ShutterShots Photography: Real Life, Captured.

Out of Office

2012-01-16T16:56:00.000-06:00

I will be out of the *figurative* office from tomorrow (Tuesday) through Thursday. We are taking a mini-vacation in Louisiana! I'm very excited to get away and take a little break away from home. If you send me an email, please expect a reply on Friday!

Thanks! :)

And since it's not really fun without a picture, here's a little sneak peek at the family shoot I had yesterday. Love these kids and love that the little one looks like Bruno Mars. :)

Have a great week!

Valentine's Day Mini-Sessions!

2012-01-11T13:05:00.000-06:00

They're here!

Schedule your V-Day Mini now! They are already being scheduled and fill up quickly!

I will have a few props, but you are welcome to bring your own! If you want to schedule your session in another city (Conroe, Humble, Kingwood, etc.), there will be a small additional fee.

Email me with questions (victoria@shuttershotsphoto.com) or message me on Facebook!

Furry Family Members :)

2012-01-09T16:38:00.001-06:00

I highly encourage bringing furry friends to your sessions! They're part of your family, so they should be included! I was thrilled to have some pups visit me this holiday season!

First, the Furlough family. This family is just too sweet and I love hanging out with them. They're just so down-to-earth and fun to be around.

Next, Bobbie and Mark! They were winners of a free session! They brought their cute little pups and also used this opportunity to announce something huge! Congrats!! Can't wait til your little baby is here!

Ty and John brought their adorable Rebel with them. :)

The almost-new parents (baby coming very soon!) and their dog, Chip!

And lastly, my own sister and her family. They brought their three babies, Roxy, Lexy, and Britny (the pug).

Thanks for looking! Sorry it was so long, but I love dogs. The end. :)

Gotta Save Room for the Older Kids!

2012-01-07T10:00:00.000-06:00

I photographed a lot of little ones over the holidays, but I also got to shoot some older kids, too!

I met the Arrington family for the first time. They are all super sweet and very photogenic! I hope to see them again!

Also, the Lowrey family. They won a free session a couple of months ago and we were finally able to get together. Mom also came with a great idea from Pinterest...the girls wearing her wedding dress to one day show off at their own weddings! Loved the idea and can't wait to do this with other moms and girls!

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Christmas Cuties

2012-01-06T14:45:00.001-06:00

More beautiful kiddos to show off!

First, Miss Olivia. I've photographed her a few times and she always brings a smile to my face! This time, Mom took her to Sweet N Sassy (I believe) to get her hair and makeup done for the shoot! What a treat!

Next, the Bratton family! I love this family..and Sonja is the very creative mom behind 3 Peas Designs. Please go like her facebook page and order some cool blocks from her!

She always bring the cutest ideas to our sessions!

And last one for today, Mr. Brayden. His dad and I grew up together. He's such an adorable little chunk!

Thanks for looking! See you tomorrow! Have a great weekend!

Happy Kids

2012-01-05T22:09:00.001-06:00

It appears my blog has been down for a few months and I'm a horrible blog-mother and didn't realize it until now! So, I will play catch-up and schedule some posts for the next week or so! I'm sure I have lots to blog, but I'm going to start with some sessions from November. Most of these were Christmas sessions!

First up, the Dobson family! By now, I've photographed them a few times! Miss Hadley is such an adorable cutie!

Next up, the Casey kiddos! These little ones are so sweet, just like their Momma! Can't wait to see them again!

And last for today, Miss Meredith. She's actually the pretty face on my new business cards! Such a doll!

Hope you enjoyed looking! Come back tomorrow!

It's Almost Valentine's Day!

2012-01-05T12:17:00.000-06:00

Ladies, it's almost that time of the year...the most romantic day!

I will be doing a limited number of boudoir sessions this year. They can be scheduled now until Valentine's Day. The session fee is $250 and includes a set of 4x6s of all images or a hard-cover book of all images. This is the perfect gift for the special man in your life! Contact me asap to schedule your session!

To see some samples of boudoir sessions, please visit my website: www.shuttershotsphoto.com and click on "boudoir."

Merry Christmas!!

2011-12-22T17:24:00.002-06:00

I want to say thank you to all of my amazing customers who have made this year so wonderful! I have had the busiest season yet, and I've had so much fun providing you all with photos that you will treasure forever. I look forward to 2012 being an awesome year full of more new faces and returning ones, too!

Blogger won't let me upload any pictures, so I will be back after Christmas to show off some of the beautiful faces I photographed this season!

A Christmas Giveaway!

2011-12-06T00:27:00.001-06:00

Time to spread some Christmas cheer!

First, I'd like to thank all who came out to Hometown Christmas in Cleveland this past Saturday. I was really excited about having a booth at the event, and I was even more excited about all of the goodies that my good friend, Joanne, made!

A table FULL of yummy treats, including brownies, rice krispie trees drizzled with chocolate, chocolate chip cookies, marshmallows dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with sugar crystals, and nutter butter snowmen! Seriously, I think I ate more than my booth visitors...

Handmade "Please Take One" sign because everyone thought I was selling the treats..which would've also been cool. :)

The other table displaying my mom's poinsettia arrangements (Shout out to Vannee's Bloomin' Yard! Holla!) and more of my favorite photos.

My favorite girls...sportin' their "My Friend Shoots People" shirts...complete with my logo and info on the back. They were the best walking advertisements. :)

And, of course, the one I couldn't have done this without...Joanne. I am so thankful for her. She's the best!

And now...

I've been on a giveaway kick lately...I guess it's because I've been amazingly blessed this year with lots of business and I just want to give back to my awesome customers. :) So I want to give away a FREE Gift Certificate to be used on a photo session. The only catch is you can't use it on yourself...you MUST give it to someone else! I'm basically giving you a free Christmas gift! Can't think of what to get Mom for Christmas? I'm gonna help you out! Maybe you need to get a Secret Santa gift? This is what you need!

