A Little Business...

Good morning everyone! I hope this Christmas season is feeling merry and bright! We've at least got bright covered, thank you seventy degree weather in December...

I wanted to give you a few important updates:

1. Thank you to Lauren and Nikki, our Facebook Fan contest winners! Stay tuned for details about our next contest. We need to reach 500 fans to keep the goodness flowing.

2. If you need to reach me without actually speaking, please use my email address, brandi_burkett@yahoo.com as opposed to texting. This will ensure your important message doesn't get missed.

3. New packaging, a new blog and finally...a website are in the works! I'm also in the process of designing new packages and a complete product line that will give you lots of beautiful ways to display/use your images.

4. Finally, new blog posts are coming. It will be awhile yet before I return to slide shows. In fact, I'd love to hear from you guys about slide shows! Does anybody watch them??? Would you rather see a show every quarter with images from several different weddings or do you like seeing one wedding at a time??? Do you care, haha???


Instead of an image, I give you the second-best (sorry Joe) Christmas song ever :) Happy Friday!
B.

Making Tracks

Good morning! I will be out of town until Monday, December 6th. If you need to reach me during this time, please message me at brandi_burkett@yahoo.com. I will be traveling to Chicago via train so my coverage may be spotty but I will return your messages as soon as possible.

I know lots of you are anxiously awaiting your completed work and I thank you for your patience. Please be assured I will be working while I travel; in fact someone will get their wedding processed in the Ozarks, haha!

And for a little icing on the cake: one of my favorite frames from Pam and Shawn's engagement session...

Cheers!
B.

C'est Fini....

I've officially closed out my 2010 season! For the rest of the year I will be meeting with new clients and working hard to get all of your images processed and delivered.

I would like to thank all of the wonderful couples I've met and worked with this last year. Some of us will see each other again in 2011 and some of us will only meet again in passing. I'm really amazed at the number of times I've come home from a shoot this year and marveled at how awesome the people I just photographed were. It's been a pleasure and a privilege to experience your love for each other through the lens of my camera.

And because all posts are better with pictures...please enjoy my favorite image of the year. I think it might be my favorite image of all time... Ever.

Cow says "moo"...

In the last week I've learned something about cows. They're nosy :) I've had two engagement sessions on ranches in the last week and was entertained and at times slightly disconcerted by our bovine audience. It's a little weird to be standing with your back to fifty or so cows, all staring intently at you...at least for a girl from California anyway :) Here are a few pics from my adventure Friday at Rattlesnake Ranch.

Happy Mooonday :)
B.

Bliss Baby!

Last month I had the opportunity to shoot Kati and Tyler's cover image for the November/December issue of The Wedded Bliss. I didn't shoot their wedding, but I had a great time hanging out with them, The Wedded Bliss staff and the nice guys at the Gilmer Fire Department who let us crawl all over one of their trucks. Hopefully that won't be the last time I get to shoot a picture from the hose bed of a firetruck! Here are the three shots that were considered for the cover and two more of my favorites from our session (of course one is a shoe shot!).

Thanks again to Sandra and J.C. at The Wedded Bliss! The magazine is on news stands now all over East Texas. Go get one!!!

Have a great weekend!
B.

Nikki and Jonathan's Engagement

It's weird to be sitting here in a sweater, freezing, while I post this July session. It was hot...and so were Nikki and Jonathan ;)

Courtney and Kent's Wedding

If you don't like the color pink you should probably skip this post :) Otherwise, please enjoy it and then pop over to Facebook for the extra scenes...

The Tooth Fairy is Real!

And she's coming to my house tonight!!! My little boy Nathan just lost his first tooth! I'm pretty sure it's the very first tooth he cut :) I'm not entirely ready for my baby to be grown up enough to lose teeth! Sigh.

When I was pregnant with Nathan someone gave me a book of essays written by other mommies. The author of the first essay said, "having children means learning to live with your heart walking around outside of your body". I don't know if the author was the person who coined that phrase, but I do know that she was right.

Happy Friday! :)
B.

As Promised....

Your Monday morning blog love has been delivered! Coming up later this week:

Courtney and Kent's Wedding
Nikki and Jonathan's Engagement

Also, a huge CONGRATULATIONS to my dear friends Joe and Cam on the birth of their beautiful daughter, Ellen Sophia! I will be traveling to Chicago the first of December to visit and photograph their new little love! Please join me in wishing this sweet family blessings!

I hope you all have an incredible week!

Cheers!
B.

Brianne's Bridal

I loved this shoot! We had a fabulous location (which is available to my brides, let me know if you're interested), wonderful company and beautiful overcast skies that threatened rain all day but never delivered. We laughed, sipped pink champagne and tiptoed around invisible snakes. Thanks for the memories ladies :)

Aubrey and Brandon, Part 2

Now that you've had something sweet...

Aubrey and Brandon, Part 1

I had so much fun shooting with Aubrey and Brandon, and I loved so many images from their session that I had a hard time limiting myself to just one blog :) I love how many different styles we were able to represent in one session. Part one is sweeter and softer. Part two is....

I am a "We"!

Meet Stacy!

Please join me in welcoming Stacy Horton Stelzel to the "team"! If you've been following the blog for awhile, you'll probably feel like you recognize Stacy. I had the pleasure of shooting her wedding in March of this year.

Stacy is a graduate of Baylor University and holds a degree in Film and Digital Media. She also enjoys long walks on the beach and candlelit dinners... :)

She will spend the next season training to assist with all aspects of image processing and album design. In order to ensure that she knows my style inside and out she will also be shooting alongside me.

I'm so excited to be working with her and about the considerable talent she represents! Once she's fully trained lead times will be shorter, I'll have more time to blog and hopefully I'll get to sleep more than four hours a night! :)

A huge THANK YOU to all of my clients! I absolutely love what I do and I appreciate all of you for giving me the opportunity to keep doing it!!

