Keila and Matt

They got married during hurricane Ike! This was a makeup session. It's a long story.

While running around the Fort Worth Stockyards I saw a clown making balloon animals so of course I asked if he could make us something for a photo. I seem to have a habit of involving the general public in my shoots.

Surely I've told you about Troy Aikman. (Who signed that photo for them, by the way.)

All that to say I love this couple. I love that I met them as participants in another beautiful wedding and they made funny faces for me. And now I know a couple of their bestest friends and I think the whole darned lot is just top notch. I also love that they're are making more excuses for me to take pictures of them. (ahem. smile.)

Congratulations guys and Here-here! to a beautiful future.

East London Photograhpy Festival

Photomonth 2008, The East London Photography Festival, is the largest photography festival in the UK with over 100 exhibitions and events taking place in more than 60 galleries and spaces and featuring up to 500 photographers.

These 2 photos will be on display with other selected photos from the Freedom 2008 flickr group at Dray Walk Gallery, Truman Brewery Building, Brick Lane London, England EC1.

Promo photos for Kinome's hair styling

And here is the amazing Kinome and her little Lilly.

I'm pumped about her move over to the Lakewood Salons because she's right around the corner from me. You should be pumped because I hear she'll be running a special soon.

Caught from above

Caught from above, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

Photo by Kate Mackley.

Copied and pasted from their press release:

We are proud to announce the arrival of the beautiful new coffee table book Spectacular Weddings of Texas. Carissa Byers Photography was chosen as one of the featured photographers in this first collection of Texas weddings and we couldn’t be more excited for this honor!

Spectacular Weddings is a brilliant photographic and editorial collection of Texas weddings and love stories. The crème de la crème of wedding professionals across the state are presented.

Filled with images gleaned from the portfolios of Texas’ leading photographers, the 304-page book features photographic highlights of 100 real Texas weddings. Mingled with the 400-plus photographs are the love stories—sassy and sweet—that led the happy couples down the aisle. The book is infused with insight from the people and organizations that make such spectacular weddings possible: event planners, jewelers, floral artists, caterers and bakers; venues, fashion boutiques, salons and spas. A portion of the proceeds of the book will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure^®, the world’s largest grassroots breast cancer foundation, which doesn’t want another mother, sister or best girlfriend to miss their loved ones’ big day.

If you’d like a copy, books can be ordered at any major bookstore or amazon.com.

Happy (belated) Birthday, Mary

Mary's one of the coolest people I know. She's also one of my best friends. I could make a list, a long one, but I think I'll just say, "Love you, Mary!" Here's to wishing you one of the best years ever.

Into the Wild, art show with Erica Fellicella

From her blog:

I have been feverishly working away in my studio to get ready for an upcoming show at Kettle Art. While on my adventures this past summer I came across a bunch of finger puppets that I had to have. My only regret is that I did not buy more of these little gems. I have been photographing the puppet show to bring to everyone else. "Into the Wild" opens Saturday, October 18th at Kettle Art Gallery in Deep Ellum. I will be hanging on the walls with the wonderful Tori Webb Pendergrass and George Fowler. To make the evening even more fun I will be celebrating my birthday that evening as well. Come one come all "Into the Wild."

Sadly, I'll be shooting a wedding that evening. :(

But you should definitely go. You might catch my other half and kiddo there too!

Sunday Brunch

Click here for more photos.

Proof of what a beautiful life I lead

Saturday Daniel took Penn and a field trip that involved trains and magic shops while I stayed home and worked because he's just amazingly good like that.

Click here for the full story.

Click here for more photos.

Teresa and Rahul

Pretty soon I'll be showing you this Buddhist wedding I shot and this Indian wedding I shot and then this whole other reception I did. Just so you're not confused, these highly anticipated events all belong to Teresa and Rahul.

Their portrait yesterday came out lovely. They let me drag them across the golf course, stairways and onto lawns. Okay, most of the time we had a driver. And really, someone should have shot the young polite golf cart driver with the photographer wrangling her gear in the front seat, a bride and groom in the back seat and various bags and clothes and the second wedding dress hanging off the back of the cart because I imagine we were a site to behold.

This is going to be good.

Just like Teresa and Rahul.

Tyler

I have a 6 foot something little brother who came down from Michigan to visit. I haven't seen him since Art Conspiracy II, but we have the charm of most good families, with the ability to pick up as if two whole years had not even gone by.

Family usually comes as an onslaught. A blessing and a curse. Everyone at once over food and toddlers and politics at the kitchen table. Smiles and answering the same intriguing question again and again, "So, what have you been up to?" It's crowded and loud, the food gets cold, the drinks get warm and I spend most of the time either looking for some quiet place to avoid the chaos or volunteering myself to fetch whatever we've run out of.

I enjoyed having my brother all to myself, in person, for, I think, the very first time ever.

So proud.

Cheryl & Derek

With every couple and wedding I shoot there is something that stands out as being very unique to them and their special day. For Cheryl and Derek, it was the sun, which stood out in a warm and beautiful way, and somehow all around them. Cheryl and Derek are one of the sweetest couples I've ever had the honor of shooting. They are the couples that keep the world all glued together by reminding us about the good things in life and not getting too ruffled over the rest.

So I shot them wrapped up in the sun, in their love and in the rest of their lives.

Click here to see a few more.

State Fair of Texas

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Penn in the Pumpkin Patch

Penn and I ventured to the pumpkin patch at the Arboretum after I was done with the for-work shoot. My boy, he has many faces.

Tree + House + Rain + Monday =

I woke up before 7 today. Basked in the smell of coffee and fresh cinnamon rolls, the rain outside, a chipper toddler and calm dogs.



While I was shooting a wedding on Saturday, 1, 2, 3 and 4 texts came through concerning the tree that fell on the house.

And now there's a leaky roof.

And still.....the day feels pretty darned good to me!

This one's for the ladies

This one's for the ladies, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

Dogs in the dark

I shot dogs in the dark for Advocate Magazine tonight and do you even know how hard that is?