We headed up to the Antique Rose Emporium in Independence, Texas for a fun, relaxed shoot for this Aggie bride.

One of Amanda’s bridesmaids came with us and started cracking some jokes…

Finally, some fun sunset shots.

Thanks Amanda!

We scheduled her bridal portraits pretty far in advance and, of course, it happened to fall on the day of the earliest recorded snowfall in Houston’s history. Unable to find a last-minute indoor location on a Friday, we rescheduled to another chilly day in December.

We started her bridal session at the River Oaks Garden Club, where Kasey and Robert later had their wedding reception.

She has such a joyous smile!

After the Garden Club, we stopped by Hermann Park for some more fun…

Kasey told me this was one of her favorite photos, she loved how long it makes her train look and how it shows off the back of her dress!

We were fortunate to have the most beautiful blue sky!

Rice University has some pretty strict rules about when and where you can photograph, so we slid in to our scheduled time slot and had some fun with their amazing architecture.

The wind wasn’t cooperating with us, it was blowing Kasey’s veil all around her face, so we modified the shot. 

Since Kasey is total classic beauty, and Rice University is… well, classic, I decided to end the session with a very classic bridal portrait.

A big thanks goes to Kasey’s mom for joining us at the session, being a great assistant and one of the best “carbon based light stands” ever!

A long-time resident of Tomball, we headed toward the historic downtown area for Ashley’s bridals.  First, we went to the newly refurbished train station for some photos with the bright red caboose. 

Starting with my favorite, isn’t she just radiant?

I love her smile!

We just totally happened across this old, rusted barn. Its a perfect backdrop.

This building (I have no idea what it is), was in the middle of an old used car lot. It almost felt like a trash the dress session, but we tried really hard to keep her clean!

Following my usual behavior, I had to climb on top of this structure, weave in and out of the power lines, and suspend myself over the edge to get the perfect shot.  So worth it! 

This one below was Ashley’s favorite. I *reeeeeally* like it too. 

And what would a shoot be if I wasnt laying on some dirty, greasy railroad tracks?  (I love my job! Getting dirty and all!)

Thank you, Ashley for being such a trooper on your bridals and hitting up the most rugged spots in Tomball for your bridal session!

Mandy, a Corpus Christi native, found her dream dress here in Houston, and since she fondly remembers visiting the Water Wall with her grandmother as a child, that’s where she wanted to have her bridal session.  Technically, you’re not supposed to photograph professionally there because it is private property, but we quickly snuck in while the security guard was perusing a nearby parking garage.  What can I say?  I’m a rule breaker… 

Next, brave Mandy hiked across the Galleria area in her dress to a nearby office park.

I *love* her dress!  And the brooch was her own add-on, but it goes perfectly with her wedding dress!  What a unique way to make your dress one-of-a-kind!

As I laid in duck poop and Mandy’s mom was all around silly, we were able to capture some photos of her beautiful laugh.  (I always recommend bringing a close friend or family member to bridals so they can help fluff dresses, carry stuff, and act silly!)

My brides have the most amazing eyes!

She wanted a photo to show off her fun, leopard print flip flops.  Isn’t she adorable!

Thank you, Mandy!

Just a tid bit about the way I shoot, I always try to get the standard posed photos (the classic ones that mom always likes and expects) out of the way quickly at the start of our sessions…

… they’re beautiful and simple…

… but I have to get them out of the way at the start, or I start getting so quirky and having so much fun, I’ll totally forget about them otherwise.

This one (and every single photo that follows)?  Not what momma expected. 

Pink toenails = soooo adorable!

Nina had these adorable wooden fans that she was giving as gifts to the guest at her wedding.  Such a cute prop!

By the way, I love it when clients bring personal items to a shoot.  It makes their photographs even more unique and special!

That orange blob in the back = a homeless guy still sleeping in an orange hunting jacket. (It was after 11 am at this point.)

By the way, HUGE props to Nina’s mom and sis for assisting me through the entire shoot.  Here, they were holding up a large diffuser, helping to soften and diffuse the sunlight.

LOVE this!  Nina’s so hott!  And the awesome sun flare through the wisteria makes everything a little better.

Yet another one of my favorites…

You might think I’m pulling your leg, but these two are ALL Nina.  I asked her to stand under the wisteria, and then she started spinning all on her own.  She’s a total natural!

Thanks Nina – my super-fun senorita!  I had a great time!

- Kel

Let me start with the backstory…

Taylor grew up in Pasadena, TX but has lived in Tyler since college.  She wasn’t completely familiar with Downtown Houston or many of the surrounding areas, so we started this session not knowing exactly where we were going to shoot.  We decided to head to Hermann Park (I had another totally awesome bridal session there that morning) but we were unable to find a parking spot.  We headed back up toward the museum district, parked at the First Presbyterian Church of Houston‎, and decided we’d find somewhere around there to shoot.    We took a few photos in front of the church, and then walked a little.  In front of the Contemporary Arts Museum and across the street from the Museum of Fine Arts Houston is the Lillie and Hugh Roy Cullen Sculpture Garden at the MFAH (as I was later informed by Laura Burlton, an knowledgeable friend and fellow photographer who I ran into twice that day).  Taylor instantly recognized it when we approached, and fell in love.  So that’s where we shot her session. 

She had a beautiful cathedral length veil (my absolute favorite).  The wind gusts kept catching it.  But that made for some fun shots for me!

The next two photos embody my philosophy of “never stop shooting”.  Taylor’s veil caught the wind and she was trying to catch it, unaware I was still snapping away.      (I don’t know which one I like more!)

Gorgeous green eyes…  I am so lucky to have the most beautiful brides in the world.  Seriously.  I *love* my job!

We were heavily watched by the security guards to make sure we didn’t get too close to any of the sculptures.

You never saw this photo.  I’m just sayin’.

Taylor’s mom helped me with this gorgeous off-camera lighting.

This was Taylor’s favorite sculpture in the garden.  So I stuck her on the ground in front of it… in her wedding dress.  I love my fearless brides and their fearless bridals!

If you were gasping at the thought that she would lay on the grass in her wedding dress before her wedding, she was lying on a big clear paint tarp so she wouldn’t trash her dress.  I’m sneaky like that.  :p

We were debating what the sculptures were…  Regardless, this is another one of my favorite photos!

Finally, after the sun had set, the smooth, creamy light shows off Taylor’s soft skin and bright eyes.

Even though this was technically the last photo of the day, I’m going to start with it because it does a perfect job of setting the scene…

The bottle tree behind her was pretty nifty!

It may not be well known that Jenna is quite an accomplished “wedding dress jumper”

I looove this photo  of the flowers falling over the path with the sun beaming in and the lines of the bricks leading up to Jenna…

Yes, I was down on my belly.

She has such a cheerful smile!

Doesn’t she have the most gorgeous eyes?

My favorite!

Swinging!

I lurve the soft, evening light!

I love having brides as hot as models!

Playing with light… Jenna’s sister Catie was an excellent assistant!