Tope called me up last week and reminded me that we never did shoot her bridal session – they’re an out of town client and we could never get it scheduled. We had quite a time trying to schedule me + them + hair + makeup + weather all at the same time, but we finally managed it. It was initially meant to be a bridal session, but the night before Tope asked if her husband could come along and be in a few images. I was delighted, and he was in almost all of them! We had a really great time, despite the heavy rain right before, and a little rain during, and a lot of rain after the session.

One super cool thing that happened was as we were shooting on a sidewalk in downtown Houston, a gentleman was walking by and he photobombed us and then asked where else we were shooting. He insisted that we shot in his building, and he let us in to an amazing 100 year old building where we had the run of the place, including the private terraces where we made some of my new favorite images. We had a blast. I think I’m going to be suggesting these sessions a LOT more often. It was great not to have to worry about the dress too, since we were shooting after the wedding. Everyone was much more relaxed.

I shot Yinka and Sola’s wedding back in 2007 – I didn’t get to shoot the birth of their first child, but this time Yinka’s timing was perfect! They live out in Dallas and on Thursday morning I got a text saying that she had delivered her second baby. The following morning, I surprised her with a phone call to let her know I was on my way to Dallas to shoot a wedding and I would be happy to stop by and take her new daughter’s first portraits. She was quite pleased, and that make me all happy too. So on Saturday morning, bright and early, I went out to meet the newest member of her family. She’s beautiful.

This couple’s schedule was unbelievably tight. Even though they booked me almost a year before the wedding, we had such a hard time getting our schedules together. We finally ended up a couple of weeks before the wedding, trying to get the shoot done – it rained and since we couldn’t find another day before the wedding to shoot, we went anyway – and I’m so glad we did! I’m almost hoping for another rainy session…

Tope and Biyi talked me into coming to San Antonio to shoot their session – it wasn’t too hard because (a) I love to shoot in new and different places and (b) Seaworld! So we all rode up there and I checked out a couple of potential locations. We settled on this picturesque location below and it was pretty cool. Tope had warned me up front that Biyi was *so* not into having his photograph taken, but by the end of the shoot he was coming up with shot ideas and not wanting the session to be over. Very cool!

I had a really long week in Dallas – I shot my first 3 day wedding, and then the next day, just before i was to leave for Houston, I shot Chuks and Kelechi’s session. I thought I’d be tired, but as soon as I got there, I was all psyched and we had a bunch of fun! They were both really cool and did great despite all the walking. Like many grooms, Chuks needed a little warming up but when he got into it, we got some amazing stuff. The picture of them kissing in front of the kissing statue is definitely one of my favorite images of the year. We’ve already shot their wedding in Houston so I’ll be posting some of that soon as well. Enjoy!

Ah, IB & Mike. These two have got to be the most laid back (and by laid back, I mean silliest) couple I’ve shot in a while. IB is my cousin, and I’ve been watching Mike fumble around for quite a while now, so I was delighted when they told me it was Go Time. IB has always had her eye on this phone booth for her engagement pictures, even well before she got engaged! It took some doing, including talking to the owners of the phone booth, and power tools. Don’t ask. Worth it though! I’ll be posting images from the wedding shortly, so check those out too, soon.

What a workout! I got to run up to the Woodlands and shoot this super cute toddler Isabel and her older sister Taylor. It’s been quite a while since I’ve broken a sweat while working – and not because it was hot. Wriggly little Isabel basically turned the shoot into a game of duck the photographer. Every time she saw me she would run the other way, hence the multiple shots of her from behind. It was a really fun shoot though, and I think we got some great stuff. Check it out!

I haven’t shot a lot of bridal sessions lately, and I had actually been thinking that was a good thing, preferring to focus on engagement sessions with fun couples. However, this session with Kim in Dallas was so much fun, I think we’re bringing bridal sessions back! Kim doesn’t half-step – we had the biggest entourage I’ve ever been at a shoot with – her best friend Christy, hair, coordinator, me, bride, makeup and a manicurist! One of mine (and Kim’s) favorite images was shot on a hill on the side of the road that I spotted on my way to our first location. She was such a trooper for climbing up the side of a hill in her dress! I think it was totally worth it though.

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Rolake flew in from NY and met us in Houston, and then we (Me, Rolake, Lee and Nosa the magnificent wedding coordinator) drove up to Kemah. I had actually been to Galveston AND Kemah the day before to scout the locations etc and we settled on Kemah. There was lots to do, and we finished the evening out driving back to town with funnel cakes and turkey legs. I wish I could do that at every shoot. Can’t wait until the wedding!

Whoo! What a game! We had a little superbowl party here, and it was so much fun. Admittedly, I’m not as into the game as the average guy so I spent some of the time playing around and shooting some of the guests. My favorite subject was a supercute 8 month old called Christian. She was such a delight, and smiled and cooed most of the evening as she sat in all our laps at some point or another. Here are a couple portraits I made of her at the party.