Hey hey, the people have spoken and here are the winners for this years contests.

1. Cassi & Justin: I love how competitive these two are. I also love how Justin beat her at basically every contest they had that day.

2. Rings: Erin & Aaron
This little catchphrase these two had is my favorite. They worked it into their vows and my wife and I have since worked it into our lexicon as well.

3. Bridal: Rebekah
Rebekah was a stunning bride and so so full of joy. So easy to photograph.

4. Mug Machine: Circle of Life.
I’ve been doing The Mug Machine for 7 years. I’ve never seen anyone come up with this.

5. Random: $100
Grandparents are the best. Full stop.

6. Wedding: Katherine & Josh
How amazing is it that these two had a Texas wedding in December where it was like 70 degrees and it managed to snow?

Each year it’s so hard for me to narrow down the categories and pick only 10 photos per section. Here are 100 more of my favorite images that were not able to make the cut into the top 10.

Lots and lots of eye candy below. Enjoy.

Thanks to everyone who voted and a HUGE thanks to all my 2016 couples. You guys are super generous to allow me into your lives on these intimate days. You are the best.

Erin & Aaron are the most Dallasy couple I’ve had in a while. They are all about the city, the fun, and the Dallasness of Dallas.

Of course Klyde Warren Park is their jam.

The cool thing about photography is that you can make people look good at ping pong… even if they are not.

(Not that I’m saying that about these two.  Not at all.)

These two met while working at the same job. Early on, they noticed each other, but it took Aaron about 3 months to actually call her up because he was nervous about dating someone from work. (Apparently he’s moved on from that fear.)

One of my favorite moments from their dating story was when Aaron moved into an apartment in Erin’s complex.  She helped him move in and while he was returning the truck, she totally set up his place. Furniture, cleaning supplies, organization, etc. He came back to a totally prepped home. (Major girlfriend points scored.)

I TOLD you these people are Dallas. While shooting their session a car starts yelling at Erin. Of course it’s some person they know, randomly driving by. Why wouldn’t it be? There are only 1,281,047 people who live there.

So about a year after she had helped him move into his apartment, Erin had asked him to help her rearrange some furniture, but he told her he could not make it. (Major boyfriend points lost.)

Little did she know he was meeting with her parents to ask for her hand in marriage. (Like you do.) Erin got a bit huffy, but eventually got over not having a moving buddy that day.

The day AFTER he didn’t help her rearrange his apartment, he called Erin and said he needed some help moving stuff at his place. (True story.) When she got there, she found this.

That’s right.  The boy had fired up his old iPhone, printed out all their past text messages, and basically presented her with a novel proclaiming his love. (Major fiancé points scored.)

I had the best time with these two. Not just because of their perfect humor and personalities, but because it’s so evident how they compliment each other. Aaron talked about how much compassion Erin has for others and her willingness to do things for them without being asked. Erin went on and on about how tenderhearted he is and that his servant’s heart is what drew her to him.

I love these two and as excited I am for their July wedding, I’m more excited to see and follow their little love story over the next decade.

Get Excited!  It’s your chance to help someone win a 16×20 print!  Voting is open till midnight.  Tell your friends.

Today’s category: Engagement Sessions

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

1. Cooking:  I loved watching Amanda & Clayton cook with their little girl.  Such fun memories and tasty cookies were made that day.

2. Checkers: True story. This is the moment in time when Karl taught Justine how to play checkers.

3. Austin: Hayden & Alecia are good at kissing.  They also like Austin.

4. Class: This is the classroom where Emily & Lucas met.  This is the very place their story began.

5. Paint: 1 sure fire way to improve your engagement session.  Paint fight.

6. Paddle Board: Kayla & David like each other & paddle boards.  In that order.

7. Home: This is the foundation to Lindsey & Jonathan’s 1st home together.

8. Hunt: Jessica & Casey like to shoot things.  So I shot them.

9.  Cars: Megan & Stephen met because they both loved their cars.  Now they love each other.

10. Hockey: Katelyn & Chris are both hockey fans.  Blackhawks won that night 6-2

Justine & Karl are my new best friends.  (I just need to double check with them and make sure that’s ok.)  I loved hanging out with them and love their story so much.  I’ll try to do it justice, but you should just take my advice and become best friends with them, too.

They met in the rainforest of Borneo while they were studying abroad.  Not a bad start, right?  Anyways, after a few months together there, they knew they were perfect for each other.  Eventually, Karl would move to Texas for medical school and Justine would continue her education in North Carolina.  They have had a long distance relationship since then and have made it work.  (With a few flights back and forth to see each other in real life.)   Well, this past weekend Justine was in Dallas so the three of us headed down to Klyde Warren Park for their session.

True Story: Justine did not know how to play checkers.  So Karl taught her while we were shooting.  How great is that?

Both of them have huge giant brains that are extra smart.  Justine’s is just a tad bigger.

When I asked them what they like to do when they hang out, Justine mentioned that they like “old people things”.  A few months ago they were on their way to take some archery lessons and instead ended up learning to play pétanque.  How perfectly random is that?

Justine is not a fan of diamonds so of course Karl designed her a custom engagement ring with her birthstone and favorite color.

Justine is a bit of a geek.

OK, “a bit” might be selling her short.  Let me try again.

Justine kinda invented her own strand of DNA that can trace if water in wells has been contaminated.  BOOM.  Just like that.

Anytime she talks about it, she gets really excited and I get really confused.  So I may not have described it 100% accurately, but you get the idea.  So of course we had to hit the Perot Museum of Nature & Science.

They could have spent hours in this place.  I kept having to pull them away from the exhibits so I could do my job. :)  When I was done shooting I left them in the museum.  They might still be in there right now.

Super cool exhibit that tracks your body movements and replicates it in 8-bit format.  Here is an 8-bit version of them making out.

Thank you guys for spending your July 4th with me.  Nothing says “America” more than an Army doctor dude and a lady scientist from L.A. falling in love.  (Go Lakers!)