City Version of Duck Dynasty...

The Jones family commissioned us to do their family portraits. With both boys home from college mom scheduled the session. They wanted something not-so-normal. They are an outdoorsy, gun-shooting, Duck Dynasty watching, kind of family. So out came the camo-jackets, rifles, and a Ford truck. We decided on a grove of oak trees for the session, and our neighbor's property fit the bill. During the session, we had a visit from the cattle and two donkeys. One of the donkeys walked right up to me and when he realized I wasn't someone he knew, he hollered. The other came right up and stared at me for a couple of minutes. All the while the Jones family laughed hysterically. The cattle even tried chewing on Micah's cowboy hat sitting on the front seat of his truck (that's what happens when you leave your door open). Also, you have to watch where you step, when nature calls, cattle have no preferences where they go. It was a fun family session and the images turned out great too. Family portraits are always unique. Each family different, and yet share many similar characteristics. That being said, time waits for no one. In a few short years the Jones family will grow, and change, and the dynamics will never be the same. Laurie, thanks for choosing Captured Keepsakes to help capture this special time in your family life. These images will grow in value, and someday, become a family heirloom.

Sarah, Plain and Tall...

I couldn't resist. Sarah is anything but Plain, however she is definitely tall (5'11" to be exact). She's a beautiful, fashion-conscious, and friendly young lady. The thing I liked best about Sarah is she's real. I mean she's like a big kid, sincere, joyful, silly, and respectful. Her genuine"ness" shines right from the moment you meet her. She knows what she wants, but is respectful and kind and doesn't let her ambitions stop her from mistreating people. She's like a life-sized barbie doll with the sweetness of a bunny rabbit. Whatever Sarah does for an occupation, I know she'll be an asset to any company that gives her a chance. She's a one-of-a-kind.

After graduation: Studying Architecture in College
A Dinner Guest of her choice: Her best friend because she doesn't have to look at the menu when we go eat sushi
One Wish: Travel the world
One thing to do to Impact the World: Find a way to make Architecture honor God and others
Favorite Song: "Carried Away" by George Strait
Favorite Quote: Romans 15:13 "I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit"

The session was very enjoyable and we all had a lot of fun. Click here to see a short video from the session, and here to see more images on our site. We hope the CK experience was one you won't forget, we definitely won't forget Sarah. Leave us a comment and tell us what you think. Enjoy...

Miss Brittany W....

came to us from Reagan HS. She loves to dance and is on the RHS dance team. Brittany is a natural beauty. Angela (our MUA - that's short for Make Up Artist), did a great job with her makeup and hair. Brittany's personality shined in every outfit she brought. The weather was cold and overcast, but when she put on her first outfit, the sun peaked through the clouds and gave us great light which remained for the rest of the session. Brittany plans on attending Baylor University and studying Speech Therapy. With her outgoing and friendly personality, we think she'll do a great job helping people learn or relearn to communicate.
After graduation: Brittany wants to study Speech Therapy at Baylor University
A Dinner Guest of her choice: Si Robertson
One Wish: To go back to Rwanda and visit the African Children again
One thing to do to Impact the World: Find a cure for cancer
Favorite Song: "I want Crazy" by Hunter Hayes
Favorite Quote: Proverbs 16:9 "We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps"

We had a great time and the images turned out even better. Click here to see a short video from the session, and here to see more images on our site. Enjoy...

Fun Day with Family....

We photographed the Wallace family a few years back and it was time to update the family portrait. Jen wanted to go to the Pearl Brewery, so we gathered up our gear and headed out. The PB is an interesting place. It's an old Brewery that has been made into a little community of shops, restaurants, and upscale apartment living right on the San Antonio River. The architecture is unsurpassed for such a small area. The Wallace family had a good time and the images turned out great. Here's a short video from the session. It's not too late to schedule a family portrait session before the holidays. As always, enjoy....

Ms. Danielle....

came to us from Steele HS. She's a cheerleader who loves football. In her 4 year career as a cheerleader, the varsity football team has only lost 4 games. Danielle is a bright, outgoing, very personable, and fun to be around. Danielle brought her mom and sister to the session and I have to say, we all had a good time. The weather was so much nicer than the previous 5 days, but even though it was sunny it was still a little on the cool side. Danielle was a trooper though. Here's a new twist we're adding to our blogs for this year.
After graduation: Danielle wants to attend the University of Houston and study Pharmacology.
A Dinner Guest of her choice: Oprah Winfrey
One Wish: To make my parents proud
One thing to do to Impact the World: pay the world deficit
Favorite Song: the National Anthem
Favorite Quote: Isaiah 41:10 "Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous hand"

We had a great time and the images turned out even better. Click here to see a short video from the session, and here to see more images on our site. Leave us a comment of two... Enjoy...

The Armor of God....

Here's a short video we made preparing for a video we may be commissioned to make for a book author. Leave us a comment and tell us what you think.

