Sandra & Andrew

In late September, I had the pleasure and the honor to second shoot with my own wedding photographer, Jenna Cole. I tagged along on quite possibly one of the coolest engagement sessions I've seen. It was a fun challenge bouncing around trying to stay out of Jenna's shots and also trying to catch those brief moments when Sandra & Andrew looked my way - or when they didn't, but it made a great shot anyway.

We met up initially at the Shops at Legacy in Plano. Andrew wasn't too keen on this whole photo shoot idea at first, but he quickly warmed up to the camera. Sandra's incredibly natural in her poses, so I think it'd be hard not to follow her lead.

Naturally, Jenna was directing the shoot. She's a big fan of shots of her subjects walking toward her and having seen the results from my own wedding day and on this shoot, it's a tactic I'm going to have to steal. The capture of movement is beautiful, as is the lack of carefully thought out posing. I like photographing people as they are.

I'm so jealous of Sandra's natural smile for the camera. I can't smile on command to save my soul.

Here's Jenna in action, directing them to do something that was apparently rather funny.

I could just eat up that beautiful green bokeh back there. The light that day was nothing short of magical. Also, Sandra & Andrew, you're so cute together that it hurts.

Awwwww!

This shot is just the culmination of everything great about this shoot. A beautiful couple, amazing light, natural posing. I love it.

Looking at these photos just makes me giddy. I hope it has the same effect for the happy couple. :)

Gotta love Andrew's fancy kicks.

After we finished up at the Shops at Legacy, we carpooled over to the State Fair of Texas. Yes! It's a photographic opportunity that comes but once a year and I'm so glad I got to take advantage of that in '09. Who wants to make it happen in 2010? The colorful lights and displays of the fair make aaaawesome backdrops.

As the good little Texas girl I am, there's just something so right about photos from the fair. I don't even like cotton candy, but seeing it hanging there in State Fair bags makes me so happy. The sugary sweetness of that kiss seems to match. ;)

Big Tex is no misnomer for the mascot of the fair. He's so big I couldn't get all of him in the frame!

There are a number of pretty little garden areas sprinkled about the fair grounds. A copse of bamboo made a great background for some solo portraits. Sandra, you are absolutely gorgeous. I still can't get over that smile.

I wanted to use the nearby mammoth statue as a backdrop (you'd better believe my nerdy husband and I would be all over that - oh wait, we were on our first dating anniversary trip to the Science Place) but the more romantic swan shaped paddleboats worked nicely too. I love their glowing backlit halos!

An Autumn session just isn't complete without a trip to the pumpkin patch!

And a trip to the fair definitely isn't complete without playing some games statistically stacked against you, purchased from angry-looking carnies.

That being said, there is the odd happy carnie here or there, like the one that let us pretend to use this game for the sake of some photos. I like how intense Andrew was about the game (check out that tongue!) even though it wasn't turned on.

And then. And then! My very favorite. The carousel.

I must have shot at least 70 photos of them flying by on the carousel. With the fleeting light and the zooming ride, I was hard-pressed to get that perfect shot. And then I caught them mid-kiss as they came around the bend. Ah, I love it!

As twilight quickly descended, we sought out the spotlights of the midway. The cotton candy booth was revisited for the sake of more photos.

Without the proper lighting equipment, it's difficult to get good photos after sunset, but the fair provided light a-plenty. The glow of the rides is beautiful both in the background and on the couple. I dig that flare on the right!

There's a good Texan gentleman if ever I've seen one. I think they've practiced that dip. I vote for a repeat at the altar in April!

Thanks are in order to Sandra and Andrew, and most certainly also Jenna for all allowing me to tag along on this shoot. It was an incredible experience and I had an absolute blast. Gracias to all.

-Mary