Our next heart breaker

On Sunday I met a precious baby boy named Braden. The poor thing is destined to become a head turner with these good looking parents. We had a great time shooting in mom and dads beautiful new home. Although Branden didn't seem too interested in having his picture taken. He preferred to eat and sleep. I can't say I blame him though. We did manage to capture some images that I really love. It was so nice meeting such a beautiful family...on the inside and out.

 

 

Smokin Hot Volleyball

On Friday I did a shoot with the Newman Smith Varsity Volleyball team. My super hot, sweet, and mega talented youngest sister Heather plays on the team. We headed out to the Carrollton Fire Department to find some cute firemen...I mean to shoot some pictures. :) It looked to me like the girls were having a great time playing dress up. Go figure right. I can't help but post my favorite picture of Heather too. She will probably die when she sees which one I chose to share with everyone. It is SO her! I also did a shoot with the Freshman and JV team so you have to check those out too. I guess my skills reach beyond weddings and portrait sessions now....

  

                     

Hey shawty!

Ok so I started this new part time job this week and I have been working my tail off. I am shooting school candids for day cares and it is SOOOO much fun but it is the most draining thing I have ever done. I feel like I eat, sleep, shoot and repeat. Although I could use more of the second and less of the first. lol I will make sure to blog this week about my exciting week but in the meantime I have a video that is a MUST SEE! I know the craziest 4 yr old! This is Paige and she is quite the singer as you can see.

So later on this same day the natives were getting restless while Aaron was helping me with some web stuff so we busted out a little Numa Numa....I can't believe I am really going to share this with the world. I figure you have to be able to laugh at yourself. I have that covered....

The Juxtapose Experience

Last week my photography bff Kate asked me to second shoot a wedding for her up in Mckinney. OF COURSE I couldn't turn the offer down. We spent the day hanging out and goofing around with our photography gear...great fun that was! About 5:00 we headed off to Aubie and Kevin's wedding at the Surrey House. Of course this was my first time meeting the bride and her family but they sure didn't make me feel like the outsider. Aubie and her 2 sisters looked absolutely beautiful Saturday. Aubie and Alli both sporting their cowboy boots. I am going to try not to rush out and buy me a pair....but I can make no promises. I had a great time meeting everyone and had a blast seeing Kate in action. She becomes really intense behind the camera. You should check out her blog too www.juxtaposephotography.com . She has some kick butt images from this weekend. Here are a few of my favs....

Amber & Jacy E_Session

I did a super fun shoot with Amber and Jacy several days back. We met up in downtown Denton, TX. Going into it I wasn't really sure what to expect with the location.Which turned out to be a really sweet place to shoot. I knew these two would be fun to work with no matter where they were. Talk about some strong personalities. Amber and Jacy seem so easy going and always have a smile on their faces...except when I was beggin for something sexy. I am really looking forward to their wedding in October. Not just because it won't be 500 degrees outside. Mostly because it is guaranteed to be a good time with them.

On another note....did anyone notice in my TAG that I mentioned I was full time??? MEANING I no longer have a 8-5 corporate job? SERIOUSLY! I don't! I am flying solo. I am super excited and feel like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. I'm not looking for any comments about the matter or anything (yeah right). I'm also a tiny bit nervous but mostly enjoying the ride...and sleeping in until 7:30. :-)

TAG?

Last week I was pulled into a friendly game of photographers TAG. I feel special that Dustin and Heather decided to drag me into it. I think I can remember playing something much to similar in jr high. SInce I am such a people pleaser I must play along. Hopefully you will learn something about me that you ALWAYS wanted to know. Or maybe I would just like to think it will.

1. I was little Miss Dallas in 1981.... HA! Now I bet you didn't see that coming.

2. I raised a pig in 4-H when i was in 6th grade..... No joke people. I have pictures to prove it. And I will spare you.

3. I met my "real" dad for the first time when I was 22 years old......About 22 years late but all things happen for a reason. He is an amazing man. I am very blessed to have two awesome dads.

