Jules and Albie Photography

Moriah and Wil Dance Their Socks Off

2009-07-27T19:14:00.008-05:00

I loved Moriah and Wil's wedding. This is a looong post, because I loved too many of the photos. Moriah planned so many gorgeous details and fun dancing, I couldn't leave anything out!

Moriah's beautiful dress, waiting to be slipped into.
All the women wore pearls. Very classy.

Moriah's mom was her matron of honor! So cool! I love my mom too!
Moriah looking gorgeous before the ceremony.
It took a team of experts to get Wil ready.
Moriah's dad "giving the nervous groom some advice."
Their gorgeous ceremony.
Awwww. Wil loves Moriah.

The bridesmaids lounging at the Westin.
Although Albie absolutely hates jokes about the groom escaping on the wedding day, there was so much joking going on, even Albie got into the spirit, taking this "Last Supper" photo of the groom and his groomsmen.
The Westin Park Central was so gorgeous and did such a great job hosting the wedding.
Wil and Moriah are big movie buffs, and their tables were named after their favorite films.

The first dance begins...
"I've Had the Time of My Life" plays, and Wil and Moriah begin the choreographed dance Baby and Johnny perform in "Dirty Dancing".
Then the zombie bridal party crashes the first dance, performing "Thriller"!
Then the bride turns into a "maniac" with a tribute to "Flashdance".
Wil plays it cool as a Blues Brother in "Soul Man".
The ladies come back for a "Dancing Queen" number from "Mama Mia".
And the first dance ends with a tango from "True Lies". BEST FIRST DANCE EVER!!!
Moriah and Wil continue to dance the night away.

Julie and John: The Other Jules and Albie?

2009-07-23T17:52:00.007-05:00

The ceremony was set in the beautiful Fountain Place downtown.
John loves Julie, and he was so excited to see her walk down the aisle.

Loved this little shot of John and Julie leaving the ceremony with her daughter.
Julie and John had one of the coolest cakes I've seen.
Coolest bride and groom cake toppers ever!
A wedding with cake AND desserts. My kind of wedding.
Okay, I've met our doppelgangers. I realized bit by bit the eerie (good eerie) similarities between Julie and John and Jules and Albie. The first time she called, I thought, oh a Julie, just like me, what a coincidence. Then the coincidences fell down a slippery slope. Julie and John were married last month on June 19th. Five years ago, Alberto and I got married on June 19th. At the wedding, Julie's nephew called her "JuJu", which is MY name, according to my nieces and nephew. Now here's the unimaginable clincher: Julie mentions to me in passing that part of RoboCop was filmed at the hotel where their reception was. Alberto and I had our reception at the Studios at Las Colinas, where many of the scenes from RoboCop were filmed! Okay, so here's the recap:

1. Both brides were named Julie.
2. They both married on June 19th.
3. Nephews and nieces have named the brides "JuJu."
3. Their receptions were both held at shooting locations for RoboCop.

Coincidence? Fate? Divine? Meant to be.

Jessica and Ryan Go Clubbing

2009-07-08T23:55:00.000-05:00

We had a blast shooting Jessica and Ryan's engagement in Deep Ellum. So fun to play with the funky colors. When we arrived, I got a fab surprise. The area had undergone a facelift, an old red iron gate is now avocado green, and there were new murals everywhere. Yay! A little change spices things up a bit. Special thanks to Club Dada for being so hospitable and inviting us in to shoot in the club.

Stephanie and Mario...The Classy Duo

2009-07-06T06:02:00.001-05:00

Getting Gordon ready. Stephanie's wedding dress came with a little white bow on the bust. She decided it was not her style, but perhaps more Gordon's fancy. He wore the hand-me-down embellishment as a bowtie stunningly with his tiny tuxedo.
Regal.

Gordon made it to the party!

Stephanie and Mario tied the knot on June 6th at Oak Lawn United Methodist and held their reception at the Warwick Melrose Hotel. A classy affair, only the supremely classiest A-Listers like Gordon were on the guest list.

Moriah is Married!

2009-07-03T05:46:00.003-05:00

Now that Moriah and Wil have happily said their vows and are off on their honeymoon, I can post these gorgeous photos of Moriah's bridal portrait.

Julie and John

2009-06-19T12:56:00.007-05:00

All shots were taken at the Arboretum. It was hot, but it was beautiful.

Loved Julie's cool printed blouse.
We shot Julie and John's engagement at the Arboretum. It was beautiful, and surprisingly not too hot for June. Julie and John got married on the 19th. Wedding photos coming soon!

Stephanie's Bridal Portrait

2009-06-19T12:42:00.007-05:00

Stephanie Holley has now become Stephanie Dolan, so I am free to post her bridal portraits. She was a gorgeous bride, and I loved all the detailing in her gown and her gorgeous cathedral length veil. We shot Stephanie's bridals in and near the historic Warwick Melrose Hotel, where she and Mario held their wedding on June 6th. Stephanie's bridal portrait had a very classic look, with a little spice, thanks to Gordon, who made an appearance and Stephanie and Mario's engagement shoot and wedding as well.

Michelle and James: Engaged in OKC!

