| Shane + Jill |

Shane & Jill are married! And they are just the neatest couple. Jill was stunning, and Shane was, well, Shane is just plain cool. (More on this later!) He is a friend and a really awesome photographer. In fact, the wedding was full of photographers. There were almost as many flashy Canon's there as flashy guests. Shane even brought out his 5D (his second love!) toward the end of the wedding. But instead of talking cameras, let's talk wedding.

Another bride... another groom... the countryside... is all in bloom...

Twinsies!

What have I told you about Shane?

Well, same goes for Jill.

It's almost time for the wedding, and Jill decided to check out things from above.

As did four of the guests.

Jill and her dad (also a photographer!) are on their way to meet Shane.

What a beautiful day for a wedding.

Now let's talk about Shane's coolness. He is. He's also just one of the nicest guys you could ever hope to meet. And for this reason, he will be the one and only ever blogaward winner for Cool Cat at the Wedding, at his own wedding!

Shane and Jill are made for each other. God bless you both always!

| Jill |

Hi! Since Shane and Jill are now old married folks, I figure the coast is clear to post some of her bridals. I am editing her wedding next, so stay tuned for a very pretty wedding post in the next few days. Shane is a friend and a fantastic photographer who helped us do the Rock the Runway shoot. But this time, it was his turn on the other side of the lens! He found the love of his life in Jill. Here's part of the reason why...

Yep! She's a beauty.

And together, they make a pretty smart couple.

| Originality is.... |

Dare to be different? EH! (Cliché!) Think of it this way...

I'm not much for giving marital advice. For that, you're on your own! But for wedding advise, I have a good thought now and then, and this is a pretty good one. This blog post is regarding having a unique wedding.

Every bride and groom I've ever met wants their wedding to stand apart from any other. Even traditional couples want their wedding to be unique. But here's the truth: it ALWAYS is.

I've never photographed two weddings that even reminded me of each other. And it doesn't matter if the nuptials are held at the same location, with the same colors at the same time of day, every wedding is different and has a feel of it's own. (To me, this is what makes them so wonderful!)

Therefore, the advice I'm giving today is not to fuss too much, or stress, or over-try - just to be different. If you do, things could come off a little "posed." And you know I'm not saying to pull the reins on being creative or fun, because creativity is a friend of mine. I'm all for it in fact, and the more the better. But I guess it's sort of like trying to be cool. You just can't try. You just have to be (...or not be!) But when you get right down to it, (really) cool people are people who are true and genuine.

Poet Marianne Moore surely said it best (and more succinctly than I): "Originality is a byproduct of sincerity."

I really believe this. If you plan your wedding in a way that is honest and representative of who you are and what you believe as individuals and as a couple, it will just naturally become an event of beauty that is uniquely your own. And everyone (especially you) will always remember it as such, because it will be unforgettable and also... different! And that's all I have to say about that!

| My Gear |

Hi Guys! Well I wanted to do a blog post to tell you about my gear. I'm sorry, but I just can't be modest about it; there's none better anywhere. It is truly drool worthy! I am on the Canon team (even considering the Nikon D3, Canon still has the edge - it's all about the glass!) and I have two 5Ds and one 40D. I take three cameras to every wedding so that I have a back up, and a back up to my back up. With weddings, there are no second chances, so plans B, C, D, E and F have to be in place. I take two 580 flashes, a quantum and a number of wonderful lenses, my favorite being the 50mm 1.2. What a lens!!! I am so thankful to have the best camera gear available to any photographer, anywhere, anytime. Have a look!

| A wonderful day |

Hi! I wanted to post just a few photos from a very wonderful day. The bluebonnets are not in full bloom yet so we headed for the water. Another week or so and we'll enjoy the most beautiful bluebonnets in Texas. Until then, here are some sweet photos of some very sweet girls about the very serious business of enjoying a warm Spring day.

| The funniest guys on this particular planet |

Hi Guys! If you've never seen or heard of Flight of the Conchords, you are MISSING OUT! Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie are truly and brilliantly hilarious. Whin? Whin? Whin are we getting another season? January baby! They are New Zealand's fourth most popular folk-parody duo(!), and their HBO show doesn't leave one loose thread. It is such an incredibly smart show and is vibrating with witty banter and personality. If you can find a way to catch it, DO. Here are some photos of the guys, the first one is an "acid wash" studio portrait!

| Rock the Runway |

Well, I've finally about recovered from the Seventeen Magazine Rock the Runway shoot this weekend (I think!) Whew! Give me a wedding any day! It was fun and a good experience, but honestly, not my favorite kind of work. There were hundreds of girls desiring to be discovered as supermodels! They sashayed down the runway, and tried (some, desperately!) to strike their best pose. It was kinda cute at times, and a little disturbing at others! Kat Deluna, recording artist, performed and the crowd crowed. There were mini-MAC makeovers, karaoke rockstars, dance contests, free giveaways, and promotions a-plenty. There were semi-professional models for formalwear, swimsuits, and several casual lines, and then a contest from which three winners were chosen from applicants who registered before the show.

Here are my shots of the three winning models.

And here is a collage that I made to kind of illustrate the feeling of the day. It was a really fun time (in retrospect) and thanks Seventeen for the opportunity to photograph the event!