Category Archives: Photography

Client Spotlight – Ashley Cooley

Say Hello to Miss Ashley Cooley- Senior Model 2019

As a varsity cheerleader at Wakeland, Ashley’s favorite memories of high school have been cheering under the Friday night lights of Texas Football. She loves the themed student sections at football games!

Ashley also participates in Frisco ISD’s Health Science Program, where she gets to shadow nurses and doctors at local hospitals. She has been able to earn her CNA (Certified Nurses Assistant) license as a part of her training in the Health Science Program.

Ashley enjoys volunteering at local philanthropies, including Ronald McDonald House, Sunrise Senior Center, and Frisco Family Services as a member of the Frisco Chapter of the National Charity League ) a mother /daughter service and leadership organization).

As a former member of Wakeland Legacy Line Drill Team, and a member of the competitive dance team at Power House Dance- it goes without saying that this girl loves to dance! Her spare time is spent hanging out with friends, playing with her little dog Sophie, babysitting, or watching her favorite movie, “The Notebook.”

Ashley draws inspiration from her mom and sister, and finds encouragement and strength in Isaiah 41:10- Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Ashley is doing wonderful things in this world. She plans to attend Baylor or Clemson in the fall, and pursue a degree in nursing.

Congratulations Ashley!

Top 20 Graduation Songs

Celebration is in the air, and an essential element to every party is the PERFECT music. Graduation is a mix of a million emotions, and we’ve got a playlist of the 20 best graduation songs to carry you through each one of them. I’ve hand selected the perfect mix, including some old, some new, a little bit of pop, a sprinkle of country, a dash of rock, & of course some hip hop. Make a playlist out of these, and your Grad Party soundtrack is ready to go!

Vitamin C, “Graduation” (Friends Forever) : Doesn’t matter if you’re graduating this year, or if you graduated 20 years ago, this one tugs at the heart strings.
Queen, “We Are The Champions” : Come on, you knew this one was going to be close to the top of the list.
“My Wish” Rascal Flats : I’ve listened to this one about 1,000 times, and it still gets me!
“Firework” “Katy Perry : Gotta scream it from the top of your lungs!!
“The Adventure of a Lifetime” Coldplay: Good vibes all around with this one.
Miley Cyrus, “The Climb” :Sing it Miley! Oh, how we love Ms. Cyrus from her, “Hannah Montana” days.
Bill Withers, “Lean on Me” :If you are blessed, some of the people you walk across that graduation stage with, will still be walking next to you through your next milestones moments.
Boyz to Men, “End of the Road” : This one takes me straight back to being 18.
American Authors, “Best Day of My Life” : Try not to smile while this plays, IMPOSSIBLE!

10. Beyonce’, “I Was Here” : It wouldn’t be a party playlist without something from Queen B.! Gives me the chills every time.

The Rembrandts, “I’ll Be There For You” : It’s more than the, “Friends” theme song. It’s a super sweet graduation track!
Pharrell Williams, “Happy” : Why wouldn’t this be on every party playlist?
Lee Ann Womack, “I Hope You Dance” : If the mama’s of graduates don’t cry on this one, you may need to check their pulse.
Baz Luhrmann – “Everybody’s Free To Wear Sunscreen” : This one may be new to you, but it is a long time favorite of mine, and I think you’ll like it.
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth – “See You Again” Bittersweet melody, let it inspire you to be present with those you hold dear.

Andy Grammar, “Back Home” : Always remember your roots!
The Beatles – “With A Little Help From My Friends” LIVE : Gotta have some classics.
Nicki Minaj – “Moment 4 Life”: Dance break! Jam out to this one!
Kenny Chesney – “Don’t Blink” : Absorb the message here, and you will be a step ahead of the game.
Katy Perry- “Roar” Yeah, she has two songs on the list, it had to be that way.

Dear ones, enjoy this time in your life. I hope these songs resonate with you, and stir emotions that cause you to fully be present, and soak up every moment of this monumental time in your life. Congratulations!

