Happy New Year!

  I guess it means I’m old now that I’d rather sit home and squeeze in one last 09 blog rather than go out to party. Who knew I’d be such a drag at 35ish? (If you say “ish” then it’s not a complete lie.)  But baby A.C.R.G. isn’t going to sit in there for too much longer so I really wanted to get these pic.s up.  He may even debut tonight but we won’t rush him,  since he’s got a few more days til he’s officially due. Can’t wait to see him in his teensy Jordan hi-tops though!

   For this session I brought my portable studio over to Yvonnes house, which has its advantages…not only does she get to stay home and be comfy, but I also get to raid her closet for different outfits for the shoot.  Yvonne found some of daddy’s Johnny Dang  jewelry and a cool pinstriped shirt from his closet. We really wanted a sexy fashion look to this maternity, even if it is supposed to be all about the bump and not the clothes. Yvonne was and is a pro, even though she’s never showcased a baby bump before! Almost makes me want to have another one…I said almost.

    Thought you might enjoy seeing a few of the Christmas cards I designed this year….

    Do not try this at home… this is a photoshopped fire.  A few of you may remember from Daniel and Kalyns wedding album blog post that Daniel is a fireman.  Below you see him demonstrating  proper fire extinguisher procedure, should your Christmas tree burst in to flames. It is not recommended that you try to grab all your presents first or continue to decorate your tree.  Safety first people! All kidding aside, I always have fun with these two… Kalyn even made and decorated perfect home made gingerbread men cookies for the shoot. (No Daniel, we’re not going to talk about your cookie decor skills.:)   It was also really cool to see their newly renovated home, featuring all my wedding and engagement photo’s on their walls.  This is their first Christmas together as a married couple & their first Christmas tree. I love firsts.

   I try to make each shoot personal to the clients, whether it be in location, what your doing or just what you wear. Hence, my  “please do not wear androgenous white shirts and jeans” rule. Yes, we’ve all done it, our family included. But let it go, it’s time to move on.  I know it’s way more difficult to find fun or unique color coordinating outfits, but it’s so worth it. This family is very outdoorsy and loves to hunt big game, so camo and nature colors made sense for them.

front of 5x5 flip up card

inside card

traditional family portrait

         This next family, well they’re just plain weird. I mean, who would put 5 pic.s of themselves in a Christmas card, and buy a green inflatable couch?! That would be me.  We try to do something a little different with our cards, because that’s just the way we are, a little different.  It was really hard to come up with something to top last year, plus I was a major  procrastinater this year. So please don’t stand outside by your mailbox every day waiting for a card.  In fact, if you don’t receive an actual card in the mail,  you may just want to copy paste & print these and we’ll call it a day.  (or email me your mailing address:)  

front of 5x5 trifold

 

5×5 fold over trifold flap

                       ………………………..MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

   It was a huge test of my patience to not post these until after Linda & Jasons wedding, November 28th was just not coming fast enough! But the wedding itself was definitely worth the wait and spot on spectacular, although now I can’t wait to post that too.:)

   The Warwick Suite @ Hotel ZaZa in Houston was the perfect backdrop for Lindas’ bridal session, she is simply gorgeous!

it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides, you have to make a descision. You have to work out whether or not your root was so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not a promulgation of promises and eternal passion. That is just being in love, which any fool can do. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Those that truly love have roots that grow towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossoms have fallen from their branches, they find that they are one tree and not two.” excerpt from Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres

….These beautiful words were just a small part of Hank & Rebecca Reusers perfect evening ceremony @ Agave Road: enjoy;)

oh, this one is one of my all time favs… in the ray of sunlight coming in behind Kristin, there were 1000’s of  “dust” particles  floating around. When I was a kid, I used to imagine those were sundust fairies. So glad to have captured them on camera, they are very shy and elusive:) (Yup, for those who didn’t already know, I’m a total cheeseball sometimes!)

Brittany is running for Montgomery County Fair queen… and I think she’s going to win:)  The photogenic & fun gene definitely runs in this family. I photographed her sister Christa’s maternity, big boy Jacksons first B-day, and Chad (the only bro) & Kristens wedding.   The wedding is actually going to be in Texas Monthly magazine for November so grab a copy!  Hopefully, Chad’s cheer inspired leaping shot is in there….

FYI  YALL:  got about 3 dates left in November for Senior sessions. That would be high school seniors, not senior citizens. But I may make exceptions if you’re young @ heart.

(Just a preliminary word of caution to any husbands reading this, Marc may have ruined it for all of you.  He is currently at large and a prime target of loser husbands worldwide.)

In my line of work I’m very fortunate to work with young couples in love and really just beginning their lives together.  It’s less often that I run across a couple like Marc and Sandy Priska, married for 18 yrs. and just as in love as the day they met.  Or maybe even more so. 

Marc has raised the bar on anniversary planning, starting with the fact that he rounded up, and just considered his 18 yr. anniversary to be the 20th yr..  He contacted me a month or so ago, excited like a teenager about his top secret plans. If there was anything else he could have added to his vision, I really couldn’t think of it. Beginning with the white Rolls Royce (customized Priska plate) picking Sandy up @ work, check. Single red rose, photo framed picture, a box of tissues, and an ipod with his personal message to listen to laying on the seat, check.  Sandy in tears after listening to his message, check.  Jaspers  restaurant in The Woodlands, check. Rose petal trail leading to private dining table in a room filled with roses, check. 4 piece orchestra playing all Sandy’s fav.s , check. Customized menu, check. (see pic.s of the food on my facebook page.)  Seriously tip of the iceberg folks, he even had sent her out a few weeks before to buy an outfit, anything she wanted and then had it waiting for her @ the restaurant  to change into.  In between dinner courses, Sandy was duly shocked when Marc got down on one knee, reproposed and then gave her a newly designed old wedding ring that hadn’t fit right for many years. Even more shocking was when she said yes. Just kidding, of course she said yes!!!

After dinner, we went outside to take some fun and romantic pic.s in the area. They had never done this before as they had eloped to Las Vegas the first time around, and now their 2 adorable little kiddos get most their camera time. Just as we began the shoot, it started to rain, but never fear, as Marc had apparently arranged for a rainbow to appear too. That’s some serious planning.  After Marc and Sandy brought out their inner model freaks for awhile, we wound up the shoot on the penthouse suite balcony @ The Woodlands Waterway Marriott, with an amazing  sunset in the background.

 One might think the story ends there. But after almost  20 yr.s ,  it’s really still just beginning.  Plans for the rewedding in 2010 in Las Vegas are in the works and I for one wouldn’t miss it…:)