by Shelly | Nov 18, 2014 | baby |
Sugar and Spice in a double serving — that’s what came to my studio the other day! Ohhhhhh these two are incredibly yummy!
These identical beauties were only 5 days old when they came to see me at the SPCcreative Photography studio, and even though we had to depend upon an ankle id bracelet to make sure we didn’t mix them up, it was already quite obvious that they are both very much individuals.
These girls were born about 13 minutes apart but on both sides of midnight, so each will get to celebrate her very own birthday. I just think that is BEYOND cool!
My friend and professional colleague, Irma Furnish saved the day by joining us to help wrangle, hold and pose and to get an idea what to expect when her own twin nephews are born in just a few short weeks. I don’t think we could have done it without her! Thanks Irma!
These girls did NOT want to go to sleep — at least not at the same time.
Their daddy laughingly said that if I wanted to just photograph the sleeping one and swap out headbands a few times, they’d never know the difference later. We didn’t try to do that but did take a few sweet individual photographs in between feedings and clothing changes.
Still, I have to give the most credit to their mommy who was incredibly patient and laid back as we worked and waited and fed and diapered and tried again and again to get both of our sweet little angels to sleep at one time. It was quite a challenge, but we finally wore them out and got there. It was definitely worth the wait.
Oh my they are gorgeous and yummy!
I am in LOVE!
SQUEEEEE!
by Shelly | Nov 14, 2014 | family, men |
This family! Oh my — THIS family is one of my favorite that I ever have photographed!
What do you do when you have two swoon-worthy college and high school aged sons and it’s been a while since you’ve had family portraits made?
YOU DO IT!
You get a date on the calendar and you make it happen. NO EXCUSES!
It’s no small feat when school and work activities and travel are chaotic. It takes an extra level of commitment to clear the schedule and get everyone into the room in good clothes all at one time, but it is Sooooooooooo worth it.
Kudos to the K family! They DID IT!
Setting up family portraits with older boys takes a special skill because showing a strong and fun relationship in an age-appropriate way can be tricky. What works for toddlers or ten-year-olds tends to fall apart and smell sorta cheesy once the kids are taller than their mother — and I LOVE that challenge.
We were facing some weather challenges and we couldn’t let that stop us either. So, rather than dodge thunderstorms, floods, and mosquitoes, we got a little bit creative and shot in the atrium of Mr. K’s office building. It turned out to be absolutely perfect — and we had air conditioning! That’s such a nice thing to have in this part of the world and it was a HUGE bonus for us!
These boys are handsome. They’re cool. They get along beautifully, and they like to be a little bit silly and goofy too.
Thank goodness! Laugher can carry a family a long long way.
THAT is what I wanted to show.
In a very short time, these boys will both be out of the house and living on their own, but the K family will always have some great artwork on their walls capturing these fleeting and very special days.
I’m so proud of them for making the effort to spend an evening in front a camera, and I am delighted that they spent that evening in front of MY camera because we had one heckuva good time together!
Does your family need portraits one last time before the kids scatter into their own grown up lives? Call me today. Let’s make it happen!
by Shelly | Oct 23, 2014 | business, fashion |
This fall I’ve had an opportunity to do a little bit of photography for a trendy new boutique called Two Elles. Oh my goodness! Talk about FUN and CUTE STUFF!!
The hardest part for me has been staying disciplined, because I would LOVE to keep nearly every one of their absolutely ADORABLE clothes and accessories for myself. Well, maybe not the short dresses because, face it, My time for those has passed and nobody wants to look at my white 50 plus year old legs — but the rest of it ….. Oh YEAH! Check them out! You’ll find some great gifts as well as a few goodies for yourself! I promise!
Their ever-evolving selection is always available online at twoellesboutique.com, but you’ll have a chance to see and touch these gorgeous fashions for yourself this weekend and on into the holiday season at several area market events! Starting RIGHT AWAY they’ll be at the Celebrations Gift Market at The Great Southwest Equestrian Center right here in Katy on October 24 and 25.