GUYS Senior Portrait Prep

Tips and ideas for your session

CLOTHING: Wear what you love and be who you are! We want to capture your unique style and personality! Be sure to choose a variety of colors and styles. Vary the dress level: some dressy, some casual and some in between. Some shots are up close, others are full length. Plan outfits from head to toe down to your shoes. Don’t forget about the extras (hats, belts, watch, sunglasses, etc).

NOTE: Make sure your shirts are ironed. We can’t “photoshop” out wrinkles. Hang them on a hanger to bring to the session. This is the number one, most overlooked detail!

COMPLEXION: We retouch blemishes, so don’t worry about minor breakouts. Regarding scars and moles: we don’t remove anything permanent unless you request us to. Our goal is to create images that look natural. Just let us know your preference.

HAIR:Avoid changing your hairstyle or cutting your hair right before your session. Do it at least 6-10 days ahead of your photo session appointment.

GLASSES:Most prescription glasses glare. Some more than others. Consider checking with your optometrist because most can loan you an empty set of frames or pop out your lenses of your session. Of course, we want you to be able to see, so do what feels best.

BRING & WEAR THE THINGS THAT DEFINE YOU

WEAR WHAT YOU LOVE/ INCLUDE WHAT YOU DO

01: DRESSY

DRESS PANTS
BUTTON DOWN SHIRTS
JACKETS & VESTS
SUITS / TUX
TIES & BOW TIES
PEA COAT
BUTTON UP SWEATERS
DRESS SHOES

02: CASUAL

FAVORITE JEANS
CARGO PANTS
BOARD SHORTS
HENLEY AND TEES 
HOODIES
DENIM OR OTHER JACKET
SHORT SLEEVE SHIRTS
SWEATERS

03: EXTRAS

HATS
WATCHES
SUNGLASSES
FLIP FLOPS
VARIETY OF SHOES
BOOTS
BELTS
SCARVES
COAT/ JACKET
ANYTHING THAT'S YOU

04: YOU

BIKE
YOUR CAR / TRUCK
GUITAR
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT
DOG OR PET
SKIS / GOGGLES
HOBBY PROPS

05: SPORTS

SPORTS UNIFORM
EQUIPMENT
BASKETBALL
BAT / BALLS / MITT
FOOTBALL
LETTERMAN
HOCKEY STICK
JERSEY WITH JEANS
TENNIS GEAR
ANYTHING YOU LOVE

Keeping your LOVE Alive in Portraits

February is upon us, and love is in the air. Everywhere we turn we see hearts, flowers, and chocolates. But do we see our love documented in current portraits? Or do we have to reach back through the years to that engagement photo, or wedding album? Of course we cherish those memories of days when our love was young, but what about now?

Years of marriage and togetherness have deepened our love, given us a new definition of romance, and probably a very different idea of what, “Happily Every After,” truly looks like.

Celebrate your love, at every stage.

How to Prepare for an ENJOYABLE Family Portrait Session

People tend to get apprehensive, anxious, even panicked when they decide to schedule a family portrait session. Sadly, many people chose not to document their lives, and milestones, because of the stress they feel it will bring. This is a decision that they will undoubtedly regret, when the kids have grown, and the time has passed.

We are here to tell you that planning, preparing, and the entire portrait experience can actually be enjoyable, and a whole lot of fun. We’ve been in this industry for 25 years now, here are 5 simple tips to take family portraits from stressful to successful!

1. Keep it SIMPLE : Clothing should be simple, no bold patterns or bright colors. Medium tones, such as shades of gray, blue, or beige are great choices. You can add accessories, such as hats, scarves, jackets, or, necklaces to make the wardrobe more unique.

2. Consider your home Decor: Your family portrait is a piece of artwork that you will proudly display in your home. Clothing choices that compliment your style, and color palette are ideal. Will you be hanging this portrait in a room that is formal with ornate decorations? Or will this portrait lovingly adorn the walls of your intimate living room that is very casual? Answering these questions will help you decide how to dress for your portrait.

