NATALIE + DAN had a beautiful and outrageously fun day. It doesn’t take long to see how in love they are and how much fun they are with out a doubt going to have for the rest of their lives. Good luck Natalie + Dan on all your future adventures together!! Shout out to my video team for their amazing work on Natalie + Dan’s film.

NATALIE + DAN are fun loving, down to earth, let’s have a good time people. We filmed their engagement story at the Houston Zoo – totally fun and chill just like them. It was a beautiful day, albeit a tad bit warm as Houston weather goes. Seeing as how they just flew in from up north where the weather was much cooler, they embraced the day like champs and the animals helped provide a great distraction. Although I think they were wishing for cooler weather too! Their wedding film turned out so beautiful and fun, just like the two of them — that’s up next so get ready!

MEAGHAN + MARIO.  What can I say – we had a total BLAST. Meaghan and Mario hosted one of the most fun receptions I’ve ever been to. Complete with Karaoke and lots of spontaneous surprise “cold blasts”. Yes, you heard me right. They had a cold blaster thing. At their wedding. To blast the dancing crowd with a chilly fog full of little ice crystals. For real. IT. WAS. AWESOME. And boy can Mario sing. From Sinatra to Shaggy – no genre was missed. Meaghan was gorgeous in her gown, and showed off her super fun party side by changing up her dress during the reception to a fabulous little frock. You all know that here at HHP we are now serving up some delicious, artful, cinematic films alongside stunning photography . Check out Meaghan + Mario’s short film as well as some of my favorites images from the big day. Congrats Mario + Meaghan!!

Below two B+W images by Sara

Below top left image by Sara

Below bottom right image by Sara

VENDORS:

Photography + Cinematography: Holly Hoyt Photography
Venue – Getting Ready: Hotel Sorella
Venue – Ceremony + Reception: Royal Oaks Country Club – Houston, Texas
Event Planner: The Bride + Mary Rios – The Event Planner
Hair + Makeup: Blush & Co. + Perfect Face
Floral: Dream Bouquet
Brides Cake: For Heaven’s Cake
Ice Sculpture: Ice Occasions
Photobooth: CuPics
Ceremony Music: Divisi Strings
Officiate: Dr. Hite
DJ + Karaoke : Pete Arm
Linens: Elegant Beginnings
Rentals: Aztec

Haha. All jokes aside, JP + Angie are just so adorable. Beyond words. You’ll see why in a minute. But first, I want to declare the first big announcement. Holly Hoyt Photography will now be offering CINEMATOGRAPHY + VIDEOGRAPHY services. Yes, you heard me. This is huge. I’m working with a VERY talented group of cinematic style shooters and post production experts. We have teamed up to bring you an amazing experience all around.

So, now, when you think about your wedding photos, think about a FUSION of memories, captured in stills and cinematic glimpses into one of the most crazy awesome days of your life. In addition to being able to go through HHP for cinematography, I also have a wonderful videographer that will be on board as well to offer traditional style videography, full day coverage, highlight video, and full ceremony coverage. So whether you want movie style memories, or to capture every second of the day from beginning to end, grab the whole experience RIGHT HERE.

Check out the little sneak peek of the engagement shoot short cinematic goodness that just happened last week on my shoot with JP + Angie. Then, check out their awesomely styled throw back to the Great Gatsby – with modern day flare. Yeah, I know, they are cute. Now for the SECOND BIG ANNOUNCEMENT. All of my engagement shoot sessions now have a complimentary STYLE SESSION with non other than the fabulous Alexandra Evjen with AVE Styles.  SHE. IS. AMAZING. Yes, she did style this fabulous shoot you are about to see. She is originally from Houston YA’LL. She lives in Phoenix now, but will be working beside you via awesome tools like Pinterest and Skype to get you all the vision you need to look fabulous. I can’t even put into words how SUPER excited I am to have her expertise and magic happening for YOU! So, that’s the BIG NEWS. And here is the oh-so-sweet JP + Angie and their Gatsby inspired day at the park. 

