Kayla and James Studio Pre-wedding Shoot

I am so excited to share this studio portrait session I did with my dear friends, Kayla and James! Since it is summer in Texas, we decided to rent a studio and stay indoors for their engagement portrait session. I knew that Kayla has a love for old shows like the Addams Family, so I reached out to my friends at Southern Wild Events to rent their Morticia Addams replica Peacock chair. This chair was giving me Fleetwood Mac vibes all day! Between the chair and the rolling matte-black background at Pink Pineapple Studio in Bedford, TX we were able to create a really fun modern look with a vintage twist. I could not be happier with how the photos turned out.

A little background on how I met Kayla: She answered an open call I put out for “pin-up” style models about 10 years ago. We became facebook friends and silently followed each others’ lives for about 8 years. Then one day I saw her post about a succulent and I had just started getting into plants myself and it sparked a conversation. Shortly after that I found out that we would be moving from East Dallas to the other side of the metroplex in Fort Worth. I immediately Kayla thought of Kayla, as I realized that she lived in Fort Worth and maybe this meant that she could be my new best friend on this side of town. She accepted my offer of friendship and agreed to meet me for a plant shopping date on my birthday, which has actually become a little tradition for us. When she got engaged to James in 2020 they booked me to shoot their wedding and I have been so excited work with them!

When we were planning the session I wanted to find a studio that had a good selection of props and furniture and I came across Pink Pineapple studio in Bedford. I really loved the rolling black backdrop and they had a great selection of other chairs and furniture as well as smaller pros to create a set. Naturally, Kayla and I both brought plants to incorporate somehow, and Kayla wanted to do some portraits to commemorate her dog, Ellie, who recently crossed over the rainbow bridge. She brought Ellie’s memorial plant with her collar and tags and a pet portrait painted by her friend Megan Doughney.

I really loved the clean look of the black backdrop against the white wall and window. I had some fun moving it around to create different shapes and lines in the photos. It was great to get back in the studio and now I want to open my own studio, but for now, I will stick to renting! If you need a studio in DFW, I highly recommend Pink Pineapple studio group. It was very easy to book online and they even let me come up before the shoot to check out their prop selection and see the space.

A message to the couple: Congrats, Kayla and James! You guys make such a great couple, and I am so grateful for our friendship! I know that you marriage will be a happy one filled with laughter, skulls, horror movies, heavy metal, .and lots of plants! hahaha I cannot wait for your wedding in October!

Katie and Shawn's White Rock Lake engagement session

Check out my latest engagement portrait session at White Rock Lake!  Katie and Shawn are just the cutest couple and we had so much fun hanging out with their doggies at the lake for this stunning portrait session.  

I am so excited to photograph their wedding in November!  As a wedding photographer, I offer an engagement session to all of my wedding photography clients so that we have a chance to work together before the wedding day.  It helps me to get a feel for what poses work best for them, as well as giving the couple an opportunity to get accustomed to my posing style.  The best part is that we get to know each other a little better and it makes things go much smoother on the wedding day when you have had a chance to work together before.  

Take a look at this awesome session and tell me what you think in the comments!

Salma and Chris- Downtown Dallas Engagement Portraits

I officially love shooting in Downtown Dallas!  Salma and Chris were so much fun to work with!  Our downtown Dallas portrait session could not have gone any better!  We cruised around from Main Street Garden Park, to the AT&T Performing arts center, to the location of their first date, The Fairmont Hotel.  It was a fun time and these two lovebirds made my job easy!  They certainly don't have any trouble making each other laugh, which in my opinion, is the key to a long and happy marriage!  

Elliana at the Park.

So apparently "tween" sessions are a thing now and since my favorite tiny human (Elliana) is turning 12 soon, I decided we absolutely had to go play in the park and take have a tween portrait session, even though I kind of hate the word Tween!  First of, let me say that she is much easier to photograph now than when she was 2!  I remember the kicking and screaming well.  As the years progress it has gotten easier but she never really wanted to have anything to do with the camera.  Now she is like a little fashion model!  Oh how times change. (sigh.)  I have truly enjoyed watching my little munchkin turn into such a beautiful young lady.  Check out how much fun we had playing in the leaves and hanging out with my favorite girl at my favorite park!