Stephanie & Michael...

did a "save the date" engagement session with us recently. I had the privilege of knowing Stephanie from school. I had her in one of my classes a few years back. She's athletic and really funny, not to mention beautiful. She's got these phenomenal eyes. Of course that's the first thing Michael noticed about her. Michael and Stephanie seem to get along really well. The session went a little long, but hey, good things come to those who wait (hehehehe). Michael was bummed because the A&M game was on (he's a big fan) and when we were wrapping up, so was the game. Unfortunately A&M lost in the last two minutes. Hey Michael, you still won, you got Stephanie (and some great portraits). We had a fun time, and look forward to photographing their wedding in the Spring of next year. The "Save the Date" cards turned out really cool. Just another thing we do for our clients. Click here to watch a short video of the session. As always, leave us a comment and tell us what you think.

Randolph High School Homecoming Fun....

Spent a little over an hour photographing about 20 Randolph HS students preparing for their 2013 Homecoming Dance. Bailey's home is spectacular (could've photographed just about any where at her house, but the pool house fit our needs photographically). We did a few couple portraits, then the group shot. Finally, we finished with a Photo-Booth type of style and everyone's personalities came alive. Anyway, had a fun time, hopefully the group portrait will be a Keepsake for many of the students in the years to come. You only get a short time to be in high school, so hopefully, you make the best of every moment. Here's a short video from the session. As the song says, they were definitely, "having fun". For those of you interested in Senior portraits, give us a call before we book up for the year.

Gratitude 365 Project...

I started this project to help me with being grateful. I tend to take things for granted. There is a part in the movie "Courageous", where the dad is grieving over the loss of his 9 year old daughter. The pastor tells him that he will never get over this, but with God's help, he can get through the pain. The decision he has to make is this: he can either continue to be mad at God for the time that he won't have with his daughter (future graduation, wedding, etc...) or he can be grateful for the 9 years he had with her. I'm not saying this is the answer for grieving parents, I'm just using this to illustrate my point on me being grateful to God for all He has done for me. Here's a link to the Grateful 365 page on our web site. I don't plan on posting many of these (so check back to the site to see them), but I will occasionally post an image when it's deserving. Hopefully, some of these will spark a flame inside of you, and it will cause you to to be grateful to the One whom deserves it...

Educating America: #2 The Failed Cartoonist...

Clif Tinker is a self-admitted "failed cartoonist", but an accomplished artist. He is currently teaching Art at Madison HS, where he also has the distinction of Department Head of Fine Arts. Clif is an extremely talented, creative, and people-friendly individual. His journey has taken him through many avenues of the Arts, but eventually landed him in the teaching profession. In college he loved to draw cartoons for the newspaper in school. The editor, didn't see the value in his artwork, and thus fired him. So the so-called "failed cartoonist", took his creative talents to the educational realm. He has been teaching in public school for 20 years now, and taught privately for another, near decade. His work has been honored by HEB (a local grocery store chain) in which they have made grocery bags, mugs, aprons, and many other items with his art on them. They are currently for sale at any of the 180 HEB stores located in Texas. I've known Clif for about 13 years (teaching together) and I must say, his work stands out and above most. He has been honored by the San Antonio Spurs NBA team (the banners hanging in the AT&T center, belong to him, as well as, the 2003 Championship celebration poster done in 2004). TSTA commissioned him to create their century celebration poster in Austin. And the San Antonio Library used his design on their 100 year celebration poster. Clif has a big heart for helping others, and he hopes his art inspires others to reach their potential. Quoted from a recent interview with the Express News, I want my art to "uplift people" and be affordable. "I love that you can own Clif Tinker art for $1.50 and eat off of it, too". Clif is not only a creative artist and educator, but an inspiration to us all when it comes to perseverance and staying true to his calling. Click here to learn more about Clif on our website. As always, leave a comment or two. Enjoy....

Holden Lauren...

Yeah, that's right, Holden is Holding Lauren....(couldn't resist). Lauren and Holden are gettin' Hitched in January of 2014. They came to us for their engagement / save the date session. We did Lauren's senior portraits and few years back and she told us that we would be doing her wedding. Well, it sure feels good that she liked us so much that her promise is coming true. Anyway, Lauren and Holden seem to enjoy each other's company. They seem to get each other too. Their wedding day should be an exciting and extremely fun wedding for us,'cause we know her entire family. Plus it's going to be out in the country (what more could you ask for?). Here's a link to a short video from the session. As always, leave us a comment; we love hearing from you. Enjoy....

Bethany the Marine Biologist...

came back for her "in the water" portraits (ideas I had for her). After capturing some images in the studio, we went out to the pool. We had a fun time, and came back with some compelling images. When I watched the video, I got goose bumps. I mean, it's so satisfying when attempting to capture someone's personality, you come away with something like this. I mean knowing that I'm making a small impact in the lives of these seniors that come to us is so intrinsically rewarding. Bethany is a special young lady, really special. When I look at the world and see all of the decline in behavior, technology busting at the seams, and lack of respect for God, it's so refreshing to be able to do what I do. Bethany is going to make a difference in the world, or as the video states, she's gonna leave her mark. The world is definitely a better place because of her presence. Anyway, you can see a few more images of her on our site, and by all means, check out the short video about her... As always, leave us a comment and tell us what you think. Enjoy.....

Miss Bethany...

