Vanessa... Bridal Session

Have you ever seen a bride so beautiful? I have and I'd like you to see one today... On the eve before Vanessa and David's long awaited wedding, we are finally ready to debut her beautiful bridal session photos. A few weeks ago we ventured out to this cute and rustically vintage part of Mission, Texas to the Lomita Chapel. I had seen the area in some photographs and anxiously awaited the day I'd be able to photograph somebody there. I am so glad Vanessa chose the location for her bridals and I thought it fit her well since she was raised in Mission.

In case you missed it, you can view Vanessa and David's engagement session here. They are naturals in front of the camera and I look forward to spending the day with them tomorrow at their wedding. Vanessa, you make a beautiful bride and look gorgeous with your fabulous personality. David is a lucky man and I am sure the two of you will enjoy a lifetime of happiness and blessings. See you tomorrow!

Happy Friday :)

L.O.V.E. Candace & Billy - Engagement!

I am 5'2 inches and that's because I round up... Candace is, well, I don't know her exact height stats but she's quite taller than me. Billy, he's tall, too. The three of us together for their engagement session... challenging but oh so fun.... Candace and Billy flew in from El Paso a few weeks ago for their engagement session and I was delighted to get to spend some time with them. We met on a Friday late in the afternoon but the weather was quite hot. Regardless, we made it through the sticky heat and walked around North McAllen for some fun shots.

I know Candace because she is my sorority sister. Eventually, I met Billy and I was estatic when they became engaged last fall. Back when we were seniors in college (we graduated together ) Candace asked me to take some senior portraits. So I guess, technically, she was my first official paying customer. Soon after graduation Candace left and was stationed to El Paso. A year passed and she came home for Christmas one day with a beautiful sparkly ring on her left hand finger. Some of the girls were together to celebrate the holiday season and enjoy a Christmas party. It was a pot luck but no one cooked any of the meal... ha ha! Amidst our table full of store-bought goodies, wedding conversation struck up. Then, she said it. And I was, truthfully, a bit speechless but jumping for joy inside. She said she wanted me to be her wedding photographer... Me?! O-M-Gosh!!! I tried to keep composure, I was pro now, remember?

Indeed, she hired me on the spot. She knew I had no prior wedding experience but said something I'll never forget, she trusted me. Of course I'll do it! I practically shouted and I am looking forward to Candace and Billy's December wedding. They are a great couple and are full of giggles and love for each other. It's a bummer they are so far away, okay so they could be further.... but El Paso is still far from here so I was excited to shoot their photos and catch up.

By the time their wedding comes around later this year I will have a few weddings under my belt. But, her's was the first wedding I booked and I am so glad I get to be a part of it. Candace, thank you for placing your trust in me. I am very grateful. I wish you and Billy every happiness and all of the blessings in life. I'll be seeing you both soon ;)

Candace and Billy I'm excited for your wedding! Happy Thursday :)

Senior 2010... Beautiful Britney

Yay! It's Monday... start of a brand new week :) I had an eventful weekend and part of it included photographing a wedding on a boat. No kidding, as I type this I feel like my body is rocking side to side or something.... I was afraid I would get seasick since I get carsick (sometimes even when I drive!) but surprisingly I did not, which I'm sure the bride appreciated ;) Ha, no but really I'm glad I don't get seasick but I almost sure I am uncontrollably swaying front to back...hmm.... 

Anyway, I'm glad to be back on land today and ready to take on the challenging week ahead. I am so blessed to enjoy a life full of hard work and play. I am even more blessed to be surrounded by people with beautiful souls and caring hearts - this includes my fiance, my family, my friends, and my clients. I am very thankful that every client I meet has etched a little piece of themselves into my heart. Each one is so kind and caring and most certainly make me feel like I am more than just a hired photographer. To you, my clients, I thank you.

I bid you my dear reader farwell for the day and I hope you accomplish all you wish for today. Have a beautiful day and an amazing week. I leave you now with some photos of a senior I photographed a few weeks ago. Britney is a beautiful young lady ready to conquer the world. She graduated high school and is ready to embark on her college career. I wish Britney the best in life and bid her congratulations.

Smile :)

Cynthia and Orlando... Engaged and soon to be married!

Thursday's are date night for Chris and I. We are both extremely busy but once Thursday evening comes around, computers are shut down, books are closed and all this photography and medical school stuff comes to a minute halt. The evening together consists of some form of dinner and dessert followed by a movie of our choosing. We take turns on picking out the meal and restaurant and, unfortunately, I never get to pick the movie. Not to fret, Chris is considerate to my taste, in both movies and food, so whatever he choses is what I want to see anyway (usually...). 

