Live in the Moment

Summer is fast and furious for me… a senior, wedding and family photographer.  Some might call me “just a photographer” but it’s not like that… not at all.  My seniors, brides, and families invite me into their personal lives to share their very important life milestones.

If I was “just a photographer” then I wouldn’t get this lump in my throat as a dad walks his daughter down the aisle to hand her future over to a young man that can’t possibly love her as much as he does…

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…or when I see endless tweets of last season’s high school seniors packing their cars to head off to college. Who is going to feed them, protect them, love them?

Live_In_The_Moment_Blog 4 Being a mother and daughter myself, I can feel both sides of the fence.  I remember how excited I was to marry the love of my life. But, I remember my dad asking me if I was sure I was ready.

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I also remember packing my car and heading off to college.  I was SO excited.  But, I also remember my parents driving off without me.

The funny thing is that we all know it’s coming.  At the start of our senior year, or the beginning of your engagement, we know where we are headed.  If we prepare properly, then we are ready.  It’s the way life goes. Ready or not, it’s time.

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As summer is winding down, I continue to share these life milestones with my families. I’m technically “just your photographer” but, really I feel more like part of your family.

So, from the family member who is on the outside looking in, my advice to each one of my 2016 seniors, parents of 2016 seniors, brides, grooms, parents of my bride and grooms, and now my 2017 seniors and their parents…

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Live in the moment! Take it all in and enjoy every second with your loved ones.  We are exactly where we are supposed to be.  Thank you for including me in your family!

Do you know someone who needs a professional photographer? We’d love to be part of your family too.

Perkins Chapel-The Adolphs Hotel Wedding

The secret to an amazing wedding is to plan your heart out, choose professionals that share your same creative vision, and then let go and enjoy your day. It’s okay if something doesn’t go as planned, just relax and trust that your professionals will take care of you.

Rachel and Eric’s wedding was elegant, traditional and simply romantic.  I caught myself tearing up a few times when I saw how sweetly he looked at her.  Rachel has a heart of gold and I felt that everyone at the wedding  knew it too.Perkins_Chapel_Wedding_1

Rachel and her mom did most of the planning. They did an amazing job picking two perfect locations and wedding professionals who shared her same style. Garden Gate Floral Design worked their magic to create a sea of elegant arrangements. Jr. even dressed their precious dog.

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Rachel and Eric’s amazing Professional Wedding Team

Hair: Amanda with Chad Rookstool Salon

Make up: Stormy Weather Make up

Florist: Garden Gate Floral and Design

DJ:  Uptown Sound

Video: LeVon Owens with Spinning Leaf Films

Dress: Mia Bridal Couture Houston

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Groom’s tux: J Hilburn

Ceremony: Perkins Chapel at SMU

Reception: The Adolphus Hotel

Photography: Lisa Manis and Tim McCord with Texas Tradition Photography

 

Open House at The Windsor at Hebron Park in Carrollton

The Windsor at Hebron Park Open house was SO much fun! Most of my favorite vendors were there.  It was more like a party than an open house.  Melissa and Hayley from Windsor did a fabulous job planning the event. As you can see by the pictures below, the floral arrangements that were designed by Dianne and Justine at Fleurs De France Floral in Carrollton were absolutely beautiful! Combined with the elegant white draping provided by Randy Roe, the room was Old Hollywood ready. Top that off with Old Hollywood style music by Jeff at Jay Fox Productions, cake by Elegant Cakery in Southlake, food by CN Catering and of course photography by yours truly, and you have a very successful open house. United Rental and Jason from Dream Driven Media were also part of the party.

And the party couldn’t have been complete without all the wonderful brides, grooms and their families that came to enjoy the evening “Hollywood Style”.

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Kelsi and Tonys’ Piazza in the Village Wedding

From my first meeting with Kelsi and Tony, I knew right away that I really wanted to photograph their wedding. Aside from the fact that they were/are both ADORABLE, their wedding was at Piazza in the Village.

Piazza in the Village is in Colleyville and it is SO beautiful! I have wanted to photograph there since it was built, but haven’t had the opportunity.

Kelsi and Tony did an amazing job planning their special day.  They thought of every detail. From the hanger holding the bride’s dress, to the groom and his mother’s dance, there always seemed to be one more thing to be excited about.  Who says you can’t have it all? Take a peek at some of their wedding photographs.

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The Plano bridal show was perfect.

Texas Tradition PhotographyWe had a really fun time at the bridal show yesterday.  And when I say “we” I mean the future owner of Texas Tradition Photography and me.  My daughter is just 11, but she has been my sidekick since she was born. She has had a camera in her hands since she was about 2 and has been doing odd jobs in the studio with me forever.  Up until now, her responsibilities have been stamping postcards, shredding important documents, sorting dance school and team photographs and cleaning. Although I have been teaching her Photoshop and Lightroom, I don’t allow her to work on client images.  She always practices on personal images or copies.

A couple of years ago, we had the opportunity to photograph a friends wedding which was outdoors, so I gave her a camera and she followed me around and actually captured some really creative images.  Although I was proud of her professionalism and creativity, she was still a kid.  Ever since that wedding, she has been asking to come along with me to shoot “real” weddings.  I told her I just can’t take her.  I gave her a time limit of high school. I told her when she reaches high school, I will take her on some more important shoots.

Well, I bought this really cool customize-able app for my clients.  I decided to create one for the bridal show and give it to all the potential brides. Well, this involves loading it on each bride’s phone.  Once I set it up and got it all ready, I couldn’t figure out how to save it on the home page of the phone.  And of course it is different for i phones and androids.

Linzy can into my office and asked me why I was frustrated, I told her and she said, here mom, let me try.  Within two minutes or less she had it figured out. She looked up at me and said… “I guess you  have to take me to the bridal show” BRAT! So, that is how my 11 year old, wormed her way into my bridal show booth.  But, I will say, she was professional and pleasant and we had a lot of fun.

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It’s Wedding Season for this Dallas Wedding Photographer!

Wedding season has officially begun!  The New Year always brings newly engaged couples.  It’s SO exciting.  And it seems like this year brides are in a hurry to book early.  I certainly can’t complain about that.

So.. are you planning a wedding?  If so, come see me this Sunday (Jan. 4th, 2015) at the Signature Bridal Show at the Plano Center in Plano from 12-5.  I will have an awesome booking bonus.

If you can’t make it out this weekend, I will also be at the Signature Bridal Show in Dallas on Sunday, Jan. 18th and at The Windsor at Hebron Park’s open house on Thursday Jan. 29th. Or you can always call me and we can set up a time to meet here at my studio.

2015 is going to be a great year to get married!

Dallas Signature Bridal Show – Texas Tradition LOVES brides!

This past Sunday Texas Tradition Photography attended the Dallas Signature Bridal Show. It was awesome! We were able to meet with so many excited brides. Some brides just got engaged, while others were getting close to their wedding date and only had a few more vendors to book. Our booth looked great too.

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We had such a big turnout that we named two winners of our mini-engagement session giveaway! Congratulations Beth Crutcher and Lindsey Foster!!!

Texas Tradition Photography enjoys providing quality wedding photography for the Dallas Fort Worth Area. Texas Tradition Photography has the classic timeless style that Dallas brides are looking for.