Ridiculous Good Looks Run in the Family

It's true... ridiculous good looks run in the family :)

Meet my cousin, Brooks- he's going to be famous one day. True story.

Until then, he's coaching in Goldthwaite, TX. Never heard of it? Well you should look 'em up. They won the State Championship this past month! GO EAGLES!!

After Mom passed away, I spent my summers at Uncle Rusty & Aunt Donna's house in Lubbock. Most days were spent in the backyard pool. Evenings were spent at the ball park. It was the perfect childhood. During that time, I was able to grow closer to their sons, Brooks and Zach. Years passed... the summers became fewer and fewer. Sadly, I'm lucky if I see the boys once a year now. However, Brooks called me up over the break asking me to photograph him. You better believe I was all over it! Brooks and I strolled around Salado grabbing as many shots as we could before the sunset. He was a champ in wardrobe changes... put on a show for the whole town. ha. I had a blast, and I truly hope if you are in the modeling/acting business that you take a look as this gentleman. Hopefully the pictures speak for themselves, but his personality is just as great!!

Brooks, you are simply amazing and will go far. No doubt in my mind. Mom (Auntie Di) would be SO proud of you. Scratch that, I know she is watching you from above and she IS proud of you. Love, your agent & personal photographer :)

JPlez & Jake

I have quite a few blog stalkers that I don't know. I share personal stories about friendships attempting to show the strangers that I do have a life outside of photography...not the most exciting life, but a life none the less. I'm not just the gal who takes pics. I am a real person with real relationships. Here's another showcase of an amazing friend...

God brings special people into your life and creates a relationship that no other human or circumstance can break. I hope each and every person can experience this bond with someone in their lifetime. I am so beyond grateful that He loves me enough to have brought this person into my life. Justin is one of my best friends. Okay, so honestly(and I know my girls wont take offense to this), he is THE best friend. We have been through A LOT together, and that is an understatement. We have changed A LOT, yet our connection is probably at our strongest. I have seen Justin transform from a careless, spoiled fratboy into a mature, balanced man of God. I'm going to attempt this blog without getting too emotional & mushy gushy. He would give me hell if I did otherwise.

So it all started almost 5 years ago... in San Marcos. As Jus once pointed out, it is incredibly odd where we met considering we grew up only 3 miles apart... in Boerne. Skip pass meeting each other and all the intro, I knew the night that we played 20 questions that I had met a good guy. We sat on his couch asking each other the stupidest questions back & forth trying to avoid the awkwardness. We finally put all awkwardness aside and just clicked. Never could I have imagined then what rollercoaster ride we were climbing onto. P.S.- I HATE rollercoasters.

A couple years ago I asked God, then blatantly asked Justin why he had been brought into my life. I was mad cause I just didn't get it. During that season of life, our puzzle pieces weren't quite fitting together properly. I knew Jus was supposed to be in my life, but didn't understand it at the moment. I became frustrated and tried kicking Justin out of my life...many times. His stubborn butt just wouldn't go away. :) However, this year has brought on a brand new understanding - God has a funny sense of humor and it has taken me a while to get my answer. It's still not completely clear, but this year has brought me a new appreciation towards Justin. I shot his little brother's wedding in NC this summer- had a blast with their family & friends. During that time, I saw a new side to Justin. It all made sense. About a week after the wedding, I wrote Jus a note. Too much is too personal, but basically I came to an understanding and thanked Jus for being my absolute best friend, my solid rock, and my sanity for my time on this earth. When I'm rejoicing in some of the most exciting moments in life, he is there. When my world is falling apart, he is there. Always. We have openly admitted that we know eachother more than most, and along with that comes knowing each other's buttons. He can piss me off quicker than anyone else I know, and I supppppose I might do the same every so often. However, as he stated earlier today, regardless of what either one of us says or does... we are always back the next day. And I love waking up each morning knowing that he will be there. We talk everyday, all day. If I don't hear from him by noon, I assume he is dead. He's the one that keeps me entertained while I'm sitting at the computer editing all day. If ever he gets a job where he can't communicate all day, I am screwed...the business will fall apart due to pure boredom while editing :) My friend ,Kenzie, once asked me what Jus & I talk about all day and my answer was simply "everything", which in all honesty, means absolutely nothing. We could carry on a conversation about anything in this world. Most people don't get us and probably never will. A lovely example... He hung out with my family for a while on Christmas Day and after he left, Mom gave me the usual questions of what's the scoop on Jus & myself. I have become quite accustomed to these questions- they come from everyone. And my answer is always the same - "he is my best friend". You could spend all day trying to figure us out; however, I suggest that you don't even attempt. We share the same love for God, our dreams of a better life, art, music, the hill country, and West Texas. I'm pretty sure he is the only person who hasn't given me a weird reaction when I said I wanted to get married in West Texas at the windmill museum or overlooking Wild Rose Pass. He just gets me, and for that, I am beyond grateful.

