Jacob & Annie: engaged || dallas, tx engagement & wedding photographer

Though they both attended the same college, Jacob and Annie's paths didn't seem likely to cross each other since music and nursing majors rarely interacted.  But they did cross, thanks to a bible study they both started attending just a few years back.  Jacob first knew Annie as the sweet girl that every guy in the group was crushing on, though she was seemingly unaware of almost all of this ;)  And while he thought she was pretty and fun, he wasn't interested in becoming just another guy on that list, so he kept his distance, and didn't even attempt much of a friendship with her.
Things continued like this for months, during which Jacob even cheered a buddy on as he became interested in Annie and eventually asked her out.  Annie wasn't interested though, and when she turned the guy down Jacob realized that he was ...relieved?  glad?  Because Annie WAS sweet, and beautiful, and loved Jesus more than any girl he'd ever met, and he was suddenly ready to fight his way through the crowd of suitors that seemed to always surround her and win her heart.
Fight for her he did, and though the process was slow at times, he won her with his quiet confidence, compassion and love for people, and his ability to "make everyone anybody and everybody around him feel important and at ease."  One of Annie's first impressions of him even before they started dating was that he was "more like Jesus than any person I have ever met."  They read books together, drank coffee and cooked together, and quickly became the best of friends.  When Jacob asked Annie to marry him last December she said yes and they're getting married next month!
Congratulations Jacob & Annie, thank you for including me in this special time of your life, enjoy a few of my favorites from your engagement session!  Can't wait for your wedding day!
Much Love, Jessica Shae

one || arbor hills dallas, tx engagement & wedding photographer

"Some of us get dipped in flat, some in satin, some in gloss...

but every once in a while, you find someone who's iridescent,

and when you do, nothing will ever compare."

// flipped.

Beam Family: portraits || arbor hills nature preserve portrait photographer

I rarely accept family sessions, I stay so busy with weddings, engagements, and seniors that family sessions are far and few between. But there are several families that have a special place in my heart and I can't say no to them :)

 The Beams are one of those sweet families. I first met Ginni when I shot Elvis & Katie's wedding. She was a bridesmaid and after the wedding when I found out that we actually lived near each other I asked Ginni and Alan to model for one of my internships the next spring. Alma was a tiny little breathe of a thing at that time, just a few weeks old in her mommy's tummy. Last year I was able to take pictures of beautiful Alma Sophia when she was just 8 days old and she officially wormed her way into my heart with her scrunchy little smile :)

I haven't seen any of them since that shoot last Fall, so I was pretty excited to get to see this little brown eyed darling in person after a whole year had passed. I just can't get over her head of brown hair and the smile that takes over her whole face. She reminds me a little bit of "Boo" from "Monsters Inc." yes?
Much Love,
Jessica Shae

Rachel: 2012 senior || arbor hills, tx portrait & wedding photographer

I had the pleasure of taking this lovely girls senior pictures last week at a beautiful nature preserve in Plano.  I'd never actually met Rachel until we met up for her senior session, but I'd heard a lot about her because she and my sister are good friends and played soccer together for several years in Highschool.  She's getting ready to move to Virginia this fall to start school as a biology/pre-med major, talk about a smarty pants! :)

I loved working with her--her quiet sweet personality, gorgeous hair, and eyes made for some of the loveliest pictures!  She even waded through tons of tall grass with me like a trooper, that ended up giving us both the worst case of chiggers I've ever had.  It was ohso terrible, and I'll probably be wearing a jumpsuit of some sort to all my outdoor shoots for the rest of the Summer.  Because I'm just so attractive like that.
Oh! and make sure you look through them all the way to the end, the last one is my personal fav :) 

p.s. blog posts have been a little scarce around here these days, I know--I've had a lack of internet access over the last two weeks since I've been out of town for 8 of the last 12 days.  Now I'm getting ready to head out this weekend to shoot two out of town weddings (that are in different states--adventuuuure!) so life's just a little bit busy-ish.  But I have so much prettiness to share with y'all, it's coming soon! :)
Much Love,Jessica Shae