When you stop by, Tell Meredith, Hannah, Caitlyn, and team that Shelly sent you. And if you want a sneak peek at the newest fashions as they become available, be sure to follow all the latest news at their facebook page!
If you miss out on this event, you’ll also have a chance to check out the Two Elles goodies at the following Holiday markets thoughout the season.
October 24-25 – Celebrations Gift Market – The Great Southwest Equestrian Center, Katy, TX
October 29 – Beth Yeshurun Day School Market – 4525 Beechnut, Houston, Tx
November 1 – Wilchester Market – 13618 St. Mary’s, Houston, Tx 77079
November 15 – 2014 Mom’s Holiday Market – The Woodlands College Park High School, The Woodlands, TX
November 21-23 – Home for the Holidays Market – The Merrell Center, Katy, Texas
December 5-6 – St. Nick’s Market – December 5-6 – 7901 Bay Branch Dr., The Woodlands, TX
I have had the best time EVER in my Two Elles photography sessions, and I feel like they help me stay up to date on the latest trends that my portrait clients — particularly high school seniors will want to know about. Can’t wait until our next shoot date!
by Shelly | Oct 17, 2014 | event |
I’m so proud of the people I worship with. They saw a dire need in the area surrounding our church building a few years ago after a local social services organization closed its doors, so they stepped in and started helping out as they could, eventually creating an amazing locally-driven non-profit resource. The Houston Northwest Community Center is only about five years old and is probably best known for its neighborhood food pantry, but it also hosts GED and English as a Second Language classes for neighbors in the area. In the summer, HNWCC provides day camp activities for children and now it’s starting up an after school reading and learning program for middle schoolers.
It takes more than good will and good hearts to keep an organization like this running, and just this past weekend, HNWCC hosted its third annual Boots, Buckles & Bolos Fundraising Gala.
What a lovely evening. I got to hang out with some great friends and make even more new friends over good food, fun and games, and of course a competitive live and silent auction — all to raise money for the programs at the center.
While HNWCC is heavily based on and around the campus of Bear Creek United Methodist Church, it is not strictly a church-ministry. It’s a community organization dependent upon widespread support from , health and civic organizations, other churches, scout troops, etc. And they would be THRILLED for you to become involved as well. To learn more about HNWCC and how you can help, just visit their website by clicking anywhere on this page where it says HNWCC!
Here are a few photographs from the gala evening. To see more, CLICK HERE
This is the gala committee and these are also some of the HNWCC’s hardest working year-round volunteers
Looks like fun, doesn’t it? Learn more about how YOU can get involved by visiting HNWCC.org or just come on out to Bear Creek UMC any Sunday morning to get acquainted with these smiling faces in person!
Check out the rest of the photos from the Gala HERE — and order your favorites to help provide support for the wonderful programs of HNWCC
by Shelly | Oct 14, 2014 | baby, family, maternity |
What’s on my mind tonight?
It’s this super sweet family. Tomorrow they will increase their family size by FIFTY PERCENT! 
That’s right! Fifty percent! Sometime tomorrow Baby M and Baby H will join their two big brothers in one of the sweetest young families I’ve met in a very long time.
“OH Daddy, what have we gotten ourselves into? I don’t know, but it’s going to be SWEET! “
Tomorrow is going to be a great day for being born! Friends, please join me in praying for a safe and healthy delivery for two new little Aggie Girls!
by Shelly | Oct 9, 2014 | women |
Ladies, I’m going to ask you a very important question.
When is the last time YOU took the time to have photographs taken of yourself?
I don’t mean just a quick vacation snapshot or a bathroom selfie. I mean, when is the last time that you put the effort into it and worked with a photographer who would consult with you on wardrobe then bring in a hair and makeup artist to enhance your very best features — a photographer who would take the time to coach you on posing and who would light you beautifully?
Chances are it’s been a very very VERY long time if EVER!
