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Kim and Landon were married a week earlier in his hometown, and came back to Austin for a local reception at Old Settler’s Park in Round Rock. Second receptions are always fun and low key, and the bride and groom are always so much more relaxed. It was great to see the families again and share in this whimsical Western-themed event.

This gorgeous couple definitely made the most of their day with some of the best silly facial expressions I’ve seen yet! Of course, only those that showed their intense devotion to one another that is the flip side of their intense senses of humor! During our consultation I asked if they wanted to forward any links to favorite wedding photos so I could get an idea of what they like, and Chris said, “We didn’t look at any other web sites but yours. Your personality had us hooked!” So my honest sarcasm for once hasn’t bitten me in the butt. When I met their friends I fit right in. A great laughing group with so many inside jokes like Charlie’s Angels and the “claw,” all the time they spend together was obvious.

They chose the beautiful outdoor Chapel Dulcinea in Driftwood, TX with a reception following at the Salt Lick BBQ Garden Room. Of course they were generous enough to feed me at my favorite restaurant. Best to the both of you on this next phase in your lives together, and thank you for having me a part of your wedding.

Oh, Jessie, you had me laughing as much as Krystal, which makes taking photos difficult! When the camera wasn’t shaking with my mirth, I caught a few serious moments and especially enjoyed the intimate exchanges of tenderness when the two of you forgot we were watching. The only sad part was driving home to Austin because I thought we would be moved into our new home in Kyle, TX near the venue in San Marcos, TX and that 45-minute drive felt a lot longer than the 15 I was planning on last fall when we booked. But who cares? I got such a kick out of attending and documenting your wedding. Huge congratulations to you both, and you will certainly enjoy life together even more now that you are together forever.

Amy & Thell were married in a mid December day that felt like a gorgeous fall day at the LDS temple in San Antonio TX. They shared that beautiful wedding day surrounded by their children, grandchildren, and lifelong friends. As always with intimate family weddings I was honored to be included. They were so excited to finally be married it was a joy to watch!

This adorable trio we shot at Bee Cave Central Park just outside of Austin and Lakeway  just may have been the best behaved, most cooperative little group I’ve worked with. When I complimented them on how well they were doing, mom whispered to me that she’d been prepping them for weeks! It certainly paid off with their great smiles, eye contact, and close poses. She wanted tight head shots in black and white canvas gallery wraps to update some she’d had done six years ago for a previous father’s day gift. It’s a surprise, so shhh! don’t tell!

Rayna & Derek were married in style and fun at the gorgeous Red Berry Mansion in San Antonio. Their no-nonsense attitude and sense of humor combined with a great group of friends made for a beautiful wedding day in spite of the warmer than average Texas June heat. The reception had great music, food, and drinks, and featured a lovely balloon-release memorial to the bride’s late father. Her grandfather officiated, and she was given away by her uncle. Congratulations to a lifetime full of many years of wedded bliss! And ignore the best man’s advice of, “Why get married? Just find a girl you don’t really like and buy her a house!”

Tiffany & Michael were married at the outdoor Chapel Dulcinea in Driftwood followed by a reception at the Iguana Grill in Lakeway. I provided reception-only coverage, and after I met this vivacious couple I wished I had been able to cover the wedding as well even though it was near freezing outside! I got to enjoy the warmth inside the grill. What a fun group and party. The lighting was really difficult to work with with black ceilings at the venue that sucked up the light from my flash like a hungry vacuum, but I was glad I was indoors, and the large windows gave an amazing view overlooking Lake Travis.

Congratulations to Johnny & Natalie on their wedding! They were wed at St. Helen’s Catholic Church with a reception following at the Williamson County Courthouse in Georgetown, Texas.

What a spunky and funny couple, it was almost hard to take photos because we were all laughing so hard! I think it was the first reception I’ve attended where cowboy hats and Texas accents were mandatory (yes, we had the DJ call them all out for a group photo!) Yet especially later in the evening, once the happy couple was ignoring us and we went into stealth photo ninja mode, there was such a lovely tender affection and sense of relief that it set my own heart to melting. My own 13th anniversary was the day after the wedding, and I thank you for giving me the perfect reminder of how wonderful it’s been! And thanks to Tyler Schmitt who is such an experienced and expensive wedding photographer for agreeing to come be my second: you were amazingly easy and fun to work with! Betcha didn’t know he was hiding back there!

