Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Portraits ♥ Mitzi & Gals

Whoah! Today is Wednesday (soon to be Thursday...) and Mitzi and her DZ gals have hit the blog. Mitzi celebrated her birthday last week and had scheduled a portrait session for herselve and some of her Delta Zeta sorority little sisters. The session turned into mini-session for the girls and ended with some fun group photos. It made me very happy that Mitzi wanted to shedule another session with me after we shot her Senior Session back in May. 

When I met with her earlier this afternoon, she was radiating with a large smile on her face. I'm little, but Mitzi is way more little than me.... so I saw this short and spunky young woman walking towards me and I knew she had something to say. And she did; Mitzi has been accepted into a Master's Program at a great univeristy and will be leaving the Rio Grande Valley soon to begin a completely new chapter in her life. I am so excited for her. I have known her for about four years and I know we will continue to cross paths both as Delta Zeta sisters and friends in the future years.

This spunky brunette has traveled the world at such a young age... a student here at the local university, a student at Georgetown in D.C., an internship with Toyota in San Antonio, and a spontaneous trip to Paris!!! She's wild, isn't she? In reality, Mitzi is ambitious. She's beginning to conquer the world in her own way, I know it. Mitzi I am very happy for all the great new things opening up in your life at the present moment. God will continue to bless you with many, many more. Good luck and I hope this wasn't our last session ;)

Here's Mitzi and some of the gals...
God Bless Always!!! ♥

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Weddings, Engagements & Laundry ♥

Howdy! It's Sunday early evening and the night is quickly approaching in my area but the day is merely commencing for me. Sunday has been a quiet and beautiful day...while my loved ones enjoy a much needed vacation I am here working harder to meet deadlines and make sure I clear up my weekdays for the upcoming week so I can come home and relax daily. For the past three weeks I've been making the rounds on valley weddings... both as a guest, photographer and both. This coming Saturday will be the first free Saturday evening in a while... I am so looking forward to it! 

I woke up early this morning for an engagement session at a really fabulous location. I had been looking forward to photographing the couple at their upcoming wedding venue because I love the earthy feel the pictures would yield. Unfortunately, the location became unavailable at the very last minute so I had to think quick and improvise.. and I did :) 

I have lots of chores to catch up on as well as work, so for now I move on to my to do list and will attempt to finish laundry. But I'll leave you with one shot from today's engagement session..... full post coming later :)
I hope you had a great weekend!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

I love my doggies. ♥

It's Wednesday evening and for the past two days waking up and getting out of bed has been really difficult. Yes I am tired. Yes my body aches. Yes I am very much sleep deprived at the moment. But that hasn't made it difficult to wake up. My doggies make it difficult.... I like to jump onto my fluffy covers and cuddle with my little 4lb chihuahuas and 6lb poodles. My chipoodles are very much my children so I have been feeling a little sad that I have not spent as much time as I'd like to with them for the whole past week. So when it's time to wake up in the mornings I don't want to. I much rather stay in and cuddle with them since they seem to be still asleep as I drag myself up and start a brand new day. 

Play time had turned into "Hurry up and go potty while mommy checks her phone..." moments. Blahhh... someone please throw a bone at ... my head! What a horrible dog owner I have been! But alas, today I decided to be a much better mommy and enjoyed an evening of barks, water and my furry critters. We spent the evening outside running around, yes - I ran around too, chasing them with my camera. I love my pets! 

Chuy ♥
Roberto ♥
Lupita ♥
Ronald ♥
Peke ♥

I love them!!!
Don't forget to stop every now and then and admire those who love you and the ones you love... pets included!

Happy Wednesday :)

Monday, August 9, 2010

Sarita... Bridal Session ♥

It was one of those moments in which you are so busy, your phone rings and you contemplate on whether to let the voice mail take a message or running towards the phone to pick it up. The day Sarita called me was one of those moments. It was early in the morning and I was busy cleaning out an old building full of dust. Really, I was cleaning out true vintage items in an old, stinky place. It was hot and there was no air condition in the room I was in. I had been cleaning out through the rummage for about an hour when my phone rang. I remember leaving it on top of a few boxes all the way across the room. I sat there on the floor early that Friday and wondered if I had the strength to get up, run and answer my phone.

But I did and I am very glad. On the other line was a sweet voice of a young bride. Sarita had spent the past months planning her wedding to her very own prince charming and tha last thing on her bridal to do list was booking a wedding photographer. Guess who got the call... I did ;) 

At the start of the summer I was excited for all the weddings I had lined up during the hot summer months but hers was one of the ones I was most looking forward to. Sarita is quite and somewhat timid and the wedding style she described seemed very much something I would plan. She was chic, romantic with a hint of vintage. Of course I was excited! We kept in touch through meetings, phone calls, text messages, facebook and email. Finally, a week before her July wedding we managed to squeeze in her bridal session. 

When the doors opened from her dressing room and Sarita walked out fully dressed in her bridal attire I realized I loved my job.  I get to share the special moments of many of my client's lives. And that day, I got to share Sarita's bridal bliss as her photographer. We spent the morning light walking around the trails of the Quinta Mazatlan and she was a real trooper. Sarita's mom and bridesmaid were the best assistants ever! And even though I left the sessoin with bruises and mud, I am glad to take a dip in any pond for my brides - whatever gets us the winning shots. Sarita you made for a beautiful bride and I hope your beloved Kennedy loves the following shots...
Congratulations to Sarita and Kennedy on their recent wedding... photos coming soon ;)

Good night and have a happy Monday night :)

Sunday, August 8, 2010

2010 College Senior... Vanessa!!!

I'm going to cry."

A little while ago I was having a conversation with a beautiful young woman on the benefits of her college experience. Vanessa is a sweet, loving and caring young lady with the world waiting for her to choose a path to conquer. This true Texas gal has the voice of lady and the attitude of a good pair of cowboy boots... Sometimes we take for granted the events we partake in during our daily routines - waking up, getting dressed, attending school, studying, and sleeping - all things many college students experience over the span of a few years. For some it takes longer than usual and for others the college experience passes in blink of an eye. Regardless, for every graduating college senior the routine is always the same. Each individual progressively works towards reaching the ultimate goal - graduating with their respective degree.

When we get so caught up in the daily routine we call college we sometimes reach the end of the credit line and it becomes a bit difficult to realize and enjoy we are graduating. We become stressed over grades and classes and often run through our last semester because we just want to be finished. Last week Vanessa met me early in the morning with her cap and gown ready for some senior portraits. She was relaxed at first and then seemed a bit anxious to get the session over. Then she did it, she put on her cap and gown, took a deep breath and realized she was graduating. Finally! was written all over her facial expression. It was a finally of realization and of peace as she relaxed once again and enjoyed documenting her last days as an undergraduate.

This evening Vanessa came by and we looked at her proofs when she said it, I'm going to cry. I wondered if it was a misstep in my hearing or if I was just really tired and sleepy. But she did say it, she looked at my photographs of her session and said she was excited for graduation and smiled as she realized all of her accomplishments. I felt a warmness in my heart and a smile overcome my face. I helped her to see her self as a college graduate. Most importantly, I saw her grow during her collegiate years. As a Delta Zeta sister, like me, she gained invaluable bits of knowledge she is ready to use in the real world.

Vanessa, I wish you the ultimate best in your new chapter in life. The years of college textbooks and exams are over for now. You will only turn a page to your new life, not to spend countless hours of studying time. I am sure your family, friends, and loved ones are proud of you. And guess what, our sorority is too! Congratulations!!!

Have a Blessed Sunday!!! ♥