Meet Mr. and Mrs. Jones

A few weeks ago I got a call from one of my good friends from high school, Brittany Smith. She said she had seen my pictures and wanted some fun engagement shots of her and her sweet fiance (now new husband!) Greg Jones. Of course I was ecstatic and jumped at the chance to photograph such a great couple. There is just nothing more exciting than capturing that amazing stage in life. The stage where everything is just peachy and all the little idiosyncrasies are still adorable to one another. It just doesn't get better than having a honeymoon and a lifetime of memories to look forward to. Writing all this makes me reminisce about the amazing images Kristin Bednarz captured of Ryan and I during our engagement. Below are a few of my favorites!

Being engaged is similar to having a great appetizer before an even more amazing meal... It's wonderful, but nothing is as good as the main course. Marriage has been the most amazing part of my life thus far and I can only imagine that having kids would be similar to a piece of chocolate cake with a giant cherry on top!! haha, my one-eyed "dog-child" Emma is after all pretty sweet herself. Laugh all you want, but I love the little comparison's life has to offer.

Back to my main point.... Brittany & Greg! Their wedding was two weekends ago and was absolutely stunning! They got married at a Tuscan Villa in Mansfield. Everything from Brittany's amazing dress to the adorable details (they served Jones Soda in honor of their last name!) were extremely well planned. I know Brittany worked so hard on the event and I was more than flattered to see a lot of the engagement pictures I had taken at the wedding. Thanks Brittany & Greg for letting me share in such a special time! Enjoy.

doing some drafting

Lately I've been so busy with my new venture in photography that I haven't shared with you all my love for design as well! Since resigning from my job, many of you know that I have started my own business-

Heather Ann Design & Photography

It is a creative design business that mainly entails, but is not limited to, interior design concepts & journalistic photography. Interior Design services offered include, design consultations, custom floor plans, specialty electrical plans, interior kitchen & bathroom mill work, custom furniture design, residential furniture & finish specifications, and personal client shopping at Houston & Dallas markets. Photography services include engagements, bridals, seniors, babies, kids, families, weddings, & various social events. I'm currently in the works of developing a website that will showcase my portfolio and pricing. But don't let me get sidetracked with photography today, because this post is dedicated to some of my beloved design work, particularly a kitchen update I'm currently working on.

The Kitchen that I've been working with is in an older house. The floor plan is very functional, yet some areas are slightly tight on space in regards to the breakfast table. The client wants granite counter tops around the kitchen's perimeter and a custom island centrally located to serve both functionally for storage and aesthetically for a formal kitchen feel.

We started with pictures of inspiration and took note of elements we liked and could evolve our design from.

Above is a schematic floor plan of the existing kitchen. The main importance of this plan is to determine the perimeter cabinet dimensions so we can then verify the final size that our island can be (based on standard kitchen design & spacing regulations).

The first option I drafted is a more formal look with decorative corbels & fluted pilasters that offer a "bookend" look to the island. Two false panels surround an operable storage cabinet that features a decorative monogram stenciled in the center for a custom element.

The options for a custom island are truly limitless and any design could be evolved to no end. However this island is slightly smaller due to the space constraints of the kitchen. Regardless I drafted four options for the sides of the island (which will both be treated with the same design).

Above is the back view of the island. It features the fluted pilasters & decorative corbels, as well as three drawers that will serve as storage for kitchen linens.

The second design option I drafted offers more of a cottage or "farmhouse" feel with the decorative wooden posts serving as the island's knee space support.

Once again, there are limitless options as for the spacial design and functionality of each side of the island. That is where it takes good communication with the client to determine what their main needs for the space will be. Every one has a different cooking style in their kitchen and it's so fun to create a space that is conducive to each user's needs.

Finally, the last design I drafted was the back view for the second style. Depending on the client it could have three drawers for kitchen linens and table accessories or could have one cabinet for large cooking appliances (kitchen aid mixers, pots & pans, blenders, etc).

Also, wine cellars (refrigerators) are all the new rage and custom islands can be made to house those as well. That's the fun part about design, there is never an end to what you can do! I'll keep you guys posted on the rest of my design projects! I have a lot coming up that I'm excited to show and get your feedback on. If only there were 4 more hours in each day :)

Also keep checking back to see more photography, design tips, & what Ryan and I are up to! Sign up to follow us on the right hand side if you like what you see!

