wpja

I'm a member of the WPJA and each quarter they have a contest. You can read all about it on their website.

Here's my entries for this quarter. I'll keep you posted!

in Dallas

I'm sorry if you've tried to reach me and couldn't. I'm currently in Dallas with my oldest daughter and her BB Team, The Slammers playing in the BCI State Tournament. We are headed home tomorrow and I'll post more pictures when I finish downloading the cards.

I'll return calls and emails starting Wednesday.

toby + krysta

spice

that's the best way to describe it.

these two are very "spicey" together! They are totally the best of friends, so in love they can't keep their hands off each other, and so fun to watch bounce off of each other. Toby is a "competitive" type of guy, and being married to one, I love to watch them interact with others. They are extremely strong natured and disciplined, yet total puppy dogs when it comes to the women they love.

YUM

Will post more later on next week. I've got a bride named Macy that desperately needs her gallery to go up tonight. Of course, password protected until the wedding.

For now... a few of my favs. Thanks you two! I had a fun time getting to know you and watch the two of you together!

alli + casey

WOW!

I don't think I'm fully recovered yet, but I just had to get the fabulous memories I shared with the Nix and Zachry Families up on my blog. I drove back this afternoon with roses and candels and kisses on the brain. I had such a great time!

It was such a wonderful celebration with smiles GALORE! So much fun to share and so many family and friends.

It started with an AMAZING rehearsal dinner, bigger than many receptions I've witnessed and that's when I knew that this couple was going to have a BIG wedding. Saturday, 7 PM arrived and the Frist Baptist Church in Midland was packed in the middle with little room to spare. So many family and friends came to share in such a wonderful celebration. I love that Casey and Allison made time for each and everyone of them, as exhausting as that may have been, I don't think they would have had it any other way.

View the complete sneak peek, HERE.






Casey and the boys enjoyed a round or two of golf on a beautful clear day! Enough clouds in the sky to keep the sun at bay.

Flowers were quite lovely and I had the chance to play with a few in one of the sunday school rooms. Doesn't take much to make these babies look good.


Allison is such a sweet person. She found the time in the busy days of planning a wedding to personally hand write thank you notes to those in her bridal party. And heart felt, sincere notes at that. She's just that type of person and I think one of her traits that Casey admires. He was heard telling the "boys in the boys room" that he knows it's right. "She's such a blessing to him." Melt my heart!


The amazing gown! All the way from New York!





Allison a second before walking down that long ailse.

one of my favorite bridals

Okay, I can't wait any longer and since she's going to married today by the time this post publishes, I'm sharing! I don't get to post brides on the blog much and I was so thrilled with this session, I told myself that when the wedding was over, I was posting.

It was very difficult to make myself photograph more than just the back. It fit her so well, it just had a shape about it that worked and then, for the train to just "melt into the floor" like a puddle of butter, well, I loved it. Oh, and don't forget the girl in the dress, she sure knew how to pose. (with a little egging on from the watchers and shooter! HA!)

You totally ROCK, Allison!

rachel elizabeth

I visited the Cohen family before I left for Midland on Friday. I'm happy to report that Rachel still has her hair! It's a dark, deep brown and her eyes are definitely blue. She was having a bit of a tummy ache, but still managed to steal my heart and make me feel all good about the world again.

Big Brother Ross was AWESOME as usual and such a cutie! Watch out class of 2020! This guy will be such a Player! LOL

the elrod's

I love this family!

I met Monica and Jake back in 04 when I photographed their wedding.

I make up nicknames with other photographers about my couples so they know who I'm talking about when we discuss our weddings and sessions. Monica and Jake were my "HOT couple" for that year. They just fit together. Both very attractive and camera aware, or if not, they sure faked it great! And Monica has the greatest EYES that just reek with sexuality. But in the right way. Does that make sense? She's drop dead gorgeous and thinks she's a total goof. I think that's why she's such a joy to photograph.

Her and Jake were in town and it was the perfect chance to photograph their baby boy, Hunter. Who is an absolute cutie pie! But what would you expect? With parent's like this?

Yum

I had Monica call me when Hunter went down for his nap. I really wanted photographs of his hands and feet and chubby parts before he grows up and looses that sweetness. I took the photo above right after his wonderful, long nap. The kid was a snoozing!


She's gorgeous! Just look at the way she's looking at him! Love this!


It doesn't get any better than babies in onsies. Sheer perfection.


Hunter is cutting his 2 bottom teeth and he's such a trooper! The tongue just keeps going and going and going!


After a hair spiking, we headed to some ultra cool places for this little hipster.



this one cracks me up! Such attitude going on! With everyone! HA!




Thanks, Monica and Jake and especially Hunter! You'all were so much fun to visit with again and I'm so happy for you'all and that precious little boy! Yes, he's a flirt, but look what he has to flirt with? Melted my heart.

georgia and jacob

Made it to Tahoka and loved every single minute I spent with these two. Georgia and Jacob and those souls you meet and forever more are changed. We started communicating via email and even though we've never met, I gave her a huge hug the second I met her! She's has amazing energy and vitality all rolled up into one tiny girl with a HUGE heart!

Lots of emotion and such a wonderful ceremony! We sang hymns, and praised God for the blessings of marriage and love.

