Monday, July 26, 2010

Casey-N-Corey - Austin Engagement Photography

Meet Casey-N-Corey, they were married in February 2010. But never got to take any pictures.
Austin Engagement Photography
Engagement Photography Austin
Corey is in the military and being deployed next month so Casey set up this shoot for the 2 of them.
Austin Engagement Photography
Engagement Photographer Austin
Engagement Photography Austin
Corey wasn't convinced it wasn't going to suck. Until it didn't suck.
I told you.
San Antonio Engagement Photography
Austin Engagement Photography
Austin Engagement Photography
San Antonio Engagement Photography
Engagement Photography Austin
Be careful and safe over there, we'll see you in 18 months or so for your big wedding!
Can't wait.
Engagement Photographer Austin
Austin Engagement Photography
Engagement Photographer Austin
Engagement Photography Austin
Austin Engagement Photography

Hanh-N-Sam - Austin Wedding Photographer

Hanh and Sam met in high school in all of those nerdy science classes and clubs. They dated for more than 10 years, through college and moving to New York for Hahn's medical school. Sam works on the floor of the New York stock exchange.

Hanh is Vietnamese and Sam, is not. To satisfy family tradition they held a Vietnamese service at 9am on the Saturday morning.

The tradition is, Sam and his family and friends, all those who wish to join Hahn's family walk to Hanh's house with all of their gifts and a feast to present to her family. Everyone fills the tiny living room separated in the middle, and Hanh and Sam marry in the middle of the room.



They feasted and communed for while in the afternoon then changed into a more America attire and rejoined their families in the early evening for a more America style wedding reception.

The beautiful cupcake display was provided by Sweetish Hill.




The reception was held at the very lovely Casa Blanca with delicious Vietnamese inspired fair from Pink Avocado.



They were amazing. I am madly in love with the 2 of them, we had such a great time together in such a short amount of time. I wish they lived here so we could continue to watch their lives grow together, but alas i guess we'll just have to go home to New York to see them. bummer ;)

Thank you both for letting us be a part of your wonderful wedding, Congratulations!
---mel

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Don't Settle - Austin Wedding Photographer

When it comes to your wedding photography, don't settle for the cheaper photographer.
Wedding photography prices may seem arbitrary but they're not. You really do get what you pay for.

Ask yourself, "Why is it so cheap? What will I be missing out on?"
Chances are the cheaper photographer isn't going to live up to your level of expectations.
If you go with the cheaper photographer you'll likely be missing out on something you value, performance, talent, professionalism, customer service, timeliness, experience or genuine concern for YOUR wedding.

Find a photographer that you love. The relationship you have with your photographer will show in your photos. Cut corners on something that doesn't last as long as your wedding photos.

Speak with a friend about her wedding, what does she value most about her wedding now? Chances are, it's her photographs because they capture the memory and make it last long beyond your wedding day.


Friday, July 9, 2010

7.9.10 Faith

Faith is our next door neighbor's daughter. I made arrangements with our good friend Meg, that we would trade 2 year old portraits of faith for a lifetime of babysitting. I win!

Faith was what you call a blue baby, she had a hole in her heart when she was born and Meg and Corby were warned that their first daughter would be whisked away moments after her birth to have open heart surgery. It turned out that she was in a better shape than they thought, they were able to take her home and fatten her up and get her ready for her operation at 3 months old. The doctors explained, they'll notice it in her color. It was true, she was always pale and bluish in the beginning, after her surgery she was decidedly more pink and healthy looking. A few short months after her heart operation she had plastic surgery to correct a cleft lip. In the future, around 16,  she'll have another operation to enlarge the vein going to her heart  and she may choose to have another operation for the scaring near the cleft lip site, but it's virtually unnoticeable. But young woman are their own worst critics, she may still find fault with her scarring. Today she is an exuberant, beautiful, screaming red head with a temper to match. She is the apple of everyone's eye. She's my neighbor.
As always you can view more images on facebook.
Thanks for looking.
---mel







She-N-He
Austin Family Photography

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

7.7.10 Carly's Bridal Session

Carly and Chad were married on July 4th @ Mandola Estate Winery in Driftwood.
I have been excited for this wedding for over a year. I am wild for Carly + Chad and Carly's mom Donna. We have had a lot of fun during this year of planning. Carly started out, shall we say, skeptical, she may have had a couple bad experiences with wedding photographers and she was convinced we were all the same. She learned fast, after her girlfriend, at the expo, told her "if she wasn't a photographer, she would be your friend." We found out later that I could be a photographer and we could still be friends. Thank you Carly and Chad for your trust, and your friendship.
Our journey together began during their engagements session in October 09. click here to view. After that Carly decided she would like to add a bridal session, I think she always wanted one, she's a natural, anyway, in front of the camera. She chose the delicious and classic Laguna Gloria as a backdrop for our session. I couldn't be more pleased with how the session came out, so beautiful. Thanks to Donna and Larry for all of your help on that shoot. 
Carly and Chad tied the knot at the Mandola Estates on the 4th of July. The ceremony and reception were beautiful but my favorite part was the surprise fireworks display, they did a great job, and it was  a thrill for the Bradshaws'. 
Steve was walking around the gardens shooting some exterior shots for the our album when he was told by a patron that he "looked like a professional," and might he take a few shots of him with his girlfriend. Seconds after Steve took his camera the man knelt before his girlfriend and proposed. Steve unwavered by the man's surprise proposal shot the entire scene. It was exciting for her, for sure, but Steve had a really good time with it too.
Congratulations Carly and Chad, I'll post your wedding pictures in a few weeks when I have them ready. Congratulations mystery couple, we wish you all ever happiness on your new journeys. 
As always you can find more images from Carly's Bridal on facebook.
Thanks for looking.
All the best.
---mel





She-N-He
Austin Wedding Photography and Design 

Friday, July 2, 2010

7.2.10 Bek + Donnie Married!

Bek + Donnie were married at Kindred Oaks at the end of of May. I LOVE Kindred Oaks, did I mention? Elaine is sucking a calming soul, such a pleasure work with on your most special day, and look at those views! for more view have a look at Maegen + Daniel's wedding, also at Kindred Oaks. 

Bek is a referral from a photographer friend of ours Hannah Day. As Hannah was a member of the wedding party she was far too busy orchestrating the day to also photograph the wedding. I was honored to have been asked to capture their moments for them.

Donnie is hearing impaired and Bek is a sign language interpreter. They're a match made in heaven. During the service they employed 2 interpreters, one male and one female to interpret each roll. They quietly and personally signed their vows, which were not translated for their guests. It was an amazing experience, it was best described by Donnie's best man, he is also hearing. He says it's amazing standing in a parking lot with a group of Donnie's hearing impaired friends and they're partying down, but all you can hear is quiet first pumps and occasional hand slaps. 

Congratulations to you both, we wish you both the happiest life together.
As always you can see a lot more images on facebook.
Thanks for having a look.
---mel







She-N-He
Austin Wedding Photography and Design