I love shooting bridal sessions, I really do. But I always get a bit nervous before each one as there is something almost sacred about the bridal gown, and being one of the first to see the bride in that once in a lifetime dress. It adds so much gravitas to the goal of getting it right… just right. It’s such an honor to be trusted with these kinds of memories, and I always imagine what these images will mean to the bride and groom, and the family that the two of them coming together create. Karina is a beautiful girl… and an absolutely stunning bride. The gown she chose is such a classic, and it will definitely stand the test of time. She is an veritable vision in lace. We chose two locations, the always lovely Warwick Melrose Hotel… and the adorable Dragon Park, which just radiates with romantic mystery.
MEGAN AND BRENDAN SO IN LOVE…
I first met Megan when I took her pictures when she was graduating from college. I was struck then by her calm easy demeanor and of course how beautiful she is, and as I usually do, I talk with my clients about their lives when we are shooting and ask lots of questions. Her eyes lit up when she talked about her guy, and how well he treated her. Then when we met again after she became engaged and we were talking about the photography for their upcoming wedding, she told me about the elaborate scavenger hunt he planned for her to pop the question. This young man certainly knows a thing or two about women! When I met him for the first time during this engagement shoot I saw instantly what a gentleman Brendan is, and how in love these two are. Brendan posted one of these images of the two of them throwing leaves on Facebook with the caption “This is what it is like marrying your best friend.” There isn’t really much I can say to top that! I can’t wait for their November wedding, it is going to be as gorgeous as they are together!
ALI AND KASPAR
It’s immediately obvious when you meet Ali and Kaspar that they are beautiful people… these images will attest to that. It’s also immediately evident how easy they are with one another, and how crazy they are about each other too. But what you may not immediately pick up on is all the things that make them uniquely them… things we incorporated into their session. Things like Kaspar’s love of donuts, Ali’s sense of style, and Kaspar’s passion for longboarding… which he shares with Ali… I mean look at the two of them on that board! And have you ever seen two people who can knock out handstands like that on a hot afternoon in jeans? We met at the Filter Building at White Rock Lake and it made the perfect backdrop for these two. It was an absolutely perfect summer day in Dallas and we had a ball! I am so excited about these images… I have been posting them on Instagram like crazy and everyone loves them. These two were adventurous and a dream to work with and Celeste and I are so excited about their Long Island wedding coming up in September! Ali and Kaspar met there as kids, so what better place for them to commit to forever?
NAT AND NICOLE SO OBVIOUSLY IN LOVE!
Some couples just make marriage look good… and Nat and Nicole absolutely do! They are so obviously crazy about each other and truly enjoy each other’s company that it is infectious… and there was a lot of laughter the day of this shoot. I shot this session some time ago in one of my favorite spots… downtown near the AT&T Performing Arts Center. So many great nooks and crannies… architecture and greenspace… but Nat and Nicole outshone all their surroundings. I mean Nicole’s smile is a stunner! They brought their adorable dogs along and the four of them are so cute together I can hardly stand it!
I had so much fun with you guys!
TALIA AND JOSH ARE ADORABLE, AND GETTING MARRIED!
Talia and Josh are such an adorable couple! The first time I met them at Starbucks along with Talia’s mom to talk wedding photography I was immediately drawn in by their warm personalities. Talia has one of those smiles that lights up the room, and Josh so obviously loves her that it’s impossible not to smile when you are with them. Laughter spilled over during our engagement session and the connection and chemistry between these two is so evident. They are having a beautiful May wedding at Cross Creek Ranch in Parker and the day is drawing near… everything is coming together for their big day… and I am excited to share these images of these two lovebirds. Josh is a baseball player, having played throughout his college career, so they thought some baseball themed photos should be a part of their session… and even though they now root for different teams, its all in good fun… and the results are totally charming!
RACHEL’S LOVELY BRIDALS AT THE AUDUBON CENTER
I can’t believe I have waited this long to do this blog post. The last half of 2014 was a bit of a blur, but most likely I thought I had already done the post because I have used these images so many other places. Rachel is a stunning girl, and I had the pleasure of shooting her engagements, bridals and wedding as well as some blog photos for her and an extended family portrait for her mom… so needless to say she is one of my favorites. She chose the Audubon center for her session which was the perfect compliment to her modern and yet romantic style. I am so crazy about these images! It is one of my favorite sessions of my career and I am thrilled to have my favorites from this shoot in one place to share with you.
