All of my wedding collections include an engagement session. I always encourage my clients to do the engagement shoot because it gives us the chance to work together before the wedding. Not only will you come away with some amazing photos of the two of you but we will be able to develop a sense of comfort and trust between us. It also gives me a chance to get to know you better so I’m not a stranger showing up on your wedding day.




Before the engagement session I like to ask questions that help me get to know you better with the goal of giving us some fun ideas for where we can do your engagement shoot. Whenever possible I like to help my clients think outside the box when choosing a site for the engagement shoot. We can do anything! We don’t have to shoot at a park. I’ve done fun downtown locations, coffee shops, playgrounds and riverside. Let’s go somewhere that is unique and reflects who you are as a couple.

Wear casual clothes to the session – something you would feel comfortable sitting on the ground in. Wear whatever colors you would like but stay away from a strong pattern that will pull the eye away from your faces. The best light to shoot in is just before sunset so we should schedule the shoot a couple hours before sun down.




The engagement shoot can be a lot of fun if you come prepared to focus on one another, laugh and kiss a lot . Most of the time I have you interact and focus on one another rather than on the camera. Many couples have come away from the shoot saying it was like a therapy session (in the good sense, of course!)

One of the coolest things we’re seeing our clients do this year is order Art Guest Books from their sessions. These books provide a place for your guests to write their well-wishes, while showcasing your engagement portraits. The hardest part is narrowing down the images to put in the book – there are always so many great ones to choose from!

If you haven’t scheduled your engagement session yet, or if you haven’t ordered your Art Book, please call us soon! We’re filling up our calendar, but we can still squeeze a few more of you in!

If the previous suggestions are completely out of the question then at least allow for 2 hours before the ceremony for photos of the bridal party.

Plan in extra time for hair and makeup, this is the #1 reason weddings begin late – everyone will want at least a touchup and with so many there it just takes longer than expected. Make sure all bridesmaids are dressed and ready prior to our arrival to begin photos with the bride.

- All flowers need to be ready at the start of pictures.
- Boutonnieres need to be pinned on the groom and groomsmen promptly on their arrival for photos.
- Immediate family of both the bride and groom need to be dressed and ready for pictures before the ceremony.

Utilize your time with us before the wedding. The best images come from before the ceremony, not “drunk” dancing pictures at a reception, that can be covered by the videographer or family members with point and shoot cameras!

After all the formal portraits are done, we need the cooperation of you two together to take some time for some great images of you as newlyweds.

If you are worried about having guests wait too long to eat, break tradition and go ahead and have them start eating before you arrive. Trust us, they will love it, you will not feel pressured, and the party will get started much earlier in the evening!

Be willing to do fun poses – after all, we do it because we know it will look great! Warn your wedding party that photos are important to you and that we might be a little different in the way we work.

These are just a few suggestions on how to get the most out of us for your wedding photographs. You’re hiring us, now take advantage of having us and do something truly unique on your wedding day. We love to go to different locations with wedding parties. We will go most anywhere with you before or after the ceremony. We are there to give you images that you will treasure forever.

I am putting together a resource for brides in effort to help them find the best available wedding vendors from Houston to Lake Charles – florists, wedding planners, caterers, wedding venues and wedding reception venues, musicians and bands, travel and honeymoon, wedding cakes, bridal attire / dresses, salons, makeup artists, etc. – you know who you are . This will also help me find out who reads my blog, and who does not.

If we have worked together in the past and you’d like to be listed on my site (free of charge of course… you cannot buy my recommendation)… please send me an email/ contact me with:

Your Name
Name of Your Business
Website
Phone Number
Address
and When we worked together

And while I wish I could include everyone, unfortunately I am only going to be able to add your listing if we have worked together (and you did a great job) or if we haven’t worked together, your reputation must be stellar.

I look forward to hearing from you soon!

If you are still dead-set against seeing each other before the ceremony, then consider having at least a 1-2 hour gap between the ceremony and reception. We have friends in Canada and a nice 2-3 hour gap is the norm – they’re able to travel to several locations during that time and get some amazing portraits. It’s from this session that 90% of our enlargements are made. Its where your thank you card shot will come from….this is the number one way to ensure great images. Give us the time to take them. So please, plan it into your schedule.

