Anni & Kip met back when they lived in the same apartment complex. They kept bumping into each other when they walked their humans.  Little by little Anni would take more walks just so she could run into Kip and eventually, their humans caught on and decided they, too, should fall in love.

After they felt comfortable enough with me, Anni & Kip let me take their humans out for photos of just the two of them.

Kathrine & Josh took me to the greatest used book store in the world.  You should absolutely go to Recycled Books & Records.

Right away I fell in love with just how opposite these two are.  Josh is this quiet guy with super great jokes and observations that he mumbles under his breath.  Kathrine is basically Joy from Inside Out.  She was Laughing SO LOUD in the book store.  It was wonderful.

Sometimes the photos find you.

Quick change and off to the courthouse we went.

Why yes. Yes, we would like to share stories about basketball and life, over chocolate milk and coffee at West Oak Coffee

Thank you guys for sharing your morning with me.  I loved your story and how full of life you guys are.  I love that you already knew each others Love Languages.  I love that your story reminded me of 101 Dalmatians.

Can’t wait for your wedding.

If you have ever bought property, you know the most important rule.

Location. Location. Location.

Rebecca & Tony work in the medical & finance field. But if they ever decide to switch careers, I think real estate is their true calling.

Let’s start with our getting ready location.  Hotel Zaza. (yes, please.)

I still don’t understand why people pay me to do this job.  It’s the best.

I would like to take this moment to publicly shame Tony for telling his sister that she had to have her kids ready for photos a full FIVE hours before the actual time.  What kind of brother does that?  Boo, Tony.  Boo.

(Also, props to his sister for actually pulling it off and KEEPING her kids happy and dressed until photo time eventually rolled around.)

First Look magic at Hotel Zaza

Bridal party photos location.  (not bad)

Not bad at all.

Rebecca loves to kiss Tony.  Tony loves to shy away from her kisses.  I see this trend continuing well into their 70’s when she eventually breaks him.

Wait… what’s that on the wall?  Could it be?

DINOSAURS!!!!!!

Of course they are getting married at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.  Why wouldn’t they?

Typically I walk around getting photos of the decorations a couple has selected for their wedding.

This was what I got to take pictures of instead.

Of course this guy was part of their wedding day.

I LOVE when couples share a private meal together.

I think it’s like 1 out of every 5 weddings where the ring has trouble going on the guy.

Tony said some of the sweetest vows to his bride.

That moment just after you are married.  (With dinosaur.)

Couples are always asking me how the family formals can look better.  Easy.  Add dinosaurs.

I tried so hard to think of a funny joke about rings and teeth but could not come up with one.

You know what makes feeding each other cake better?

Feeding each other cake in front of a triceratops butt.

Thank you guys for a great day.  As AMAZING as your locations were, I know your story will be better.

Sarah & Thomas had a gorgeous wedding.  Beautiful.  Breathtaking.  Seriously.  Check out the pretty at North Market Venue.

True story: Sarah’s shoe bling kept snagging on her dress. So she bought some orthodontic wax and “fixed” them.

The florals from Adcock & Associates were beautiful.

They had a perfect First Look.  Filled with laughter, talking, and hugs.

These guys were surrounded by so many friends and family.

I told you this was a beautiful wedding.  Sarah even manages to eat a chicken nugget from Wendy’s with grace.

Ah that time honored tradition of the post wedding selfie.

This was by far my favorite photo of the day.

Sarah’s grandparents have been married for 59 years. When I mentioned to her and Thomas that they won’t reach that milestone till the year 2075, she closed her eyes in amazement, and Thomas wiped his brow.

Think about that. These people were married on June 14, 1957.

Dwight D. Eisenhower was president when these people started their marriage.

Sleeping Beauty was not a Disney movie.

Sputnik had not happened.

Nat King Cole was a new singer.

We had 48 states.

These two have been married since then.

Ok, on to the reception.  Lots and lots of dancing.

I LOVE chicken & waffles.  These by Maison Louisiane Catering were extra tasty.

I may have eaten 19 of them. (or 24)

I want to come back to MeMaw & Pappy.  Because the decision they made in June of 1957 is what made today so beautiful.

When they took this photo together, Sarah & Thomas had been married for exactly 15 minutes.

MeMaw & Pappy had been married for 31,180,320 minutes.

They  made a covenant and stuck with it.
They instilled that commitment in their daughter.
And now their granddaughter can look back on generations of people staying married.

That is beautiful.
That is worth cheering for.
That is worth celebrating.

