Family Photos at Badlands National Park

Repeat clients are always the best feeling. You know they loved their previous photos, you know they are comfortable with you and like your posing style, your personality and you know you are comfortable with them. There is good chemistry.

It’s an added bonus when they live in a beautiful state like South Dakota and choose a national park as their location. If you don’t know this about me already, I am a state park and national park nerd.

First time I photographed them, it was just Rona and Jose, the scenery was beautiful, and the weather cooperated for the most part, except when it rained and hailed :) but it did not stop them and of course it didn’t stop me either.

This time around, Jose and Rona had their two beautiful kiddos in tow and one on the way. So as much as I still expected some adventure, I figured probably not as much. But I stood corrected, Rona at 6 months pregnant was still hiking down the mountain barefoot and when it started to rain, she just laughed it off at the irony of it raining again for this photoshoot.

She was so busy laughing she didn't even notice the rainbow until she finally turned around for these photos below:

Her only worry, because she is so kind, was my camera. Thankfully my camera was fine, the kiddos were happily napping in the car while my husband stood watch and the rain created the most beautiful rainbow. (Yes Doug is my free client baby-sitter when available, but if he isn’t available, it is always helpful to bring a family friend or a family member to help out when your family photos include multiple young children.)

The kiddos woke up from their naps a little grumpy, to be expected for toddlers, and sometimes adults too :) but they were champions and with a little bribing, we started the family photos. The family had the cutest matching outfits and the light rain only lasted 5 minutes.

It was so much fun capturing all the love they have for each other and all the fun they have in the outdoors as a family and I cannot wait to meet baby number 3 in 2023.

Thanks again for trusting me with your beautiful sweet family Rona and Jose, it is always a pleasure visiting you guys and exploring South Dakota together, rain and all :)

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POSIE and her COOL Parents

Meeting a photographer can be intimidating for clients, just like meeting new clients can be intimidating for photographers, and this is why I like using a questionnaire for my clients to complete before a shoot, kind of a way to get to know each other a little more, and make sure I understand their vision for the photos.

When I sent the questionnaire to this sweet couple for their family photos, it was evident that location and accessories were not the priority, Stephanie cared about capturing love. That's all!

So even though there are a lot of state parks in Texas that have incredible scenery and fun hiking, and Stepanie and her hubby love hiking, that wasn't exactly the point of this shoot. It was just about being outdoors and capturing their growing family. So instead of driving 4 hours away, we met at this beautiful preserve in Garland 20 min from their house and had a super chill afternoon, laughing and taking photos. Photos below were the warm up to the cute fancy outfits Stephanie handpicked.

And VOILA the fancy outfits. Yes you can be stylish outdoors!! And you don't have to wear neutral colors if you don't want to :) I do send a free guide out, if a client wants direction when it comes to what to wear and how to style a photo session, but that's all it is, a guide, not directions to follow. If bold colors is what you like to wear, BRING IT ON !!

Then for their "casual outfit", the whole family still looked super cute and stylish. I was half expecting jeans or leggings, but instead it was a tutu, a pretty dress, and cool sunglasses and I was all for it!! Wear what you want to wear. Don't feel the need to follow trends or Pinterest!

Thanks again for trusting me Ullah Family!! Cannot wait to road trip for the next shoot!!!

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HEATH & KALEE's SUNSET LAKE ENGAGEMENT

A lake, a cowboy hat, a beautiful sunset ... Does it get any more Texas than this? :)

Before any kind of shoot, I like to send off suggestions. Like what to wear, or what to bring to make the pictures feel more like a date, best time to shoot, depending on the photos we are trying to achieve etc ... It does not mean in any way shape or form that you have to follow my suggestions, nor will I be offended by you saying props isn't your thing, or neutral colors isn't your vibe.

I really do believe your photos should be a true reflection of who you are. So if vibrant colors is what you are all about, BRING IT ON!!! Sometimes though, clients, especially new clients, want advice and guidance and I always love to help out. Kalee & Heath did not really have ideas for their engagement photos. So I helped them out and this was the result. A cheese board and bubbles picnic lake for their first look.

Followed by some pictures including their dog, because that was really important to them.

And then we ended the shoot with a second more relaxed outfit for both of them and I did much less posing and really let them be playful and enjoy sunset without intruding too much, besides the photo were they are laying down on the deck :) Definitely made them pose for that one!

HOW CUTE ARE THEY?

We ended the day with a glorious sunset, and truly Texas sunsets have been pretty spectaculr.

Pro Tip: if your other half doesn't love photos and/or outfits changes, layering is always a good option to make the transition more seamless, wether changing hats, shirts, cardigans, shoes, layering a flannel or jacket, there are ways to get creative and having two looks without making it too cumbersome. Heath only changed his shirt and his hat for the second part of the shoot, so it was a pretty easy transition for him and kept him in a good mood, or maybe it was the bubbles.

Either way, it worked out!

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