2009-06-19T12:22:00.005-05:00

The cool elevators at the restored historic Skirvin Hotel (rumored to be haunted!).

I love the way Michelle looks at James.

Michelle and James have had a mostly long-distance relationship. While they were dating they often met in Oklahoma City to spend time together. So we took a trip to OKC and shot their engagement there. It was so much fun. We had never been to Oklahoma City before. We heard lots of live music there and ate at Nonna's, where the desserts are FABULOUS. Michelle and James are such a great, fun couple, and they are getting married at the train depot in Temple in September. Can't wait!

Emily and Cole: A Fun and Happy Couple

2009-05-26T07:53:00.006-05:00

At night!

The groom's sister exhibited her mad makeup skills for Emily. Gorgeous!!

A moody shot I loved caught by Albie.

Piazza in the Village at night.

Yes, it's a fish. And a cake.
Hokey Pokey!

Leaving in their sporty yellow car gave a little fun touch to the photo. Don't ask me what kind! It was a yellow kind.
Emily and Cole's wedding was a lot of fun. The Piazza in the Village in Colleyville was a fabulous venue, the bride was chic and gorgeous, and the groom looked sharp. It was fun from beginning to end. And very difficult to pick out my favorite shots! So this post has quite a few more photos than usual. Enjoy!

A Classic Wedding

2009-05-22T12:38:00.003-05:00

Courtney and Paul had a fabulous classic wedding. Their reception at City Place in downtown Dallas was gorgeous. So much fun. Congrats Courtney & Paul!

Courtney is a beautiful, glowing bride!

2009-05-20T06:41:00.004-05:00

Congratulations to Courtney Williams Cervenka! Now that she is married to Paul, I can show off her beautiful bridal portrait photos. We went to the Arboretum during Dallas Blooms, and it was gorgeous. However, the fabulous light outshone the flowers, in my opinion. I love to work with dappled light that shines between tree branches, and a bit of luminous backlight never hurts either. Courtney was absolutely glowing in the light of this beautiful day. Congrats, Courtney! You're beautiful!!

100 Acres

2009-05-01T18:05:00.004-05:00

We rode around the ranch in the carts that fee the cows. So of course the cows followed us everywhere!

Getting cozy in the cow squeezer.
We almost cancelled the shoot due to gross weather. The skies on the verge of rain were gorgeous!!! I'm so thankful that we didn't cancel!

This cool "sculpture" is actually a hay bailer! It reminded both Elizabeth and me of the cool yard sculptures in the movie "Twister." Even though Kenny was unsure of its artistic properties, he cooperated with my sculpture/bailer photo idea. He's a good sport.

This month we traveled to Centerville, Texas to shoot Elizabeth and Kenny's engagement at their ranch. When I showed up Elizabeth's fabulous makeup artist Randee was finishing up her makeup and Kenny gave me the tour. The big tour. 100 acres big. So many possibilities. So many gorgeous trees! It was such a blast shooting with Elizabeth and Kenny and all of their cows too!

Sarah and Geral Wed in Playa Del Carmen

2009-04-27T17:15:00.004-05:00

These are from the beach shoot following Sarah and Geral's ceremony at the Barcelo Maya resort in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. They are my favorite shots from the wedding.

A (Mayan) Ruined Engagement!

2009-04-20T11:13:00.004-05:00

While we were in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, for Sarah and Geral's wedding, we went out the day before the wedding and shot an engagement shoot at the Mayan ruins in Tulum. We had so much fun shooting at the ruins and at the beach next to the ruins. And yes, we got completely soaked by the sneaky tide. It comes in with no warning!

Courtney and Paul: Engaged

2009-04-14T15:34:00.003-05:00

We had fun shooting Courtney and Paul's engagement at the Shops at Legacy. Not to mention a little verbal publicity from spectators, commenting, "They must be celebrities...look at her porcelain skin!" We had a fun little coffee break while waiting for the sun to go down so we could get some cool night shots. The trees around the pond were lit up, so cool! Courtney and Paul are getting married this Saturday. Be-earlied congrats to you two!

Christina and Marshall Tie the Knot in Santa Fe

2009-04-09T15:00:00.008-05:00

The famous Loretto Chapel.
The miraculous staircase!
Christina and Marshall, along with all their guests, walked together from the chapel to their reception site, the historic La Fonda Hotel.
Sneaking a kiss among the Mariachis.

The La Fonda at night.

Christina and Marshall exchanged rings in February at Santa Fe's Loretto Chapel, famous for its miraculous staircase. Just a stone's throw away from the historic La Fonda Hotel, the site of their fabulously fun reception.

Praise the Lord for Honduras!!!

2009-03-17T21:37:00.017-05:00

I just got back from Honduras, where I went with a group of young people from my church. My heart feels so full thinking of the people we met there. God gave me perspective in large doses on this trip. Here are some of the photos I took while we were there.

A girl in the village of Cataluna. This is the photo that tells all.

A young mother at the hospital in Tegucigalpa.
This is her baby.One of my jobs on the trip was to shoot portraits of the women in the village. This experience hit me hard, and made me realize the reason why I am a photographer. To take a photo of someone is to say: "I care about you. You matter. You are worth something, and your life is valuable. You are beautiful because God made you. In His likeness." This is Maria. She asked me to remember her.