- You allow ample time to travel somewhere great for photos (especially if your ceremony location is not the most picturesque place). We can jump in a limo and go anywhere you would love to take photos. If you have an afternoon wedding, you can still have an evening reception.
- Your guests can explore the sights of the city with a nice organized tour given by a family member or just have the chance to freshen up before the reception.
- You can even have a cocktail party organized! This will ensure the two of you have the best opportunity to get the most unique images of your wedding party and yourselves as a newlyweds.
- If you can’t spare a couple hours to go somewhere nice, plan in time for a “photo walk”. Its that 30 minutes or so after your formals, but before your reception starts. We could use this 20-30 minutes of alone time with you and your new husband to create some of those relaxed romantic portraits that everyone loves.

- Last but not least, you get to truly take in the day and enjoy every minute of it instead of rushing around!

Now, at first thought everybody says “absolutely no” to the idea, as we did when it came to our own wedding, but then we got to thinking…

- Photos! Photos! and more Photos! You will have more images (and probably better images) from your wedding day by seeing each other before the ceremony.

By doing this, we will have the opportunity to work with you two in order to really capture that special moment in seeing each other for the first time, either alone or with loved-ones watching.

We then have plenty of time to deliver some outstanding portraits of you two together! We often find that couples who do not see each other before the ceremony do not get as many or as great pictures of themselves together because they are always in a hurry to get to the reception. Most think they won’t be in a hurry, but we haven’t had a couple that was not worried about rushing key photos to get to their party (including us on our own special day!). We use this alone time with you and your new husband to create some of those relaxed romantic portraits that everyone loves.

- You can take full advantage of your time with us and travel somewhere great for wedding party photos and images of you as a couple. A limo service can whisk the wedding party to a mansion, a park, the great locations downtown, or another location of your choice.

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- We can take all of the photos before the wedding ceremony begins, leaving you more time to enjoy your reception.

All the images will be done before the ceremony leaving you with fresh makeup, great hair and excited smiles in all of your photos!

Trust us, you will not regret it!

Myself, I put a LOT of thought into the proposal, surprised her and flew her half way around the world, waited for the perfect moment… and she said “yes!”. To record the event I used a video camera, fumbling around with it a minute or two, saying something about “I need to record something for the people back home”. Then surprised her yet again by asking her to marry me. The video recording was nice but not of the quality that I could take a still frame out of it and hang a canvas wrap in our home. The image works for a myspace or facebook badge, but not something larger than an i-pod. Sound was non-existent except for the birds flying by and kids playing It was great that I got that, the moment was perfect, but quality was lacking.





That was a few years ago. Today we offer what is commonly called “Proposal Paparazzi” – secretly photographing the proposal without her knowing a thing about it. A long lens and steady hand (for both the proposer and photographer ) can get gorgeous captures of the big moment to re-live for many years to come. Most couples have many images of their wedding, from planning right up until the big day, but unless they have planned ahead, no photos of the proposal. Many are working on those proposal plans these upcoming holidays and beyond, contact us to book a date to record the event. I love these types of events, so if you need some help planning, I can give you suggestions. If you are planning an out-of-town or out-of-country proposal, I am available to travel to your location.

Art Museum of Southeast Texas – Classic and beautiful – one of my favorite venues.

Beaumont Country Club – available for wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, bridal showers and ceremonies.

Brentwood Country Club – Classic tradition in Beaumont’s West End.

Holiday Inn Atrium Plaza – several places to choose from – from small to large ballroom space to the dramatic atrium with waterfall, they have it all. The atrium makes for beautifully dramatic photos.

MCM Elegante – several ball rooms to choose from, from small to large to huge

The Neches Room – perfect for the small to medium sized reception. The large windows let in amazing light during the day/early evening – your afternoon bridal photos are gorgeous here

Poblano Grill – Very nice location that hosts receptions and banquets.

Sugas Deep South Cuisine – Premier facility – large room available upstairs with private bar, band stand, dance floor, and balcony.

Bistro Lemonde – very nice place for an intimate dinner reception.

I’ll update these as I find more to recommend. Keep in mind that I am available for travel so even if you don’t get married in the Beaumont area, I would love to hear more about your wedding!