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Let me tell you a little about myself. I'm a natural light, on location, portrait photographer living in the Dallas area. Got that? Basically, I do all my photo shoots outside of a formal studio and do not use a flash to light my subjects.

To me, there is really nothing like being able to freeze time. I can't put it in a bottle yet, but I can capture it with my lens. I love the feeling of waiting for an ecstatic smile, a sideways glance, a pout or even a few tears. Photographs become more valuable over time. As kids grow and families change, it's a gift to look back and remember special moments.

While portraits have a pretty serious role in the life of a family...we have a lot of fun creating them! The process is always relaxed, and interactive. So, take your time and look at samples of recent sessions. Also, leave me a comment if you like - I love to hear from you!

Rachel

joy…

When Jamie asked me to photograph her and Richard’s vow ceremony, I felt so honored.  It was a real privilege to capture this momentous occasion for them.  The ceremony was a small and intimate gathering of family to acknowledge the new adventure this sweet family is beginning.  It was a beautiful time of prayer, blessing, communion and vows.  I was inspired by how simple and meaningful they kept each of the elements.  It was truly a joyous occasion with the most relaxed bride and chill groom I have ever seen!

Jamie and RIchard, I am so thrilled for you!  I feel blessed having shared in your day.  It was an absolute pleasure.  May God bless your new life together.

I have MANY more to share, but wanted to get just one up for you to see today.  I look forward to sharing more!

at long last…

The photo shoot with this sweet family has been a long time coming.  Weather, sickness and all kinds of scheduling issues (mine and theirs) made it complicated to pull this off!  I am so glad we were finally able to meet up last weekend.  Sweet, little baby girl still didn’t feel her best, but she gave us great smiles anyway.

Our shoot took place at Chestnut Square in McKinney.  It’s a fun place to photograph and it also happens to have a few goats and cats - that’s a real bonus if you’re 2 1/2.  I didn’t realize when I suggested that location that it would provide so much in the way of wildlife entertainment.  My boys would have loved it!

This family is very easy to photograph because they are all beautiful and have a fun time together.  Their girls are just so adorable.  I am really happy with what we captured Saturday.  Here’s a little peak some highlights…I think it was worth the wait!

I just love this first image.  It’s one of my favorites.

And look at her beautiful eyes…

How can you not love this tender daddy/daughter shot?  I didn’t even realize I had this shot and came across it when I was editing.  It’s such a sweet moment.

And big sis…she gets prettier each year.

Daddy made them both smile…by attacking me with a rat (thankfully it was just a toy!).

Beautiful, bright eyes like little sis.

un bebe muy contento y guapo…

It’s been so long since I updated my blog that I could not find my password and had to do a complete search (and panic) to get a new one!  I always start out with good blogging intentions, and at some point, they fizzle out.  Maybe this fall I can turn over a new leaf.  Yes, that was a play on words, and (while cheesy) I thought it was pretty clever.  Just admit that you chuckled a little bit.

Now on to the real purpose of this post - adorable little Noah!  He is such a happy baby….smiles easily and so content.  I had a great time with him!  You can’t help but smile when he does.  It’s contagious.  I think the images of him below truly reflect his sweet disposition.  It makes me happy to look at them.

Noah’s dad helps me with my Spanish from time to time.  So, I decided I should conclude with a little Spanish.  I am still really remedial, and I am sure there will be many mistakes, but here goes…

Noah es un bebe muy especial!  El tiene una gran sonrisa y ojos alegres. Me gusto’ tomar su foto muy mucho.  Gracias por conpartirlo conmigo por la tarde.  Maria y Alex, fue un placer conocer ustedes.  Tienen una familia muy simpatica!

natural…

Recently I did a senior session for this beautiful girl.  She happens to be my neighbor.  When we talked about the location, her mom said she was more of a natural girl, so we opted for a session at Arbor Hills instead of a more urban setting.  She looked really beautiful and it was a really gorgeous night.  I was super excited because I truly love to photograph seniors.

Well, I hate to admit that I am apparently NOT a real natural girl and need some serious schooling in the ways of nature.   I posed her in…gulp…poison ivy.  I even walked over to the area, looked it over and deemed it safe!  Granted, I was mainly looking for snakes and any sort of obvious big bugs.  It didn’t really cross my mind that poison ivy might be growing in GIANT clumps all over the ground.   In fact, I was lying down on the ground myself just 10 feet in front of her!

A few days after the shoot she was covered in a poison ivy outbreak…  Yes, yes she was.  I was mortified…and still am.  Any boy scout in America could have prevented this awful incident and would fully mock my ignorance.  Sadly, none were present at the time.

Thankfully she is doing much, much better now and we did get some really gorgeous images of her.  Of course, that wasn’t hard to do given how natural she is in front of the camera.  It was so easy to capture great images of her, that it was almost like cheating!

I think I might need to take a brief nature safety course some day soon.  That’s a part of location photography that was  really never mentioned in any of my previous classes!

Now that I have told on myself, here are a few beautiful images from our session.  It really was a pleasure photographing her at this exciting time in her life.  She is not only beautiful, she has a very sweet and tender heart, laughs easily and has a very calm and graceful way about her.  I look forward to seeing the plans God has for her life unfold over the next few years!

duo…

I am a bit behind on my blogging.   But, I am determined to catch up, so let’s get the ball rolling..NOW!

This dynamic duo had all sorts of tricks planned for me.  We ventured to downtown Proper and then out into rural Celina for this session.  It was an afternoon of horses, hay and energy…lots of energy!  But, we had a great time.  These kiddos are not only cute, but really sweet.  I think they get it from their mama…and maybe their grandmama too.

