and 1st runner up at the most Beautiful Pageant..  Congrats Whit!

Here’s part 1 of her Senior session.  We revisited old car and log piles! 

You are amazing

and I am keeping my word.  I have lots of things to blog, but I promised this new mother to post some pictures of her sweet baby boy as soon as I could!  Here you go Mom!

Isn’t he beautiful? He’s perfect!

It was brought to my attention that Lacey’s last session was a more somber serious.  Lacey by nature is not somber and we were going to do another session anyway!  The first we’ll call the Sultry Session and this is her Smile Session. 

 Oh, making a first time appearance on this blog- Chunky…. 

I love the 3rd and 4th pictures, but I think this one below is my favorite just for the breathtaking scenery.  Gorgeous.

and so the feeling grows…  It’s written on the wind, it’s everywhere I go….

well, not everywhere – but pretty darn close!  It’s wedding season and bridal season and engagement season!  That’s the subject of today’s post and tomorrow’s post too.    It’s all planned out- so unless I get really swept off my feet by the weather, I plan to post today’s engagement’s session tomorrow- a tribute to lovebirds.

This sweet little couple will be getting married next month- in exactly one month to the day!  They were a happy-lively pair, no serious contemplative shots here.    I do love those, but try to follow the mood and rhythm of the couple … so here’s what I took away with Cole & Jamie

Personally I would get this dirty myself if only lovely weather would come back!  Last weekend and week with the wonderful 80 degree weather, I got a wild hair to make a vagetable garden.  So we did.  It was hard work for Stu and I, not so much for the kids.  Like moths to a flame…. they got down and dirty!  I should be a bit embarassed to showcase these dirty faces, but since I am longing for nice sunny weather- they make me smile!

Do you know any kids that can get this dirty?  They thoroughly enjoyed themselves!

Proof that we did dig a garden spot- this  ”pre 3 day grass removal campaign” though…. whew…

Even when she looks like a dumpster diver chick- she can still strike poses with the best of them!

This wedding was a few weeks ago, on a rather chilly and exceedingly windy February weekend.  It was held at the Cypress Bend Resort on Toledo Bend-  very nice, very secluded and very relaxing!  www.cypressbend.com   It was really great, in fact Dena enjoyed it so much that she suggested all of the sisters plan a girls retreat weekend there.  Sounds good to me- the day spa, massages, indoor pools, pedicure- just a bit of pampering.  So I’ll be going back…. 

I could go on and on about this wedding, but I think I’ll let the images speak for themselves….  beautiful wedding….

the wedding was held outdoors in full sun.. which normally sends me running screaming like the wicked witch of the west for a bit shade.   What can you do with a wedding ceremony?  Make the best of it-  and play with backlight (like the shot above which i love love LOVE) and flare.    Make that, heavy flare and strong sun…   

the kiss…

yeah, that one was blurred- but I love it- the new family leaves the ceremony

It’s late and I will post more tomorrow… nite!

Meet Kesha- who is just too cute for her own good.  She can not NOT smile- she has this infectious happy quality that is so nice to see in a person.   She also was quite comfy in front of my camera, which made my job way easy.  No posing from me- she’s a pro!

Here’s another first birthday baby….  Isn’t it so amazing how far babies come in just one year?  Remember this baby?

Here she is on year later!

I went over to their house for the session and as it was ending-  big brother found a frog.  A frog is great fun…… until it hops away!

Our trip to Texas wasn’t all play- I worked a bit while I was there.   It was fun to have a change of scenery.     New locations, new things to shoot:  some new “old” trucks and cars, crazy live oaks growing laid across the ground- train trusses…  fun stuff- 

So here’s a Senior session- probably can guess he’s Texan by the boots and hat! 

no matter where I go- one thing I will always keep is sun flare.  Rarely does anyone ever choose to print these, but since I have such a crazy love affair with it, I’ll just keep on shooting!

so an alleyway isn’t a really stretch and certainly not new scenery- I have one right beside the studio that is WAY over used, but I like this shot for just the slight glimpse of a toothy smile that alluded me the entire session- b o y s……

I  wonder,  at what age the split occurs- when do boys stop smiling in photos and when do girls start to OVER smile?  You know what I am talking about-  a group of teen girls together pose with hands on hips, sassy little stances involving knees and head cocked sideways and the biggest smiles ever.  That same age group of boys- you’ll see hands crossed in front with a machismo shoulders squared stiff with head cocked back a while looking down their noses…  where do they learn these things?   I suppose no one will ever know, ah… the age old debate of nature vs. nuture…..   If  I was a pysch major, my thesis would be devoted to “why teens boys don’t smile”