THE BEST OF 2014
The intention was to have this post up and running the first week of January… but alas… crazy life got in the way and now January is almost over. Nevertheless I said I was going to do a “Best of 2014” blog post so here it is… and the old words ring true… better late than never! It is always a challenge and a joy to choose my favorite photos from a year of my work. I put my heart into every photo so there is a little something of me in every one… These 125 photos were chosen from a pared down pool of about 20,000 photos. I can’t always explain why I love a photo… suffice it to say that sometimes it’s simply aesthetics, sometimes meaning, and sometimes it is something personal… no matter the why I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I do.
THE PATRICK FAMILY
This is the season for wonderful family portraiture… and I am more than thrilled to share my session with the Patrick Family. I went to high school with Rob, and we reconnected as so many friends do, through Facebook. I have wanted to photograph his family ever since I saw photos of his romantic marriage proposal to Alisha in a hot air balloon. The way he speaks of her on Facebook and in person is so lovely… and one of the things I most admire in a man is his ability to love a woman well. Alisha and Rob and I had a long conversation over coffee about life and family before our session and I can assure you they are as beautiful on the outside as they are on the inside. Rob is also an excellent father to his son Carson, which is very evident in these photos… their father and son camaraderie is a really wonderful thing to watch. Rob, Alisha and Carson are a joy to spend time with and I think it shows in these images. I think family photos are so precious and so important for creating our legacy for those we love.
Speaking of love… these two are pretty romantic together… and you all know how I love photos of love.
Is there anything more heartwarming than a father and son who have that special bond and who just love being together?
This family has so much fun together… and their spirit of fun was contagious!
Rob, Alisha and Carson you three were a joy to work with! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!
THERE’S NOTHING LIKE A MAN IN A SUIT…
Bryan is one of those men who exudes a quiet confidence and gives you the impression that there is a lot going on underneath the surface. He is an outdoorsman, an Olympian, a former ski jumper in the ’92 Olympic winter games in Albertville France. He is one of those guys who makes you feel safe in the knowledge that he would know what to do in just about any situation. He loves to play golf, to fish and hunt, and to work on his cabin situated in a stunningly beautiful location facing the Porcupine Mountains in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. With all this in mind, it would seem that photos of Bryan should be rustic, outdoorsy, athletic types of photos… but those will have to wait for another shoot. Bryan needed some professional photos for a new business venture so we took to the urban landscape… and Bryan donned a suit. I think the results are pretty compelling… to say the least… and are a reminder to all you guys out there who need to update your visual portfolio for today’s social media and web culture.
I think one of the most important things about a good headshot is that it project confidence… and these images have that in spades…
I love the eye contact that Bryan makes with the camera… it creates an immediacy in the images that is timeless.
And just to bring this post about Bryan full circle, I have to give you a glimpse into that rustic, outdoorsy side, as well as the amazing view from his cabin. Bryan is certainly a multi-faceted guy… and one of the kindest, most thoughtful men you will ever encounter.
ASHLEY’S ROMANTIC BRIDALS AT THE CRESCENT HOTEL
Celeste and I have known Ashley for many years, as Celeste and Ashley were in the same class in school. She and her lovely mom Julie are friends and so it was a special honor to be asked to be Ashley and Trevor’s wedding photographers, to accompany them to their destination wedding in CanCun. We just returned from their absolutely gorgeous wedding and as beautiful as the scenery was I have to say that the people were even more beautiful. These images are from her bridal session, shot some time ago at the Crescent Hotel here in Dallas. Ashley has such a sweet spirit about her and it shows through these images. She is just as gorgeous on the inside as she is on the outside! The classic elegance of the Crescent made the perfect backdrop for Ashley and her romantic Grecian inspired gown.
I think almost every girl has a twirling instinct… especially in a romantic gown… and Ashley is no exception!
We had such a good time on this shoot and Ashley is so wonderful to photograph and so willing to be fully present in the midst of the process… something tells me that being a bride agrees with her.
The wonderful thing about the Crescent is all the nooks, hallways and lovely outdoor groomed garden spots that perfectly compliment the spirit of bride… and Ashley really shone in this environment…
There are few things in life lovelier than a woman in love… than a bride… and I am quite certain that Trevor is going to cherish these images of Ashley for years to come. He is one lucky man.