Weather-casters predicted nothing but rain. Nevertheless, it was sunny and beautiful on the day of Jennifer and Mike’s wedding

St. Francis Xavier College Church was the ceremony site.

Affectionate and playful, the ecstatic couple took advantage of the perfect weather for outdoor photos on the St. Louis University campus.

The wedding cake was a traditional Danish marzipan marvel from Pastries of Denmark.

Windows Off Washington was the perfect place for more photos and the warm and happy reception.

THE HAPPY COUPLE!

You, too, can enjoy the surprise party! (See the previous post for the background.)

Check out this beautiful baby girl with her mom and dad! We think that Riley liked to have her picture taken. She was calm and happy all the way through. Maybe she’s an up-and-coming star!

Our home church, Second Presbyterian Church, has many beautiful spaces. This post is to share a selection of pictures taken last week.

Kate and I took some amazing pictures at our home Church last week-Second Presbyterian Church in The Central West End, St. Louis Missouri. One of the most challenging shoots was this picture taken from a 14 inch balcony, seven storeys above the main space. (Note from Kate: Pat hates to be up high!) I climbed a ladder straight upward through, around, and under intricate, spaces filled with twisting ductwork, enormous steel girders, and wooden scaffolding dating back to late 1900. There was a mere 1 foot of moving space either side of me as I ascended to the balcony. (Note from Kate: Pat is extremely claustrophobic!)  After a twenty minute ascent I arrived a hefty stretch away from the 3- by 4-foot door opening to the balcony. I stretched my body like a monkey trying to swing to a tree 50 feet away and lunged through the door opening. Wow! A 3foot railing immediately stopped my momentum and from that point I had to scoot my way out. With two cameras hanging off my neck and shoulder, I quickly figured out I wasn’t going to be able to use a monopod because there was barely enough room to scoot sideways.

Once on the balcony, I realized I was sweating like I’d been in 100 degree temperature for an hour! I quickly found my composure and began to click away. In order to get this shot, I scooted for 15 minutes, on the balcony, ducking under each securing rail that attached to the wall (holding the balcony to the wall). Finally I arrived at the “sweet spot.” Self talk kept my paranoid sense of doom from seeping in. Click, click, click……

I thought of a bride on her wedding day……..This shot would be an unforgettable moment!!!

1 hour later, I was safely back on the deck, not believing I had just been standing and photographing from a 14 inch balcony, seven storeys up!