Grandma's 85th Birthday

This has been an amazing year for birthdays in my family. A couple weeks ago, Jay & I drove out to Seguin, TX to visit my grandma for her 85th! She's an amazing woman with great strength, physically & emotionally, who grew up in an orphanage, has survived 3 husbands & still takes care of her house & mows her 6+ acres of land on her own! Truly an inspiration!! In most of the photos you might notice a lot of hugs & kisses, this is because in her town & at her church she is known as the "hugger." She loves much & in return is loved by many. She's a beautiful woman and this is my small but sincere birthday present for her... Love you Grandma!

Dad's 60th Birthday

Last weekend we drove down to San Antonio for my dad's 60th birthday party & Father's Day, both were on the same weekend so it was a busy trip as usual. We had a great time though catching up with family & friends. My dad definitely knows how to enjoy a good party & as you can see the rest of the guys didn't mind helping him celebrate with a couple of shots of Ouzo. Continuing with the theme that BJ used for Dad's slide show at the party,
I thought a little Jimmy Buffet would be appropriate here for the photos.
Happy 60th once again DOGHD, we hope it's a great year for you!

Tressa & Trey

Here are some pics I took of my friend Tressa with her son, Trey, at the park right down the street. This was my first time to meet Trey so he was a little shy at first but I was still able to catch a few glimpses of a smile here and there!

Bizzell Family Portraits

The Bizzell family braved the rain a couple weeks ago to take some portraits with me at the Las Colinas Canals. Even though we got drizzled on a bit, we had a great time and the smiles still came out! Thank you Dawn & Keith! It was great seeing you and the kids again!

Special Offer for Teacher Appreciation Week!

In honor of Teacher Appreciation week, we're offering a sweet deal for all of you that educate our nation's students!

This week only, purchase an unlimited amount of mini or portrait sessions at 1/2 price to be redeemed at any time before the end of 2009!

That's right, 50% off! Unlimited sessions!

Full Portrait Session:
Normal = $150, This week = $75.00

Mini Session:
Normal = $75, This week = $ 37.50

As always, if you wish to purchase your disk of digital negatives upfront with the session, we take $25 off the regular price.

Email or call to sign up or inquire about details. Orders must be placed and paid for by Saturday, May 9th!

We will be launching our referral program next week so tell all your teacher friends so you can earn photo credits for your next session!

Wade Family Photos

A couple weeks ago I went out to River Legacy Park to photograph Rikki and her two kids, Kennedy and Alexander. The weather was great and it was nice to be able to go back by this park that was a stomping ground for Jay and I when we lived in Arlington.
Thank you, Rikki, for asking me to take these pics of your kids, I had a great time!

On a Personal Note...

I had this quote written down in a journal from high school and came across it the other day, it almost seems to be more relevant now than ever so I thought I would share. Enjoy.

"I learned this, at least by my experiment; that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. He will put some things behind, will pass an invisible boundary; new, universal, and more liberal laws will begin to establish themselves around and within him; or the old laws be expanded, and interpreted in his favor in a more liberal sense, and he will live with the license of a higher order of beings. In proportion as he simplifies his life, the laws of the universe will appear less complex, and solitude will not be solitude, nor poverty poverty, and weakness weakness. If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; this is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them." Henry David Thoreau, Walden

Christina & Matt :: Engaged!!

For the past couple of years, Christina and Matt have become two of our favorite people. When we found out that they were engaged there was definitely some celebrating going on! Shortly after, they were eager to get their engagement pics done and came up with several great spots around Dallas to take them. We, or Christina actually, drove us from Breadwinners to White Rock Lake then finished at the Lakewood Theatre. These two are a riot together and in their presence you can't help but catch onto some of that excitement, as I hope these photos depict.
I can't wait to see where life will take this couple!
Jay and I wish you two all the best and our Congratulations!

Crystal & Andy

Last Saturday, Jay and I were able to visit our old stomping grounds around Denton, TX. We got to visit with some old friends, listen to a little music, and visit my all time favorite Italian restaurant, Luigi's, while we were there.

Our main purpose for the drive, though, was to meet up with my friend, Andy, and his wife, Crystal, to take some romantic pics around the square. These two have never been able to get photos taken together so Andy decided to surprise Crystal with this session for Valentine's Day. Andy and Crystal were so sweet together and looked so natural in front of the camera, they made my job super easy! We had a ton of fun hanging out with you two, thank you, Andy for asking me to take these portraits for you! Enjoy!

Spring Mini-Sessions

Spring is in the Air!

We have 3 dates set aside for Mini-Sessions to be held at these specific locations:

+ Saturday, March 28th at Lakeside Park in Dallas, 10 am - 6 pm
+ Saturday, April 4th at River Legacy Park in Arlington, 11 am - 6 pm
+ Saturday, April 11th, studio backdrop set up, our house, 10 am - 6 pm,
* Easter theme props available for April 11th session only*

Time slots will be booked in 30 minute increments throughout the day, on an RSVP basis. What if 30 minutes doesn't sound like enough time? Talk to us about adding more to your session for an additional charge.

What is included? For $75 you get:
+ 30 min. session + Up to 5 people, $10 each additional
+ On-Line Proofing, up to 50 images (25 color, 25 b&w)
+ Discount on Digital Negatives if purchased upfront with session

These sessions will be a great way to take your Easter portraits or get prints made in time for a Mother's Day gift! Hurry, sessions will be booked on a first come, first served basis.

Walker Family + Paige's Maternity Pics

A couple of years ago, Paige asked me to take her maternity pics when she was pregnant for the first time. Since that was my first maternity session, I was honored to be her photographer. Now that she's due with her second, it was my pleasure to take some new photos of her alone and with husband, Zach, & daughter, Blake. Paige looked beautiful with the glow of motherhood.
I can't wait to meet the newest addition to the Walker family! Congrats Paige & Zach!

Esquibel Family Photos

Later in the same day as the Bolton family photos, I drove over to Dallas to meet the Esquibel family. I met this family through my friend, April, and I'm so glad that they asked me to take some pics for them! Valerie & Raul were so easy going and let me lead them through out this beautiful park in Highland Park, Dallas, TX. Baby Ayden made me work to get some smiles out of him since he missed his nap but I think these shots still turned out great!
You guys have such a gorgeous family and it was so good to meet you!
Can't wait to see more of Ayden as he grows up!

Bolton Family Photos

Thanks to my friend, Jen, from college, I got to meet and photograph the Bolton family last weekend at the Grapevine Botanical Gardens. This family was so cute & patient! Even though baby Addison wasn't in the best of moods, we got a few smiles out of her by the end of the shoot.
Thank you guys, it was a pleasure to meet and photograph your beautiful family!

Mrs. Van

After her daughter, Christina, posed for me at the end of last summer, Karen finally got her turn. I was able to take some portraits for Karen in their Allen home and am so excited that she'll be able to surprise her husband with some of these pics for his birthday! Just like her daughter, Karen is a natural beauty and these images depict the gift that the women in this family were blessed with!

Christine & Mirco :: Engaged!

Thanks to my dad (who works with Christine), Jay & I had the pleasure of meeting & photographing Christine & Mirco for their engagement pics. We met up at La Cantera in San Antonio at the end of my trip home last weekend. It was a gorgeous day & I'm sure the weather was only a precursor for what to expect at their destination wedding!
These two made a very lovely couple and Jay & I want to wish them all the best! Thank you guys!

Pullen Family House Warming

Last weekend while visiting family, Jay and I dropped by my older sis' new house before we had to leave San Antonio.
Heather and her husband, Jeremiah, were so hospitable and threw a fantastic get together for the family with great food and conversation! They just moved into their new place about a week before we came down but insisted on throwing this bash early just for us! Here are some shots of the family in their new place & the crazy kids along with some pics of the rest of us that attended & all the goodies they set out for us! Enjoy!

Baby :: Olivia

We were so happy to be able to visit and welcome baby Olivia on our way into San Antonio last weekend! After spending a short sweet amount of time with the family we had a chance to take a few photos of Olivia alone and with older sister, Lizzy. Elizabel also showed me around the backyard while I photographed just her by herself and with dad, Levi.
I am so happy for my sister Christy and wish her and her family all the best!

Mr. Shiflett

This little man has by far become one of my favorites to document. From prenatal to newborn, 3 months, to now at 6 months, watching Heath grow up over this past year has been amazing! Here is a slide show of our latest shoot out in University Park. Great clouds, great weather, and tons of cute little smiles made for some awesome photos! Can't wait to see more from this little guy over the next upcoming years! Enjoy!

Slide Show: Montes Family Portraits

Here is the slide show with the rest of the images from our photo session with
Juan, Stephanie, & Aden. Thanks again guys for taking us up on our Valentines: Visuals of Love Promotion! We look forward to seeing you again soon!