Chloe: senior || tyler, tx portrait & wedding photographer

About one third of my work is done outside of the dallas/ft. worth metroplex, so I've gotten used to having to co-ordinate with my clients to pick out a shoot location in areas that I've never been to or I'm not familiar with.  But I neeever have to worry about researching good shoot locations before heading out to E. Texas for a shoot.  I can't get enough of that place.  Shoot locations abound--they have a never ending supply of trees, beautiful fields, tall grass, wildflowers, pretty little hidden lanes, and big blue Texas sky.  Put that together with this pretty girls face and what more could you possible want?

Chloe and I wandered around on back country roads, climbed over fences, were chased by dogs and narrowly missed stepping in cow pies several times...all in a good days work :)  I adored the outfits that she had picked out and loved the way they seemed to lend a sweet southern air to the shoot.

Congratulations on your upcoming graduation Chloe--hope this new phase of life is full of adventure!















p.s. tomorrow is the last day to enter for the big giveaway!  You can enter until Tuesday night at midnight (cst), and then I'll be announcing the winner Wednesday morning--so check back then to see if you won!
Much Love,Jessica Shae 

Jon & Marlena: wedding || lake tyler petroluem club wedding photographer

Jon & Marlena's beautiful wedding day was probably the most relaxed, laid back wedding I've ever shot.  The ceremony and reception were held at the gorgeous Lake Tyler Petroleum Club with an amazing view of the lake.  They chose to do a first look (see each other before the wedding) so hiding from each other all afternoon wasn't an issue.  They both got to the venue early with family, worked on a few last minute decorations, then Jon set up his band equipment (yes he's in a band, and they played at the reception--more on that later) while Marlena slipped into her dress upstairs and put the finishing touches on her hair and make-up. 
They both grew up in the state of Texas but it took Facebook for their paths to cross, Marlena had been going to school in Boston but was back home finishing up, and he was stationed in Florida with the Navy.  Fast forward a few years and Jon's moved there to be near her, and finally. . .they're getting married :) Their wedding day followed the same pattern that the rest of their relationship had followed, a little bit unconventional, totally laid back, but completely them in a fun and simple sort of way.  They were getting married with their closest friends and family around them and it was a sweet celebration of two very in love people committing the rest of their lives to each other.
They wrapped up their beautiful day as Jon played a song he had dedicated to Marlena, and she sat there looking like a princess, smiling and blushing over it all.
It was a sweet sweet day.  Jon and Marlena, thank you so much for allowing me the honor of documenting the beginning of your new life together.  Enjoy a few of my favorites from your day!

































Much Love.Jessica Shae

Jon & Marlena: preview || lake tyler petroleum club wedding photographer

Looking forward to sharing the rest of this beautiful E. Texas wedding with y'all!

Jon & Marlena || 10.15.11

Much Love.

Jessica Shae

JR & Jessica: engaged {tyler, tx engagement & wedding photographer}

She was sitting in band class that morning laughing and talking with friends when he made his way over and said hello.  It was the first year of Jr college for both of them and he had seen her from across the room, and decided he definitely needed to know who the tiny brown haired girl with the adorable laugh was.  But as much as it may have been love at first sight for JR, it was definitely not for Jessica.  She quickly brushed him off because "I figured he was just some weirdo guy...I didn't know who he was."

But JR didn't give up.

(3 cheers for guys who don't give up, right girls!?!)

They were both really involved in band over the next few years, and slowly as Jessica got to know him better...she started thinking that maybe he wasn't so weird after all.  He was funny, and fun to be with, and a really good musician.  And the next thing you knew, they were best friends.  And while best friends was good for a while, eventually JR asked Jessica to be his best 'girl'friend...and this time she was happy to say yes.

They've now been engaged for two years, almost exactly, and I'm looking forward to shooting their gorgeous garden wedding next summer.  (Yes, they will have been engaged for 3 years by the time they get married--they're crazy amazingly patient :)  But they couldn't wait any longer to get some engagement pictures taken, and they picked Jessica's grandmothers 80+ acre ranch out in E Texas for the location.  JR kept Jessica laughing so hard the entire session it was hard to get anything but laughing pictures ;)  Not to mention I was usually laughing pretty hard too...to the point where I had to remind myself to focus and take the picture ;)

Much Love.

Jessica Shae