Amanda + Josh | 06.02.2012 | Houston Wedding Photographer

Amanda and I suffered through went to graduate school together from August 2009 to May of 2011. It was a grueling 2 years of hard studying and late nights, but we both made it through! I was so honored when Amanda called me and asked me to photograph her wedding. She asked me to do this before I had photographed any weddings, putting her full confidence in me to capture this very momentous day in her life. Amanda, thank you for trusting me to photograph your wedding. The experience was one that I will never forget, and one that will open so many more doors for my business in the future! Thank you :)

Amanda and Josh's mothers were behind the two of them meeting for the first time. They met up for coffee one day and, well, the rest is history :) He makes her laugh. She makes him smile. They were engaged one chilly February day at The Woodlands Waterway, where they shared their first kiss. Ashlyn, Josh's beautiful blonde, curly-haired, blue-eyed, daughter, was happy to welcome Amanda into the family :)

Four months later they were married at the beautiful Heather's Glen in Conroe, TX. Heather's Glen is lush with green and flowers, ivy crawls up the stones, a fountain gently flows in the front, and a glass-walled chapel completes the Secret Garden serenity of this wedding venue.

When I asked Amanda what she would like for me to write about Josh and Ashlyn, she said, "We [Josh & Amanda] complete each other, and Ashlyn makes us a complete family." I think that says it all :)

A huge thank you goes out to my husband and Michael Fowler for being my second and third shooters for the event, and to Amanda's MOH, Katie, for assisting me with little tasks throughout the day! I could not have done this without you!

Rose Petals & Pearls,

HK

.special thanks to.

Venue & Catering: Heather's Glen

DJ: DJ Brothers

Cakes: Chocolate Passion

Florist: Blossom Shop

Linens & Candy Bar: Events To Remember

Erin + Kevin | Houston Engagement Photographer

They met each other at their church in Houston. Kevin came on a little strong on his first attempt at asking Erin out - but who could blame him? She has stunning blue eyes and a wrinkle in her nose when she smiles that just radiates her fun and charming spirit :) He eventually won this Florida-native over, though, and got down on one knee in Galveston, TX (not quite a Florida beach, but a lovely beach none-the-less) to ask that life-altering question: Will you marry me?

Her "yes" has now given them both the opportunity to love and cherish each other for the rest of their lives. And how lucky am I to photograph just a glimpse of their love? Pretty lucky. I LOVE engagement shoots!

Erin and Kevin, I will be praying for you as you enter into your marriage. Marrying your best friend is something that so few have the chance to do. Cherish every moment :)

 Twirls and dips,

HK

Lane | 6 Months Old | Houston Infant Photographer

It's been 6 months already since I photographed this little one when he was only 1 week old. He has since put on his infant baby weight - you know, the precious chunky thighs and kissable cheeks :) And that laugh! I have decided, along with my husband, that 6 months is the perfect age to photograph an infant. They have developed their own little personalities, evident in those coos and goos and countless facial expressions. I just love stilling those moments of curiosity and joy.

It was such a delight to photograph the grandparents, too! Seeing the admiration in a grandparent's eyes as they hold and kiss a new grandchild is so beautiful. And I love how holding a baby up in the air makes everyone open their mouth really wide and smile large! You just can't help yourself, I suppose :)

Thank you, Kati and Mike, for giving me the pleasure of photographing Lane again! Editing these photos made me "awww" and laugh out loud for hours on end :)

Big giggles,

HK

Collin | Houston Senior Photographer

Collin's mother is one of my co-workers and she approached me a few weeks ago about photographing her son's senior portraits. I have done a fair-share of portraits since starting my business, but this was my first Senior to photograph. How exciting!

I remember being a Senior in high school. You feel so mature. So independent. You have leaped over a HUGE stepping stone in your life and the possibilities that lie ahead are seemingly endless.

Collin is part of the Tarkington High School Class of 2012! He plans to attend Lone Star College in Kingwood to work towards a degree in Music Education. Which, to me, made perfect since as he brought his guitar along for the shoot and serenaded the passer-bys with his musical talent. And, boy, is he talented! As we were finishing up the photo shoot, I had my body dropped in full-on squat position (you know, trying to get the cool angle) and Collin started playing a jazzy-riff on his guitar and proceeded to make up a song off the top of his head! Amused, I was attempting to listen to the song while trying to capture the sun in my frame to cast a neat glow on his silhouette. I thought that his little tune was pretty fun and clever, and then he continues the riff with this line: "She's about to sit on a dead bird.... oh, yes, I said she is about to sit on a dead bird.... She's probably going to contract some sort of disease if she sits on that dead bird...." Realizing that he was looking right at me and giving me that "for real, I'm talking about you" look, I glance down and right below my rump is a freshly dead bird COVERED in flies and maggots. So, thank you Collin for using your talents to protect my bum from a nice smear of dead bird.

He has quite the personality! 

Hovering over dead birds,

HK

Allie + Wyatt | 04.2012 | Houston Engagement Photographer

They met each other in high school, but eventually went their separate ways. And now, several years later, they have been reunited. Wyatt came into town for the Houston Rodeo, and just before they left for the show he walked her up to Allie's apartment rooftop, with the perfect view of downtown, and asked her to marry him. She said "yes!", which is why I had the amazing privilege of photographing their engagement pictures this weekend :) 

Did I mention that Allie and Wyatt are also expecting their first child? Yep! Their little one will be born in September of this year, so be on the look-out for Allie's maternity photos in the next few months! They are such a beautiful couple, inside and out, and their evident love and commitment to each other will make them wonderful parents :)

So, cheers for your engagement, and cheers for the little one! I could not be more happy for you both :)

My favorite things about this shoot:
The TRAIN that just happened to arrive just as we were beginning to shoot on the tracks!
Allie's SHOES!
The challenge of photographing in full-sun
How comfortable and confident Allie and Wyatt were during the shoot! Made my job easy!
Location, location, location


High heels and sweet kisses,

HK

Anna | Newborn | 04.09.2012

What a beautiful baby. I photographed Kaylan's maternity exactly 6 days before this new life was born. I will be honest, I was a little nervous about sending Kaylan into labor by having her walk around and pose so much during that shoot, but little Anna waited a few more days before her arrival :) 

This was honestly one of the easiest newborn photo shoots I have done. This little girl slept like a champ during most of the photo shoot, and when she was awake I recall her only crying for a total of 5 minutes. Thank you, sweet Anna! 

My favorite moment of the shoot was when Anna's father fed and held her. I have a very close relationship with my own father, so capturing a father handle a newborn baby girl with such tender love and care was amazing, and made for some beautiful shots.

Thank you, Kaylan and Siva, for giving me the pleasure of photographing you and your new one. It was a delight :)

Pink tutus, 

HK

Kaylan | Maternity | 04.2012 {Houston Maternity/Newborn Photographer}

Kaylan emailed me about a week ago asking me if I would photograph her maternity pictures. She mentioned that she had been following my blog ever since I wrote a post about her cousin, Sarah. For my avid followers, you will remember that Sarah was a dear, dear friend of mine who passed away last February of cancer. I was so touched that Kaylan chose to continue reading my blog after I wrote that post. And even more touched that because of her following my blog, she asked me to capture such a precious moment in her and her husband's life - bringing in new life into this world.

What a sweet, sweet couple :) I find so much joy in photographing first-time parents. One, because the smiles could not be more genuine. And two, because I hope to one day be a mother myself, and photographing new moms gives me just a tiny glimpse of the joy that I will experience as a new mother.

Kaylan, you are such a beautiful woman. I hope that all goes well in the next few days as you prepare to welcome this life into your arms :)