i am a full time wedding and portrait photographer in Amarillo, TX
a few more tidbits about me:
i absolutely love what i do. i do what i love. i recently realized that i might not be as good at "photography" as i am at being a people person. i have been photographing since i was in high school and took several photography college courses. i feared turning it into a source of income. but a few years ago, someone told me that if i did what i loved - i'd never work a day in my life.
i am very proud to say that i am friends with 99% of my clients. i attend their birthday parties, baby showers... we eat lunch, have coffee... watch TV together. and while this might seem strange, you'll find that this enables me to really help capture your memories and moments with you! i'm truly invested in everyone that stands in front of my camera.
i am very proud and humbled to have been voted Amarillo's Best Photographer for 2009!
Aside from portraits and weddings, i am the official photographer for the Amarillo Little Theatre and ALT Academy as well as Sharkfight Promotions.
I am a member of both the Professional Photographers Association and Wedding and Portrait Photographers International. I also volunteer for the NILMDTS Organization.
over the weekend i went down to Houston to photograph Peyton & Ashley’s wedding
this was my first wedding for 2010 and i can’t think of a better way to kick start wedding season!
they had a breath-taking wedding and were surrounded by friends and family that traveled from all over the world to help them celebrate!!!
enjoy this sneak peek
i can’t wait to share the rest of their day with you!!!
happy monday!
i met John and Niki briefly a couple of years ago. circumstances didn’t really provide us with much of an opportunity to converse or even get to know each other. but somehow, they remained etched into my memory and heart.
a couple of months ago, i was randomly thinking about what it is that i am privileged to provide for my clients. i never take lightly the memories i capture for families. the life that i prove for them. and everyday… i’m thankful for the opportunities.
for unknown reasons, i remembered John and Niki again. a couple of days later… she sent me an email, letting me know that she was expecting Olivia and wanted me to photograph her as a newborn. i blinked at my computer monitor for several minutes in complete surprise and disbelief! what a coincidence! i feverishly typed a response stating how i had JUST been thinking about them and was glad to hear that they were doing well. i was completely humbled by their request to photograph their baby girl.
never have i anticipated a session as much as i did this one. i was so anxious to meet Olivia and see John and Niki again
john and niki – i will never be able to adequately describe how humbled and honored i am that you remembered me. that you gave me the wonderful opportunity to meet this sweet little angel of yours! i am overwhelmed by your love toward this tiny little being. i am touched by your strength. courage. perserverence. and faith. you had both changed my heart that day in September and the simple request to capture this time in your lives moves me in ways you will probably never really understand. thank you!!! thank you for allowing me to witness this miracle in your lives. thank you for gracing me with your lives, spirits, hearts and souls again. i am FOREVER thankful. appreciative. and indebted to you for giving me this very special and tender glance into your family! olivia is perfection beyond definition and you have been chosen by God to be her parents.
wondering where the heck i’ve been? well… i’ve been on vacation!
i mean… a FULL vacation. i didn’t pack a laptop. or my big bulky camera. i didn’ t access the web for any.reason.whatsoever while i was on this trip
we hopped on the Carnival Ecstasy Cruise last week for five days of out-to-sea goodness
and for the first time ever, i actually took a vacation from work and the real world
now, some of you might ask “vacation in february?”
you see, one of the (few) downfalls, of this career is that i am at my busiest during the months of March-November. so i don’t get to take vacations during the summer months like the rest of the world does. and since i’ll see more airports this month than i will nights on my couch, i decided to book a week getaway with the kiddo. I cannot say enough good things about the Carnival Cruise line. I have never been on a cruise before, so this was a great way to kick things off! There was great food, excellent service, and much fun both onboard and off.
We docked in Cozumel and laken and i got to swim with dolphins at Dolphinaris. it was surreal and relaxing. Cozumel is absolutely gorgeous and i want to go back VERRRRRY soon.
Enjoy a few highlights from our trip!