4. I am officially a full time photographer!....."You just got pushed off the cliff, start building your wings." Is going to be a quote I hang on to for a little while.

5. I was homeschooled through Jr High and High School.....I have no comment except...I would never homeschool my kids. :-)

6. I was proposed to for the first time when I was in 8th grade.....this sounds really messed up but to me it's a funny story. You will be happy to know that mom also went after this boy with a bat. Luckily she didn't find him.

7. I LOVE to shop...... Many woman can tell you this but few can live up to what this means. Ask me how many pairs of SUMMER shoes I have...72....ask me how many pairs of blue jeans are in my closet....32....Do you doubt me now?

8. I want to go on a missions trip to Africa in the worst way!....Maybe I could take them some of the summer shoes I'm not wearing.



Sooooo now you know a little more...maybe too much about me. I want to know something about you! :-) Come on you can do it! Leave me a comment.

It's now my responsibility to pass the torch. Don't let me done....

1. Angela Marcotte
2. Rachel Wilks
3. Melissa Vadillo
4. Terry Smith

Dancin Queen

I would have blogged sooner but my internet has been touch and go at home...mostly go. I will start off with a little personal update. As some of you may know my mom has been in the hospital for several weeks. She went in three weeks ago and after 8 days was finally sent home feeling better but having never found the cause of the problem. After coming home she became sick again and was put back into the hospital about 3 days later. She was released again yesterday and seems to be feeling better. She has been pinched, poked, proded, and has had just about every type of scan you can name. Today she is walking around with a camera in her belly. Pretty interesting to hear what doctors can do these days....yet they still don't know what is wrong. At this point they are leaning towards Chrohns disease. It is hard to see someone you love go through some of the things mom has gone through the last few weeks. Especially when it is your mom. I am used to having her care for me. For once I felt so completely helpless. I just wanted to thank everyone for their prayers and thank my clients for their patience. You will never know how much it has meant!

So Friday night..... Kevin and Becca finally tied the knot! Their wedding was held at the Country Abbey in Justin, TX. I can totally understand why people would make the trip out there. What a beautiful place to get married. The staff was the friendliest I had met too! I saw alot of old friends at the wedding and had a great time catching up. I am so honored that Kevin and Becca let me be apart of this special day. Now...onto the pictures....

I hate to admit it but the last picture is actually my cousin. Who would have thought that someone related to me would be makin a fool of themself on the dance floor? I mean that in the nicest way possible. hehe I introduce you to Jayson...the dancin queen.

Lovin my new logo!

I am SO excited about my new blog and especially about my new logo. I never realized just how much your logo is a reflection of you and your personality. At least I feel like mine is. With the help of my photography bff Kate (Juxtapose Photography) we brought my vision to life. There are a lot of changes in the works for PBJ Studio but it has become a slow process. Especially when I am still holding down a full time job. Hopefully there are some changes on the horizon in that area as well. More to come SOON.....

Since it has been a month and about 10 photo shoots since my last post I thought I would be gentle with you and only post a few from a recent engagement session I did with Kevin and Becca. We had a great time shooting in downtown Lewisville. It looked like rain but fortunately the rain held up until after we finished. These two are getting married this weekend and I am so excited to be shooting their wedding. Kevin and I first met at church in Denton back....ages ago. Or so it feels now. Here are a few of my favorites...

Best Week Eva!

This week was totally amazingly awesome and I hate that it’s over! I just got back from Seattle and Anti-workshop rocked my world. I can’t wait to roll out all of the changes I’m making. I have even gone as far as to put alllll of my camera gear up for sale…Hopefully I haven’t lost my mind. I met some photographers that I have admired from a distance for a while now and others that are now added to that list. Where to start…. Dustin (love him!), Erin (Seattle’s BEST dog photographer), Jan (they don’t get any nicer), Jasmine Star (just as beautiful on the inside as the outside), Shyla (who never stops smiling), Heather (who is crazy fun!), Kelly (who is a freakin amazing photographer), Fred Egan (what can I say…he has been inspiring me for almost a year now), and bestest for last my new BFF Kate Mefford (she took the new shots of me). She and I are going to make a great team! She challenges me to look a little dig a little deeper into what I am really all about. I think my Anti-workshop was so successful in part because of our talks and brainstorming. Check out my new buddies at Anti Workshop.

