Heath and Megan: An Engagement Session

I met these guys at a fishing spot in town as they're both avid outdoors(wo)men and you know I like for you to like where your session takes place.   So, naturally we headed to nature to nurture their love of all things outdoors.  And nature has provided quite a backdrop of colors in late March.

 

And while color is dandy, I still love the simplicity and the stillness of black and white.

but, let's return to color...

or let's go a different route altogether...

Is that Jeep cool or what?  My five year old even complimented Heath's ride as he walked past the computer while I was proofing. 

Megan and Heath will be married this summer in a beautiful part of Texas and I am already anxious to see pictures.  I can imagine how beautiful their wedding will be. 

I wish you a loooong happily ever after.

Crystal: A Maternity Session

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! It's been too long since I've shot a maternity session.  Hip Hip Hooray!  It's also been a looong time since I've shot indoors in my own makeshift studio / office / former dining room.

Meet Crystal.

Let me say, if I haven't said it in the past.  I deeply regret not having a maternity session when I was pregnant.  Deeply.  I was so self-conscious when I was pregnant.  It's been a year since I gave birth and so quickly the memories of my bulging belly have faded.  At the time, I felt that I would never forget what I looked like pregnant so I didn't need pictures.  In hindsight, I'm so sad that I didn't take pictures when I had the chance.  It's a time I'll never get back.

I've done the above shot before, but I really love this image in black and white.  I love the tight belly skin juxtaposed with the grooves on dad's hands.  Cliche image?  Maybe.  But, I don't care.

Crystal and family were so sweet and very cooperative despite my tight quarters.  This is why I reserve the indoors to maternity and newborn shoots.

Crystal, thank you so much for letting me share in your miracle.  I can't wait to see her.

Melanie: A Senior Session

So, I met up with Melanie, Mom, and Boyfriend Andrew this past weekend for a Senior shoot and since she's from a different high school, we were able to go to her location of choice.  It was a very sunny morning, but a very windy and cool morning!  We were freezing, but we managed to warm up long enough to wrap up our shoot.

Isn't she beautiful?  I'm a little envious of her youth even though I feel rather content where I'm at.  It's just such a carefree, exciting time.

Melanie was a great subject.  She was a little bit bashful at first and that's the case with most new clients.  But, it doesn't take long to get comfortable.  I didn't have to work too hard to get good pictures of Melanie.  She's a natural beauty.

It was great to finally meet you and mom after weeks of email communications!  And don't worry.  Your photographer secret is safe with me =)

The Surguys and The Williamsons: Family

The Williamsons are visiting from Colorado and decided it would be a good time for a big family photo shoot with the Surguys.  I'm so glad.  It was my pleasure to meet such an awesome (and well-behaved) group of kiddos.  They make child-rearing look easy.  If I didn't know better I might've talked myself into a couple more kids after watching these guys play and explore with no disciplinary action required.  It was really something.  Do take note of all of the children standing still for this shot.

Baby Randi (you can't tell by these shots, but that's a cupcake on her dress and mom got it for a good price. i'll post the link once i get it from mom)

Cousin Paige

Cousin Ray - trying a vintagey, muted post-processing.

Cousin Kade:

Cousin Zach and his beautiful eyes:

Cousin Trace

and last but certainly not least Cousin Ty

and so you know who belongs to who...The Williamsons

Things I like about these family shots:
1.  the mix and match clothing.

2.  Trace's let-me-go expression

3.  Ty's  let-me-go pose

4.  The angelic older kids

5.  The duck looking on in the background under the watermark

It is what it is.  A family with individual personalites.

The Surguys

6.  Zach's mischievous look

7.  Ray's flower in her hair

8.  What's not to love about cupcake Randi?

another muted shot...

And just so you get a feel for dad's personality, I thought I'd share this storyboard of dad settling into his GQ face...

And the other cool dad...

Hope you guys have had a great week together.  Thanks for letting me join in on the fun.

Friday

Booo-Hiss.  I don't have a recipe for you this week, but I will next week.  Scout's honor.

I am working on a laaaarge picture post of some sweet families I met this week.  I started working last night, but took a break and fell asleep on the couch. 

So, I'll be working on it off and on this morning so I might just have it posted by lunch time today.

Jered: A Senior Session

So, I'm taking a cue from another photographer and I am going to keep my post titles simple and consistent so I don't stare at the computer blankly for 5 minutes trying to think of a fitting title for a post that I haven't used before.  K? K.

Now, I have to tell you how super fun it has been to photograph all of these seniors.  They've all come to me with unique ideas, unique personalities, and I do believe their shoots have been unique.  Jered is no exception and the location was a great spot for him and his Ford.

I feel very satisfied if I get a backlit shot like this at a photoshoot. 

I kept telling Jered that he looked like Alec Baldwin, but he looks a little like Urban Cowboy John Travolta in the above picture.  Wonder if Jered even knows that movie.  It happens to be a favorite of mine for reasons I don't know.  But, if it's playing on TNT you can bet that I'm watching it.

Again, I pulled out my kit lens for this next shot.  I've really got a hankerin' for a new, expensive lens. 

It's shoots like these that make me really happy that I'm not confined to a studio.  I love outside.  Jered, thanks for a great shoot, great ideas, and a fun afternoon.