Kalinka family - Topeka, KS Professional Family Portrait Photographers

 Recently, just as the weather was getting perfect and the flowers were in full bloom at Gage Park we did a super fun family session with the Kalinkas right around sunset. These guys were super fun and kept the session enjoyable. Lots of laughs and super great expressions! These are some of their favorites they picked out from their session. I love em all!! Enjoy!












To book your own session, please call Tommy or Holly at 785.793.2492 or 785.213.0812 or email tommy@thpetersonphoto.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

HIlarious Maternity Session - Luke and Stephany's Baby Bump - Topeka's Funniest Photographers

Image
I am soooooo happy with Luke and Stephany’s maternity session. I almost spit my drink out when I pulled up and saw Luke standing out there. The laughs didn’t stop there. Luke had me rolling the whole time. The funny thing is Stephany couldn’t really convince Luke to do the shoot unless she agreed to do a redneck, white trash maternity shoot. Our inspiration for their shoot was Masterminds. Stephany was such a good sport and Luke had a ton of fun! He did a lot of drinking so he was prepared to do all of his own stunts! Congrats on the baby and we look forward to meeting your little one! Thank you for allowing us to have fun with you doing such a classy session! To book your own session, please call Tommy or Holly at 785.793.2492 or 785.213.0812 or email tommy@thpetersonphoto.com  
Read more

John and April's beautiful day! Incredible Wedding Celebration at Liquid Art Winery - Manhattan, KS

Image
John and April’s wedding at Liquid Art Winery was something special from start to finish. Set against rolling hills and the vineyard, the whole day had this calm, beautiful feel to it. It was cloudy in the best way—soft light, perfect for photos, and just an all-around ideal day for a wedding. Then right at the end of the night, the sun came out and gave us the most gorgeous golden light to wrap everything up. What stood out most was just how loved John and April are. You could feel it in every moment—friends and family showing up big for them, celebrating them, and surrounding them with so much support. Every detail of the day was dialed in. The food was incredible—brisket, salad, veggies—all so good. They even brought in local small businesses for cookies and ice cream, which was such a fun and thoughtful touch. The venue itself is phenomenal, and the DJ brought so much energy that the whole place stayed alive all night. And April—she had two dresses! Her ceremony dress was absolu...
Read more

Interview with Chloe Fox - Topeka West Class of 2027 - Topeka's Best Senior Portraits

Image
Chloe was so much fun to photograph. We started her senior session around TPAC and some of downtown Topeka before heading over to the Governor's Mansion. We wrapped everything up at Kaw River State Park where she actually got in the water  and those ended up being some of my fav photos from the day. Chloe is a dancer and plays clarinet in band  but more than anything she's just a genuinely nice, easygoing person. It honestly felt like the session was over almost as soon as it started. One thing I kept noticing throughout her session was her smile. Most seniors know how to smile for a camera, and Chloe definitely did, but every now and then she'd laugh at something we'd say or just have one of those real moments. Those are always my favorite because you just can't fake them. They ended up being some of my favorite images from her session. Chloe thanks for spending the evening with us. We had a great time getting to know you. Hope you love your photos as much as we do...
Read more

Interview with Haven Ellenburg - Shawnee Heights High Class of 2027 - Topeka's Best Senior Portraits

Image
Haven's senior session was one of those evenings where everything just came together. We started at Shawnee Heights High School on the softball field since that's where she's spent so much of her time. She was so easy to photograph from the beginning. She has a GREAT smile, a fun personality, and she's completely comfortable in front of the camera. Her mom came along too, and it was fun having her there cheering Haven on and getting excited every time we found another great spot. After the ball field, we made our way to the Governor's Mansion and then finished the evening at Kaw River Park. The sunset could not have been any better. The sky looked almost unreal and the water made the perfect backdrop for her portraits. We spent the evening talking about school,  plans after graduation, and just enjoying the beautiful weather. It was such a fun session from start to finish, and I'm really excited for Haven and her family to have these memories to look back on for...
Read more

Interview with Jonah Tevis - Topeka West Class of 2027 - Topeka's Best Senior Portraits

Image
There was a lot to like about Jonah's senior session. He's a very photogenic guy with a great personality, and we had a lot of fun exploring several different locations around Topeka. We started at the library, made our way to the Kansas State Capitol, and finished up with some great urban looks on Kansas Avenue. Since Jonah is a huge history fan, those locations were a perfect fit. We also made sure to include his trumpet, and those ended up being some of my favorite images from the entire session. As we talked throughout the evening, we discovered we both enjoyed movies and pop culture, and once that conversation got going, it really brought Jonah out of his shell. He already had a great personality, but it was fun to see him become even more comfortable in front of the camera. We wrapped up the evening at his grandma's house, which made the session even more meaningful. It's always special when seniors choose a location that has personal significance, and it gave us ...
Read more

Interview with Landon DeVader - St Mary's High Class of 2027 - Topeka's Best Senior Portraits

Image
Landon's senior session took us to the countryside just south of Rossville near Willard, Kansas, (not far from his high school in St. Marys)  and it ended up being one of those evenings that photographers hope for. We had the most beautiful sunset, a quiet river,   dirt roads, and fields of tall overgrown grass. At first glance, it might not seem like a location with a lot of variety, but that's part of the fun. I love finding creative ways to make a simple location feel unique, and I think we did exactly that. Every stop gave us a different look, and by the end of the session it felt like we had photographed in several completely different places. Even better, everything fit Landon perfectly. He looked comfortable, confident, and in his element. Landon was such a fun senior to work with. He has an easy smile, a great personality, and was willing to trust the process, which always makes for an amazing session. It was also easy to see that he has a great relationship with ...
Read more

Rhett's Newborn Session - Interview with Mom - Topeka's Best Newborn Photographers

Image
Meeting baby Rhett was such a joy. He was one of the smiliest newborns I've ever photographed! We see plenty of sweet little smirks during newborn sessions, but Rhett gave us big, genuine smiles that looked like he was dreaming about something absolutely hilarious. He was so relaxed and content the entire session, making it easy to capture so many precious moments. Mom, Dad, and his big sister joined him, and it was obvious right away how much love fills this family. One of my favorite parts of the session was watching Rhett's big sister with him. Mom told me she absolutely adores her little brother and even thinks of him as "her baby," and she definitely proved it. She was so excited to hold him and did an amazing job, which isn't always easy for toddlers during newborn sessions. She was the sweetest little girl with the biggest head of beautiful blonde hair, and she completely stole the show. Seeing the four of them together made for such meaningful family portr...
Read more

Interview with Isaiah Withers - Seaman High Class of 2027 - Topeka's Best Senior Portraits

Image
When I first met Isaiah, it was obvious he takes his training seriously. He's a senior at Seaman High School and spends a lot of time powerlifting at Joe's Gym, a small backyard garage gym where everyone feels like family. Even though senior pictures probably weren't at the top of his list of favorite things to do, he was up for anything we suggested and made the whole session easy. He's a genuinely nice, down-to-earth guy, and it didn't take long before we were laughing and having a good time. One of my favorite parts was watching him actually lift during the session instead of just pretending. I joked that he got a workout in while getting his senior photos. After the gym, we headed to Isaiah's house to finish the session. We spent some time in his yard, and the sunset put on an incredible show for us. The warm evening light gave us a completely different look than the dramatic gym photos, and I love how the two locations tell different parts of his story. Isa...
Read more

How to Prepare for a Photo Session - Topeka's Best Family Portrait Photographers

Image
Select outfits that will make for a timeless portrait. Choose practical clothing items, and keep the location and time of year in mind.  Select clothing items and accessories that are not too distracting or that you will have to adjust often during the session (think long necklaces or ruffled tops on a windy day).  Keep in mind the weather, wind speed, and humidity/chance of rain.  If you have littles, bring them some snacks to help give them incentives during the session.  This can help us to get kids to cooperate and make or break a session.  If it is windy, wear your hair up.  Trimming your bangs/hair slightly to keep them out of your eyes is a great idea, too! Use product like mousse, gel, pomade, and hairspray to tame your mane!    Pick shoes that will be easy to walk in at the location of the session.  For example, high heels are not recommended for sunflower shoots, but would look great in an urban/downtown ...
Read more

Interview with Ayden Crosswhite - Washburn Rural Class of 2026 - Topeka's Best Senior Portraits

Image
I had the chance to photograph Ayden, a Washburn Rural senior, and even though this was a shorter session than usual, we captured some truly amazing images. We started at Washburn Rural, where we highlighted his passion for football. Ayden was relaxed, easygoing, and brought a great smile to every shot. Right from the beginning, it felt like everything came together naturally. After that, we headed downtown to one of my favorite grungy spots, and Ayden was up for anything. The time flew by, and before we knew it, the session was over. His personality really shines through these portraits — confident, genuine, and full of life. I’m excited about how these turned out. Thanks for checking it out! T.H. Peterson: What are your plans after graduation? Ayden: I’m undecided. I’m very passionate about football, but I don’t know where I will ultimately end up. T.H. P.:   Something you liked about your session with us? Ayden:   It felt natural, like I had done a hundred shoo...
Read more