Kayla + Thomas | engagement

Technically this wasn't actually an engagement session - Kayla and Thomas live in Houston and we had a hard time finding a time to do the session before the wedding - so it was more of a newlywed session. Kayla and Thomas are so sweet together, and are so used to the camera by this point that they seemed totally comfortable in front of it!















And as an added bonus, we got to see this cool guy!

Kayla + Thomas | wedding

Kayla and Thomas had a beautiful wedding at Denton Bible Church. They are both wonderful people, and are both surrounded by wonderful friends and family. Everyone was so sweet and so gracious throughout the day. We had some issues with the wind, but otherwise everything seemed perfect!



































Yes, we used these couches a lot - they were too good to pass up!











When Kayla's sister gave her Maid of Honor toast, she surprised Kayla by playing her favorite hymn on the violin (she'd taken lessons to surprise Kayla!).





Thomas and his Mom did a fun dance to "Green Onion."



They did the Anniversary Dance, and this couple has been married for 65 years!



There were a couple of very cool Lebanese dances:







Kayla and Thomas, we hope you had fun on your "surprise" honeymoon!

Kayla | bridal

Kayla's wedding was last night, so we finally get to share her bridal pictures!

















Check back soon for the wedding pictures!

Out of the office!

I just wanted to let everybody know that we'll be out of the office Saturday through Thursday. We will have email access, so if you need to get in touch with us email is the best way to reach us. It will take us longer than usual to get back with you though, so thank you in advance for your patience!

Holiday ordering deadline

It's that time of year again! Everyone wants pictures for the holidays, so the labs all start getting backed up and everything takes longer. So if you're planning on having pictures by Christmas time, make sure you get your orders in this week!

Any orders needed by December 23 will need to be in by this Thursday, December 4.

Anything not ordered by then cannot be guaranteed to be in by Christmas. This includes print orders made through the online gallery as well as directly through us.

So get those orders in soon!

Brittney + Brandon | engagement

Brittney and Brandon are friends of Amy and Blake, and contacted us to do their engagement pictures. They chose the Arbor Hills Nature Preserve in Plano, and despite the freezing winds, we had a great day with beautiful skies and light! Nobody could feel their hands by the end, but we had a great time anyway!

Ricky | portraits

We met Ricky's sister, BJ, last summer at Nikkie & Daniel's wedding, where she was the videographer. (We always recommend her when anyone is looking for a videographer, because she's great!) So we were excited when she contacted us to take pictures of her brother, Ricky. We went to the train station in historic downtown Grapevine, which is an awesome and very fun location. Ricky was really more interested in climbing on trains and throwing rocks than having his picture taken (as any kid would be), but he was very patient with our cameras and bad jokes!

Amy + Blake | wedding

When we originally met with Amy and Blake and asked them what they envisioned for their wedding, they said they wanted it to be fun and casual. All the guests seemed to have a great time, and most of them were still there by the time the exit came around. Even though the day started off with some problems, Amy didn't let it ruin the day - and we were so glad to be there for it!

The ceremony was at First United Methodist Church in Mansfield.



Doing her mom's make-up:







Her grandmother gave Amy her "something borrowed":



I love this one:



The girls:













Amy and her Dad:





Blake's sister sang and played a beautiful song during the ceremony:



Darek saw them through the window right after the ceremony:





The reception was at K Star Ranch:





They did a great job with the details:





This cake smelled amazing:



I love the candy table! It's always fun for ring shots:







We caught the end of the sunset for a few quick shots in the gazebo - fortunately you can't tell from the picturess that it was FREEZING outside!



This green bench was pretty cool too:







Amy with her grandmother:



DJ Glenn Roush of Roush Productions did a great job keeping the dance floor going - Amy found him at a friend's wedding and we would recommend him to anyone!





At the end of the night Amy and Blake had one last dance by themselves while the guests lined up outside for the exit. They danced to Ben Fold's "The Luckiest" and it was the sweetest thing ever. I think this is such a great idea because you get a few minutes alone together during your wedding:



And there's nothing quite like running through handfuls of birdseed being thrown right in your face! Woo hoo!



Amy and Blake, we hope Playa was amazing, and we're so thankful that we were able to be a part of your wedding day!

Brooke | senior

We haven't done senior pictures in awhile, so we were excited to get the chance to do Brooke's! We had fun in Deep Ellum with Brooke, who incidentally goes to the same high school Darek went to. She said it was awkward to have her pictures taken, but you wouldn't know it - she's a complete natural in front of the camera.







Her boyfriend Taylor came along for a few of the pictures:





Brooke has awesome socks! We totally love these:

Kyndra + Doug | engagement

Kyndra and Doug were so much fun to hang out with, the time just flew by. They laughed a lot and really enjoyed each other's company. We can't wait for the wedding, it's going to be awesome!

