It’s always odd to shoot the engagement session of someone you’ve never met… I can’t lie, there are a lot of questions that go through my mind as I drive to the shoot. Will they be supermodel gorgeous, or hideously deformed? Will they be outgoing and zany, or will they be shy and introverted? Will they be comfortable in front of the camera, or awkward and stiff? Will he be two feet taller than her, or the other way around? Although I can work with any couple, it’s still comforting to know what you’re getting yourself into a little earlier than, say, five seconds before you start shooting! Luckily, Kelly and Alma were quite the pleasant surprise. They’re so comfortable with each other, comfortable in front of the camera, fun to be around, totally photogenic, and just good people in general. Here are some of my favorites from their session at the fantastic (and HUGE) River Legacy Park in Arlington:

I love the title of this post, because I feel like it fits Abby perfectly. If I had to describe Abby’s style in two words, it would be “rustic couture.” On the surface, Abby is a typical Texas country girl. She owns a horse, she wears her cowboy boots regularly, she attended a university known for its agricultural history, she competed on an equestrian team, and I’m fairly sure she would feel right at home on a four-wheeler bumping down an old gravel road. That said, she’s also one of the most stylish brides I’ve ever had. She’s got a great sense of fashion and style, and put together a truly smoking hot look for her wedding day. She’s a great catch – a down home country girl who also knows how to work it in a pair of Louboutins! She also happens to be a real trooper when it comes to photos. Her bridal session was FREEEEEZING (and her Day After session in snowy Paris was even colder) but she never complained once. Here are a few of my faves:

Okay, so it’s sort of a Day Of Session.. Since Mark and Jaclyn’s wedding ended fairly early in the day, we went ahead and did part of their Day After session as soon as the reception ended. It happened to fall at the perfect time of day, just before sunset, where the light is the most beautiful. Since Kelly and I didn’t know the area at all, I had to rely on Mark’s amazing-photo-op-location-scouting abilities for our locations, and he certainly knew how to pick them!

Our first major stop was in a little town called Helen, where everything is German-inspired, from the food to the architecture.
Jaclyn is definitely not the type of girl who loves to be the center of attention.. Wandering around in the middle of a busy city square wearing a huge wedding dress was not exactly her cup of tea, but we are so proud of her for toughing it out. Hopefully the photos are worth all the unwanted attention!
After scarring poor Jackie for life, we managed to find a secluded park where we could get some more romantic shots. I love parks!





The next morning we headed to an old abandoned building that we had seen on the side of the road. I love old worn-out warehouses almost as much as I love solid color walls!

Then Kelly spotted an amazing parking lot filled with old vintage gasoline pumps.. What a cool find! We didn’t stay long for fear of someone getting tetanus, but we did get a couple of really awesome shots.

The goal of this shot was to capture the lovebirds surrounded by “tree monsters”… Don’t ask.
Finally we finished the day at a small airport tucked away in the forest. We nearly got run over by a couple of planes trying to take off. Whoops!

Jaclyn and Mark, I cannot thank you enough for allowing Kelly and I to photograph your awesome wedding. We fell in love with the both of you, and I just wish you guys were closer so we could hang out more! If you’re ever in Texas, you know who to call!

Kelly Niemann, thanks so much for taking so many amazing photos and being the perfect second shooter. You’re awesome! Go check her out!