Cassie Allen Photography

Burrows Family - Life at Play

2011-05-20T15:35:00.000-07:00

I love this family.

Period.

I was feeling a little depleted before this shoot.

Out of energy.

At a loss for ideas or inspiration.

Then came time for the shoot.

This kiddo.

Oh this kiddo.

I had such fun chasing him around and watching him play.

Hagen is so full of life and love.

His happiness and smiles are boundless.

Jaime and Kyle are amazing, loving, and supportive parents.

They wanted Hagen to be captured in a way that is the most fun for me to shoot.

Just chasing and shooting and playing.

I couldn't get enough!

It was a joy to capture this playful Little.

We jumped.

We laughed.

We played.

I watched a very close family just spend time together.

There is so much love there.

Oh yeah. And it didn't hurt that the weather was amazing.

Holy sunset, Batman.

I will always love this picture.

Do you remember the last time you felt this free?

Jaime and Kyle and Hagen,

THANK YOU for choosing me to capture this special time in your lives.

I can't wait to see your newly expanded family in July!

Cassie

Petty Family

2011-05-20T15:15:00.000-07:00

It was a HOT day.

So hot.

I met this little family in Forest Park in the middle of the day.

No open shade.

Harsh sun.

Did I mention it was hot?

I had not met the Petty's before the shoot and just loved them.

These are three of my favorite pictures from the day.

Sommer Family - A Lioness And Her Three Littles

2011-05-08T15:54:00.000-07:00

A few months ago

(Yes, I know I'm way behind on my blogging!)

my dear friend Myra rounded up her three adorable Littles and we ventured out

to a little abandoned house to take their pictures.

Myra is just starting a new chapter in her life.

The chapter of

Myra: Super Hot Single Mom to Three Craaaazy Kids

And we wanted to capture it.

These three Littles have such a joy for life.

They are always laughing and loving on each other.

I never had to "pose" them.

They just do this.

Sort of melt into each other.

Isn't it amazing?

You know what I noticed?

For the first time I noticed a fierceness in Myra's eyes.

A sort of Lioness.

This woman has. no. breaking. point.

And I love her for it.

But there is also a sense of calm there too.

A deep breath.

The kind you take right before you enter stage left to star in the production of your life.

She is the leading lady of her own life.

Not many can say that.

Myra, your children have an endless amount of love for you and each other.

They are such patient and kind people.

You are an amazing woman, mother, and friend.

It was an honor to capture this time in your lives.

Just keep swimming!

Love,

Cassie

Cahill Family

2011-04-28T19:24:00.000-07:00

I met Andrea when she hired me to work at a little wine shop.

And I was still working with her when she met Ryan

but I left that little shop soon after.

Years pass.

Then Facebook.

Then a contact for pictures.

And look...

Yep. Ryan. :)

Not only do these two make a beautiful couple...

...they make beautiful babies as well.

I just loved this spunky little kidlet. He reminded me soooo much of my son.

I am so incredibly excited to be shooting their family again very soon,

as they have already expanded their brood!

Andrea,

Thank you so much for allowing me to capture you guys in those last remaining days of

your little family of three.

It was an honor!

I'll see you again soon!

Cassie

Hello Out There!

2011-04-06T20:43:00.000-07:00

Hi!

It's me. Cassie.

I thought I had grand plans for a slick new website so I've neglected this blog.

Poor blog. There there. I'm sorry.

Well, I've decided to see how I can spruce up what I've got here.

Please hang in there with me!

I've been so blessed to have Cassie Allen Photography continue to grow and grow.

I've learned the hard way that along with that blessing comes...

you know...

GROWING PAINS.

So, thanks.

Thanks for sticking with me here on this blog.

More to come!

Slowly but surely...

2011-01-23T17:27:00.000-08:00

Meet Britain and Thoeun.

I met Britain years ago when she took a tap class of mine.

Britain left the dance world to try her hand at cheerleading while in high school.

She found her home.

Later, when she decided to change universities, tryouts were already over for the team.

By chance, she heard that a spot on the team had opened up so she immediately

called the Cheer Captain.

Enter Thoeun. Cheer Captain.

They've been together ever since.

They are all grown up now. Their cheering days are behind them but they still cheer each other on.

I got to the site of our shoot. It was soooo cold and these two? Totally warm.

Because they have each other.

Don't get me wrong. Poor Britain (little slip of a thing) was shaking but they were laughing and smiling and holding each other close the whole time. It was remarkable to see. Thoeun treats Britain with such tenderness and care but he also has this touch of craziness about him...like, if Britain wasn't carrying his baby he would throw her in the air at any moment and perform a sweet stunt.

But for now? Well, just look for yourself.

The peace that lives in Thoeun's eyes is incredible.

On with more pictures of Britain.

Because she is just. too. beautiful.

I have a feeling that whatever comes their way, these two will always have each other's backs.

Britain and Thoeun, it was an honor to capture such an amazing time in your lives.

