I'm so glad you all are spending your insanely precious time surfing my blog.

Since this is an about me section, I figured I should tell you something about me. Instead of going off on some tangent, I'll just say that Wedding photography is what I specialize in. I love it and I don't have plans to do anything else.

I love God, my family, my dogs Rikku and Gigi, surfing the internet, watching CSI (so sad about Grissom), reading non-fiction and magazines, the smell of a new box of crayons, running over empty coke cans with my car and taking off my shoes at the end of the day.

And I love taking pictures of people getting married.

Thanks for coming by!

Sunday
28Jun

Lindsey and Scott

You might remember this super awesome couple from their engagement session way back when. Thier wedding at the Belgium House in Longview was nothing but spectacular. Lindsey's coordinator, Hollie Wells, hired a lighting engineer to decorate the reception hall. It look so good even the BH people were impressed. Scroll down to see a pic.

Don't overlook lighting. It can transform a room from boring to awesome in about 2 nanoseconds.

(warning: Philosophical lovey stuff ahead)

I most often post photos in chronological order, but this post differs from that due to the first picture. As a photographer, I'm pretty limited to what I can show in a photo. 99 percent of my photos are of people's faces – people making expressions to show their love or whatnot. However, it's much more difficult to show what love actually looks like in a photo. Sometimes, you have to frame the photo so what's important is out of the picture. You never see their faces or their expressions, but photos like the one below sum up everything without seeing anybody's eyes. It's like a scary movie. Sometimes its scarier when you don't get to see the evil monster (like in Signs). Not that love is an evil monster, but it's the only one I could come up with.

OK, on to the pics.

This next picture (By request from the groom) is of the front of the Belgium House with the bride, groom and party up on the balcony. Squit so you can see them. This was before the ceremony.

Scott delivered a flower to this grandmother before the ceremony started.

Without question, at every wedding the bride sneaks a peek at her fiance during a prayer at the ceremony. I was just waiting for it.

A few awesome reception details.

Bling-ity Bling Bling.

Lindsey and Scott had an impromptu dance under the gazebo after dark. It was the most romantic first dance I've ever seen. Completely unplanned.

Sunday
21Jun

Julie and Brent

Venue: Tyler Women's Building

Florist: Flowers by Sue (in Bullard)

Cake: Cakes by De'Anne

The first wedding I shot in Tyler was at the Women's Building at the corner of Broadway and Dobbs. I've shot countless weddings there since then and I've come to the realization that it's one of the best places to get married in Tyler. The wedding was moved twice. First it was outdoors, which Julie decided would be just a little too hot for her guests. Second it was moved to the Waldort Room, which ended up being too small for 150 guests. Lastly it was moved to the auditorium, which was perfect. A hint for summer weddings: choose a venue that is practical and malleable. Sometimes you gotta change plans and multi-faceted venues are a great option.

Julie and Brent both wrote each other letters during the early parts of the day.

BEST. RINGSHOT. EVER.

Saturday
20Jun

Renaissance dad

Ahhh, father's day. The day we celebrate the most difficult job in the world with a greeting card. Dad's are so tough to buy for. Most of them have everything they want, and the things they don't have, they don't want anyway.

But I digress...

It was never in question that I would own my own business. I grew up living in a family of small businesses. My father started Arrick Computer Products in the '80s selling switchboxes for computers. When the Japanese decided they could make them cheaper, my father evolved his company creating small automation robots (now called Arrick Robotics). In 1999 he started a company making vintage-style Synthesizers (synthesizers.com) and in between he had countless other left and right brain projects.

He and my mother remodeled their current home, complete with a Frank Loyd Wright style office (with stained glass my father put together).

He's a true Renaissance man, always teaching that both the left and the right sides of the brain are important.

So thanks dad for all the late night conversations, introducing me to talk radio and showing me how to ride a bicycle. I couldn't have done it without you. It's the most difficult job in the world, but you pulled it off with style.

Saturday
13Jun

Matt and Jennifer - e-session

Oh man, it's been toooooo long since I've posted (almost a week). I feel like I've been ignoring you, internet people. Here's an engagement session I shot a couple weeks ago. I cant believe it took me so long to blog it, but I appologize. It will never happen again. Promise!

Saturday
06Jun

Whitney & Jarrad

Every girl needs an "I'm getting married today-shirt"

This next photo is actually a motivational poster for "Teamwork." Because putting on a dress requires all the hands you can get.

I'm Ron Burgundy?

A few awesomely sweet reception details: