wesley + rhonda • engagement • lubbock, tx

These two are the kind of people that are completely refreshing to be around. Easy to talk to, easy to get along with...in love with each other- which is something I always appreciate. After their session I am SUPER pumped to shoot their wedding in August.

Rhonda is in law school and Wes works in accounting, but when they aren't up to their noses in paper, they are stormchasing. Pretty cool, huh? You've got to check out the amazing videos on Wes' YouTube site. I can't believe they can get so close!

Don't mess with Wes. :)

russ + halley • texas tech engagement session • lubbock

For this session, we went red + black all the way! God gave us some beautiful weather and I enjoyed talking with Russ + Halley while walking through the Texas Tech campus. 

These two are getting married in VEGAS in December, and then they are road-trippin' to Hollywood to soak in some of that California sun for their honeymoon. Not too shabby. ;)

Russ is currently an Engineering student, so we had to stop by the lab to see his newest project- a go-cart. Awesome!

There was some awesome light in/around Jones Stadium that day.

stephanie + jacinto • engagement • lubbock wedding photographer

Stephanie and Jacinto are seriously cool people. First, they love photography and second, they were willing to change their wedding date so that I could document it. How can I not be excited about them? 

These two have some serious chemistry. Watching them interact- how they joked with each other and respected each other- was so much fun. We had some beautiful clouds and sunlight to compliment them on the day of their shoot. Here are some of my favorites.

Stephanie was the first bride to bring outfits that were sentimental to her- this is what she was wearing when Jacinto proposed!

After this set, Stephanie spotted the tires down the way, and you KNOW I love the tires. Jacinto just happened to pick up some Classic Coke bottles on his way into town that perfectly matched what Stephanie had on. The stars aligned. And we took pictures. 

By the way, this is what Stephanie was wearing the day that they met!

Thanks so much you guys- can't wait for the wedding!

kuhrt + lindsey • engagement • lubbock wedding photographer

I'm so excited to FINALLY post these. Lindsey has been so patient with me! We shot Kuhrt and Lindsey's Engagement Session a little over a week ago in downtown Lubbock. It was a bit chilly, but all in all the perfect day for a shoot.

What can I say about these two? I love them so much- and I'm so glad that I get to live life with them. Nothing brings me more fulfillment than getting to witness God working...and I can see that fully having watched Kuhrt and Lindsey love each other. 

I have several favorites for you all...so get ready!

I brainstormed a lot on what type of looks would best fit Kuhrt and Lindsey. They are both fun and bright personalities, so we had to start out with some color!

Funny story- Kuhrt has a tattoo on the back of his neck that says "Jesus is not religion". The first time Lindsey ever saw him she was sitting behind him in church and thought she read "Jesus is not real". I think she started praying for him right then! Little did she know...

Yes, this was in Lubbock. I know right?!?

We decided to go a bit more edgy since Kuhrt likes to play hard rock music. :)

Right after their engagement, they were given some pretty cool t-shirts. The red hearts light up as they get closer and closer to each other! Haha, of course I had to have a picture!

Congrats you two! Sooner than later you'll be married and in Mexico! :)

P.S. How are you all liking the side-by-side vertical images I've been posting as opposed to the singular vertical images? Any opinions?

justin + lana • engagement • houston, tx

Shanna and I traveled to Houston a couple weeks ago to shoot Justin and Lana's Engagement Session. It rained on our way in and fogged on our way out, but the day of the shoot was absolutely beautiful!

A few years back I remember working with Lana at a Bible study weekend for middle and high school students. We were having a discussion with some middle school girls (about boys, of course!) and I can still hear Lana say, "I just know that God has the perfect man out there for me. And I just have to believe that it will happen in His time". Faith like that is simple, and not always easy. To me, Lana has always been a reminder of God's promises for His daughters, specifically. She has been such an example of patient, prayerful faith to me and many others. I just couldn't wait to see who God had for her!

Enter Justin! What a perfect compliment. I say often that I love shooting weddings because I love watching God take two completely different people and put them together to create something totally new. Having known Lana for so long, I think I was in amazement over how God did just that.

I love so many of the images from their session, I'm going to share it in parts. Here's the first set from the Williams Water Wall. 

I love the spray of the water in this image. Just in case you were wondering, we were all a little damp after this!

I saw LOTS of hilarious faces...mostly because Justin had us laughing the ENTIRE time.

more to come...

scott + martha • engagement • lubbock, texas

Scott and Martha are so much fun. Really. I totally enjoyed getting to hang out and talk with them while we shot their Engagement Session. Scott lives in Maryland and Martha is in Plainview, so they have really tackled the long-distance relationship and have made it work. Getting to see how they love and respect each other was so refreshing. 

I got ridiculously excited to use my new Totally Rad presets for Lightroom yesterday, so these images were processed using some of those and some of my own. No Photoshop whatsoever, though! 

save the date cards + magnets from a bride's perspective

I received this message from a former bride yesterday:

OK. So my sisters bridal shower was this weekend which meant I got to see a lot of people I never get to see now that I live in Pampa....

No joke, probably 10 different people said to me "I still have your magnet, you know, the one with the roller coaster, on my fridge. It reminds me every day to pray for you and Clay and your marriage." 

I don't know that we knew at the time what a blessing these little magnets would turn into! Friends, and family still have them up and use them to remember to pray for us?!? I'm blessed by your photography still daily and I didn't even realize it. 

Thanks Lissa!

When I asked her if I could post this for you guys, she added:

I want other brides to know what a blessing your photography is too! Just knowing I have all those wonderful people praying for my marriage and my new life in Pampa brought such peace to my heart. Crazy how my Big God works in the littlest ways! 

Here is her Save the Date card from 2009:

I was so blessed by her note I just had to share it with you all. She was right when she said "Crazy how my Big God works in the littlest ways!". I love that somehow God had used that to bless them and give them personal prayer warriors. Wow! Thank you Bandi- I am so blessed to know you!

• A little on Save the Date Cards + Magnets •

I get to collaborate with most of my brides on the creation of their Save the Date cards. It's a fun design process, usually incorporating their Engagement images. Since Save the Dates have one very simple purpose (to announce your wedding date)- the possibilities are endless! 

Now, Save the Date cards are not necessarily a must-have. Depending on your wedding and your date, they may or may not be relevant. I would suggest doing a Save the Date if you are planning a wedding more than 6 months away, or on a date such as a holiday (I was married on New Year's Eve) or a popular wedding date (any Saturday in May, June, or July). Of course, there are no real rules- if you want to do them, go for it!

The cards are all press printed, which means that the ink actually sits in the paper, not on top of it. This allows for a richer, higher-quality look. You can select from watercolor, linen, pearl, or gloss paper. Magnets are created using a photographic print. 

Each one is custom made to fit your personalities and style. This one was also a magnet.

Recently, I worked with my friend Heather on a completely new concept for Save the Date cards. Her cards feature 4 2x3 magnets mounted on a 5x7 card. Each magnet pictures the bride and groom with a different cardboard sign.

When you take the magnets off, you get to see the message below! Super fun!

I do also make Thank You Notes. These are typically folded 4x5.5 cards. This was printed on watercolor paper. Front:

Inside (writing goes on the right side):

Hope you all are having a great week so far! I will be trying to stay warm today while knocking out exciting tasks like filing, organizing, and file management. :)