A Wedding at Sea

September 10th I had the pleasure of photographing an intimate wedding of about 50 guests including the wedding party and Bride & Groom aboard the "Enchantment."  This wedding set sail near Kemah, TX, and we enjoyed cooler than normal temperatures, for a record setting year of heat, and a gorgeous sunset.  

There were so many special moments filled with love and happiness, I just had to make a slideshow for this post!

Congratulations Krystle and Elliott!  

May your life together be even more beautiful than your wedding day!

A Cookbook for Our Troops

One of the blessings I have received is marrying into a family that loves to eat just as much as mine.  Combine those great, time tested recipes with those of our friends who are also great cooks, and what do you have?  A cookbook supporting a great cause!


My mother-in-law (or "mother-in-love" as coined by my friend Sally who was also blessed with a loving M-I-L) is the area manager for a wonderful, 100% volunteer non-profit organization called Operation Interdependence.  O.I. is a nationwide 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides a means for community members to support troops serving on the frontlines, military families and veterans.  To learn more please visit this link:  http://www.oidelivers.org/about-operation-interdependence/


This cookbook is being used as a fundraiser to support the shipping costs for the Civilian Rations and hand written letters shipped each month.  Houston alone ships on average 150 boxes reminding 7,500 service men and women per month that they are remembered and appreciated by everyone back home. 


This cookbook is filled with wonderful recipes from Sally's (mentioned above) top secret meat loaf recipe, a cheesy potato casserole that is good enough to eat cold and for breakfast (not owning to rather or not I have done this or not :) and a chocolate torte that is even over the top chocolate for me!  


Each cookbook is $17.00 and well worth it!  All of the profits will go directly to the much needed shipping fund for the O.I. Houston chapter.  Please contact me if you would like one, and I'll make the arrangements to get one to you.  


Also, if you are not interested in a cookbook but would still like to donate, please visit this O.I. page to find out more about donating or volunteering with a chapter near you:  
http://www.oidelivers.org/how-you-can-help/


Now onto the photos!  Did I mention I did the food photography and interior graphic design?

Mocha Velvet Torte

Chopper Barbeque Sandwich

Strawberry Refresher

Savory Cheese Ball (as tasted at our wedding shower)

Seniors 2011 cont'd

I don't know if I had more fun photographing this shoot or editing it!  Such a fun day with another fantastic senior.  Another sweet girl I've known for some time and can't believe her senior year is almost over!  She has so much beauty and grace inside and out!  Enjoy!

Senior Session Sneak Peak

I spent part of this week in my hometown photographing my (supermodel) cousin.  She's somehow a senior in high school.  I guess this makes me old since I can very vividly remember hogging holding her all afternoon at her Baptism party as an infant, and my vivid memories don't go back that far.  Unlike my husband, I can't remember things all the way back from when I was two.  This was meant to be a sneak peak, but almost turned into a full post.  Oops!  There were so many favorites I had to stop myself from tweaking before I finish editing.  There will be a second post once she's had a chance to see all of them.

Newborn Photography - Houston Family Photography

This newborn session started out with one sleepy, 12 day old...

Some ninja style stretching....

and a few well practiced cries.

But after some soothing from mom,

A few moments of thoughtful reflection...

Baby G turned on the charm!

His Baby GQ spread :)

Why Hire a Professional?

One of the reasons I think hiring a professional photographer is so important is because I know that in my personal life I am so neglectful when it comes to photographing, printing and album making.  I have friends and family who are really good about printing photos the same month (gasp!) that they take them and scrap-booking or putting them in albums within the same year.  I know that many of you out there aren't that diligent either.  We are at work and sleeping for the vast majority of our hours and the time that is left is so precious.  I think it's really important to take the time to invest in a good, professional photographer to remember stages in life or important events.  A photographer can not only capture images of your family your tripod can't, but turn those images into art for your wall or an elegant album to cherish for years to come.   In the end you'll gain more time with those you love and less time in front of the computer on the weekends. 

Below is a shoot I did for a 12 going on 13 year old.   I'm so thankful that his mom commissioned me for this shoot, because it made me realize what an important age this is to capture.  So much focus in youth photography is devoted to babies, toddlers and high school seniors.  I found twelve was such a intriguing age.  While editing his shoot I kept finding images that you could see both the little boy that he once was and the man that he will become.

Arranging Frames

I have immense esteem for interior decorators when it comes to arranging frames on walls.  After purchasing these photo shelves from Ikea my arrangement seems lackluster when compared to the Ikea catalog.

But of course, Ikea is awesome in so many different ways including this "idea catalog" of how to arrange and hang frames here.

Does that idea of putting extra holes in your wall trying to come  up with the right pattern make you cringe? 
Check out this tutorial over at Isabella & Max Rooms for a hanging game plan that should help reduce nail holes.

What type of decorator are you when it comes to your walls?  The more the better or one big piece is best?

-TRH