by Shelly | Apr 3, 2017 | business, food, women |
WORD-NERD ALERT!
This girl learned something new the other day, so I’m going to share it with you.
Did you know that the art of reading tea leaves is called TASSEOGRAPHY? I didn’t, but it completely makes sense. After all, Tasse means “cup” in German, French, and probably about a bazillion other languages, and of course -graphy is the Greek word for writing.
So… I looked into my own cup after working with LaShan, and there it was, just as plain as day. The tea leaves said, “You will soon hear a whole lot more about this beautiful lady who is in your studio.”
Oh my goodness, what a time we had. The tea was fresh pressed; the laughter, heart-felt; and the spirit, sincere.
LaShan is the proprietress of a culinary treasure-trove called Three Lumps of Sugar. She mixes and markets fresh blends of loose-leaf tea, spices, and artisan sugars and salts for creative cooks and bartenders.
You can – and SHOULD – learn more about her business HERE
To kick things off, she needed a new headshot and we leveraged her session to the next level. While staying true to her personality and style, we created a lovely variety of story-telling images that she can use in her social media, website, marketing materials and more. And we had a great time doing it. 
Here’s what LaShan had to say —
“We’ve all heard the expression, “A picture is worth a thousand words”. As an entrepreneur, building a brand is crucial. Customers respond not only to your products, but also to you as the business owner. The business really is an extension of you and your imaging conveys a lot.
I was so pleased to work with Shelly. She managed to capture the true essence of who I am and what my company means to me. Both my company and I are fun, playful, and creative. I think my pictures say exactly that without any words at all. At Three Lumps of Sugar we create and sell teas, spices, and artisan sugars and salts for bartending. Our images need to appeal to those who would purchase our products.
I arrived for the day and had a consultation with the makeup artist and looked at possible backdrops. We even gave consideration to clothing choices. Shelly took the time and effort to try new things and incorporated my suggestions. I am not a makeup kinda girl, so I was unsure about the makeup. But, when I came to see the proofs – WOW!!! There were so many that I loved and it was hard to narrow it down to just 1 or 2, so I picked 5!! “
Thank you, LaShan, for trusting me with your image and for the very kind words. I can’t wait to sample the whole line of your yummy concoctions very soon.
by Shelly | Mar 17, 2017 | senior guys, senior portraits |
This is Garrett — Class of 2017 at Cinco Ranch High School.
When we initially set up his Senior Portrait session, I knew right away that photographing him with his shiny red pickup truck would become a major part of our plan.
He showed up and there wasn’t a speck of dust on that vehicle. If his mom hadn’t told me during our pre-session planning consultation that he and his friends love to take it out mudding, I never would have guessed it.
That mudding sounds like so much fun! I really wish I could have gone along to experience the adrenaline-rush they talked about, but we kept the vehicle clean during our time together. 
We saved the truck for the end of our session so that we’d stand the chances of a good sunset or at least low, directional sunlight — and when we saw that angry cloudy sky, we knew we were in for a killer perfect image — and we certainly got it.
Garrett’s also an accomplished athlete who has enjoyed playing LaCrosse with the Katy Cavaliers for the past seven seasons.
And he’s smart too. With National Honor Society membership credentials to his name, he’s looking to study Mechanical Engineering in Colorado after graduation.
For fun, he also enjoys snow skiing, water skiing, hiking, and riding his dirt bike on trails. He and his friends like to wrap up their fun adventure-filled days building bonfires and just hanging out.
Congratulations on your upcoming graduation, Garrett. I have thoroughly enjoyed photographing you and getting to know you and your mom this year. Send me a post-card when you get to Colorado, won’t you?
by Shelly | Feb 7, 2017 | senior guys, senior portraits |
Meet Nicholas. He’s a Senior at Taylor High School here in Katy, and an all-around great guy! He’s got so many unique activities and interests, and it was fun to capture the essence of this very special time in his life. C’mon, let’s get to know a little bit about him. You’re going to like him almost as much as I do.
I’ve been able to photograph Nicholas several times over the past couple of years, and am always impressed with him. Every time we meet I learn something new about him and his many interests. Of course, I’m a sucker for horses, so when he first introduced me to Smokey I knew I’d be smitten with just one rub on that soft velvet nose …. Oh, wait … this is supposed to be about Nicholas, not Smokey.
