Luyi and Mike's Engagements

Luyi and Mike are inseparable. They are a couple that once you met for the first time, you understand how they became one in the first place. 

I was asked to photograph their engagements, and Rochelle and I are good friends of them, and were honored to be guests at their wedding, as opposed to the role of photographers we usually take. I started the session at two local creeks in Richardson: Duck Creek and Prairie Creek, then finished the engagements at the Dallas Arboretum.

I brought them over to a small field that was surrounded by some trees:

Then moved them over to the small crossover bridge, where there were some rocks you could step on:

Further down the creek, I had Mike sit down with Luyi's head on his lap, for a closer headshot of her:

Here's one of the first verticals I shot of them, towards the end of the shoot for Duck Creek at a nearby fence:

A detail of where Mike volunteered as a firefighter, and Luyi's Alma Mater:

Mike is also in the Navy, and they have plans to move to Seattle in the future (don't forget us little people!), and wearing military attire was present during the shoot. We took these at Prairie creek, which had a waterfall as well:

Another detail, this time of the ring with the caduceus insignia:

And then a tighter shot of Mike holding his bride-to-be:

When we arrived at the Dallas Arboretum, I started them at the Crape Myrtle Allee:

Then slowly made our way through the gardens pretty early on:

At this point, there was less directing on my part and more candid interaction on theirs. This is a point I make sure to bring up with couples who are uncertain of how a photoshoot will go - where I will remind them that towards the second half of the shoot I will be involved in directing less, since the couple naturally interact more:

This was a spot they picked, and I just started snapping away:

A little bit of Texas flair:

And closing with a detail of the ring, holding pinky fingers:

Luyi, Mike, next year can't come any quicker!

Rasy Ran Photography

The CK Boys in 2012

A little over a year ago I spent some time with the CK boys in Grapevine, this year we went to the Fort Worth Stockyards. Many qualities that stand out haven't changed -- they still wear matching outfits and feed off each other's energy as brothers always do. Here are a few from that day:

We started in the middle of the stockyards, photographing in front of a door, then a barrel:

There was a bench nearby with some horseshoes fixed into the ground:

We went over to a pen with some longhorns in there, and I took this:

After making our way down to the other end of the stockyards where the stores are, these next three were more on the candid side with some directing:

What happens when you pose boys against a wall and they spot a nearby wagon? They want in the wagon:

In front of a restaurant-front:

Eager to make their way to ride some animals:

Artificial ones, I mean. Being up there made them pretty happy!:

Leslie, Sean, thank you again for this opportunity. It's always a pleasure to see you guys.

Rasy Ran Photography

Will and his family, a revisitation

Will has grown noticeably compared to the photos I took of him over a year ago. Julie and James brought me out to James' grandparents' ranch for a session this year, and it served as a fantastic location. Fields, fences, train tracks, walkways -- a lot to work with given that much.

We started on the paved driveway leading up to the house, and I made this photo:

On both sides of the driveway were wooden fences, and I had them on one side with their back turned to the sun, then filled in with a golden reflector for these photos:

Laying in the grass of a field is always a plus:

We walked to the back where there were train tracks and took some down there:

You probably recognize the same toy train from the previous shoot, handmade by a close friend:

The horse pen was next, where I brought in some flashes for fill light since the sun was coming closer to the horizon:

And focusing on Will for the next two:

Julie wanted a few photos with one of her horses, Trace, so we took some with her, and with Will as well:

While Julie was riding for a little bit, it was time for some father and son pictures, here's one of them:

Then one of just Will himself:

They setup for a little reading session in front of the horses, where I made another picture of Will, too: 

Julie then brought out her other horse, Finn, for some photos:

Julie had to get herself jinxed, and ask what was the craziest thing that happened during a photoshoot was -- only to top it at the end of the session by getting thrown off Finn. Luckily, she was wearing her helmet!

Thank you guys for bringing us out there, I look forward to the next time.

Rasy Ran Photography