Tag Archives: houston

Houston JP Wedding

Lee & Stephany’s JP wedding at the downtown Houston courthouse.

Monday Andy and I took the spawn to the local courthouse to get his very first passport. That reminded me of this amazing JP wedding I shot downtown last year. The interesting thing about the JP weddings at the downtown courthouse is that they don’t happen in an actual court but in the rotunda. Family can line up along the spiral staircase or around the edge of the rotunda to watch.

Before Lee and Stephany’s wedding, we took some family photos as well as couple portraits around the courthouse. I loved getting to meet their fur-baby and taking some photos of him as well.

Check out the photos here!

 

Houston Field Engagement

Victor & Jordyn’s spring field engagement in Houston.

Close to the end of spring flower season last year, Victor and Jordyn met me at Memorial Park to take some photos in a cute little field just beyond the regular running/walking paths. Luckily there were still some wildflowers in the field, including thistle (which I love!). I enjoyed walking through the small paths made by human or animal as we chatted about all things wedding and life in general.

Take a look at the engagement photos below!

 

Downtown Houston Engagement

Andres & Leticia’s Eleanor Tinsley Park Engagement Portraits.

Eleanor Tinsley is such a versatile place to take your engagement photos. I love that you can see both the city skyline as well as ancient oak trees and unique statues and water features in the park.

I met Andrew & Leticia near Waugh bridge on a beautiful day in spring last year. We walked a bit of a circle around Buffalo Bayou trying out parts of the park I hadn’t visited yet. I didn’t know there was a dog park there or so many awesome bridges.

Check out the engagement photos below.

 

Lord of the Rings Themed Wedding

Jared & Elzabeth’s Lord of the Rings themed wedding

It was a blazing hot day in June when Jared & Liz tied the proverbial knot at a small church in Houston. Luckly, the wedding was an indoor affair (with limited stents outside in the heat for quick photos). The couple has a love for all things LOTR… and swords… so it was only fitting that they styled their wedding around this passion.

As a fellow nerd, I was over the moon when I found out the theme of their wedding. This would be my second Lord of the Ring wedding in less than a year! In true Hobbit fashion, the couple and most of their wedding party opted for bare feet.

Jared and Liz opted for a private first look. I set Jared up under a pergola on the property and had Liz walk to him. I love first looks. If you’re a more private couple, or maybe a little shy, it’s a nice touch. In leu of a father-daughter dance, Liz and her father had a beautifully touching slideshow. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.

Po-tay-toes!* Boil ’em, mash ’em, stick ’em in a stew…

The couple offered a baked potato bar that they brought and set up. They also had a variety of tasty cupcakes for their guests.

At the end of the day, the couple had a grand exit filled with bubbles and a sword arch from their wedding party.

#brownleetobe

 

Camping Engagement Portraits

Brent & Karlie’s Camping styled engagement session.

Brent & Karlie opted for a camping style engagement photo session. We met up at Kelly’s pond located inside the vast Sam Houston National Forest. Brent and Karlie had the perfect location picked out just a short hike into the woods. This was my first time taking camping engagement photos, and I loved it! The Spawn came along (because he had to) and he was OBSESSED with their hammock. So much so, that we had to buy one before our next family camping trip.

Check out Brent and Karlie’s camping engagement portraits below!

 

Midtown Houston Engagement Photos

Caleb & Taylor’s Midtown Houston Engagement Portraits.

It was a warm December day when I met Caleb & Taylor at the old Black Labrador location which(I didn’t know until I got there) is now a part of the University of St. Thomas. We wondered around the location, sad that the colorful doors were all a bold black against the brick. There was a puddle in the parking lot that I was excited to use for some creative ideas.

After taking photos around the building, we headed over a block or two to the Menil collection park. Caleb and Taylor attempted a swing attached to an old oak tree and hid in the old oak tree.

Check out their engagement portraits below!

 

Arnold & Maritza’s The Springs in Angleton Wedding

Arnold & Maritza’s wedding at The Springs Event Venue in Angleton, TX.

Just before Thanksgiving, Arnold & Maritza gathered all of their friends and family to witness their marriage. The theme for the wedding was Fall & Thanksgiving! The couple chose a beautiful rust orange & sage green color pallet & offered their guests traditional Thanksgiving pie!

