It’s that time again. It’s time to look back at some of the best photos from 2016. Everyday we’ll be taking a look at a new category. Voting is open till 8am MONDAY morning. ALL the contest winners will be announced Monday at 10:00am. The winning entries will each receive a 16×20 print.

Today’s category: Wedding

All the other stuff is great, but really, when you get to the bottom of it, weddings are all about two people getting married. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of photographing couples on their day. Here are a few of my favorites form the past year.

1. Beach (Key Largo Lighthouse)
All Ali & Greg wanted was a wedding on the beach. They nailed it.

2. Dance (The SPRINGS Event Venue)
First dances are one of those moments in your wedding day where it really does feel like a movie.

3. Ring (East Texas Arboretum)
I always love snagging that moment when a couple realizes this is legit and really happening.

4. Walk (Wildcatter Ranch)
I mean… I’ve seen a lot of wedding walks. It’s tough to top this location.

5. Lanterns (The Landing at Joshua Farms)
Thank you Rebekah & Matt for allowing me to feel like I was in the movie Tangled.

6. Verse
Cassi & Justin come from a long line of strong marriages. This arch made such a great anchor for the whole day and ceremony.

7. Dino (Houston Museum of Natural Science)
Come on. Seriously. Dinosaurs. Rebecca & Tony took the “something old” to a whole other level.

8. Alone (Bella Sera Ranch)
There are few things I enjoy more than a bride and groom alone on their wedding day. (#FirstLook)

9. Snow (Harmony Chapel)
Of course it snowed for Katherine & Josh’s December wedding. That’s snow. Real snow.

10. Fireworks (Bella Sera Ranch)
I love how the fog caused the whole sky to light up for Morgan & Trevor’s New Year’s Eve wedding.

It’s that time again. It’s time to look back at some of the best photos from 2016. Everyday we’ll be taking a look at a new category. Voting is open till 8am tomorrow and the winners will be announced Monday. The winning entries will each receive a 16×20 print.

Today’s category: Wedding Rings

I love trying to capture what is unique about a couple and work that into a photo of their wedding rings. Here are some of my favorites from this past year.

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

1. Cigar

2. Zombie

3. Moss

4. Fan

5. Teamwork

6. Book

7. Whoop

8. Teeth

9. Pumpkin

10. Car

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.

Having gratuated with a major in architecture from Texas ATM, you knew Jennifer would look for a super cool place to get married.

When she came across the Parador in Houston, she knew she had found her spot.

Also, because Jennifer spent most of her engagement session and bridal session telling me about the architecture of the locations we were in, I figured I better get a ton of photos without people for her. ;)

Enjoy.

This next one is my favorite…. So timeless.  Notice the lines.  The architect was really working on a whole other level at this point…

I noticed that Jennifer and every one of her bridesmaids were iPhone users.  As a fellow blue bubble person… it warmed my heart.

I love a giddy bride on the way to the First Look.

I really enjoy taking those formal family shots.  So much history and depth there.  Think of the hundreds, maybe thousands of times, that these sisters have been photographed together.  But NEVER like this.

Time for a break before the ceremony.

Ryan had a killer cake done by Cakes by Gina.

Whoop!

Pro Tip: Brides and Grooms usually don’t get to eat a lot.

By FAR, my favorite part of Jennifer and Ryan’s wedding day was the anniversary dance.  (All the married people dance and the ones who have been married the longest win.)

Ryan’s grandparents crushed the competition and after winning took a bow.

Overpriced wedding photographers, fancy venues, and killer cakes are nice, but staying married for over half a decade requires none of them.

Thank you two for such a fun day.  It was an honor to be there.  Look me up in 2065 around your 50th and we’ll do a vow renewal. ;)

ok people, time to get your vote on. the couple with the winning image will get a fancy big 16×20 print. pick your favorite image. you can only vote once, the voting is open for 2 days. winners will be announced january 21.

vote at the bottom of this post.

ready set. go!

here are the entries.
i love telling the story of a couple with their ring shots.  it’s one of my favorite parts of the day.  sometimes i find elements from their wedding day, sometimes i have a plan going into the day from their back story.  other times i’m totally not sure what to do but by the end of the night the perfect location has appeared.  here is a little background on the ring photos you are voting on.

jessica likes fancy things.  nothing says fancy like jimmy choo.  (this one was too easy.)

christa and jeff read their vows from their phones and actually updated their facebook status BEFORE kissing as man and wife.

chesley and andy kinda have this thing for collecting pennies.now they can collect them forever.  together.  as man and wife.

i love how denise and josh worked so many elements of their journey into their wedding day.  it had to be a part of their ring shot. (plus aggies are always wanting more photos of their “real” rings.)

audrey actually won an old camp truck in a contest for cody.  this was part of the engine.

the girls at lindsey’s wedding got ready at a house with a fancy toilet.  it sprayed water.  the girls found it funny.  so did i.

kay and wayman had this guy named joe nichols come and sing at their reception.  he is kinda a country star.  we were all impresed.

ashley and chadd had these matchbooks at their reception.  (i didn’t ask permission to light the rings on fire.)

this is a page from karen’s diary.  where she wrote about the man she was going to marry.  28 years before she married him.  (this may be my favorite one ever.)

lisa and rory met at a hospital where both of them work.  they listened to their hearts and now they are married.  :)