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

 

 

 

 

PRESIDIO LA BAHIA, and our Lady of Loreto Chapel in Goliad, Texas, where Ramon and Abby got married is a very special place. To them, to me, to Texas History. We grew up going to church in this chapel. Our childhood priest, Father Ralph, married Ramon and Abby just 2 weeks ago – February 18th. In December of 1835, ninety two men gathered here, in this chapel, and signed the First Texas Declaration of Independence from Mexico after the Presidio was captured in October by the Mexican military during the Texas Revolution. A lot of history happened between those walls and around it before that time, during that time, and after the Alamo fell a little over a year later. We added one more little nugget of history the day Ramon and Abby got married. If you would have told me back in Jr. High, that one day I would be capturing lifelong memories of two amazing friends turned soul mates united as one in this crazy cool, wonderful place, I wouldn’t have believed you.

But here we are.

And some of my favorite images from the day…..Trish Badger second shot with me and you’ll see some of her images noted below as well. Thank you for making the day even more fun, Trish! Also, to 3 wonderfully fabulous and talented ladies over at Blush and Company - Diane, Lauren, and Cindy (who was there in spirit with us!) Diane took care of the makeup, and Lauren, the hair. They rock.

Left Top Image + Bottom Image in the set below by Trish

Below image of Ramon by Trish 

Bottom Left Image in the below set by Trish

Left Image below by Trish

Loved that we had two angles here – mine on the left, hers on the right.

Two photos immediately below by Trish

The below image is my favorite that I took from the first look.

While I covered the back and the balcony, Trish caught some great moments up close in the two below.

But today, I wanted to share something that came across my path that was/is powerful enough to move me into motion this morning and a wonderful message to creatives. Yes, watch now before you continue reading.

I may be one of the only people who read Elizabeth Gilbert’s, “Eat, Pray, Love” and found it more annoying than enlightening. A discussion for another day, but this point leads me into why watching this TEDx talk changed my opinion on who I think she is – post “Eat, Pray, Love” – and why I respect her more now.  Although I’ve never had the success that Elizabeth Gilbert has had, which brings on the fear of never being able to “top” what I’ve already done, I can relate so well to what she says about being creative, fears that go along with creating, and the association of our profession having success linked to manically depressed, alcoholic, suicidal and oppressed artists/writers/creatives. Being creative is a risk. We take the risk because we have a need to express the ideas that move through us. Being a creative, then becoming successful from it, then having more life to live to create even better things is a monumental pressure to a creative person. The process is similar to life.

We are born (we create something new) – We change and grow (we go through the process of creating a tangible thing) – We accomplish life goals (we  produce a finished piece) – We are acknowledged for our life successes (we put the piece out into the world for others to judge) – Our physical life ends (our pieces have been expressed, out in the world, taken in, celebrated, they, then too, become old).

Once we’ve created our best works, the question becomes what do we do now?  The fear is the thought of not living up to our best again. Never creating something so beautiful again. Overwhelming to the soul of an artist, ending this life seems like the only way to start again fresh, in a new life. Must be why suicidal tendancies are prevalent among extremely talented artists. If you take anything away as an artist from what was said in the clip, take this: Continue to show up. That’s it. Show up. Do your art. Do your part. Live in the moment of creativity and just BE. The rest will take care of itself. Keep creating. A huge part of what makes me love doing my photographic art is that it just is….it’s the process, the doing, the revealing, the change, that make it beautiful to me. If no one else thinks so, that’s fine by me. I’m just going to show up.

ABBY + RAMON just got married. 2 days ago. This is a blogging record for me  - posting the Monday after. Of course it’s Abby’s bridal shoot because I couldn’t wait another day to show her off. Abby and I have been friends since Jr. High. And let me tell you, that is NOTHING in time compared to how many of her closest friends have known her. In fact, her and Ramon have known each other almost all of their lives, since kindergarten. It was totally amazing to be a witness to their friendship and love on one of the biggest days of their lives. I’m so grateful to have been a part of it.