Amy | bridal

Amy was married this weekend, so we finally get to share her bridal portraits! We went down to the canals at Las Colinas and had a great time with the whole crew! Amy always knew exactly what I wanted her to do, sometimes even before I said it. Between that and a fabulous dress and beautiful bride, it was an easy shoot!

Mary + Derek | wedding

We didn't get to spend much time with Mary and Derek before their wedding, since they live in DC, but we loved spending the day with them and their friends and family. It was a beautiful Fall day and we were glad to be a part of it. They were married at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd.









The dress was gorgeous:



They scheduled a large block of time for pictures with the wedding parties, which was very fun:























A moment after the ceremony:







Reception details:





These cake cutters have been used in Mary's family for generations, and everyone who uses them gets to write their name in the special box:



Waiting to be introduced:







They were excited about that cake!



















Mary and Derek, congratulations! Hope you had a wonderful time at the beach!

Jenna + Steve | engagement

This has been a very busy month for us, but I'm so glad everyone is taking their pictures in this nice weather instead of the heat of Summer! We had another gorgeous day for Jenna & Steve's engagement session. Unfortunately everyone else was out enjoying the weather as well - but we still found some great spots (and I learned a new joke - thanks Jenna!).

Emily & Elli

A while ago we did some pictures of our friends' kids so they would have an alternative to the typical school portraits. I was shocked when I realized a year had already passed and it was time to do it again! We headed down to Arbor Hills Nature Preserve in Plano and took some fun pictures.


This one was totally their idea and I love it:

Brittney + Corey | wedding (part 2)

Brittney and Corey saved up to pay for the majority of their wedding, Brittney even working 2 jobs. She wanted it to be a celebration - and it was. It was a joy to witness their wedding, and we wish them much, much happiness in their marriage!

Some details:

Mmm...I don't usually eat cake at weddings, but I had my sister snag me a piece...best wedding cake ever. (Red velvet...yum.)




Ava didn't want to be left out during the first dance:



We snagged them for a few quick portraits:






The cake went everywhere:


Hmmm...my dad and sisters tear up the dance floor (in their own special way). Fortunately, no one was hurt.











"What are you guys looking for?"
"Corey's ring."
"...Oh."
It was found very quickly. : )









Brittney and Corey, we wish you the best!

Brittney + Corey | wedding (part 1)

This was an extra special wedding for us - Corey is my cousin, and our families have always been really close. We were honored to be able to photograph Brittney & Corey’s wedding in Hickory, North Carolina. It was also so much fun to be able to hang out with all of them!

Brittney always used to hide from my camera, but she tolerated my presence very well and even posed for a few pictures. : )  They had gorgeous weather, a beautiful ceremony, and a fun reception. I had too many pictures for one blog post, so I’m splitting them into 2 posts. The reception pictures will be coming soon!

They have a precious daughter, Ava. It seems like just the other day that she was born; I can’t believe how quickly she’s grown!


Corey’s sister found me an excellent spot to hang the dress:



So cute!


The room the girls got ready in had some fabulous light coming in through the window:



This picture just cracks me up. Ava has the best expressions:





This is my cousin Mary Kate. She’s not a big fan of being in front of the camera either; I told her she shouldn’t sit in such nice light. How could I help myself?


The bridesmaids looked pretty snazzy:


Corey gave Brittney a bouquet of roses before the ceremony:


When Corey opened his suit bag, he discovered that the suit place hadn’t included his shirt and tie. Oops.


A prayer with the parents (my fabulous Uncle Tim and Aunt Julie):


The shirt and tie arrive! With 10 minutes to spare.


I loved the hydrangeas. You don’t see those much in weddings, which is too bad; they’re so pretty:



The ringbearer:



A prayer during the ceremony:





I’ll be posting the reception pictures soon so keep checking back! Good stuff ahead!

Nikki | bridal

We had a gorgeous day for Nikki's bridal session. We started off at the Arboretum, then headed over to St. Thomas Aquinas, where she'll be getting married in February. She gave us permission to post some of the pictures to the blog, so I'm glad to be able to share these.

Niki + Ryan | wedding

Niki and Ryan are both awesome, and we've had such a good time getting to know them. They were married at the Chapelle des Fleurs in Flower Mound (a gorgeous venue that I'd highly recommend). They had a beautiful ceremony and a fabulous party to celebrate.

A detail of the dress:







Getting ready is tiring stuff:





They had such a sweet meeting before the ceremony:



















Some details from the reception:



First dance:



























Niki and Ryan, we loved working with you guys! Hope the Riviera Maya was amazing!

Nikki + Will | engagement

We had fun getting to know Nikki and Will at their engagement session. We started out in the West End and worked our way over to Fountain Place when the sun went down. They'll be getting married in February and the reception is going to be at City Club, so we made sure to get the building in the background!

Blaine + Wade

We went to Salado for Blaine and Wade's wedding, and even though we hadn't been able to spend much time with them (we just met Wade on rehearsal night) they were both so nice and welcoming that we felt like we already knew them! They are both the kind of people that make you feel like friends, and we were so glad to be a part of their wedding day. They were married at Tenroc Ranch just before sunset, and though the reception was too short, we had a wonderful day!

Some of the great details:



LOVED Blaine's dress!





The girls had a toast:





Blaine and Wade exchanged customized boots as their gifts to each other - and I think it's pretty obvious that Blaine liked hers!







Blaine and her mom:



Wade opening his gift:











The flower girl was adorable:



They had an incredibly sweet ceremony:







We were aiming for sunset for these portraits, but I like how they turned out even though the sun had left for the day!













The flower girl didn't see most of the reception:



First dance:











Sparklers are so fun, even though it always seems like something/one is going to go up in flames!


Congratulations Blaine and Wade! Thanks so much for your hospitality!

Blaine + Wade | rehearsal dinner

We spent the weekend in Salado for Blaine and Wade's wedding, and they had us come down a day early to capture the rehearsal dinner.

You know it's going to be a good wedding when the rehearsal goes like this:





They're just so cute together:



Wildlife:



Wade's brothers give a toast:



There was lots of laughter all night:



And here's just a little sneak peek from the wedding:



Check back soon for more wedding pictures!

Cathy + Andy | wedding

Cathy and Andy are so sweet together, and so obviously in love. We were very glad to be a part of their wedding - and very much at ease with their family and friends! They had a simple, beautiful ceremony and reception at the Garden Manor bed and breakfast in Grapevine. They saw each other before the ceremony, and had some time alone in the gardens before taking pictures. It was a beautiful day, and a beautiful event.

I rarely have such a gorgeous place to hang the dress:



Cathy's "something old" was this broach:













Andy is from Alabama, so the guys watched the game at the Hilton:







They had such a touching meeting in the gardens:







LOVE those flowers!

Such a gorgeous bride:



And we had lots of time with them to take pictures, which we don't usually get! So much fun!











I told Andy I was just taking a picture of the flower so he didn't have to smile or look at the camera, and then I looked up and saw this:



The wedding party:





Both of Cathy's parents walked her down the aisle:











The Alabama guys helped cut the groom's cake with the big "A" on top:



Can't you just hear this kid screaming "CAKE!!!"?









Congratulations Cathy & Andy! Hope you had fun on your secret honeymoon!

Summer ends, Fall begins

It's been a weird month for us! After an insanely busy summer of weddings, portraits, traveling, and other stuff going on constantly, we had an entire month without a single wedding, and only 2 portrait sessions. Crazy!

It's about to pick up again for "the new Summer" (as in: Fall is the new Summer, since Fall weddings have become so popular over the last few years), but in the meantime, I've been using some of my time to work on my sister's wedding pictures from July 2007. Luckily I wasn't the real photographer, so she hasn't been waiting over a year for her wedding pictures or anything like that, but we still took a lot of pictures, and I haven't finished working on them yet. I came across this one today and just thought I'd share - because it makes me laugh.

My littlest sister (I have 3):



Stay tuned, we'll be back to blogging regularly after this weekend's wedding - and then it'll be non-stop until November!

Jill | bridal

We used to go to the same church as Jill; on some Sundays she would play her cello, and those were the best days because the music was so beautiful. She makes a beautiful bride, and though we were unfortunately already booked for her wedding day, we were still able to take her bridal portraits. We got to go to a new, very cool location for us - the SMU campus, where Jill went to college.

Niki | bridal

First thing -

Ryan, if you are reading this, GO BACK.

NO PEEKING.

....

....

You have been warned.

...

...

Okay.

We were able to do Niki's bridal session at the Gaylord because she works there. Score! They usually have an insane fee to shoot so we normally don't get a chance to do sessions there, so we were extra excited. Niki is one of those brides that makes my job super easy - she's got the posing thing down, and we've loved working with her so far. Can't wait for the wedding in a few weeks!







The flower girl came along for a few pictures. Too cute!

Calli + Aaron | wedding

We went down to Giddings for Calli and Aaron's wedding. Their first choice for a wedding location was at the beach, but knew their families wouldn't be too happy about that - so they incorporated lots of bright colors, tropical flowers, and beachy details. This is the first time I've blogged a wedding without posting any pictures in black and white, because the colors all look so great!

The programs in a variety of bright colors:




Calli's dress was amazing:





One of the flowergirls getting her hair done:







The guys tie their ties:









Aaron watching Calli come down the aisle:





One of the flowergirls makes her exit:



These are some of my favorite portraits we've done so far:







Some of the tropical details from the reception:









Reacting to a toast:



Too cute!



