Brittany Nicole Photography

New Branding, New Website and NEW BLOG!!

2011-04-21T17:14:00.003-05:00

I'll thrilled to announce the arrival of my new branding...this also means new blog! Just wanted to make all those following me on my old blog aware that I had moved. See you here: http://brittanynicolephotography.com/blog/

Merry Christmas from Brittany Nicole Photography

2010-12-24T15:05:00.003-06:00

This has been a very busy season for Brittany Nicole Photography. Thank you to all of my amazing clients! Here are a couple of Christmas cards we produced for our clients this year.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Here is another super sweet family that ordered a really cute postcard!

NYLO Hotel Las Colinas | Engagement Photographer | Tracie & Chieng

2010-12-23T21:34:00.006-06:00

Chieng has been a very good friend for about a year now. We quickly realized we shared many common interests, including working within the wedding industry. Chieng is a DJ and obviously I'm a photographer (First conversation: a list of the most popular wedding reception songs). ;)

Chieng and Tracie have a fun and interesting story, not unlike most couples. However, from the beginning of our friendship all I heard about was this girl, Tracie! I knew Tracie had a special place in Chieng's heart and eventually I got the call, "We're Engaged!!!!!"

I am delighted that I was chosen to document this blessed occasion and look foreword to many, many years of friendship. Please enjoy this post as much as I enjoyed shooting it! Happy Holidays to all, especially those away from those from home and loved ones. Cherish the ones you love in this wonderful season.

Don't miss their slide show at the end of this blog post!

Children Portrait Photographer | Dallas, Texas | Grady

2010-12-10T21:51:00.003-06:00

Just because its time for a new posting...heres a little cutie I shot recently! :)

Thanksgiving with my family

2010-11-25T21:05:00.007-06:00

Since it is Thanksgiving, it is time to reflect about what we are most thankful for. Over the past year there have been many things to be thankful for. Just to name a few; I am now officially a full-time photographer...FINALLY, I have an amazing family that I love dearly, I managed to adopt a cute little (well, not so little anymore) pup, have VERY supportive friends (you all know who you are) and have been dating a wonderful man for the past year now!

However, one thing my family and I are most thankful for, and the main reason for this blog post, is our dear family friend...basically family...Arla Adams. She recently discovered that she has pancreatic cancer and has spent quite a bit of time in the hospital as of late. The cancer has been completely removed, hopefully, and Arla still must endure chemotherapy. She is a strong, independent, lovely women and we are all very proud of her strength throughout this struggle. Our thoughts and prayers, hopefully yours as well, are with her. We love you Arla!

Meet Arla!
Her office made her these bracelets.
Complete with her initials.
The spread!! :)

I made a traditional Greek Turkey, thanks to Todd for carving it for me.
Even the dogs participated in the eating festivities!
Mom and Arla; and the gang (all we're missing are matching sweaters). ;)

Hope everyone had a safe and happy thanksgiving!!

Tis the Season Once Again for Family Portraits!!

2010-10-26T21:38:00.003-05:00

Its getting close to that holiday season again! Just wanted to leave you all with a friendly reminder that it is time to schedule your family portrait session. Remember to call your photographer and get something schedule before the end of November to ensure plenty of time for getting your holiday card designed and printed before the holidays.

Passion goes FULL TIME!!

2010-10-13T23:30:00.000-05:00

Wow...it has been four months since my last blog post. I am terribly sorry for the delay and hope it won't take me nearly this long to get the next post up.

The reason for this post is merely to get you all up to date on the not so recent news anymore :/ with Brittany Nicole Photography. This past spring/summer turned out to be a rather busy, yet extremely successful wedding season for me, shooting at least one wedding a weekend. Yay, exciting news for my first official year in business! I ended up being so busy that I made the decision it was time to pursue photography full time and turn my passion into a career.

August brought forth the beginning of this exciting change, in submitting my notice at the day job. By the first of September, I had wrapped up my time in the corporate world and began my new journey as a very excited business owner/entrepreneur. Full of ideas, life and enthusiasm in owning and maintaining my own wedding photography business; I started out my new career with an extended vacation (basically the entire month of Sept) to visit my best friend in South Korea and recoup from an exhausting year of 80+ hour work weeks. Thanks again Katie, had the time of my life, love you girlfriend!

Now I'm home, full of life, completely refreshed and ready to tackle the entrepreneurial world full force with Brittany Nicole Photography!

I want to send out a special thanks to all of my amazing clients over the past year that have stuck by my side in my 'hardly keeping my head above water' between the full time job and shooting all of your beautiful engagements, bridals,wedding days and family portraits! I will never forget any of you in your support of me and my growing business, love you all dearly, can never thank you enough for believing in me.

And just because no photography blog should ever post without a photo, here is a photo of Katie and I on top of the mountain in Seoraksan National Park. Naturally, we picked the perfect day for a hike!

Danielle & Matt | Dallas, Texas | Engagement Wedding Photographer

2010-06-09T12:31:00.008-05:00

Matt has been one of my dearest friends for several years now and sitting here reflecting over Matt then and now is a journey of strength, determination and true friendship. Growing up, Matt was not a normal child, while the rest of us were enjoying our childhood cartoons, Matt took notice of the music and thus began his love of anything 1900-30's. I can remember hanging out with Matt and listening to his dreams of having his very own 1920's orchestra and his asking me if I thought he was crazy. Yes Matt you are crazy! But we wouldn't have it any other way!! Through countless hours of determined searching for charts, arranging parts, organizing and reorganizing folders for his orchestra, emailing, calling, rehearsing and so much more; he has not only turned his dream into a reality, with his very own - Singapore Slingers, but it has taken flight into becoming so much more. Matt I have watched you grow and do so much over these few years I have known you, and it has been an honor to be a part of the process and your life, looking forward to many more. Congrats on pursuing your dreams, finding the lady you never thought possible ;) and for your upcoming wedding!

Matt and Danielle have one of the cutest, sweetest stories I have ever heard and it all began on MySpace! Danielle is also a 1900's enthusiast and artist herself (traditional pen and paper naturally :) love it!), being that there aren't many out there (which makes this all the more special), it was pretty easy for Matt and Danielle to find each other. I don't want to ruin their story and Danielle has already done a fantastic job at retelling the beginning, so I will leave you with a piece of their story via a note from Danielle on Facebook:

"Matt Tolentino. The mention of his name takes me back to May 1st of 2006, when I found him on Myspace. Another traditional jazz fanatic, an actual musician, which made me take notice of him - as well, a "friend" of Dan Levinson, one of my real-life buddies, and an enormously gifted jazz artist, to boot. Matt clearly came with decent references, and seemed like a hell of a character, at that. He exuded the spirit of the 1920s - in his attire, musical tastes, love of film, awareness of preservation. Part of me adored him instantly. We exchanged pleasantries, and stayed in relatively close touch over the following three years... and then some. Little emails here and there, viewing newly-posted photos, leaving cheerful comments - and a constant, pleasantly nagging thought, of "I wonder what it would be like to meet..." - in short, we enjoyed one another, on an artistic, and, for me, a subconsciously physical, level. As it later came out, for Matt it was physical on a far more blatant level... not that I would have complained. We drifted in and out of one another's profiles, keeping a certain amount of emotional distance, thanks to my then-relationship, as well as the fact that, well, he was in Dallas, and I was in New York.

And then that fated day - the aforementioned June 22. Having temporarily settled in Kentucky, I happened to be just along the way on Matt's itinerary for an upcoming gig with the Alex Meixner Band. Via Facebook, he wrote to me, asking if I'd be willing to host him for a night, as he was making the long drive from Texas. Without hesitation (a whopping seven minutes later), I responded, fully eager to have him visit with me, if only for one night. I was so eager to finally meet him, and life was so much better set up for me to do so, as I was at last free from the relationship I'd been, in retrospect, so hampered down by. Minutes later, he confirmed the date, and our fate had been sealed.