Thank you...Cassie

Sneak Peek!

2011-01-14T19:11:00.000-08:00

I took a road trip to capture these two...er, three.

It was 24 degrees and they were totally game for anything.

I loved every second of it.

Their story is coming soon!

It all started with a little cheer.

Happy Friday!

I Can Do That, Right?

2011-01-03T19:15:00.000-08:00

Okay, I'm less than five posts in and I'm already changing things up.

I can do that, right?

Right.

Okay.

So I'm going to ramble for a bit and I would love some feedback if you're out there!

I made a decision late last night to continue my Photo of the Day on my Facebook page but only pick one photo out of each week and post that photo here.

Reason?

I could do a POD post here everyday but then that's all this blog would become about. Soooo what else do I want to talk about? Is there anything you would like for me to discuss? My camera? My favorite things to shoot? Ideal settings for me? Tutorials? Portraiture and fashion? A little of my personal life? All these things interest me so I would love to hear what YOU want to see and read about!

On another note, I'm headed on a road trip this weekend! I'll be in Springfield, MO to shoot a former student of mine, her fiance, annnnnnd her little beanette! I can't believe that in a few short weeks the shy and serious girl I once taught is going to be having a baby!

I'm honored she wanted me to capture this moment in her life.

Side side note, coming along with me on this road trip is a dear friend of mine.

Wa hoo!

Junk food, music, movies, & laughter. A momshell's weekend away. Just what the doctor ordered!

Photo of the Day - All in a Row

2011-01-02T17:48:00.000-08:00

This photo was taken at my Aunt and Uncle's house.

Everything in their house - down to the tiniest detail - is purchased with purpose

and thoughtfully displayed.

Even these vessels...

A far cry from my cabinets that contain ziplock bags of sugar, flour, salt and the like.

Nope. In this house, even baking and spice staples are beautifully displayed.

Photo of the Day - Bygone

2011-01-01T15:24:00.000-08:00

For those of you who follow my Facebook Page, you know I've been doing a

Photo of the Day for a few months.

I've decided to add this to my blog as well but expand a bit

and tell the story behind the photo, if there is one to share.

This photo was taken along Historic Main Street in St. Charles, my hometown.

Main Street is this crazy melting pot of people and shops.

An amazing mixture of old town pride
(Lewis and Clark set off on a leg of their journey from the riverbanks at St. Charles,
then called Les Petites Cotes.),
antique shops, bars, and crafty, kitchy stores.
Every now and then there will be a reminder of random eras.
The horse hitch next to the front door of the house I lived in.
Old milk wagons, once used daily, now sitting dilapidated behind tiny museums.
And this old Coca Cola advertisement on the side of a building that is now a Life is Good store.

I don't know if I'll stay in St. Charles forever but I'm proud to have roots here.
I'm proud that my great grandmother, grandmother, and my mother and father all had antique shops on this street. I'm proud that I was baptized on the very riverbank that Lewis and Clark set off.
I'm proud that my son was born in the same hospital I was born in.

Main Street is changing rapidly but I love that if you look carefully,
you can still catch glimpses of bygone eras.

2010-12-31T20:45:00.000-08:00

It's December 31st, 2010.

This year has been an amazing year of personal and professional growth. I've stepped out of every comfort zone I've ever known and am passionately in love with this journey I've started.

My clients this past year have been so amazing.

I've captured some close friends, and I've made new friends, whom I didn't know before shooting them.

This is it.

That thing I've been searching for.

I'd like to bring 2010 to a close by posting a few favorite images from my last three shoots.

I feel I grew the most as a photographer during these shoots.

I feel that I came close to telling a story.

I look forward to continuing to learn and grow in 2011.

Here's to an amazing 2011!

Fears

2010-12-10T19:06:00.000-08:00

So here we are. I've started this photography blog to document my journey as a photographer.

A photographer! I feel I'm not allowed to have that title.

I'm no Jasmine Star.

But even Jasmine Star had to start somewhere. Three years ago she started a blog about wanting to become a Wedding Photographer. She didn't even have a camera yet. Today, she is one of the world's leading Wedding Photographers and she is such an inspiration.

Starting a blog at the dawn of something is very hard for me. Ever since I was little, I have had this compulsive need to appear as though I know exactly what I'm doing. I never wanted to appear as a know-it-all. Just someone who had it all together. Someone people could turn to for advice. I still battle a very deep fear of not wanting to appear silly or make a fool of myself.

But I'm going to try to push past that and say....I have no idea what I'm doing.

There. I said it.

I'm learning as I go. Well, learning about my camera. I feel my throat constrict at the thought of, you know...a business. That thing beyond getting my LLC and starting to snap away. Website design, branding, advertising, networking, editing, taxes, equipment, etc. etc.

*deep breath*

As Hubs likes to tell me, "You don't need to figure it all out tonight. Put it down tonight".

I'll end with this.

I love taking pictures.

And I'm ready to conquer my fears.