LVS Photography

Hermann Park Family Session

2011-10-03T15:28:00.000-07:00

You may recognize some of these folks from an E-Session that I shot last year...Brennan and Rachel got the family together for a park session and we had such a ball! Brennan's nephew was a riot, and made the family laugh the whole time, which is always good for pictures! This shoot was actually a few families in one. We started with Brennan and Rachel and his immediate family; then the rest of the brood met up with us and we continued on from there.What a wonderful group of people!

7 Months and Beyond!

2011-10-03T15:07:00.000-07:00

I can't believe M is 7 months old already! Gosh how time has just flown. She is sitting up, rolling over, babbling and generally making life grand. :)

E-Session, Baseball Style

2011-10-01T15:34:00.000-07:00

Missy and Greg met in High School when Missy managed the baseball team that Greg played on, but it wasn't love at first sight. "Honestly, I thought he was sort of annoying" Missy laughs, when asked about what she thought of Greg back then. They hung out in the same circles, but "never really connected" according to Greg. Fast forward 10 years or so, and Greg looks Missy up on Facebook, giving her the best pick up line ever, "we should go out sometime". Wow! What a zinger! But I guess his charm won her over, because 2 years later when he asked for her hand in marriage, she accepted and here we are.Since Baseball has been such a big part of not only their lives separately, but their lives together, we couldn't think of a better way to showcase their relationship. We originally wanted to shoot at Minute Maid Park, but due to the Astros schedule, it was a no-go. So off to the local ballpark we went, and we were able to make a day of it on a smaller scale.What a wonderful couple...I can't wait to shoot their wedding in April! Between Greg's silly antics and Missy's winning charm, they really are the perfect balance for each other.

Meredith 4 months

2011-07-04T14:26:00.000-07:00

It's that time again. My poor daughter is going to learn to live her life in front of the camera. She is only 4 months old (well, 4 1/2 really) and already she has over 1,000 photos/5 photo shoots under her tiny belt!
She is really coming into her own personality now, and I must say I love it. The best part of my day is waking up to this smiling face. Here are a few shots from today's 4 month shoot.
The fabrics that I use for backdrops will be made into a quilt for her 1st birthday. I can't wait to put it all together, and although I look forward to her next milestones, I am in no rush to see her grow up.

Madison turns 3!!!

2011-07-04T14:07:00.000-07:00

I've been photographing Madison since she was born, and I would be lying if I said I didn't love it! Her mom would describe it as "herding cats", but I just love to watch her play and run around. No problem at all capturing some candid shots of this little one! What a sweetie pie! We were even able to get a few shots of the family dog, Amy!

Little Bit is Getting Big!

2011-06-04T08:50:00.001-07:00

It has been a bit hectic around the Stockholm house these last few months. Meredith is now 3 months old and just full of smiles, which is great for pictures! We're loving being parents, and have be so blessed with this little angel.
Here are a few shots from the last 3 months. It's not always smiles, but even when she is upset, I can't help but think it's cute. HA!

Introducing Meredith Catherine

2011-03-10T16:26:00.000-08:00

Our little girl made an early appearance! She was originally due March 4th, but decided to come February 24th at 2:55am.

I just can't get enough of her! There is no sweet story to go along with this post, because it would just sound like a mom gushing over her newborn daughter...oh wait, I am a mom gushing over her newborn daughter! Isn't she gorgeous!?! I certainly think so! hahaha! She was so well behaved during the shoot...I wanted to take more, but being only a week postpartum, it was a little difficult moving around. All in all, I think we got a number of good shots. We are so very blessed...she sleeps and in a word is content. I think God gave us the "good baby" first, so we'll have more! hahaha

I hope you enjoy our little girl's first photo session...we certainly do!

Liam Patrick

2010-11-28T17:12:00.000-08:00

Have I mentioned that I love babies? I'm sure I have, but I'll say it again. I LOVE BABIES! Newborn sessions are by far my favorite; coming into a home with a new baby is magical. Despite the lack of sleep, parents of a newborn are so in love with those little hands and feet that it makes everything seem right with the world.
Meeting Liam was a magical experience. He is just 2 weeks old and already has his mommy and daddy wrapped around his finger. What a happy baby! In 2 hours, I never once heard a cry. I can only hope that when our little one arrives, we should be so lucky.