3. No Coaching: Refrain from trying to prepare the kids with specific instructions for the portrait session. Our experience has taught us that kids who received, ‘smile coaching’ from loving parents prior to the session, don’t do as well as those who just show up, and go with the flow.

4. Give Yourself TIME: Allow plenty of time to prepare on theday of the session. Unnecessary stress prior to the session affects the entire mood of the family, and in turn, the feel of the portrait.

5. Unplug: Leave cell phones and tablets in the car. Sessions are only one hour. It is a great time to connect, reflect, and be present with your family.

Family Portraits can be an exciting, and fun experience. Step back and consider how precious capturing this moment, forever in time, truly is. Choose to make it enjoyable for yourself, and your family. Set the intention when you book to fully enjoy the process of documenting your legacy. That’s a choice you certainly won’t regret.

Maternity Session

Had such a great time capturing these photos in a field near Frisco. So cool that this week I met the Miller’s newborn baby girl, Sanaa Elise, and did portraits of her. She joins big brother Cameron to complete the family. The Miller’s ordered a really cool framed collage of these images and it turned out AMAZING! Next we are going to do a gorgeous, custom album mixing some of the maternity and newborn photos. Can’t wait to see the finished products!

The Family Photographer

I have been doing this family’s photos for 20+ years. Baby photos, children’s photos, family photos, senior photos and anything in between. I am their FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER. Having a photographer document your life, your love, and your legacy is important. The images created for this family tell their story and have engrained memories for all. I know each family member’s personality and this helps me successfully create images they will treasure. Just as a family chooses other professionals like doctors, dentists, etc., a family photographer should be considered. This is the generation that takes lots of photos- and that is great, however documenting milestones and family portraits should be left to the professional so that the images will become a tangible part of their history. Otherwise precious memories will literally get lost in the “clouds.”

Family photo on location in Fairview

Frisco Photographer Photographs Kendall

We recently photographed Kendall for her senior photos. She was lots of fun and the results were stunning. She isn’t a “country” girl, so we decided to do part of the shoot near downtown Dallas. Kendall has a great smile but can pull off the more serious poses too. Her favorite activity in her spare time is watching Netflix. She has a chocolate lab named Cocoa Bean, a whippet named Jasper and a german shepherd named Charlie. Her favorite season is FALL and a place she would love to visit is Spain.

Business Photos

They say that a good headshot is the new handshake. Think about how much people nowadays are looking at photos….putting a fresh, friendly, professional face out in print and online is VITALLY IMPORTANT to business. What constitutes a great business photo? 1. It reflects your unique brand. 2. It is current – avoid using something that is over 5 years old. 3. It reflects who you are and what you do.. 4. It conveys Quality and Professionalism. 5. It establishes eye contact. Eye contact draws people in and engenders trust. Are you starting to see the importance of your headshot? How do you get a quality headshot? CALL A PROFESSIONAL! It is obvious when someone is using an unprofessional image with poor quality. I recall seeing an ad for a local insurance agent recently that read, “Unsure? Insure! The picture of the agent was completely awful with an expression that portrayed uncertainty. There is no way I would have called this agent for insurance when she looked absolutely unsure and unhappy.

Hallie

In the spotlight today is Plano West senior, Hallie. Hallie is a member of our model team. Her senior session was done in June before things really heated up.

Hallie’s Mom, Sondra, and I are from the same small Oklahoma town – Duncan, OK. I have done several kids from Duncan through the years and it is always a honor for me to get to work with people from my hometown.

Get to know Hallie –

Favorite thing to do in her spare time is SING. Her favorite musical artist is John Mayer. She loves the bible verse, “Come to me, all those who are weary, and I will give you rest. ” Matthew 11:28

What a great kid with a bright future and so photogenic! Here are just a few of the images from her session.

Innovative Images

Your Life, Your Love, Your Legacy