BUT, the “go big” part of me just can’t help but take advantage of the gorgeous fields that God has blessed us with for a few short weeks in the spring for a spectacular back drop.

That is why I’m starting with this image of my friend Holly’s little boy. It just strikes me as special for some very specific reasons.

She will tell you, “he has the heart of a soldier.”

I went to her blog to try & find pictures of the birthday party she threw for him this year to show you just how patriotic he is & found this post & this, the most adorable and heartfelt little boy party I’ve ever seen.

Anyway, my point is. I would never in a million years invisioned this shot. This is absolutely all boy & absolutely all DREW. He was so happy running through the field with this flag (which we actually took to be the flag on a little row boat). I will also add that I got called on a comment recently about “girls rocking bluebonnet pictures” & “what boys don’t??” . . . well. They do now;o)

Would he have ever posed in those bluebonnets with his little brother for that perfect shot. Um, not in a million years (not a real smile anyway). But this is my  absolute favorite part of my job. Jumping into their world. Meeting them where they are. This was the last session of the day. I was dog tired. This left me energized & happy.

Just after this he grabbed his gun & started “shooting” me. What’s a girl with a loaded camera to do??

I shot right back. Not sure who won, probably depends on which side you talk to.

This is why meaningful is relative to each person according to their tastes, likes, dislikes, personal experiences, nostalgic memories and the unique composition of their lives.

Would I want a picture of my girls running with a flag through a field of wildflowers?? nah. Wouldn’t mean as much to me.

Did I want my friend Holly to have one. yes.

And, this is Drew. He is wise beyond his years. I think he is an incredibly cool kid. (which means his parents are quite special for making him that way;o))

much, much more to come. All equally very different than this!

All taken from the car window somewhere between Albany and Graham Texas:o)

(oh, I wasn’t driving btw).

Happy Friday.

Well, they’re officially stuck with each other! forever.

Just kidding of course (sort of);) I was in a lucky position to get to attend Chloe & Garrett’s wedding this weekend at the Wildcatter Ranch in Graham Texas. (no I wasn’t working & I don’t do weddings – love doing engagment & bridal pictures though!). We danced a lot and enjoyed seeing some of our very favorite people. Pressly was concerned that Garrett might have a common (to her 3-yr old brain) problem. So we checked it out & Chloe is perfectly safe. 

(sorry – lots-o-rambling will be needed to explain). . .

It started as I’m driving the girls to school this week. As I’m telling Pressly (3) what the wedding will be like, she stops me to ask, “What’s Chloe’s husband like?” After I spend a few minutes describing him, she asks with a very serious face,

 ”Does he bite momma?”  

The conversation didn’t end there, as this one required a little “setting straight.” But now you know how entertaining our rides to school can get! And, of course, we can all rest better knowing Garrett does not bite. Glad to be the one to set the record straight.

And, a couple of comments about the images below:

1)  I was so very disappointed that it decided to rain on the only day we could do Chloe’s bridal portraits. Sooo, we were lucky enough to have a connection or two in the historic town of Abilene, Tx. We were able to get into the ballroom at the Windsor Hotel in downtown Abilene the day of. The original Windsor was built in 1890. The hotel was leased by Conrad Hilton and was the first hotel to bear his name. It’s been completely refurbished now but you’d never know it. It has a quaint, lovely, creamy and elegant feel that dates back to 1890-1927 just perfectly. Which was a perfect venue for us as I would describe Chloe almost exactly the same way! My only complaint was having to shoot at ridiculous ISO’s because of the ongoing gloom outside our windows. So, yes, we used a little artificial lighting in a few of these. Which leads me to my second comment about Chloe’s pictures . . .

2) I asked her if she’d maybe  be willing to go out in the rain (and mud) if I let her use one of my equipment umbrellas just for a quick second . . . and she said SURE! She’s just a cool chic and you will see how the rad ensued as a result below! Yes, it’s really raining on her in-her-wedding-dress! BEFORE THE WEDDING. She’s a no-fuss kind of girl. The best kind in my book.

Anywho – back to Chloe. . . We think she is just wonderful & lovely & truly beautiful in all the most important ways. Best of luck sweet Chloe & Garrett! We had a blast at the wedding & our feet are blistered. Meaning we danced the perfect amount and had a really great night:)

 Can’t wait to see what is in store for you two! And who will be next??:) lots of fun weddings coming up for this family . . .

ohhh, almost forgot to mention that the quilt was made by Chloe’s great-great grandmother.

I love so many things about these images. I’m digging the symmetry, texture and architecture that we found in downtown Houston.  I love the “stolen” glances frozen in the black & white images (my very favorite thing to capture – across the board). I love the reflection of them on the window and I love the look in their eyes.  And, as if I really need to point it out, but  how smokin’ hot are these two?! Just sayin.

 I can’t wait to see your story unfold.

(sidenote to my photographer friends who get geeked out about color-casts, calibration and the like: I’m finishing this post on an uncalibrated monitor & I can’t believe what a difference it makes in the appearance of an image!!? Totally frightening. Have you seen your images on your clients’ computers? I have a few times recently & it’s bugging me now. Why can’t all monitors be calibrated to a standard? All iPhone screens are – and gorgeously I might add. Is my brain the only one plagued with these thoughts??)

Lots of firsts for me . . .  first Senior to photograph, first violin to photograph, first truly and relentlessly windy day in The Woodlands to work with, first day to force myself to shoot in the middle of the day in the blaring sun. And, because Bridgett was so calm, cool, confident and willing to do absolutely anything . . . I think, we did pretty good.