Kate: bridals || chandlers gardens wedding photographer

"I wonder if ever I will be a bride With a white lace gown Standing in front of everyone Looking beautiful Because someone Loves me That much."
Kate was one of the most stunning brides I've ever seen.  When I took her out for some bridal pictures I had to restrain myself from spending far too long on them.  But I still ended up with more than usual.  Her grace, wistful smile, and dramatic princess-like hair crowned with a wreath of my favorite flowers, warranted a blog post all of their own.  And so they get one.
Tomorrow, her wedding!
Much Love, Jessica Shae

just one || dfw engagement & wedding photographer

"I've loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you.

What would be more reasonable than to marry you?"

-louisa may alcott

More from this wedding next week!

Much Love,

Jessica Shae

Ross & Kate: preview || Noah's, irving, tx wedding photographer

I had the pleasure of documenting Ross and Kate's engagement party turned SURPRISE(!) wedding last Saturday.  I can't wait to share the rest of this darling couple's pictures and story.

Ross & Kate || 6.16.12

Much Love,

Jessica Shae

Evy: portraits || chicago, il engagement & wedding photographer

A few weeks ago when I was in Chicago my sweet Evy friend (most of you know her as Evangeline Renee) just happened to be in town visiting her family that weekend so we were able to spend some time with each other.  Our friendship began about ten years ago when we ended up on the same team at a girls conference.  She lived in Chicago and I lived in TX at the time, so after the conference we kept up by letter.  Yes, actual pen and paper, snail mail kind of correspondence.  Evy was always much better at it than I was, she probably wrote me two letters for every one I wrote her, but we kept in touch for several years that way, sporadic though it may have been.  We lost touch for a little while, but when I was 18 I moved to Chicago to work for a Christian ministry based there and one of the first nights I was there I bumped into her!  From then on she's been one of my dearest friends, we've bonded over our mutual love of photography, the color robins egg blue, and wanting to be a "career mommies" more than have any other career.

Every time we're together we try and update our bio pictures since it's rare that we get the chance to be in front of the camera.  These are just a few of my favorites that I took of her, and you can see the ones she took of me here.  

Much Love,Jessica Shae

don't stop creating: photography || dallas, tx wedding photographer

It's in those moments of panic at a wedding, or during a portrait session, when you think you can't possibly pull one more creative pose out of your back pocket, or when you're sitting at your desk trying to make the words and pictures flow together for a blog post, that it's most important to keep clicking that shutter button, ("Everybody! Just go stand in a line! Smile!" <--always a good filler for those moments of creative panic) and keep typing the words, even when they feel stilted or dry...because my favorite picture from any shoot usually comes in the last ten frames I take, because my favorite blog posts are the ones that took me days to mull over and I re-wrote 4/5 times, because in the end you'll be glad you kept shooting, kept trying, even when what you were doing didn't look very good.  Because it isn't until you take enough bad pictures that you can really start to understand how to create good pictures.  Because eventually, the pictures and poses and words and stories will be better than you ever thought they could be, all because you didn't quit back when you weren't producing anything you thought very good.

And quite honestly, I wrote this more for me than I did for you...but just so you know--It's worth it, and you can do it :)

Much Love,

Jessica Shae

Summertime is for... {dallas, tx engagement & wedding photographer}

. . .Color.

And lots of it, please.

You don't really have to pick a favorite color during Summer.  At least not according to my "Rules of Summer."

(Yes, there really are such rules, maybe it's just in my head, but they are definitely there ;)

Love them all, wear them all, and if you can't pick just one color to paint your nails, then pick 5, or 10! ;)

Any of you gals have fun "summer nail" ideas??  I'm looking for creativity here. . .send me a picture or post a link to one in the comments! ;)

Much Love.

Jessica Shae

Summertime is for... {dallas, tx engagement & wedding photographer}

. . .sundresses.

In every shape, size, and color please.

I'm kind of addicted to them, and there are so many different kinds I don't know that I could ever have to many.  And they're so comfortable, and feminine, and easy to throw on, and cool, and cute, and fun to accessorize with...

the list could go on and on.

So yesterday I was finally able to spend a gift certificate I'd been saving since my birthday, and bought a gorgeous knee length lace dress from Urban Outfitters.  I scoured their website looking for a picture to show y'all, but can't find one anywhere, you're just going to have to trust me, it's so prettiful :)  But while I was looking for it, I came across a few more dresses from their store that I wouldn't mind adding to my wardrobe.  Anyone have some spare cash they'd like to send my way?!

I just love all the dainty feminine looking summer dresses that are in style right now.  I'd wear sundresses all summer long if I could.  And I probably have enough to do just that...my closet will attest to that fact. But a few more wouldn't hurt?! ;)

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!  Anyone have any fun Memorial Day plans!?

Much Love.

Jessica Shae

Joel & Jessica: married {niagara falls, ontario wedding photographer}

"Perhaps, after all, romance did not come into one’s life with pomp and blare, like a gay knight riding down;
perhaps it crept to one’s side like an old friend through quiet ways; perhaps it revealed itself in seeming prose,
until some sudden shaft of illumination flung athwart its pages betrayed the rhythm and the music;
perhaps . . . perhaps . . . love unfolded naturally out of a beautiful friendship,
as a golden-hearted rose slipping from its green sheath." 

|| anne of green gables

Jessica was caught off guard when Joel first expressed interest in her.  They were friends, good friends, but she didn't realize he was interested in something more.  And as they walked around the lake up in northern Michigan that day, she told him she'd pray about it, because she just wasn't sure.  Joel could wait, he was ready to do whatever it took to win the tiny blonde girl with the big green eyes.
And there definitely was alot of waiting involved, their relationship spanning hundreds of miles and several years, from just friends, to more than friends, to courting, to engagement.  They took time to pray and seek God's guidance in the relationship, to work through fears and dreams + goals for the future, and somewhere along the way, they fell completely in love with each other.
So after months of flying back and forth between Minnesota and Canada, countless long late-night phone calls, and daily texts, Joel and Jessica got married on a rainy Monday afternoon in Niagara Falls, Canada.  With their circle of closest friends around them they said their "I do's" and officially became one of the cutest couples I've ever had the privilege of shooting.  They braved the pouring rain (and I'm not exaggerating when I say pouring. All. Day. Long.) with me all day to get what have turned out to be some of my faaaavorite pictures ever.
Joel and Jessica, I love you two, and it really was an honor to shoot your classy + beautiful and Christ honoring day.  Thank you for including me!















































Much Love.

Jessica Shae