by Shelly | Mar 8, 2011 | event, SPCcreative |
A “Big Girls Pajama Party” That’s how it’s touted, and it’s really a great way to describe the Girlfriends Giggle, held every year in Sugar Land to support the Fort Bend Women’s Center.
Where else can bunches of professional business-women run around in matching Jammies while they get manicures, pedicures, henna tattoos , massages, and more?
They shop, they eat and drink, they laugh . . . and of course they all stop by my photo booth for a group portrait.
This is one event where humor and creativity rule, and I’m so proud to be a part of it all for three years in a row.
Some of my favorite groups at Giggle included the Village People; my Lovely Charlies Angel Assistants - Susan, Heidi, and Rebecca; The Get Your Giggle On Pajama Contest Winners; and The Charming Ladies of Mardi Gras.
Coming back to GIGGLE year after year, one of the greatest rewards is hearing people say how much they enjoyed the photographs that they ordered over the last two years. But the REALLY REALLY best part is getting phone calls from these ladies afterward when they schedule their weddings, family portraits and powerful-sexy lady boudoir photography parties.
Now THAT is a RUSH!
The Bale Law Firm , acts as a major sponsor of the event, providing a nice chunk of funding to make the GIGGLE possible, and their ladies have come by my booth every year for pictures. Now they tell me that they have a whole collection of Girlfriends Giggle photographs on display in their office. How’s that for community spirit! I love these ladies enjoying milk and cookies above with bright shiny smiles, tiaras and red satin jammies. One other sponsor that was oh-so-fun to meet was Jan Loggins of J Loggins Jewelers She provided a lovely bracelet as a doorprize, and here she is above with her team and the lucky winner!
Okay . . . a few more favorite groups from the evening.
Did YOU get your Giggle On this year? If so, you’ll want to be sure to pick up your Giggle Portraits before the end of March.
Just scroll to the top of this page, go to PROOFS and then select EVENTS.
If you didn’t get to Giggle this year, there’s always 2012. Start planning NOW so that you will be in on the fun too!
by Shelly | Feb 12, 2011 | fashion, wedding, women |
It’s DEFINITELY NOT your mother’s wedding portrait.
Oh my! I can’t believe it’s already been a whole year since we ROCKED the Vegas Strip at the 2010 WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) conference and trade show. Thinking back made me want to resurrect some of the photographs I took a year ago. I made some fantastic friends that day and just thought it was about time to share these never-before-seen images.
A photoshoot sponsored by the Chicago Trash the Dress group was probably one of my favorite activities of the whole week.We met at the pedestrian overpass near our hotel before splitting up with our gorgeous models for two whirlwind hours of traffic-stopping fun. Trash the Dress is not just for models. Every day more and more brides are scheduling after-the big-day sessions with their photographers to go out and PLAY in their super gorgeous dress. The end result — yummy, sexy, sultry, playful, joyful and daring art. Contrary to the name, we don’t actually “trash” or ruin the dresses, but they might get a little dirty or wet., but most wedding dresses today fare very well in the wash. This is nothing like your mother’s or grandmother’s wedding portraits.
Here are a few of my favorite Trash the Dress images from that afternoon — I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Want to put on YOUR dress again and go “trashing?” Give me a call and we’ll set you up. 
by Shelly | Dec 20, 2010 | event, family |
When the Ramsey/Trapane/White family hosted a milestone birthday for their beautiful mother, Addie Mae, they invited me to document the occasion.
Since getting everyone together in good clothes is a challenge for any family, one of our priorities was to set up a backdrop for some group portraits, both traditional and fun . . . and of course, we enjoyed a little cake and punch with some of Addie Mae’s lovely friends.
After the party, we created a little hard-cover brag book for Addie Mae to carry in her bag so that she can always be ready to show off her lovely family. What a perfect gift!
. Happy Birthday Addie Mae. We wish you many happy returns.
by Shelly | Jul 21, 2010 | senior portraits |
WHOOSH!
Everyone expects their senior year in high school to fly by in record time, but come graduation, they all realize that it went even faster than they ever expected. With graduation festivities behind her, Kristyn, a 2010 graduate of Cinco Ranch High School realized that she she still needed a good set of portraits before heading off to college, so she gave me a call.
I’m so glad she did too.
We met at a park early one morning with skies threatening rain and a humidity level that threatened every trick known to moisture. Fogged lenses, frizzy hair, and just downright steamy conditions are the norm for Houston mornings, and this day was only a little more extreme than the rest. We were able to get a few outdoor images in the slow drizzle before quickly winding up our session under the shelter of a covered picnic area and an underground walkway.
I had recently picked up a colorful umbrella to use as a prop — so I was delighted to pull it out for a while.
With all those bright hues and Kristyn’s sunny outlook, we managed to pretty-well banish any rainy day blues.
Nice Day for Ducks — Seriously
Note to self: Always carry duck food for park sessions. You never know when you might need it.
This funny little guy followed us around pecking at our feet the whole time we were shooting, but every time we tried to build a good picture around him (or her), he just ran off quacking. The quacks sounded more like laughs if you ask me, and it was like he was playing a game with us. The punky topknot on his head made us both laugh right back at him too.
Rainy-Day shoots are fun. They create unique opportunities but it’s oh so tricky to deliberately schedule them.
Still, I do look forward to doing more in the very near future, especially with clients as easygoing and pleasant as Kristyn was.
by Shelly | Jul 19, 2010 | wedding, women |
The thing I find difficult about bridal portraits is that I have to wait until AFTER the wedding to share them. But the wait for these is over. Jennifer and Kyle tied the knot Saturday night at Heaven on Earth, a 19th century mansion in Missouri City.
We met for our portrait session at the wedding venue on a hot steamy Houston Summer afternoon. Hot-steamy-Houston-Summer — now that is a bunch of redundant words all in one sentence, don’t you think?
Not only did Jennifer and her mother attend the session, but we had the pleasure of shooting with her sister and maid of honor, another bridesmaid and the future Mother in Law. I sort of wish that I had brought snacks to make a party out of the event, because when you get that many girlie-girls in one room at the same time, it is bound to turn into a fun time — and it DID!
Jennifer is a quiet doe-eyed blonde, and it would be hard NOT to fall in love with her sweet spirit. I know I did when I first met her a couple of years ago. Special Kudos to Jennifer. It’s because of her and her community activities that I have had the opportunity to work with a number of organizations and individuals in Fort Bend County.
And here she is . . . now that she is a beautiful married woman — and Kyle is one lucky man.
