Happy Birthday BFF!

Some of you may know my bestest friend Laurie. This year Laurie had her first 29th birthday. I say that because I think we will be celebrating her 29th birthday for the next 20+ years (if she can get away with it for that long). I wanted this to be a special birthday for her so I came up with a brilliant idea. Laurie loves cooking with her girls. She also loves recipe books....how often she uses one you would have to ask her. With her help I gathered up recipes from her family as well as her in-laws. Although, she did not know why we were doing this. I am not very good at keeping secret so this was really a challenge for me. While she was out of town celebrating her anniversary I kidnapped her kids (not literally) and took them to a grocery store here in Dallas for a fun shoot. The following day we did a shoot at the house while we made cookies. I posted some of their pictures in a slide show that I have wanted to show everyone for months now. FINALLY the big day has come and gone so it's safe to share. I would love to get a chance to do another session like this. I had such a great time during the whole process!

Go check it out! 

Truck vs. Lens

I remember it like it was last week......maybe because it was. I am on a bridal shoot in Deep Ellum. We are having a blast about an hour into our shoot and about to wrap up with another location. MOB spots it, the perfect place for a picture. She thinks "the photographer needs to see this. It would be perfect. My daughter will love it." She is pre-visualizing the 24x30 canvas that she is going to hang on her wall already. Ok, so maybe I made that part up. Either way I walk around the corner from the alley we have been shooting in. She's right, this is it. We will get some great shots here. When out of the corner of my eye I notice the truck. The truck that is turning into OUR alley. The truck that doesn't even realize that the idiot photographer has placed her camera much to close to street. Thankfully he dodges it.......but what is that sound??? OH that would be my OTHER camera which is actually laying IN the alley. That's right, my Nikon D200 is laying in the alley with an 80-200 lens attached. I probably won't forget the sound of the crunch for at least another week :-). Much to my surprise the camera has escaped damage. Unfortunately we can not say that same for my lens. It has taken one for the team and is laying in about 10 pieces of which I picked up about 2. My first reaction is to cry but I held it together. After all it is only a lens, my camera is still functioning and I have a beautiful bride who is still going to need some pictures for her wedding and that 30x40 canvas going on her moms wall. We finished up our shoot and got some GREAT shots of Kristin. Then again it would be hard not to. She is one of those....the beautiful people. They were so encouraging and sweet about the whole thing. Never once did they call me a moron or idiot for laying my camera in the road. I can assure you I have many times since. 

Ever wanted to see what happens to a 80-200 lens when run over by a truck? Save yourself about $1000 bucks and I will show you mine.

Here is our bride and THE WALL..... 

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Am I at a wedding?

Last Friday night Amber and Jacy walked down the aisle. They were married in the Japanese Gardens in Ft Worth. A BEAUTIFUL place for a wedding. I have to say this is the first time I have witnessed karaoke at a wedding reception. I hope it won't be the last because I had the best time. By the looks of these pictures I wasn't the only one either. Jacy and Amber are one of those couples who were up for anything. They even brought along a very special member of their family named Monkey. I think even Monkey enjoyed himself at this wild party. 

If you attended Amber and Jacy's wedding and would like to be notified when their images are available online shoot me an email at jamie@pbjstudio.com.

Ladies, there is enough Monkey for everyone.

I love this picture because I know that he is singing "Opps I did it again"