All you have to do is hop on over to my Facebook page (please "like" it first!) and leave a comment on the giveaway status. You may have to scroll down a little to see it. I will randomly choose a winner this Friday, December 9th. The winner will then receive a gift certificate (worth $200) in their email or via snail mail to give to their special someone. Easy!

Email me if you have any questions or if you just can't wait and want to buy a gift certificate now! They make the PERFECT gift! Photos last a lifetime. :)

Thanks.

2011-11-23T17:03:00.001-06:00

In honor of Thanksgiving, I just wanted to pop in real quick and tell you all what I'm thankful for this year.

Jesus - He has definitely blessed me with more than I deserve. He has taught me many lessons, especially during the past couple of years, and has also brought me much joy. He is always there when I need him and always gives me comfort when I'm feeling down. He always provides for me, spiritually, financially, however I need him to.

My family - I wouldn't be the person I am today without them. My parents love me unconditionally and would do anything for me. I am glad that God has blessed me with each one of them, my mom, dad, sister, brother-in-law, and nephew. They each add something special to my life.

Josh - I can't describe how happy I am that we're together. He also loves me unconditionally and loves me for who I am. He makes me the happiest I've ever been and I can't imagine my life without him. He is my best friend and the one person I want to share my life with. I'm so blessed that he is in my life.

My business - Three and a half years in the making, this year has been the best so far! I'm super lucky to be able to do what I love and what makes people happy. I've had some downs and a couple unhappy customers, but I believe that's what makes your business grow and be better. I hope to be able to provide great photography to many, many more people in many years to come!

I could add so much more less important things to the list...food, a home, clothes, air conditioning, a toilet, shoes, the ability to work for myself, clean water to drink, $5 hot-and-ready pizzas, a blow-dryer, Starbucks Iced Chai Lattes, a working car, good-smelling candles...big or small, I'm thankful for it all!

Hey...I'm a poet and didn't even know it! :)

But, for serious, I am very thankful for this life God has given me. I am blessed beyond belief, and I hope that all of my friends and family know that I love them and am thankful for what they bring to my life. I hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Christmas Mini-Sessions!

2011-11-14T00:21:00.001-06:00

It's that time of year again! Christmastime! I LOVE Christmas...the smells, the food, the Reason why we celebrate. :) The decor, the music, all of it!

This year, I'm offering Christmas mini-sessions, much like the Pumpkin minis (which you can see more of here). Sessions will be $40 for a short, 15-minute session. Sessions may be longer, depending on number of children. It includes a CD of approximately 10-15 photos. The sessions will take place at a location in Cleveland, and they're only going on between November 28th and December 20th, weekday and weekend appointments available.

Now, onto the fun stuff!

Here are few sneak peek shots of the set-up (a few pieces of it will change, but this gives you an idea, if you're planning outfits)...

These two outfits are from Dottie Daisy (thedottiedaisy@yahoo.com) and can be personalized with your child's name! So adorable!

And this next one is a definite MUST-HAVE! It's made by Funky2Fab.

If you have a little girl, PLEASE order this and bring her to me! It is just TOO cute!

These photos also give you an idea for Christmas cards, which I can design for you!

Make sure to book your session ASAP! They're booking weeks in advance!
To schedule, call me at 281-659-5226, message me on Facebook, or email me at victoria(at)shuttershotsphoto(dot)com.

Overstreet Wedding: Destination Weddings, Wedding Photography in Playa Del Carmen

2011-09-06T17:13:00.000-05:00

I had the wonderful opportunity to shoot a wedding for Haley and Rudy in Playa Del Carmen over the summer. It was a beautiful wedding filled with friends and family. The colors were gorgeous. The weather was great. Overall, a fabulous way to celebrate their love for each other!

Here are some photos from their day!

It was such a great weekend...beautiful weather, good food, and lots of fun!

Congrats Haley and Rudy!

Go Shorty, It's Your Birthday!

2011-09-06T17:10:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow is my birthday! I'm one of those people who actually likes celebrating my birthday. I usually have a week-long celebration...including dinner with family/friends, a fun activity or party, and whatever else I can squeeze in.

I started the week off with an 80s skate party with close family and just a few friends. We had a blast!

My fabulous banana pudding cake from Exquisitely Good Cakes in Cleveland...aka Joanna, Josh's sister-in-law :)

Me and my sister

Joanne and I

Me and my boo

Davis and Amy

Me and my mom

Just being silly. :)

All the ladies of the eighties!

I had such a fun time and was glad everyone could come and show their 80s spirit.

Hello again!

2011-08-08T14:53:00.000-05:00

It's been a long time. This summer has been crazy/busy! I've been "redefining fun," as my good friend would say. I've had so much fun this summer, doing things I've never done before, going places I've never been, just living life! And if that means I don't update the blog as much, I'm okay with that! :)

But, now...I will recap some recent shoots!

I shot Haley and Rudy's engagement photos back in May..wow, that seems like a long time ago! They got married in Playa Del Carmen a couple of weeks ago, and yours truly had the amazing opportunity to shoot their wedding. I'll be back as soon as I'm done editing those to show you how gorgeous it was! Here are some of their engagement pictures..

I also met up with Lola and Nathan to shoot some maternity pictures. Sweet baby Bella has since been welcomed into this world and we'll be doing some newborn photos soon!

Father's Day Mini-Sessions

2011-06-15T14:31:00.000-05:00

Father's Day is right around the corner...like, for reals. Schedule your mini-session today!! Only $50 for some great photos to give Pops. He'll love them, for sure.

Offer ends June 30th.

Here's one from a recent shoot!

Kenny and Kathy: Tomball Wedding Photography

2011-05-22T23:25:00.001-05:00

I haven't blogged in over a month! I am so ashamed. Hopefully this means that I've been busy...which I have, so I guess that's good! I'll be catching up soon enough. I've got lots of shoots to post, so stay tuned!

