Natali's Bridals

Natali and Kyle were married yesterday, so I can finally post her gorgeous bridal session photos! It was hard to choose just a few favorites. I just love all of these!

My Version of Therapy - A Personal Post

*This is not a normal post, though it does include pictures from a session. It as a personal post. Please continue on to view more pictures and posts by SPP.*

So these past week or so has been pretty hard. I am choosing to write this in a hotel room, in Seguin, while waiting to go to sleep.
I am in town to photograph a wedding tomorrow. Thankfully, I have my second shooter and my best friend, Kari Tilley with me.

I do not do personal posts that often on this blog, but I felt the need to do this one. With everything that's been going on, I did a therapy photography session. Let me explain...
Last week on December 19th, my grandparents were in a horrible accident. My Grandfather passed away. My Grandmother was life flighted to Herman Memorial in downtown Houston, TX. She had physical injuries, but she told me what hurt the most was her heart.
During her hospital time, I did two of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. Tell my Grandfather's sister that her brother had passed on. And cut up my Grandmother's food and feed it to her, without crying. (The without crying was the hard part).  I was so glad she was okay, but it pained me to see her in so much pain.
She use to make me breakfast when I was younger. Cinnamon toast. Cutting the bread from corner to corner.
She was released from the hospital that Friday. The day before my 25th birthday. I got super sick that night, but my husband still took me to a concert for my birthday. I had two great friends that came along.
Christmas seemed like a blur, from the sickness that didn't seem to go away, the lingering sadness and just an unreal feeling.
It didn't feel real. My Grandmother, who we call MommaMilly, said it perfectly, 'I feel like I am in a bad dream.'

The only thing I could think of to do was to distract myself. My cousin Hannah (who is more like a sister to me) came to stay at my house. We drank wine and at sherbet with sprinkles. A tradition of ours, dating back to our younger years (minus the wine). I asked her if she would let me photograph her the next day. To get my mind off things.
I decided to do a levitation session. She glad to be apart, though unsure what I was asking her to do - she trusted me. 
The session ended up being very therapeutic. We went to visit MommaMilly and outside her house, that evening, we began. When I returned home, I got straight to editing. I finally finished my two favorite photos from the session just tonight here at the hotel. Though there are a few others, I felt best to share these at the end of this post.


The funeral was on the 27th. And of course, it was wet and cold. My fever was still going strong. But I put on a hoodie, and armed myself with a box of tissues, powerade, cough drops and throat spray.
He didn't even look like himself. I held my youngest sister (age 11) as she cried. I tried to be strong, but cried along with her. 
He was in the Army and the Marines. So they had the firing of the guns and the trumpet playing. I had to close my eyes, and the tears felt so warm against my cold cheeks.
My Mother seemed so strong. I knew she was putting on her strong face. I tell her all the time, no matter what, I can always read her and tell how she was feeling. She was breaking.


I didn't stay long back at MommaMilly's house due to my fever. We didn't want to risk me spreading my sickness. But I told her I loved her and I would be back as soon as I could.
With two weddings scheduled this weekend, I know it will keep my mind preoccupied. But I felt the need to do this post to get my mind cleared. To continue the therapy for myself.

So here is two pictures from my levitation session with Hannah.  In remembrance of family, love and souls moving forward.

MommaMilly & PoppaBuddy

This past week was a really hard one. On Wednesday, while at work, I got a phone call from my sister. I could tell by her voice that something was wrong.
After she told me what had happened, I don't remember too much, except crying and my best friend, Kari, driving me home.
My Mother's parents had been in a car accident. And my Grandfather, who we call PoppaBuddy, had passed away. My Grandmother, who we call MommaMilly, was being life flighted to Herman Memorial in downtown in Houston.
Cody, Liv and I drove down to Houston and when I finally got to see MommaMilly my heart was more broken.
In my head I was so thankful that the weekend before, we had kept the tradition we have done for so many years, of helping them pick a Christmas tree out at the tree farm, and put it up. I was feeling sick that day, but I still went and took pictures.
We left a little earlier than we normally do, because I wasn't feeling well. I almost walked out the door without hugging PoppaBuddy, but I went back in and hugged him and told him I would see him soon.
That was the last time I saw him. I know I will see him again one day, and that things this holiday season and probably those to come will be different and hard. But at least our family has each other. And I got to hug him one last time.
I told MommaMilly she had all of us there. We all still have each other and everyone was in the emergency room. I'm sure we broke some sort of record of family members in the emergency room.
MommaMilly went home Friday night. She fractured her T2 and T9 vertebrae, her sternum, 2 ribs and a bone in her knee. She is in a body brace. And everyone is taking care of each other.
Hold your family close. Kiss them. Always hug them. You never know if it will be the last time. 

Here are a few pictures that I took on Saturday, December 15th. He was very happy he picked the tree this year!

 MommaMilly didn't want to get her hair wet, but wanted her hands free to look at the trees and take pictures (that's who I get it from!).

 He always got the ornaments ready for us to hang up...

This one is from 2008, but its always been one of my favorites...

Hunter - 2 Month Portraits

Hunter was the cutest baby! He was a great model, but we had to do this session in two parts, because modeling is lots of work...even for cute little babies! Here are a few of my favorites!

2012 - Engagement/Couple Sessions

As 2012 draws to an end, I have reached the final Engagement/Couple session that have been scheduled. I decided to go ahead and make a tradition of last years posts and create 'BEST OF - SPP in 2012' and this is the 'Engagement/Couple' session post!

It is a great honor and brings me lots of joy when I get asked to photograph people. And whether it is such a big time in their life - wedding preparation, announcements or just photos of them for their children to look back on, I just LOVE being apart of that. Getting to know them, see their love for each other, meeting their friends and family...its really the best job a girl could ask for!
I not only call a lot of these people my clients, but they are my friends. Thank you to each and EVERY one of you. You make this girl happy! :]

It has been a year of a few firsts with Engagement sessions - with unique themes, new locations and new ideas...but that's what I love meeting new people and being inspired! I cannot wait to see what 2013 has in store for SPP!