Everybody did a Grand March which went into their first dance, with all their family and friends circling around them:











And a fiery exit!



Congratulations Calli and Aaron!

Amanda + Matt | engagement

We had fun getting to know Amanda and Matt at their engagement session a few days ago. They're getting married in the spring at the Arboretum, and we can tell it's going to be a good wedding!

Kristen + David | wedding

We saw a lot of familiar faces at Kristen and David's wedding; Kristen's brother and Darek go way back, so we knew a lot of people who were there that day. We even ran into a couple we did engagement pictures for a while back - such a small world! Kristen & David were married at the South MacArthur Church of Christ and everything was perfect. Kristen had me laughing all day and spent a lot of time sitting on the floor; it's nice to hang around a bride that is so relaxed throughout the day!



Kristen was excited about being on the water bottles:



Trying to get a glimpse of the guys throwing candy out of the baptistery:



Getting the dress on:









The guys went out on the playground:



And then got locked out of the church. Whoops!



They spent a few minutes alone together before the ceremony:







Looking into the sanctuary as guests are seated:



David walking his parents to their seats:



I love this shot Darek got of Kristen and her dad:











After the ceremony Kristen decided to sit on the floor, so David joined her:



They rode over to the reception in a fun car:



First dance:





Some details from the reception at the Irving Heritage Center:









Father/daughter dance:



And some dancing of a different sort:



Dancing the Ninja Rap from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:















Kristen and David, you guys are awesome! Congrats!

More from my Seattle trip

While I was in Seattle I came across a coupon for the Museum of Glass, which led us to a day in Tacoma. Not only did they have a museum of glass - awesome - they had a great zoo/aquarium and a neat park. And oh yeah, it was like 70 degrees. Perfect.





















And these last few were taken from the car along the freeway as we drove through Washington on the way to Idaho:









And that concludes this summer's trips! We'll be back to our regularly scheduled program of weddings in a few days!

so I saw Seattle...

Last week I was in Seattle visiting a friend and again came back with way too many pictures! I thought I'd share a few here.

I think my favorite thing in Seattle was Pike Place Market with all the vibrant colors and cool stuff:



























And of course we went up the Space Needle:



And checked out the Arboretum, which is much different from the one in Dallas. Lots more trees!







We also spent a day in Tacoma and the weekend in Idaho, but I think I'll save those pictures for another day!

Julie + JD | wedding

When Julie first contacted us, she already had a wedding photographer booked, but then decided she liked us better, so she hired us instead! No pressure, right! We were so flattered that Julie and JD would have us come all the way to Corpus Christi to document their wedding day. It was a wonderful wedding, and we were so blessed to have a great group of people be so welcoming and make us feel like a part of things. I had an incredibly difficult time choosing my favorites to blog, so there are a few more pictures than usual. : )

The girls check out the gift Julie had put together for her mom (the wonderful children's book "Love You Forever" with hand-written notes and pictures of Julie inside):



Getting lots of help putting on the dress (hmm, can you find me in this one?):





Yay! It's so fun to watch a bride see herself all ready for the big moment:



Julie's mom looks pretty pleased as well:



The guys arrive:









Checking out the ring:



Julie signs "I love you" as they hold hands for a few moments without actually seeing each other:



The adorableness level at this wedding was just through the roof!



JD catches sight of Julie coming down the long aisle:







Darek caught this moment from the side during the formal pictures:



I think this may have been my favorite part of the day; we stopped at a mirador (gazebo) on the seawall for some pictures. And as you can see, I had a really hard time choosing my favorites!









Julie said she liked artsy/trendy stuff, so I tried out a texture on this one:





This was on the middle of the dance floor - great idea!



We actually had a rare opportunity to go by the reception site before the wedding - since it was on our way and set up early enough - and we were able to get some great shots of the tables and details all set up and looking perfect:



And I loved the ocean/seashell theme! Even the forks had seashells on them. Neat!



The NorthShore Country Club had a balcony overlooking the dance floor, which was awesome. First dance:













This was our first wedding with starfish in attendance. Loved it!





Father/daughter dance:



What happens when I shoot the toasts from the floor next to the kids (I had a good laugh over this one):



The dance floor stayed lively all night:







JD takes Julie's shoes off for her:





Giving her mom the gift:



After a long day:



Last dance:





I really like the cup flying through the air behind JD's head in this one:



Julie and JD, thanks so much for having us down for your wedding! We truly loved being a part of your wedding day!

Julie + JD | rehearsal dinner

We spent the weekend in Corpus Christi for Julie and JD's wedding and came along for the rehearsal dinner, which was held at Joe's Crab Shack right on the water (yum!). Since we hadn't spent much time with them (and didn't even meet JD until the rehearsal!) we did a quick little mini-portrait session out by the water.