Recently, I had the honor of photographing the wedding of Kathy and Kenny. They actually had me booked for over a year, I think, so the big day was a lot of work in the making, and it turned out great! The day was filled with lots of love and was so much fun! I had a second shooter on this occasion, which was nice, for a lot of reasons...thanks Derek!

Here are some shots from the day..

More Bluebonnets!

2011-04-18T22:12:00.001-05:00

Well, as of right now, the bluebonnets are over! I'm really sad, but I can now look forward to some really great sessions next Spring!

Here are some more from recent shoots! Enjoy!

(P.S. If they seem blurry, click on the photo to view the real thing, baby!)

Bunnies and Bluebonnets: Cleveland Children Photography

2011-04-10T23:20:00.000-05:00

I have had so much fun doing Bluebonnet shoots! The bunnies were also fun, but I really love those little blue flowers :)

I am still doing Bluebonnet shoots here in Cleveland (or if needed, Montgomery area). A 30-minute session is $50!! Email me or facebook me for details or to schedule.

Welcome Baby Zoe!!

2011-04-04T17:00:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of doing a shoot for some great friends, Lauren and John David. They, at the time, were expecting their first sweet baby girl, Zoe. Well, Zoe made her appearance early this morning! From the photos I've seen on facebook already, little miss Zoe is adorable!

Here are some shots from our sunny shoot :)

Congrats Lauren and John David! I'm so happy for y'all! Can't wait to meet your sweet baby girl!

Easter Bunny Mini-Sessions

2011-03-22T17:13:00.000-05:00

Possibly the cutest time of the year is here!

I will be doing Live Bunny sessions on Saturday the 26th and Saturday the 2nd.

Shoots will take place in Cleveland.

Sessions are $50 and include a high-res CD of all edited images along with print release.

Photos will be super duper adorable. :)

Message me on facebook or email me at victoria@shuttershotsphoto.com.

You can also call or text me at 281.659.5226!

Schedule your session soon! They're booking quickly!

Happy Tuesday!

2011-03-22T13:29:00.001-05:00

Hi! Just wanted to check in and let you all know that I am still here. I have a bunch of shoots to edit this week and a lot to plan for mini-sessions coming up! Busy, busy.

For now, I will leave you with just a few photos from shoots I've done in the last week or so.. Enjoy and have a great week!!

Abby: Cleveland Children's Photography

2011-03-16T21:54:00.000-05:00

This little girl is definitely a cutie, so prepare yourself! She came to visit me a few weeks ago with her mom and grandmother. She is so adorable and full of personality. And, her hair...perfect ringlets. So cute!

Here are some from our shoot!

I loved Abby's shoot! Can't wait to see her again!

And....Bluebonnet Shoots are around the corner! I'm still deciding on dates, times, and locations, so check back for more info soon! Also, Easter Bunny shoots are coming up, too! I hope to have both of those planned within the next week!

Karissa: Children's Birthday Photography, Cleveland

2011-03-10T21:52:00.001-06:00

A couple of weeks ago, I had a two-day shoot for an adorable little girl named Karissa. Well, it wasn't originally supposed to be a two-day shoot, but the first day wasn't a very happy one for little Miss. Mom and I tried to get some cute pictures of her, but she hadn't had a nap that day, so I told Mom that she could come back the next day. This was okay with me because they live down the street. :) No big deal.

Well, I'm glad they came back because we were able to get much better pictures when she was happy! Mom definitely loves anything pink and zebra! It made for some great photos! These photos were taken to celebrate her 1st birthday!

Here are a few from our shoot!

Lucky and Meg: Engagement Session

2011-02-23T14:02:00.001-06:00

Growing up in a small town is definitely an experience. You know everyone. Everybody knows you. When I was younger, I would go down the street to a daycare to play. I don't know why I did. I went to the library a lot to read and watch ballet practice. I would go to the elementary school playground all the time. I would even walk to the grocery store or the movies by myself. (Now that I think about it, that's pretty frightening). But I loved going to the daycare...maybe because I didn't really have friends close-by that I could play with. Ms. Becky was the owner and she was the nicest women ever. She was genuine and very caring. And she had two sons, one of them being Lucky. Lucky was a few years older than me, but we were friends in school. Recently, through the power of facebook, I found out he was engaged to Meg. They asked me to do their engagement pictures, and of course, I said yes. They'll get hitched next year and I'm sure it will be a very fun wedding!

Lucky and Meg are perfect for each other. They met in college and seem to have the same outlook on life. They both studied agriculture in school, and Lucky's family has a ranch. This gave us the perfect location for their engagement photos.

Even though the day started out with a real eye-opener to ranch life, and the sun was pretty bright, we were still able to get some great shots of the two of them.

I love this one of Meg. Beautiful! Inside and out.

And, finally, this one is very typical "Lucky." Always funny.

Lucky and Meg, I had so much fun with you two. I can't wait to hang out again, and I wish you both the absolute best in your new life together!

Boudoir Photography: Cleveland, Kingwood, The Woodlands, Conroe, Houston, Humble

2011-02-19T17:33:00.001-06:00

I updated my website to showcase boudoir shoots! Yay!

Go to my website, click on "boudoir," type in "secret" as the password, and BAM!

I love boudoir shoots...they are flirty, classy, and fun for women of ALL shapes and sizes. Believe me! They sometimes involve nudity (classy nudity), but mostly lingerie. The photos are the perfect gift for that special man in your life, or even for yourself!

If you have any other questions, please feel free to call or email me!

Ashlyn and Cody: Love Session

2011-02-18T20:05:00.000-06:00

Recently, I photographed a really adorable couple. I met Ashlyn through her stepmom, a member of the playgroup I'm a part of...as a photographer. She's a senior this year and wanted to do a Valentine's Day mini-session with her boyfriend. They are really sweet together, and we had a lot of fun on this shoot!

Thanks Ashlyn and Cody! :)

Zachary: 2011 New Caney High School Senior

2011-01-28T12:01:00.001-06:00

I had the opportunity to shoot a 2011 Senior a couple of weeks ago. I also shot his family. :)

With my camera, of course.

