Be Good!

Here are some of Kerie’s beautiful bridals that we did during Dallas Blooms at The Arboretum

]]> http://www.marieq.com/blog/2010/08/05/kerie-and-bruce/feed/ 1 http://www.marieq.com/blog/2010/04/25/married-angela-and-lanny/ http://www.marieq.com/blog/2010/04/25/married-angela-and-lanny/#comments Sun, 25 Apr 2010 23:26:24 +0000 admin http://www.marieq.com/blog/?p=943

It could not have been a more perfect day.  The ceremony was at a Lutheran Church right across the street from the neighborhood where I grew up.  Driving to it was like driving down memory lane. I have a very vivid memory of being chased by a pack of dogs while running past that church and a certain friend with whom I was running hid behind me instead of protect me (Yes Shane Kelley… I’m talking about you).  But I now have a new memory of this church.  All the years I lived by it, I never once went in.  I was quite surprised to see how beautiful this church was. Open and bright with lots of windows.  When the church nazi, I mean coordinator, comes and gives us the “RULES” of the church they almost always include no flash photography.  And most churches are lit like dungeons, I mean dark romantic lighting. It was so refreshing to be in a wide open church with tall vaulted ceilings, and lots of natural light streaming in through the many windows.  Bright walls and wood accents made it easy to photograph with no flash. Teresa Choate provided the coordinating and Villa Flora provide the gorgeous flowers used at the ceremony.

The reception was at Loma Linda, one of my favorite local locations to photograph.  The weather in the evening was perfect for DANCING.  Everyone was on the dance floor singing and dancing.  It was so great to see the parents of both the bride and the groom having a wonderful time.  When I arrived to Loma Linda, the fire pit was going and there was a s’mores station set up by it.  My mouth watered all night thinking about finding a moment to sneak away and make one.  I never got there but I did sneak a piece of chocolate cake and it made my stomach happy.

Hoping Angela and Lanny have safe travels to Japan.  Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Thompson! Just press play on the image above.

Be Good!

• The amazing Driscoll Hotel in Austin – need I say anything else.  The bridal room had incredible light.  I wish I could box it up and bring it with me everywhere
• The unbelievable weather.  You just had to be there.  Sunshine one second – Monsoons the next.
• Being pronounced Man and Wife with the loudest earth trembling thunder clap you have ever heard, followed by the cheers and applause of your closest friends.
• The toasts – Laughter and Tears, my favorite combination.  The father of the bride’s speech- In the top three of speeches I have heard.  Not a dry eye in the room.
• The dancing – I have two words to say to that- THE GATOR .
• The beauty – Forget the pretty dresses, and flowers, the awesome food and creative cake.  The love of this family is more beautiful than any photo can capture.

Kirsten, the bride came up to me at one point and said , ” My family loves life… that is why I love them so much! “  Me too Kirsten… me too.

Just press play.

On Wednesday, after getting up at 4 am and boarding a plane from Las Vegas to Dallas, losing my license between checking my baggage and security, thinking I lost the contact in my right eye (that’s my camera eye), paying $70 for parking at the airport (I was robbed), zipping to Waxahachie and grabbing my gear, and then speeding to Deep Ellum, it was 4:30 pm and time to photograph this engagement session or as I choose to call it now… my beloved session.  I have to say its both exciting a nerve wracking to photograph a fellow photographer.  Michael is getting ready to have his own show displaying his art work.  It’s always quite an honor to photograph another photographer.  Plus I get to talk all my geeky photog talk with someone who understands it.

I’m in love with that first image of Lauren and Michael.  I love the complete look of bliss on Lauren’s face.  She is beloved.

Be Good!

It seems its thought the rubber chicken has followed me everywhere. It started back in high school.  The all girls catholic school that I went to had a math teacher who would take out her “rubber chicken” in cases when we needed a snow day.  We called it praying to the rubber chicken.  Essentially it was a big joke, but more often times than not – when that rubber chicken came out – VOILA, NO SCHOOL!!!!! After college, I managed a sales team in Memphis.  I shared the rubber chicken story with them and the next day – a rubber chicken appeared on my desk.  Needless to say, we prayed to the rubber chicken quite a bit there. Rewind to two years ago.  I went to my first ever photographer’s seminar.  A well known photographer came to Dallas to talk about photographing babies and young children.  Her secret weapon… The yellow rubber chicken pictured above.  Interestingly, this rubber chicken appeals more to adults than it does kids.  It has an interesting noise that comes out of it when squeezed.  If you give it a big squeeze it sounds like we are torturing the poor rubber chicken.  That sound would scare any child.  This is the “Scary” rubber chicken and it has to be squeezed with caution.  I do occasionally use it on children, usually as a last resort since I know it may have an adverse effect.

Bruce wanted the rubber chicken included in some of his engagement pictures.  He also wanted to make goofy faces.  Obviously, Bruce is a big kid at heart.  I’m gonna have fun with him!

Be Good!

Just press play!

So…. as you know I spent New Years Eve photographing a Leigh and Ted’s wedding.  They celebrated the end of a decade and a very special beginning to a new one.  Their closest family and friends were there and everyone had a a great time.  A couple of memorable moments from that night.  Leigh being serenaded by Ted’s fraternity brothers.  Leigh dancing with her father, and my dinner that was catered by the Dove’s Nest .  Teresa Choate of At it’s Best Events and Courtney Keen-Flores of Villa Flora made sure the room was breath taking with a black and white linens and flowers and details of red popping through out the room.  It was the perfect decor for a New Years Eve Night.  DJ, Hector (not my husband by the same name) made sure everyone had a great time and counted down New Years to perfection.

You’ll see I posted some of Leigh’s bridal images above.  She was a classic and breath taking beauty in a beautiful silk gown.

Please enjoy the slideshow. Just press play.

I spent last night photographing  Leigh and Ted’s wedding.  I’ll be writing more when I post their slideshow preview on Sunday.

Take a look…. you can hear everyone screaming, “Happy New Year!!!”  What a great way to bring in this new year.

Wishing everyone out there the very best this year.

Be Good!

To Jennifer and Brian, wishing you only the best in life. Thank you for allowing Mike and I to be part of your day.

Press play to see the show.

The wedding day was just as I imagined it. A little crazy because of the Big Texas-OU game. The weather was perfectly pleasant.  The site was decorated to the nines. Take a look at all the attention to the details – it was truly a storybook wedding.  Candles and flowers were everywhere.  The ceremony started off with laughter when Chelsea forgot to walk down the aisle with her dad.  A voice from the back of the long hallway that she walked down yelled, “Chelsea honey! Did you forgot something?” .  Chelsea ran down the aisle and met her dad in the hallway.  After the unity candle lighting, Chelsea and Ronnie “shared their light” with everyone in the room.  Chelsea and Ronny began by lighting their parents candles and then they passed it around the room. Each guest held a lit candle.  The room glowed with beauty, pictures just can’t do it justice.

The reception was very simply put… A PARTY!!!  There was plenty of laughter and we all shed a few tears when her father made a very heartfelt and emotional toast.  You know its going to be a fun reception when the bride has her own dance named after her.  They announced an after-party on the hotel terrace and I stayed for a few.  I was already sworn to secrecy for many of the events that happened that night.  But whatever happened at the after-party..I imagine is staying at the after-party.

Just press play.