ABBY flew down from Brooklyn to do her bridals right here in Houston. Sarah, Abby’s MOH drove a couple hundred miles back and forth between Houston and our hometown with Abby’s mom and mother in-law to be just to be here for our 2 hour shoot. You guys rock. Chateau Cocomar, in case you haven’t heard yet, is one of Houston’s newest up and coming premier wedding and event venues and I’m so blessed to be on their short list of preferred photographers. So much thanks to Diane (makeup) and Lauren (hair) over at Blush and Co. - I LOVE THEM. Fabulous light, gorgeous architecture, and one stunningly beautiful bride…….

When I met Stacey, I knew I was in for something different. I had no idea HOW different – but I was super excited.  Their wedding was actually last year on Halloween weekend, but because I’ve been as slow as a turtle to blog, I decided that a perfect way to start this upcoming Halloween week was to post their engagement session (wedding to follow). Stacey shared with me that her and Jimmy are ALL about Halloween. To say they love it might be an understatement. They LOVE it. When Jimmy told me that he used to work down on the Kemah Boardwalk and he was good friends with the guys that put on the awesome Kemah Haunted House every year, I was like woah. Perfect.

We got an ENTIRE hour before it even opened to run around and play. It was an amazing opportunity and I’m not sure I’ll ever get one like it again. First let me say this – I had no idea what I would be working with lighting or  non-lighting wise. I had never been to this haunted house before and even Jimmy + Stacey weren’t really sure what scenes we would have to work with. So I brought along a couple options for lighting confident that I could figure it out when we got there. Once we walked in my heart started racing. It was pitch black. And I’m talking can’t see your hand in front of your face black. (Duh, Holly, that is what a Haunted House is!) But I had hope. So we walked through a few of the first scenes to get the feel for where we might want to start. By the way, if you ever shoot in a haunted house, it’s a good idea to give yourself more than 1 hour. I’m sure we wasted a good 20 min. just getting lost and finding our way back to different places.  I’m starting this post off with my favorite series and one of my most cherished engagement pictures ever. There are so many reasons that I love these images. The challenge to even take them, the chemistry of Jimmy + Stacey, the organic and un-replicatable nature of them, and one my favorite subjects, light.

Pitch black room. Fog machine. Laser light show. Holy Heaven on Earth (minus trying to focus in darkness). I’m pretty much going to build this room one day and have some crazy fun. We spent about 20 minutes here – and I wasn’t ready to leave. But we had other scenes to discover – here are a few….

Clowns are super scary. And I suffer from Coulrophobia.

And here are some images from the second half of their shoot – the “normal” part They are one sexy couple!

Two weeks ago I had the chance to have an official studio opening for the Annual Spring and Winter Street Exhibition. I’ve been working on a few personal projects alongside of my weddings and was so excited to be able to share it with friends, family, and some lovely people I had the chance to meet for the first time. A huge thanks to all of you who came by to say hi and for all of you that traveled from out of town to show your support. For those of you who didn’t have the chance to make it by, here are some images from the show and some previews of the Summer//Fall Collection of the Color. Bokeh. Light. series. Oh, and the cake batter truffles, they rocked.

// Online store coming soon! Holiday + Note Cards available now - contact the studio //

// Check out the new ART section of my website to read more about the pieces //

Thanks to the amazing @lepattillo for the collaborative creative force behind our floating feather balls!

It seems as if I’m constantly striving for balance. Aren’t we all. One thing that has been on the back burner for me this past year has been blogging. My friend Mr. Dakota (pictured here) shares my sentiment. Not that I don’t love doing it, it just takes time and usually I pour my time into things like shooting, album design (because i love it!), client development, new projects, etc. The beginning of this year was a perfect time for me to get back to blogging, especially since my new beautiful site re-design by Promise Tangeman was complete in the spring. It gave me an excitement about posting that I had been lacking for quite some time. So here we are. Starting fresh. Once again. There are going to be some great changes around this blog including catching you up on the past 2 years of weddings, engagement shoots, bridal shoots and everything in between. So brace yourself, for real this time, and enjoy the fresh images coming your way.

Oh, and yes, I will do another post on this canine with attitude (and his owner) – you’ll see more of his inner feelings about  having a mini impromptu photo shoot.