(all taken with my brand new point and shoot that i love almost as much as i love bacon)
i’m so glad to be home and in my own bed tonight. thankful that i was able to take this time to spend with the wee-one and excited to kick start my Senior and Wedding Seasons!!!
happy Wednesday!!!
you might remember Wade and Sadie from their adorable wedding last summer.
if not… you’re in for a treat. these two people have been making me laugh (side splitting laughter) since the day i met them. they are AMAZING individuals with a zest for life that constantly surprises and inspires me. they are fun loving and truly dynamic individuals.
after sealing their nuptials, Wade and Sadie got started on their own little “basketball team.” Over the weekend, i met them for a yummy brunch and Wade and Sadie announced their plan to have 20 children. after choking on my mimosa, i realized that they were most likely serious. these two people… are going to take over the world with their own group of McNutts. of course, they are waiting to find out if baby McNutt is a boy or girl – promising me that their first daughter shall be named after me. When i asked Sadie why they wanted to wait, she said:
“there are few good surprises in life”
this is one of the best
you… are BOTH very special people in my heart. there isn’t a doubt in my mind that you are both going to be the best set of parents a child could ever hope for. you have poured so much love, compassion and joy into the lives of so many people around you (present company included). you are such wonderful gifts to all of us! i am so excited to meet the baby and can’t wait to help you capture the first year of memories. i love you more than i love cake, crepes, chocolate combined! thank you for sharing your morning and afternoon with me! ((hug))
chris and brenna are getting married this fall in San Antonio, TX
one of the best parts about the engagement is the engagement session. the part of the journey to the altar where you really get to display your love for one another and have that frozen in time. it’s an exciting time in every couple’s journey. You hear me repeatedly talk about the differences in the way my couples love each other. I love that chris and brenna had a distinct bond – playfulness, adoration, comfort.we had such a laid back afternoon of shooting that included a stop at Crush Wine Bar to catch a glass of Lambic Framboise and chat about their upcoming wedding day and their engagement.
here are a few favorites from our session!
i’m so glad to have the opportunity to spend my afternoon with you both! you are officially one of my most relaxed couples! it was nice to just hang out and relax. thanks for allowing me a small peek into your relationship! 
one day… Savannah will grace the silver screen. and i’ll have my claim to fame!
seriously, i am overly excited when i get a call for “headshots” because actresses are
the.best.clients.ever.
Savannah is NO exception to the above statement. we met last week to update her headshots so she can take them with her to NYC for auditions. the temperature that day topped out at a whole 30 degrees. and we were out in the thick of it. i was bundled up shivering and teeth chattering, but savannah showed me her acting skills and made it look like it was the middle of the summer. not one complaint. not one peep. absolutely amazing.
Savannah – again… thank you for being such a great sport in the bitter cold. for looking fabulous. for your great smile. for the laughs that afternoon. i expect great things from you! and can’t wait to be able to say “i photographed her before she was famous!!!!” thank you for asking me to do this for you!
based on my blog survey last week, majority of you want to know some tips and tricks about photography or have general questions
well, i’m all for sharing the “wealth”
when i first started out with my own business, i had a very nice and generous group of photographers that were willing to network with me and help me out! They are very INTEGRAL parts of my “growth” as a business person in this industry. So, let’s pay it forward, shall we? Whether you are a photography student, newly minted professional, budding photographer, established brand, serious hobbyist, a client, or someone with an SLR camera and a handful of questions you’d like answered… i’m here to help.
Truth is, i get a lot of emails weekly about photography. If you’re a regular blog reader and comment often, you’ll know that i take time to respond to each and every one of your comments. I also respond to emails asking photography related questions. it occurred to me one day (after answering the same question for the 8th or 9th time) that i should just open up a FAQ thread and let you ask away. Then i’ll post the questions and answers for everyone to see. 
You can either leave a comment in the comments section or shoot me an email with your question and i’ll be sure to respond in a blog post on saturdays!!!
so…. ask away!
and because every post is better with a photo …
this week i was able to go “home” to San Antonio, TX verrrry briefly. I was really wanting to get out to one of the missions. Here are my favorite photos from Mission San Jose.
as a side note: recently i was asked to donate some prints of my landscape/abstract/still life photography to raise money for a non profit organization. sadly, i didn’t donate anything because i rarely shoot anything that doesn’t involve humans. however, i have discovered that i find a quiet joy from shooting outside of my comfort zone. so, if at any point you are interested in any of my still life photography – and want to purchase it… all of the proceeds will be donated to a charitable organization.
happy monday!