After all, you’ve got other things to worry about. The kids are growing up and about to leave the nest. You work full time and then you volunteer for umpteen organizations that push you and pull you every which way. Or,maybe you think a special portrait session would be nice, but you’re uncomfortable because this would be pampering in the ultimate form — and you would feel a little bit narcissistic going in. And of course there are those extra few pounds that you want to drop first. — Yep. I know. I’ve heard it all.
But think of it another way.
What would you give to have a collection of lovely photographs of your own mother or your grandmother at the age you are right now. Being photographed at your best — at the age you are NOW is probably one of the greatest gifts that you can give to yourself AND to the people who love you the most. HECK! If you’re fortunate enough to still have your mother or grandmother, wouldn’t you love to have a collection of beautiful portraits of them NOW?
So… let me tell you a story about something that happened not too long ago in my studio.
Thanks to the social media phenomenon, I reconnected by Facebook over the past few years with some people that I had not heard from in a long time. Among them were people that I went to high school with.
One night I received a private message from one of my classmates asking if I would take pictures of her. Honestly, I didn’t think it would happen. We went to high school together in Midland, graduating about 35 years ago. She’s a nurse, living and working in Fort Worth. My studio is in Houston. Texas is a huge state y’all. That puts us at about a five hour drive apart.
We talked, and she confided that she was nervous about the whole concept but that she felt like she could TRUST ME with her image. Like so many women, Tami is very good at caring for other people as a critical care nurse. She has spent countless years putting the needs of her patients and her family before her own. She had not been good about treating herself with the respect she deserved. She was one of the myriad of women who struggled with body image and with not feeling pretty — OH MY does that sound like YOU? I can certainly identify!
We scheduled an appointment, and consulted further by phone.
AND THEN —
IT DID HAPPEN.
Tami took my advice. She shopped for new clothes and accessories. She had her hair cut and colored and she got a manicure too. She made arrangements to come to Houston and to stay in town the night before and the night after our session so that she would be rested and relaxed the morning of our appointment. I cleared my schedule so that we could preview her portraits before she had to go back home.
AND THEN She drove from her home in Fort Worth to Houston.
BEFORE — well sort of. This was actually a snapshot of a happy Tami the day AFTER our portrait session. This is how she looks on a normal good day. Don’tcha just love that sweet smile?
A huge part of our Elegance portrait sessions at SPCcreative Photography is a professional hair and makeup session, and one of my favorite makeup artists is Rachael Elise Walker, owner of Elise Artistry. Rachael comes right to my studio where she brings her sweet calming personality, her airbrush makeup tools and her arsenal of colors and brushes and hair tools and her amazing skills. Her work is nearly magical!
As we previewed the photographs the next day, I caught a tear sliding out of Tami’s eye, and my own heart danced as I reached for the Kleenex box. — YES! Tami finally saw how beautiful she really is and THAT is the most joyful part of my job. THAT is what I strive for every day.
It was so much fun catching up with Tami after all those years. Yes, we both still have remnants of our 17 year old selves, but we both have developed deep rich character traits that only come with age and experience. I learned about her family, and how much she absolutely ADORES her neices. We caught up on mutual friends — and decided that the folks who grew up with us in Midland, Texas back in the 70’s are genuinely a special lot — and that we are indeed blessed.
Looking at these images makes my heart happy. I want to do it again but this time I want to do it for YOU. Give me a call. Let’s talk!
by Shelly | Oct 6, 2014 | engagement, wedding |
This is such an exciting week!
Hollie and John are getting married on Saturday, and I can hardly wait for their big day to get here.
It rained on us when they came to town for their engagement session, so we caught a few quick images at the park with umbrella and boots, but the skies really opened up, so we skedaddled back into the studio to finish up.
They say that rain on your wedding day is good luck, so we’ll go ahead and claim that luck from the engagement shoot as even more good luck to come.