And we couldn't pass up the nifty red elevator on the way back up to dinner:



There were LOTS of kids at this wedding! Here's Julie with her neice:





What happens when you try to get a picture of a bunch of little kids who are much more interested in running around playing?









HA! Those just crack me up. This one's pretty funny too:



The bay at night:



Wedding pictures coming soon!!!

Mary Anne + Waylon | wedding

Mary Anne and Waylon are one of those couples that we really felt like we clicked with; they were the first ones to do a nighttime engagement session (it was their idea) and we had an absolute blast with them! They're both so sweet and thoughtful, they even invited us to the rehearsal dinner just to eat and hang out, and kept telling us we didn't need to take pictures! They got married at the completely adorable Victorian House in Kaufman.

Mary Anne did a great job picking out (and setting up!) the details:













The flower girl was just cute, cute, cute!



Adjusting Mary Anne's dress:



Waylon sent over a note he'd written:



Meanwhile...man, the guys just have it so easy!







I liked this moment when the officiant stepped to the side (I think he was getting a ring) and it was just the 2 of them for a second:



The ring bearer:



Darek got some excellent shots from his "Ninja Spot" (see previous post):









The musicians get a thumbs up!



We stole them for a few minutes for some pictures while the chapel cleared out:





First dance:





Dancing with her dad:



The Victorian House looked great to begin with, but it looked super awesome when all their details were in place!





They had a candy table where guests could fill a bag with candy as a favor:



So of course we had to use it for a ring shot:





Mmmm...white chocolate fondue:







Mary Anne got Waylon with the cake, so he didn't take any chances with the strawberry (he never bit down):



We snuck out for a few minutes for a couple more night portraits! Our favorites!







I'm not real sure how to explain this one:



Waylon tore up the dance floor:





Mary Anne looks a little surprised:



Yay, sparklers!







Mary Anne and Waylon, your wedding was wonderful and we were so blessed to be a part of it!

Ninja Darek

We like to go to the rehearsal whenever we can, to make sure we know what to expect during the ceremony. It also gives us a chance to decide where we're going to shoot from (if we actually have a choice!). Last weekend's wedding was at the Victorian House, which is super adorable but wasn't exactly designed with photographers in mind.

But we found a good, unobtrusive spot for Darek (Mary Anne & Waylon called it his Ninja Spot):



Mary Anne gives the thumbs up:



Good job, Ninja Darek!

Laurie + Clif | wedding

We made our first trip to the very cute little town of Salado for Laurie and Clif's wedding. The ceremony at the Weatherstone Log Cabins took place beneath two huge beautiful oak trees that had grown together - very cool! Everybody was so nice and welcoming, we really enjoyed the weekend!

Laurie's veil:



And a close-up of the dress:








Laurie's mom puts the veil on:



And then Clif's boutonnière:



And makes sure hats are on straight:



Seeing Clif for the first time that day:



Laurie and Clif had an extremely sweet meeting before the pictures started:





The ceremony decorations were fabulously done:



Clif watches Laurie come down the aisle:





The flower girl is apparently a pretty good photographer herself, so she took pictures during the ceremony - I'd love to see those!



The parents had a pretty good vantage point (you can see the dress in the lower left hand corner for perspective:







A few more pictures before the reception:



Darek got this cute shot of Laurie realizing her veil was a little windblown:





Walking to the barn where the reception was:



They did a really great job with all the details and decorations at the reception:







The rings:





The competition from the other photographers was fierce:



They had quite the eye for details:









The bouquet had a long way to go:







Laurie and Clif - congratulations, and thanks for having us out to Salado!

Laurie + Clif | rehearsal & dinner

We spent the July 4th weekend with Laurie and Clif at their Salado wedding. Friday night we came along for the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner and got some fun shots along the way:

They had these nifty fans to help guests keep cool:





Practicing the walk:



Dinner was at a yummy sushi/hibachi place in Belton:



Even if you don't like sushi, you have to admit it looks pretty darn cool:



At the hibachi table:



Clif's mom looks pretty happy with her gift:



Laurie's dad gave a great toast with some very funny moments:



And then we saw some fireworks!





Check back in the next couple of days for the wedding pictures!

Kristen + Michael | Wedding

We had a fabulous wedding last weekend. Kristen and Michael are such a sweet couple and always took the time to communicate with us to make sure we knew what was going on. During the day Michael even took the time to tell both Darek and me thanks, and that we were doing a great job; which I thought was really nice! They got married at First United Methodist Church in downtown Dallas.