Ryan and Renee greeted me with little Liam swaddled in his favorite blanket; a receiving blanket made by his mother that set the mood for the whole day...peaceful.

There is no doubt that this baby is loved...

I can't help but wonder if he will take after his daddy...

San Antonio

2010-10-16T16:26:00.000-07:00

I spent a week .08 miles from the Alamo. I had a Crime Prevention Conference that was held in San Antonio, so of course when we were done learning "stuff" during the day, I took the opportunity to wander around the streets of that fine city. I learned a lot of things about San Antonio in my off time; I learned that it is a "stopping/loading/meeting" point for many illegals brought up from Mexico by way of coyotes; that there is a "double" cypress tree that grows near the river, that is said to have been the look out point for a Mexican sniper during the battle at the Alamo; and I learned that there are a lot of homeless folks wandering the streets. I also learned that San Antonio is the second largest city in Texas, which would explain everything except the Mexican sniper tale.

I was so happy to spend more than a day there (usually we leave after one night). I had a whole week to explore the Riverwalk, see the sites and experience the many people who are woven into the colorful tapestry that is San Antonio. I ate at the TipTop Cafe, which was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. see it here Their lemon pie was to DIE FOR! I got to visit the Alamo again, and I also went to the other missions on Mission Trail. And of course, no trip to San Anton' is complete without a night out at "Howl at the Moon Dueling Piano Bar".

Here are a few pictures from the week.

Long Overdue...

2010-10-16T16:00:00.000-07:00

It is nearly Halloween, and I haven't updated this blog in months! This have been a little busy, but that is no excuse.
I had the pleasure of photographing our neighbor's grandchildren this past summer, and what cuties they are! We set up shop in the living room (an outdoor shoot just wasn't going to happen with Texas heat). The kids had a blast, and so did I.

Lyla version 2.5

2010-06-08T16:05:00.000-07:00

Friends of ours (Jon and Torie) finally made it back to the States, after being stationed in Italy for three years! They are now stationed in Oklahoma City but for the past few weeks they were here for a visit. During that time I spent as much time as possible with Lyla and her mom Torie (we've adopted each other as sisters and so I am now a proud "Aunt Lauren"). The last day before they had to head to OK, we walked down to a local park for a few quick shots. Lyla had a blast searching for turtles in the pond and running barefoot in the grass. Although she was born in Italy, her daddy is a true Texan through and through, so of course she had to have her cowgirl boots on for her photo shoot! We ran around until I thought I couldn't run anymore, and then headed back home just in time. Rain clouds loomed overhead, but thankfully we got tons of photos before the rain started. We literally just stepped back into our garage as the skies opened up with claps of thunder and lightning! Here are a few shots from our outing at the park...

Emma Rose 18 Months

2010-05-31T15:59:00.000-07:00

You may recognize little Emma from a year ago when we took her 6 Month Photos. She has grown a lot since then, and I think you'll agree, that she is just the cutest little one ever! We squeezed in a short session at a local Sayreville Park and Emma had a blast. She discovered the Merry-go-round and fell in love with it.

Brennan and Rachel's E-Session

2010-05-31T15:02:00.001-07:00

There is more to come for this session, but this is all we have so far. Check back in a few weeks for an update!
I love E-Sessions!

New York, New York!

2010-05-31T14:31:00.001-07:00

Don't get me wrong...living in Texas is great; but if you ask me, NJ is the center of the universe. Not only is the Garden State my home, but it is one of the coolest places on earth; where else can you go to the beach, skiing, mountain climbing, cave spelunking, and take a walk through the woods all within a few hours drive?! No where else but Jersey! A close second is the Garden State's neighbor, New York. Growing up just a few train stops from "the City" was great! We would spend weekend nights going to shows, visiting friends, and watching friend's bands play at the famous CBGB's, but I never went as a "tourist". I missed out on all the cheesy touristy things that make NY so cool. Mark and I were blessed with a wonderful walking tour of Lower Manhattan a few weeks ago, where we got to sample some of the city's finest eateries and tourist spots.

