Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Since a few of us already have lights up around the house (yes, you know who you are!) we can all focus on the holidays, right? So, what better way to start than attending a super-cool, one-of-a-kind Holiday Fair, featuring none other that yours truly!  I’ll have information on some exciting Photo Specials, including a unique Photo Charity Project I’m starting up that will help area children, as well as GIFT CERTIFICATES for sale. The info is below, so come on out and get your shopping done early this year!

Of course I won’t be the only one there. Some incredible area women representing Arbonne InternationalTastefully Simple, Signature Home Styles and more will also be there with some neat goodies, drawings and FREE FOOD!

It is a little known fact perhaps that what spearheaded my interest in photography were animals – specifically sea turtles and horses. So when Louise in East Moline called me up to do a pet photography session of her poodles Sailor and Mate I was excited for something different. Sailor is 3; Mate is 8. It may be hard to tell them apart in the photos but they were well behaved, friendly, and doing their shoot – done at Duck Creek Park – was a lot of fun.

Lifestyle images by Shuva Rahim

Lifestyle images by Shuva Rahim

Oh sun flare, how I love thee!Lifestyle Images by Shuva Rahim

My friend Tina has been trying to schedule a photo shoot with me for a year, and finally -  amidst her and her family’s busy schedule - we made it happen last week when we met up at Devils Glen Park in Bettendorf. Joining her were her husband Baron, their two teenage boys, Dylan (left) and Kyle,  and family dogs Julia (left) and Gunner. Here’s a glimpse:

Lifestyle Image by Shuva RahimAnd my favorites of Baron and Tina — I love it when couples who have been together for years photograph like this:

Lifestyle Images by Shuva Rahim

Child Wonderment

Once upon a time we were all children, and fascinated by the most simplest of things – a stick, a rock, a leaf. Emilye reminded me of that during our session earlier this week. 

Her mother and I met met up at John Deere’s main campus in Moline, where Emilye – who turns 2 in December – walked around eager to uncover the curious nature that surrounded her.

Lifestyle Images by Shuva Rahim

She would pick up a stick or a rock and inspect it like it was a mystery to be solved or a jewel she wanted to share. 

Lifestyle Images by Shuva Rahim

And for a moment in time Emilye owned the world – the trees, the sky, the water – and blended with nature’s colors.

Lifestyle Images by Shuva Rahim

After a year in Iraq, Ben returned home on Oct. 8 ready for real life and most importantly his wife, Katie.

I photographed Katie and the couple’s dog, Ellie, this past summer as part of Operation: Love Reunited, for active-duty military serving overseas and their families. Katie and Ben, who live in Dixon, Illinois, and I finally met up in Davenport this past weekend for a reunion session.

Here’s a glimpse of the soldier and his lady:

Lifestyle Images by Shuva Rahim

Lifestyle Images by Shuva Rahim

Simple Structures

It is easy for me to take for granted the simple structures I’ve seen or driven by thousands of times. But after talking to Peter McDermott, I got a glimpse of the hard labor that went into creating such buildings. Peter, who has owned his own construction business for 30 years, took me around Moline recently. Earlier in the spring, I had a chance to photograph some of his residential projects. This time he asked me to shoot some of his commercial achievements, such as the greenhouse on Riverside Park.

Images by Shuva RahimPeter (the Paul McCartney look-a-like) asked for a photo with the man in charge before we left.

Images by Shuva Rahim

As we drove around, we ended up at Moline High School where Peter was responsible for building the ticket booth in front of the track. If you go there, you’ll see his name on the plaque.

Images by Lifestyle Photographer Shuva Rahim

Jean was her usual cheerful, down-to-earth self in the morning. Her bridesmaids and mother helped her dress without fanfare. She joked about not having decided on the jewelry ahead of time. She was carefree and full of good humor in the hours before marrying Justin.

But in the doorway to the sanctuary where her parents and grandparents also wed, Jean stood with her father and heard the emotion in his voice. She turned to him and felt the tears fall down her face. This was her day, her moment – and Justin was at the end to join her.

In less than an hour, Jean and Justin began to celebrate their love with family and friends.

This is my husband, Jean proudly told her guests at the receiving line as she turned to Justin.