From the moment Matt arrived at my curb, I felt as though I was reuniting with a long-lost friend, a soul partner who I could completely express myself with - at last, that person I had so longed for, who understood me. As the evening wore on, we laughed, told stories, shared music, and simply bonded with one another - staying up until after 4am, whooping like hyenas in the dark, as we literally laughed ourselves to sleep with wisecracks and hilarious personal accounts of what I can only call Whack-Ass Shenanigans. We woke up a few hours later, had breakfast, and rather reluctantly parted ways. I sighed when he left, almost praying that he would pass my way again, on his journey home after the gig."

Matt did indeed rearrange his schedule to pass back through to spend more time with Danielle and well, the rest is history! If you would like to read Danielle's account of their story in its entirety you may do so here. Danielle you are an amazing women, artist, writer and now friend, I have truly enjoyed getting to know the lovely lady that completes Matt and look forward to our growing friendship.

You couldn't find two people more perfect for each other then these two nuts! Love you two!!

We stopped for a quick lunch at Scalini's Pizza & Pasta on the way to our super awesome second location.

Matt used to work for this little antique shop right next to Scalini's, called Curiosities....and it was PERFECT for these two! We had such a blast. Thank you to the staff of Curiosities for allowing us to shoot in your cute little shop!

Haha...Danielle this is BY FAR my favorite shot of the entire session! :)

Juliana & Alex | SMU Campus Dallas, Texas | Engagement Wedding Photographer

2010-06-01T10:28:00.006-05:00

Juliana & Alex were such a pleasure to work with. Both have such sweet spirits, and I absolutely LOVED watching Juliana light up just being around Alex. They chose SMU (their alma mater) for the e-session, which is always a great choice as it's such a beautiful campus anytime of the year. Juliana & Alex were both members of the Mustang Band. That's how they officially met! So, of course, we had to have some fun in front of the band hall! Nothing like music to bring two people together. That is also how I met Alex; we are both members of Matt Tolentino's Singapore Slingers, the only local 1920's and 30's band in DFW. Alex is a phenomenal jazz trumpeter and performs frequently locally. Be sure to check out his facebook fan page or myspace for more info on where to hear him!

You two are too cute!! Thanks for the fun engagement session, and I wish you both the best.

Congratulations to the Giveaway Winner!!

2010-05-17T13:01:00.002-05:00

Wanted to take a minute to say congratulations to Mrs. Lindsey Olson, the winner of my one year anniversary giveaway! Thank you Lindsey for entering the contest and I can't wait for our session. Here is Lindsey's cute contest entry:

My favorite shoot is Claire in Southlake's trash the dress (I'm assuming that's what she was doing since she was standing in a fountain!). I love her free spirit and I think you really captured her happiness!

My husband and I (and our Yorkie, Basil) are expecting our first baby at the end of October! We would love to have a maternity session . I'm in law school and run a bakery specializing in wedding cupcakes (theperfectslice.net), and my husband has a full-time office job, so we would love to head out of the city a bit and have some fun with the camera!

Annie | Arlington, Texas | Bridal Photographer

2010-05-05T10:04:00.006-05:00

I am so excited to finally be able to post these images of Annie. Her bridal portrait session was so much fun!! A close family friend of hers generously gave us free rein of his property, a picture perfect spot, for the evening. Remarkably unique and lovely settings included a gorgeous pond, a meandering pathway and creek, some classic cars, the coolest barn, and tons of fun antiques collected over the years including, amazingly, a carousel horse. All this, with the cutest, happiest little bride I have ever seen! :) It was photography heaven!!

One Year Anniversary and Giveaway!!

2010-05-01T21:57:00.005-05:00

May 1st marks one successful year for Brittany Nicole Photography! I have grown so much and accomplished more than I thought possible in one year, thanks to the help of so many supportive family, close friends and new friends I've made along the way, of course. The main thing that sticks out when thinking over this past year is that I still have so much to learn especially in an ever evolving industry, and I'm excited about the opportunity to experience the many wonderful things that lie ahead in my career. However, none would be possible without you.

So on that note, I would like to offer one free session in honor of my one successful year of business, to one deserving family/couple or even pet! ;) I'm open to the type of session we do, so please, I'm all ears to new, fun ideas. (Of course the session must be reasonable).

To enter, all you have to do is go to my website, click on the tab labeled contact and send me a quick message with your favorite session I have posted over this past year and why. Let me know what type of session you are interested in and why too! It's that easy!! Looking forward to hearing from everyone!

Important Details: You may send in messages till noon on Friday, May 7th. Also note, this contest is for sessions only. (Weddings are not a session option).

Shea & Bobby | Dallas Arboretum, Arts District, Southside Lofts | Engagement Photographer

2010-04-22T11:47:00.007-05:00

You two rock!!

Shea & Bobby, wow, I've known these two for a very long time now. We all had the pleasure of growing up together at Lakeside Baptist Church. I was ecstatic when they messaged me saying they were engaged and wanted me to do their photographs!! They are both so full of life and love for each other and anyone else that comes into their lives. I am blessed to be able to call these two my friends. Congratulations, Shea & Bobby, may you have a wonderful marriage and life together!

I'm not sure what Bobby did to make her laugh...but I absolutely LOVE her expression in this image as well as watching Bobby make her light up time and time again throughout our session! Shea you are going to have quite the adventure!! :)

Shea was a cheerleader growing and I convinced her to bust a move for me! Thanks girl! ;)

Thirst Relief International Benefit Shoot | Red Rock Desert, Las Vegas, NV | Wedding Photographer

2010-04-12T12:58:00.004-05:00

Part II of the Thirst Relief International Benefit Shoot. I've already said enough about it so just enjoy!!

Engagements Sneak Peeks | Dallas, TX | Engagement Photographer

2010-04-04T18:45:00.005-05:00

I was fortunate to have two very fun couples to work with this gorgeous Easter weekend and just because I couldn't wait to show them both off, I had to post a sneak peek!

The first couple is Juliana Moore and Alex Rivera, both alumni of SMU and the Mustang Band. Taking it back to old stomping grounds, here they are marching the stripes!! You two are so cute and so perfect together, congrats and I'm looking forward to the wedding!

Later in the afternoon, I had the pleasure of photographing Shea Stevens and Bobby Bowen Jr., and although the Dallas Arboretum was overflowing with people, we managed to get in (what appears to be) some alone time! Congrats to Shea and Bobby, you guys are so much fun to work with. . .never know what to expect from Bobby, and Shea loves every minute of it!! You have a wonderful adventure ahead, you two!

Thirst Relief International Benefit Shoot | Red Rock Desert Las Vegas, NV | Wedding Photographer

2010-03-30T09:31:00.006-05:00

I've been so excited to share the images from the Thirst Relief International benefit shoot that I just couldn't wait another day! For those that didn't get a chance to read my previous blog post, I had the pleasure of spending a day with Mike Colón and The Edmonsons, whom in my opinion, are three of the greatest photographers and men in this industry. Of course, I was nervous, as any aspiring photographer would be working alongside the best, but I had a blast doing so, and this quickly became the highlight of my trip. Due to the number of images I want to share, I've broken up the shoot into two different posts (one per couple).

So without further adieu...here come the brides!

WPPI Convention | Las Vegas

2010-03-29T11:17:00.006-05:00

Being in my first official year of business, I have had the pleasure of experiencing a lot of firsts. One of which was, WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International), a huge convention in Las Vegas (also a first), which occurs right before wedding season each year. What perfect timing...a chance to hear, see and touch all the latest and greatest albums, prints, techniques and so much more just before jumping into my busy wedding season!