I've had the privilege of knowing Bethany for 3 years now. I had her in class the last two years. I must of done something right because she came to us for her senior portraits. Bethany is a Senior at JM. She plans on studying marine biology in college and then hopefully becoming a seal trainer, turtle researcher, or underwater world professor. She is also talented with the camera (I wonder where she learned that?). Anyway, Bethany is a joy to be around, very down-to-earth, extremely intelligent, and very, very sweet. She'll be coming back to help create an underwater image that's gonna knock your socks off (well, hopefully at least untie your shoes). So you'll have to check back in a few weeks. Here's a short video from the session, and click here to see more images of her on the site.

I'm starting a new part of the "CK High School Senior Portraits" Experience. This will allow you to get to know our seniors a little more. They have so much to contribute to the world. Bethany is the first.

Favorite quote – “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” –Jacques Yves Cousteau
Favorite Song - My favorite song would have to be, “Don’t you ”by Simple Minds
Plans for next year – My plan is to attend Texas A&M at Galveston for college, hopefully start saving the turtles and whales!
If you could have dinner with someone (past or present) who would you choose? Why? I would have dinner with my dad because no matter how close I am with my mom, I will always be daddy’s little girl and I love our time spent together. He has always supported my choices and has blessed me with so many experiences. I love him very much.
What do you think people will remember most about you? I think that people will remember me for being such a hardworking person, who is determined to achieve her goals.
If you could have one wish, what would it be? If I could have one wish it would be to swim with a whale shark.
If you could do one thing to impact the world, what would you do? If I could impact the world in one way, I would definitely try to get people to understand how beautiful our oceans, the creatures that live there, and the habitat are. I would want to make a difference in the underwater world, by educating and informing people about marine mammals and strive to protect their habitat ultimately.

As always, tell us what you think in the comments section. Enjoy....

T-Shirt Time....

My friend Bill started a screen printing venture so I asked him to print up some T-shirts for our company (I've been wanting to do it for about 3 years now). This is another Marketing strategy we hope works. We delivered the T-shirts to our CK Reps and had them take an image wearing it and send to us. It's so cool to see an idea you have in your head become a reality (that's why initiative is so vital in life). I must say, the shirts look absolutely great on the girls. You can see some of their images here. When you sign up to have your senior portraits created with us, you'll not only get a one-of-a-kind t-shirt to wear with pride, but you'll also have the coolest, most creative portraits on the planet. How cool is that?

Miss Motorcycle....

We did another session with Christian (our JM Rep). She not only dances, makes good grades in school, hunts with her dad, but also rides motorcycles. You could say she's every outdoorsman's dream. Any way, thought we'd share a short video taken with the iphone... See more of her here. Enjoy....

Lengthening Life by Pausing Moments...

We had the fortune of photographing Hannah, Mercy, and McKayla's grandparents with them when we did their family portraits recently. They will be celebrating a milestone anniversary very soon (congratulations). The images turned out fantabulous. The reason for this post is that we rarely get to photograph grandparents with their grand children. What an honor. Just think, when the girls get older they will have these cherished portraits to show their children and grand children. What a privilege it is to help preserve their family history. A camera truly does lengthen life by pausing moments.

Miss Peppie....

...Rachel is our CK Rep from Steele High School. She is full of life, energetic, boldly honest, and has a magnetic personality. She's a cheerleader at Steele high school which helps her express her geniune loyalty. And hey, she gets into the football games for free ;). Rachel wants to do something in the medical field, but she's not sure yet. Her smile is definitely contagious; it's only fitting when you're around her to laugh and smile. I will say the funniest thing (besides her expressions and mannerisms on the trampoline) is when she told us about her car, Camille (yes she named her car, doesn't everyone?). Seeing the pink printed car seats we knew we had to use them for an image. Anyway, we hope Rachel turns out to be a great rep for us this year (and I have a sneaky suspicion she will). More images of her on the site... and if you see her ask her about her rep cards, there might just be a little surprise for you if you decide to come to us for your senior portraits. As always we appreciate comments. Enjoy...

Educating America #1: Personal Project

I've been wanting to do several personal projects for the past year or two and didn't have the time. I finally got this one started and truly enjoyed the first session. God-willing, some day this will turn into a book. The purpose of this project is to promote change in society's views of educators. I want to showcase their personalities and talents, in their own environment. To show they are extraordinary, selfless human beings. Unfortunately, the perception of teachers covers a broad range of ideas, but most do not fall on the positive, respected side. I know many would say, "teachers are respected", but in reality, it's just a weak facade put up to make the system look better. The perceived persona (the views of most educated individuals) compared to the actual treatment of educators is what scientist's would call "polar opposites"; as distant as the width of the Grand Canyon. I was a teacher for 18 years so I know first hand what educators go through on a daily basis. The hours put in, the un-reimbursed expenses incurred, and the issues that educators have to deal with on a daily basis would cause most to run in the other direction (leaving the profession). The old saying goes, "those that can, DO; and those that cannot do, TEACH". Well, how about a new saying, "those that can, TEACH; and those that can't teach, DO." We need top quality educators to help bring this country back to its roots (hardwork, integrity, humility, and responsibility to name a few), and regrettably, many are being driven from the system. This is the first of hopefully many to come. Mrs. McCarthy was wonderful to work with. Her dog, Lilly, was spunky and full of personality too. Anyway, you can read more about her on the site. If you know of an educator, that truly loves their job, and that would like to take part in this project, pass this on and ask them to contact me.

