It’s that time again. It’s time to look back at some of the best photos from 2014. Everyday we’ll be taking a look at a new category. Voting is open till midnight and the winners will be announced Monday. The winning entries will each receive a 16×20 print.

Today’s category: Mug Machine

Take a look at the entries then vote at the bottom of this post.

Everybody loves a good photo booth. And these photos are some of my favorites form the past year.

1. Olan: Let’s be honest. Every couple needs a great portrait. And no one rocked those better than the fine folks at Olan Mills.

2. Wine: Because liquid is fun to photograph.

3. Beard: I might be a bit jealous.

4. Hair: One of the perks of being a bride is your friends will do whatever you ask them to do.

5. Sip: Ladies are almost always so much smoother than dudes when it comes to The Mug Machine.

6. Chest: Ain’t no swag like married swag.

7. Disco: Disco balls are fun.

8. Bump: Disco balls are more fun when you pretend they are your baby.

9. Force: All wives have the ability to use the dark side of the force.

10. Family: Every time The Mug Machine is rolling families try to nail that perfect shot. It’s almost impossible with more than 1 tiny human. Only the most talented families can pull it off.

It’s that time again. It’s time to look back at some of the best photos from 2014. Everyday we’ll be taking a look at a new category. Voting is open till midnight and the winners will be announced Monday. The winning entries will each receive a 16×20 print.

Today’s category: Wedding Rings

Take a look at the entries then vote at the bottom of this post.

1. XY

2. Map

3. Popcorn

4. Cork

5. USA

6. Tweet

7. Burn

8. Rain

9. Whoop!

10. Dart

Way back in May of 2007, Katy decided to marry a boy named Jonathan. When I was taking photos of Jonathan and his groomsmen, I had them all posed and ready, and then I heard a rumbling. It sounded cool, and I figured if I waited and timed it right, magic might happen. Sure enough… Click.

Dude on motorcycle rolled by and I got a shot that I love to this day. I was just starting to really gain confidence as a wedding photographer, and that shot opened my eyes to something. That no matter how much you plan and prep for a wedding, sometimes those little unexpected, unplanned moments can be pretty awesome as well.

Fast forward two years to June 2009. Katy’s younger brother, Jacob, is getting married. I know them to be a fun group and I have 2 more years of mojo under my belt. So I snap a few photos of them looking all casual. Then we get brave. We talk about it a bit and decide that it would be fun if the guys jumped over the girls. Megan (the bride) agrees to it, but she does not quite trust her groom to make the leap so she has her brother jump over her. Either way…. BOOM!

How amazing is that? A couple of years ago it even became a bit of a Pinterest sensation. In fact some people on wedding sites and boards would claim the photo was fake and the girls involved in the photo would track them down, comment, and vouch for the authenticity of the image.
(Simmer down ladies. Really. It’s ok.)

Anyway. That’s when I realized something else: every wedding is different. Couples may get married at the same places, but their relationships, their friends, their personalities all get mixed in to make that wedding day unique. The more willing and able I was to just let the day happen, the better my chances would be of capturing something unique.

So when Katy & Jacob’s sister was getting married last week, I knew I could not “plan” a specific shot.

I knew it would need to be unique to them.

I could not expect a dude on a bike or a group of guys jumping that looked photoshopped.

Or could I?

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I don’t even know where to start when it comes to Kayla and Trent. I can honestly say I have never had a couple that was as full of life as these two. Constant laughter, constant energy, constant joy.

Before we get started… there is one detail you should know about Kayla: her mother owns a wedding venue. Not one of those “we have a big house, so we let people have weddings here at times” wedding venues. But, a straight up, legit, killer wedding venue. It’s called Stone Oak Ranch and it’s amazing. I love shooting there and I will link to it like 10 times in this post in hopes of giving them a little extra SEO goodness. Also, when your mom owns a venue and your coordinate weddings out there, you probably have seen and worked with over a thousand photographers. It was a HUGE honor when they asked me to shoot their wedding. Thanks for making me feel good about myself.

On to the day.
Step One: Party Animals.

Look at all the shiny, shiny-pretty, pretty at Stone Oak Ranch.

Check out their custom made, super fun invitations made by the Rifle paper Co.

2 weeks ago I shot a wedding with a tattoo station.  I demanded more brides do this.  BOOM!  I show up and Kayan and Trent have this.  Well played.