We spent a day in Manhattan doing all the touristy stuff we never got to do before. Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge was one of my favorite experiences of that day (followed closely by witnessing two gentlemen in Chinatown battle it out over how "unfresh" the fish was). We had a cannoli at Ferrara's, drank beer at McSorley's, enjoyed an elvis cupcake from Butter Lane, and ate the best (and most expensive) Pastrami sandwiches at Katz's Deli. It was the most fun I've had in a long time. Spending time with my husband, mom and her boyfriend Rick was more than I could have asked for!

Madison

2010-05-31T14:11:00.001-07:00

I've known Madison and her parents since before she was born. We actually met Madison's mom (Christine) a few years ago when we were searching for our home. It is in thanks to Christine that we have the beautiful house that we have (Thanks for being the best realtor around!).
I can't believe it has been a year since her last photos (you can check them out here! She is a very tall 2 year old now, and what a fun little girl she is! We headed to the park for a few shots, where we spent most of the time following her around the playground. I wish I had that much energy!

After the park we headed back for dinner and then a few studio shots. Madison was in her own little world the whole time...what a sweety. Well...without further ado, here's Madison!

Abby Grace

2010-04-30T16:33:00.000-07:00

There is a very small window of time when babies will sleep through anything; vacuums, costume changes, screaming siblings...even tutus! I was fortunate enough to be asked to photograph the newest addition to the Gomez family this week, and it wasn't a minute too soon. What a sweet sweet baby! Abby Grace came screaming into this world only 15 days ago, and already she has found her niche in the family (the center). With two older siblings (Ryan who will be 3 in just a few short weeks and Emma who turned 1 in November and whom you can find here ), the Gomez house is full of life, but Abby wasn't phased a bit.

I had such a great time working with Abby and her mom Meghan, that I completely lost track of time! Newborns are by far my favorite sessions...there is something magical and awe-inspiring about those tiny fingers and toes that I just can't resist!

So welcome to the world Abby Grace!

A Day at the Zoo

2010-03-29T16:41:00.001-07:00

Every once in a while I get a day to just shoot for no reason at all. A few weeks ago, I got the opportunity to visit the Houston Zoo with a few friend's of mine, and we had such a blast! It was so relaxing, taking shots here and there without an agenda or plan; I wish I could do it more often. It was awfully busy that day, so we were limited on how close we could get to the animals, but luckily I was able to sneak past a few people and get in close for a couple shots. Being tall has it's advantages too; looking over everyone's heads was easier than trying to weed my way through the throngs of people gathered around the elephant enclosure. So here are a few shots from that day. I hope you enjoy it, I know I did.

Dorothy's Bridal Session

2010-02-28T14:21:00.000-08:00

What a perfect day for bridal portraits! The sun was shining, the breeze was cool, and Dorothy had some of the best cheerleader/friends I've ever met, come along for the shoot. We started our session in the bathroom of all places! I was surprised to find this great little antique sofa in the ladies room and with the striped wall paper behind it, I just fell in love with it.

Later we headed into the main ball room where we stole a few shots on the grand staircase.
Dorothy was the perfect model...I hardly gave her any direction at all!

I had such a blast with this bride. She was fun and relaxed the whole time, and with her friend's there to cheer her on, we captured some great candid shots of her laughing and mucking it up with them. The shoot was held at Safari Texas Ranch in Richmond TX, where the wedding reception will take place in April, and I was able to find some great textures throughout the facility. The old wooden barn made for a great backdrop to Dorothy's beautiful satan gown, and the gazebo made for some great fun shots as well.

I have to tell you...after a few shots, I did admit to Dorothy that I was a bit jealous...isn't she just absolutely Gorgeous!?

Thank you Dorothy for sharing this exciting time with me! It was a pleasure spending time with you and your friends!