Cheers!
Brandi

Ashton's Bridal

Phew, College Station in late May! I'm hot all over again just thinking about it! It's hard to be beautiful in oppressive heat and uncomfortable shoes but Ashton did it and made it look easy :) If you'd like to see images not posted here, please visit my Facebook page...

Chanse and Brandon's Wedding

A beautiful May wedding, two fabulous people and a four-legged ring bearer.... What more can you ask for :)

Taylor's Bridal

This is one of my favorite bridal sessions! I'm always begging you girlies to bring props or crazy jewelery and Taylor delivered. I loved her beautiful parasol and the bright, happy colors in her bouquet.

There are even more images on...... Yep. My FACEBOOK page!

Faith and Tyler, Engagement

I know. It's been forever. There are actually 16 more completed sessions to blog! I won't get to all of them today, but I vow to blog at least three times a week until I'm caught up :)

As always, more of Faith and Tyler's session is available for your viewing pleasure on my Facebook page. Become a fan while you're there, and suggest my page to everyone you know! It's free :))

Falon and Josh

Need more? Visit my Facebook page! Go see, become a fan, share the love :)

Carly and Wade's Engagement

Brianne and Kooter's Engagement

View additional images from this session on my Facebook page...

A little sugar for your coffee...

My last little one started kindergarten today and the nest is officially empty! I cried a little this morning as I watched Avery march down the hall, but not sad tears. Proud tears. I'm so proud of the little people my children are becoming; intelligent, imaginative, funny and kind... I'm so excited for the days and experiences that lay ahead of them! To watch them grow and learn everyday is a privilege and blessing that I will forever endeavor to deserve :)









And now a little nostalgia...because the beginning of this post wasn't sappy enough...



Be good to each other!
B.

Rana and Randy's Engagement

Danin's Bridal

Taylor and Hunter's Engagement

Diana's Bridal

Back on Track...

Just a quick post to let you all know I'm back from vacation and will be returning calls and emails throughout the week. New blog posts are coming soon! Also, I've finally started a business page on Facebook where I'll post sneak peeks and other information. Add it! Once I get to the end of this incredibly busy season I'll start some fun new promotions and contests through the Facebook site that you won't want to miss!

Thanks again for your emails wishing me a great vacation! It was wonderful in every possible way!

Be good to each other!!!!
Brandi

On Vacation...

I will be out of town on vacation until the first week of August. I will be taking calls and accepting bookings during this time, please do not hesitate to contact me. If you are waiting for work, thank you for your patience! I have my computer with me and will be working as time allows. I hope everyone is having a safe and wonderful summer season!

Thank you!
Brandi

Whitney and Eric's Slide Show

A Love Letter for Me!

Letters like this one that I received from Chanse and Brandon are such a gift! "Exceeding expectations" is my simple mission statement and when I get a letter like this I know I'm hitting my mark. Thank you both so much for taking the time to share these thoughts with me, I'll sleep well tonight :)

All the Single Ladies, All the Single Ladies.....

That's two in a row. I think that puts Grant right under Prince William on the most eligible bachelor list, lol!

Abby & Scott: Slideshow

Lori's Bridal

Abby's Bridal

Baby Kayden

My second infant session, for my son Nathan's kindergarten teacher :) I traded her for straight A's.

Chanse and Brandon: Engagement

Chanse and Brandon: Side B

The only thing better than really great images is having a blast getting them!

Marissa's Bridal

Ashton and Chris: Engagement

Heather's Bridal

Haley and Jeff: Slide Show!

Jeff and Haley made me smile all day, hence the slide show song I selected for them. They're the kind of people who would help TP your house for a laugh but then show up the next morning to clean it up :) Nice people rock!

Baby Andrew

Here for your viewing pleasure is my very first infant session! For the record, I am not venturing into the world of infant photography. I loved shooting this perfect little man, but will be reserving the rare infant session for my former wedding clients. Holding a baby screws with my brain; two minutes and I'm planning a family of 12. Time to step away from the baby...
A HUGE thank you to my friend Tammy from Clarity Photography for coaching me through this session. Her tips made our second attempt at this session far more successful than our first. Hire her, because she's awesome. She takes nice pictures too ;)

Kaelen and Lane: Engagement

Shooting with Kaelen and Lane in Houston was an absolute blast! It's couples like this, and um frozen screwdrivers, that make it a pleasure to work late into the night :) Thanks again for a fabulous weekend guys!

Wendy's Bridal

Moving Day!

Just a quick note to let you all know that I'll be moving tomorrow and will be easiest to reach by phone or text for the next few days. Obviously moving during my busiest wedding season to date isn't the best case scenario, however being back in Tyler will enable me to better serve you in multiple ways. If you're waiting for work, hang in there...it's coming and thank you again for your patience. If you need to mail a payment or a contract please contact me and I'll email you my new address.
Cheers!
Brandi

Allie and Felipe: Engagement

One of my favorite e-sessions ever! We covered so much ground, hit so many locations, took a ride in a Jeep and finished the day with a little acrobatics. I know two things after this session: 1) I love my job 2) I need a Jeep! Just saying Jeep makes me smile a little. Try it...jeep, jeep, jeep....told you :)

The very last image is my favorite. We grabbed it really quickly at A&F's house when they stopped in to change clothes. It's their first house and Felipe proposed to her in the backyard. It's a spoonful of sugar.

Stacy and Mark's Slide Show

Hey Stacy and Mark! It's your slide show finally! This season has been incredible, but as a result of all that incredible-ness I'm way behind on the blog. Thanks for waiting so patiently and for being so great to work with! If you need more Mark and Stacy check out their engagement session here and Stacy's bridal here! Thanks for watching...