The Right Time? Now, of Course

WHOOSH!

Everyone expects their senior year in high school to fly by in record time, but come graduation, they all realize that it went even faster than they ever expected. With graduation festivities behind her, Kristyn, a 2010 graduate of Cinco Ranch High School  realized that she she still needed a good set of  portraits before heading off to college, so she gave me a call.

I’m so glad she did too.

We met at a park early one morning with skies threatening rain  and a humidity level that threatened every trick  known to moisture.  Fogged lenses, frizzy hair,  and  just downright steamy conditions are the norm for Houston mornings, and this day was only a little more extreme than the rest.   We were able to get a few outdoor images in the slow drizzle  before quickly winding up our session under the shelter of a covered picnic area and an underground walkway.

I had recently picked up a colorful umbrella to use as a prop — so I was delighted to pull it out for a while.

With all those bright hues and Kristyn’s sunny outlook, we managed to pretty-well banish any rainy day blues.

Nice Day for Ducks — Seriously

Note to self:  Always carry duck food for park sessions.  You never know when you might need it.

This funny little guy followed us around pecking at our feet the whole time we were shooting, but every time we tried to build a good picture around him (or her), he just ran off quacking. The quacks sounded more like laughs if you ask me, and it was like he was playing a game with us.  The punky topknot on his head made us both laugh right back at him too.

Rainy-Day shoots are fun.  They create unique opportunities  but it’s oh so tricky to deliberately schedule them.

Still, I do look forward to doing more in the very near future, especially with clients as easygoing and pleasant as Kristyn was.

This Wait is Over

The thing I find difficult about bridal portraits is that I have to wait until AFTER the wedding to share them.  But the wait for these is over. Jennifer and Kyle tied the knot Saturday night at Heaven on Earth, a 19th century mansion in Missouri City.

We met for our portrait session  at the wedding venue on a hot steamy Houston Summer afternoon.   Hot-steamy-Houston-Summer — now that is a bunch of redundant words all in one sentence, don’t you think?

Not only did Jennifer and her mother attend the session, but we had the pleasure of shooting with her sister and maid of honor, another bridesmaid and the future Mother in Law.  I sort of wish that I had brought snacks to make a party out of the event, because when you get that many girlie-girls in one room at the same time, it is bound to turn into a fun time — and it DID!

Jennifer is a quiet doe-eyed blonde, and it would be hard NOT to fall in love with her sweet spirit. I know I did when I first met her a couple of years ago.    Special Kudos to  Jennifer.  It’s because of her and her community activities that I have had the opportunity to work with a number of organizations and individuals in Fort Bend County.

And here she is . . . now that she is a beautiful married woman — and Kyle is one lucky man.


Lovin’ That Dress Again

Long before I ever met Anikka, I knew I liked her bold and fun-loving spirit. Then after I learned that she wraps up a rough day by putting on her wedding dress to sit on the sofa and drink a beer, I decided she would make a great candidate for a Trash the Dress Session. And was I ever right! She jumped at the idea and even invited her good friend Kisha to join us.  I’m so glad she did too.   The more the merrier . . . We had tons of fun, laughing and playing all morning and we thoroughly enjoyed providing a little free entertainment for passers by who loved seeing such well-dressed ladies in very casual locations.

The term “Trash the Dress” is a bit of a misnomer. While some women are willing to stain, shred, or even burn their dresses, most just want to put them on again, play, and get some non-traditional images of themselves having a good time in their dream dresses. After all, there is a dry cleaner on nearly every corner of our city and most of these dresses even come out looking as good as new after a  bathtub hand wash or a gentle cycle in the washing machine.

We met early on a Saturday morning and headed down to a pretty little bridge for the first part of our session.

It takes strength and fortitude  to spend too much time in a low creek bed during a Houston summer day.  We’re renown in this part of the world for our heat and humidity anyway, and by climbing down the banks where no breezes can reach we had to remind ourselves that some people  pay good money to sit in saunas. Before long we decided that we were healthy and well-steamed, so we moved along to a nearby open field.  Trash the dress is all about fantasy though, so let’s call it a meadow instead.  That just sounds better.

Since we were photographing in a  newly developed area, we couldn’t resist a chance to explore a nearby home that was under construction.    The light in there was phenomenal, but because the external walls had already been put up, we again had no breeze at all.  Our respect for construction workers  jumped tenfold.

With only a few construction images, we walked out of the house as  the construction crews arrived.

They laughed.  We left — and headed for the lake.

As I mentioned before, some women embrace the idea of actually “trashing” their dresses.  While I never expect this of my brides,  I will not turn down the opportunity either. Kisha had brought a can of hot pink spray paint to end our session.  I asked her three times if she was sure she wanted to do this, and each time her enthusiasm grew.  Anikka changed clothes so that her own dress would still  be suitable for her next hard day’s night and then the spraying ensued.

We have tentative plans for Part II with these ladies and their phenomenal dresses before the end of the summer.  If it all pans out, you won’t want to miss the results.

Rain in Our Yard

Every spring I like to buy a big rubber ball for the pool., and it’s  become a ten year tradition that I intend to keep up for a very long time.  It’s not just  that the ball is fun to play with.  I really enjoy the simple pleasure of having a big bright orb floating around in blue water.  The ball stays until it goes over the fence and no one wants to climb after it, or it pops, or the sun and heat reduce it to a fraction of its former size. — and then it’s gone.

Until this year  it’s always been a red ball, but we’re on a bit of a blue kick right now so our ball looks like a little happy replica of   the Earth , drifting along in space.  Okay, maybe not, but if you squint and  use your imagination it does.

Last week Hurricane Alex dropped more than seven inches of rain on the yard in just over two days and all the low spots filled up with water.  Our ball floated out into the yard and nestled near the flower bed in some awesome reflections.   With another band of showers bearing in on us, I rushed outside with my camera so that I could save the image to enjoy on another day and to share with you.

“I am sure it is a great mistake always to know enough to go in when it rains. One may keep snug and dry by such knowledge, but one misses a world of loveliness.” Adeline Knapp

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