Dallas Blooms: Hannah’s Portrait Session at the Arboretum

Hey guys! I am so pumped to share this session with you because this sweet girl is literally one of my favorite people on Earth! Her little hippie heart had a vision of capturing portraits while being completely surrounded by flowers and you could say, she chose the right person for the job, Ya’ll, Meet Hannah!

Hannah is a young girl attending the University of Texas at Arlington for her Engineering degree and I could not be more proud of her. I met Hannah a few years back when she started working at Piccolo Mondo (my other side gig) and we became fast friends. It has been such a joy to see her tackle school and work and play in such a graceful manner.

For awhile now, I have been bugging her to allow me the chance to photograph her portraits. I knew she would be the perfect model and man, was I right or what?

We met for brunch that morning and began a leisurely start to our day. After chowing down on some delicious Breadwinners, we jumped in the car and began the long haul from Keller to the Dallas Arboretum. She wanted flowers and I knew that there is no place better than Dallas Blooms in April.

Hannah had brought a few outfits with her and I was so glad because each complimented different aspects of the surroundings. Her purple top worked wonders in the lilac and wisteria patches. Even the sunglasses she brought were a perfect touch.

As we walked around the park, we took time to enjoy the scenery and had time to choose which setting would provide the best lighting. Hannah was patient and relaxed throughout the shoot and I was thankful for her trust. She listened to direction and when things got a little tough, posing-wise, she would flip her hair or go totally serious on me for a completely different kind of look. The result was simply stunning.

Though playful and wild, this girl gets things done. For real, ya’ll should see her planner. It is insane how much she packs into a week and I admire her for all her hard work. She is giving 150% to her schooling, busting her butt at not 1 but 2 jobs and in her spare time, she hustles for charitable functions in her sorority. Did someone say Rockstar?

This shoot was the perfect opportunity to unwind and have a little fun playing with my camera’s settings. I owe a huge thanks to Hannah for trusting my creative vision and speaking up for what she wanted out of the shoot. She must have said ten times that her Mom was going to cry when she saw this and I won’t lie, I kinda did. But, I am 5 months pregnant and love this girl to pieces so I have a semi-excuse for the tears.

We ended the shoot by circling back around to a tree that Hannah just loved and I am so glad we did. I love this image so much. The tree was dramatic and provided the perfect backdrop for her curls and that pretty red sundress.

Our last stop was the petunia house. I’ve been to the Arboretum for Dallas Blooms before and seen some pretty amazing displays but these houses were seriously so awe-inspiring. I captured a bunch of Hannah in the house and then I let her have the camera so my sweet friend could capture my little baby bump and those images will be some that I will cherish forever. It was a joy and a pleasure hanging with my girl for the day and I hope I get to share more from her in the future. Thanks Hannah! Lots of love to you my friend!

 

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Fall Mini Session: Little Hippies

A few weeks back, I got to meet up some of my favorite little ladies for their Fall Mini shoot! Zoee, Paizlee and Mia are always down for a night of dressing up and this go-around would be no exception. We met in Keller, Texas with the intention of brewing up a little bohemian magic.

When I first explained to their Mamas what kind of shoot I had in mind, they both were anxious to see what kind of a vision I really had in mind. I kept it simple. Think Hippie, Flowerchild-like, without all the tie dye. I brought my favorite Grateful Dead tapestry from college along and threw a Magnolia trimmed wreath together to match the girls’ floral crowns and wah-la, hippie-chic!

 

Little Mia was up first.  This child could not be more photogenic. Every time we put her in front of the camera, she just shines. She is always such a trooper. Just take a look at her last session with us here. This little lady and her Mama braved trekking through a sunflower field for their Mommy+Me Session. Now, tell me that flower crown isn’t the icing on this princess’ cake?

 

Zoee and Paizlee were up next! These sisters have the greatest chemistry and I am always in awe of their connection. They know how to push each others buttons yet can still finish each others’ sentences through a fit of giggles. Though so very different, their bond is so very complimentary. It’s clear to see that when push comes to shove, these girls have got each others’ backs.

After a few rounds of Ring-Around-the-Rosie, the girls were eager to bust out the Dreamcatchers that their Mamas had brought along. They pranced their way through the park and each girl made sure to blow a few wishes around.

Before too long, the sun began to set and because it wouldn’t be a Fall Mini Session without a chance to play in the leaves, we let the girls dive in. They had a full on war throwing leaves at one other but Zoee really got a kick out of it. She has this contagious laugh that just resonated through the group.

As usual, these girls were the perfect start to a busy Fall Portrait Session season.  This could not have gone more perfectly. The flower crowns, that golden sunlight and the giggles of 3 exuberant little ladies is exactly what I had in mind. I love the boho feel of this moody portrait session and I can’t wait to see where these girls take me next time!

For Christmas Card inspiration, take a peek at these girls’ Christmas shoot from last year! We had a Hot Cocoa party at Bear Creek in Keller, Texas and it was out-of-this-world cute!

And, don’t forget that we have our DFW Holiday Mini Special going on throughout the month of November! The package includes a 30 minute session at a TBD location within DFW, electronic delivery of your downloadable gallery and the print release. For more details, email me (Angelina) at therustienailhead@gmail.com.