I’m taking a little pause this week to spend time with family and friends while soaking up the last bits of 2010…so posts will be light until next week. Enjoy the break!

To me, wrapping the gifts is nearly as fun as giving them. Here’s a few of my favorite inspirations this season to wrap your holiday lovelies ::

The classic standby, Paper Source

Some ways to dress up Kraft paper from Compai

A super cute (and printable) design from Design vs. Love

Love these beautiful cotton ribbons from Angela Loguori!

For you last-minute Santas (ahem…like moi), these super cute tags are a free download from Domestifluff ::

Martha Stewart has a ton of cute & easy ideas too.

*Edited to add: Creature Comforts has an awesome roundup of DIY/printable gift tags on her site. Check ‘em out as you’re finishing up the wrapping on your last minute packages!*

Wishing you a weekend filled with blessings of love, family, and laughter :: the very best gifts of all.

I don’t often get to post design projects, so this is a really fun share today!

Remember these stunners? I had a bride wish to use the design for her destination wedding to Jamaica this fall (drool…) and wanted the colors to reflect her navy, pink and orange theme. Um….hello, YES!

We custom-tailored the invitations to her color scheme and printed them on silky-smooth pearl paper. Gorgeous. And to accompany the invitation and stationery, we created complementary escort and table cards so the entire event had a cohesive appeal. I was so excited when I received these images from their wedding, photographed by Ronald of Sungold Photography & Associates. Love it when a plan comes together!

Looks like it was an amazing, beautiful day to celebrate!

Big, fat tears welled up in my eyes as I walked out of the yoga studio on Saturday morning after an amazing morning workout…snow — sweet, powdery snow, was sprinkling down from the sky. Gentle, quiet little flakes fluttered down on my sweaty eyelashes as I lifted my face to the sky, whispering a quiet offering of gratitude.

It really happened. The “kiss of snow” I had written about on Friday really, actually, happened. It wasn’t much, nor did it last long…but I reveled in the delight in watching the tiny flakes dance around the windows and the idea of cozying up with the hubs and Little Man. And the following day, we were back to our typical 50º and fairly sunny weather. Such it is in this part of the country…

Thanks to all of you who participated in the snowman contest! I loved the creativity and thought you put into the creations…here’s a few favorites! (The little guy in #3 wrote his name in the snow–how cute is that?!)

You’re all winners in my eyes for helping to celebrate the season…#4 is our winner! I’ll be in touch about your Starbucks gift card! Awesome work, everyone….

So, it’s the holidays….let’s talk about a little sparkle, shall we?

One of my favorite things about photographing weddings are the details. The little things that a bride has thought about since the day she said “yes,” including the piece of jewelry that will signify her commitment for the rest of her life. As much as their wedding photography (cough), a couple’s wedding rings are a lifelong symbol of their union. So, I love getting in super close with a 105mm macro lens and telling the story of a little bling.

The knot symbolizes so much. A couple’s bond. Their commitment and permanence. Joining their lives together. For this image I used a scarf from a bridesmaid dress and hung it (ever so gently).

This couple married outdoors, among the prairie breeze. The land is part of how they make their life, and wooden posts with barbed wire designate their space from the neighboring ones. The wooden post where I was photographing the couple’s rings had just enough space in it for one ring, and I liked the juxtaposition of something sparkly and beautiful against the weathered, mossy post.

Literally, a quarter turn from the last shot, I captured this next one. Again, the significance of the barbed wire combines with something so delicate and precious in the jewelry.

The strength and stability of this image makes it one of my favorites. It’s not really close in on the rings, if you’re looking for a razzle-dazzle image, but tells a story beyond words to the couple.

This couple spent more time than they cared to admit to in the library, as the bride worked toward her Ph.D.  (We even photographed part of their engagement session there!) So it’s only fitting that we photographed their rings in front of books. Lots of ‘em.

Another favorite, favorite image of mine.This one is actually apropros because it rained–STORMED–like crazy just hours before their ceremony. And I think it’s fitting that the words “stormy wind” are visible. Because it did. But the strength and love of their commitment saw them through the storm–and will many more times in their life together.

Strength. Love. Commitment. All things found in the symbolism of their union and within multiple stories in the bible on which they rest.

This one, again, holds a unique story…when the couple picked out the groom’s ring, they were asked what color of car they’d like. Because his ring came. IN. A. CAR. Unique? Definitely. Awesome? Absolutely. Formula One, all the way…

Getting married in 2011? Want to show off your bling like this? A handful of dates are available for wedding photography :: I’d love talking with you and hearing your story! Fill out the contact form above or email me at info {at} cathymoresphotography {dot} com.

I might lose a few friends for saying this…

but I’d really like just a little kiss of snow.

See, I spent my childhood north of here, in the land of ten thousand lakes, where it snowed from October to April. And the reality of it is that I know snow is messy. Causes car accidents. Smells on your mittens when it’s wet (ew. Sorry for that thought…). But it’s also fun. It brings out the inner child, with snowball fights and forts. Sledding. Ice skating outside. And part of me is longing for that right now, instead of the bitter cold and brown grass we’re seeing plenty of these days.

And I know some of you delightful readers have had more than your share over the last few weeks. So, if you have snow, go out and make a snowman for me, would you? (And send me a pic! Let’s do a contest of snowpeeps! Winner gets my undying admiration jealousy and a $10 gift card for hot cocoa at Starbucks. No snow? Improvise. Let’s see what you’ve got.)

Entries due Sunday 12/19 at midnight CST. Email your photo to info {at} cathymoresphotography {dot} com. Winner to be announced on Tuesday, 12/21.

Wishing you a weekend of snowman-ing!

It was awesome to see this family again this fall after Ryan and Melia’s wedding! Their little guy was a total heartbreaker, and we had such fun getting together again to photograph their family portraits on the Kansas State University campus.

Bundles of energy and filled with joy. He exudes happiness.

Some children are really what I’ve heard called “lens-aware”. They know when a camera is poking in their face and what they are “supposed” to do. In some cases, that’s great. In other ones, however, my intention is to break down that barrier of having the barrel of a giant 24-70 mm lens staring them down. To encourage little ones to instead, not do what you think you should do. In making children less intimidated and conscientious of the camera, do we really find out who they are and the things that they love.

I think this session is a great example of being lens-unaware, and with it comes great spirit and freedom in the images. (I could go on and on about this topic, and if you’re interested in hearing more, let me know in the comments and I’ll feature it in an upcoming Behind the Image post!)

A very sweet moment with momma…

Mom and dad shared a quiet moment together, too.

In a word :: joy.

Young family–it was so much fun to spend time with you! Enjoy your beautiful portraits!