Ashley's Senior Portraits

A good friend of mine, Ashley, wanted her graduation photos done at Denton Square, so we spent a better part of a Sunday mid-morning photographing them. She plans to go into teaching in Texas, and I couldn't commend her more for that, as educators always have my support.

The natural progression flowed from starting at the center with the courthouse to branching out and taking advantage of the textures and stairwells around the square. I noticed I was more vertically-inclined regarding orientation during the shoot, so this set of images make for a longer post in nature.

The courthouse always provides a nice central location, and the antiquated stairs gave a nice contrast to her dark outfit:

We stopped in front of doorway and photographed this, which was taken with an off-camera remote flash:

When she changed into her second outfit, the green gave a stark contrast with her hair, so I decided to go with a headshot:

Sometimes the backdrops can be unplanned, as in this instance, I shot this in a parking lot with her sitting on some building materials:

We moved to the mural on the side of Recycled Books, Records, CDs, joining her with her alma mater, UNT, as she sports a second green top:

Towards the end, I wanted to get another headshot, this time lying on the grass:

Then, comes the cap and gown:

Congratulations, Ashley! College is nearly done and over -- you made it!

Rasy Ran Photography

Fall Update and Chris and Mandi's Engagements

My apologies, blog world, I have neglected you far too long. I have been sorting out various sessions and events, preparing for them, photographing them, and finally now get a chance post what I've been recently shooting in the next few days. Also, I recently began freelancing for Arlington Magazine, a new start-up! You can view my first article and photos here.

At any rate, onto Chris and Mandi's downtown Fort Worth engagement session!

I initially met Chris through our appreciation of cars, and we periodically kept in touch since we went same school, UT-Arlington. When Chris contacted me about providing coverage of their wedding, I couldn't be happier for them.

We started the session on Sundance Square and photographed around the DR Horton Tower:

 When we stopped for this photo briefly in front of the parking garage shutters, there was an elderly woman who patiently waited on the other side in her whisper-quiet Mercedes. I just wanted to point out some of the things viewers don't think about when seeing the finished product:

We walked north a couple of blocks and I had them stop at one of the nearby courtyards for this shot:

 We also photographed at the Fort Worth Water Gardens, which made a nice retreat on an early Friday afternoon:

After the session in the gardens, I had them follow me as we drove to Trinity Park, which is always welcoming to walking:

They sat at a bench so I could get this shot of Mandi (it was actually the third bench, the sun kept interfering with her eyes, yikes!):

The ontrast of their hands and jeans with a detail of the ring is always a nice touch:

Oh, I forgot to mention, they are committed Stars fans. I wanted the photo to express a bit of their relationship, and more of their following:

Right underneath the Interstate 30 overpass along the Trinity Park trail, there were individual colored columns that wanted photos in front of, so I snapped away:

Chris and Mandi had their first quasi-date (as Chris termed it) at Mijo's in Pantego, a restaurant that serves tasty Mexican food, and they decided to end the session with a few pictures there:

The date of their wedding!:

And I'll leave the session with this photo! Photos of food, not to mention enjoying it, always ends on a good note at the end of a long session (who doesn't love food?):

Thank you Chris and Mandi for rescheduling with me due to inclement weather, and for working with me throughout the whole engagement session. You two looked beautiful together -- I look forward to Mandi's bridals soon, and the wedding at T&P!

Rasy Ran Photography

How My Dog Inspired Me Into Pet Photography

After Rochelle and I took Sheva home a little over a year ago, she has been family ever since. My experience with pet ownership started with feral cats who quite literally walked into my life and home.

Though, I have to say, having a dog is...different. Dog owners can relate, they can be extremely loyal, bring you up when you are down, want to go everywhere you are, and instill a type of unconditional one-way love you experience when you walk through the front door.

If we didn't see her sitting patiently, yet eager when we grabbed a leash to try her out at the Richardson Animal Shelter, she may have been somebody else's dog.

The fact being, she was somebody else's dog for two years, and then dropped off at the pound because she wasn't a excellent purebred.

If it wasn't for that happening, I wouldn't have cataloged pictures of her, with people, with the cat, with other dogs, and share that same camaraderie that pet owners possess. While I love my cat and past cats equally as much, it provides a different view on a pet's life who was once feral and showed up one day, and another who was abandoned simply due to their genetic makeup.

It is that bond that I want to understand and share with the world, the warming emotion that is evoked only by your pet(s) when you see a picture of them.

Should you be serious about preserving your pet(s) in photographic form, I can be there. I'd like to provide the candid coverage in the simple comfort of their home and/or at their favorite retreats. I'm starting at an introductory rate that will only last a limited time.

I look forward to not only working with you, but your smaller company.