Jus, you know all of this, cause I've said it a million times before, but I feel as if I could never say it enough. I thank God for you everyday...each morning when I wake up and each night before I close my eyes. Phillipians 1:3 is my verse to you. I pray for you everyday, probably more than I pray for myself, and I am grateful you are still a part of my life after what we've been through. Thank you for dealing with me in my lowest, whiney moments. Thank you for sharing in my exciting moments, even when they aren't that exciting to you. Thanks for believing in me & my crazy dreams, pushing me to become a better person, and supporting me to get there...always. Despite the nonsense I give you, I couldn't ask for a better friend. I love you and couldn't be more blessed to have you in my life.

The pup in the pictures is Jake. And yes, that huge monster is really a puppy...not even a year old yet. I fell in love with him when Justin started sending me his picture, before Jus had even met him. Jus, Jake, and I hung out at the river by my parents' house to grab these shots. Jake was not too fond of the water...

I might be one of Justin's best friends, but I'm pretty sure Jake has me beat. This picture shows it all :)

When Jus told me he was getting Jake, I beggggged that he name him Hunter. Don't ask, I just love that name. Justin refused to name him Hunter, I'm sure out of spite towards me. However, tell me in this picture that he doesn't look like a Hunter?!?! mmmhhmmm.

Playing fetch.

Jake chillin' at the end while getting his belly rubbed.

P.S.- I bet he looks at all the pics first before he reads this novel. He was THAT anxious & impatient to see previews.

Choosing your wedding photographer

Everytime I receive a wedding inquiry, my chest tightens up. Yes, I'm serious. I get nervous. Extremely nervous. I've been known to read my reply email over and over and over before it's actually sent. I know that this day is one of the biggest in this couple's lifetime, and they're inquiring about me and my work so I can capture it??? Eek! However, one thing I never try to do is put on a front. I am me & I am proud of it. Sometimes it's hard to find the line between professionalism and being yourself. However, I've found that being myself can include being professional, yet fun. With a new year coming around and weddings already booked, consultations are taking place left and right. I am so blessed. I love this time of year. I meet new faces and make new friends. I LOVE LOVE LOVE when a bride becomes a friend and gladly, they love it as well. My biggest priority when meeting a bride is that I click with them. We are going to be spending a lot of time together, and if our ideas and personalities do not click, I will let you know and refer you to another photographer. I've had to do this before because relationships are a big part of my success in capturing your special day. Please read the article below that I found on a fellow photographer's blog. http://blog.grantdeb.com/ In my eyes, it lays it out perfectly as to what brides should be looking for in a wedding photographer. If ever I do not come across as this person to you, please don't book me. These are my standards and I truly hope I always meet them.

Five Absolutes When Choosing Your Wedding Photographer
by: Grant Perry - http://blog.grantdeb.com/

So you’re meeting your prospective wedding photographer for the first time. You found them on a Google search, and their site seems nice enough. But how do you really know they are the best for you?

The easiest answer is also the most ridiculous; in 30 initial minutes you can’t. BUT … there are a few things you can look for to become more comfortable with your decision.

1. Relationship - Relationship - Relationship The absolute most important aspect to you reaping the results you desire from your final wedding photography is that you fall in LOVE with your wedding photographer(s). And by LOVE I don’t mean you’d ebay your rings, cancel your date and marry them - but I do mean you feel so comfortable that you’d be able to brag about them to your closest friends or have them over for dinner at your house.
A wedding photographer worth hiring doesn’t take pictures, and that sounds totally weird, I know. A great wedding photographer isn’t really a photographer at all but an artist who uses a camera and lens to paint and CAPTURE MOMENTS in digital files filled with emotion and passion. Their images - each and every one - CAPTURE a narrative or story that with one glance creates an emotion from the viewer; namely you. ANYBODY can take a picture, especially with the advances in today’s geeky low-priced digital cameras. But only true wedding photography ARTISTS can capture your story with passion and emotion.
Someone who is bestowed such a precious and significant task as being your ONLY wedding photographer must be someone you absolutely love and admire. In fact, a true wedding photography artist will almost always be easy to be comfortable with because they themselves are depending on building a strong relationship with you so they may better understand what is important to your final outcome.

