Sisters and Forever Friends

Not too long ago I got to take part in a VERY clandestine top-secret operation.  As my neighbor, Linda, approached a milestone birthday, her husband started planning the most amazing and elaborate surprise birthday party I have ever seen.   He flew Linda’s two sisters and their husbands into Houston from across the country and planned an entire week of entertainment, dining out, shopping, baseball games, and BEST of ALL a photography session with me.

Now, I’ve known Linda for about 11 years, and we play Bunco together once a month.  That made keeping the party a secret extra hard.

In fact, the secret-keeping became laughable.  Since Linda’s husband is retired and spends a great deal of his time in her company, he could phone me, but I couldn’t call him back in case she saw my number or answered the phone.  When he came over to drop off his retainer payment, he had to turn left off his own block first and then come back to my street because we’re in a  cul-de-sac development and you can’t get out by turning right.

But . . . we were completely successful.  Linda didn’t have a clue that anything was up until the car arrived with her two sisters and their husbands.  The next morning the guys went golfing or shooting or something and sent the ladies out to shop for clothes that they thought would coordinate  in their photographs.  On the day of their appointment, the sisters all arrived accompanied by Linda’s soon-to-be new daughter in law whose job it was to keep the ladies from misbehaving.  Yeah, Right!

This post may mean a little extra to some of my clients, because many of you (and I do mean many)  have accidentally met Linda before.  She lives one block west of me at the very same address, and our street names are similar.

Yeah… if you knocked on the wrong door when you were coming to meet with me, you’ll  remember her.   It’s a good thing she’s a VERY nice lady.

We made a party out of our session, using very simple studio settings.  Some of our images were  traditional, but we had more than our share of silliness too.

Sisters are a treasured gift, and so are husbands who go to the great lengths that Bruce did to craft a celebration that will not soon be forgotten.

For a fun music-video of the proofs from our session, just , click on this link: Sisters Celebration.

A Senior Album for Alyssa-Katy West-Houston Photographer

Time to share another album that I designed for one of my Taylor High School seniors this spring.

This one is Alyssa’s.  She graduated in June from Katy Taylor High School.

Have I told you how much I ADORE “MY” seniors

The first thing I always notice about Alyssa is her mischievous EAR TO EAR grin, which makes me wonder what she’s going to be up to next.

When we put this album together, the one quote that she really wanted to include was her Confirmation verse,  Hebrews 13:5, a timelessly wise scripture for anyone stepping out into that big ol’ world of ours.

All of our albums are customized specifically for the individual client, and this one was no different.  I guess that makes it DIFFERENT.

Alyssa has served as a trainer for the Taylor High School Athletic Department throughout her entire high school career.

As a sideline photographer for the booster club, I had several game-time images of her in action.  When she asked if we could incorporate a few of those photographs into her album as well, I thought that was a BRILLIANT idea.   These are my own images, so neither of us had to track down another photographer to secure copyright use licensing.  That made it very easy for me to say YES to her request

— and isn’t YES the answer we all want to hear?

Alyssa is headed to Sam Houston State University this fall where she plans to major in education and become a math teacher for junior-high and high school students.  

Best of Luck to you, Alyssa.  Keep on smiling sweet girl.  You’re off to a great start, and you are destined to do great things and to touch countless lives.  I just know it.

And here’s a video with all of Alyssa’s session proofs:

Alyssa — Class of 2012.

My Seniors are Oh So Gorgeous – Check out Allie’s Album

Before starting this post, I am going to berate myself publicly for being such a LOUSY LOUSY blogger.  I love my clients and my sessions and can hardly wait to share my images here, but when it comes time to sit down and make it happen, the phone rings or the dog needs to go chase a squirrel  or — oh look . . . SHINY!  If I promise here in front of God and everybody to try to catch up on some of my very favorite sessions and to stay on top of things, do you think it will make me become a better blogger in the long run?  All the motivational people say that writing your goals and being held publicly accountable works, so I’m going to give it a try.

WET NOODLE LASHING is now officially OVER!   Now, meet ALLIE!

The minute Allie walked into my studio this spring for her Senior Portrait Session, I knew we were going to be in for a genuine  treat.

Not only is she drop-dead gorgeous, she is sweet, funny, confident, and humble. What a great mix!   On top of that, she brought some really cute clothes.

One of my favorite parts of working with Allie and her mom was getting to also meet her grandmother. THERE is a character deluxe!

