Jen & Brian: Wedding at the Heard-Craig House in McKinney, Texas

On a gorgeous day in early June, I had the joy of shooting an intimate wedding ceremony in Katie's Garden at the Heard-Craig House in McKinney. With about 15 guests in attendance (myself included) and the groom's mother watching from afar via the wonders of video-conferencing, Jen & Brian said their heartfelt vows, sealed them with a pinky-promise with their children, and then the more standard kiss as well.

While it was by far the least amount of time I've ever spent covering a wedding, it ranks highly among my favorite weddings. Jen and Brian are so easy-going and down-to-earth. They made me feel incredibly welcome and included among their tiny guest list. Katie's Garden is a gorgeous space, particularly in the Spring, which makes my job easy! I'm thankful that the fates aligned and I was available on their date when they contacted me just a few weeks before the wedding!

Married: Colleen & David!

Congrats you two! I so enjoyed spending the day with you today. I can't wait to share more of your photos with you!

Sneak Peek: England Family Portraits

I took a vacation last week to visit my sister up in the Seattle area. Before I went, I made plans with my online friend, Emerald England, to meet up for a photo trade. It was so great to finally meet her in person! It's ridiculous how much we have in common. She shot some new headshots for me; the one I've been using was taken well over three years ago. She also created some gorgeous portraits of my sister and her son, and some with me in the mix too. In exchange, I shot family portraits for her. The last time they'd had family portraits made was shortly after their daughter was born six years ago. What is with us photographers neglecting to have our own lives photographed? Right now I'm angling for new professional portraits of my husband and me; the only ones we've ever had were on our wedding day in 2009. I can only do so much with a tripod and a self-timer. In any case, Emerald and I are both a little less neglectful now, thanks to this trade. I'm thrilled with the photos I received, and I hope she will be just as happy with hers. Here's a little peek at the photos of her gorgeous family:

Oh, and here's my favorite headshot from the bazillion that Em gave me to choose from! That's little ol' me!

Farah & Francisco: Allen, Texas Engagement Portrait Preview

I met up with Farah & Francisco at dawn yesterday morning for their engagement portraits. Since they're both from small Texas towns and are having a country wedding, they really wanted a "wide open spaces" vibe for their portraits. Happily we have some great options for that in the area! I really enjoyed meeting both of them and can't wait to dive into the rest of their photos!