This is another woman of the village, Francisca. I loved her joyfulness and her entrepreneurial spirit. She owned the snack shop in the village.

Children sitting outside their home in the village.

The little boy who broke my heart. He was sitting in this little chair, crying. His sister told me that he was thirsty and wanted water.

The evening church service in the village.

This little girl played and played with her "tricycle" It had no seat and only two wheels, which did not match, one of which was broken.

On dental health day. This little girl obediently waited for us to brush her teeth and give her a fluoride treatment. The children had many holes in their teeth. When we brushed them, some of the teeth just crumbled away.

Homes in the village.

The women who came to know Jesus during our stay: Blanca, Keilin, Leslie, and Cilia.

At the hospital.

Pretty little shoes.

The moon over the village.

A loquacious little lady at the retirement home. And her little legs.

The ladies show off the bracelets they made during our time with them.

Keilin was a 13-year-old girl in the village. I have a 13-year-old niece here in the United States, and I thought of her when I saw Keilin. That could have been her. I brought a Spanish children's Bible with me on the trip and read it to the children when there was down-time. Keilin started reading along with me, and she read very well. I left the Bible with her so she can read it to the younger children in the village. She is a very smart girl, and she was happy to receive the Bible. I think that she has the potential to be a leader in the village. Prayers for her!!!

Jeilin in the sun. She is so beautiful.

Jeilin loves puppies too. My kind of girl.

This intense little girl was worried, but beautiful in the sun.

The hardworking hands of a man in the village.

A little girl at the hospital proudly showing off her sutures.

Flossing on his own on dental health day!

I love her little pursed smile. I cleaned her teeth.

Brushing!

Loved his honest little eyes.

Isolated little boy. We were not allowed to go in his room at the hospital.

Blue.

We brought little gifts to the children in the hospital. This little girl LOVED the stuffed cat toy in her bag. She just got the biggest kick out of it and my meow noises.

This was a difficult photo to take. When I left, the back of my camera was wet with tears. My heart broke for this mother.

Angels in the sun.

One of my favorite shots of the trip.

My experience in Honduras was amazing. I am irrevocably changed by it. I felt like I was shooting with more purpose on this trip than I have been shooting for years. Or ever. I can't wait to see what God has planned for me. I am officially releasing the reigns!

Noopy is Famous!

2009-03-04T13:14:00.005-06:00

When I returned home from WPPI last week, I was sorting through my mail, and I had a new catalog from Full Color, my awesome local lab. Browsing the canvases, I found a familiar little pair of eyes staring back at me. It was my wonderful little wiener dog Noopy! I had taken the photo of her the day we brought her home. I had sent it in a print order to Full Color a few months ago, and I guess Noopy melted the hearts of the Full Color employees, just the way she did with my heart. Anyway, now she is famous! Big congratulations to Noopy and her beautiful little face.

Stephanie and Mario (and Gordon!)

2009-02-05T13:58:00.006-06:00

Very cozy.
I love the dusky color in this shot.
And the sun went down...

Stephanie and Mario brought Gordon with them to their engagement shoot. With a little help from Stephanie's mom and some treats, Gordon was a photogenic little dynamo! Of course he also stepped aside and let Stephanie and Mario have a few cozy romantic shots by themselves. A perfect little gentleman.

Daniela & Brad: Viva el Amor en Mexico!

2009-01-19T14:44:00.008-06:00

At the Cathedral of San Francisco in Chihuahua's town square.
At the marketplace in Delicias.
On the roof of Daniela's grandparents' house.

We shot Daniela & Brad's engagements while we were visiting family in Delicias and Chihuahua, Mexico during the Christmas holiday. Daniela is Alberto's sister, and she's getting married in Mazatlan in December. We had a lot of fun shooting in Mexico, and we can't wait to shoot their wedding this year. Congrats to Daniela & Brad!

Christy & Shon: Engaged in New York!

2009-01-14T15:27:00.009-06:00

Shon proposed to Christy in New York last summer, so we went back to the scene to to shoot their engagement. We had so much fun shooting Christy & Shon's engagements. These are some of our favorite shots from the session. It was such a fun shoot, the faves were so hard to pick!! Check out their slideshow at www.julesandalbie.com/ChristyShonSlideshow.

Shootee Becomes Shooter!

2009-01-12T14:36:00.006-06:00

Shon, our awesome groom-to-be, distracted by woman wanting him to take her photo.

Giving Shon instructions for a better shot. (As Christy waits patiently.)
Giving it another try.
While we were shooting Shon & Christy's engagement session in New York, Shon became a photographer as well. In the middle of Times Square, we're shooting engagements, having a blast, and a woman wearing 2009 sunglasses (as you can see, the two zeros are the peepholes) asked Shon, our groom-to-be to take a shot of her. The shoot-ee becomes the shoot-er! The woman was not that pleased with Shon's first attempt, so she asked him to take another. She eventually left with a smile on her face and a nice photo keepsake. Ah, New York. Stay tuned for shots from Shon & Christy's fab New York City engagement shoot!!!

I'm Not Ignoring Anyone!!!

2009-01-08T22:07:00.002-06:00

A big "sorry!" to everyone who has emailed me in the past couple of days. My email server was funky, and I didn't know it, so I haven't received any of your emails! If you haven't heard from me, please resend the email, or give me a call!!! I really do want to hear from you!!!

Moriah & Wil: A Tenderness Miracle!

2009-01-08T13:06:00.003-06:00

Their "last cigarettes" in front of what they thought looked like a good wall for a firing squad.

Moriah warned me about Wil. Moriah is totally excited and into photography. Wil is not. Moriah let me know that Wil would be "kicking and screaming" through the photography process. So I was mentally prepared. And yes, there was kicking. And screaming. After every shot, Wil was ready to call it a day. But he stuck it out and let Moriah and me do whatever we wanted for a couple of hours. By the way, it was FREEZING. Looking back, he was a pretty good sport. I was still quite nervous as I sat down to edit the shoot. But as the photos appeared in front of me, I was floored. The shots were of a tender, loving (not sarcastic) guy who is just head over heels for his fiancee. Wil's hatred for being photographed and his love for Moriah had gone head to head in a battle of wills, and love won out! Of course!

Dani & Jory: The Cool Music Couple

2009-01-08T12:54:00.006-06:00

Dani & Jory love music. Jory is in a band, and Dani is definitely a big fan. And they both exude coolness. We had a blast on this cold day shooting some stylish album-cover-worthy shots. We had fun running around on the sly in an old books & records store with memorable gold shag carpet. Dani & Jory are getting married next year at a cool newly renovated venue, the Filter Building http://www.thefilterbuilding.com/. I just loved this couple. Thanks for a cool shoot, you cool couple you!

Wha wha what?!?!?! aka The Big Yellow Surprise

2009-01-08T12:41:00.002-06:00

We were a little shocked when Emma & Clayton pulled up on the day of their engagement shoot. A big classic yellow hearse rolled into the parking lot, and a fun, energetic couple emerged. Emma & Clayton were a lot of fun to shoot, their personalities were super fun, and they were laid back and up for anything. Some of my favorite shots were with their unique set of wheels (and yes, the hand stuck in the door is fake, thank goodness).

New Year, New Name

2009-01-05T17:51:00.002-06:00

Hey! We're so excited to be back in Dallas after some crazy hectic traveling for the holidays. It was so worth it, getting to see family in Mexico, and having fun and shooting in New York City. Photos from our Mexico and New York shoots will be up later this week. To ring in the new year, we also have a new name, Jules & Albie Photography. When I started Julie Robles Photography, I was doing it all. But since then, the business has slowly evolved into a completely collaborative effort. Our name needed a change. We are so excited to work together this year on some really fabulous weddings! Check out our brand new site: www.julesandalbie.com.

Featured in D Weddings!

2008-12-31T18:00:00.001-06:00

We are so excited to be featured again in the Real Weddings section of the current issue of D Weddings. Suzanne and Shawn's DIY wedding at the Hickory Street Annex www.hickorystreetannex.com was so fun and fabulous. So colorful! Check out the new issue of D Weddings, on newsstands today!

Bridals in New Orleans!

2008-11-11T19:04:00.012-06:00

While we were in New Orleans last week, we shot a couple of fashion bridals. I loved shooting in the French Quarter. So many colors! I had a hard time picking just a few favorites, so here are a bunch of fun shots from the shoots.Big thanks to Heatherly and Ashlie! You were both great and a lot of fun to work with!

Susan & Hypte

2008-10-20T10:11:00.005-05:00

We had so much fun shooting Susan & Hypte's engagement session in Dallas. They were a super fun couple with great chemistry. They have a lot of fun together, and it shows in their photos. Such a variety of shots with some nice serious moments too. A great collection. I wish I could post them all! Thanks for a great session, Susan & Hypte! Can't wait for the wedding!!!

Must Have Sense of Humor

2008-10-15T01:25:00.006-05:00

One of the key necessities in marriage is a sense of humor. Finding someone you can laugh with is essential. Belinda and Dan's engagement session was a great reminder of this. During the session, they made each other laugh so much, and the photos of their funny interactions are my absolute favorites.

When Ike Blew In

2008-10-13T11:16:00.004-05:00

Sarah Beth was brave. The day for her bridal portrait came on the same day Ike did. That weekend was a dreary one. But Sarah Beth weathered the storm, and we spent the morning running through the street, grabbing a shot, seeking shelter, umbrellas up, down, up again. We couldn't have done it without her fabulous entourage. Thanks for sticking it out, everyone. It was a brilliant shoot!!! And congrats to Sarah Beth on her marriage this past weekend to Joe Moschella. Look for their photos here soon!

Amber & Brendon

2008-10-09T14:51:00.003-05:00

It was so much fun to shoot Amber & Brendon's engagement session at their (and MY!) alma mater, Baylor University. We went to Common Grounds, a cool little coffehouse right off campus, and we shot at the suspension bridge where Brendon proposed! Brendon and Amber are so much fun. I had a blast, and I can't wait to shoot their fabulous wedding next week!

Ribbit! Ribbit!