Kristen had such a cool idea - each of the bridesmaids had a different bouquet:



And each of the groomsmen had a corresponding boutonniere:







The girls had a prayer before the ceremony:



The church had an awesome window:









I always like to look through Darek's pictures at the end of the day...I just never know what he gets with the guys:




Michael seemed pretty relaxed right before the ceremony started:


I love this series:







I don't normally post many "formals," but I thought this one was extra fun:



The entire wedding party walked a few blocks from the church to the reception site:





We got a few quick portraits right before the reception kicked off at the Belo Mansion:





I thought these apples were pretty cool (you'll see them again later) and of course the cake was pretty cool too:





First dance:





The groom and his mom:







Kristen's bouquet was gorgeous:



Remember those apples?



All the centerpieces were different too:









Kristen and Michael, we're so glad you chose us to document the day! Congratulations!

Road trip!

I spent most of the last 2 weeks of June on a road trip with an old friend, visiting her friends in St. Louis & Chicago and my sister in Wisconsin. I wasn't really planning on taking over 1,000 photos, but, you know...that's how it goes. : ) So I thought I would share a few here with you.

The visual highlight of the trip was a day in Chicago.



The view from the top of the Sears Tower:



I love the buildings in Chicago, especially the older ones. So much character.





Millennium Park is very cool.







We went down to Navy Pier and rode the big ferris wheel:







We saw the Lipizzans perform in Northern Illinois, something I've always wanted to do. I didn't get any really great pictures but I thought this one was funny. Looks like he's flying into the audience.



We also went to a nature preserve.



We went to see my sister and her baby in Wisconsin:







We went to the museum at the EAA (the experimental aircraft place where her husband works).





In St. Louis we checked out the zoo:









And the Botanic Gardens:





The Botanic Gardens also featured art:



And Henry Shaw's house:



We also went to the Basilica in St. Louis:





And here are a few shots from the road (out the passenger's side of course...I don't shoot while driving) (much).







Fun times! I'll take a road trip over flying any day.

Emily + Joe | Wedding

We were blessed with another fabulous wedding - Emily and Joe got married at the Good Shepherd Catholic Church last Friday. They decided to see each other before the wedding, so we got most of the formal pictures out of the way early, which always makes the day smoother and more relaxed!



Emily's sister did an impressive job with her make-up:









The guys have it so easy:





Joe sees his gorgeous bride for the first time:









Darek got this cool shot of Emily and her Dad entering the Sanctuary:







This was such a sweet moment immediately after the ceremony:











The best men did a brilliant toast that cracked Emily and Joe up:





There was some great dancing:









Right after the Aggie War Hymn:







Congratulations Emily and Joe!

Cathy + Andy | Engagement

We had so much fun exploring Addison Circle with Cathy and Andy! It's such a cool place, and they are very cool people, so it went great! We all thought I was a little crazy for scheduling the session at 8am, but when the sun was beating down by 9, we were glad we started so early. We're already looking forward to the wedding in September!

Brettney + Bryan | engagement

We had fun hanging out with Brettney and Bryan downtown for their engagement session. We're always excited for night sessions, because - A. They are awesome and B. It is not so ridiculously hot! Hope you guys had fun as well!

Robyn + Eric | wedding

Robyn and Eric had a beautiful morning wedding at First United Methodist Church in downtown Fort Worth. We really enjoyed getting to know these two at their engagement session a few months ago, and we really enjoyed the wedding as well!



A flowergirl:







Robyn's dad put her shoes on for her:















The reception was at the Chateau at Forest Park:















Robyn and Eric, we were so glad to be a part of your wedding!

Kasie + Zach | wedding

We knew this was going to be a fun wedding, and it was! Kasie and Zach got married at the Rose Chapel in Fort Worth, a cool historic chapel with lots of character. They had a great crowd of family and friends in attendance - and they kept things lively, to say the least!



Love the shoes -



Zach gave Kasie some earrings to match her necklace:



The flowergirl gets ready for her make-up:



The flower girl gave Kasie a special note with a picture on it:





Kasie gave Zach a watch:



Showing off the watch:













A unique surprise exit!



We went out to the beautiful courtyard for a few pictures right after the ceremony:











They had some of the coolest centerpieces we've ever seen!



Dances:







Listening to the toasts:







Two cameras at once, that's impressive!



A couple of the groomsmen did a Boyz II Men cover:



The crowd was highly amused:







The guys really wanted that garter!







Congratulations Kasie and Zach! Hope you guys had an awesome time in Mexico!

Kristen | bridals

Kristen is Darek's good friend's younger sister, so it was kind of strange for Darek to see her "all grown up." We did her bridals at the beautiful Flippen Park; Kristen was up for anything I suggested and we had a lot of fun! We're looking forward to the wedding in August! In the meantime, they gave us permission to go ahead and post some of the bridals -

Kasie + Zach | rehearsal dinner

We covered Kasie and Zach's rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding:





 



There was a slideshow that was a big hit:







Wedding pictures are coming soon!!

Kasie | bridals

We did Kasie's bridal portraits at the awesome Hickory Street Annex. I had a really tough time narrowing down my favorites for the blog! Here are a few and be sure to check back later this week for the wedding pictures!

Allison + Shaun | Wedding

We first met Allison at Lindsey & Danny's wedding back in October, and then did engagement pictures for her and Shaun a few months later. They weren't sure when their wedding date was because of Shaun's Navy schedule, so I was excited when she contacted me in March and we were available for their wedding less than 2 months later! We're so glad everything worked out!





Getting a little help while eating:





Watching the guys out the window:





The best man:







The wedding was at the Atriums at Park West - a very cool and unique place:





Allison didn't know about the surprise Bagpiper!





Such cool shoes and colors:



The girls were laughing at the guys taking their pictures:















The best man played a special song that he had written for them:













Rice!





We're so glad we were able to do your wedding, you guys are awesome!

Jenny + Chad | engagements

We always have fun exploring downtown, and Jenny and Chad's session was no exception! It had been a rainy day, but fortunately the rain held off for a few hours and we had a great time!

Rachel + Sean | engagements

Rachel is friends with my youngest sister, and we were very excited to get to do her engagement pictures! Rachel and Sean chose the Botanic Gardens in Fort Worth for their session. When we got there we realized we hadn't been there in about 2 years - I'd forgotten what a gorgeous place it is!











They wanted us to get a picture of the ring, and we found the perfect background:

Lyndi + Collin | engagements

We started a little later than we originally planned for Lyndi and Collin's engagement session, so it turned into a night session, which was just fine with us! We had so much fun!

Emily + Joe | engagements

We had the Arboretum all to ourselves for Emily and Joe's engagement session. It looked like it was going to pour down rain, but it held off and we got all kinds of cool pictures without crowds wandering through the backgrounds for a change. We're looking forward to the wedding next month!





They did the statue pose : )

Toni + Randy | wedding

We kicked off the summer wedding season with a good one! Toni and Randy's wedding was at the Little Chapel in the Woods at TWU. Everything was beautiful, including the weather - I think it was the best weather we've ever had for a wedding!







The bridesmaids:









The entrance at this chapel is just the best:



We're always so excited when we get a chance to see faces during the ceremony:

















The beautiful music was provided by Heartstrings:

















We grabbed a couple of quick portraits at the end:







Congratulations Toni and Randy!

Marifer + Carlos | engagements

Marifer flew all the way up from McAllen for their engagement session; we just met her and Carlos 5 minutes before we started taking pictures, but they were naturals in front of the camera! Unfortunately they already have a photographer booked for their wedding in Mexico next month, but we were glad to be able to shoot their engagement pictures.

I know it's going to be a good session when the very first picture turns out like this:













I thought this was a fun little series:

Robyn + Eric | engagements

We met Robyn and Eric early Saturday morning for their engagement session at Lakeside Park. They're friends with Stephanie and MiC, whose wedding we did last summer. Robyn and Eric were really comfortable in front of the camera, and are lots of fun to work with! They'll be getting married next month in downtown Fort Worth.

Kasie + Zach | engagements

Kasie and Zach decided to split their engagement session up into two locations so they could get two different looks. We started at the Arboretum, and then they let me pick the second location; so we went to the West End, where I've been wanting to try shooting for a while. And it was great! Kasie & Zach, thanks for trusting me - we had fun with you guys and we're looking forward to the wedding next month!

Niki + Ryan | engagements

Niki and Ryan wanted to do their engagements somewhere industrial, so we ended up at the Cotton Mill in McKinney. It's an absolutely amazing place with endless possibilities. Niki and Ryan are the kind of couple that make our job super easy, and we had an awesome session! Thanks for picking such a cool place! We're really looking forward to the wedding in October!

Andrea + Cliff | wedding (part 2)

We were so excited when Andrea and Cliff chose us to photograph their wedding. Andrea's parents are actually good friends with my parents, which is how they knew about us. And the really weird thing is - Cliff's uncle was the best man in my parents wedding back in 1973. Crazy! Andrea and Cliff had a beautiful outdoor wedding at the Arboretum and we were so honored to be a part of it.



Cliff trying to keep Andrea warm:







Showing off the perfect wedding shoes:



The girls said a prayer before the ceremony:












Trying to keep her warm again:





After their vows they sat with the audience for a song so that the first thing they did as husband and wife was to worship. It was very touching:





Andrea's mom made these cakes and they smelled incredible! We didn't get a chance to try them but we heard they were amazing:







We took care of the more traditional portraits before the ceremony (here) so we did some more artsy stuff at the reception:





I think this one is my most favorite:



Signing the marriage license:



The rings on some yummy cookies (also made by Andrea's mom!):



Some guests just can't follow instructions (ok this is actually my dad. You can't take him anywhere.):



I had a hard time envisioning these streamers when they told us about them, but they were awesome!







Thanks so much for choosing us to photograph your wedding! It was perfect!

