and I wish there were more.  I want to be able to give my boys enough photos of us together so they never have that feeling.

for the past year, I have tried extra hard to make sure I am in photos with my boys, and my husband.  I will never be as thin as I would like, or as stylish as I hope, but my boys aren’t looking for that.  when I was little, my mom was the most beautiful person on earth.  I like to think my boys feel that way about me, no matter how I feel about myself.  of course, in all honesty, I absolutely photoshop every single photo of myself that I print or upload – a little “help” in the fitness and style departments never hurt anybody.  heehee

so here in my “hello” message, I am also encouraging all you beautiful women out there to not forget to make photographs of yourself.  you are beautiful, and you deserve to feel that way!  any photoshop after the portrait is made can be our little secret.

show kindness – wendy