Congratulations you two! Have a wonderful time in Colorado!

st. joseph church

It's early Saturday and I'm leaving for a wedding in Tahoka. One I've been looking forward to all season! I'll fill you in later, when the emotions are fresh. But since the Parish Directory is complete, at least my part of it, I thought I'd share a few of my favorites.

Laughter is the best. It's been such a pleasure to be a part of this much fun! You get to sit and visit with all the members or your parish that partake in such a thing and on top of that, they are Happy God Filled People! You can learn so much just from spending a few miutes with someone you've sat next to your entire church life in a pew!

Thank you St. Joseph!

You can see more of our Parish Directory by going to my online galleries at THIS LINK. Look for the featured galleries towards the top.

casey and allison

Okay, you'all know how I love the "mushy stuff". I live for it! I think it is what drives me to pick up my tired "you know what" and get out the door and go. Sometimes, when you are shooting e-sessions, you get lucky. You get a couple that is easy together, fun together, look great together and most of all... love together.

That was Casey and Allison. They are getting married this month and tonight we photographed their engagement session.

Yum! In a word...

Y U M

Allison was yummy because she always looks so happy when she's with Casey, and Casey, because he cuddles so well with Allison!

Very yummy you two!

Here's a sneak peek for now. Thanks you two! And Ally? I'll see you tomorrow night!

i got him again! How lucky is that?

We got reagan again today. YIPEE!

I was so happy. I'm thinking how fun it would be to just keep him once a week. Every Wednesday. Kinda like a science project or something. We just have so much fun together. Everyone does when they are around him.

He's such a great baby/toddler. (afterall he is 2 1/2.)

This time, since kalyn didn't have some sort of sports camp, she got to play with reagan, too. She was such a big help, keeping him happy and busy. These two totally bonded.

When it was nap time, I asked Reagan if Kalyn could rock him and he climbed on up and fell asleep in her arms in just a few minutes.

Great day in my book.

roy is da "MAN"!

OH, yum!

Every 4th of July for the past um-teen years, we head to Roy and Annette's for some good 4th of July fun. We all bring side dishes and Roy cooks up some awesome BBQ chicken. He didn't fail us this year either!

I spend the entire day, starving just so I can fill up that night on all the good stuff.

We had homemade icecream, watermelon, tons of yummy sides and Eli brought her (and Melinda's) world famous banana pudding! YUM!

Of course there were fireworks, and since I didn't photograph the big BLOW OUT at the Grymes the night before, I did on the 4th. Couldn't let the celebration go by without at least a few shots.

update on Summer

Many of you have e-mailed about my daughter and thank you so much! Things are much better today and she's on the mend. Eating like a pig and milking the "I can't do that, now that my arm is broken" speech for everything it's worth.

Of course, her mother is exhausted and doing everything she can to get caught up! Many of you are waiting on images, email replies, albums, edits, etc. The list just goes on and on. I haven't forgotten about you!

Anyway, thought I'd post a few images so you can see what I'm up against.

amy and michael (part 2)

Best thing to do right now is edit and POST! So, while the DVD's are burning, and my house is sleeping, I thought I'd share a "sneak peek" from Amy and Michael's wedding.

It was very emotional for everyone, I think. But not the sad kind of emotion where you are losing a daughter, or sad because someone is "growing up and leaving". More like a happy, joyful crying because heartfelt, and lifelong prayers were answered when Amy and Michael were pronounced "man and wife". They are perfect for each other and definitely on the right track.

A special part of the ceremony was a ring for Sidney, the groom's daughter and now Amy's. She was absolutely precious throughout the day and definitely the apple of several family member's eyes.

As mentioned before in their rehearsal post, this church is amazing! I let you look at the photographs and see for yourself.

Congratulations Amy and Michael!

shhhhh

The house is asleep. I'm here, trying to get the files downloaded and backed up in my computer and everyone is sound asleep. That's what you do on Sunday.

After you get back from the ER.

My youngest broke her arm.

She was playing basketball.

I was watching.

And now I'm crying as I type this.

Devin is asleep, Kalyn with him. She was ultra tired and worn out after witnessing her sister suffer miserable amounts of pain and not being able to help. Worn out.

Me? I'm not sure. I still have adrenline in me from Mike and Amy's wedding. I still have energy in me for some weird reason, after trying so desperately hard to hold it together and console my baby. My Summer.

I'm sure it will hit me later. It did a little when my sister called.

Hug your kids!

and say a prayer for mine.

amy and michael (part 1)

I made it home from an awesome celebration of family and love and spirit! Amy and Michael were wed Saturday at Midcities Church outside Amy's hometown of Midland. I haven't finished backing up all the files yet, and I have a basketball game to go to, (Go Rampage!) but I edited a few of my favs from Friday night and wanted to share.

The shot above was taken at the church. I'm not sure who the artist is or the name of the piece, but it is so beautiful and unique. I loved it! The entire complex has an amazing feel to it that just draws you in and keeps you there. I love this church! Such a great place to meet and worship God. (Not too mention it features God's light in such a lovely way for those of us that are into that sort of thing. HA!)

Amy and Michael posing for the family paparazzi!

Amy and her Grandfather.