2008-10-07T14:07:00.006-05:00

I have been shooting Kaylei's portraits since she was a newborn, and she has always been quite a serious little girl, seldomly doling out smiles. I have taken many "serious" portraits of her. However, I was delighted to see this time that she had some tricks up her sleeve for me. She has been taking gymnastics, and she used her new moves for our portraits. She's quite spontaneous, so I had to be on my toes. In this series, she abruptly hopped up and sprang forward, quipping "Ribbit! Ribbit!" I was "on my toes" enough to catch her froggy leap mid-air!

Autumn Light

2008-10-06T13:56:00.000-05:00

I was so excited to shoot Kelly and Tony's outdoor garden wedding last weekend. The weather was perfect, and Kelly was beautiful! Here are some shots from her bridal portrait. I love the 1st one especially because of the gorgeous autumn light coming through the trees.

Rachel's Bridal Fashion Shoot

2008-08-22T17:00:00.004-05:00

I had so much fun shooting Rachel's bridal portrait. She is one of my favorite brides. She'll go along with my ideas even when they sound kooky. Such as "Go sit on that pile of rubble and hike up your skirt so I can see those boots." And we got such great shots. A tip to brides: be adventurous! So many possibilities for fashiony, dynamic photographs lie just beyond your comfort zone.

I Love Children Now?!?!?!

2008-08-22T11:06:00.006-05:00

Anyone who knows me knows that for a long time, I've been a one-subject kind of photographer. A wedding photographer. I love shooting weddings, and that's IT! Then I creeped into pet photography. But that's it, and that's just for fun. I never thought I would enjoy children's portraits. I've never been great with kids. I just don't have the gene. So when Annie, my old friend from high school, emailed me to take photos of her little boy, Marek, I was torn. I love Annie, wanted to see her again, because it's been forever! But children's portraits aren't my thing. Or are they? When I think of children's portraits, I think of kitschy set-ups, like baby in the bubble bath, baby with chef's hat making spaghetti, baby with angel wings, baby popping out of soup can... the list goes on. But Marek and Annie met with Alberto and me at a nice little park, and we just had fun. Crawling around, looking at fish, climbing IN trees, the whole shebang. Alberto was a huge help. He has the gene. He was my "make this kid laugh" go-to guy. We were a team. I loved the shoot. Anyone out there with a child, bring them my way. You're not going to get any bath time Easter bunny soup can angel wing photos, but we'll definitely have fun.

April & Brian

2008-08-20T16:22:00.004-05:00

I had a blast with April and Brian on their engagement shoot in downtown Dallas. These are my favorites from the shoot.

Ready for My Close-Up

2008-07-24T20:39:00.005-05:00

It's not often that I hop out in front the camera, but it happens. I thought our bio photos on our website needed a little freshening up. My blog bio photo was from the year I got married (4 years ago)! So Alberto and I went to our overgrown backyard and got some fun shots of each other. Couple photo courtesy of my handy tripod. Being in front of the camera reminded me of how nerve-racking a photo shoot can be for brides or couples who are not professional models. Definitely a learning experience. And yes, I got a haircut. Va-va-voom!

Ashley & Preston Tie the Knot

2008-07-18T17:07:00.004-05:00

Ashley & Preston married at Quail Ridge Ranch in Glen Rose on June 21st. Shooting the bridal party after the ceremony was so much fun! Everyone had a blast, and the photos rocked! We had so much fun shooting in the tall grass around the ranch, but paid for it later with a lovely spread of itchy chigger bites! Congrats Ashley & Preston!

Laura & Hudson Tie the Knot at the Aquarium!

2008-07-10T16:55:00.003-05:00

Laura & Hudson were married on June 14th and held their reception at the Dallas World Aquarium. From the moment Laura told me she was going to have her wedding there, my head began swimming (haha) with beautiful images of the bride and groom among the fish. So happy was I to see that no seafood was served at the reception with our aquatic friends so near. The menu at the reception was chocolate, chocolate, wedding cake, and more chocolate!!! Crepes too! So fabulous! Congrats to Laura and Hudson! Everything was beautiful!

Old Hollywood Wedding Featured in D Weddings!!!

2008-07-09T16:34:00.005-05:00

We are so excited that our photographs from Kara & Jeremiah's Old Hollywood wedding are going to be featured in the "Real Weddings" section of D Weddings' Fall 2008 issue. The Fall issue will be on newsstands on Monday, July 14th. It's on page 32. Check us out!!!

Emily & Cole Go Fishing

2008-07-08T19:06:00.000-05:00

Emily and Cole are a very outdoorsy couple, and their engagement session was a blast to shoot. From fly fishing, to swinging in a comfy hammock, to traipsing through wild fields, they did it all. Check out my favorite shots from their session.

Shadee & Arash

2008-07-02T03:07:00.003-05:00

Shadee and Arash were a really fun couple to shoot. Shadee is a photographer, so I was really excited that she chose me to shoot her engagement session. I love backlighting couples with the sun coming through the trees, giving them a warm glow. Very romantic. Arash especially wanted some shots where the light hit Shadee's dark hair. Gorgeous!

Favor a Charity

2008-07-01T02:48:00.001-05:00

On May 31st, Chris and Laura tied the knot and celebrated with special favors for their guests. They gave out cookies to celebrate a charity they had donated to, the Gingerbread House. The label on the back of the cookies read: "The sweetest gift of all…HOPE! In honor of our guests, a donation has been made to the Bossier/Caddo Gingerbread House, serving child victims of sexual and severe physical abuse." Learn more at http://www.gingerbreadhousecac.org/.

Tiffany & Andrew Tied the Knot

2008-06-30T04:46:00.000-05:00

Tiffany & Andrew Friedrich tied the knot on June 7th at Old City Park. I had never shot at Old City Park, and it was a blast. Tiffany & Andrew's wedding was so fun and colorful. And yes, I do believe Old City Park IS haunted. Check out the blurry figure (aka Lurking Spirit) in the black & white close-up of Tiffany & Andrew. Woooooo! That is actually some sort of female scarecrow with a bonnet. I don't understand. But she turned up in every single photo! Just kidding. But yes, Old City Park is haunted. Tiffany will testify to eerie occurences in the old Victorian house where the girls got ready. Once the wedding started, however, there were no ghostly occurrences, so that's a good thing. Congrats to Tiffany & Andrew! Your wedding was fabulous!

Something Blue...Actually, Everything Blue!

2008-06-21T03:37:00.000-05:00

Laura Fulmer (now Laura Page!) had one request. Bridal portrait in bluebonnets. Before the shoot, I had nightmares about dragging this bride's dress through muddy fields next to highways, truck horns blaring. I was nervous! Luckily, I found a little field of bluebonnets at a nearby college. Blue was the theme of the day. The bride's blue eyes, blue skys, bluebonnets, and even royal blue shoes! This bride has her "something blue" covered.

Tracy & Chad Give Photography a 2nd Chance

2008-06-17T12:23:00.006-05:00

I love Tracy's flowing underwater petticoat in the shot below.

Just taking a break at a cafe during the shoot.
Tracy and Chad Sones were married last August. Unhappy with their photographer's work, they contacted me to see if we could set up a shoot with both of them that would capture their personalities and reflect their style. A bridal/couple shoot. It was so much fun. We shot all over Dallas, and had a blast. Tracy wasn't even phased by hopping in the fountains, since her gorgeous dress had already experienced the limelight at their wedding last year. Although we did get in a little trouble with the Fountain Place security guard. Oops!

Tiffany & Gracie Belle

2008-06-14T04:03:00.001-05:00

I love a classic profile.Tiffany loves to read. She brought along a couple of her favorite books, and I joked with her about being on a READ poster in public libraries nationwide. Well, here it is.
Tiffany Orsburn (now Tiffany Friedrich) is one of the happiest brides I know. She and I share a great love for our dachsunds, and to my delight, she brought her little dachsund puppy Gracie Belle to her bridal shoot. I was so excited! Even though Gracie was a wiggly little pup, she was a great little model. Full of life and kisses for the beautiful bride.

Pup Portraits

2008-06-13T00:49:00.006-05:00

Julie Robles Photography has started Pup Portraits, a new division for pet photography. We had so much fun photographing these dogs for our portfolio. Check out more adorable pups at www.julieroblesphotography.com/pups.

Lindsey & Jarred Tied the Knot!

2008-06-06T14:33:00.001-05:00

Lindsey & Jarred Carter tied the knot in Waxahachie on May 10th. These outdoor shots were a mark of bravery on the bride and groom's behalf. It was the most humid day I have ever experienced. The bride and groom braved the moist heat for the sake of getting some fabulous photos. Thanks for your courage to stick it out, Lindsey and Jarred! And congrats on your marriage!

Love in a Wild Field

2008-05-27T13:28:00.001-05:00

I just shot Kelsey and Clayton's engagement photos in Howe, Texas. It was my first rural shoot, and it was very exciting to be doing something a little different. Kelsey and Clayton both grew up in small towns and thought the fields and old town squares in the area would be great reflections of their personalities and backgrounds. So much fun to shoot, except when I stepped in a knee-high ant hill in a wild field. Ouch!

Lane & Kyle Tied the Knot!

2008-05-23T15:04:00.000-05:00

Lane & Kyle Borrello happily tied the knot in Fort Worth on May 3rd. Their first dance was a feature of the night. Very sassy, not your mother's slow dance. Congrats Lane & Kyle!

Racheal & Bryan & The Black Cat

2008-05-22T13:43:00.001-05:00

Racheal and Bryan were a blast to photograph. They are getting married next year on a cruise. These are some of my favorite photos from their engagement shoot, very colorful and fun. They were totally freaked out by a black cat that kept walking across their path during the shoot (Visible in the shot below)! Egads! Bah to superstitions. This is one the happiest couples I have ever shot. Congrats on your engagement, Racheal and Bryan! Best wishes for your wedding!

Lovely Lane

2008-05-06T13:36:00.000-05:00

Now that Miss Lane Lockhart is Mrs. Lane Borrello, I can post my favorites of her gorgeous bridal photos. She was a gorgeous bride on this day and on her wedding day. Wearing Maggie Sottero, my favorite dress designer. Lovely.