The Boutwells and John Michael Cooper really challenged us this week to step outside the box. They were completly inspiring! I can not implement everything I learned fast enough but I sure will try. Our week was filled with some crazy excercises and shoots. Tuesday we were sent out with a blow up pig and a polaroid camera. We had two hours to tell a story about our pig and 10 polaroids to accomplish it. Talk about a challenge! I was paired up with a couple of awesome girls. Our pig was planning her upcoming wedding. As you can imagine we had some good laughs. Wednesday we headed out with a model/bride and a list of 24 shots we had to get. Two hours didn’t seem like nearly enough time for this one. Our bride was super sweet and beautiful as you can see from the slideshow. Thursday the Boutwells got to strut their stuff for us. We went down to underground Seattle with our bride and groom for a smokin hot shoot. Talk about outside the box. I LOVED it!!! It was so different and a refreshing change. I was pretty sad to say goodbye to all of my new friends. We had some great times, lots of laughs, (best taxi ride EVA!) and I have tons of memories and new blogs to stalk

I will update some more images I high jack a little later….

From Kelly’s Blog

Where have I been?

I know. I know. I am running a little bit behind this week. I am in Seattle at a photography workshop that is totally rockin my socks off. I have met some amazing photographers and have learned so much that is going to make me even more dangerous with that little black piece of equipment I always have in my hands (no, not my lipstick. My camera!) Get ready for some BIG changes coming your way. I can't hardly stand the suspense!!

So, onto the events of last weekend....Friday night I shot Chelsea and Grant's wedding at the cutest little chapel. I am going to have to hand out the best dance award on this one. These two danced until my feet hurt and they were awesome at it! It made me want to get out there and shake my booty too. You can thank me later for sparing you that sight. Although I did not get a chance to know Chelsea and Grant prior to the wedding I learned Friday they are both tons-o-fun. Here are just a couple of pictures from thier wedding.










Saturday I fortunate enough to shoot a wedding with a superstar in the biz (that's a little inside joke really). On a serious note though, I have been so lucky this past month to shoot with some of the best photographers and Saturday was another one of those expierences. Fred Egan asked me help him out on a wedding in Ft Worth. I thought I had seen it all but it turns out I had never seen a reception just THIS spectacular. It isn't every day you see 7 wedding cakes at one wedding. OR an ice dolphin sculpture that serves drinks out of it's mouth. Talk about going all out. I had the best time enjoying the sites and watching Fred in action. I learned so much, what a priceless expierence! Thanks Fred for a very memorable evening.

A few of my faves.

Did someone say fire on the dance floor?

I shot another wedding this weekend with Heather over at Faces Photography. It was Sunday afternoon at Paradise Cove in Southlake. What a beautiful venue. Possibly more beautiful if it wasn't 110 degrees outside. Ok, so maybe it wasn't 110 but with the warmer weather finally here my body just hasn't adjusted yet and I was being a baby (on the inside). Despite the heat I got some great shots, ate good food (amazing cake), and had a LOT of laughs. As a photographer once in a while the stars align and the heavens part to shine down on you. The result is a picture you couldn't have possibly planned for even if you had tried. I will let this poor guy remain nameless (he knows who he is), but I have to say this is the first time in my life I have seen a flame come out of...well just see for yourself.

 

Seriously, how many embarassing pictures can you get of one person? I guess this was my lucky night.



 Here are a few others...not as entertaining.....







Saturday morning I went to a Berry Farm just north of Sherman with my favorite people in the world (Laurie, Paige and Addi of course). Here are a couple of pictures from our exciting and exhausting day.

 As you can see we put the kids to work immediatly. We had 4 buckets to fill!



 I wonder why we couldn't seem to fill up a whole bucket??



Here's  a slideshow with the rest. Enjoy.

www.pbjstudio.com/Blackberry