Laurie + Clif | engagements

Laurie and Clif drove all the way from Temple to do their engagement pictures - during weekday rush hour traffic, no less! They are brave. We had Lakeside Park almost to ourselves (except for the yoga group). We're really looking forward to the wedding  July 4th weekend in Salado!

Brettney + Bryan | engagements

On Sunday we braved the crowds at the Arboretum with Brettney and Bryan. We had a really great session and even managed to find a few spots without large herds of people wandering through the backgrounds!

Mary Anne + Waylon | engagements

We were totally excited when Mary Anne and Waylon mentioned the idea of doing a nighttime engagement session - and it was so much fun! We went back down to the Arts District for the second time on Saturday but it was like a completely different place at night. Mary Anne and Waylon, thanks for having such a great idea! We can't wait for the wedding in July!

Marggie + William | engagements

We met Marggie and William at Lakeside Park for a beautiful Saturday afternoon session. They'll be getting married in Mexico this September - how cool is that?!





We even got to meet their adorable puppy Lola for a few pictures:

Kristen + Michael | engagements

We had a busy day yesterday with 3 engagement sessions; we kicked off the morning with Kristen and Michael. They'll be getting married downtown in June so we went down to the Arts District to get some fun city shots. It was cold and windy but we had a great time anyway and we're looking forward to the wedding!







This one just cracks me up:

Andrea + Cliff | wedding (part 1)

We were so excited for Andrea and Cliff's wedding - not only because they are great people and we knew they were going to be totally awesome to work with, but because they planned a beautiful Arboretum wedding and decided to see each other in advance and planned plenty of time for pictures! They had a very sweet meeting in the gardens, then we spent about an hour walking around and taking pictures of the two of them all around the Arboretum. We ended up with so many great shots that I decided to split it up between 2 blog entries; so I'll posting the actual wedding photos very soon, but in the meantime we can start with these!

Darek got this great shot right before Cliff turned around to see Andrea for the first time that day:









T















Check back soon for Part 2 - the actual wedding!

Annelise + Justin | engagements

Tis the season for engagement sessions! We kicked off the season with Annelise and Justin. We were so excited when they chose Deep Ellum for their engagement session - the colors and textures are just perfect for pictures. We had a hard time choosing our favorites for the blog -

Kate + JT | wedding

Kate and JT have already made 3 appearances on the blog - and here is the big event! They were married at First Christian Church in Garland and had a super fun reception at the Lawton Estate.

Kate's gorgeous bouquet with a special handkerchief tucked inside:



The bride and the mother-of-the-bride, both clearly labeled:







This is pretty impressive:





Showing off the ring:



The groom:







Super cute ring bearer!





















They were so excited to do The Time Warp:











Congratulations and best wishes!

Kate + JT | rehearsal dinner

Kate and JT had their rehearsal dinner at Matitto's in Dallas. Here are a few pictures from the night:

Check out that sour cream in action:



I definitely can get this excited about food:



A toast by JT's dad:













Check back soon for the wedding photos!

Haley + Lee | wedding

Haley emailed me a few weeks ago when she found out that their original photographer wasn't able to shoot their wedding; fortunately we were available, and we're so glad we were! Haley & Lee had a beautiful wedding at Shelton Chapel at the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. It was a cold and rainy day in Austin, but the sun broke through the clouds just before the ceremony.






























The reception was at the very cool Caswell House.



















Congratulations Haley and Lee!

Kate | bridals

Kate decided to do her bridal portraits at her church since February weather can be unpredictable. And of course it was a beautiful day outside! But we found plenty of awesome spots in the church and I had such a hard time choosing my favorites to post. Here are just a few:

Kate + JT | engagements

We had the Arboretum mostly to ourselves for Kate & JT's engagement session, because it was freezing! But otherwise it was a beautiful, sunny day with a very sweet couple - we're looking forward to the wedding next month!

Jen + Jordan | wedding

Jen and Jordan had a beautiful December wedding at Arborlawn United Methodist Church. They decided to see each other before the ceremony, so we had plenty of time to get lots of relaxed pictures of the two of them. It may have been the most relaxed wedding we've ever been to! Jen & Jordan are both great to be around and it was a wonderful day!

Jen getting ready:





Checking out the ring:



This was one of the songs sung during the ceremony:



Jordan getting ready:





Walking to the sanctuary to see Jordan for the first time:



They had a few quiet minutes alone together:







A couple of portraits:





A prayer before the ceremony:





At one point during the ceremony, the officiant had them look at the audience and the people standing beside them:







The reception was at Ridglea Country Club:








We took them out to the lobby for 5 quick minutes to get a few more shots of the two of them:








The biggest piece of cake I've ever seen:





A special message for Jen & Jordan, both aggies:



Bubbles!



Thanks for letting us be a part of your big day!