This wedding is very super special to me — and NOT just because Hollie is a stunning redhead like yours truly. It’s special because Hollie was my very first senior client EVER!
I had met Hollie and her mom through the Taylor High School Cross Country team when she was a senior and my son was running as a Freshman. I attended every cross country meet that year with my camera and photographed the runners as if there was no tomorrow. That was when all that stood behind my photography business was a name, a sales tax number, and a dream in my heart — I had a WHOLE LOT to learn about photography and about the business side of the art.
Cross Country meets take a long time, and you wander around with the rest of your team parents a LOT … so we got to be friends. Then, in the springtime, Hollie’s mom, Sarah, actually hired me — did you hear that???? HIRED ME!!! — for money — to take senior portraits for Hollie. I don’t think I netted $40 on that job, but I DID get paid! It might as well have been a $4000 session as excited as I was. To be honest, though, I am very disappointed in those senior portraits when I look back at them today because –well, I was a beginner. Like so many people, I had a great eye and a lot of passion, but I had barely started honing my skills. Still, I will ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS be grateful though, that Hollie and Sarah put enough faith and support behind my dream to start my baby steps.
Now HERE’s a flashback!
Hollie and the other senior girls on the team started a tradition that lasted for several years. They would run in the last “extras” race but would drop out somewhere along the course to get muddy before running in together. OHhhhhhh how I loved their spirit!
Hollie still plays in the mud, but in a serious way — now she wears coveralls and a hard hat as an oilfield engineer with Schlumberger. I STILL love her spirit and sense of humor — oh and she snagged herself one of the sweetest guys EVER while she was studying in Kansas.
They’ll both definitely be rocking a more formal look on Saturday, but I’m sure there will be plenty of spirited antics with these two — and I’ll be there to capture the whole event.
Did I say that I can hardly wait?!?!?!?
by Shelly | Sep 30, 2014 | baby, personal, SPCcreative, special project |
Last week I met up with a lady in the parking lot of a bank. She opened the trunk of her SUV to reveal baskets of beautiful tiny silk and satin treasures — baby outfits. Whoah, they were GORGEOUS , with lace and pearls, and elaborate embellishments, even tiny bow-ties . . . and the BONNETS! Oh Swoon!
Angel Gowns by Diane donated a supply of handmade gowns to photographers who volunteer with Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. From left: Emily Crump, Affiliated Photographer; Renae Carr, Area Coordinator; Pamela Schwarz, Community Volunteer; Pamela Contreras, Area Coordinator; and Shelly Chetty, Area Coordinator
I hope and pray that nobody reading this post EVER becomes the recipient of one of these gowns, because they were sewn for babies who don’t get to go home with their families and grow up. But if you should ever go through an infant loss, and see one of these gowns or use the services of a Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep photographer, please know that your baby will be wrapped in LOVE!
You see, these aren’t just beautiful baby dresses. They have been lovingly crafted from wedding dresses by a newly-formed group of volunteers in the Katy area, Angel Gowns by Diane . Their concept is to use memento from a happy and joyful day to help ease the sting of sadness and grief when a baby dies. This specific supply of gowns in preemie to newborn sizes is going to the local professional photographers who serve with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, a worldwide nonprofit organization that provides bereavement photography at no charge to families The Angel Gowns group also contributes their gowns directly to hospitals in the area.
Want to get involved? Want to help?
First — NILMDTS is in DESPERATE need of more qualified professional photographers, both in the Houston area and throughout the United States. In Houston we ask our photographers to be on call and available to go to the Texas Medical Center just one day a month, and to help with suburban cases near their homes or studios on an as-needed basis. If you know a photographer or if you are one, I (or one of the other two local NILMDTS Area Coordinators) will help get you through the application process. You will receive training, and one of us will actually accompany you on your first shoot and walk you through the process so that it’s not as intimidating the next time around.