The Sweetest Thing

A couple of weeks ago I got the wonderful opportunity to photograph my high school friend Melisa and her precious 18 month old baby, Hayden. I definitely learned a lot from this shoot. Children are so fun and full of life but they are definitely in constant motion and always on the move. I had to get creative with my 'sneak attack' and catch her little gestures before she made her move to the next! Melisa is an amazing mom and loves that child with all her heart. I tried to capture each mother-daughter moment the best I could and realized that being a mom must simply be the sweetest thing.

These are a few of my favorites from the session but I'm so excited to capture more fun images of Hayden this Fall! Melisa & Hayden take mother daughter pictures every season, which I think is the best idea ever. Kids change so rapidly that missing even one season of their precious transitions would be hard for any mom to fathom! This leads me to my next point...

I'm in the process of getting a website in gear! I'm so excited to be building my portfolio and am very grateful for the amazing subjects I have captured so far! My website will feature my design & photography work along with my pricing for each. One of my best friends Nikki came up with the idea to offer a "Four Seasons" packet for youngsters whose parents are in need of fun pictures from each season. I mean what better way to capture your kids doing the seasonal things that we all love, at a discounted package rate! I'm currently determining my final price list but will get it up along with the website soon!

I have been incredibly blessed with support from such great friends and family. Word of mouth has proved to be a powerful tool and I'm so excited to officially start this creative journey!

a couple of cuties

So when I decided to get into photography a few weeks back, I was at a Kappa Alumni event and ran into my old KKG advisor from Tech! She has two of the most precious girls and I asked her if I could come play for an afternoon to test my skills with kid photography. I learned a lot that day and figured out that to catch interesting shots of the kids (especially the two year old) I would have to become part of what she was interested in. We had tea parties, jumped on the bed, colored the sidewalks, and played on the swing set.

I have babysat for years and truly love the innocent fun that kids get into. I find those little mischievous looks unbeatable and melt at all the high pitched giggles. Tiny feet and the sweet smell of baby powder is just enough to make a newlywed ponder the thought of having kids, but don't tell my husband! It's my goal to take those priceless moments and turn them into everlasting memories that a family can look back on when the kids are suddenly all grown up & on their own. All these things have made me think about what my photography slogan will be. I have a lot I'm considering, but the one I like best so far is:

life’s a flash, capture accordingly

A big thanks to Kathleen for letting me practice with her beautiful kids! After all, what's a KKG sister for! I'm busy editing two more session from last week and hope to get them up on the blog ASAP. Can't wait to share :)

classic, meet modern.

This past weekend my sister and favorite brother-in-law came to visit us in Lubbock. In true Thames family style we stayed up until 4:00 am on Friday night just catching up, shelling peas, and well... hanging out. The next morning the boys went down to the ranch to work and have some male bonding time, while us ladies went to my Aunt Debby's pool and caught some sun! I took my computer and worked on some design elevations on CAD for her new courtyard & landscaping. Afterward my mom, Ginger, & I headed to the ranch. I somehow talked Ginger (who is normally very impatient with my creative impulses) into bringing her bridesmaid's dress from my wedding to the ranch for an impromptu portrait session. It was the perfect day, a little work- a little play- and a little work mixed with play!

We got to the ranch as a huge thunderstorm started blowing in. The clouds were amazing, only the kind you see here in Texas. Pinks, purples, dark blues, yum! I hustled Ginger, who normally operates at one speed (and one speed only) and got her into the dress, hair & makeup before it rained! I had envisioned images of Ralph Lauren models posed on horses mixed among cattle for our ranch session. However, with the storm and purple clouds came the thunder. Ginger being an experienced rider, refused to get on a semi-trained ranch horse in a tight formal gown amongst all the chaos.

We made due with what we had, and caught some amazing images. Anyone who knows Ginger knows this side of her comes around once in a blue moon, so you can imagine my excitement for a shoot with this beautiful of a subject and location! It was such a blast. It just doesn't get any better than family.

Hope you enjoy the images. I have had the most amazing time with my new venture in photography and have so much more I can't wait to share with you guys!

Total Scarlett O'Hara right?!?

As glamorous as these photos may appear, Ginger and I fought over who got to wear the "snake boots". She the subject elegantly posing in the delicate grass... or me the sweaty photographer crawling around through mesquite trees and knee high grass! She won.

Hope you enjoy the photos, keep checking back for more! Oh, and sign up to follow our blog if you like what you see!