2. PassionAsk your prospective wedding photographer if they take their cameras with them to family birthday parties or if they shoot pictures of their niece’s soccer games. Only someone passionate about their craft integrates that passion into their lives - and a great wedding photography artist always integrates their passion into their lives.
When you’re sitting across the table from them, how do they make you feel? Are you getting excited about your day as they talk about their involvement? When they talk about their product, do they exhibit a kind of giddiness or are they just selling? What adjective comes to your mind to describe them if you were asked 5 minutes after you’ve left the appointment?
Passion HAS to at least be a likely adjective you could choose. If not? Run - do not walk - to the next photographer.
You see - any great wedding photography artist is in the “game” for more than just the coin. They are always - and I mean always - looking to become your wedding photographer because they are passionate about painting your special story with the lenses of their camera that tell the story through fine art photography. In fact, a passionate wedding photography artist will always be a remarkable artist.

3. No new stress - please!The wedding photographer sitting across the table from you has no idea what your plans are for your upcoming fairy-tale day. In fact, just because they’ve taken pictures for hundreds of brides before you, there are no other weddings even close in style or substance as yours, period.
If your prospective wedding photographer isn’t asking the right questions of you, questions pertaining to your day, how YOU plan it to unfold, how many bridesmaids, groomsmen, the venue, is there going to be dancing, will your dad walk you down the aisle, who your maid-of-honor is and who she is to you …
If they are insisting on showing you their previous work, and how awesome they are, and who they’ve photographed before ever asking about how YOU envision your day? RUN - do not walk - to the next prospective photographer.
The most counter-productive and stressful situation is to have your wedding photographer not clearly understand your time line. And the best scenario in this situation is to have a needy, whiney, and question ridden person running around taking pictures creating more stress. The worst scenario? They don’t ask and subsequently don’t GET the pictures you envisioned. In either scenario? Stress and disaster.
Actually, the absolute BEST scenario is a wedding photographer who sits across the table and interviews YOU. That’s right, you’ve invited them to the table to choose them - but what you really want is someone who wants to work with you because you both click. Someone who asks you a bunch of questions, and diligently writes down YOUR answers about YOUR day as they interview YOU. Why? Because when they truly understand YOUR day, and how it will unfold, you have found someone who doesn’t need to create stress on your day (or before), you’ve found someone capable of discovering and understanding what you want prior to your day. Someone who can click with you (and hopefully - FOR you - wink).

4. Show me your stuffMore than likely, you’ve seen a lot of your prospective wedding photographer’s work (and probably their best work) from their web site. And having a look at an album or prints or canvas or … is a good thing too. But understand this, nothing they show you across the table is going to be what you get - ever. You are seeing a compilation of work from perhaps their best work, which is understandable. But even on a perfect day, no two weddings are the same, nor are any two wedding albums, or prints, or … the same.
Obviously your wedding photographer needs to be able to nail their focus, and exposures, and all of those technical photography details in order to even be considered. But, going back to the number one “must” - other bride’s relationships with your photographer have got to be great.
Ask your potential wedding photographer to give you a couple of brides you can contact. And when they provide those names, call those brides and ask one question; “What do you remember most about Photographer xx?” That’s it! You’ll get the whole story from that one question. And the best part? You’ll also get your answer overall from that question.

5. It’s gotta be funAsk the wedding photographer this question; “So what do you do for fun?” Not that you need to care WHAT they do for fun - but you do care if they do anything that IS FUN.
Just because your wedding photographer will be working as a “vendor” on your awesome day does NOT mean they have to portray it as work. They have to have fun at it - and you’ve got to have fun at it - and that does NOT mean it’s up to you to make it fun. THEY have to make it fun - the whole day. It may be 98 degrees in the shade or 2 below zero - but THEY have to be able to roll with the punches or change direction at any given time and still make it fun and stress-free for your entire party.
And there is really no way to know if that person you just met is that person other than to know they know how to have fun on their own, hence “So what do you do for fun?”
Fun = happy. Stress = ugly. Which do you choose?
Grant and Deb specialize in being a husband and wife Wedding Photography Artist team. You can view their work at their Wedding Photography Artist Site at GrantDeb.com or you can stay up to date with them on their BLOG at blog.GrantDeb.com.