Lisa and I had been trying to get together for a while, and we were finally able to! She brought along her other son so we could snap some family photos, too. As soon as she introduced me to three Richards (two out of three were actually Richards), I knew we would have a blast. The whole family was hilarious and so much fun! Zachary's girlfriend also tagged along, so we got some cute pictures of the two of them, too!

Here are some photos...and if you know of someone graduating this year (high school or college), send them my way!

And a few family shots...

Thanks for looking! Have a great weekend!

Shutter Tips

2011-01-20T00:23:00.000-06:00

I have had so many friends get new cameras recently, so I decided to start posting some basic tips and tricks on here. If I can help one person take better photos of day-to-day activities, I'll consider it a success. I'm not going to immediately advocate switching to manual mode (because it's a little overwhelming and scary for first-timers), but I just want to focus on better picture-taking. Even if you don't have a fancy camera. Some of these tips could be useful if you primarily use your cell phone camera! If you have any suggestions on what you want to read, let me know!

1. Get on their level - Whether it's an animal or a person, try to get level with them. This works especially well with kids and animals. Squat down on the floor or even get on your stomach. Believe me, you'll have much better photos.

2. Get close to the window - I see sooooo many dark photos on facebook. If you're taking a photo of your child and his/her school project, have him/her face an open window (this is assuming it's daytime). The natural sunlight will light up their face and you'll have a great picture! Worse case scenario: Turn on the lights..you may have a slight yellow glow, but if you have a simple editing program (or if you're lucky, photoshop), that can be easily fixed.

3. Prepare a little - Before you snap away, think of the final image you want. Maybe you want to take a picture of your daughter going to prom. Do you want the background of the photo to be your garage full of junk? Probably not. A brick wall never fails. Or go to your backyard and have her stand in front of a bunch of trees.

Some of these tips may be no-brainers, but like I said, from what I've seen on facebook lately, some of these tips could be put to good use!

On another note, here's a picture of Red, who I've missed so much lately. He lives with my ex, but I think about him ALL the time (Red, not my ex). He was the BEST dog ever. Still is, probably.

Now, go think outside the little green box. :)

Valentine's Day Mini-Sessions!

2011-01-14T18:25:00.000-06:00

I'm offering $50 V-Day Mini-Sessions just for you!

It will include a 30-minute mini-session and 10-20 edited photos on a CD. Call today!!

3 Cookies!

2011-01-12T22:41:00.000-06:00

Quick update: Dad came home today! He is busy resting and resting. And resting. He is doing good. Please keep him in your prayers as he recovers from his 10-day hospital stay, and as he stops smoking. Again. Hopefully for good, this time!

I was really excited about doing this little shoot for some good friends over the holidays. They contacted me about having their photos done to give to their parents for Christmas, so we met up one day and had a quick session. It was fun and we got some great shots of the three siblings! They're all nicknamed "Cookie"...I went to school with the oldest, and my nephew and the youngest (the girl) grew up together pretty much...so we go wayyy back! :)

I'm pretty sure the guys hated this next one...haha!

Hope Mom loved the pictures!

If you need some updated family photos, give me a call..or shoot me an email! :)

Victoria: Spring Quinceanera

2010-12-08T10:00:00.000-06:00

I photographed Victoria's sister's Quinceanera a couple of years ago. Victoria is gorgeous. Wait, let me clarify. All of the girls in their family are gorgeous. Perfect skin. Luscious hair. Gorgeous. Here are some shots a few days before the party. Isn't she, um, gorgeous? :)

Loretta: The Woodlands Headshots

2010-12-07T13:30:00.000-06:00

I received a phone call one day to shoot Loretta's headshots for a business endeavor that she was beginning. When she said, "..and after the shoot, we can eat," I was hooked. She brought a spinach dish and we ate. It was lovely. And, it was sooooo delicious.

Janet and Dominic: Cleveland Family Shoot

2010-12-06T17:21:00.001-06:00

This is the blog post in which I begin to start my catch-up period. :)

I did a mini-shoot for some great friends of mine back in September, I believe. Janet and I have been friends for a long time! She recently moved into a new house and definitely needed some updated photos of the two of them for her new walls. :)

Telling it like it is...

2010-12-03T00:52:00.000-06:00

Ok, here's the truth.

I suck at blogging. Plain and simple. Suck. I just counted how many sessions I need to blog. The total is 18. Eighteen. 2 less than 20. 3 more than 15. 17 more than 1. Get the point?

So, instead of buying all (3) of you who read my blog a present (wait, this might be a bad idea...I could spend a little money buying only 3 people a present or I could spend the next 18 days slaving my life away), I plan on posting at least one post a day until I leave (not really) for Christmas vacation. By "leave," I mean "sit at home and eat Mom's Apple Cake and drink apple cider."

This does benefit me though because I get to go sit at Starbucks (where I borrow lovely, fast wifi) and sip on Peppermint Hot Chocolates all day. The smell of coffee (which I don't drink) and good tunes in my earbuds are all I need. I plan on starting tomorrow. Have faith. Encourage me. Send me presents. The end.

Here's a little of what you might see... (I said "might")

Oh, and if you're still reading this, and you live in the Houston area, please tune in to Channel 11 tomorrow (Friday) morning at 9am on Great Day Houston. My friend is playing drums in the featured band. I will be there. In the audience. Maybe they'll do a mini Oprah's Favorite Things show. One can dream.

Thankful: Belated

2010-11-26T11:52:00.000-06:00

I apologize for being absent for SUCH a long time! Let's just say I am thankful for being so busy that I can't blog as often! I will catch up very soon, promise. I hope everyone stuffed their faces with turkey and realized how much they are thankful for!

I leave you with a peek at a recent shoot I did for some good friends of mine...a mini-Christmas session!