Many of you are members of my fan page on facebook and were able to follow my daily updates while in Vegas. If you were not, or could not, then you'll be filled in now. If you aren’t a member of my fan page you should join the fun there too. I'm not gonna lie, it was rather overwhelming, but worth every piece of information gained! I shot alongside the best of the best, met vendors of gorgeous top of the line products face to face, and attended many classes offered by amazing photographers that, until then, I had only been able to admire from afar. Not to mention having the honor of meeting and spending quality time with some fun photographers. Last, but not least, to my friend and photographer extraordinaire, Adrienne Gunde, who I've chatted with online for so long and has been forever encouraging and most helpful, it was such a pleasure to finally meet you!

Since I had not previously been to the city, a few friends and I left a day before the official conference began to give me the opportunity to experience the wonder of Vegas. Results: I'm not a Vegas, party-type girl. But, I did have a good time photographing the strip, trying out a couple of new restaurants, checking out several casinos and, attending the Bon Jovi concert courtesy of a random stranger.

Sunday was, by far, the highlight of my trip! I had the chance to attend celebrity wedding photographer Mike Colón and Dallas' finest The Edmonsons on their Thirst Relief International benefit shoot. How much better can it get? Spending the day with three outstanding photographers, that have hearts and personalities to match, riding around in the 24/7 Rockstar Party Bus, shooting some gorgeous models in the middle of the surprisingly colorful red rock desert, all for a great cause! (Speaking of, I cannot wait to share some of those images with you, which I will do later this week). They helped with creative posing ideas for my models, lighting techniques, using my cameras Kelvin settings to attain beautiful skin tones throughout my images, and talking me through various business materials to further me along in business. I've always been a more hands on, jump in head first, experience it myself, learn from my mistakes, kind of girl; working alongside the best was a dream come true! Many thanks to David and Luke Edmonson and Mike Colón for this amazing opportunity.

Monday through Wednesday was the actual conference, which was a whirlwind of classes and a daily visit to the tradeshow, where, each day, I acquired a bit more information on new, fun products, and caught a few of my favorite photographers platforms (The Sallee's, Luke Edmonson, and Tony Corbell for starters). The classes were packed full of great information and left me feeling ready to take on this years’ wedding season! :)

My favorite was Jasmine Star's class. Wow, do I feel like I can completely relate to her! As I’m thinking about how to go into more detail on this particular class, I realize that she needs a blog all of her own. So stay tuned for more on Jasmine Star and her touching class.

And last, but not least, for all you visual people, like me, out there, here are some of my favorite shots from my new extremely compact Canon point and shoot camera, which actually fits in my pocket. (I’m so used to carrying around such extensive gear that I almost felt naked with this tiny point and shoot, but, at the same time...it was SOOO nice and my back loved me at the end of the day)!

Here is a view of the interior of our hotel and where the conference was held. (MGM Grand Hotel and Casino)

Yes this was in the hotel. Sad but true. They were beautiful, but I'd be screaming if I was locked in a small cage all the time too.

Some shots of the strip.

Stopped to watch the water show at the Bellagio. Super cool!!

Inside another hotel and casino, where we graciously breaked to enjoyed some fantastic Thai. (my favorite food) :D

Great job on the lighting! ;) You know who you are!!

The 24/7 Rockstar Party Bus, with Mike Colón and Luke Edmonson.

Flying home...the Dallas skyline...the second City of Light?! Ok maybe not, but this is sure home to me!

Brooke & Daniel | Dallas, Texas | Engagement Photographer

2010-03-13T15:19:00.011-06:00

Brooke and Daniel are such a fun, sweet, cute couple. I had the pleasure of attending college with them, which is where they first met and began dating. In June of last year, Brooke sent me an email, or rather a facebook message, of course ;), that she and Daniel were engaged and inquiring about the possibility of having me photograph their wedding. Thrilled by the chance to share this special time with them in an official capacity, we met over coffee and, to my delight, they decided I was a good fit for them.

Brooke and Daniel were so easy to work with, and made my job both fun and easy. Since we all knew each other from college, SMU was a logical selection for a starting location. (Not to mention the campus is always immaculate - plus frolicking around with my clients is one of my favorite activities). When we finished shooting and reminiscing at SMU, we moved to the Marie Gabrielle Restaurant and Gardens for a beautiful finish just as the sun was beginning to set. A quick round of chess, followed by a tail whooping game of checkers, and a quiet moment by the reflecting pond made this a perfect spot for a sweet couple. Below are some of my personal favorites from their engagement session. Don't forget to scroll all the way down to check out the slideshow. Many thanks to Brooke and Daniel for a fun evening together. Cannot wait for the wedding day!

Dallas Snow Storm?!

2010-02-13T12:49:00.006-06:00

I couldn't resist taking pics in Downtown Dallas in the snow. Enjoy!!

Brit's Blab's | Dallas Fort Worth Wedding Photographer

2010-01-08T23:49:00.004-06:00

New things stirring with Brittany Nicole Photography!

First and foremost I want you all to know that I am officially a member of the Professional Photographer Association or more commonly referred to as PPA. I am stoked at the resources now available to me and my business, this year is going to be full of growing. Brittany Nicole Photography has a profile that you may check out here, its not fully edited at the moment, but will be as soon as I return.

On that note, I'd like to mention that Brittany Nicole Photography will be out of the office from Jan. 10-13 in Nashville, Tennessee attending the ImagingUSA photography conference. Look out for posts on all the new things I learn this week.

Last but not least....updates on the Cans for Comments. Thank you to everyone who left comments on my posts throughout December for the food bank effort. We had a total of 37 comments (ok so I included all the comments I got on facebook as well). So thank you to all who contributed to helping me feed the hungry this December, I will taking a box full of cans to North Texas Food Bank in your honor!!

Be back next weekend, have a great week friends!

Happy New Year!!

2010-01-07T15:32:00.009-06:00

To start, Happy 2010 Everyone!! Hope you all had a fun and safe New Year and are all as excited as I am to see just what 2010 has in store.

I had the pleasure of spending my New Year's weekend in Amarillo with some very close friends. It was a blast. Thanks, you know who you are! ;)

We made it to Amarillo just fine and in great time, then managed to get a flat tire...only not in my car...it was my friend's we had gone to see! Great start to our new years; however, was quickly redeemed with full tummies and a warm home.

Friday was quite the lazy morning, who am I kidding every morning was!! Finally arising around noon-ish we very slowly made our way to lunch, quick stop by Wal-Mart for some spray paint and off to do some taggin' at Cadillac Ranch. Here is my first experience tagging. Many thanks to Diana for throwing in some Brittany Nicole Photography advertising on a Caddy!! Too cool girl!

A little advertising at Cadillac Ranch...which you know was covered up later that evening....but hey 15 seconds of fame is better than no fame at all!

Yes this is just as it seems...we had to break into the car...

The next day we awoke to a fresh layer of snow on the ground, it was simply beautiful. Not something I'm used to seeing here in Dallas, well I guess until most recently!

We picked today to go to Palo Duro Canyon State Park and do something photography in the snow. The canyon was amazing, but it was sooo cold we didn't last too long out there. (Especially with the wind running through the canyon and then straight through us...we were frozen)! I just LOVED all the snow though and couldn't get enough, it made me so happy to have the experience of photographing the snow covered canyon. Here are some, ok well, a lot of my favorite shots. Comments please! I'd love to hear what you think about these photos.

Ben | Dallas/Ft. Worth | Headshot Photographer

2010-01-06T20:56:00.003-06:00

I recently did some headshots for a good friend, Ben Osborne, he is a trombonist in the area and well, any area really! So if you are looking for a trombone player, feel free to contact my buddy Ben. He's a great guy, very talented, easy to work with and as nice as they come. Here are a few of my favorites from our shoot.

Brownie points to anyone that can name what photograph we parodied in this first image!

The Ratliffs | Dallas/Ft. Worth | Family Portrait Photography

2009-12-28T00:01:00.006-06:00

Tis' the Season.... for Christmas Family Photos.

I can still remember receiving the call that I had been requested to do the Ratliff's Family Portraits for Christmas. A rush of emotions swept through me all at once, ranging from shock, to excitement, to extreme nervousness. However, the warmth and kindness shown by the Ratliff's at our initial meeting quickly allayed any fears on my part. I had a wonderful time photographing the family, and their little girls were just adorable!

Many thanks to the Ratliffs and Happy Holidays!!

Don't forget about Cans for Comments thru the end of December!

Brit's Blab's | Dallas/Ft. Worth Area | Photographer

2009-12-06T13:08:00.000-06:00

I have made an early New Years Resolution! Writing has always been challenging for me. While I usually know what I want to say, how to actually say it in writing is problematic. Knowing that it's being sent out over the world wide web for anyone, and everyone, to read only makes it more intimidating. (I'm much better at speaking in person). I don't usually have that much verbiage in my blogging and prefer my photos to speak for themselves; however, Brittany Nicole Photography is ever-evolving, and I want to you involve in the process! So,my new resolution is to, at least once a month, have a blog post dedicated to informing you as to the new and exciting endeavors of Brittany Nicole Photography! Comments, suggestions, observations from you, my friends and supporters, are always welcome and encouraged. I continually desire to better myself as a person, friend, and photographer, and appreciate your assistance. Learning the ends and outs of running my own business has been, and continues to be quite a challenge.

Here goes:

For starters, Brittany Nicole Photography will be one of many photographers assisting with Help Portrait this holiday season. Chantz Hough of Phose Studios has graciously organized a location for the DFW Area, which will be held at Irving Baptist Church Saturday December 12.

Help Portrait is a movement to give back to the community through photography. Photographers all over the world will be coming together, through giving, by taking family portraits for those in need, and in this economy, there are many worthy candidates. You can read more about Help Portrait for yourself by clicking here.

Who is a worthy candidate for Help Portrait? Here is a list I have taken from the official website to give you some ideas:

- the homeless
- orphans
- single moms (and their kids)
- single dads (and their kids)
- sick children
- sick parents
- the elderly
- army vets
- underprivileged families
- your neighbor?

If you, or anyone you know, is eligible this holiday season, please email Chantz Hough at irvinghelpportrait@gmail.com or give him a call on his cell at 817.948.8575.

You can read about last years experiences here. I'm so excited to be a part of such a great program! Hope to see you there!!

The other way Brittany Nicole Photography is giving back this holiday season is through Cans for Comments! That's right!! I will be donating one canned good to a reputable, local charity per comment left on my blog throughout the entire month of December. If you'd like to participate all you have to do is leave a comment anywhere on my blog this month. It's that easy! To read more about Cans for Comments, click here. I am looking forward to helping those in need while reading all your great thoughts this season!

The Sepulvedas | Sunnyvale, TX | Family Portrait Photographer

2009-12-03T14:53:00.007-06:00

I had the honor of photographing for a couple of good friends recently, and I couldn't have asked for a more perfect day or a more perfect family. They are the sweetest, most lovable family, and it's such a blessing to be a part of their lives!

We wanted a fun place to shoot with the kiddos, so we decided on the old wooden park in Mesquite where I used to play as a little kid! I loved that place!! Thanks for the privilege of spending some special time with your family and a trip down memory lane!

Mom and dad got to spend a few quiet moments alone while the kids took a break from all the posing. :) Aren't they a beautiful couple!

I just love his expression here. You're gonna have a ladies' man on your hands.

Thanks again!

Brittany Nicole Photography goes to print! | Texas | Wedding Photographer

2009-12-01T11:35:00.009-06:00

Exciting news for Brittany Nicole Photography! Our ad came out in The Knot: Texas magazine being ran from now through February 2010, check it out!!

We are very excited to reach many new potential clients and fill up 2010's wedding season and than some. Thanks again to all those who have been so supportive over the past year. :)

Thoughts and comments are always welcome.

Happy Holiday's | From Max & Me

2009-11-24T22:14:00.003-06:00

Hello all! I just wanted to take a moment and say thanks to all of my faithful friends and followers, I have been blessed by so many that have supported me in starting my own business. I am so grateful to you all and just wanted to take a moment to tell you thanks. Max and I hope that you have a fantastic holiday season and hope to see you back here often!

As you can tell my dog enjoys a good beer! Drink one for us this holiday season!! :)

60th Wedding Anniversary | Plano, TX | Wedding Photographer

2009-10-29T16:59:00.003-05:00

The Smiths recently celebrated their 60th Anniversary, and I was honored to be asked to capture the event in photos. This momentous occasion was a family affair, celebrating this wonderful couple's life together. Everyone had a great time! Here are some photos of the event, couple, and family.

I tried out a few of the templates from the CoffeeShop, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Naturally, the grandkids take the spotlight! :)

Mrs. Smith and her brother.

Little one had been told to say cheese for the photos, (which he did so well) in this photo he is getting on to his older cousin for NOT chiming in on cheese! Too cute!

Meredith | First Baptist Dallas | Bridal Photographer

2009-10-27T10:24:00.003-05:00

Meredith was a good friend of mine from First Baptist, so I was ecstatic when she allowed me to shoot her bridal session! Such a beautiful bride both inside and out! Congratulations Meredith, I wish you two the best!

Jeff Allen Children's Education Trust | Dallas, TX | Event Photographer

2009-10-19T14:54:00.006-05:00

About a month ago, I was contacted by Spook Bolt of Bolt Productions to photograph a local charity event. This past May, a dear friend and colleague to those in the Marketing and PR departments of Baylor Health Care Systems, Jeff Allen, passed on, leaving behind his wife and five children. Lauren Useda Law, after attending his memorial service, dreamed up the Jeff Allen Children's Education Trust and organized the inaugural reunion and fundraiser with the help of Dana Boone Slaughter, Karen Burris, Marti Quisling and Kevin Tompkins. Of course, this is only a piece of the big picture.

Since the event, Lauren has taken the time to create a fantastic website, detailing Jeff Allen's life, family, the Reunion and Fundraiser and so much more, both past and present. Check out Jeff Allen Children's Education Trust for the full story, photo albums and other pertinent information.

Other sponsors from the September 26th event were: Matt Mollet, Pete Northway, Raj Persad, Dana Boone Slaughter, Larry Thompson, Mark Varel, Herschel Weisfeld, Karen Burris and Rick Whittlesey. For a complete list of all sponsors and donors, click on the Sponsors and Donors tab on the website.

This shot sums up the entire reunion and fundraiser. For those that don't know Baylor very well, their colors are blue and white and represented by the flame. I just loved all the details from the event and had to capture each and every one!

Here is a shot of the welcoming committee/sign in.
Sponsor table and a few of Rick Whittlesey's amazing paintings! Really if you haven't checked out his website yet, you NEED to see his other work; it looked beautiful and created the perfect ambiance for the reunion/fundrasier.

I don't even know where to start on the food! It was incredible! My absolute favorite was the Cream of Cilantro Soup....Oh! My! Gosh!!!!!

The floral arrangements were gorgeous, I wanted to take them all home with me! However, I think Lauren would have noticed them slowly all ending up in the back of my car. :)

The auction table, which included a football autographed by Roger Staubach!

Rick Whittlesay also donated some special purses hand-made by the woman in Nigeria, seeking a fresh start in life. You can read more about this on his website!

Lauren's brother drove into town to help her out for the weekend.

Hallway filled with works of art in Herschels S.O.T.A Building, which also has a couple of business spaces available for rent if anyone is looking.

Mingling.

The speakers.

Enjoying the video montage of just a few of the many memories with Jeff Allen.

The rest of the evening involved more mingling.

Family Vacation | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | Last Day :(

2009-10-16T13:36:00.004-05:00

Sorry that it took me so incredibly long to get this last post blogged. This past month turned out to be rather busy with clients! (Good thing, just super busy....be looking forward to some great blogs coming up though). Now on to the last day of our family vacation, once again, text was provided by mom! Thanks bunches mama!