First impression,  “What a sweet and adorable woman,” but within five minutes I wondered if I could keep up with her straight-talking wit and wisdom.  I wouldn’t mind being like her someday.

Grandma along with Mom kept me laughing, and to top it off she provided the list of quotes that we used in this album.

I like to add carefully-selected wording to my albums, and believe that these coming from Grandma will make them even more special over the years ahead.

Dontcha just LOVE the boot with bling?

Those EYES!  WOW!

Allie is heading very soon to Blinn College where I just KNOW good times and amazing experiences await.

Best of Luck.  Study Hard, and when it’s time to play, PLAY! – Never mind, I think you already know that.  

Want to see more?  Click this link to enjoy a little video with all of Allie’s  session proofs:  Allie Bellow – Class of 2012.

Caitlyn’s Senior Album – Katy West Houston Senior Photographer

Check out this awesome Senior Portrait Album  that I designed  not too long ago for Caitlyn, a 2012 graduate of Katy Seven Lakes High School.

You’re going to love her top-model moves and fashion sense every bit as much as I do.

Sometimes my camera just gets happy —

Check out those EYES and that crazy head of BIG TEXAS  Hair.   What’s for the lens NOT to love?

So here’s a story about the cool things I learn from my seniors.   How about those Platform Wedge Shoes?  I have to give Caitlyn  total credit for convincing me that they were comfortable enough even for me to wear. 

Thanks to her, I actually went out and bought myself a pair of orange and teal platforms — and I can REALLY wear them (for a while anyway) without hobbling.

EVERYONE is surprised  — and they make me VERY tall.

Of course,  I have fallen off them a few times, but I can fall off my flat flip flops without trying.I love my platform shoes so much that I named them afterCaitlyn.   If you see me wearing my FUN shoes and say anything to me about them, I will be quick to tell you that they are my “Caitlyns.”

Caitlyn, along with her gorgeous smile and her zest for life, is headed north this fall where she will definitely brighten the campus of  Oklahoma State.

Erin’s Senior Portraits – Katy West Houston Photography

Go ahead and say bad things about me if you want to.  YES… I’m still behind the curve posting some of my favorite  senior portraits for the class of 2012, but just like writing Thank -You Notes, late is WAAAAAAYYYYYYY better than not at all.

And when I think about Erin and her amazing family, I have TONS to say THANK YOU for.  You see, when I was just  thinking about getting serious about  photography, Erin’s mother was the VERY FIRST person to show her faith in me by hiring me to take her older daughter’s senior portraits.

At that time, I was the ever-present mom with a Canon Rebel at every cross country meet that our high school participated in.  Yes, I was there to photograph my son, but HECK, his team had about 70 great kids and I shot them ALL…. Over and over and over.    Then I got a web-site and sold the action prints for pennies a piece.  I think I GROSSED $29. 34 that year.   It wasn’t going to replace the day-job. It wasn’t even going to pay for the web site, but it was a start and I was having the time of my life.

I offered to take senior portraits for all the kids graduating that year . . . but Erin and Hollie’s SWEET SWEET SWEET mother was the ONLY one who took me up on the offer.

And I felt GUILTY accepting her check.

We’ve come a very long way since those days.  I’ve invested heavily in my love of photography, participating in classes and seminars every chance I get. and upgrading equipment and my studio sets one piece at a time.

To this day, I still learn something new every time I take on a new assignment, and I’m always thinking about what will make the next session better than the last. .

In fact, when I look at the photographs from my first paid session, I wish I could get a do-over — or at least wish  I could offer big sister a do-over

— HEY!  THinking while i blog is DANGEROUS, but I’m saying PUBLICLY  that when Erin’s sister Hollie is in town   and has a couple of hours to spare, (Yes she has already graduated from college and has a successful and EXCITING career) we are going to have to get together so we can absolutely  ROCK the lens like never before.

But . . . go ahead and say MORE bad things about me.  Really.  I deserve it.   This is NOT about my first shoot with Erin’s sister.

THIS is about ERIN.  My BEAUTIFUL RED-HEADED  senior/graduate, who will soon be a GORGEOUS Kansas Jay-Hawk.

Did you know I secretly (my heart almost expects them to show up for Christmas dinner) adopt EVERY red-haired girl who comes to my studio.

RED ROX!  Don’t you think?  —  I SURE DO!  Especially when they are as lovely as Erin.

Congratulations, Erin on your graduation from Taylor High School.   Best of luck to you as you head north this fall.  ROCK CHALK!

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