My UHCL! RTC 2008

Every year I look forward to being busy when many of my photographer friends are still in the Christmas Holiday lull. I owe it all to University of Houston Clear Lake's Report to the Community photo shoot.
This year Summer (freshly married) Russo along with Rebecca Trahan designed a book to reflect the personal attachment that many alumni feel towards University of Houston Clear Lake. The photography took place over 3 weeks in the late winter season, sometimes outside, always incorporating the two University colors of blue and green. My assignment was to photograph each person within a setting that represented their personality and a loyal connection to the school. And oh yes, the designer wanted a "vertical"!
The success of these photos depends a great deal on the team that puts it all together, from the concept, to the environment to the scheduling of the portrait, lots of people are involved in pulling off a flawless photoshoot.
I love all of the pictures that I took for this project. Here are two that will probably be added to my portfolio.

A beautiful bride... Whitney!

Whitney is a classic beauty! She has the sophistication and elegance of Grace Kelly.
We met for a photo session in front of the Cancer Memorial in front of Hermann Park on a blustery cool Wednesday morning during spring break. She arrived bare shouldered early in the morning after a long drive into Houston for a 7 am hair and makeup appointment. I thought she would be very chilly and she was. But she never complained, never asked for a sweater, always eager to try out any idea myself or her audience might request.
The result? A photoshoot to top all photo shoots. She looped her arm over a statue of a brass family strolling along Main street, she posed in front a garden full of azaleas, kicked her heels at the fountain across the street. She was playful and exuded such polish and lovliness. The shoot was fabulous and this shoot will be a highlight of my portfolio and my website. Thanks Whitney! I can't wait for the wedding, and I bet Steven can't either!

New House

We are well on our way to totally changing our lives. We are headed to Traverse City, Michigan.
"How far is that from the North Pole?" Jim's dad asks us one afternoon during a visit. I chuckle along with everyone, but silently wonder if we are doing the right thing. "It snows up there, doesn't it?" a friend asks innocently enough..." You better have snow tires on your moving van" our friend Carrie warns us..."Are you sure you want to do this?" my father asks, while irritating me beyond measure. It's enough to plant the seed of doubt into this decision.
Whether we meant to or not, we have committed ourselves to spending at least two years in Traverse City, Michigan. We found a fabulous house. A house that feels so much more akin to who we are than even the Singleton house did, and we designed and built that house.
Our life is sure to be different. Different good. Different new
How did that happen?

We jumped off a cliff. We didn't know where we would land and what would happen to us. We trusted our instincts. We decided to "live life large", as my friend Rebecca often says.
I knew we would be fine when jim said as we rolled into Traverse City on the very first day, "It's a lot prettier than Houston".

Frank and Larissa tie the knot!

Frank and Larissa were married at the Church of the Latter Day Saints in the Woodlands on March 8, 2008. Frank is the brother of Jose Hererra, who was married in December to Monica Lopez. It was really nice to be able to photograph a family that I was familiar with. Frank's parents must be very proud of their young but very mature sons.
I took a gamble and took Frank and Larissa to Market Square in the Woodlands on the afternoon of their wedding. Larissa was demure as she walked around Market Square in the Woodlands with her handsome groom Frank on her arm. They walked along the promenade, met up wth a policeman's horse and sipped coca colas near the fountain in the heart of Market Square. Frank walked Larissa along a flower draped wall and Larissa jumped into Frank's arms. It was a romantic yet very public place and I think that their photos are some of my favorites from a wedding portrait session.