We had a full day to enjoy Vancouver, but there were so many choices! We opted to go to Lynn Canyon Park and check out the Suspension Bridge, a pedestrian bridge, that swings freely 50 m above the canyon. The bridge connects the hiking trails on either side of the canyon. We were tempted to forgo the experience after we saw the line and the drop-off, but proceeded in spite of our misgivings. It was a unique and slightly scary trek, and not one that we repeated. We made our way to the bottom of the canyon, scrambled precariously across the rocks, dodging the deeper sections of the stream, and used the steps back up the other side. As we were almost to the top, we noticed several young men scaling the cliffs and diving into the pool at the bottom of the canyon. It was a dangerous, but apparently exciting, activity.

This photo is just to show the distance in which these guys and gals were jumping...

Kinda hard to tell but, the bottom right of the photo is MUCH further down! (Was hard to capture this on my camera from the angle in which I was standing).

After our adventure in the park, we drove into West Vancouver where we found a wonderful restaurant called the Cactus Club Café. We enjoyed seared tuna (an Iron Chef specialty), steak, and quesadillas. Delicious in every detail! Our next stop was back to downtown Vancouver. This time we discovered a band playing outside at the waterfront. We explored the plaza next to the band, watched the water planes land and take off, and the sunset develop as night approached. When darkness settled over the city, we walked to Gastown, a historic section of the city with nostalgic cobbled streets. The steam clock was quite interesting, and the shops were plentiful for last minute souvenir shopping. Sad to say, but the next day we would be leaving.

It was TIME to say goodbye to Canada! ;) Get it?!? Till my next vacation!

Family Vacation | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | Day 4

2009-08-31T17:10:00.005-05:00

It was a Sunday, and we were on our way to Vancouver, CA. It was not a bad drive from Seattle - only about 2 1/2 hours. We arrived at the border crossing about lunch time, and stopped shortly after for lunch. We detoured slightly to see the historic fishing village of Steveston located outside Richmond, a suburb of Vancouver. Steveston was a lovely spot - lots of restaurants, shopping, and an open fish market at the pier. People were busy walking between the boats, checking out the fresh seafood, and making their purchases. There was every kind of seafood imaginable.

Our next stop was to check-in at our hotel, River Rock Casino Resort. It was a nice place with the casino on one side and the hotel rooms on the other. We had a small suite which much appreciated after the cozy room we had shared in Bellevue. Our hotel was next to the airport, freeway, and water, a very handy location. A short drive put us in downtown Vancouver. We were most disappointed to find that our GPS system did not work in Canada.

All the side commentary will be me: This is the vehicle we should have road-tripped in, I just love these old school VW vans!

Brittany had us check out Lickerish, a local restaurant/bar. (My friend Danny suggested I stop by here, one of his good friends that used to live in the Dallas area moved home to Vancouver and opened this place. Many thanks to 'G' for being such a great host while we were there!) The open air design was perfect for a cocktail and appetizer, not to mention some interesting people watching. Afterwards, we drove to Chinatown where we browsed through the Night Market, checking out the vendors selling merchandise and food. We found a few bargains and sampled the local cuisine. Finally, we returned to our hotel for some much-needed rest.

This dessert was fantastic!

I really like this photo, why? I have no clue?!?

This is disgusting!

No words for this one.

Check out dads new ride...he won it in the casino!

Yeah right!!!!!

Family Vacation | Seattle, WA | Day 3

2009-08-30T16:42:00.005-05:00

Today we decided to stay in the Bellevue area for the greater portion of the day. We drove to the nearby St. Michelle Vineyard to tour the grounds and see the winery. Little did we know there was a concert planned that afternoon. The lovely grounds were covered with hundreds of people sitting/standing on the grass waiting for an afternoon concert. The sidewalks, thankfully, were clear so we were able to tour the plant. We enjoyed the tour - especially the wine tasting! We even purchased four bottles of a special after dinner wine to take home!

I love the Scripture on the window. "Wine maketh glad the heart of man" Psalms

Obviously, it was our day to indulge. Just down the road from the vineyard was a beer distillery, Red Hook. So, of course, that was our next stop. This stop was a little different as Brittany predicted. (How did she know that so well?) There were no lovely lawns, fountains, or flowers. No trellises or outside seating areas. The reserved and quiet winery group was displaced by a rowdy one at the brewery which got a little louder with each additional brew tasted. However, it was a fun group and the "guide" was humorous and witty which made up for the fact that we never left the room - no real tour included at all.

Brittany here: Haha! This was a mirror for sale in the gift shop...I thought this was pretty great!
Now that we were sufficiently relaxed, we headed to downtown Seattle (with extra luggage in hand). We had coffee at one of the many shops (a must) and stopped in H&M, Brittany's favorite European store, and shopped. Then we met my cousin and her husband and walked down toward the waterfront, checked on our "gum" creations, and moved on to the restaurants and shops on the water. Dinner was outside at Ivar's where we fed the seagulls and enjoyed a lovely sunset. We explored the Curiosity Shop and saw the mummy, walked through the arcade with an indoor Merry-go-round, and finally headed to our car. It was time to hand off our extra luggage and say goodbye again.

This photo is for my brother.

Family Vacation | Mt. Rainer National Park | Day 2

2009-08-29T10:26:00.009-05:00

Today’s outing was Mount Rainier. My husband and I ate breakfast while the kids slept in, if you can call 10 am sleeping in. Then we left for the day, driving about two hours to Mount Rainier. About the time we stopped for lunch, my husband spotted the mountain in the distance. It looked like an illusion from that distance, but it gave us something to focus on as we drove closer and closer.

At a small scenic stop, we pulled off the road and took a picture of ourselves (don’t you love the automatic option on cameras) in our spiffy convertible with the mountain in the background. When we got to the park, we put the top down (again) so everyone would have a great view of the park. Our first stop inside the park was a waterfall. It was only a short, but steep, walk down the path to get a great view of the waterfall from below with the spray cooling your face while you looked on.

Finally, we arrived at Paradise, where there was a Visitor Center, Hotel and Restaurant. Trails led up the mountain from there. Brittany did not join us (Brittany speak here: I had blood gushing down my leg...it is highly unusual that I decide just to not partake in hiking) due to the pesky and painful flies that attack you every step of the way. (If you keep a brisk pace, you can usually outrun them and they will leave you alone. Just don’t stop!) The three of us started up the trail, enjoying the incredible display of wildflowers that bloomed profusely everywhere within vision. It was a lovely sight and continued as the trail climbed. At some point, our son withdrew and joined his sister in the Visitor Center. My husband and I climbed until we reach the snow and the trail divided going to the summit or a camping area. We were delighted with the view of the valley, the marmots that cavorted over the rocks, and the brown-trampled snow. (I have to admit – without my husband prodding me on, I would have given up and turned back myself.) Finally, we headed down and met the kids. It was time to leave before the sun went down, and it was a long ride back to the hotel. What a wonderful day it had been!
Look in the shadow in the lower left corner. :)
This is most definitely a photograph of my parents walking back down the mountain, see the two little white spots walking through the green trees directly beneath the snow capped mountain's....yea, that's mom and dad!

This was our pleasant run-in with a fox, so cool, never seen one in the wild in person before.

Family Vacation | Seattle, WA | Day 1

2009-08-27T16:23:00.012-05:00

Time to reflect on our summer family vaca in the Northwest! I have asked my mom to help out making this a family collaboration by narrating our story, while of course, I supply the photos. (Shes the author of the family anyways). So at that, take it away mama!

