Amy Stevens, Photographer/Owner

Photography has been a part of my life since the day I was born. My father was an amateur photographer who bought his first SLR camera the day I was born. As a young girl, it’s the camera he used to teach me with. I loved the sound it made when you pulled back on the lever to advance the film after you took the picture. I loved how I could look through the view-finder and see the world in a completely new way. I loved dropping the film in, snapping the back shut and advancing it to the very first frame. But the best part was getting the prints back later and seeing the finished images. From 4H to the high school newspaper to my first job at a professional studio, photography has been the continuous thread in my life.

So much has changed in photography since my Dad bought that first Nikon. Instead of film and darkrooms we now have memory cards and computers to process the images. What has remained the same is the joy in creating an image and capturing a moment. Being chosen as your photographer is an honor. I know that the images I craft for you are not only important to you but also to your children and grandchildren. These are the images to accompany the stories that are handed down from one generation to the next.

I am blessed to have a wonderful husband of fourteen years to walk through this journey of life with. We are the proud parents (and full time chauffeurs) of two beautiful girls and one darling boy who keep me busy driving them all over town.
Amy Stevens, Photographer/Owner
Brandi Coldwell, Photographer/Owner

I have the best job in the universe for sure! I have been blessed with an awesome family and career. I have three gentlemen in my life that keep a smile on my face and gray hair on my head. My husband of 8 years has been supporting me since this journey began. My kiddos are aspiring photographers themselves at 4 and 7 years old constantly snapping shots of themselves with my iPhone. I cannot explain how exciting it is for me to create an art piece for my clients. I love to exceed their expectations and create something they would not of seen or thought of for themselves. I believe this is what sets us a part as photographers. I know that in photography there is a story to tell, a moment to feel, and an experience to relive. I love to document life and the love within it! Thank you for taking the time to learn more about my passion.
Brandi Coldwell, Photographer/Owner
Lois Nichols, Photographer/Owner

I love my job. I love photography. I love my kiddo's, even the four legged ones. Especially the fluffy black one who thinks he IS one of my kids! I love the way light can fall on a face, the mood it can create. The story it can tell. I am always in "photographer mode", even when I don't have a camera. My brain is just wired to see it. It is my passion. My clients often laugh at how excited I get when I capture the perfect shot. How I jump like a giddy little girl. But when they see the finished image, they understand. I love to make people beam with joy, looking at an image of their child that captures who they really are, not just what they look like. I will never forget the time I met the grandma of one of my regulars. She hugged me so tight and she had tears in her eyes as she thanked me for capturing the spirit of her grandson. It made my heart want to burst with happiness! THIS is what I live for!
Lois Nichols, Photographer/Owner

Monday, October 3, 2011

Melissa & Kyle

Lois and I recently had the privilege of photographing Melissa & Kyle’s wedding at the breathtaking Marland Mansion in Oklahoma. We had anxiously been awaiting the wedding day and couldn’t wait to get down there and start working. We arrived early so we could scout out the estate and plan our shoot. We could have easily stayed there and shot all weekend and still not have captured everything we wanted to, there were just so many magnificent architectural details. Everywhere we looked we found a new, amazing location. It was beautiful! As was the bride and groom, everything was perfect!

We had a great time earlier in the summer photographing Melissa & Kyle’s engagement session and knew they would be a dream to work with on their wedding day–and we weren’t disappointed :-) Melissa looked lovely. I can’t tell you how many times one of us would take a photo and say, “This looks like the cover of a bridal magazine!” They looked amazing but, even better, they were having so much fun. There’s nothing better than a couple who is so in love and can’t wait to tie the knot. And we had a blast working with their fun wedding party–they were up for anything and really made the pictures amazing.

The ceremony was on the grand stone patio behind the estate home with the guests seated below. After exchanging vows and rings, Kyle and Melissa lit their unity candle as the sun began to set. After a celebratory drink with their wedding party we were able to take advantage of the spectacular sunset for some beautiful portraits. Then it was time to party! The wedding party made their entrance into the ballroom and then the new Mr. & Mrs. were announced! After the traditional cake cutting it was time for the first dances. Lois captured one of my favorite photos of the dances when Kyle spontaneously dipping Melissa at the end of their dance–love it!

Melissa and Kyle, thank you so much for choosing Lola Jo Photo Design to be your wedding photographer! We’ve had a great time getting to know you both this last year and were honored to be a part of your wedding day.

Congratulations!!

–Amy & Lois