Happy New Year friends! I just realized as I was going over all my photos from the past year to choose these very special 150 that this is my 6th year to do this! That makes me so happy! I do want to say that this is a totally subjective grouping in that these are my favorites… and have not been chosen by voting, or an impartial panel or anything even remotely like that. Some of the photos were taken by my daughter Celeste, which I must note because darn it I didn’t get to go to New Zealand where a couple of these were taken. I love every one of my clients and every wedding, event and portrait session is so important to me. But there is something about certain photos that just jump out at you, either aesthetically, or emotionally, or compositionally… and sometimes because of what they represent or say. And every year I do this it gets harder… I mean to tell you it’s difficult to choose just 150 out of over 100,000 photos. This is just something I do to reflect over my past year of work and to celebrate my clients and to celebrate creativity! A lot of lot of love went into each and every one of these photos and it was such a joy and honor to work with each of you and to be a part of your lives in this way. Here’s to more photo adventures in 2018!
BEAUTIFUL ELLIE’S DOWNTOWN PHOTO SESSION
Ellie is a vibrant young professional who wanted to update her headshots. She is going to be speaking at a conference in the upcoming month and needed a new image. I’ve often talked on Facebook and other social media outlets about the importance of updating images on all of your social media platforms. In our digital age it is the quintessential way to put our best face forward so to speak… so that is what we set out to do. Of course sometimes a headshot session turns into something very different when everything just flows. Ellie is very easy to photograph and the camera loves her so we just had a ball! We laughed a lot and talked a lot and somehow still managed to come up with so many great images that I can’t pick a favorite! I think everyone should celebrate themselves in this way! Enjoy these images of lovely Ellie for some powerful inspiration.
MEGAN AND JOE TIE THE KNOT IN POETRY, TEXAS
Megan and Joe are the kind of couple that you can spend 5 minutes with and tell that they are so in tune with one another. They have such an apparent connection that you feel an overflow of happiness just being around them. Megan found me through a friend who is a client and the first time we met at Starbucks her face glowed with that smile you will see in many of these images when she spoke about Joe. Not only do they have that romantic spark, but they are the best of friends. The day of their wedding Texas had been experiencing rain the entire week previous, but the sun came out for these two in lovely Poetry Texas at the bride’s parent’s home. It was an absolutely idyllic setting by a charming lake and the blue sky made the perfect backdrop. From the girl’s time getting ready together in their adorable floral Etsy robes to the sparklers and fireworks that lit up the sky as the evening’s celebrations came to a close, I’m going to let the images tell the happy story.
LOVELY CATHERINE’S BRIDALS AT THE MEADOWS MUSEUM
Catherine is a classic beauty, and though she may appear demure in some of these images I can attest to the fact that she is one of the most vibrant people I have ever known. The term full of life doesn’t even begin to cover her exuberance, and the joy she took in every aspect of her wedding. Celeste and I had the best time with Catherine and her mom the day of this shoot… it was a real girl’s day for all of us and we left as fast friends. We chose the Meadows Museum and the surrounding Southern Methodist University Campus because her father has been on staff there for many years as the Head of the Bywaters Special Collections at the Hamon Arts Libraries. Her dad popped his head in to bring the dress before the session but we had to make sure he didn’t see his daughter in her bridal gown until his special first look the day of the wedding. Catherine’s choice of this stunning heavy silk ball gown is so perfect for the warm elegance of the museum and she is absolutely right at home among the works of art. You’ll be seeing more of Catherine and her adorable groom Justin when I blog their wedding very soon!
KATHY AND HER ADORABLE PUP JASPER AT HOME
It is always so much fun to photograph clients in their homes. So much can be learned about someone through what they choose to surround themselves with. Kathy’s home is beautiful and vibrant just like her. She is a very busy mom and businesswoman who travels quite a bit and always enjoys coming home to this lovely, nurturing home base. Much to my delight, her precious dog Jasper added his considerable personality to every room… as he pretty much followed his master everywhere she went and wanted to be in every photo, in fact I think he may have thought the whole shoot was about him. This lovely lady wanted to shoot some images to update her personal portfolio and online presence on her business’s website. I think everyone should do this for themselves every couple of years, as fresh, gorgeous photos help us to put our best food forward visually. And speaking of feet… did you notice Kathy’s killer footware? She is such a stylish lady and those hot pink shoes… swoon!
KIRA, JEREMIAH AND SWEET SIENNA
These three are quite literally like sunshine to be around. They are so joyful and so in love with each other and with their beautiful baby girl that their happiness spills onto everyone around them. I first met Kira via email when she was looking for someone to take newborn photos of this little bundle of joy. This is the fourth time I have worked with them and each time I love the images more. This shoot was a combination family shoot and celebration of Sienna turning 1! I am always impressed by Sienna’s baby style… but Kira really outdid herself this time with the adorable headwear! Sienna has traits from both her parents of course, but those blue eyes are just like her daddy!
THE BEAUTIFUL VIBRANT MYCOSKIE FAMILY
The Mycoskie family is so full of life! Just being around them brings a smile to your face. We met at a nature park near their home on a lovely late fall day and I’m pretty sure the golden Texas afternoon sun was shining just for us. Lori, the gorgeous mother of these three adorable children, is such a stunner and her husband Jordan has one of those charming smiles that just puts you at ease immediately. They are such genuine people and their connection with one another translates effortlessly into these images. This was a combination family shoot and also a celebration of sweet Caroline turning one! She is going to grow up well protected with her two big brothers Colt and Sawyer… the three of them together send the cuteness factor right off the charts!
I think it’s so important for families to celebrate their love for one another with images. It’s always a difficult thing to make happen, especially when you have young children… just choosing outfits and getting everyone dressed can be daunting…but the results are certainly worth it! Speaking of outfits… how cute do these kids look?! Caroline has to be one of the best dressed little girls around.
I can’t wait to photograph this beautiful family again in the future, we had the best time together!
KARINA’S GORGEOUS BRIDALS AT THE MELROSE HOTEL
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?