Here are a few of my favorites.  I am not finished editing all the gems in this session, so these are just the current picks.

madrid…

I just returned from a trip to Spain.  We went over for my brother’s wedding in Pamplona.  He married a fantastic girl and I am so excited for them!

I snapped off several photos that I am sorting through, but I just really like this one.  I think I need some things out of the foreground, and maybe someday I’ll spend the time doing that.  I just really like how the people inside this market are eating and talking and sharing a drink together.  It seems so alive and inviting.  Makes me want to go in and join their table!  You know?

40 and fabulous in Fredericksburg…

Last month, I spent a week-end in Fredericksburg with an amazing group of women that I have been friends with since college.  We try to get together for a week-end once a year.  Getting there is always somewhat last minute, and a little frazzled, but always super fun, very therapeutic, and renewing.  There is usually some sort of grand and dramatic entrance by Angela (this year’s might have been the best ever).  Rebecca is usually sweating out the last minute details.  Christy is always pulled together wondering why this is so complicated.  Lisa always has time to stop for much needed junk food (that is never evidenced by her body).  Lori is always chill and graceful enjoying every minute. From year to year, I am never sure which side of the fence I will be on.  Regardless of how we come into the week-end, we all just enjoy every minute once we come together.  It’s always worth the effort to reconnect with each other.

This year’s get together included the usual arrival drama and last minute sweating plus llamas, fried avacados, intestinal challenges, and back road adventures.  Oh, the stories I could tell.  I haven’t laughed that hard for 48 hours straight since…well…our last week-end together.

However, this trip was a little extra special because we have all recently entered our 4th decade or are quickly approaching it.  So, as a way to commemorate that, my fantastically talented friend, Christy, made us a cake.  Not just any cake, but the gorgeous, spectacle shown below!  I felt so special.  That’s why I made sure to eat extra servings late at night, for breakfast, and again when I got home…

If you need a special cake, Christy is your gal.  Contact me, and I will get you in touch with her.  She’s the BEST!

As fun as it was, we did miss our Amy this year.  She completes our little group of 7 and couldn’t make it this time.  But, next time, we’re going to make sure she’s there!

It was an awesome time, girls!  I always treasure our time together and am so thankful for the longevity and consistency of our friendship over the years.  Wonder where we will go next….will be hard to top this year’s hill country adventure!  I love y’all!

strike a pose…

…there’s nothin’ to it - not for this awesome model, anyway.  I had so much fun on our little urban shoot with this cute girlie.  She knows how to rock it!  I only wish we had had more time to shoot.  We shot until dark, and I would have been happy to keep going if we hadn’t completely run out of light.  The outfit changes and accessories were piled in the back of my car, and Deep Ellum provided us with such a fun location.  What a perfect combination to inspire creativity!

I had a great time, and I love your images!  Can’t wait for you to see the rest.

There is something about this first image that I just love.  The industrial setting, the outfit and the attitude all just work together.

Love the editorial feel of this one…

more wedding images…from a non-wedding photographer

I was so honored to photograph Susan and Clint’s wedding on New Years Day.  Susan is the sister of my good friend, Charlotte.  So, since I knew I would probably not be able to score an invitation to this small, intimate affair, (that was actually not so small at all) I was glad I had a somewhat marketable skill to force my way into attendance.  This worked to everyone’s advantage since I didn’t get my feelings hurt when they claimed they were just inviting “family”, since at this point I believe I should be considered family anyway.  But, I digress…

As you know, I am not a wedding photographer.  Event photography, particularly weddings, is a whole other animal from my usual bag of tricks.  But, I was excited and nervous to photograph this special occasion for this sweet couple.  So, I channeled my inner J*, loaded up on caffeine and went for it.

All kidding aside, I could not be more happy for Susan and Clint.  They are truly a lovely couple embarking on a meaningful and precious journey as husband and wife.  The wedding was beautiful and the bride and groom were beaming.

Here are a few images to briefly tell the story of the day.

The wedding was held at a really wonderful bed and breakfast, The Wildwood Inn.  I would highly recommend it if you are looking for a quaint, up-scale location for an event or just a get away.

When I arrived, the women (Susan, Charlotte and their daughters) were behind closed doors primping.  Charlotte was pretty intent on making Susan’s eyebrows into perfection, and I will say that they looked spectacular.  Of course, Susan looked gorgeous in every way, but I will credit the eyebrows to her sister.

Room #6 was for women only.  NO. boys. allowed.

I just love Susan’s hairpiece.  It reminded me of snowflakes.   Oh, and Susan’s daughter made her own ear rings.  Really.  So impressive.

So, this primping the women were doing went on all the way until the minute before the ceremony.  The men, however, were completely dressed with much time to spare.  I captured a few shots of them while they waited.  They clean up quite nicely, don’t they?

A few from the ceremony.  I think I would have teared up watching these sweet moments, but I was too focussed on making sure my flash was going to fire.  I love Susan’s expression in the last one.  It was right after they were pronounced husband and wife.

Cake.  Yum…

I would like to think that it was because I said something really clever and witty and have such a remarkable rapport with my clients that Susan and Clint are laughing so hard.  However, I am not sure they even knew I was there.  They were just really, really happy!  What an awesome expression of sheer joy from a new bride and groom.  Beautiful.

Time to leave.  Love the red coat!

Thanks so much for letting me capture this wonderful day for you, Susan and Clint!  I could not be happier for you and wish you all the best.  I hope you continue laughing for many years to come!

wedding…

I started the new year photographing a lovely wedding.  New year’s day seems like a perfect day to start a new chapter in life.

Can’t wait to share more.