Visiting family

Hey ya'll,
We are all home in Louisiana visiting John's family in Patterson and my extended family in Pineville. It's refreshing to go back to your routes, even if just for the weekend.
Kari and Jeremy's wedding was so pretty last Sat with all the fall colors. I bet they are having the time of their lives in Cancun this week!!
Things are really heating up with family sessions and booked engagement and bridal sessions for my spring wedding couples. I am hoping for lots and lots of great weather to be able to shoot outdoors as much as I need to.
I am excited to go to the Clay and Jane tour workshop this week coming to the Houston area!

Senior 08 cards are on the town!

I am thrilled to tell ya'll that my first mass marketing campaign is arriving in folks' mailboxes tonight. I know because I got one of my own. Do you have any idea how freaky it is to get your own work advertising you in the mail? I designed an awesome two-sided 5.5x8.5 postcard showcasing two amazing seniors. Can't wait to hear from the graduating crowd!
The last round of beach sessions went really well. It was quite windy but the temps were tons more pleasant than in August.
I also had the honor of photographing 69 members of my church's confirmation class for 2008 on Sunday. That topped out my largest group ever done on an alter!
Looking forward to Kari and Jeremy's awesome ceremony this Saturday!

catching up

Hi everyone,
Jeff and Joy's wedding at the Aquarium and All Saints was gorgeous!! The couple is in Spain as I write this. I can't wait for them to see their photos when they return!
We are headed to the beach for our last round of sessions on Saturday. Looks like the weather will hold out for us after all. We completely missed the storm that just moved through south eastern Texas. My family in LA is getting hit today though. Safe prayers going their way...
I am working on the first edition of Keepin' Up With Carlino's, our newsletter.
Have a great day!

All updated photos on the website!!!

I am so excited to announce the latest update to the Carlino's Photography website. What a summer it's been and the photos truly tell the story of where, when, and who I was privileged to photograph over the last three months.
All the opening show photos as well as the galleries are new, so please stop by and turn up the music. I couldn't bear to change out that song by Liz Phair, "Why Can't I Breathe" because it just rocks and because it is so in line with my thoughts on your moments. I am constantly thinking of new angles and new ideas to keep it fresh but am also thrilled to celebrate in these awesome moments we captured over the last few months.
ENJOY!!!

Too exciting!

Mornin' ya'll,
It definitely be early for lack of better language. I am heading out to photograph my fourth labor/delivery birth experience. What a wonderful way to experience the miracle of life, PAIN FREE! haha
On that same note, over the last week, I have had eight sessions and three of those were newborns and all of which I was able to do in their homes/nurseries. Let me tell you something--that was a good idea because I love location shooting and you get to incorporate the nursery that the parents have worked so hard to design for the baby.
I also had a birthday party, family sessions, and more during that time. All during a period that we thought we would need to evacuate again. Houston area was spared again for sure...
Looking forward to this morning, bridals this week, and another fun birthday event this weekend.
I never thought that the month of August would be so busy in south Texas!
By the way, the beach session recently ROCKED. My next goal when I dig out from album design and normal editing is to update the website, so stay tuned.
Have a great Wednesday!

hot hot--

Well, we have finally had several days of sun and intense heat in a row. At least things have almost dried out now! I love being down on the grass with my families and all this moisture has really cramped my style! haha
We had three awesome weddings in a row and I am so glad for the break in the action to work on them this week.
Saturday is the first Galveston beach session and I am so excited! Lots of families booked....Weather Channel says that the high will be 97 degrees with a chance of an isolated shower. yikes!! hot
I am headed to the local NICU today to follow up on twins being released/going home this afternoon. How exciting and life changing for these parents!

11 years!!

I am so happy to share with ya'll that John and I made 11 years yesterday. We had a great meal at Carraba's, saw License to Wed (is there any role that Robin Williams cannot play??), and then hung around the Town Square until late.
I have an awesome wedding to witness/capture in College Station this evening (please God, no more rain) and Johnny will go with me on the job for the very first time in four years! There are actually private, furnished cabins at this place and the bride offered for us to stay tonight after the wedding. I love when my couples feel so comfortable with me that they open their hearts to us. That means the world to me....

We had SUN!!

Saturday's wedding with Erica and Broc was amazing!! Things went as planned despite the humidity and clouds. The most fabulous aspect was having the sun finally come out for the first time in days for a few quick shots on the grounds at Briscoe Manor. Looking forward to four portrait sessions this week as well as another amazing couple getting married in College Station next Saturday...

Still raining...

For those of you who don't live around me, you will find it interesting that Houston and its surrounding suburbs feel as if we are drowning, something similar to the 40 days/40 nights biblical text. IT IS STILL RAINING... I have never seen the Brazos River this high and it's actually quite a scary sight.

Had to reschedule two outdoor family sessions due to weather this week. We have a huge beautiful wedding tomorrow and while it's not outdoors, my style is and will always be to steal the bride and groom for 15 minutes right before sunset to go outdoors and photograph at sunset. Not sure we will even see a sunset tomorrow but I betcha her bouquet that we will be outdoors anyway!

YAY!! Three more awesome couples called to book their 2008 wedding dates this past week! So jazzed about them all...

Need to get rest before a very long day tomorrow--

Brides, brides

What a busy week it was! Eight sessions total, including a gorgeous bridal up at A&M and a beach wedding in Galveston yesterday. Talk about humid--lens fog was incredible to deal with off the Gulf of Mexico! I have to say that I was spoiled with the great beaches and better looking water from the Pacific Ocean. Oh, and the no humidity factor as well...
Looking forward to a week of four more sessions, including a huge wedding coming on Saturday as well as two more new couples for 08 weddings! woo--hooo!!

It's finally drying up!

After days and days of rain, our area is finally drying out which means yours truly (the outdoors/on location photographer) can get back to work! We've been fortunate to have a couple of dry yet very hot and humid days in a row, so four of the seven sessions this week have actually been able to happen. It's so hard on the client as well as me to be so prepared and then have to cancel because you are at the mercy of the weather.
I am headed back up to A&M for a beautiful bridal session tonight and then a beach wedding in Galveston tomorrow.

More CA photos

Couldn't resist...here are a few more favs from last week.

CA photos

Happy 4th folks!! It's still raining south of Houston tonight and will again tomorrow. Had to cancel bridals tonight as well as the local fireworks show...very bummed about both.

Finally, photos from the CA trip--my close photographer friend (and her family)and the Pacific Ocean. Can it be any better?? This lady and I get to see one another every year at WPPI in Vegas...

Back to rainy Texas

Well, I must say that I am missing the crystal blue skies and 70 degree weather of Santa Barbara. I don't think I saw a cloud---even ONCE. Delayed in Los Angeles simply because of bad weather in Houston (of course) and found out it has rained every day since I left and continues to rain on my parade tonight.
Saw Hollywood, Rodeo Dr, Santa Barbara Zoo, and photographed a wonderful family on the Pacific Coastline at sunset.

Photographed a sweet four month old girl and her siblings today as well as booked two more weddings for June 08. If it's not RAINING again tomorrow (on the 4th), I am supposed to be heading up to A&M in College Station for some amazing bridals on campus. Can't wait...

Fun fun in the CA sun!

California weather rocks! This is my first adventure out here just a bit north of LA. Can't wait to go out to Santa Barbara tomorrow and shoot at the beach at sunset. This water has got to be more beautiful than the brown Gulf of Mexico!
Blue skies, light winds, who couldn't plan a wedding date out here?? I mean, you could plan it and it you wouldn't need to worry about rain or hurricanes...
Loving it!!