Asked by a dinner guest, "what do you make?", the teacher replied, "I make a difference". As for now, when you see and educator, tell them how much you appreciate what they do. They'll love it.... As always leave us a comment...

Meaning behind the Craft...

I've been involved in two professions (education and photography) for the past 18 years and it seems that they are not ranked highly in today's modern views of professions. In education, the true rewards come later, and in photography, unless you are a celebrity in the industry, the respect levels there aren't anything to be desired. In today's world, occupations are viewed in a positive manner if they make a lot of money, make you popular (famous), or grant you some sort of power or influence. Education and photography don't make the top 100 list. Of course I see them differently. I'll use photography for example. The rewards of photography (aside from a paycheck) far outweigh the deceptive pull of riches and fame the world so desires. Eight years ago, we were commissioned to photograph a wedding. It was a small, elegant, half-day event. The fact that we exceeded the expectations of our client, solidified their loyalty and made them life-long Captured Keepsakes advocates. We have been photographing the family (newborns, birthday milestones, and family portraits) for almost a decade now. The relationship we built is one based on trust, confidence, and respect. How many occupations out there grant that kind of reward? Trust: to allow you to handle and photograph a delicate newborn? Confidence: knowing you'll do a great job with a small, transient moment? Respect: telling others about your services with high regard? We choose professions in this country based on immediate, fleeting, and deceptive criteria. Don't get me wrong, money, fame, and power does satisfy, but only for a short time period. The true rewards in life that last aren't anything you can get, it's what you give. This adds to your character, which in turn helps you treat others with more respect, making a difference, leading to true change. It impacts the world. I'll leave you with this short illustrated story. When Noah was one, we photographed him. The image below is what came from the session. That image has drawn more attention to the family and at dad's business, people can't stop talking about it. It influenced Matt so much, that we recreated it for Noah's 5 year old portraits. And we will do it again until he graduates from high school. What a privilege it is to have a profession that allows us to create something that influences others for years to come. Capturing or creating a moment that creates value in the future....how many professions can say that? I love my job.

B-Cubed (B3)...

that stands for "Brown-haired Backwoods Barbie". Serrena is our CK senior REP at San Marcos HS this school year. She's new to the area but hopefully will make many friends in the next year. The title of this blog post describes Serrena. She's drop-dead gorgeous, reminds me of a young Elizabeth Hurley (don't get a big head S ;) . She's very down-to-earth. She's simple (in the nicest way). She loves the outdoors (hunting, shooting guns, not wearing makeup, driving pickup trucks, tending farm animals, and hanging out with the boys.... ). Most importantly, she's got a great heart (mom, you must be doing something right). I know she has flaws (she's human), but when I met her, her demeanor (geniune personality) really took center stage. I mean how many people that you know that are physically attractive have a humble spirit? Most are arrogant, out-spoken, or so self-centered that you can only have a one-way conversation with them. Serrena seems well-grounded. Anyway, the one thing I regret about the session is that she didn't sing for us (she sings and plays the guitar). Serrena, next time, you can't leave without singing! We hope Serrena will be a great CK Rep for us this year (hint, hint). So if you bump into her and you're a senior, ask her to tell you about us. We'll capture your personality, preserving it in tangible form for years to come, and have fun in the process. More images of her on the site. As always, leave us a comment. Enjoy...

The Photography Conundrum...

Every time we take our annual Summer vacation I just so happen to take along my camera. I figure, "why not document our travels and get some really cool images of the places we see?" This year we vacationed in Puerto Rico. This was our second time visiting the Caribbean island, and we had something planned every day. I really can't figure out the puzzle of photography. I mean every time we go to scenic places I don't feel I come home with very good images. We spent 8 days in paradise and I feel like the vacation isn't complete unless I come home with smashing images. Dealing with the emotional sense of photographic failure, I purposely leave the images alone for a couple of weeks. I don't look at them. For some reason doing this seems to always have this profound effect on the feeling of photographic failure I come home with. Maybe I'm just being hard on myself (tends to go right along with a perfectionistic personality), but after a short time period away from the images I look with less critical eyes. I see new reasons to like them and I appreciate the vacation more. I say, "wow, these aren't that bad", the more time that goes by I say, "these are pretty good". After a year or so gone by I say, "these are really good". So the lesson to be learned is this: always wait a few days (maybe even weeks) after a photo session (when shooting for yourself). The time away seems to work miracles with this emotional tug-of-war of photographic satisfaction vs. failure. When you view them at a later point in time, you tend to see them in a different light. Give it a try... it just may help you get through a bout of "photographic failure". Below is my favorite image from our trip. It was a fleeting moment that I was blessed to capture. More images here. Leave a comment if you like the images. Enjoy.

Benefits of being a CK REP....