Everyone got up early for their respective flights to Seattle, WA. Our flights reflected that fact that this would be a busy vacation! Brittany had to get up around 4 AM to catch a 6:00 flight, and we were not far behind her. We met at the airport in Seattle ready to start our vacation. As beginnings often go, this one was also fraught with delays and obstacles. Just off the plane, I forgot my new novel in the terminal. Just getting away from the airport was a struggle. The car rental’s shuttle was so small, the kids were left to wait on the next one. Then the line at the rental agency was loaded with people and the line moved at a snail’s pace. When we did get our adorable, PT Cruiser Convertible, our luggage wouldn’t fit! Things were getting off to a slow start on this trip. However, my cousin who I hadn’t seen in 18 years lived in the Seattle area, and we were reunited to reminisce and make new memories! What a wonderful plus to our trip! She met us at the rental agency with cold water (wouldn’t you know, we arrived during a heat wave) and saved the day by putting our surplus luggage in her car.

Well, finally we got away and headed out with my cousin and her husband leading the way! Our first stop was the Museum of Flight. The Blue Angels were in town for Seattle’s annual Seafair Festival! We had hoped to see them practice and land, but delays at the car rental agency took care of that plan. We did see the Blue Angels' jets and others and took a few minutes to pose in the cardboard plane for some fun pics.

Next, we went to the nearby Kubota Gardens. These lovely gardens, which were free to the public, had numerous trails, ponds, waterfalls, and bridges throughout the park. We enjoyed walking around and looking at the lovely flowers, taking more pictures and exploring the winding, and thankfully, shaded trails.

The infamous shot of the car that happens on EVERY trip even if we do take our own car and it has been photographed a million times before! The location is always different! :)

Late afternoon, we drove into downtown Seattle, parking in the Waterfront area near Pike Market. Since the market was closed, we used the time to become oriented and walk around without the crowds. We had a great time and saw the first Starbucks, Post Alley – where most of us added our own creations to the Gum Wall, and Pioneer Square. By the way, for those of you who have not been to Seattle, beware. The streets are very steep and walking can be quite strenuous!

Worn out and finally ready to end our lovely day, we headed to our hotel across the bridge in Bellevue, a very nice area. Time to rest and get ready for Day 2!

Stephanie & Stephen | SMU Dallas | Proposal Photographer

2009-08-26T11:53:00.010-05:00

Friday, August 14th, began as a normal Friday for me. However, things changed quickly when I got an early morning phone call from an excited mother. Her daughter was about to receive a very special proposal. I was invited to take part in that proposal as the surreptitious and stealthy photographer. The plan definitely appealed to my adventurous and romantic side! Needless to say, I was hooked and jumped into gear preparing for my part in this special family’s day. This wonderful mother connected me with the groom-to-be who patiently took the time to tell me the couple’s story and how he planned to bring his proposal to life. Just wait until you hear this story. What an awesome, sweet guy!

Stephen Sandbo and Stephanie Hancock first laid eyes on each other in the Gerald J. Ford Stadium during an SMU football game (Go Mustangs!). She was a member of the SMU Dance Team, and he was there to catch all the action. What Steve found was a very special lady! To save time, I won’t recount the entire story, but it follows the classic boy meets girl, boy gets girl, boy falls for girl - then on to the PROPOSAL!!!

Steve spent a great deal of time planning this special proposal. Several months before the big day, he told Stephanie that SMU was dedicating a plaque to him for contributions made as a member of the SMU Soccer Team. This plaque was to be placed on one of the seats in the Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Now he had a reason to take Stephanie to the stadium. Of course, the plaque she saw was a little different than the one she was expecting. Guess where this plaque was located within the stadium? Row 14, Seat 14! Way to go, Steve! In case you are wondering, Stephanie said YES!

Yusra & Fahad Qureshi | Carrollton, TX | Wedding Photographer

2009-08-25T16:06:00.004-05:00

Wow...it seems like FOREVER since my last blog post. Sorry to all of my faithful followers. Great news though, August has been a fun-filled, extremely busy, and successful month for Brittany Nicole Photography. Plus, I finally took a much-needed break and went on a summer vacation with my family to Seattle, WA and Vancouver, British Columbia, CA. And speaking of my trip, be checking my blog daily, starting Thursday because I will be starting a series of posts chronicling our journey one day at a time, and sharing it with all of you! Also, there are a ton of blog posts, currently on hold, that will be going up soon now that all my clients have been taken care of.

Now back to the important matter at hand! WEDDINGS! This post features a wedding shot in July, also shown in the Wedding Sneak Peek posted about a month ago. Yusra and Fahad Qureshi! I had the pleasure of photographing my first traditional Pakistani wedding right here in the DFW area. When Yusra initially contacted me, I was incredibly excited and somewhat nervous since I knew nothing of Pakistani wedding traditions. I had no idea what to expect! However, her family welcomed me just like one of their own, including me in the celebrations, traditions and memories which will stay with me for a lifetime. My sincere thanks to the Bhams for their amazing hospitality!

If you have not seen or experienced a traditional Indian wedding, you have missed a fantastic experience. The brilliant colors, amazing food, music, dancing and laughter in the midst of a beautiful tradition make it an unforgettable and joyous event. The photos can take it from here.

Their wedding venue was an intimate Indo-Pak Restaurant, BBQ Tonite in Carrollton, TX. Here are a few shots of the venue settings.

Just before dusk (the groom arrives in time for the evening prayers with the other men before the bride arrives) Fahad, the groom, arrives with his entourage. Now that just sounds awesome! Entourage! Here they have the coolest tradition, the family lines the entrance and greets the groom with hugs and hand shakes, before he takes a seat on the stages with his...yes...entourage!

Then the lovely Yusra arrives, and as her family and friends impatiently await her entrance, a few of her ladies prep her outside, ensuring that every last stitch is in its proper place. She was gorgeous!!!

Here the ladies line up with a beautiful piece of fabric and holding it high above everyones' heads. They escort her to the stage to meet her groom.

I love this one of Fahad gazing lovingly at his bride-to-be, and her beaming underneath her veil.

This is the moment that Fahad is the first to see his bride, the mothers carry to the stage a cloth and put it over the couple and then they gently place the mirror in their laps, while Yusra lifts her veil so they may have a moment alone. Such a sweet look!

After the rings are exchanged Yusra then removes the veil and is revealed to her family and friends.

Traditionally, the family then feeds the bride and groom sweets...I hope they were hungry...it was a large family!

Just a taste of the wonderful buffet provided by BBQ Tonite!

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Fahad Qureshi! It was an honor to be a part of your celebrations and to be taught Pakistani traditions by such a loving family!

Matt Tolentino | Dallas | Portrait Photographer

2009-07-28T14:13:00.007-05:00

What to say about Matt? He is one cool cat, just born in the wrong era!

My friend Matt is an über talented guy, proficient on just about any instrument he picks up. Matt humbly attributes his great success to his beloved accordion. He plays anything from 20's and 30's hits, bringing back what he likes to call, "Oldies, but Goodies" to German Polka to Tenacious D! That's right folks, name a tune and Matt can play it! He has an extraordinary gift and passion for music that can only be experienced through his amazing performances. His pride and joy lies in his 20's and 30's Big Band, The Singapore Slingers. Our friendship predates the formation of this group, and I remember listening to Matt’s amazing ideas and dreams for this group. It bears mentioning that this group is now, not only a reality, but a smashing hit! Congratulations to Matt on his success! Make sure you check out his group The Singapore Slingers, dancing to the tunes, while you venture on to the fun photo shoot I had with Matt!

Since everything Matt owns is from the 20's, his home made a perfect location to start our shoot. After we were satisfied with what we had there, we saddled up with Matt’s goodies and headed over to the 1930's Bath House Cultural Center at White Rock Lake to complete the shoot. My favorites are posted below!

These last few shots just touch on the number of cool things in Matts home! Thanks for allowing me a look into the life of Matt Tolentino :)

Fun with Photoshop | Dallas | Portrait Photographer

2009-07-24T09:57:00.008-05:00

ALL of my friends are amazing! Some friends are there when you need a smile, others when you need to cry, and others when you would rather just be plain lazy. But the closest friends are called on when one is in need, these are limited, few and far between. In life, your friends are your greatest resource....lucky for me Katie fits all of the above! This time she played guinea pig while I tried out new toys and ideas. Katie was a fantastic model and, more importantly, a great friend! :) Thanks Kate!