And here is how their wedding day unfolded:

**********************************************************************************

In the days before the big day, Jean learned her original hairdresser would be unavailable. Luckily, Hair Designs in Davenport was able to step in:

Images by Shuva Rahim

Then it was off to Hairazors Salon & Spa for makeup.

Images by Shuva Rahim

Excitement and laughter in the church…

Images by Shuva Rahim

My assistant Linda took these shots of Justin, who looked ready in no time.

Images by Accent Photographics

And then…

Images by Shuva RahimStanding before Jean, her father and Justin, were her home pastor and Jean’s aunt and uncle – both pastors in Wisconsin.

Image by Accent Photographics

Images by Shuva RahimImages by Shuva Rahim

Afterward, we did photos in the church, and this is one of my favorites of the day.

Image by Shuva Rahim

They took off for a ride in a classic old Ford before heading to the reception at
The Moline Club.

Images by Accent Photographics

 A glimpse of the reception…

Images by Shuva Rahim

And the First Dance…

Images by Accent Photographics

Jean and Justin, thank you for allowing me to be a part of your joyous day! Enjoy your time in beautiful Colorado! 

Wedding Key Notes:

Hair:  Hair Designs, Davenport (Marcene Voyles, Stylist)

Makeup: Hairazors Salon & Spa, Bettendorf (Molly Chambliss, Esthetician)

Ceremony: First Congregational Church, Moline

Invitations: Target 

Officiants: Thomas & Debbie Payden, First Congregational United Church of Christ, South Milwaukee, WI;  Rev. Allen Mothershed, First Congregational Church, Moline 

Reception: The Moline Club

Flowers: Julie’s Artistic Rose, Moline

DJ: RJS Productions, Quad Cities

Cake: Sweet-Perfections

Photographer: Accent Photographics (me!)

After a weeklong of gloomy, cold weather, Sunday turned out to be a perfect day for a walk – and a Holiday Card photo shoot with Jeff, Tami and their two children, Elisabeth and Matthew. Montana, the lab the couple has had since before the kids came, also joined us. The family lives near the bike path in Bettendorf, and people were out and about enjoying the fresh fall air. Our session took us off the side of the bike path and along Duck Creek. Here’s a glimpse of my time with them:

Images by Shuva RahimImages by Shuva RahimImages by Shuva Rahim

A Fine Affair DJ

A few weeks ago during Christina and Brenton’s wedding ceremony I saw a petite young woman sitting on the grass. She arrived in street clothes and hooked up the audio equipment. The next thing I knew she had done a Superman-speedlike of a wardrobe change into a simple black dress. It didn’t occur to me until I saw her later that she the reception DJ

Images by Shuva Rahim

Heather Olson – who shared some info about her business – previously did event planning for many years, and her husband Tim was a sound and music guy. They married in 2005. 

When we got married…we had a really hard time finding music for our wedding. Everyone we called was telling us all about how they would knock our guests’ socks off, but we were envisioning a low-key afternoon cocktail party for 50 people, and didn’t really want our socks knocked off!  

So last year Tim and Heather started A Fine Affair DJ. Since then the Cedar Rapids couple has taken their DJ’ing talents by storm all over Eastern Iowa, with a gig planned in Tampa, Florida later this fall. 

We started the company with the goal of doing for other brides & grooms exactly what we wanted when we got married.  The business grew so rapidly we both left our full- time jobs within a few months and we haven’t looked back since!  We have 5 other DJs working for us now as well, and this wedding season we did 3 or 4 weddings each weekend.  We anticipate that growing to 6 or 7 next year, based on the rate at which we’re currently we’re booking.  

Heather said they are always on the lookout for fresh, creative ideas when attending DJ conferences (I never knew there were such things!) and reading wedding books and magazines. This summer A Fine Affair DJ was also named the KCRG A-List winner for Best Wedding Music in Eastern Iowa.

To get a small glimpse of what the Olsons can do, here’s a few reception photos from Christina and Brenton’s wedding, as well as a screen capture of A Fine Affair’s website, featuring the couple’s first dance.

Images by Shuva Rahim

Congrats to Heather and Tim on their continued success! 

Weddings - A Fine Affair DJ - Exceptional DJs for Extraordinary Events

Older Posts »