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!

Lise and Darron's Deep Ellum engagement session

When I first met with Lise and Darron, they mentioned to me that they each had a bike and loved to ride together in their spare time. So when it came time to create the look for their engagement portraits, I knew we had to incorporate their motorcycles! I immediately thought of Deep Ellum as our backdrop and since I know the folks over at Deep Ellum Art Co, I decided to ask them if we could commandeer their sidewalk in front of one of the cool murals by Preston Panneck and IZK art. So we set up shop there right as the sun was setting and the sky was just gorgeous, so we snuck over to the street corner for a couple shots with the beautiful Texas sunset behind them. I love it when I have photography clients that are willing to let me be creative! It always leads to great sessions and this engagement shoot was no exception. Lise and Darron trusted my vision from the very beginning and it definitely paid off! Enjoy!

Zach and Katie's Dallas Skyline engagement portraits

When My good friend Zach and his fiance Katie announced they were getting married, I couldn’t wait to congratulate them! I was so excited when they reached out to me about doing an engagement session before their destination wedding in Jamaica. Unfortunately we were unable to travel for their wedding so I knew that I wanted to give them a great gift that they would enjoy for years to come. I offered to do their session as my wedding gift, but they had to agree to do what I wanted! hahaha I know how much they love living in the heart of Dallas, and I am currently obsessed with nightscape portraits, so I suggested we do something that incorporated the skyline of Dallas. I had done some photos of the skyline form the continental bridge before, but not with a human subject, so I wanted to give it a shot! (pun intended) Since Zach is a musician I thought we could start out at one of the most recognized music venues in Dallas, the Kessler theater. Zach brought his “sexiest” guitar (his words, not mine hahaha) and we had some great shots that make him look very Johnny Cash, in my opinion! All in all it was a fun time to get to work with dear friends and we ended getting some amazing captures along the way! Enjoy!

Hollow Hill Farms Engagement Portraits

This "golden hour" portrait session was so much fun!  Last fall I photographed this engagement session with a great couple, Diana and Howard, at a beautiful wedding venue in Weatherford, TX called Hollow Hill Farms.  Hollow Hill is always adding new structures and features so every time I work there, I get to play around with something different!  I got to explore the grounds at Hollow Hill a bit more than I do during a wedding day at that venue.  Timing is everything when it comes to portrait sessions, so I like to start around an hour before the sunsets.  That way I have some time to do some sun-drenched images before getting a great post-sunset landscape with the couple.

First, I wanted to capture them in the bright golden light of the sunset in a wooded area to highlight the golden leaves on the trees.  Then we moved over to the mission. The sun was hiding behind a hill, so I was able to capture the deep blue sky and the moon!  Finally, we headed over to the pond and I got in some silhouettes and a couple of shots that I lit with some off-camera flash.  Did I mention I was 8 months pregnant and laying in the grass next to the pond in order to get the angle perfect?  Oh yeah, that is just how far I am willing to go to get the perfect shot!  

Overall, this was a really exciting a fun shoot for me!  I have 2 weddings coming up this season at Hollow Hill Farms, and I couldn't be more excited to explore their gorgeous wedding venue even further!

Lee-Taylor and Riley: an engagement session at White Rock Lake

Who doesn't love a sun-drenched fall afternoon???  Hanging out with Riley and Lee-Taylor on a sunny afternoon by the lake, I was happy to realize that this gorgeous couple photographs like they just walked out of a Ralph Lauren ad!  I just love my job!  Enjoy this beautiful sunset shoot by the lake: