Cece's Pizza....

Couldn't resist....if she were a pizza, she'd have to be a deluxe (she's well-rounded)... Cece is a Senior from JM... I had the privilege of having her in one of my classes last school year... She's extremely intelligent, well-mannered, and an all around great young lady... She told me that she wants to attend that school where all the Aggies go, but I'm not going to hold that against her.... ;) We started off the session in her casual outfit... she had these sunglasses that were so 80s that we had to use them in a photo.... Her mom called them aviator glasses, but these were way too cool for pilots (hehehehe).... She then changed into her fabulous blue dress and we took some images on the swing, around the barn, and in the field... I made her laugh when I told her to look at me with her eyes (inside joke)... we finished up with her very fashiony white dress.... we used our neighbor's blooming tree next door, then grabbed a few images with the car with a full moon... Cece is a fun girl.... and I know she'll never forget her experience with us (especially the stickers on my bootie). Here are a few more images on the site, and click here to watch a short video from the session.... Enjoy.....

Iraan.... (they) ran so far away....

They couldn't get away.... I'd just could resist using a little 80's song humor... Brad and Kenna are from West Texas... there's just something about West Texas people that I love... Genuine, authentic, real.... Brad is very humble, quiet, and respectful young man... He's a 3 sport letterman, and will probably go to college somewhere here in SA. Anyway, We started with Brad in the morning... We did some studio images with all of his three sport jerseys... I won't mention the dunking the basketball shot, you'll have to ask him the funny thing that happened... we then went outside and captured him in two other outfits.... We finished up at the Middle School down the road with his track uniform and hurdle... these are by far some of my all time favorites... Click here to see more images on the site, and here for a short video from the session...



Kenna, what can I say? She loves attention (not in a bad way)... she loves having fun.... It wasn't difficult photographing her... We started with some images with her brother, Brad.... then we did some flower (weeds) images that matched the purple in her dress... We then made it into the garage for some she wanted... we then changed into her fabulous flower dress and captured some with the car and high-key in studio.... She was a blast, and the images weren't too bad either ;) Click here to see some more on the site, or here to watch a short video from the session.... Enjoy...

Wizards Basketball....

My oldest son is on a youth basketball team called the Wizards... They finished the season 8-2 (losing both games by a total of 5 points)... I think they finished tied for 1st place or 2nd... Any way, I thought it would be cool to shoot their team picture in a different way... We had each player come out to the studio, and photographed them one at a time (which only took about 25 minutes)... A couple of PS manuevers and wall-la, here it is... What do you think?

Mary....

Mary is a Senior at SACS. She’s athletic, intelligent, creative, and very well-grounded… I think my wife paid her the highest compliment, when she said to me, she wishes our sons find and marry a girl like her… I’ve had the privilege of photographing her brother James, and older sister Tiffany (which I called her numerous times during the session), but to my surprise it didn’t bother her, because she really looks up to her big sis… so I guess it was happy, accidental, compliment... We had scheduled to take her portraits late last year, but due to schedule conflicts, we finally got to shoot yesterday… We started with her brother James (she’s a twin, and her mom wanted some images of them together; since we didn’t get any earlier last Summer when we photographed James)…. she then changed into her tourquoise and black shirt outfit… we used the haybarn, and incorporated some of Mary’s unbelieveable pencil sketches…. These are amazing.. She almost has enough money from these three drawings (in the rodeo auction) to pay her first year of college… Lastly, Mary chose a black, silver, and white dress, to be photographed out in the fields… I must say they are my favorites from the session…. We got some flowers for her… the reason I mention this is because I joked with my wife that if she didn’t tear them up (during the session) she (my wife) could have them for Valentine’s Day : ) … anyway, we finished up inside with a couple of images of her reading her Bible…. I hope she likes the images… I think a couple of them are out-of-this-world…. More on the site… Click here to watch a short video of the session…. Enjoy….

Gregarious Anthony....

What can I say? Anthony has to be one of the most fun Senior Guys I've ever photographed... He's a Senior from Randolph HS... Shy is not a word in his vocabulary... I think he could have a good time in a cardboard box floating 2000 miles out in the ocean... When we met he told me that he was a funny guy...at the session I soon found this to be true... His dad wanted the traditional suit and tie image... I wanted to do something really different and funny, so I had an idea (that would satisfy both requests)... I found a shirt at WalMart and it just so happened to be his favorite superhero...how's that for good fortune? Anyway, his dad, step-mom, and sister all accompanied him during the session and helped out by being the audience for his many performances... We tried some new things, and he had several ideas as well... He drinks Monster drinks like water, according to dad, so we had to include that... He also is a big-time X-box player, so we included that as well.... We shot some with the car (in black and white), and finished up inside with the traditional cap and gown, and funny t-shirt... Anthony is a very personable, approachable, and good-spirited young man... I don't know what his future holds, but I can bet that it will include entertaining people with his sense of humor... I loved the images, and have quite of few favorites, some posted on the web site... I hope they like'em.... Click here to view the video from the session... Enjoy...

10 Days Old...

My Nephew Bryan and Marina just had a baby 10 days ago... As a gift, we told him to bring the baby out to the studio for some portraits... Aryana is a beautiful lil' girl, and pink seems to be her color... She was fussy at first, but then settled down and we got some beautiful images... Hope they like 'em...

The #1 most important tool....

I'm not here to profess that I know everything about photography (I'm not even close to knowing a quarter of what's out there), but recently I got to thinking... There seems to be a new thought process going on among photographers today (I still struggle with it sometimes myself)... I guess it's primarily in America. Many photographers (primarily young ones new to the field) think that having the newest, latest, and greatest equipment will make your images better, and make you a more successful and profitable business person. This couldn't be further from the truth...the only thing I'll guarantee it will do for you is get you into debt really fast....learn to use what you have first... The most important tool you could ever possess isn't electronic (though some would argue)... it's your brain. Knowing what you want before you capture it digitally is half the battle... the other half is actually doing it... Your creativity, willingness to take risks, and confidence levels will determine how far you'll go in the field. We recently returned from a camping trip in Garner State Park (highly recommended in the Winter, 'cause crowds are down to a minimum)... I took both my SLR and a Point-and-shoot cameras... From catching fish, playing basketball, roasting hotdogs and marshmellows on a campfire, hiking, caving, and just having fun family-time... I captured some images.... Just having a camera handy is a major step in helping expand your creativity as a photographer.... The images below are several of my favorites... And guess what? They were all taken with a point-and-shoot camera... a measly, little 9 mp camera.... Just goes to show you, a camera is just a tool... How you use it to create images that you like, is using the #1 most important tool you can possess.... your mind. Happy New Year everyone... Enjoy...

Why we do what we do....

Scott and Chelli are friends of ours... we photographed their wedding a few years ago... they moved away and moved back... Since then we've had the privilege of photographing their family twice now... What makes this special is the fact that they trust us and want us to help create portraits that will, not only document their daughter's young lives, but some day be shared with their grandchildren's children...We are creating a family heirloom over time... In just a little over 6 months their girls have changed a bunch... We started outside, blowing bubbles, daddy rocketship, catching bugs, running through the fields, and walking together... Then made it to the swing and trampoline before coming inside... then came formal dresses and Aggie cheerleading outfits from Grandma... all in about two hours... that's a record for us...

Here's one of Hannah with her precious two bears (she loves her bears)



McKayla on the swing (one of my all time favs)



McKayla on the trampoline (reminds me of a Children's GAP AD)



The family sitting in the field



Finally, the New A&M cheerleaders (I've always felt the need for change)



Merry Christmas Scott, Chelli, and the girls.... We'll see you in a couple of weeks....

Merry Christmas to everyone out there reading this....

Super Trooper...

Karys (pronounced “Care Isssss”) is a Senior from Randolph HS… she came to us through our Sr Rep, Shannon (thanks a bunch, Shannon)…. When we first met Karys (a few weeks ago), she was under the weather (sick), and was kind of out of it… we didn’t get a lot of details about the session during the pre-consultation… I really didn’t know what to expect… Well, when she showed up, WOW… she didn’t even look like the same person… Her hair was fantabulous (a different color), and I thought she was a super model (I know I’m exaggerating a little, but it was like night and day)….they say good things come in small packages, well, Karys is pure evidence of that… Anyway, the weather had been gloomy the day before (snow and 26 degrees), but today it was sunny and cold… the temps were in the upper 40’s (that’s cold for South Texas in early Dec.). We started in the garage, went across the road, then headed to a new Nature Park in Cibolo (a few miles from here)… I knew Karys would be cold so we provided a throw shawl for her…. She is definitely a trooper… You could see the goose bumps on her arms… we’d shoot a little, let her get warm, shoot, etc… the park is a pure & natural beauty (that’s why I chose it for her)… I can’t leave without mentioning the flower field (yes, flowers in December, only in Texas).. I saw this field a couple of weeks ago, and hoped that it would still be there now…. The Good Lord, allowed them to stay, but what we didn’t realize, is that they are weeds… and they stink… I’m talking sewage stink… and Karys, being the trooper that she is, didn’t complain, carried on, and took some fabulous images… I bribed her a little (hot chocolate on a cold day is like gold), so her mental toughness stayed focus on the reward. All in all, Karys is a wonderful young lady, we all braved the cold temps, and the images turned out vunderbar… More on the site…. Click here to watch a short video of the session… Enjoy….

Long Awaited Portrait....

Nicole, the oldest daughter of the family (who lives in California), wanted to give her mom a special birthday present, so she called and scheduled a family portrait.... We had photographed her sister's (Jackie) senior portraits a couple of years ago, so coming to us was from a satisfied experience. She told us that they haven't had a family portrait taken since she was little and since everyone was in town, a portrait was planned... I don't know when mom found out, but she knew when they drove up... The sun was in and out, it had been cloudy all day, then right when they show up, the sun continuously peeked through the clouds.... Mom was a little apprehensive about taking a portrait, because she thinks she doesn't photograph well.... one look at her children and you know where they get their good looks from (hint, hint)... We started out in the fields (frontlit, backlit, etc..), then we started to have some fun.... the youngest son felt it necessary to show the family how to move (dance) together as I instructed (the video is hilarious), in the mean time, the other son, stepped on Jackie's foot and her shoe came off... the entire family was laughing histerically (by the way, it was all caught on camera)... M had an idea to use the car, and that turned out to be one of my favorite images... I think they had a fun time, and the images turned out fantabulous... Hope they like 'em... Enjoy.....

Two Times the Fun.....

Back in January I attended one of my HS friend's surprise B-Day party... His mom wanted to get the entire family together for portrait.... Well, many months later, a few email exchanges, and a phone call, and it all happened... John is one of my close friends from HS. He and his wife Lisa have two children.... His sister Jill, and her husband Matt, have three girls... Man, I'm getting old, I remember when Jill was in elementary school and as cute as a button... now her girls are cute as buttons.... Anyway, they all came out for a family session... We captured each of the kids, then a couple of family shots, then some fun interaction images, and wrapped it up with an entire family portrait... We interviewed each person at the end, and it was funny listening to all of the responses... the images turned out great and we all had a good time... Hope they like 'em.... Enjoy...

A Hill Country Excursion....

Earlier this week we had the privilege of photographing M's best Friend's family. Tam and Phil live near Canyon Lake... They just moved there earlier this year... I had never been there before, so I could only imagine what it was like from descriptions made by others.... We arrived and met the fam down the hill from where they live... they wanted a pic with the huge sign down by the entrance... we then drove up a steep hill and arrived at their property... talk about breath-taking views, WOW.... Phil showed us to one of the locations they wanted their portraits taken... After the set up, we started taking images... I absolutely loved the way the light was hitting the area, backlit (my favorite type of lighting)... family, just kids, kids with parent, etc.... we got one or two images of them standing on their back porch, the views are incredible.... we then finished up slightly down the hill (the sun had set a while ago but the image turned out nice - thanks to the new technology in cameras these days)... we wrapped up the session, and then I got a tour of their home.... the image below is one of my favorites.... hope they like 'em... Enjoy....

Vintage Family Image....

What a wonderful Thanksgiving day… Food, family, rest…. We have so much to be thankful for…. Most importantly, we know Whom to be thankful to…. God is good…. Even though I’ve had the week off from teaching, we’ve already photographed 4 families, and still two to go… I’ll be writing more on them soon… but for now, I want to focus on our family…. M wanted to take a family portrait, she wanted it to be different… so she came up with this vintage 1940s look with our ’49 Chevy… Monday we all piled into the van and went to Thrift Town… a fabulous way to shop (and very Green too)… she got me a coat, the boys a coat and vest, all for under $25…. We then found two hats… so the grand total for the entire photo session wardrobe was $50… Anyway, the day was overcast, which I like, and the wind wasn’t an issue… after corralling the boys, getting them dressed, and waiting for M to pretty up, we finally got it in… the image below is our choice for the Christmas card… Man, does time fly by or what? Our boys have gotten so big….. M always says, “I wish they would stay little forever”…. Of course only when they are behaving….. Tell us what you think? Enjoy…..

Young Entrepreneur's bright future.....

This school year has flown by... I can't believe it's already November... Anyway, one day during the first few weeks of school a student comes into my class and asks about business tips... He's 16 and very driven to start a business.... He asked me so many questions I didn't know where to begin... Anyway, I directed him to several other teachers that might be able to answer his questions... Ever since he stops by my room weekly and asks more questions, updates me on his progress, and just shares life... His name is Armen and he's a very talented & driven, future business man. I see success in his future... To make a long story short, he found out that I have a photography business, so he asked me to photograph his line of pens he currently makes and sells... To be really honest, I was blown away when he showed them to me the first time... And wanting to advertise and have everything perfect, why not ask a professional to photograph them for you? Here's a couple of images from his collection... The images show the top quality and fine craftsmanship he puts into every single custom made pen he sells.... Imagine, this 16 year old, makes these pens all by himself... still intrigues me how he does it... Anyway, check out his web site (I'm tellin' ya, his future is bright), you'll probably be seeing more of our images up soon on his site...

ma"JORI"ty Rules....

Jori is a senior at Johnson HS. She’s a scholarship softball superstar…. She says she’s 5’9”, but I think she’s as tall as me… You know how sometimes female athletes act like men, well, Jori is 100% woman… Little hints here and there just proved my theory… her reaction to little bugs, her ribbons in her hair, manicured nails, to name a few… She had been sick all week, but she was a trooper…. We planned quite of few things, unfortunately some of them didn’t work out, but what did, turned out very cool….. We started out with her casual outfit & letterjacket… She said that she had just gotten it the night before, so we had the privilege of christening it first… Her dad wanted a Texas flag, so that came next… then she changed into her dress, we used the car, open fields, and a bench that her mom really loved…. We finished up inside with her softball gear…. I really like Jori, she’s fun, down-to-earth, and some day wants to be a teacher and coach (we share that in common)… Hopefully she likes the images, I really do… Click here to see a short video of the session… More on the web site…. Enjoy…..

The Horse Whisperer....

Hannah is a senior from Comfort... it's a small town about an hour's drive West of here. She found us on the internet and we've corresponded quite a bit over the past few weeks. Hannah is a wonderful young lady... She has some of the most beautiful eyes you'll ever see... Almost reminds me of those Egyptian statues. Anyway, Hannah is all about her horse, Snickers. So we planned using her big black pickup truck, a nice dress, and of course Snickers... We started out in the studio (had to try out my new eyelighter), all because of her gorgeous eyes... we then played with her truck... by the way, if you're missing any orange cones, you might want to check in the back of Hannah's truck (hehehehe)...We then made it to the hay barn, then to the open fields, and lastly, Snickers took center stage.... The images turned out fantabulous... Hope Hannah and her parents like'em... I sure do... Click here to see a short video of the session... More on the site as well....

Stephanie P....

Stephanie is a senior at JM... We planned the session a few weeks ago, and rescheduled due to rain... Well, Saturday, the forcast was for rain, rain, and more rain.... Fortunately, it wasn't supposed to hit until after lunch... So we scheduled early in the morning... The weather was dark and overcast, and wouldn't you know it, right when they pull up, it started raining... We started in the studio, then the Good Lord, gave us a break, and we finished outside. Stephanie's mom and dad came along (what troopers they are), and mom seemed extremely excited the entire time... We used the field, haybarn, cactus, car, and finished up with the swing... Stephanie has a million dollar smile... I'm so glad we had a break in the weather (last night we got over 5 inches of rain, and today, we're flooded in - no way out). I hope she likes the images, I really do... More on the site.... Click here to see a short video of the session.... Enjoy....

Ashley N....

Ashley is a Senior at JM... I had the privilege of having her in one of my classes last year... Ashley is a determined, intelligent, and quick-witted young lady... She raises goats and lambs in FFA at JM, so I'd say she's got a little "country" in her as well... She's definitely one of my favorites from last year. When she showed up, she kinda had the sniffles... but she's a trooper, and made it through with flying colors... We started out in the fields in a small area of white flowers, then we moved over to the fence and neighbor's barn...then brought out the rifle (she's an outdoor girl - huntin' and fishin' are her thing)... We journeyed inside, photographed her in her soccer outfit, PALS shirt and Letter jacket, and finished up with her Texas Tech apparel. Her boyfriend, Chris, goes to Texas Tech, and she plans on going there too.... So with this in mind, I dug up my old TT football jersey (it's hard to believe it's 20 years old)... Chris, that one was for you... We also had some bubble fun outside in her dress.... I really enjoyed this session.... I hope Ashley, mom, and dad like 'em too... More on the site... Click here to watch a short video from the session... Enjoy....

Affable Alex....

Alex is a Sr at JM... She's really upbeat, joyful, and her smile can light up any room she enters. She was really excited about her session. I found an old classy desk chair in the barn a few week ago, so I cleaned it up. Alex just happens to be the first to get to use it... the colors matched the side walls perfectly... Alex was dancing and being silly, and I happened to catch a few clips of it on video. We then used the car with her black dress and stylin' red shoes. We finished up the session inside with her PALS shirt. I really enjoyed Alex's session, hopefully she'll like the images... More on the Web.... Click here to watch a short video of the session... Enjoy...

Editor-in-Chief....

Taylor is the Editor for the JM school newspaper. I had the privilege of having her in one of my classes a few years ago. She's fun, and if you really want to know what she thinks, she's not afraid of letting you know. We planned on making the theme "Newspaperish", so we decorated two walls with newspaper. She brought her laptop (I didn't realize how many fingerprints could stay on a laptop cover... hehehehehe) and her offical "editor" outfit (did I mention her great taste in business attire). The images turned out "way cool". She then changed into a sundress, threw on her glasses, and we had some fun. She brought her friend Lacey (now I know she wants to get her pictures done with us due to all the fun she had, hint hint....Lacey, call today to set up your appointment ;) ) I had spotted a tree that had these incredible yellow/green leaves earlier this week (we've been getting rain so with overcast skies the colors just popped), so we used it as well. Finished up inside, and off to the JM football game they went.... The images turned out voonderbar, and I was pleased with the session. More on the web.... Enjoy.... Here's a link to watch a short video of the session...