Smith Family: Chain O'Lakes

2010-10-22T11:41:00.000-05:00

I recently had the pleasure of photographing the family of a very good friend from my teenage days, Amy. She and Craig have a beautiful little family now, and we met up one day to capture all of their loveliness. :)

Pearce Family

2010-10-21T11:29:00.002-05:00

Every year, for as long as I can remember, we've had a Rushing Family Reunion. It lasts Friday through Sunday, and it's normally in Nacogdoches at Camp Powers. It's nice to catch up with aunts/uncles, cousins, even friends of family. This year, my cousins asked if I would take some family pictures for them while we were there. Um, yes please!

Here are a few from that mini-shoot :)

Welcome Baby Maxwell :)

2010-10-20T11:28:00.001-05:00

Joyelle is one of my very good friends. She pretty much taught me everything I know about my camera, lighting, etc. We've been friends for almost 3 years, and I've been there to witness both of her babies being born (well, one, I did not see...the other one, I was front and center..ha!). I was thrilled when she asked if I would photograph the birth of Maxwell..at her home...at 2 in the morning. :) It was amazing. No drugs or anything! She's a trooper!

A few days later, I went and shot these photos.

Jacey: Conroe Kid Shoot :)

2010-10-19T22:51:00.003-05:00

I just realized that I haven't blogged in over a month! Shame on me! I will punish myself by eating lots of cookies tomorrow. :)

So, let me try to catch up. I am about to auto-post some bloggies for the next few days.

This is Jacey. She is uber-adorable. I seriously did not have to tell or show her how to pose. At all. She did it all on her own. She's amazing. And so freakin' cute.

Also, an update on Bruno (since Jacey's dad watched him the day of our shoot)...he is no longer living with us. My mom had a great customer who has land and other dogs, so Bruno went to live with him. I also got really busy with shoots and stuff after getting Bruno, so my parents were having to watch him. They, of course, fell in love with him (even though they wouldn't admit it), but I couldn't stand not being able to fully care for him. One day I will make another dog very happy...just not right now.

24 years ago....

2010-09-07T12:27:00.000-05:00

I was born, weighing in at 8 lbs 12 oz, at 8:06 pm.

This is obviously not when I was a baby, but it's the only "kid" picture I have on my computer right now. :)

This Labor Day weekend was filled with all kinds of birthday fun!

Friday, I partied backstage and front row with Clay Walker. (more on that later)

Saturday, I caught up on sleep, then had dinner with family and friends at Chuy's, and went dancing at a country bar afterward, which was a lot of fun, and included a karaoke sing-along of "Baby Got Back."

Sunday, my mom, sister, and I went to the beach. It was a beautiful day Sunday, but when we woke up Monday, it was raining. :( So we came home.

All in all though, it was a great weekend! I will recap more in detail later...right now, I'm going to go treat myself to a movie. :)

New Baby! :)

2010-08-29T15:45:00.001-05:00

Fur baby, that is.

Yesterday, I was on my way to a shoot and had some time to spare. I was going to go to Old Navy and some other stores, but I happened to notice that Petsmart was having their weekly adoption. I went in "just to look." I ended up leaving with this adorableness.

As much as I looked at the other dogs (there were a bunch!), I kept coming back to him. He just had the sweetest face and was the perfect size for my apartment once I move in. Let me back up...I asked the lady what he was, and she said he was some kind of Lab mix and that he was 10-11 months old, so he wouldn't be getting any bigger. From the look of his paws, which aren't big, he probably won't get any bigger. Basically, he looks like a miniature version of Sancho or Red (my previous Rhodesian Ridgeback and RR mix).

So I had to have him! He was $75, which included his neutering (will be done this week). The fees range from $25 to $75, so either way, you'll spend less than $100 on the animal. Of course, all the other goodies (kennel, collar, leash, dog bowl, food, etc.) aren't THAT expensive.

He was very excited about me being his mom. He told me on the way home. :) Oh, and he did go to my shoot with me...the very sweet husband watched him while I worked. So nice!

I asked my customer yesterday if she could snap a picture of us on our first day together. She did, of course, because she was nice like her husband. :)

I named him Bruno. I'm not sure why, but I do know that "I wanna be a billionaire" was playing on our way home, and I'm pretty sure I could hear him singing it. :)

He came with me to a friend's house last night and was very calm around all of the people. He slept under the table most of the night and didn't go potty at all in her house. I'm very proud of him! Hopefully he'll be a good boy for all of our days to come! :)

If you get the chance to adopt, do it! Save a life! And from previous experience, shelter dogs (or cats, I'm sure) are the BEST pets. I'm sure they are thankful that you've given them a great home :)

Justin and Lindsay: Cleveland Wedding

2010-08-26T00:35:00.000-05:00

I grew up in a small town. Everyone knows everyone. The only cool thing to do is go to Walmart at midnight. The movie theater shows one movie all week. The movie theater is RIGHT next to the railroad track, so when you're watching said movie, and a train goes by, it's loud. The floors are sticky, but the popcorn is delicious. Anyway...where was I going with this? I think I need to go to the movies and eat popcorn. Right now! :)

Growing up in a small town has some good points...like being able to shoot the weddings of people you pretty much grew up with. And also, knowing everyone at the wedding is always fun too! Not as nerve-wracking...or actually, it's worse. Luckily, I was blessed with some great clients...Lindsay and Justin. They are so good together, and they both love the Lord. Their wedding was filled with loved ones and great food! My favorite!

Some photos from their big day...

Haley (Lindsay's sister) doing her makeup...I love this shot!

Lindsay and Justin did a foot-washing ceremony (I don't know the technical term for that...) which I thought was so sweet and an awesome way to remind everyone of God's love!

So happy!! The Mr. And Mrs. :)

They had everyone blow bubbles during their grand entrance into the reception...which made for some great pictures! I suggest it to anyone getting married!

Dancing is also fun :)

I totally made them do this...I knew it would be one of my favorite pictures from this day!