Rasy Ran Photography

Taos, New Mexico in 2011

This year's annual trip to see Rochelle's grandmother in Taos was probably the most relaxing. I've been there each year for the past three years, and this year we actually didn't do too many outdoor activities. We did, though, bring two patient dogs with us. One, being our 3-year-old black Labrador, Sheva, and a dog for her grandmother, a cream colored six-month old Shepard mix.

With the record wildfire in Los Alamos beginning to spread on the day we arrived, it eventually led to cancellations of many outdoor sights and sounds later in the week. The lack of activities didn't really bother me personally, since I took so many overdue naps, I lost count. That was something I almost never do back home, and it gave me a chance to unwind.

I was always fascinated by these power line crossings on Interstate 287. In the 12 hour trip there, this is the only time they cross the road:

Our good friends Jay and Kayla were road tripping up to Utah, and stayed in New Mexico for a couple of days during their journey. They wanted to stop in Taos to say hello and have us document their vow renewals alongside the West Rim of the Rio Grande Gorge - a beautiful location for two beautiful people, congratulations!:

Here is a collection of seashells, left on an edge, we found on the way back from the trail. A sign of a distant offering:

We visited the Mabel Dodge Luhan House and took our furry friends with us:

Here's a shot of our friend who watched as Sheva played in a nearby water stream:

Later during the week, the fire worsened, and affected my respiratory system a bit when I read outside. Here's a shot of the sun that was peeking between all of it:

You can see the gradations of smoke to non-smoke as you go further back:

And that was pretty much our trip. Even though we didn't travel up, down, and side to side around Taos, it was, as I said previously, the most relaxing:

Thanks again, New Mexico. Until next year.

Rasy Ran Photography

Kiran and Jake's Wedding

A good friend of mine and former colleague, Aisha, introduced me to Kiran and Jake, who held their three-day Pakistani-American wedding around the metroplex. Kiran and Jake held their first day at Roma Palace in Garland, then at the Omni Dallas Hotel at Park West for the second day, and closed their wedding weekend with a brunch at the Worthington Hotel in Fort Worth. The wedding was colorful and ornate, and executed very well.

I wanted to start the entry with a few details of Roma Palace; and here are some that caught my attention:

While guests were mingling and making their way into the venue, I took some candids:

Jake makes his entrance to the venue from outside:

And then inside:

Kiran's nephew stands at the front of the line with the group that is accompanying her into the building:

Jake waits briefly on the chair pictured in the first image:

Here, you can see a selection of the decor that rests upon the ground and stage:

Kiran makes her entrance, as her entourage of family members follow suit:

And then helped onto the stage with assistance from Jake:

I wanted this image to focus on just the colors and decor, rather than their faces. You can see that the colors of the wedding worked well here:

The two are then dressed, fed, hugged, and conversed with:

Two chairs are placed at the opposite end of the room, as the final ceremony of the night consisted of dance performances put on by friends and family alike:

On the second day at the Omni Hotel, we started off with environmental and detail shots again:

Kiran and Jake were ready shortly after we got there, as we blocked off some time for some portraits and a relaxing period before the wedding:

We can't forget the henna:

Then I moved to taking some bridals which continued to the presidential suite they were staying in:

As guests were packing the front hallways of the ballroom, the fruity drinks and appetizers accompanied their social gatherings:

Both groups make their separate entrances under the archway, and here they are in a diptych:

Their wedding officiant briefed the audience in English about the passages he was going to read in the Quran about the sanctity of marriage, and then read them natively in Arabic, which I thought was pleasant:

The rings were exchanged and dinner went well underway:

Celebrations moved to the cake table, sliced, and served:

Kiran and Jake shared the stage with sisters of the bride and groom who shared details of their memories in their speeches. They were sweet and sentimental:

 

When I saw this image in the editing process, I wanted to include it just for the clothing contrasts, and it was taken during the speeches, too:

Jake is then briefly guided by Kiran's father in signing the marriage certificate:

Did I mention there were a lot of pictures being taken through their wedding?

The third day took us out to the Worthington Hotel in Fort Worth. The celebrations here were lighter, since it was a short brunch, but it was nice to way to wind down for everyone partaking in the wedding:

I made this spot a location for most of the formals early on, and had a nice long walkway when I used the telephoto, here:

The two met and greeted with more family and friends that arrived at the hotel:

During the brunch, I wanted to make a few final portraits of Kiran and Jake, so I asked for their time, and we went outside:

Kiran shows some of Jake's family her henna after going back inside:

I wanted to close with a shot of the rings next to the delicious, sweet cake that was served:

Kiran, Jake, and everyone that was involved, thank you all very much for being a part of this and working with me to make the wedding coverage streamlined. I really appreciate you guys for bringing us out there, until next time!

Rasy Ran Photography