Amarillo Little Theatre is in their third and final weekend of “Light in the Piazza”
I am always impressed with the talent, vision, and passion in each production at ALT so i wasn’t at all surprised to find myself sobbing in the audience while watching this beautiful musical.
Taken from the ALT Blog:
“The Light in the Piazza takes place in Italy in the summer of 1953. Margaret Johnson, the wife of an American businessman, is touring the Tuscan countryside with her daughter, Clara. While sightseeing, Clara–a beautiful, surprisingly childish young woman–loses her hat in a sudden gust. As if guided by an unseen hand, the hat lands at the feet of Fabrizio Naccarelli, a handsome Florentine, who returns it to Clara. This brief episode, charged with coincidence and fate, sparks an immediate and intense romance between Clara and Fabrizio. Margaret, extremely protective of her daughter, attempts to keep Clara and Fabrizio apart. As the show unfolds, a secret is revealed: in addition to the cultural differences between the young lovers, Clara is not quite all that she appears. Unable to suppress the truth about her daughter, Margaret is forced to reconsider not only Clara’s future, but her own hopes as well.”
i CANNOT tell you enough to make plans to see this show. It is beautiful and powerful and flawless. The cast is superb! If you haven’t gone to see it yet, make sure to call the box office and reserve your tickets!
Here are a few highlights of the show. These photos HARDLY do it justice…
and the slideshow:
to the cast and crew – you should all be very proud of yourselves for creating and delivering such a breathtaking performance. thank you for giving countless hours of your time to bring such a great piece of musical theatre to life in Amarillo. it is moving and inspirational! i am blown away by each and every one of your outstanding performances!
Director: Allen Shankles
Assistant to the Director: Art DeMar
Musical Director: Jim Gardner
Stage Design: Tana Roberson
Technical Director: Gregg Dunlap
As Amarillo Little Theatre’s official photographer, i have been fortunate to witness so much talent. I have been a part of this theatre for almost 5 years and cannot tell you how amazing it is to see the progress of the actors.
The very first time i saw Leigh Anne, was in “Assassins” and i was mesmerized by her talent. Shortly afterward, she gave an amazing performance in “Metamorphoses.” I knew there were great things in store for Leigh Anne.
Now, she is on her way to the Big Apple to land herself on a stage!
I had just been talking about her a few weeks ago. How i missed seeing her on stage. how she was brilliant. etc etc etc. And just like magic… she contacted me saying she was in town and needed to update her headshots for upcoming auditions. I was COMPLETELY excited to spend the afternoon with her. Here are a few of the favorites!
leigh anne…. you.are.incredibly.talented! i know that you have the world within reach and that you will accomplish and surpass ANYTHING that you set your mind to! completely thrilled and honored to do this for you and cannot wait to see what you do!
- one of your biggest fans!
Valentine’s Day 2010
many are skeptics. many believe it is a holiday created to help the chocolate, floral and greeting card industries make a profit. other’s believe it is “Single Awareness Day”
i, however, couldn’t do much other than believe in love. believe in it’s power. in it’s strength. believe in it’s magic.
I spent the afternoon photographing Peyton and Ashley’s engagement session in Dallas, TX. They have a very unique bond and tie with each other. They are thoughtful and considerate of each other. Ashley often smiled and giggled at her fiance. And he often looked down at her as though she meant the world to him. The best part about all of this? While Ashley was changing Peyton would dote on her. While Peyton was off in the distance, Ashley would beam and rattle off many reasons she loved him and was so proud of the man she would marry. It was all very effortless. It didn’t require much from me other than to be acutely aware of the tender moments they created with one another.
Peyton and Ashley will be getting married in a couple of weeks in Houston, TX. I just met this couple in person after months of long distance communication between Ashley and me. But i can assure you that they will have one very unique and exceptional day, and i feel HONORED to be coming from so far away to document it for them.
Here are a few moments from their engagement session. We started off at the W Hotel, where they were engaged, and ended in uptown Dallas. I think you’ll agree that they are just a beautiful couple!
Peyton and Ashley – really… you both had me smiling all day! i had such a wonderful time with the two of you and feel like i have known you my entire life. thank you for allowing me into your love story and making me a part of your special day. i feel blessed to bear witness to this time in your life.
by chriselda
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