Lindsay and Justin: I wish you many, many years of happiness! Thank you so much for choosing me to be your photographer...it seriously means so much! :)

Stacy and David: Family/Maternity

2010-08-26T00:08:00.000-05:00

Just when I thought I was caught up, I checked my external hard drive, and BAM! A few shoots that never made it onto the blog. Sorry!! :(

A few months ago, I photographed Stacy and David. A friend of mine (www.dottiedaisy.com) was throwing Stacy's baby shower and, of course, we needed some great maternity pictures to show off! So, they came all the way from Dallas to see me! Here are just a few of what we took that day.

We used this photo on the front of her shower invitation.

We had so much fun at the shoot and got some really great pictures! If you're expecting, one suggestion....HAVE MATERNITY PICTURES DONE! You won't regret it :)

Lauren and Beau: The Woodlands Wedding

2010-08-08T17:13:00.001-05:00

Lauren and Beau's wedding was so gorgeous. The chapel (The Woodlands Methodist Church) was seriously so beautiful that they didn't even need decorations. The entire right side was windows, so their evening wedding was lit by the sunset. Amazing.

See how gorgeous??

Speaking of gorgeous...

A little "first dance" love...

Lauren and Beau: Thank you for letting me photograph your wedding. It was beautiful..loving..fun. I wish the very best for your future together!

Zak and Jessica: Tomball Wedding

2010-08-07T16:01:00.000-05:00

A couple of months ago, I photographed a beautiful ceremony at Ella's Garden in Tomball. This wedding was actually a referral from my photographer friend, Mindy. It's always refreshing to get a referral from another photographer :) The ceremony was gorgeous, despite the extreme Texas heat. We were all sweating pretty horribly, but it was still fun nevertheless!

Jessica's gorgeous gown..

MOB and MOG putting on Jessica's shoes :)

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this!

Gotta love bubbles AND rose petals :)

Jessica and Zak: Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your HOT, but beautiful wedding day. Good luck in your new life together!

Jillienne and TJ: Conroe Wedding

2010-07-23T19:30:00.000-05:00

Recently, I photographed a fun, little wedding in Conroe for Jillienne and TJ. Small weddings are so cool because they're so intimate and laid-back. The ceremony was held at the church, and the reception was held at Hyden's Restaurant. It was fun, and once again, I loved Jillienne's dress!

I especially loved the photos that we took outside the restaurant. It was a little rainy that day and so green, foliage-wise, so it felt like we were in a rainforest. Minus the monkeys. :)

One last one..

Jillienne and TJ: Good luck on your marriage and I wish you the very best in your new life together!

Jillienne and TJ: Conroe Engagement

2010-07-22T17:03:00.000-05:00

I did this engagement session a few months ago, but I'm still riding the catch-up train, so I'm just now blogging it! Jillienne, I'm sorry it took so long to blog, but here it is!

And soon you'll get to see Jillienne and TJ's wedding, too! :)

This is one of my favorite engagement sessions, and I think it has a lot to do with Jillienne's dress! It's so cute!

One of my favorites from the shoot..

They are so cute together!

And, I love the feel of this one :) It makes me happy.

I will be blogging their wedding in the next couple of days, so be on the lookout!

2010 Seniors: Cleveland and Tarkington

2010-07-19T23:00:00.000-05:00

I had the privilege of shooting a bunch of seniors this year. But, you know, not in THAT way. :)

I'll share a couple of each with you now! How about that?

Alyssa

Aracely

Josh

Lilliana

Freddy

and, last but not least, another Josh. :)

Thanks to all the seniors who hired me to shoot them this year. It was my pleasure. Good luck to all of you this fall when you go to college..I wish the very best for each and every one of you!

Christiana: Houston Bridals

2010-07-19T13:14:00.000-05:00

You may remember Christiana and Andy's engagement pictures. Well, the next week we shot Christiana's bridal photos. They were fabulous. She looked amazing. Her mom and sister were so helpful when it came to posing and touch-ups.

Here are a few of what we got that day...

This is my favorite!

I absolutely LOVED Christiana's dress. Mainly because it had pockets. Because, you know, you might need your cell phone during the ceremony :)

Brad and Jordan: Lake Conroe Wedding

2010-07-19T12:56:00.001-05:00

(Thanks for all the prayers for my dad. He's doing much better and hasn't smoked in over a week!)

Ok, so it seems I'm a tad bit behind on blogging. Oops!

I offered to help my photographer friend, Joyelle, out on this wedding because she was pregnant, and I knew she would be exhausted at the end of the day. We ended up with a lot of the same photos, but the day was so much fun!

This wedding was all about the details. I loved every second of it. The ceremony was beautiful. The reception was a blast. There was a lot of love, laughter, and dancing.

Brad and Jordan: I wish you the very best in your new little family :) Thank you for the referrals thus far! Referrals are truly the best compliment!

I'll leave you with photos from the big day. I will blog the reception tomorrow.
Sorry this took so long!

P.S. Brad made a lot of the awesome details for the wedding (as in invites, the LOVE sign, the paper flags that were waved as they exited)...with his own hands. He's so creative.

I definitely want Brad and Jordan to plan my wedding...if that day ever comes. They are both so creative and fabulous. Amen.

Prayers for my dad, please...

2010-07-09T16:57:00.000-05:00

Please keep my dad in your prayers this weekend. Yesterday he was having trouble breathing so he went to the emergency room by way of ambulance. (Which has never happened to anyone in my family..but I'm sure it's scary every single time it happens)

He was here in Cleveland until about 6:00pm, and they transferred him to the VA. He stayed overnight last night and his breathing has improved a lot. They want him to stay another night just to monitor him more and make sure he's breathing good enough on his own before they release him. Yesterday was very scary for all of us. Like I said, we're not used to having family in the hospital, so it was hard on all of us. Please pray for him right now.

The Jeffcoats: Willis Wedding

2010-06-08T09:00:00.000-05:00

I just realized that I never blogged this wedding! Shame on me!