But oh… SMOKEY!
And then, there’s his gorgeous Australian Shepherd, Chief. That dog is going to truly miss Nicholas when he leaves for college. 
Only four percent of the Boy Scouts earn their Eagle Scout Award, but Nicholas was one of them. He fulfilled extensive requirements in leadership, service, and outdoor skills to achieve this high honor.
And to top it all off, Nicholas is also a very creative artist working with multiple media. His favorite works include a stiff-cast shirt adorned with soda-pop can tab chainmaille, a golden sculpted hand, and a truly intricate cutout book. 
One more thing– Nicholas is a fabulous big brother!
Naturally some of his younger siblings wanted to pop in for a moment or two to be photographed with him. None of them are getting any younger, so it won’t take long before they realize how very special these treasured prints will be.
Congratulations on your upcoming graduation, Nicholas. You have so much going for you. I can’t wait to see what you do in the years to come. 
by Shelly | Jan 12, 2017 | senior gals, senior portraits, sports |
Meet Mireille, Seven Lakes High School Class of 2017 — Soccer Player Extraordinaire and a girl with a heart of gold and a penchant for Converse All Stars.
Mireille’s style is natural and casual, so her entire session focused on a loose laid-back look — and of course her athleticism.
She plays for her school as well as a competitive league team, so she spends most weekends on the road for tournaments.
A lot of things will change for her after graduation, but this athlete is not through with her game. She’s already signed on to play for University of Louisiana in Lafayette where she will attend classes in the fall.
MY UNUSUAL TALENT: I can juggle a ball on my head.
Known in the school halls for wearing her Converse All Stars nearly every day, and she’s got quite a collection of the funky retro-hi-top sneakers. She brought several pairs with her to her session, and we had a great time working them into nearly every portrait setting — at least for one frame.
Mireille’s also very involved in the school’s PALS program where she and her colleagues serve as mentors for younger students, helping them thrive in their studies but more importantly in a social setting. You can bet she’s made a big difference for the kids she’s worked with. 
I LOVED working with you, Mireille! You are a quiet and gentle soul with a fierce spirit. Let no one extinguish your fire.
by Shelly | Dec 29, 2016 | business |
Happy New Year 2017 and THANK YOU for allowing me to get to know you better this year as we created business profile/headshot images for some of Katy and Houston’s finest business leaders in 2017.
If YOUR profile portrait is more than a year old or if you’d just like a new fresh look for the new year, there’s no better time to call than NOW. We’re running an amazing headshot blitz in the studio January 10 and 11, 2017.
Special Pricing — Special Services. Call today for details and to reserve your spot.
Here are a few of our favorites from 2016.
What a good looking bunch of folks you all are!
I know that I didn’t get everyone into this page. If I missed you, it was NOT intentional. Please forgive. If I created a profile portrait for you in 2016 and it’s not here, please let me know.
I will add it to the mix. REALLY — I WANT TO.
This post is a personal tool for me to use as I count my blessings — and each of you ARE a blessing to me. Also, I will to go back through this page periodically throughout the coming year to say a short prayer of blessing over each of you.
I feel honored to personally know someone who amazing and who works in nearly every business and service related field there is, so if you are looking to get something done and need a referral, give me a call. I know people who can help you do just about anything –whether you need an insurance agent or a landscaper, a swimming lessons for your toddler, or a mechanic, we’re just scratching the surface. We’ve got doctors and dentists, attorneys, eye doctors, realtors, medical records specialists,accountants, specialty products, long term care, office cleaning, a commercial sign shop, movers, personal coaches, and so much more. Whew! If I don’t know someone who can help you, I’ll bet we can make a few phone calls and find whatever you need. That’s the beauty of networking with small businesses in this amazing community and I would love to be your Maven-Connector.
It would be my honor to work with you during the January headshot blitz or on your own schedule. We’ll create an image that defines your individuality and your special brand — one that means BUSINESS! We offer services in-studio or at your location and for best results we offer celebrity style grooming for men and women alike as well as complete professional hair styling and camera-friendly makeup application.
Thank you ALL for a wonderful 2016. Bring on 2017! It’s going to be fabulous.