We had a fantastic evening. We jumped in the car and headed down to the Fair Park area to find some fun places to shoot. There were brightly colored walls covered in graffiti, the coolest vintage Volkswagen Euro Bus, rusted stair wells and more! Check it all out below! We finished up the evening out of the Texas Sun at The Amsterdam Bar for a refreshing drink before heading home. And if you’ve never been there before, it’s an awesome place. Everyone should check it out!

***I tried out some new editing techniques...please let me know which you like and don’t like! Your comments would be most helpful for future shoots! Thanks for looking everyone! Enjoy!!!***

Wedding Sneak Peek

2009-07-20T20:28:00.006-05:00

Happy Monday to all my fellow followers! What an amazing weekend, full of fun, exciting and all around new experience for me! I had the privilege of photographing my first traditional Pakistani wedding, many thanks to Yusra & Fahad for this great honor. Looking forward to editing all your amazing images, but for now here is one of my favorites! Be checking in the full wedding coverage will be coming soon!

Help me name my new puppy!

2009-07-09T10:42:00.005-05:00

Meet my new puppy! He is adorable and so much fun....however puppy needs a name and I just cant seem to make a decision. So I need some help from my friends, all of you blog followers!

Here are the three I've been thinking of:

Rocky
Oscar
Max

and feel free to suggest something totally new too!!! Thanks everyone!

Jennifer Fritz | Vintage Shoot | Portrait Photographer

2009-07-06T10:56:00.005-05:00

Much thanks to my friend Jennifer. I wanted a model to do a vintage photoshoot and Jennifer stepped up to the plate and did a fantastic job. All of the vintage hats were left by my grandmother and I had been wanting to use them for a photoshoot, they were all so gorgeous that we had such a hard time choosing which to use.

Jennifer and myself ended up taking the trolley from West Village down McKinney into the Uptown area, stopping in front of the Rosewood Crescent Court Hotel, where we found a family that was quite fitting to photograph. Then after a brief walk, jumped on a trolley back to West Village. Thanks Jennifer for humoring me and allowing me to use you as my model! Here are my favorites...what a beautiful model! :)

Happy Fourth!

2009-07-05T20:27:00.004-05:00

At the last minute I ended up driving with a few friends out to Crandall, Texas and photographed them shooting fireworks at another friends house. Here are a few of my favorites from the evening! Hope that everyone had a safe and Happy Fourth!!!

I had to post this one...this ones not such a great image cause I freaked out...this firework actually hit me! Thanks Dustan!

This little girl is just too cute! I love her expression :)

Monica | Dallas | Portrait Photographer

2009-07-05T15:57:00.009-05:00

Monica was a ton of fun to work with! :) She is a writer in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, check out her blog when you get a chance. We started our shoot at White Rock Lake to get some outdoorsy, natural shots. Then moved to Deep Ellum for some fun, colorful backgrounds, and of course to the top of some loft apartments to catch the Downtown Dallas skyline lights!

Southern Drive | Texas | Band Photographer

2009-06-21T00:04:00.005-05:00

What a great show! If you haven't seen this band perform live before you are missing out. I had the privilege of photographing Southern Drive in an awesome little hole in the wall in Deep Ellum, Adairs Saloon, also something to check out. These guys are fun, and know how to get a crowd up and on the dance floor!

Baker Hotel | Mineral Wells | Road Trip Photography

2009-06-18T13:11:00.008-05:00

The idea for a road trip to Minerals Wells' Haunted Baker Hotel first came to mind when I was surfing the beloved World Wide Web and came across a site that had some cool shots of the hotel. It was at that moment that I knew that eventually I wanted to photograph the haunted hotel myself. So I started researching (because I'm kind of a nerd like that). If you haven't heard or don’t know a lot about the Baker Hotel, and if this is your thing, you should check it out. (Just click on the hyperlink above, and it will take you straight to their website). Lots of fun history, and old pictures...and the best part of the website is the Virtual Tour which takes you on a journey through any room in the hotel.

Anyway, my friend, Mike, and I were talking and decided to take a road trip and, naturally, the Baker Hotel popped into my mind, and he went for it! Thus, a date was set and a few days later off we went. We collected a few more friends on the way and headed to Mineral Wells. The following is a compilation of images from our day! Enjoy!

After exploring as much of the hotel as we could get to, we stop by a local coffee house/video store near the hotel for some caffiene before out trek home...

.....oh and to catch up on the latest issue of Reader's Digest!

Claire | Southlake | Bridal Photographer

2009-06-17T16:28:00.007-05:00

This girl is crazy! Where to even begin?!? Claire was so much fun to work with - great personality, easy-going, free spirited, willing to do anything and gorgeous to top it all off. A photographers’ dream! I met Claire at her home in Southlake where our adventure commenced. We began at a little pond she had found a few weeks earlier, then moved on to a small park closer to the town square which included this adorable, but petite, stream running through it. We finished up our shoot in Southlake Town Square and well....the photos tell the story!

I turned around for one second and...YES she was standing IN the pond!

'The Look' - totally up to something!

Just a little closer...

And yes folks! She is most definitely in the fountain!

Yes, the security cops did indeed show up and proceeded to joke and laugh with us. Thanks Claire for an eventful day! :)

Lauren | Decatur | Bridal Photographer

2009-06-17T12:36:00.008-05:00

A few weekends ago I had the opportunity to tag along with Valerie of Atkins Photography on a photoshoot to Decatur, TX. Nice location for an evening shoot! And lucky for us the weather wasn't quite unbearable yet. :)

Special thanks to Jenn Bartram for helping out with the makeup!

Digital Wake Up Call Seminar

2009-06-11T12:45:00.008-05:00

Last week I had the opportunity of attending David Zisers’ seminar, Digital Wake Up Call, with my photog buddies - Caleb Fleming and Jonathan Foster! Thanks, Jonathan for passing along the info.

Seminars are always so much fun! You get a chance to get outside yourself and the projects you've been working on so diligently in your own business. Seminars allow you to meet other photographers, learn about new products and software, see new creative techniques from the camera to processing, and the ever popular topic of how to make your business more profitable!

Ziser started the seminar with an hour-long lesson on lighting techniques! I was thrilled to hear all of them, despite the fact that information overload was present by the time the conference was all said and done. Lighting is the aspect of photography where I'm most eager to expand my knowledge at present and see major improvements. Putting action behind the thought, I bought my first lighting umbrella, Zisers’ specially designed Zumbrella. It has a more transparent material which aids in wrapping the light smoothly around my subjects instead of creating harsh shadows! I’m super excited as I wait to receive it in the mail soon. Even more exciting, my Zumbrella came with David Zisers’ very own lighting DVD, so I can listen to it, not just once, but over and over, till I’ve soaked it all in. :) So be looking for more blogs as I experiment with lighting techniques, and you have my full permission to yell at me if you don’t see them posted.

From there, we touched on the subject of workflow and how to create a more efficient process after your big shoot. Photographers are always looking for quicker, more impressive and efficient ways to process their work which, in essence, makes their business more profitable. In this portion of the conference, I learned about some new software and Ziser validated the importance of some of the software I currently use, like Adobe's Lightroom and Photoshop. (Two of the best programs!)

Ziser finished off his seminar discussing techniques to make one’s business more profitable. He shared the business ideas and methods that he felt most contributed to his success. Ziser’s suggestions ranged from creating vendor prints and establishing those relationships to improving connections with clients, by creating, growing and maintaining those relationships.

I won’t go into specific details on any of these topics, but you will be hearing more about them as I start implementing them in my own business!

Fyi....all photogs should have Zisers' blog....great resource!

In all the seminar was great, despite the fact that Caleb and I did not end up winning any door prizes. ;) Congrats to Jonathan on his Animoto winnings; we know how excited you were!