Storie is our CK REP from Randolph HS. She was handpicked. Being a CK REP means that you not only get the opportunity for discounts on our photographic services and products, but you also are eligible for multiple sessions. Here at Captured Keepsakes we are always trying to perfect our craft, so when new ideas come, new equipment comes out, or we just need to try a new setup or scenario, we use our CK REPs as the models for those sessions. We don't practice on paying clients. If you attend a school and are a senior for the 2013-2014 school year and would like to be a CK REP, give us a call and we will start the interview process. The character traits we look for in a CK REP are integrity, honesty, and personality. Looks and popularity are secondary to us. Storie just so happens to have what we're looking for and then some.... here are some more images of her from another session.

Miss Shelby...

is going to be our CK Rep at Clemens HS this school year. She came to us through another one of our reps from another school. The funny thing about this is that I went to school with her dad, small world, huh? Anyway, Shelby is a dancer and wants to pursue her education and skills in college, to someday be a dance instructor. I'm sure Shelby will be a great rep for us this year. More images on the site....

A Girl and Her Grandpa....

Lilly brought her grandpa out to the studio last week to pick up her portrait order. Her grandpa is into photography, so he wanted to "tag along" to meet us. Lilly spoke highly of us, so who wouldn't want to meet us (hehehehehe, purely a joke). Jim is a down-to-earth, physically fit, authentic person. He just has this personna that needed to be captured. I'm passionate about photography, so I pursued the opportunity and last Sunday, was awarded the privilege of photographing him and Lilly. Life is too short not to pursue your goals, follow your dreams, and fulfill your destiny. Some times you just have to ask. The images turned out fantastic, and I satisfied my photographic appetite (need to create) for the day. Leave a comment and let me know what you think.... Enjoy.

Behind the Scenes JM Graduation 2013...

For 13 years I've had the privilege of attending the JM HS Graduation ceremony. I've photographed the behind the scenes for about 7 years now. This year I thought I'd make a video from the event to share with the graduating seniors. If any of you (JM 2013 seniors) want a copy of an image, email me and I'll send it to you. Congratulations on this milestone in your life. Your future is bright.... Here's the video. Enjoy....

Mademoiselle "Krischin"...

... will be a senior at JM this coming school year. The reason for the title is because her name is Christian, but many people want to call her Kristen, Christine, Christina, etc... So she says if she could spell her name differently, she'd spell it like the title. I've had the privilege of having her in class for two years now, and I must say she is one of the most enjoyable people I've ever met. She's extremely intelligent, very respectful (rare in young people these days), ambitious, disciplined, and most importantly, sees humor in my jokes ;) . When people say someone is beautiful, most of the time they are talking about external qualities, but when I say beautiful I mean someone's internal qualities match or surpass their external qualities. Christian is truly a beautiful young lady. I haven't even mentioned her talent as a dancer (well maybe you got that from the image below), but she's the Colonel of the JM Dollie Dance Team (for the 2nd straight year, something very uncommon). And can she dance? You betcha.... She's truly blessed with creative ability. She'll be our 2nd Rep for JM this school year. Of all the Reps we've ever had, Christian will be one that was handpicked based on her character, among other reasons.... A few more images on our site. You'll be seeing more of her in the future....

What's her Storie?

Actually it's her name. Meet Storie, she'll be a senior at Randolph HS next school year, and will be our 2014 CK Rep. Storie is a beautiful young lady. She seems like a dedicated, athletic, and knows-what-she-wants kinda girl. According to mom, she's definitely a girlie girl. We think Storie will represent us well this next school year. A few more images on our site. You will definitely be seeing more of her in the coming months....

Miss Melissa...

will be a senior at JM next school year. I met her when she was a freshman, and in the short conversations we had, I knew she'd be a great rep for us when she was a senior. I can't believe time has gone by that fast, but yep, you guessed it, she'll be our 2014 senior rep for JM. The more I get to know Melissa the more I see her genuine, down-to-earth, girlie personality. She reminds me of a China doll (hey, new idea, china doll session ;) ). Anyway, we think she'll represent our business well. A few more images on our site. I'm sure you'll be seeing more of her in the future.

All Dolled Up.....

For the annual JM Dollie Dance Team portraits we decided to do something different this year. We've done prom dresses before, but we really wanted to do something different, something glamourous, something that made all the money they spent on those dresses last more than just one day. Last month I attended the Look Fabulous Tour evening seminar. Lou Freeman was one of the main presenters. She talked about "wrap lighting" and showed images displaying the technique. Being a backlight kinda guy, I conversed with her about the technique. She helped me tweak it, and the images of girls are the fruits of our labor. I think these images are so cool, these girls look like celebrities, all glammed up (where's the red carpet?). How many HS girls (or guys) get the opportunity to be photographed like a celebrity? Any way, we are so blessed to be able to have the opportunity to get to do our job. I hope the girls like 'em, we certainly do. Click here to watch a video from the session. As always, tell us what you think, like 'em, love 'em, in the comment section. Enjoy....

Greg & Savannah Part ll....

Here's a video that partially represents the most wonderful day of their lives.... so far. Feel free to leave a comment or two... Enjoy...

Baby Lyle....

We photographed Baby Lyle last month (just getting around to portraits other than senior stuff). We've have the fortune of photographing the Rodriguez family for a long time now. Each of the four children's newborn portraits, the mom and dad's wedding, and several other events. Lisa and Eric are wonderful people, and their kids are super cute and well-mannered. Lyle is the baby of the family (no pun intended). He'll have a big brother, and two big sisters to grow up with. His mom wanted to do a turtle themed image, so after putting it all together, we came up with what you see below. Too cute for words. I'm sure mom and dad will love the images. We look forward to creating future portraits for Lyle and his family. Enjoy.....

Savannah and Greg's Wedding Part 1...

Here's an image from yesterday's wedding. We must say, it was one of the best weddings we've ever had the privilege of photographing. The venue (The Gardens at Cranesbury View) was absolutely breath-taking (if you're looking for a wedding venue, give Amy a call, she's fantastic). The weather was perfect, and you couldn't have asked for a better bride and groom. Greg and Savannah you are a very special couple. We've had the privilege of working with you so many times now, that we can definitely call you friends. May your honeymoon in paradise be refreshing and filled with memorable moments. We'll be posting more (after senior season orders get fulfilled) with a short video. Until then enjoy the image....

Miss Erin...

came to us from Churchill HS. She found us on the web. Erin isn't sure about what she wants to do after college, but she's narrowed it down to Business, Architecture,or ???? (oopsie, I forgot). Erin is an outgoing, happy, strong-willed, and beautiful young lady. Michelle kept calling her the Little Mermaid because of her hair, she could probably hide in it if she wanted to (she hasn't cut it since 9th grade). Erin has these honey-brown eyes that just sparkle when light hits them (so that's why the closeups look so good). Erin wanted pics with flowers, forntunately for her, this time of year yields mexican blankets right in our back field (how convenient is that?, thank you Lord). Anyway, we started out in the garage with natural light and got some great, simple, clean images that turned out to be some of our favorites. We then concentrated on the flowers, and finished up with her red car. Erin seemed to enjoy the session, but by the end she seemed worn out. Her friend, Tommie Lynn, kept her spirits high and made her laugh throughout the session (my jokes didn't seem to have the magic they normally do). All in all, we got some great pics and hopefully Erin likes 'em. More images on the site, and click here to watch a short video from the session. Enjoy....

vic"TORI"us...

Victoria, or as she goes by Tori, came to us from JM. She saw some of our images from a senior that she knew a few years ago and set in her mind that we were going to be the ones to take her's. Tori has a cheerleader background, which explains her bubbly personality. She's cute as a button, funny, and adorable when she laughs. Tori wants to study business in college and hopefully pursue a career in the merchandising industry. Even though Tori might disagree, we think she's 100% GIRLIE GIRL. We went down to the creek and it's was like an African Safari for her. Bugs, plants, itchy-scratchy stuff. I asked her mom if this is the most out of the city she's ever been, and she said, "yes". Tori was really funny, her brother and friend laughed and teased her the entire time. Tori, you are a beautiful young lady. When you smile it's contagious. Always remember the FEDEX sign and the story we told you behind it. We wish you the best, and some how, we know you'll be burning a path to success in whatever you do. More images on the site, and click here for a short video from the session. Enjoy.....

Real Life Barbie...

This is the second Emily B (yes - identical names) we've photographed in the last 8 days. You can read about the other Emily B in the post below this one. I've had the privilege of knowing Emily for two years now. She's a senior at JM. She's a go-getter, up-beat, dedicated, disciplined, extremely intelligent, and of course a sight for sore eyes. She's the real deal, and looks like a real-life, living, breathing, Barbie Doll. She plans on attended the University of Texas in the Fall, and wants to study International Business. She wants to travel abroad, and possibly work overseas. She's traveled to Europe in the past, and absolutely loved it. If there's one thing I know about Emily, if she wants something, nothing's gonna stop her from getting it. For the session she wanted to include her new prom dress, her dance attire (representing her love of Dance), and a white sundress. The weather was great, minus the 16 mph winds (Emily did her best to put on her patient-pants). Wind and long hair usually don't mix, however, we made it work. Her portraits turned out fantabulous, and we are certain she'll love 'em (fingers crossed). Anyway, we all enjoyed the session. Emily, the world is waiting for you to spread your wings and fly. We know whatever you do, you'll prosper, as long as you stay grounded. More images on our website, and click here to watch a short video of her session. Enjoy.....

Giggly Gig'Em....

There truly is a story about this session. I'm just giving you the reader's digest version/synopsis. In the next week, we will have photographed two girls with the same identical name. Yes, there was plenty of confusion, but we worked it out (a special thanks goes out to Lilly and Mom for being accommodating). Anyway, Emily is a senior at Clemens HS. She's involved in the Ag Program. She's A&M bound come the Fall (that's where the Gig'EM in the title comes from). Emily is a sweetheart. When she smiles she reminds me of Jennilee Harrison (Cindy on Three's Company 70's TV show), but much prettier. She wants to study Agriculture in college. I think she fits right in with the A&M crowd (she's all country with a little city girl flare). Emily wanted flowers, so with the permission of a neighbor (us country folk are all neighbors), we used a large patch of bluebonnets to fulfill her request. I must say, her images are stunning. We think she'll love 'em (fingers crossed). The stories she shared with us about the beach, sunscreen and sand, were too funny. We all had a great time and the pictures turned out Vundabar (I know I didn't spell that right). Click here to see more images on our site, and here to watch a short video from the session. Enjoy.....

Full Of Life....

Lilly is one of those people that makes your day brighter as soon as she enters your presence. She is a senior at RHS. She's probably the most spirited, lively senior we've had this year. Her excitement and spunkiness kept us going throughout the session. I don't know what Lilly thinks about herself, but we definitely know she's full of life, outgoing, enthusiastic, intelligent, talented (she can dance), and totally loveable. We hope she continues to show the world her million dollar smile, and more importantly, her billion dollar personality. She wants to study communications in College so she can work the PR department for a company some day. She really wants to help people, and what better way, than have a job that communicates important issues, but doing it in an exciting, respectful, and genuine way. We had a blast with Lilly and her mom. Dancing, singing, stupid jokes, and elegant dance moves, it was high energy through out the session. My favorite part was down by the creek, the trees are blooming yellow fuzzy buds, of course, we had to use it with Lilly's gorgeous yellow skirt outfit. I'll never forget the funny names we called each other, especially mom's. Lilly left singing an Elvis rendition of her mom's nickname (She--- Las Vegas), hehehehe.... I could write a novel from this session (it almost went that long), but I'll finish with this: Lilly you are a breath of fresh air. In a world with so many people being downtroddened, negative, and only watching out for themselves, you are a spark that refreshes the soul. Never forget how special you are.... Click here to see more images on our site, and here to watch a short video from the session. Enjoy....

Deep in the Heart of Texas....

Megan came to us from RHS. She's had several friends have their portraits done by us, so now it was her turn. Megan is an artistic, nostalgic (loves vinyl records), reserved, and beautiful young lady. She isn't exactly sure what she wants to study in college, but it's either going to be engineering or nursing. The title of this video is from the fact that we photographed Megan in front of the Texas flag, and then in a patch of bluebonnets (the Texas state flower). Even though Megan is not a cowgirl, her session definately had a Texas flavor to it. Megan loves record albums, her guitar, and her cat. So of course we incorporated all of them into the session. Finally, Megan wanted to be photographed in bluebonnets. This year is a little hit-and-miss when it comes to flowers (so far); some places they're great and others, no so great. We found her a patch in the least likely of places (next to a huge natural gas tank). Anyway, the images turned out great, and we hope Megan likes 'em as much as we do. Click here to see more images on our site, and here to watch a short video from the session. Enjoy.....

Transported Back in Time...

Savannah had her bridal portraits taken last week. I must say, she looked exquisite. We all just gazed at her when she came out in her dress. It was one of those moments of true beauty (like when you watch a colorful sun set). With all the distractions we have in life these days (cell phones, cable tv, computerized everything, and instant gratification) it was so nice to just keep things simple. The place where she's having her wedding was so picturesque. It was like being in an Italian villa with sculptured landscaping that would make a gardener take a deep breath. Her hair was made up with such elegance, she looked like one of the 1950's actresses (Audry Hepburn, Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly, or Esther Williams). Of course glamour back in the 1950's had integrity and grace to it (unlike today). The entire atmosphere was so nostalgic. It was like being transported back in time, to the most glamourous environment. Her dress was stunning (the texture and details danced with the light). Too bad I can't show any of the images. Well, I'll show one, and even though it's just a shadow, it does capture Savannah's graceful beauty. After the Wedding I might show a few more, but until then, use your imagination... Enjoy....

A Man and His Car...

Michael is a senior at Madison HS, we photographed his sister a few years ago. Michael is an intelligent, determined, reserved, and easy-going young man. He wants to study Accounting in College, then on to law school, and eventually have his own Law Practice. Michael's mom and dad told us that he is also very good at making money. He's an online trading genius. Michael wanted to use his car as the major part of his portrait session, and we must say he's got a nice ride. Not a typical over jazzed up stock car, but his car seemed to have the right amount of manliness. Our favorite image was when he sat on the front bumper. Michael, congrats on your senior year and graduation will be here before you know it (so savor every moment). Click here to see more images on the site, and here to watch a short video from the session. Enjoy.....

All in a Day's Work....

Anna is a senior at RHS. She came to us via, her cousin, and several friends. She's very outgoing, intelligent, funny, and seems very even-keyed. She wants to pursue a career in Psychology after High School. She wants to delve into the minds of people and help fix 'em. I'm sure she'll succeed, she just has a way about her. This session we traveled to a lot of areas (Africa, RHS Stadium, & down by the River). And to think, we didn't even leave my neighborhood ;) . Anna is a cheerleader and so she wanted some cheer stuff. We transported her to her HS football field for a few images, and even waited until nightfall to get another (all virtual of course). We then made it down to the creek, to play in the water, and get some beautiful backlit images. We then were transported to the Serengetti in Africa to pet a giraffe (why a giraffe you ask? Anna is a Giraffe fanatic). We finished up with the swing and the interview. I must say, Anna, you've got some wonderful images to choose from. We hope you like 'em as much as we do. Click here to see some more images on the site, and here to watch a short video from the session. As always, we love to read comments. Enjoy....