Brides in Doorways: A Mythical Concept

2008-04-03T14:33:00.001-05:00

I love shooting brides in doorways. The natural light streams in, creating a beautiful silhouette. This photo is of Kelly, who just tied the knot on March 15th. Congrats Kelly and Dustin!

I love shooting doorways, because it reminds me of our old friend Janus from Roman mythology. Janus was the god of gates and doorways, beginnings and endings. Every bride is in a doorway. Marriage is the beginning of a lifelong bond with her husband, and the ending of the chapter in her life as a single woman. I am always drawn to characters in books and movies who are experiencing transition in their lives. Perhaps that is why I love working with brides. May every bride step through all the doorways of her life with grace and celebration!

The Beautiful Katie

2008-03-31T15:41:00.008-05:00

Congrats, Katie & Joel! Now that Katie and Joel have tied the knot, I can post shots from Katie's bridal portrait session. We went to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden and shot in the Rose Garden. I loved how natural Katie was. All of her smiles were sincere. All the crazy shots of brides floating down rivers and twirling around in their dresses can't beat a shot of a sincerely beautiful bride.

What Happens in Vegas does NOT stay in Vegas!

2008-03-28T12:32:00.012-05:00

We just got back from the WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International) conference in Las Vegas. Sin City was never a place I wanted to go, but it was a blast! We stayed at the Paris Hotel, which was fabulous.

Alberto took this fabulous postcard-worthy shot of the Paris Hotel exterior at night.

Here was our window view:

We could also see the fountain show in front of the Bellagio FROM OUR ROOM WINDOW! Best view ever!!!

This is the inside of the Paris Hotel. Do not be fooled by the blue skies! They are merely the ceiling!!! Isn't that nuts?!?!

Here I am eating a fabulous crepe from La Creperie in the Paris Hotel between seminar sessions.

Our funds quickly draining from eating at the hotel every day, we went to the Miracle Mile Shops next door for some good, cheap food.

Okay, finally we get inside, but just barely, after Bert plays along with my "Hey, I'm Cindy Crawford, hey, I'm Elle McPherson!" game. But then I see this fabulous fashiony wall of international words. "Hey, I'm Claudia Schiffer!"In the end, Bert is rewarded for his patience with my newfound modeling skills. Here he is after finishing off a bowl of fresh guacamole at La Salsa Cantina at the Miracle Mile shops.Timeshare to the rescue! We were running out of things to do in Vegas with no money. Then the timeshare people found us. We would get free tickets to shows in exchange for a couple of pleasant hours at their new resort, Tahiti Village. Well, we had more time on our hands than money. So 3 hours later, we emerged from Tahiti Village. Yes, I drank the Kool-Aid, but I spit it out just in time. Here is a victorious shot of me with my hard-earned Vegas show tickets. See the wild Charles Manson look in my eyes. They really got to me!!!Killing time at Circus Circus before our first show. At Circus Circus Alberto and I both won a huge Bert doll (as in Bert & Ernie), but had to give them away since they wouldn't fit in our luggage.

Here's Mr. Smooth Alberto outside the Riviera before the comedy club show. The bright Vegas lights gave Alberto a Violet from Willy Wonka look. The lost purple member of the Rat Pack.Yes, it's a foot long! At the New York, NY Hotel we found even cheaper food. I had a Coney Island Foot Long! It was fabulous!Altogether a wonderful trip. We learned so much from fabulous photographers like Matthew Jordan Smith (as seen on America's Next Top Model), Denis Reggie, Tomas Munoz, Jose Villa, and Joe Buissink, just to name a few. And we soaked in the fabulous Vegas life. My advice for future Vegas travelers: Don't take the little cards they hand out on the strip. You might get a glimpse of something you never wanted to see!

Natural Light Wedding

2008-03-14T13:27:00.006-05:00

I shot Rita & Matt's wedding on March 8th using almost all available light. I fired off a couple of flashes during the first dance and was horrified by how the flash took all the ambience out of the lights at their cool reception venue, La Buena Vida Vineyards in Grapevine, Texas. So I decided to go all natural. As the night wore on, my shutter speed became slower and slower, but the shots I got without flash were so much more fabulous and true to the feel of the reception than the shots I would have gotten with a bright flash. Check out some shots of the night: The DJ's colored lights are always washed out and overpowered by flash. I had plenty of shots with normal, warm lighting, but I love this shot, the way the red light separates the couple from the background.This one was caught by Alberto. With flash, the back of his neck would have been really bright and the cigar would be too dark in the background.

A warm sparkler exit with all the ambience and fun of the party.Congrats to Rita & Matt and your natural light wedding!

Happy Accident

2008-02-06T15:43:00.002-06:00

Ah, happy accidents. I just missed this bride as she swung out of frame during a dance. But I just absolutely love how this image turned out. It will never see grandma's mantel, but it is such a beautiful mysterious shot.

I Love Rock N Roll

2008-01-21T15:49:00.001-06:00

Ah, live music. I never realized what a difference it made until I shot two weddings this month that had live music. The crowd was livelier. Whether it's a swing band or garage band, definitely consider adding live music to your wedding. Pictured here is Mars Hill, a local Dallas band that played at Jenny and Andrew Hunt's wedding. They were awesome, or dare I say...rockin'?

