Brycee + David... Married!!! Edinburg, Texas

What bride tells her photographer, while she's getting her hair and make up done, "You look beautiful!"

Brycee does.

When I first met David and Brycee, a few months back, I knew they were a right fit for my photography and my personality. I spoke with David first (remember I wrote about how my brides are so lucky with their very involved grooms) and later met Brycee. Instantly, I felt a connection that I am sure they felt too because essentially I was hired! 

As the summer neared and their wedding date grew closer, I spent a lovely afternoon with David and Brycee during their engagement session and I knew it was in our paths to work with one another. I am so delighted that I was chosen by them to photograph their wedding day. Having barely met them, conversation was nonetheless effortless and so natural. I really felt like they were my good friends. And Brycee, Brycee is most certainly some long lost best friend. 

Spending much of her wedding day with her, I almost felt as if I knew her from somewhere before. I can't quite put my finger on it, but what I am sure of is the love Brycee and David share. The love they share for one another is impeccably detailed... detailed in the sense that you can almost see hearts floating from around them the minute they hold hands.

Okay, I'm not trying to be cheesy, but their love is so sweet and tender that it could only be written in fairytales. But this is no fairytale... it is real life. And Brycee and David are madly in love with one another and have been for the past few years. 

It was only fitting to take the next step and marry each other. 

And they did. 

Brycee and David, thank you so much for letting me get to know you. I had a lovely time at your utterly romantic wedding. Your ceremony, your vows, your love is truly inspiring. I only hope I was able to capture that, your essence, in your wedding photography. I wish you both every blessing in store for you and, once again, congratulate you on your marriage!!!

To their happily ever after...

Be blessed my friends!!!

Golden Girls.

I'm laying here in my bed in my mismatched pajamas writing today's blog post. I was prepared to blog Brycee's and David's wedding but I have decided to put that off for another day. I've watched two episodes of The Golden Girls (have you ever seen it?!) and realized how much I love watching this rather dated show. By dated I mean it's a few decades old yet I can totally relate to many of its messages. 

Granted, I am not an elderly woman, but, for some reason, it always brings a smile to my face. The underlying friendship - the bond - that the women portray in the show is extraordinary. 

This summer has been particularly full of growth, both personal and professional, for me and I never, ever imagined I would have such an amazing group of women besides me as support. I am not the type to seek out help; and by help, I mean if I am having a bad day I won't reach out to my friends. It's just not in my nature. I like to deal, to grieve, to mostly be by myself. 

But at the very moment, the time in my life when I truly needed someone to, metaphorically speaking, hold me up, an amazing group of women have stepped in to grab my hand and lead me forward. My sisters, my Delta Zeta Sorority sisters - my friends - are here for me.

I didn't cry out for help. Intuitively, they must have heard my need for their help and stepped in before I ever realized how much I needed them. Boy am I ever blessed. 

I thought it was imperative I stop, breathe, and personally thank all of you for being there for me, for listening to me, for talking to me, for advising me, for simply being yourselves when I absolutely have needed it the most. Words, these words, cannot express how thankful I am to know, and befriend, such genuine and kind-hearted women. 

Yva, Sofia, Erica and Debra... among the rest, you have really, really wholeheartedly given me your ears this summer. And for that, I thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I am loved and you have shown me that through every text, every email, every tweet, and every conversation. What would I do without you?

In the words of a lovely theme song... "Thank you for being a friend..."

 I love you girls very much. Again, thank you.

Wedding on the blog tomorrow!!!! Good night and be blessed :)

Untitled.

Perhaps it's the jet-lag from my summer travels kicking in today or the fact that I have been battling the worst non-stop headache for almost two months now but today I felt so underwhelmed. To be honest with myself, I felt sheer disappointment. Disappointment in myself and, quite possibly, in others. More on this... perhaps later. Today is about an hour from becoming Sunday and just like that I can't help but feel like I have let another day take a little piece of me away.

Perhaps it's the realization that I am getting older. And, quite frankly, the utter realization that my life is headed in a direction completely different from what I imagined it to be. Imagined. Since I'm being honest, then, I don't think I ever imagined any other possible options than what I had planned my life to be. But some dreams are shattered and others are broken on purpose. 

I am missing a little something... perhaps it's a bit more spunk. I am feeling a little bummed out today and I'm not sure why. 

Have you ever felt the same? 

But, since it will soon be another day I will shrug it off and smile. I will smile because I am alive, healthy and very much blessed. If you're having a tough day, it's okay. In the words of Scarlett O'Hara...

"After all tomorrow is another day."