It’s just SO STINKIN’ SAD when a hospital calls us, and we do not have a photographer available to create beautiful images for the grieving family. There are SO MANY TALENTED photographers in this city, and I believe that just about anyone who wants to can find a way to schedule one non-appointment day a month to be available provide this gift of healing. Please check out the NILMDTS Web Site to learn more about our organization.
If you’re not a photographer,
you CAN still talk to photographers you know and encourage them to get involved.
Also, I know that NILMDTS operates on a shoestring. Tax Deductible financial contributions will help keep the organization’s website and resources up to date and to provide training and support for volunteers.
And if you’d like to to get involved with Angel Gowns by Diane. They need
- wedding dress donations
- people to dismantle the dresses, cut patterns and/or sew the gowns
- people to help coordinate with area NICU’s and with NILMDTS.
- People to pick up and deliver donated dresses
Just check out their facebook page (I understand that a full website is in the works) for more details.
by Shelly | Sep 25, 2014 | personal |
My favorite boyfriend, (the one that I married) and I just got back from an exhausting but wonderful long weekend in Los Angeles. This is purely a vacation snapshot blog post, so if that’s not your cup o tea, just come back later. If you want to travel along with us . . come on!
I traveled with only one camera and one lens — my 16-35 2.8. It provides a wide and different, sometimes warped, perspective on things. Oh yeah …. and we also threw in a few phone pictures as well.
We started out at the airport after driving through POURING rain to get there.
After a good breakfast at home, we launched into vacation mode with airport french fries (don’t tell our trainers) and by turning our electronic media into RELAXATION mode. It was also Mike’s birthday, and things just fell into place for us all day long — like being seated in the first row with nobody in front of us. GET A LOAD of that legroom. Miracles do happen. 
We wanted to stay someplace close to our kids, so Hotel Amarano Burbank was to be our home for the next four nights.
I’m always a fan of smaller boutique hotels and this one did not disappoint — EXCEPT we don’t understand why hotels have quit putting at least one comfortable chair in the rooms.
Other than the missing chair, the hotel was lovely, with waffle-weave robes and very courteous service. Our favorite person of the week though just had to be Harvey the Bartender. He’s everything you expect in a bartender. Funny and friendly, he mixed us up a couple of good stiff and very refreshing drinks then served up a delectable Ahi Tuna Poke appetizer. Before long we were ready to roll . The kids were off work and meeting us for dinner.
Another thing about Harvey …. he even remembered our names the next day! Call me impressed! — oh, no …. he called me Shelly!
On Friday we were on our own to play tourist, so we headed out to the Gene Autrey Museum of the West where we thoroughly enjoyed their Route 66 exhibit.
Arriving shortly before the exhibits opened, we met clusters of school children in matching t-shirts as well as seniors with sensible walking shoes waiting for their tours. Those ladies with wheeled
walkers can make TRACKS! Still, the groups all spread out nicely, and we never felt over-run or crowded. 
So, the Route 66 Exhibit had plenty in store for both of us. Mike enjoyed the mapping and road construction portions — especially the collection of asphalt pavement pieces from different areas. He promptly analyzed them all to explain why they had failed. (That’s road construction talk for why the road fell apart) And I got a big charge out of all the advertising and signage. BRING ON the KITCH and COLOR!
The entire museum was very well planned and entertaining, covering all things western — especially Hollywood Western!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED if you are in the area.
After the Autrey, I could hardly contain my excitement as we went in search of the old abandoned Los Angeles Zoo.
VERY COOL!
I was wearing a sundress and flats, so was hardly equipped to crawl around on the ground or climb into some of the hidden areas like I wanted to, but exploring the old exhibition facilities was fascinating — and a little bit creepy.
I couldn’t help but stay on the alert for a forgotten lion or gorilla to creep around the corner. They didn’t; but we did see a deer, several squirrels, a BIG honkin’ lizard and a couple of photographer/model sessions.
SOMEBODY was on the wrong side of the fence….. Hmmmmm. Wonder who?