Did I mention I LOVE referrals?? Well, I do. For real. This wedding was a referral, and I love those.

Craig and Lisa are a great couple who have an amazing love for each other. The wedding was filled with love from family and friends. The reception had the BEST food that was prepared by Craig's parents. How amazing is that? I'm still thinking about the homemade cole slaw. Yum!

Craig and Lisa were joined onstage by her son (left) and his son (right). It was a beautiful ceremony.

Um, how cute is he??

Lisa and Craig: I hope you have a wonderful life together. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your special day!

Sarah: Conroe/Montgomery Bridal Shoot

2010-06-07T15:11:00.000-05:00

This past weekend, I had the honor of photographing the wedding of a friend/ex-coworker, Sarah. The wedding was at a gorgeous location, and it was filled with so much love. To view Sarah and Langston's Engagement shoot, please click here. She wanted her bridal session to have the same vintage/country feel, and I think we succeeded. Here are some shots from her bridal session:

Isn't she just gorgeous?

This is my absolute favorite!

Congrats to Sarah and Langston and I wish them the very, very best in their new life together!

Christiana and Andy: Houston Engagement Session

2010-05-25T15:34:00.000-05:00

I get so excited when people I went to school with call me to do a shoot. Christiana contacted me about doing her wedding, and, of course, I said yes! They chose to do their engagement session at Andy's aunt's beautiful house. It was so much fun, and afterward, Christiana and I stuck our feet in the cold pool and chatted. A beautiful day!

Oh, and did I mention, the wedding is this weekend! I'm sure it will be amazing.

We even snuck in some fun, miniature golf pictures!

And a game of pool. :)

Christiana and Andy: Thank you so much for choosing me to capture your love for each other. You two are an awesome couple and I can tell that you will make each other happy for the rest of your lives. Congratulations!

Must Love English Bulldogs - Atascocita Family Session

2010-04-27T15:37:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I received a Facebook message from a friend. It was about someone looking for a photographer for that afternoon. The family wanted some pictures of their dog and kids. They were giving the dog to an adoption agency and wanted to capture the love between their son and the dog. The dog had been a birthday present for "V" and they were very close. It was such a sweet session and I'm glad I was available to help out!

Here are some shots from that beautiful day:

Look at this adorable face!

And this one, too!

Ashley - Cleveland High School Senior

2010-04-10T12:34:00.000-05:00

During Spring Break, I had a couple of SEN10R shoots, including Ashley. She is a Senior at Cleveland High School and the owner of a brand new Camaro! Of course, we included her new baby in some pictures...

Doesn't she have beautiful eyes??

Her baby!

Ashley and her mom..you can tell they're very close which is so sweet :)

Ashley - Good luck in whatever you decide to do after high school!

If you are a SEN10R waiting until the very last minute to do your Senior Pictures, call me! It's not too late, but sessions are booking very quickly, so book yours now!! :)

Sarah + Langston - Conroe Engagement

2010-03-23T23:44:00.000-05:00

As I said, I'm trying to catch up, so please excuse the fact that these shoots may or may not be out of order!

Recently, I shot Sarah and Langston. Like, shot them. In the head. :)

I worked with Sarah in a previous life and always secretly knew that she and "Landon" would tie the knot. Their wedding is in June, and I can't wait to see how fabulous it will be. I had so much fun shooting their engagement session..even with the tumored-dog. :(

One of my faves...

Work it, girl!

Another favorite!

Super love this one!

I'm doing Sarah's bridal portraits in just a couple of weeks! I can't wait..I know she's going to be gorgeous!

Thanks for looking! And leave a comment, please!

Tara and Dwayne - Cleveland, TX Wedding

2010-03-21T23:43:00.001-05:00

Sorry for the lack of posts...I'm updating my website, www.shuttershotsphoto.com, so I've been neglecting my blog for a little while. I apologize, but in exchange you get a fancy new website! Check it out!

Recently I photographed a wedding in the big city of Cleveland, TX. I was actually very excited about it because, not only was it a wedding of an old friend, it was also at a new venue, which happened to be awesome!

I used to work with Tara at a small community bank in the "big city," and pretty soon, she and Dwayne are expecting a little bundle of joy! Congrats times two to them!

Here are some shots from the big day:

The beautiful dress

I've always thought Tara was so beautiful!

The new Mr. and Mrs. McDonald

The whole gang..just lovely!

Tara and her girls :)

You didn't think I'd forget the cake, did you?!?

First dance

Tara and Dwayne, I had so much fun at your wedding and can't wait to see that beautiful baby girl! Good luck in your life together! :)

John and Kelly: Houston Engagement

2010-01-27T20:50:00.000-06:00

I met John and Kelly in The Woodlands a couple of weeks ago and we had a fun time shooting some engagement pictures. They are getting married this summer in Las Vegas on a mountain-cliff...how romantic?!? This couple is so sweet together and they make such a lovely pair!

Kelly - My invitation is still open for the Vegas road trip! :)

It was a GREAT day for pictures!

Isn't Kelly beautiful?

Sweet, right?

I could definitely tell that they truly made each other happy.

I love the color in this one.

I hope everyone has a great rest of the week!

Meghan + Jason = Love

2010-01-22T22:05:00.004-06:00

Meghan and Jason got married in St. Lucia. Yeah, I know..amazing.

They had their reception here though and it was beautiful! Their family and friends were there to help celebrate their new life together. And I was there to eat. Well, that and take pictures! But the food was good, too.

Speaking of food, here's the cake. Doesn't it look delicious?

Introducing the new Mr. and Mrs.!

I love this picture for some reason..it's the dress, probably...and the fact that Meghan looked amazing!

They are so sweet together.

Some bubbly! And I'm really into this vintage look right now. Especially with bubbly. :)

My favorite part...the cake! Isn't is beautiful?

Three gorgeous sisters!

First dance. So sweet.

I LOVE this! I think it looks like a fairy tale.

Off to start their journey together!

