We began back where Jared worked his plan to propose to Annie this past Easter – in his family’s garden, surrounded by orange trees, moscato grape vines, and the sweet sweet hint of love in the air

After professing his love once again, Jared led Annie over to his grandpa’s nearby tractor – “someday this will all be yours!”

(or at least that’s what I imagined he would be telling her, though I don’t really think they were caring at this point what I was thinking )

Haha! I love it when a moment of sponteneity takes over the photoshoot! :

After drying off and changing clothes we spend a little time in the woods before heading to downtown Orange and shooting around the Lutcher Theater and riverside parks:

Great afternoon

It’s always more fun when we can personalize our time together using places that really mean something to them as a couple.

Annie’s bridal images will be posted after their Galveston wedding, coming up in just a couple of very short months!

Kay and Aaron met during classes at Lamar State College Port Arthur’s new Commercial Music and Recording Arts program (you’ve seen her in the commercials – oh, and she graduated this past weekend – congratulations Kay!). She plays and sings all over Southeast Texas, and you can find her or both of them most weeks at Sugas, New York Pizza Pasta, Starvin’ Marvins and several other establishments into great music and dining.

Which brings us to Sugas, a place where Aaron and Kay spent many evenings in their dating life together and the perfect backdrop to their engagement session:

We spent most of our time on Sugas back porch, the weather was perfect and that was the only place they would let me put this huge ladder up and shoot down through the moving ceiling fan blades:

Don’t they just ooze “cool”?

It comes from being comfortable with each other, but mostly from being comfortable in their own skin – “confidence is sexy”.

From there we moved inside to the piano, Kay’s second skin Aaron listened in the background, then joined later for a duet.

One of the most enjoyable engagement sessions… Oh, the ring? It’s Aaron’s grandmother’s diamond, set into a ring for Kay – something old, something new…

Congratulations Aaron and Kay!!!

You may remember them from their engagement sneak peek I posted a while back, here’s a few more of our favorites:

Combine a love for Houston Texans football, their daughter Penelope (who makes another cameo appearance below) and each other and you have a couple that’s too much fun! I hope it shows in their images below.

Their wedding is not until next November – have fun and Merry Christmas, the year is going to fly by!

It’s almost like cheating with light like this and such a beautiful couple, stay tuned for more soon!

Recently Megan and Aaron and I spent a couple of hours in Old Town Beaumont photographing their engagement session at the Chambers House, Easy’s, and even a few death-defying moments at the 11th Street drag for Hot Fall Nights… here are a few of my favorites:

All in favor, say Eyes! The eyes have it!

Beautiful, gorgeous light plagued us all afternoon, I hate when it’s this easy to look this good

Megan’s dad played a key role in the restoration of the Chambers House, so it was cool to be able to photograph in and around the historic home and grounds.

I won’t tell you how many times we shot that image to get the “B” just right… no faking it in photoshop for us!

On across the street to the now-closed ( ) Easy’s, as Megan and Aaron have a little coffee and dessert in the fun place – if you squint you may see her BFF Hannah hiding in the backgrounds

As you can see, Aaron required LOTS of encouragement to get close to the love of his life

Ah Easy’s, we’ll miss you!

One more from the 11th Street Drag – too fun! Stay tuned for her beautiful bridal photos coming up next summer!

What happens if a car comes?

We die!

If you can’t tell, Kaci and Chase and huge Texans’ fans… we need to finish this session at a game!

More coming soon!

Coming soon are the wedding festivities for Ashleigh and Tyne – two young lovers from the Southeast Texas area – Ashleigh works in a local hospital and Tyne, when he isn’t playing in a band, works in one of the local plants – good people, as my family would say





Ashleigh called the other day and wanted to know if they could bring Tyne’s drum set and take some photos with it – sure! I’m all for doing something that marks who the couple is as young adults at this point in their lives; what makes them get up in the morning and stay up late at night, their passions, if you will. So the drums were setup on the grass at riverfront park here in Beaumont and Tyne went to town, Ashleigh alternately listening, rocking and coyly luring while the band played on:





It worked! Eventually Tyne put the sticks down and paid more attention to the love of his life:





When it comes to rythmn and playing the drums, Ashleigh has two left feet Tyne tried tho:





Ring!





A little stroll down the boardwalk for a little stylin, kissin, and huggin happened:








And a few on Crockett Street, I love the architectural texture everywhere there:








One last one, don’t they make the cutest couple?





Up soon will be Ashleigh’s bridal session, stay tuned to this channel!

A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to put some of that in motion. Celina and Matt went to the Nederland Heritage Festival on their first date. Matt won her various great and grand prizes and introduced Celina to fried Oreo’s – Celina’s current drug of choice. To say she is addicted to them is just a small understatement In discussing today’s trip to the the Heritage Festival, we decided that since we had already photographed her actual engagement session, I could do something a little different and just be a fly on the wall while they re-lived the magic that was Celina and Matt’s first date I tracked them from a distance, walking through the crowds, oblivious to me:








The setting reminded me of an older John Grisham movie where the camera tracked the main characters through the crowds of New Orleans. Here Celina and Matt re-play their water pistol game:





… except this time Matt was gracious enough to let her win





More game time…








Each time, Matt was extra generous, letting Celina win each round. Then it was time, mecca was calling and we had to heed the call. On the way to the fried Oreo stand we passed a behind the scenes look at what really reminded me of the Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy in New York City. During the festival you walk down the street sampling from the different vendors many wonderful foods and flavors, from mozzareppa’s to gelatos you’ve never had before. If you get a chance to go to NYC soon, make it during the festival.





And now…

the moment we’ve been waiting for…

Matt is practicing his cake feeding skills:





Celina gives him the thumbs up and the sun sets in the background:





Stay tuned for their upcoming Nederland wedding in June

Anyways, on to the images! I’ve known Mona quite a few years, having worked with her in the past here and there and I was pleasantly surprised to hear she was engaged and wanted me to photograph the wedding coming soon. Michael happened to mention a car he’d like to see if we could use in the engagement session – I’m a bit of a car nut and my ears perked up at the suggestion. We would use the car and it’s further down the page – no peeking! You can wait a few moments longer, we have some good stuff before we even get to the car

Like boots!

We began in downtown Beaumont, looking for color and texture – lots to be found for sure. I find the light, put them in it and they automatically look cute and start puckering up:





From there it’s on to new locations with more texture and color. Mona and Michael have changed in the mean time and the car makes its first appearance.

Right out of an Frank Sinatra movie we’re transported to a time when girls were called ‘dames’ and ‘dolls’ and guys were called, well… they weren’t called… mainly because phones were scarce. But…

What were we talkin’ about?

Yes! The car!











A 1951 Mercury Lead Sled – chopped and dropped and just beautiful! Mona’s shoes were pretty sweet too. Rico Suave’ had nothing on Michael Richard today.





Soon it was time for dressing down a bit and getting more comfortable. The sun was beginning to set and we were looking for some backlit fun in big sky country:








Pretty!

One more peaceful one before we go:





ps: probably my favorite image of the day – down by the river, next to the bridge – just a boy and his girl and a ’51 Merc’.





I’m really looking forward to their wedding day – some fun stuff is planned!

The rest of Ashley and AJ’s gorgeous wedding is up next, followed by Elissa’s senior session!