Someone stopped bride-ing and started coordinating as she put her topper on her yummy Chez Bazan cake.

Hello, my name is Kaylan, and Von Criswell did a killer job with my makeup.

You know a wedding is good when they have a First Look….

and they loved it so much they decided to do ANOTHER FIRST LOOK!!!!
(they blew my mind.)

That super sweet, tender moment, every outdoor bride shares with her groom as he picks bugs out from her dress.

Wait what….?  This seems out of place…. Why would anyone have a random carnival cut out at their wedding???

A Touch of Nature did a fantastic job with all the flowers.
(I just love the shot of Kaylan blowing her bang back into place.)

These two are not only super full of life, but their siblings are as well.  Trent’s sister kept pretending it was her big day, while Kaylan’s brothers made the most of their “formal” photos with her.

Licking your finger and wiping things off.  Such a baller move from Trent’s Grandmother.

Is it ok if I think this is my most favorite photo ever?
This is how you Flower Girl. Maximum extension. Petals high. Feet off the ground. Clear eyes. Full heart. Can’t lose.

Their ceremony at Stone Oak Ranch was full of laugher, stories, and joy.  As every ceremony should be.

Of course they exited to “Come and Get Your Love” and had an impromptu dance party.

I adore moments like this one.
No one around them.
No one posing them.
No one coordinating them.

Just two people who have been married 15 minutes.

That carnival cut out makes a whole lot more sense when you realize that they had A FULL BLOWN CARNIVAL for their cocktail hour.  (Like you do.)

Everyone does the mamba for their first dance, right?

I don’t even know where to start for this reception. It was perfect.

Let’s do this… Let’s start with Otis and the Metro Band. They sang, played, and kept everyone dancing at Stone Oak Ranch for 4 hours.

Everyone loves tattoos.  Buff brides, couples, super cool Grandparents.

What’s left…. Oh yeah… a clown.  Give it up for Kornpop and his perfect balloon animals, hats, and mistletoe.

You know a reception is great when the flower girl grabs on to a post and holds on tight as she is being carried out.

There are no words.

Who doesn’t love a face full of lavender?

Thank you guys for a perfect evening at a perfect venue.  Let’s give it up one last time for Stone Oak Ranch and for Kaylan and Trent.

Such a perfect day.  I love when I leave a wedding and feel, “it would be impossible for them to have had a better day.”  That’s exactly the feeling I had at the end of Hilary and Kirk’s wedding.

It kicked off at the Magnolia Hotel in Dallas.

This is Hilary and her sweet mother. Everything I have ever achieved or will achieve is due to the connections and opportunities this lady has given me.  Thank you. ;)

Last year, I photographed Hilary’s brother’s wedding and took the image on the left.  Fast forward to this wedding… As a bridesmaid was handing Hilary a bite of food, it’s like I was suddenly in the Matrix.  I could not believe it was happening again and that I was given the perfect photographic bookend.

On to the venue.  The Trinity River Audubon Center in Dallas, TX.

Kirk was on the phone, when someone came in to pin on his boutonniere.  He asked me if he needed to put his phone down.  I said no, then he proceeded to big shot all of us and started yelling “BUY BUY BUY!  SELL SELL SELL!”

Of course they had a First Look.

It’s always great when a bride chooses me to document their day.  It’s even greater when families have me back for another wedding.  Thank you so much Loyd’s for having two awesome kids, and letting me take photos of you and them, the day you handed them over to another.  That is an honor and a privilege.  Your kids ROCK and that means that you guys are pretty swell parents. ;)

Here comes the bride.

Hilary and her father took dance lessons and came up with a choreographed father daughter dance.  I know I was supposed to be watching and shooting them, but I kept being drawn to her grandparents who just kept cheering and clapping during the whole dance. :)

I don’t even know why Bridesmaid # 1 is poking Bridesmaid # 2 in the mouth while #2 spills her drink as Groomsman #1 creeps in the background but I felt it was worth documenting.

Couples take note.  THIS is how you stand next to your wedding cakes.

Rings are fun.  Mother’s dancing is more fun.  Pouty flower girls  are fun to make fun of.  Half eaten wedding cake is the most fun.

To Hilary & Kirk:  Thanks for rocking my socks off.  You guys were amazing.