peaceful, easy feeling — nicole & kevin got married!

I’m not sure what to call this session, really. We can’t call it a “Day After” session, because Nicole & Kevin got married a month ago. We can’t call it a “Trash The Dress” session, because Nicole’s dress remained relatively unscathed. I guess we’ll just settle on “Bride & Groom” session… a special kind of celebration portrait shoot!

I could really write for a long time (I know, choke down your disbelief) about how much fun it was to shoot Kevin & Nicole. They’re just so flippin’ adorable! As you’ll see throughout these pictures, Kevin just looks at her like she absolutely hung the moon… and he does so totally unprompted. Nicole is totally at rest with her new husband — completely comfortable and at home. That’s why I named the blog post “Peaceful, Easy Feeling”. It’s what I get from this couple.

But I also got another gift from these clients. See, Nicole & Kevin are from Shreveport, LA. Nicole found me over the summer, looking for a boudoir photographer. When she drove in for that portrait session, I was pretty over the moon. I mean, really, to have someone you’ve never spoken to in your life decide you’re worth a cross-state drive? That was incredibly gratifying, and edifying in a professional sense.

But then… to have that client be so pleased with our work that she calls again, and wants us to shoot newlywed portraits of she and her new husband… to here her say, “Just tell us when we can come to town” and “I love your ideas, and I totally trust you”… the sentiment is so special to me. It’s this kind of encouragement and great feedback from our clients that keeps Mack and I steady on our path. We must be doing something right!!

Nicole & Kevin’s session was shot in Chandor Gardens in Weatherford, after a heavy rain and under threat of even more. It was lovely, and romantic, and pretty dadgum perfect. I was going for a very peaceful and romantic feeling in these images, and am pleased to report I believe I hit my mark! I’ll let you see for yourselves:

See what I mean about the colors? Overcast rainy days are so wonderful for greens…

Here’s your first glimpse of my favorite little detail… Nicole’s hot pink satin Kate Spade heels!

I’ve used this wall before in bridal portraits, but I especially like the secluded feel it gives to a sweet couple:

Mack and I were lucky, in that neither Nicole nor Kevin is the least bit camera shy. You’d think it was totally normal for them to be dressed up with cameras in their faces all the time!

See what I mean about being at rest? That peaceful kind of happy just radiates off of them.

I love this shot for its whimsy. Truly adorable.

You can just baaaaaaarely see it in this next image, but the skirt of Nicole’s gown was covered in little swiss dots. LOVE details like that!

Top Model much?

And then we left Chandor Gardens and hopped a quick flight to Paris, where we found the perfect tree-lined, vacant street to walk down with huge black umbrellas…

…

ok, so no. But that’s totally what these next two shots make me think of! They’re completely classic, and the result of Mack’s eye for symmetry and a kickin’ 85mm lens.

While he was capturing the scope and the romance, I was capturing those SHOES.

To set up our next shot, our brave wonderful couple actually had to climb slippery mossy rocks up into a recessed grotto. And while I wasn’t the one doing the climbing, I think I’m still confident in saying it was totally worth it.

Mack’s HDR shot from a few moments later:

I couldn’t decide if I liked this next image better in true color, or with a deep purple/blue wash. Then I remembered that it’s my blog, so I don’t have to pick.

And finally, a little wrought iron gate action to wrap things up.

Nicole and Kevin, what can I say? You’re just lovely people, inside and out, and we’re so honored you chose us to capture these special images for you! I hope we’ve succeeded in getting you some new art for your home, as well. Rest assured that we’re SO completely on board for all those anniversary/anytime/celebration sessions you talked about… clients like y’all are wonderful to see over and over!

— Note to Blogstalkers: Another Bride&Groom session like this will be taking place next month, and I’ve started getting more and more calls for them. They are a PERFECT way to capture romantic images in your wedding clothes, outside the hustle and bustle of a wedding day. In the past, we’ve booked these sessions for clients who just wanted more pictures, but also for clients who either couldn’t afford wedding photography or had a bad experience with their wedding photographer. So if you or someone you know falls into one of those categories, don’t hesitate to give us a call!