Last Thursday as I quickly scrambled through my temporary office and tried to finish some important emails before Date Night commenced, I got a phone call. I contemplated answering and just having the caller leave me a voicemail to check later. Afterall, I still had to get dressed and be ready in less than fifteen minutes. But I went ahead and took the call and I am glad I did. On the other end of a line was the sound of a sweet young woman, a bride. She quickly got the point... she needed a photographer and needed one soon. 

Me! Me! Me! I thought to myself ;)

After a finding out the details of her wedding and what she wanted from her wedding photographer, I hoped she'd pick me. The wedding she described was exactly the type of weddings I enjoy. Cinthya and Orlando were recently engaged and I had the honor of capturing that special glow their love shows. When I met them the next day I realized how much Cinthya and Orlando had in common with myself. Throughout their session I would smile because I saw their love, it's real. Photographing them was so easy and getting to know them was the best part. 

Cinthya and Orlando, I am delighted to have met you and wish you every happiness in the world. God will shower you with a blessed marriage, I know it. Congratulations on your engagement and I hope you are excited for your wedding tomorrow.

To the happy couple, God Bless! To you my faithful reader and friend, God Bless.

Good night :)

If you're from my area then you'll know about the thunderstorm from yesterday... if not, we'll there was a bad one here in south texas and it caused hefty flooding in some areas. I was stranded at the office until 6 PM because I didn't want to get stuck in the flooding...hmmm.... I should have listened to both Chris and my mother who heavily advised me to wait a little longer. But I suppose I ran out of patience and I'm afraid of lightning - so I made the trip home. Ha! I should have so listened to my mother! Sure enough, cars were getting stranded in the flooding waters left and right. 

And where was I? In my itty bitty Honda Hybrid - driving through the waters as if I was on the highest tires possible. Don't get me wrong, I drove very careful and slow and it took me an hour and a half to get home where the trip is usually twelve minutes. I maneuvered itty-bitty-self around the streets still "drivable" until I was a block away from home. Then, yup you guessed it, a huge and unavoidable flood area... right in front of my house :(

I stopped a few houses before my street and thought, should I just step on it and just get stuck on my street? I immediately heard my dad yelling at me in my mind. Ha, I thought to myself, I'm going for it. And I did. Thankfully my electricity had come back on and I was able to open my garage gate on the first try and swoop right onto higher ground. Whew! I wished my dad would have seen my skills ;) Anyway, I few months ago my car had a little itty accident and the bottom part of what I'd call the bumper sort of fell off... and it was fixed a few weeks ago. Point of my rambling story? The bumper is once again drooping... and really should be pulled off. I guess the water in front of my house was just a bit grouchy I had avoided it the whole hour before. It's okay, though.... I made it home safely just before the storm started up again ;)

Here's the bumper-disliker ;)

Sweet Dreams :)

Vroom...Vroom... There's lightning flashing through my room ;)

Harley, my Great Dane, is cuddled warmly inside his recently built mansion outside. My chihuahuas and poodles are tucked away in their soft pillows near my bed. My room is quiet until the thunder sounds off again... it's a thunderstorm down here in the Rio Grande Valley and thankfully I made it home safe today. When I went for lunch today I noticed how hot and sticky the air felt. It wasn't heat, it was humidity that was making people sweat. After lunch the sun hid away and thundering clouds came instead... with way too many flashes of lighting! But after an hour on the road maneuvering against the flooding waters that quite frankly resembled the Rio Grande, I made it safely to my cozy home :) God is Good!

At one point, I actually saw a gentleman riding through the flood waters in his motorcycle - sans helmet! Frankly, sans anything: umbrella, coat, cap. Nothing but his sunglasses, ha! Brave man, I tell ya' or at least one who was just as suprised by the thunderstorms as everyone else ;) Anyway, since I finally made it home and I wanted to blog before (in case) the electricity runs out the gentleman and his bike reminded me of a recent shoot I worked on for the Edinburg Road Runners 2010 Diamond Dolls sponsored by Harley Davidson. 

When I was first approached to photograph the Diamond Girls I was both excited and a tad bit intimidated. I can be the prudest of the prude sometimes and would cover everyone up with a turtleneck if I could ;) Okay, I'm kidding - but I am not the most knowledgeable when it comes to shooting "sexy". On the upside, however, the shoot was to be sexy but still appeal to the common family. I figured I  could handle that, right? Hmm.... 

The day was long but fun nonetheless and the girls, all twelve of them, were real troopers :) I'd like to thank Allie & Jeremy from the Edinburg Roadrunners, the 2010 Diamond Dolls and Harley Davidson in Mission, Texas for the fun opportunity and trust in my photography. I had fun and I hope they very much enjoyed the pictures. Here's a peek at some of the shots... 

If you're in my area, be safe during this stormy weather :)

Happy Monday :)