The CK Boys

Clark and Colt are brothers. They wore matching outfits, carry the same initials, and exchanged kid-like feedback off each other throughout our session. It was a nice, simple session that started in the Grapevine Botanical Gardens and finished at the nearby train depot. Here are some of the images that were made:

The CK boys and I started at the main fountain. They kept circling it, so I had to keep moving so I can be at the opposite side!:

After following them en route to look at some of their favorite sights, koi fish, they glanced over the chain - from where Clark reacts:

Then it was time to explore the park itself. Like all photoshoots, I wanted to let the kids explore and give me a sense of direction for the shoot, because I didn't want to constrain them to just formal poses. They wanted to cross the bridge, and I just asked for their attention for this photo:

 

Here, Colt breaks away from Clark in an open space, and another photo shows the two walking in unison:

 

We stopped for a formal towards the end of the gardens:

Shortly after, we came to a playground, where Colt pronounced each letter:

When we arrived at the train depot, Clark took a natural-liking to sitting on top of a train trailer:

Colt focused his attention to the sounds of the nearby train, which was picking up passengers headed to the Fort Worth Stockyards:

I wanted to end the post with a photo of the two of them looking outward:

It was a pleasure to work with these two, and can't wait for the next time I get to document them!

Rasy Ran Photography

Oliver and his Birthday Friends

Last weekend I was commissioned to photograph Oliver's first birthday and his great friends. The opportunity came from Carrie, whose family I've photographed before, mentioning that some friends and their little ones are coming into town and wanted casual, candid photos.

Photographing five families simultaneously is no easy task, but The Shorthorn taught me to always work on my feet, so I took nothing for granted. The shoot took place at Carrie's friend's home in Fort Worth, and served as a beautiful backdrop to work with:

I largely worked outside, as the party moved from indoors to outdoors early on. Instinctively, I wanted to get a shot of that transition:

The kids, like Ellen here, spared no time in getting to the playground and the nearby bounce house:

The wind wanted to play too:

The birthday boy himself cheesing, with the brother in his own bouncy world:

It wasn't every kid for themselves, there was sharing too!:

Come time for Ollie's first birthday song and cake-to-face smashing, I could tell he was excited:

Some of the good company that was present at the party:

…And the playing continued!:

Sam pausing for a moment before heading down the slide:

The craziness that ensues inside the bounce house:

Jack sliding, while looking at the camera of course!:

The net didn't stop Charlie from seeking out the camera too:

When an unexpected guest arrived up top, all the kids made sure to remind the parents:

When everything started to wind down, you can't help but open a cold one - only when you're old enough of course:

Thank you Carrie and your great company for having us over. I'm glad to have met everyone, and I can't wait for the next time!

Rasy Ran Photography

Jordan and her American Bulldogs: Bam and Jema

I had the pleasure of meeting Jordan and her two American Bulldogs, Bam and Jema, for a photoshoot at Breckinridge Park last weekend. After learning that it was the first park outing for Jema, left in the first photo, we learned what worked and what didn't. She was definitely energetic as a her bigger brother, Bam, and followed his actions as he's been out before.

If you haven't been to Breckinridge Park before, I just want to say that it's a very large park with fields, meadows, and a lot of trees. We didn't utilize the entire area because I didn't want the dogs to wear themselves halfway through the shoot.

We started out on the fields on the northwest side and worked our way into the park. I had them stop for a few formals first:

Knowing they are young, healthy dogs, I wanted Jordan and the two to make use of the fields:

Here, Jordan stopped briefly during the session for a one on one moment with Bam:

As a dog owner, this shot makes me pretty happy, because the presence of dog leashes would have interrupted the open space. It was only a few months ago that Jordan started training them without leashes -- she's pretty good!:

We stopped on the bridge for a few pictures, and I thought this candid of Bam, attentive as ever to the passers-by, exemplifies his outgoing personality:

I saw during the shoot that Bam can jump pretty high, but after seeing Jema's display here, I'd say she's more graceful:

A display of Jema and Bam knowing that "sharing is caring":

Before the photoshoot started, Jordan's mother told me she wanted a picture of her daughter and the dogs in a bluebonnet field. After some researching, I found this spot was conveniently located five minutes away, in front of the Fujitsu complex in Richardson, and made for a beautiful picture:

I cannot thank Jordan and her wonderful company enough for coming out, assisting at times, and for making this a pretty straightforward shoot. Until next time!

Rasy Ran Photography

The Wright Family in 2011

If there's one thing I love, it's watching a family grow through photographs. I photographed Emory when he was one-year old at the Dallas Arboretum, and again at The Great Pumpkin Festival; like a parent would say, "kids grow fast!" Kecia and Blake brought me into their home in Keller to commemorate Emory's 2nd birthday.

I set up the studio backdrop and lights in the playroom, but before I did, I wanted to take a photo of this. The arrangement of their name coupled with the variety of characters was untouched:

Emory went in for a kiss from mom during reading time:

The recently turned two-year old proudly displaying his number:

A green chair complemented the blue quite nicely; I left the modeling to Emory:

After rolling out the gray backdrop, I got a photo of them all laying down, and it turned out great:

I wanted to end the blog with a photo of Emory being raised in the air, because I kept laughing when this happened and liked how carefree he looked -- just like how every session should be:

My sincere thanks to the Wright family for letting me continue to document their growth. Here's to many more!

Rasy Ran Photography

The Hargroves Family

The Hargroves recently welcomed their second child, Teagen, and wanted photos to commemorate. The props you see in the following photos all belong to them. I want to remind to past and future clients to contribute ideas, props, and anything that is special and particular to them on a photoshoot.

Teagen kept sleeping after we placed him on top of the pillows. I joked how he'll be adjusting to this as his new bed instead of a crib:

Trey and Tiffany suggested cradling him with the blanket, so they held them up carefully and I made this photo:

You may recognize the stool from the sneak peek blog; it served as yet another spot for the newborn to sleep:

When Teagen woke up, he looked pretty comfortable  He was placed in a woven basket with a couple of antlers they brought along:

Here, Tiffany displayed the love and affection between a mother and her child:

 

I wanted to end the post with the family together; Tristan moved in to kiss his new baby brother:

 It was a pleasure getting to meet and work with The Hargroves. I look forward to future sessions!

Rasy Ran Photography