Wedding season started early this year on January 1st with a high end wedding of Kim + JP at the Belltower on 34th in Houston.

Fate took it's course when JP's family moved in next door to Kim's when they were only 14. Kim immediately took noticed of the new cute boy in the neighborhood, and they were fast friends. When questioned by her sister, Kim claimed they were only friends..... best friends of course, but friends none the less. Years passed, and friendship turned into a crush. As every girl does, Kim confided in her diary. As every sister does, Kim's sister snuck a peek one afternoon, and promptly announced the entry. JP was just as crazy about her, and his friends knew it when he ditched video game night with them to attend the high school Sadie Hawkins dance with Kim.

Puppy love matured into an unending love, and the of two them took their vows in front of a support system of family of friends that watched them grow up.... together.

A huge thank you to Christine Meeker Studio for having me photograph the wedding with them, and of course to The Belltower on 34th for hosting a rockin' wedding.








JP wrote Kim a letter before the wedding ceremony that brought her to tears. It's moments like these that make me love being a wedding photographer.












The Belltower on 34th is truly one of the best wedding venues in Houston. And there are so many great photo opportunities. I mean, who wouldn't want to make their entranceinto the wedding reception on this staircase??

networking with other photographers might be one of my favorite things to do. yes, kevin will talk cameras with me, but creating photos isn't his passion like it is mine. so put me in a room of people who also want to talk about photography all day and i'm in heaven.

Imaging USA in San Antonio was just that, and i.had.a.blast!






not only did i meet some incredible photographers, i learned some fun new lighting techniques. light is my thing - i crave it. put me in a situation where i'm shoooting a portrait in the dark, and i'm completely in my element. the drama that light can play with the shadows amazes me when i look at what my camera captures, and knowing how to take advantage of light makes the difference between a good photo, and a great  photo. major props to new york photographer, jason groupp for making me see simple lighting in a new way. i've been studying light for years now, and he was still able to arm me with fresh ideas to add more variety to a photography session.

of course i had to play with light later that night, and got some strange looks with my DSLR camera at the cigar bar, but whatev. it's all in the name of photography!

one thing i have learned through owning a wedding photography business is that i can't do everything myself. nor should i. because, quite frankly, i can't be great at everything involved in running a business.

in comes jeff jochum. i atteneded one of his workshops back in october and kevin and i decided afterwards to bring him in as a business coach to help us refine our brand. i always knew that i loved bold, edgy, untraditional brides. but i had trouble designing a website that reflected that without loosing the romance of a wedding. it's been a long process, but i'm excited to release the new site today and can't wait for the next big project with jeff. let me know what you think - good or bad - because believe me, jeff isn't soft with his critiques. obviously, i'm tough now. ;)

new year, new brand, new website. cheers 2011!

p.s. if you're in the creative business and need some help on growing your company, jeff can be reached at startup.strategy.com@gmail.com. let him know i sent you! :)