Lots of fun monkeyin’ around . . . but don’t GOOSE me when we’re taking a selfie!
Always the tourist, I fell in love with the hot pink building and signage ot Milt & Edie’s Laundry and Dry Cleaner near our hotel.
From their lighthearted approach to warnings — offenders will be forced to wash clothes — to the public acknowledgement of their entire staff with years of tenure and country of origin flags — these people must be brilliant!
Just a little more local color!
And a stop for Pie! Mmmmmmm Coconut Cream!
The REAL reason for our trip, though, was that we are about to welcome a new daughter in love to our family, and there was no way we wanted to wait until the wedding before we could meet her parents. On Saturday morning we all drove down to Orange County where she grew up.
A day of driving and eating and drinking and walking and eating and drinking and driving ……Oops….. that didn’t quite come out right — but you know what I mean.
This is our Sarah with the lucky duck that she got from her grandmother’s estate. How can you NOT love a girl who carries a brass duck in her bag? She’ll fit RIGHT in!
We also had a chance to visit the Newport Harbor (in the midst of the Big Boat Show) to see the boat where the nuptials will take place next spring.
It just happened to be at the dock and in between events so we even got to take a little tour.
That’s the galley, the reception area, and of course, the front (or maybe it’s the back) of the boat. This thing isn’t just a boat! It’s a blinkin’ 3-story floating building with glass walls. STUNNING!
We also walked out to an area of beach called The Wedge . I can only imagine growing up in such a lovely place.
Capping off our trip on Sunday we headed out to the Getty Museum.
Oh my!
First…. I didn’t even take my camera on this outing because I know that I would have been obnoxious. The following are all just phone pictures — mostly by Mike because I can hardly figure out how to work my phone camera.
This place is not to be missed. We WILL be back!
Aside from a parking fee, the entire attraction is free. After a tram ride up the mountain, the building, the gardens, the exhibits, and the views are all beyond outstanding.
We took the architecture tour with a delightful docent who has been involved with the museum for 17 years, and we learned not only about the structure itself, but also about Getty’s philosophy in establishing, building, and running the museum. Surprisingly, and maybe it’s because we went early in the day, we were the only four people on the tour. Can’t beat that!
So after a big lunch and an afternoon of hanging out and playing board games with the kids, it was time to return to our hotel and rest up for the trip back home.
What a wonderful trip!
by Shelly | Aug 31, 2014 | musician, senior guys, senior portraits |
For some high school seniors, the year is so hectic and crazy that they get all the way through the year and past graduation without ever slowing down enough to complete a senior portrait session. Keenan was one of those busy kids, so we took his portraits in the summer AFTER graduation — and that is absolutely okay.
After all, the images we created represent him at this particular stage in life — and when you’re looking at heirloom photography that will last a lifetime, what difference is just a few months?
Still, to avoid that crazy rush at the end of the year, it’s a very good idea to go ahead and schedule portraits NOW so that you’ll be ready to play by the time Senior-Itis kicks in. 
Of course any senior fortunate enough to drive an shiny red BMW like this one would want to include it in his portraits, so we shot his entire session at a local park rather than in the studio.
Keenan is a musician who was a member of the Taylor High School Band, but he really excelled and was happiest playing his guitar alone and with the THS Jazz Band!
Of course, I asked him to play for me just a bit while I photographed him. I always do that , and the TALENT kids have never ceases to amaze me.
THEY. ARE. GOOD!
I talked to his mom just the other day, and learned that he is already moved in and settled in his dorm at Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado. That’s just up the road and on the other side of Table Mountain from the neighborhood where I lived with my boys many lifetimes ago.
I know that if he ever gets a chance to look up from his books, he will love the laid-back Rocky Mountain Lifestyle that Colorado has to offer. I have a feeling that several ski outings are already on his agenda.
Happy Trails to you Keenan! Enjoy your time in college and study hard. You are very smart, and you’ve got a good head on your shoulders. YEP — YOU’VE GOT THIS! 