Old Hollywood Style

2008-01-14T15:58:00.001-06:00

I just shot Kara and Jeremiah's Old Hollywood style wedding. It was so fabulous. The bride, Kara Torvik Smith, is a stage actress, and her costume designer designed her dress in the fashion of the 1910's. Pearls were everywhere. They had a swing band that was so much fun. The ceremony and reception were held at T&P Station in downtown Ft. Worth. It was so beautiful and fun to photograph. A word of advice to all brides planning their wedding: Don't do what you think you're supposed to do; do what you want to do. Something that is YOUR style. It will be a blast!

Snowboarding Bride in Ruidoso, NM

2008-01-07T11:29:00.000-06:00

We just got back from a trip to Ruidoso, NM to visit family. While we were there, we did a bridal shoot with Chelsea Bishop Kimbrell on the slopes of Ski Apache. She is a snowboarder, and so is her new husband Errick. We had such a blast on the slopes. It was a little scary up there with all my camera equipment, along with whatever skiing prowess I still had from skiing years ago. No cameras took a dive, thank goodness! Here are some of my favorite shots of the day.

Bride Visits Santa in Ft. Worth, but he's not home

2007-12-30T12:40:00.000-06:00

Now that my super-bride Jennelle Wolter is now Jennelle Kates, I can happily post my favorite shots of her bridal portrait in Ft. Worth at the Stockyards and Downtown. These were taken during the holidays, so we got some shots of Jennelle in Santa's favorite Ft. Worth hang-out.

Christmas Card Photo

2007-11-26T12:27:00.000-06:00

HERE IT IS! The best, most flattering, most natural photo of all of us for our Christmas card. We took this photo on Thanksgiving at my parents' house when it starting snowing! Haven't seen it since though, must have scared it away for the year. Yoda's a little blurry, but can't complain. Kudos to Dad for snapping the shot. I looked for that wiener dog float in the Thanksgiving Parade, since I now have a wiener dog of my own. Didn't see it. Happy Thanksgiving and Christmas to all!

Noopy! Our New Puppy!

2007-11-05T12:01:00.000-06:00

Ahhhhh! We just got a fab new puppy, a miniature dachsund, aka Wienie Dog. Her name is Noopy, and she's the best, well actually, competing for co-best with our other dog, Yoda. We got her in Dog Alley at 1st Monday in Canton, the best, biggest flea market I know. And yes, she did come with a few fleas. But all washed away by puppy shampoo. What a little sweetie wienie!!!

My Fave of Claire and Jarred

2007-11-03T14:00:00.000-05:00

This is my favorite shot from Claire and Jarred's wedding at the Japanese Gardens in Ft. Worth. Those stones are a lot farther apart than they look! Quite a brave couple, but terribly romantic.

Zombie Wedding

2007-11-01T13:47:00.000-05:00

Okay, okay, they did NOT have a zombie wedding. This is Carrie and Jorge Villadiego. While I was shooting their engagements at the Inwood Theater, we were chit-chatting about movies, and Carrie mentioned that she has always wanted to be in a zombie movie. Well! My husband/2nd shooter Alberto does special effects makeup. So around Halloween, Carrie and Jorge came over and we did their makeup. And lucky for us, one of those creepy carnivals was in town! So, we were going for a gritty "Carnival of Souls" look (1962 zombie movie by Herk Harvey). And it all fell into place. Part of Carrie's makeup around her mouth fell off due to a joke about a pirate from outer space that was sent to the future to DJ my wedding (my description of our wedding DJ). Ah, great story.

Touched by an Angel Bride

2007-09-21T14:22:00.000-05:00

Okay, maybe the coolest shot of my career so far. I took this at the Modern Art Museum in Ft. Worth at Adrienne and John's reception. The scuplture of the wings is perfectly placed behind her, so ethereal, but the shadows on her face are sinister. Devil or angel? Ooh, what a question. Adrienne was an absolutely fabulous bride, so I'm voting angel. Heavenly!

Yoda Turns 10!

2007-08-24T13:16:00.000-05:00

Yes, I know it's no 900, like her namesake, but our funky little chihuahua Yoda has reached a milestone. We were planning a party to celebrate her 10th, but while we were visiting family in Ruidoso, Yoda developed this weird neck problem (she's had it before; it's weird). So we got her hooked on Baby Motrin, and she was acting like a little drunk. So we decide to cancel the party, and lo and behold, Yoda's neck is just fine. She's a bit of a neurotic, so I think she was faking it to skip out on the party! What a nut! Anyway, we love you just the way you are, Yoda. So here's to you!

Oh destination wedding, how I love thee!

2007-07-31T14:33:00.000-05:00

Here is Alberto catching Bridget giggling as Ethan tries to help her with her dress.

We shot Bridget and Ethan at Bluefields Beach in Jamaica (an hour down the coast from Negril). This was the morning of Bridget and Ethan's wedding, before their ceremony, and it was such a great experience to shoot them at this time. It was early morning, before the tourists with their pink innertubes had arrived. A super day!