It’s that time of year again, time to look back over tens of thousands of images to choose the ones that for one reason or another had the greatest impact on me. So yes, the criteria is very subjective… and not even something I can quantify. Sometimes it is color and light, sometimes it is the emotions captured, but sometimes it is something completely indescribable that just speaks to me. Obviously when narrowing down possibly 100,000 photos to 150 I can’t include every client, and I strive to make every client’s images the best because I truly love what I do and count it an honor every time someone steps in front of my camera. Some of these images were taken by my talented daughter Celeste who works with me, and we want to send out special love to our wedding couples who put so much faith in us… and the families we work with year after year… we are so happy to have been able to become a part of your history. We hope you enjoy looking back over 2016 and we look forward to many more photographic adventures together in 2017! xoxo
SARAH’S STUNNING ARLINGTON HALL BRIDALS
Sarah is beautiful, no doubt, but the thing you discover quickly after meeting her is that she is truly a breath of fresh air… so genuine, down to earth, and kind. I form a connection with all of my clients, and especially my brides because we spend so much time together, and I know that after sharing this wedding journey, I will count Sarah and her lovely family as lifetime friends. They all have that open hearted hospitality about them that just draws you in and assures you that you belong. The afternoon that I spent with Sarah and her mom Janet at Arlington Hall at Lee Park was such a joy, filled with sunshine and light, white columns and climbing vines… perfect for a Southern girl. I should also say that Sarah is not just a pretty face, she is an accomplished woman who graduated from the University of Virginia and is a large animal veterinarian. Her groom is an F-16 pilot for the United States Air Force and the two of them are just adorable together! I have been so excited to share this session, and when you see the beautiful piece of furniture covered in a deep red velvet, note that it is a family heirloom that Sarah and her mom brought from Paris, Texas just for this session. Those kind of personal details are the best!
Dress: Lulu’s Bridal Venue: Arlington Hall at Lee Park
ROBIN’S BEAUTIFUL BRIDALS AT THE MEADOWS MUSEUM
Ever since the lovely and stylish Robin asked me to photograph her wedding, I started visualizing some equally stylish bridal portraits. I have been so anxious to share these gorgeous images… I literally squealed with delight when I was editing them because they are just so pretty… and that is all about Robin in her classic flowing silk gown… a gown that very few women could pull off! She and her handsome groom Brian wed this past Friday evening surrounded by family and friends at the charming Jefferson Tower, so I am finally free to share. Robin is the Events Manager at the Meadows Museum so it seemed like the perfect place to shoot these images, and the stately art filled spaces are the ideal backdrop for this beauty!
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!
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.
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.
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.