Italy

2010-01-15T17:38:00.001-08:00

It's been one year since our last trip to Italia and I'm missing it dearly. Friend's of ours (Torie and Jon) are stationed in Napoli (Griciano d'Aversa to be exact) and they were kind enough to let us stay with them not once, but twice for 2 weeks! Our Goddaughter, Lyla (pictured below) turned 2 this past December and I just can't believe how fast time is slipping by. Even in the month that we were there, we couldn't possibly see everything there is to see. Someday, Mark and I will head back and pick up where we left off. But until then, we'll have the memories and photos to remind us of what a magical place it is.

Lyla

Meet Noelle

2010-01-01T12:53:00.000-08:00

A few days before the new year, I met up with the Jones family for Noelle's first photos! What a happy baby she is! We set up in her room and made every silly noise we could think of to bring that big gummy smile out. I just love babies, I can't get enough of them! Noelle is only 4 months old, but I just couldn't get over how much hair she has!!! She reminds me of me when I was that age (or at least the photos that I've seen of me anyway). We had a couple moments of fuss with wardrobe changes, but other than that, she was just a doll!

Meet the Smith Family

2009-11-28T13:55:00.001-08:00

Lynz contacted me a few days ago and asked if I could take family portraits the day after Thanksgiving. I just couldn't turn her down when she said her grandparents were going to be in town, and they hadn't been together in quite a few years. As you may know, I'm originally from NJ; so I know how it feels to have your family far away. This family is spread out over the US, just like mine! Most of the aunts, uncles and grandparents are in Tennessee, and they do not often visit the Houston area. Luckily, we were able to meet up before the extended family left for home. I talked with her grandparents for quite some time, and let me tell you, they are a hoot! They had me rolling with laughter!!! After the family left, Lynz and I stayed behind for a few shots with her daughter Sydney. She is such a sweet little girl. We played picnic and caught a few "fish" (aka leaves) from the pond. I just love spending time with little ones; they remind me to keep my imagination alive!

Huang Family

2009-11-28T13:42:00.000-08:00

I had such a great time with this family! Jesse is a fellow officer, whom I have worked with for the past few years. When he asked me to take his family portraits, I jumped at the opportunity. His sister Dorothy lives 5 hours away, so the family isn't often together; with Thanksgiving around the corner, Dorothy had driven down from Dallas and we were able to get our schedules together for the shoot. They are such a great group, I didn't want the day to end. We headed out to Oyster Creek Park in Sugar Land, and started the session with a few shots on the bridge. We quickly realized that we were not the only people in the park, when we ran into 6 other photographers!!! Luckily, everyone was courteous, and we were able to move about the park freely. All in all it was a great day.

Badger Clan

2009-11-12T17:20:00.000-08:00

Storm clouds filled the sky this day, but we were lucky enough to not get rained on! We started the day off in the park for some family shots and then headed down to a nature trail and horse farm to finish up the session. This family was so much fun! I had a blast chatting with them the whole time. Little Will and Madeyln were perfect models as they posed and gave big crocodile smiles :)

The Super Malina Boys

2009-09-05T06:11:00.001-07:00

Last weekend I got together with the Malina family for a park and studio session. Dad is a huge comic book fan, so I was happy to incorporate Superman into some of the shots. I love how the youngest got in on the "muscle" action too! I had such a good time with these boys. They wrestled and jumped around, and like most boys their age had plenty of energy left over for the park shoot. What a great bunch! Introducing "The Super Malina Boys"!!!

Aaron and Nadia Engagements

2009-07-28T16:08:00.000-07:00

Although it was warm in South Amboy, NJ that day, Aaron and Nadia toughed the heat and made the best of the day. We were able to sneak in a few shots in the afternoon, and luckily we made it back inside before the rain started. What a great couple! See you in April!!!

Emma Rose

2009-07-28T15:52:00.000-07:00

Not only did I have the pleasure of photographing Frank and Lauren's wedding, but also their beautiful daughter, Emma. What a happy baby! We spent our time pretending to sneeze, which was the perfect remedy to Emma's teething cries. Have I said that I love my job yet? This is why...