View their full galleries for the wedding and the reception

http://palphotoart.com/tomasroppolowedding/

http://palphotoart.com/tomasroppoloreception/


Miss K is getting ready to party hard with these designer custom photo invitations from our session last week. Do you think I’ll get invited? ;)

Miss K is turning 25 and celebrating in style! To downtown east Austin for a “Top Model” photo session, as she kept calling it with a giggle, and custom invitations will start things off right. Congrats on the milestone, and here’s to an awesome party!


I first met Mike as a kid when we were studying at the same karate studio. He used to tease my baby by bringing her to me after class saying things like, “Tell Mama the new words you learned,” at which she would reply, “Anthrax!” or “Machine gun!” Years went by without seeing each other, but thanks to the modern wonder of the world, Facebook, we meet again when he is as grown up as I am with a life and career all his own, not to mention enough personality to fill a room even with almost no talking. Drum sticks flying, and a third-degree black belt, I’m glad I was the one doing the shooting.

Baby M is 10 days old welcomed by a very excited family! He is the spitting image of big brother, and is often spitting ON big brother! This was a team effort with another local photography friend, sharing props and ideas.
Mama was so calm and laid back, but I think it’s a requirement of being Hawaiian, and let us fold and curl and comfort all we liked. Shooting newborns is great birth control because I get to try and not buy! I’m up for a snuggling fix anytime!

A year goes by so quickly, and it’s incredible to watch baby McD grow from a wriggling newborn to a laughing, running toddler! Babies grow so fast, it’s like watching mold in a petrie dish (except a lot cuter!) This family shoot was the culmination of a year’s portfolio from maternity, newborn, holiday card, 6 month, to 1 yr. Happy first birthday little man!

Hard to believe that just a few days ago this little guy was inside mama’s belly! They seem so tiny, yet considering from whence they came, it’s one enormous miracle! Congratulations to the S family, and welcome earthside, newbie. With brothers A, B, C, D, and now 5th little son E has arrived!

A third baby girl is to arrive any day now. This was my first non-studio maternity shoot, and it was definitely more fun to capture this family in their natural habitat. When the house has great lighting and a family laid back about me rearranging their furniture, I hope to do more of this!
His red hair is really coming out now! I was surprised to learn today that his mama’s hair color is naturally strawberry too because hair this gorgeous usually comes out of a salon: he definitely got a good deal on  genetic roulette!

A 4×6 holiday card custom designed from scratch. 150 of these babies and some envelopes, and Christmas couldn’t be merrier!



When will I learn that newborn shoots are a painful marathon with the sweetest moments at the end? The general pattern seems to be arrive to a sleeping baby whom I promptly wake up while trying to photograph sleeping while mom gets her make up on because I forgot again to warn her that she’d likely be in the the photos. Then the wriggly baby gives me some weird faces and postures before turning into screaming baby who nurses despite not really being hungry. For just a bit, I get active baby who makes great eye contact with the camera, or at least the appearance of it, for the “money shot” for the birth announcement. Then wriggly baby returns and swaps place on and off with screaming baby, who finally gets very hungry, and while stressed mom lamenting that her newborn won’t “cooperate” settles in for a long nursing saying, “We should have something decent by now, maybe we should call it a day?” But I persevere and assure her this is where it finally gets good, hours 2-3. Nursed and relaxed baby falls asleep and allows all sorts of prodding and repositioning. Finally, we’re shooting nothing but net! Thanks for putting up with me hanging at your house, even if we nurse and talk as much as shoot!

Black and white lent a more classic yet contemporary feel for the Hart’s 11×14 wall montage shot at the San Antonio LDS temple.

The McD family has 12 months of photo shoots to commemorate their baby’s first year. Starting with a maternity session, they have a few last days of only one child. Becca the dog is certainly excited to be getting a new baby brother!