Arnold & Maritza chose to have a first touch before their ceremony. We found a quiet place where they could hold hands and talk quietly to each other. After the first touch, Arnold lined up with his groomsmen and Maritza shared a first look with her father.

The couple and their guests danced well into the night!

Vendors:

 

Hermann Park Engagement Portraits

Trey & Cassandra’s Early Morning Hermann Park & Rice University Engagement Portraits

Tristan and I met Trey and Cassandra in one of the Hermann Park parking lots for their early morning engagement portraits. Tristan was bribed with donuts if he helped me with the engagement portraits.

We started the morning just inside Rice University where the oak trees canopied the driveway. We were hoping for sun-rays through the trees, but unfortunately it ended up being a mostly overcast day. I made Trey and Cassandra play a few funny games for their portraits which brought out some amazing laughs and smiles.

Cassandra had on these adorable earrings that said “I do.” I had to make sure I got several shots with them.

There was a lot of construction at the park, so we wondered the long way to the reflection pond. Tristan helped drag the wagon that had purses, lights and a blanket. On several occasions, I made the couple test their balance on the train tracks.

I was just absolutely amazed at how the photos turned out. You would think Trey and Cassandra were seasoned models. See the photos below!

 

James & Chelsea’s Texas Renaissance Wedding

In October, James and Chelsea had a magical wedding at the Texas Renaissance Festive.

I’ve lived in Houston most of my life, and I have fond memories as a child at Renfest swinging a wooden sword at my brother hoping to jostle the flimsy wooden shield out of his hand. It’s been a dream of mine for a long time to shoot a wedding there. This year, James and Chelsea made my dream come true!

The wedding was so magical. Both James and Chelsea had costumes made fitting for the Renaissance Festive. Chelsea was resplendent in her light blue gown and iridescent fairy wings. Even her jewelry was on point! James looked dapper in his wedding doublet. I loved that his sleeves could detach and be replaced with a different style of sleeve.

Chelsea and her wedding party started a promenade from the entrance of the park to the Globe Theater. There, she and James shared their first look before jumping into a carriage. The whole party, including the King’s guards, walked in a small parade to the ceremony location. Guests thought the wedding was a part of the show.

James and Chelsea sent an open invitation to all of their friends and family to their wedding. Anyone who wanted to attend could, they would just need to get to the ceremony location early if they wanted a seat. The Cathedral Wedding Chapel was overflowing with guests. People (including guests who didn’t know the couple) were all around the building looking into the windows. Even several of the Renfest’s regular actors were in attendance.

After the ceremony we took oodles of photos with all of the guests who wanted a photo with the happy couple. Once that was done, we wondered around visiting James & Chelsea’s favorite places within the park. We went to their bench in the fairy garden and the swings. The couple tossed axes and fished for rubber ducks. In the end, we wound up at the Pirate bar where they met up with friends for a pint of mead.

What an amazing wedding!

 

Vendors:

 

Moody Clay Family Eastern Glade Engagement Photos

Lorenzo & Blanca’s Early Morning Clay Family Eastern Glade Engagement Portraits.

It was just before sunrise when I met Lorenzo and Blanca at the Clay Family Eastern Glade park. At that time in the morning, the track was filled with runners trying to get some exercise in before the heat took over.

Lorenzo and Blanca wanted a more moody style, which isn’t my norm. Blanca had seen my post from cemetery engagement shoot and had fallen in love. Who am I to deny anyone art? Plus, I love messing around in Photoshop trying new things.

Lorenzo wanted some shots with his motorcycle so we started there before the sun had fully risen. After their motorcycle portraits, the couple put the bike back into a parking spot then did a quick outfit change before we walked around the park.

The sun rise was GORGEOUS, and their photos were breath taking! Again, I’m not usually a moody styled photographer, but these photos made me double guess myself. Check out the photos below!

 

A Southwest Houston wedding photographer
Richmond, TX
kelly@kellyurbanphotography.com
Kelly Urban Photography

A Southwest Houston wedding photographer
Richmond, TX

A Southwest Houston wedding photographer
Richmond, TX
kelly@kellyurbanphotography.com
Kelly Urban Photography

A Houston wedding photographer