One of my favorite things to do when shooting an engagement session is to make the photo relevant.  Not just for a save the date card, but relevant for your grandkids.  I love the idea of documenting a couple in their everyday life and space.  Telling a story of this very real season of life.  Not an imaginary, made-up, stylized season that you kinda feel out of place in.

Kally & Kishan love to cook and they were so generous to invite me into their home to tell this little story.
(Bentley was also very nice to me.)

While we waited for the pizza, they did what every couple does while waiting on the pizza they just made…

They went out onto the porch and drank coffee.

PIZZA TIME! Cowabunga!

One of the things I loved about these two is how expressive they both are.  Kishan is great at saying and asking just the right questions, and Kally’s facial expressions are the best.

These two met at a pharmaceutical conference while in school.  One evening, they were in a group hanging out and everybody had “paired up” and was talking to someone.  Kally was very eager to pair up with and talk to Kishan; so she made her move.

“OK. Everybody rotate!” she yelled, as she instructed people to move in the direction that would partner her up with Kishan.  It seems to have worked because here they are all these years later still partnered up.

I had them whisper the generic names of meds into each others ears.  It was both super funny and slightly uncomfortable as Kally started to enjoy the process a bit too much.

You couples at home, feel free to steal this idea.
Next time you are alone, slowly walk up behind your spouse and whisper acetaminophen.

(You can thank me later.)

Thank you guys for sharing your day (and pizza) with me.
Thank you Kally for letting Kishan wear his super cool Apple watch.
Thank you Kishan for remembering to shut the cabinet doors.

And a HUGE thank you to both of you for sitting on that bench and talking marriage with me for 10 minutes.  It was my favorite part of your session.  The fact that you guys are ALREADY actively working on your marriage fills my heart.

Because many, many years from now, no one will care that you had pizza for your engagement session or how beautiful your wedding was.

All that will be left is your marriage.

(Well, your marriage and a bottle of sildenafil citrate.)

The past 5 years our family has gone on mission/humanitarian trips overseas. The thing with going to these places is that you always go intending to help someone and the reality is that you come back changed. Little by little, year by year, OUR hearts have changed. They have grown more and more open towards others and specifically towards those less fortunate.

One of the things we decided to do this year was not spend money heading “over there” but instead look for ways to help right from where we are. We’ve found ways to serve, give, and grow our hearts without having to take a plane ride. One of the ways we are doing that this year is by partnering with Charity Water.

Charity Water is an AMAZING organization that just celebrated 10 years. Every single dollar you give goes towards clean water. Not one penny goes towards payroll, paying rent, maintaining a website, or donuts for their break room.

To understand just how important water is watch either of these videos.

If you have 2 minutes, watch this one.

If you have 20 minutes and a box of kleenex watch this one.

So today is my birthday and I am turning 39. And here is what I’m asking you to do:

I’m asking you to give.

It’s that simple. I’m asking you to give a one time donation of 39 bucks. (That’s like buying two Blu-rays.)

39 bucks gives someone clean drinking water for 1 year.

39 bucks give a woman her dignity back.

39 bucks gives a young boy a chance to go to school.

39 bucks gives a young girl her future.

All of these things and so much more happen when people have access to clean water.

It literally takes less than a minute to go online and give.

I’m convinced every single person reading this has 39 bucks they can spare.

Maybe you wait another month on that grill you’ve been eyeing.

Maybe you don’t buy those “essential” oils.

Maybe you don’t go out to eat this week.

Maybe you dip into that wedding account.
(Trust me, you can’t buy anything wedding related for 39 bucks, you ain’t gonna miss it.)

Maybe you are a college kid and your parents gave you a credit card.
Use that bad boy without even asking!!!! (I’m looking at you Beckie.)

I’m daring you to give.

I’m daring you to change a life.

I’m daring you to do the one thing this week you can look back on and be absolutely sure it was the best thing you could have done with 39 bucks.

Go give. I dare you. https://donate.charitywater.org/alexm/best-birthday-ever

Oh yeah… about those mini sessions…

Anyone who donates $150 bucks or more gets a mini session. You can’t beat that.
(Once you donate, send me a copy of your receipt and you’ll be signed up.)
Donate here: https://donate.charitywater.org/alexm/best-birthday-ever

You get amazing photos of you and your people…

5 people get clean water because you decided to get your picture taken.

Mini Session locations & dates:
Austin: October 8th
Dallas: October 15th
Tyler: October 16th

One more thing…
My beautiful bride has a birthday coming up 2 days from now. All of you people who are always telling me how amazing and how wonderful she is… this is your chance to let her know that… by donating 74 dollars.

Nothing would fill her heart more to see this campaign reach our goal of $5,000 bucks.

Give 39 bucks. Change a life. It’s that simple.