Adios! (Aren't they the cutest couple?? They're going to have beautiful children!)

Meghan and Jason - I wish you both the very best in your new life together! Thank you for letting me eat your reception food and experience this happiness with you! :)

Kim - Bridals, Austin, TX

2009-07-14T19:43:00.007-05:00

Recently I visited Austin to shoot a friend of mine. Not with a gun or anything. :) I grew up with Kim's brother. Actually, I grew up with all of them, but he was one of my best friends in the whole world. Like BFFs, fa show. Now Kim is getting married and she asked me to do her bridal pictures, so of course, I was game.

Her dress is beautiful and completely fits how I envisioned her dress to look.

I also love her ring because it's unique.

Beautiful!

One of my favorites

I wish Kim and Mark the very best in their life together. I've never met Mark, but I'm 100% sure he's an awesome man. I can't wait to see pictures from their fabulous wedding! :)

Tomorrow I will be packing for our quicky trip to Galveston. I am looking forward to having my toes in the sand and umbrella in my drink. :) Hope everyone has a great week!

Carol and Helmut - Conroe Wedding

2009-07-01T18:05:00.004-05:00

While I was photographing a wedding during Memorial Day weekend, a few towns over, Carol and Helmut decided to begin their married life together. They decided to get hitched and gave themselves only a few weeks to plan the small wedding! I was only there for the ceremony, which took place on June 13th in Conroe, as they had decided to have a reception at their home for their small group of family and friends. Their family was very inviting and so nice to be around. Here is a snippet of their day:

Carol's daughter arranged this minutes before the ceremony...great, huh?

Carol and her florist/daughter :)

Very meaningful ceremony..I even cried and this was the first time I met them!

The new couple!

Helmut is a chef and has his own company...check it out here. Give him some business, too! They are such sweet people and I hope they have a great life together!

Susan and Tony - Livingston Wedding

2009-07-01T17:34:00.007-05:00

This post is a little past due. Whoopsie! But, hey, better late than... :)

I shot Susan and Tony's wedding on May 23rd in Livingston. You may remember their engagement shoot or her bridal session. The wedding was filled with love from family and friends. I think everyone had such a great time and I loved the colors! Here are a few from their day...

Accessories - Susan made her own bouquet (gotta love DIY!) and her shoes are adorable!

Susan and her daughter, Lindsey

Such a sweet ceremony..

You know I love some cake! This is just one of the tiers..

I LOVE a bubbly exit!

I hear Susan and Tony had a fantastic honeymoon in Hawaii. I wish them the best of luck in their marriage!

Holly and Cory - Conroe Engagement Session

2009-06-14T17:32:00.007-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I had the chance to do an engagement session for Holly and Cory. They were willing to try a new location and I love how their pictures turned out. They are a super cute couple who love to have fun together. Their wedding is in a few months and I can't wait to capture their beautiful day!

They like to kiss...well, mainly because I kept telling them to. :)

Aren't they sweet?

Adorable!

Love this sign!

Love these colors!

This green bus was amazing!

Holly and Cory - I enjoyed our shoot and I hope you had fun, too!

Hope everyone is having a great summer!

Susan's Bridal Shoot

2009-05-26T14:41:00.008-05:00

I just shot Susan and Tony's wedding this past Saturday, which will be posted sometime next week, but here are a few of her bridal portraits that we did here in Conroe a few weeks ago.

I absolutely loved her dress!

The detail on it was amazing.

A close-up

Her favorite

By the way, it's ShutterShots Photography's 1-yr anniversary!! Happy anniversary to me! :)

Hope everyone had a safe Memorial Day weekend!

Hosanna in the Highest!

2009-05-08T16:10:00.005-05:00

One of my best friends growing up recently had herself an adorable baby girl. In honor of her first Mother's Day and one year anniversary, here are some pictures of the new bundle of sweet babyness.

Sweet baby love.

Baby toes

Baby fingers

Look how precious!

Baby yawns...I love 'em!

She's got beautiful eyes!

Family photo

I wanted to eat one of her cutesie toes, but she wouldn't let me! I guess mothers get certain privileges. :)

Em - I'm so happy for you and your new little family! I wish we would've had more time to catch up, but I'm glad I was able to squeeze in some pictures for you!

Adam - Cleveland Indians Senior '09

2009-04-21T23:00:00.005-05:00

This senior shoot was super fun because I was able to revisit a place where I spent a lot of my high school days...the CHS baseball field. :) Now, I didn't go to see the cute baseball players...I went to watch America's favorite pastime - baseball. Okay, I went to watch the cute baseball players, but isn't that normal?

Adam is the cousin of a very good friend of mine and he is such a cutie! He is all grown up now, and he's very sweet and funny...Did I mention he's cute?

Go Indians!

Love this one!

He looks adorable in purple!

Love this one, too!

He's got his game face on...

If a dog is involved, I'm all over it! Look how sweet!

He especially liked it when me and his mom made him take pictures in front of flowers, which is why I'm posting the black and white version of this pose. Just for you, Adam..so your friends don't make fun of you. :)

A sweet one of Adam and Mom.

A serious one...even though his smile is adorable and contagious.

Adam - I had so much fun with you and your Mom. You have grown to be such a great guy and I wish you all the best in the future. Good luck in college and call your Mom every day! :)

**Senior sessions are still available! Contact me to set up an appointment!**

Olivia - Willis Wildkat Senior '09

2009-04-21T22:17:00.006-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I did Olivia's Senior shoot. She is one of our neighbors and such a beautiful girl with a fun personality. We went to a few different spots around Conroe and had a lot of fun!

She had just gotten a haircut and looks great!

We found a new place to take some cool pictures...

Great smile!

This is one of my favorites! I think she looks like a model here.

Cutie!

Olivia - I had so much fun with you and I'm sorry you slipped and busted your knee open. You're such a trooper!

** Senior sessions are still open for all of you procrastinators!! Shoot me an email! **