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 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!