Make it an amazing weekend my friends!!!

Cristina and Rollie are having a baby!!! Weslaco, Texas

Cristina and Rollie have been married for a few years now and are ready to start a family. When I first met them it immediately felt as if I had already known them. Over the phone, during our initial conversations, it just felt right. Speaking with Cristina and discussing the needs of her session was so effortless. I really did feel like they were one of my past couples coming back for me to photograph the next chapter in their lives together. 

Rollie warned me that he was not very comfortable in front of the camera many times before and during the session. And while Cristina was a complete natural, Rollie was no where as shy as he made himself out to be. The two of them together are so in love and very much excited for the birth of their baby daughter. Spending a lovely Sunday morning with them as we took a stroll was wonderful. We learned more about each other and I was able to see them interact, not only as a married couple, but as future parents. 

Cristina and Rollie, thank you for selecting me as your photographer! I am so delighted to have met you and wish you nothing but a healthy delivery and healthy baby! I can't wait to meet her!!! Be blessed :)

 Rollie and Cristina, may your baby girl be every bit as blessed as your love!

I am looking forward to the weekend, are you?! Be blessed my friends!

Brycee + David... Engaged! McAllen, Texas

I have noticed a trend in many of the clients who have booked me over the past year... the men my brides are head over heels in love with are ah-mahzing! How so? Well, many of the grooms themselves have been the first ones to contact me. I'll get emails and phone calls from the male perspective... it's the groom calling me to inquire about my photography and set up meetings. 

Girls, you are so lucky!!! It really brings a smile to my face when I see them during our initial meeting until way after the wedding day. The grooms are such gentlemen and are always, always looking out for their beautiful brides. 

David was no exception. Back in late April or early May David contacted me about setting up a meeting to discuss their wedding photography needs. And then I finally met Brycee... Together the two of them are the epitome of a loving couple. The way their eyes meet and their hands touch so inconspicuously is very telling of their love. 

Brycee and David balance one another in so many ways. David is quiet but Brycee knows exactly how to make him laugh. Brycee is fun and loves to smile... a quality I am sure David absolutely loves. As an engaged couple, they meticulously planned a celebration of their love. A celebration with which to share with their loving family and friends. A celebration I was delighted to be a part of as their wedding photographer. 

As these two love birds begin their marriage life, I'll share with you some of my favorite shots from their engagement session....

Brycee and David, WAHOOOO!!! You're now married :) I am so excited to share their wedding day images with you soon. 

I am having an amazing week and I will make it continue! I hope you are, too :)

Life + Portrait(s).

I have been attempted to re-find the balance in my life, a task that seems so exuberantly daunting at the present moment. Okay, I should just come clean and confess... it has been daunting for the past three months! Every time I think I have a spare moment to catch up with my mind, my brain teases me and steps on the gas. 

I am afraid of burning out. I am afraid that one day I won't be giddy and happy on a wedding day. I am afraid that I will feel uninspired when I photograph on a beautifully, amazing day. I don't ever want to feel like I have to get through a session or the day. But overworking yourself can very well lead straight to that. Thus, I must remember to, on occasion, open my eyes wider and look around. I need to stay focused but still have fun. 

I am a photographer after all. I photograph things, be it people, events - real life. I have not picked up a camera in the past three months just for fun. Everything has been about business. Otherwise, that Nikon stays locked up. It's heavy... I don't want to unpack it only to pack it back up... I don't feel like it...

Gahhh!!! Can you believe what I have allowed myself to become?! I can't. Oh internet, feel free to slap me slowly back into place. Okay, so maybe you don't have to - I hope not. I promise to myself to get back on track; to get back to living and breathing business but because it is fun. Not because I must meet a deadline or must capture the perfect shot. Rather, because it's my job and I love it :)

There are some fun things I have planned... I can't wait to share with you! In the meantime, I'll leave you with some photos of life. As it happens... on a random day, I photographed. 

{Lupita and myself. 07.25.2011}

On a side note, but a very important one at that, I want to send a giant Happy Birthday wish to a very dear best friend... Although our paths have changed and we no longer are each other's bests, I miss you very much and hope you had an amazing day!!! You, my friend, are on the track to reap the blessings that the Lord has in store for you. Grasp them, grasp them all. In life we only get one chance to jump head first into the opportunities laid out before us. It is our innate responsibility to accept them with open arms. 

So in light of taking my own advice, I open my arms and accept all the great people and things currently in and headed my way!!! I have found a new perspective in my life and I feel so blessed. If you see me smiling from ear to ear, well what can I say other than Thank you Jesus!

Evening my friends :).