Strokers Dallas | Fashion Photographer

2009-06-04T11:32:00.009-05:00

My good friend, Chelsey Fairless, contacted me recently with a request for fashion shots of the men’s clothing line at Strokers Dallas. Her father, Rick Fairless, owns the famous biker bar/restaurant/retail store, and most recently, the tattoo parlor, Strokers Ink. Here are a few of my favorite shots from our Strokers’ Fashion Shoot! Enjoy!!!

Sarah | Dallas Arboretum | Maternity Photographer

2009-06-01T15:27:00.010-05:00

What a special day! Mother to be accompanied by her hubby, Matt, my mama, and I spent some time on Mothers Day out at the Dallas Arboretum playing in the first fragrant flowers of summer. The day was a little warm, and we didn't want to wear out our beaming expectant mother, so spending some quality time in the shade was a must. Thanks Sarah and Matt for a fun shoot! Congratulations on your little one!

Vote for me!!!

2009-05-29T09:58:00.004-05:00

Brittany Nicole Photography has been nominated as one of the best businesses in North Texas! Best Photographer of the WFAA-List! How exciting! So please click on the link below and go vote for me, and send this to all family and friends and ask them to do the same!

http://alist.wfaa.com/brittany-nicole-photography/biz/302404

Special thanks to everyone who takes the time to vote!

Sol Irlandes Mexican Grill

2009-05-19T15:31:00.008-05:00

Anybody around here like Mexican food?!? Yes of course!!! Here are some shots from a project that I shot for a friend of mine, Danny Munoz Chibli. He is in the process of redesigning the website for Sol Irlandes Mexican Grill. Be on the lookout for the new and improved site featuring photography by Brittany Nicole! Great Food + Great Friends = Fantastic Times!

Be sure to stop by the bar for one of their tasty margaritas! I can personally vouch for their incredible bartenders! :)

Sabrina | White Rock Lake | Bridal Photographer

2009-05-12T16:23:00.014-05:00

What a fun day! The day started out with picking up an assortment of flowers and creating my very first wedding bouquet. Yeah, what do you think? I apparently came home with an odd flower combination because my mom wondered how I was going to produce a photographic bouquet from the medley. Thanks mom! Always love your support. :) Just kidding mom. In all honesty, she helped me put it together, and we had a good time. So thanks mom! Then I went to pick up my gorgeous model, Sabrina, for the day, and that's when the fun really began! We stopped at Artistik Edge Hair Studio to get a fabulous up-do which is also where friend and fellow photographer, Caleb Fleming met up with us...check his work out! After Sabrina’s hair was done, we ran over to Northpark, where we met up with make-up artist Jennifer Bartram at Sephora. She transformed Sabrina’s look, making her eyes pop and enhancing her already beautiful facial features! Good job team – now we were ready to go for the shoot!!!

From there, Caleb and I took over and started in with our fun. We posed Sabrina here and there and, of course, all the cars honked at our model along the way. Of course, since Dallas seems to have developed a rainy season, we shot in overcast skies again. Luckily, however, the rain held off long enough for us get in a good shoot! First, we took her to White Rock Lake, then some cute Victorian homes and finished up our session at the Rosewood Crescent Hotel. Here is a taste of our day! Enjoy!

Thanks for looking! Leave the love!

The Evans | Savannah, Texas | Maternity Photographer

2009-05-07T10:43:00.009-05:00

What a sweet family! And what a cool place to live! The Savannah Community off of 380 near Denton. This inviting master-planned community offers unlimited photos opts! Many thanks to Clint, Misty and Blaise for welcoming me to Savannah and allowing me to spend some quality time with them!

Cutest little boy ever!

You know what to do! Leave me some love!!! :)

Solaris Studios | Business of Wedding Photography Workshop!

2009-05-04T16:47:00.007-05:00

This weekend I had the opportunity to attend a "Business of Wedding Photography" workshop by Aric Hoek of Houston, TX. Being new to the wedding photography industry, I'm doing a great deal of learning through practice shoots, attending workshops, meet ups with other starting photographers, sharing info and skills. So much to do! I'd love to go over the entire workshop for you from beginning to end and share everything I learned, but I know many of you would not be interested in my blabbing on and on about business. So I'll just share some of the basics with you. :)

This is also somewhat of a to do list for myself, so I remember all the things I need to do to stay focused and remain productive and proactive!

1) Shoot, shoot, shoot!

2) Keep my website and blog updated with new images from my shoots.

3) Nail down my studio pricing and policies, don't want any legal trouble! ;)

4) Master the business side of things, I've ALWAYS leaned more to the creative side - so its a stretch for my brain to understand the ends and outs of the business side - but my photography is my passion and this is a major part of it so I'm giving you my word now that I WILL learn the business aspects and get them down!!!

And last but certainly not least:

5) ADVERTISING!!!! Yes, I'm going to start looking into my best options for advertising....scary...this means big money! (So please if you have any good ideas please leave a comment) And with advertising, I will, hopefully with a few more bridal portrait sessions under my belt, look into entering a Bridal Show soon! Yeah! Fun! Brides, brides and more brides! :)

So those are just a few of the many points discussed this past weekend, that are now on the top of my to do list! Thanks for reading! Leave some love ;)

Chris + Jamie | Dallas Arboretum | Engagement Photographer

2009-04-29T15:31:00.008-05:00

What a cute couple, tons of fun and loads of personality! Chris and Jamie were such troopers, this wasnt exactly the ideal weekend for bright, sun-filled, Springtime photos, but we had a blast despite the overcast, gloomy day! The Dallas Arboretum made a great location to take some Spring shots with lots of vegetation! Enjoy!

Leave me some love!!! Thanks for looking!!!

Farmers Market in Downtown Dallas

2009-04-16T15:10:00.018-05:00

A few weekends ago I met some fellow photography buddies at Farmers Market just to have some fun with our cameras and here are a few shots from the day:

Another Photographer, my brother

C'est la Vie!

2009-04-15T09:19:00.019-05:00

So I was digging through some old photos for a friend of mine that needed some Paris pictures and decided these were too fun not to post! So enjoy a taste of my life when I lived in Paris! :)

This is one of my favorites! I love all the lights, this is in the middle of the Champs-Élysées, looking at the Arc de Triomphe.

Haha...so this one makes me laugh. This is in front of the Montparnasse Train Station near my apt. and this hoard of pigeons were just chillin in the grass and I got ready for a picture, then had a friend of mine run through them so they all took off like this.

And now here are just a few fun shots to look at:

The Thinking Man by Rodin

Paris from the Arc de Triomphe

The City of Light! Paris at Night!

Gargoyle from the rooftop of Notre Dame and that cathedral looking thing in the background is Sacré-Cœur - beautiful place to be and also an amazing view of the city.

From the rooftops

Some amazing street musicians...and yes we all danced in the middle of the street!

And the beautiful Notre Dame Cathedral

I hope you enjoyed your quick tour of Paris through my lens as much as I enjoyed reliving it all. Be looking for more of my past adventures occasionally popping up on my blog, as well as, some upcoming shoots I'll be posting. Thanks for stopping by!

Thiago in Caruth

2009-03-13T11:19:00.013-05:00

Ok so I FINALLY have some images to upload to my blog! This is my friend Thiago 'Concert Pianist' Nascimento. We decided to hang out at SMU one evening this weekend and get some fun headshots for his website. I'd love to hear your thoughts, comments and critiques!!! Thanks everyone.

NOTE: All these images are completely unedited.

This is one of my favorite ones I think, I love the lighting on the organ and the light shining on his face.

Ok so I was kinda having a hard time with the lighting in this performance hall. What do you do when you have really harsh stage lighting coming from above and really no lighting on the face? (And I dont own any lighting that I can take with me) I used an external flash in the next image and this is how the lighting came out.

We are going back to reshoot soon. So let me know some thoughts before then! Thanks!