Farrell Wedding in New Jersey

2009-07-28T15:26:00.000-07:00

The day couldn't have been more beautiful; with a warm breeze and clear skies, I just knew that Frank and Lauren would have a perfect day for their wedding. We started off at Lauren's parent's house, where she and the bridesmaids got ready...a delay at the beauty parlor cut our time short, but we were able to get to the chapel on time. Pink and cream flowers filled the church, and the sunlight through the stained glass windows cast an etherial glow on Lauren, as she walked down the aisle to meet her future husband. The happy couple's daughter Emma was in attendance, and shouted with happiness after the I Do's. What a beautiful wedding for a beautiful couple.

Circa 2003

2009-07-20T20:36:00.000-07:00

I went home to Jersey for my best friend's wedding this past weekend (which was absolutely beautiful by the way), and found an old box of photos from my other best friend's wedding that I photographed back in 2003. She and her husband got married in the Bahamas and I recorded the day. What a walk down memory lane!

I remember that it was the end of hurricane season and a few of the guests (including the bride's family) were stuck in Miami for quite some time. But by the time the wedding day rolled around, the clouds had broken and the sun warmed the beach as Ellie and Bryan exchanged their vows on the white sandy shore.

Kids Kids Kids!!!

2009-07-15T11:54:00.000-07:00

When I first started looking into starting my own photography business, I heard alot of people say "don't work with children or animals" because apparently it is just too hard. Well, I beg to differ. I had a family style shoot Monday night, with a group of cousins ranging in age from 5 to 2 months. I set up shop in their game room and just let go of the reins. What a great time! Ryan who is 2, (like most 2 year olds) is a ball of energy. He cracked me up with his flips and tumbles. Reagan who is 5 was a perfect little lady, helping me wrangle in the little ones and she sat perfectly still when we were ready to shoot. The babies, Emma and Savannah were just adorable and I couldn't get enough of their gummy smiles. To an outsider, it may have looked like chaos, but I was in heaven.

Family Time

2009-07-12T22:08:00.000-07:00

Phew! Was it hot today! I headed over to the Karen and Neil's house for a family session. Luckily we were able to get some studio shots in the AC before heading out into the Texas heat. What a day! Their 3 year old daughter has enough energy to power the entire US, so wrangling her for some posed shots fulfilled our exercise for today! All in all, it was a great day and I am so happy that they shared their time with me.

Madison's 1st birthday

2009-06-29T00:27:00.000-07:00

I spent the day with Madison and her parents, who graciously opened their home for Madison's 1st birthday photos. Children are so relaxed at home, which makes for some really natural and easy shots. What a happy baby she is! I had a great time with her and I look forward to seeing them again.

Here are a just a few shots from today.

Bring in the Dogs!

2009-06-14T07:20:00.000-07:00

Introducing Allie O'Malley McPup and Liberty Bell McPup.

Some old news

2009-06-14T07:08:00.000-07:00

Since I started this blog much later than anticipated, there is a lot of work that isn't shown. I figured I'd catch everyone up with a little recap.
Here are a few photos that I took months ago of Emma, our friend's daughter, at 2 weeks. She is now almost 8 months old and such a sweet baby!

Klingman/Campagna Engagements

2009-05-18T14:22:00.001-07:00

We traveled down to Hermann Park again for some great shots of Keri and Andrew, at the Garden Center. There is a beautiful Japanese style gazebo that we found, and it worked out perfectly because they will be exchanging vows under a similar gazebo in July!

I just love the look on Andrew's face in this shot:

Reannin All "Gussied Up"

2009-05-18T14:06:00.000-07:00

We set out to Hermann Park for a few bridal shots last weekend. Reannin was the perfect model and handled the heat like a pro. She was so excited to wear her wedding dress again, and I was very thankful that she agreed to don the heavy dress in Houston's May weather!

Here are a few shots from that day:

Sutton Wedding

2009-03-28T22:42:00.000-07:00

March 28th, 2009 was the perfect day to get married. The sun was shining, the weather was cool and breezy...even the previous week's rain and tornadoes stopped for this beautiful couple to exchange their vows.
We were crunched for time on this day, but thanks to my trusty sidekick Keri, we were able to get most of the planned shots in. More bridal photos to come, but here is a little glimpse into the Sutton Wedding.