Maddie at One

Just wanted to share one image from a recent session. We photographed Maddie when she was a little over a week old, then last November for a family portrait, and finally for her first birthday. She was a little cranky at first but then warmed up. She loves to dance and stick her tongue out. I must say that she looks almost identical to her brother Noah at that age. A beautiful little girl with a wonderful family. I'm sure you'll be seeing more of her in the future....

A Woman's Glory.....

JoBeth is a senior at RHS. She came to us via several people. Some of her friends had their portraits taken earlier this year, and her sister had her portraits done by us a few years back. JoBeth is an intelligent, witty, fashionable-minded shopper, and of course beautiful young lady. She wants to study business in college and go on to own or work her way up in a big business. The title of this blog comes from JoBeth's hair. It's a cross between a Lion's mane and a horse's tail. I mean it's the best hair we've ever seen. From the beginning of the session to the end, it looked the exact same, you couldn't even tell she'd been here for several hours. The Bible says the glory of a woman is her hair, well, JoBeth's glory is glorious. The session went well. We started inside, capturing some images of her in her fashionable, shopping, city attire. We then made it out to our neighbor's house for the wall of ivey, and then down by the creek. We finished up with her instrument. We all had a fun and memorable time. JoBeth, we got a lot of great images of you, so be prepared for a difficult time of choosing your favorites. In the meantime, click here to see some images on our site, and click here to see a short video from the session. As always, we love to read comments, so leave some.... Enjoy.....

"Kwik-Witted" Kathryn....

is a senior at RHS. She came to us after seeing some of her friend's images we did earlier this school year. Kathryn is a quick-witted (luv ya Kat), funny, intelligent, and beautiful young lady. She wants to be a nurse after her studies are over. We planned the session earlier in the week so we had a couple of days to get ideas. Kathryn's mom wanted her to wear a traditional Korean dress. I had several ideas with that, and the first image on our site is the one I'm most excited about. We have a peach tree that blossoms in a couple of weeks, that gave me the idea, so I used a cherry tree blossoming as the background of this image. Kathryn then wanted to take some images with her comic books (boy have they come a long way since I was a kid). We then went down the road to take some more, and that's when the story of this session happened. I won't get into details, but let's just say the meat truck drove by and offered us a meal. It was pretty funny, in that no one, I mean no one ever drives down our road selling anything. This was truly one of those anomalies. We will remember that one forever. Kathryn, you should've said yes, even though you're a vegan... hehehehehe. We finished up outside by the Texas flag and field. Kathryn seemed to have a good time, and so did her family. I truly enjoyed this session. Kathryn, you are a wonderful young lady, we wish you the absolute best in your future endeavors...I'm sure you'll achieve your goals. Click here so see some of the images on our site, and here to watch a short video from the session. Enjoy.....

Miss Hannah....

Hannah is a senior at RHS. She saw some of her friends' images on our site and decided she wanted us to do her senior portraits too. Hannah is like a chameleon. She can be quiet and unassuming, then WHAM, she's outgoing, funny, and the center of attention. The thing I liked about Hannah was her childlike honesty. I would ask her questions and she would just give straight forward answers (as she calls it, "I'll just wing-it"). After high school she wants to attend college and study to be a forensic Nurse (you know CSI type of stuff). I told her that if that doesn't work out she can be a lighting grip for a forensic doctor and hold the light that always shines behind them in that dark and scary morgue, making them look like its a nice, fun, warm place (like in Miami CSI). Anyway, she loves to shop, of course we try to please, so we took her to the mall for the session (as in the virtual mall on my computer). Hannah seemed to have a good time, and mom endured the photographic marathon (sorry mom, Broncos lost, but hey, at least you didn't have to watch the heartbreaking loss live). When the session was over, Hannah was worn out, but we got some great images. Hannah, you'll always be welcome here at CK. Click here to watch a short video from the session, and here to see more images on the site. As always, enjoy....

Cole(d) Winter Session.....

Cole came to us from Judson HS. We photographed his sister a few years ago. He plays soccer and kicked for the football team this year. He is uncertain on what to study after high school, but he wants to play soccer when he attends college. Cole is funny, energetic, athletic, and kind young man. He seems to have a very personable and down-to-earth personality and was very patient and respectful to us. During the entire session his mom and sister kept him on his toes. One would say something and the other would respond. It seems that the Johnson family is very close-knit. They told stories and we laughed quite a bit (especially the tubing down the Olympia River story). Of course the laughter escalated every time one of my jokes was told (hehehehe). We used Cole's jeep, his soccer attire, and two other fashionable outfits he brought. My favorite part of the session was photographing his jeep in our back field. It took a while to setup all the lights, but the images turned out fantanstic. Of course, everyone was cold waiting around during the setup. All in all, we think Cole had a fun time, and the images turned out great. Click here to watch a short video from the session, and here to see more images on the site. Enjoy.....