Senior Portraits for ELizabeth – Katy Houston Photographer

As soon as football and marching season ended, Elizabeth blazed her trail over here for her senior portrait session.  She didn’t have any time to lose, because Color Guard never rests.  Even before the playoffs end for some schools, Guard members are back at it, practicing throughout our chilliest months for their most intense specialized competition.

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In addition to her super-busy Color Guard schedule, Elizabeth  works part time as a cashier at her neighborhood Kroger.  While she enjoys her job up front, she REALLY loves busy holidays when she gets pulled into the floral department.  That’s a fabulous outlet for her artistic and crafty talents.  She spends as much time as she can perusing Pinterest for party themes and craft projects, and that’s probably why she’s such a wiz at decorating for holidays like Christmas and at baking goodies for friends and families.

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After graduation, Elizabeth plans to attend Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, where she will study to become a Family and Consumer Sciences  teacher.   I think I want to be a kid again and go to her classes.  I think I’d learn bunches!

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There’s a saying that goes something like, “she who leaves a trail of glitter will long be rememberered.”  That’s so very true.  I’m still finding shiny bits of blue, green, purple and silver, and it always makes me smile because I think about our fun time together.

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Mother Daughter Portraits Last a Lifetime-Katy Houston Photographer

Hair and Makeup by Rachael Elise Walker — Elise Artistry

Some people are simply so  full of life and adventure that you never know what’s going to happen when they get creative, but you know that it’s going to be fun.  Originally we had planned to only photograph Mary, the mom in this series. BUT — as we worked through our consultation, we realized that we would all be missing out if we didn’t bring her daughter into the session as well — and I am so glad we did.

This is something I believe EVERY mother and daughter should do tpgether. Not only did they get to spend an afternoon laughing and playing “dress-up”  together, they both looked AMAZING when they left the studio for dinner..

I secretly wished I could have tagged along just to watch people’s reaction as they walked by.  Stay with me, and you’ll see why!

AND _ to top it off, they’ll have fabulous heirloom images of each other to treasure for ever.

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 R is a gorgeous young teen.  She is sweet, quiet and soft-spoken … UNTIL she unleashes her inner goth. It may seem like an oxymoron, but  when she turns on her dark side,  THAT is  when she really lights up.

We started out our session with a nice casual feel,  and with the help of  our in-studio makeup artist and stylist, Rachael Walker, we  worked our way up from there.

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Mary took a more formal route . . .

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Isn’t she lovely?

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But she was a great sport about letting R play out her inner rock goddess complete with blue hair extensions and super-dramatic makeup.

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Very moody, huh? 2015-10-23_0042 2015-10-23_0048

Because  Mike Chetty  and I raised five sons, we have a collection of old band instruments in our closets.

Most are in better shape than this old French Horn that had been previously destined to the trash heap, but  I love how well it played into our theme.   We didn’t  have to worry about damaging it, and I am super glad it found its way into my prop closet!

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This was by FAR one of my favorite sessions in a long time.  I can’t wait to do another concept escalation based on creativity and dreams.  There’s one in the planning stages now, and I would  love to create one for YOU as well.

Sugar and Spice (Cake) Katy Houston Photographer

I can hardly believe it’s been more than a year since these yummy little girls came into my world and into my heart. Watching them grow and explore is such a joy.

It really feels like it’s only been a week or so since they were tiny squirmy newborns in the studio, but they have already celebrated turning one.   .  They were born only a few minutes apart, but on both sides of midnight, so they each get their own official birthday.  These escapades actually happened a little while back, but  the delinquent blogger strikes again — and we are sometimes slow to the blogging board.

Still — they are absolutely too  gorgeous not to share here. 2015-12-02_0001As they say, Better late than never!

Happy belated birthday little ladies.  You are always welcome to come play in Miss Shelly’s studio playhouse with me.

Flavia’s Flavors – Houston Small Business Photographer

Flavia’s Flavors – Houston Small Business Photographer

Meet Flavia,  you’re going to love what she’s been  cooking up for you.Flavia 5

Some readers may be familiar with the blog she began writing back in 2009.   Flavia’s Flavors   was chock full of her yummy cooking and pretty pictures– and let me tell you, Flavia knows her way around the kitchen.

Throughout those years of writing and traveling, Flavia kept coming back to her true passion, the Italian food that she grew up with.  So after much soul searching and research to develop a style that is truly her own, she took the last few months to completely re-brand and re-style the blog.  She took down all of her old recipes and kitchen secrets and has started fresh with a bold crisp clean style and a razor-sharp focus on purely Italian cuisine.

In the new blog, we’ll dive deep  into her Italian Kitchen and  cuisine.  We’ll be alongside Flavia as she is — cooking — writing — and soon TEACHING cooking classes in her GORGEOUS kitchen or in yours.   Her  hands-on classes will include specific regional home-style recipes and techniques  as well as classic traditional favorites.  YUM!  I can hardly wait to gather up a few of my close friends for a Flavia’s Flavors class.

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When she told me about her rebranding plan and her classes, I thought it was a great idea, and couldn’t wait to see her thrive. THEN . . .she asked me to photograph her so that she would have fresh bright images to populate her blog.  Ummmm yes thank you.  I was THRILLED.  We spent a delightful  morning together  creating a few bright and cheery portraits — and THEN she started chopping tomatoes, garlic, and basil to create a tray of bruschetta toast.

I believe I INHALED more than my share.  Soooo very very delicioso!

Check out HER post where she talks about our shoot HERE! 

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I first met Flavia a couple of years ago along with several AMAZING bloggers and social media masterminds who live in the Katy area, and I liked her from the beginning.  What’s not to like?  She is gorgeous, poised, sweet, kind, talented  and oh so very nice.
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Once when I needed some help  figuring out how to integrate my own social media workflow, Flavia was the one who invited me to sit down with her and learn how she does it. Seriously saved my sanity — or what little there was left of it.

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Thank you, Flavia, for allowing me into your beautiful Italian home. I can’t wait to see what you’ve got in store for us as this blog and class takes off.  Please count me among your biggest fans.

Be sure to check out her blog and subscribe to it.  You’ll find her at www.flaviasflavors.com

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Summer Siblings – Katy Houston Photographer

Here’s something a little different for my blog.  I don’t photograph many kids.  Mostly I concentrate on teens and adults, and I nearly always leave the whole chase-a-toddler-through-the-park scenario to my colleagues who are more well suited for those antics.   But once the kids are school-aged, I have a hard time resisting them.  Especially when they’re as fun to hang out with as the kids in the N Family.

I don’t know how I got so luck y to have Little Miss L and her mom knock on my door selling Girl Scout Cookies a couple of years ago.  I’m a sucker for Caramel Delights and Peanut Butter Sandwiches.  They had the goods. We  stood on the porch talking for a LONG time and became friends immediately.

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 You might recognize some of these faces  — or at least one because she has popped in and out of  previous sessions with older siblings like she did HERE  and HERE

These kids have amazing parents who are committed to capturing great images  of them individually on their birthdays and around their half birthdays too.  They come from a very large family, so it’s nice to focus attention on just two or three kids at one time. AND —  I’m the lucky duck that gets to create those photographs for them.   We print all the best images, mount them, and deliver them in a custom keepsake image box.

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Are these guys not adorable — running through the tall grass together — in slow motion . . .

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You never know who’s going to show up during N Family shoots.   It’s Big Brother C and Bubba Kitty! Haden Parker and Lauren 7

 PHOTOBOMB!  YEAH! Haden Parker and Lauren 8Our session took place on a steamy morning, so ending the session by cooling off in the pool was a great idea! At least, that’s what L thought.

I agree!

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