Green Oaks Wedding Chapel, Arlington TX – Bryce & Hailey

Bryce came to us as a young man back a few years ago for his Senior Portraits.  The next time we saw him he was all grown up.  Prepared to deploy to defend his Country as a United States Marine, he and Hailey were married at the Green Oaks Wedding Chapel in Arlington TX.  Although they were on a budget, both for time and with their money, we were still able to capture the spirit and emotion of the day in a short window.  Although you wouldn’t know it by looking at his tough exterior, Bryce became quite emotional at the thought of leaving Hailey on his deployment.  We are so proud of him, and we were honored to photograph their wedding.  Here are a few of our favorite images.

The Marine

The Bride

The Details

Together

A moment alone

The Happy Couple

The Exit

The State Fair of Texas Engagement Portrait Session { Amanda + John }

The State Fair of Texas is a Dallas tradition.  We took time with Amanda and John to photograph their engagement portraits on the Fair Grounds.  They are fun loving and we had a great time with them.  We set them up to play a few games, ride a few rides, and just generally enjoy each other.  We worked with a variety of lighting styles, and really got most of our best work done after sunset.  We wanted to feature the lights and vibrant colors of the fair as our background when we could.  I think the photos show our use of mixed lighting quite nicely, and we are very happy with the way the images turned out.  By the way, Shana shot all of the images on the rides, because Chris gets motion sick .   THAT’S why we have two photographers!

If you are reading this after the State Fair of Texas closes its doors, and you want to get a similar type session, consider booking us to photograph with you at Six Flags Over Texas, The Dallas World Aquarium, or even watch for those mini-carnival type scenes that pop up from time to time in the fall and spring.  Enjoy Amanda and John’s photos.

John won the slide race, but his hair didn't blow back like Amanda's did....

The Carousel Ride never looks like its going this fast....

The view AFTER the carousel ride...

A cute moment near the appropriately named ride "Love Bugs"

The iconic Texas Star Ferris Wheel

Fall is Perfect for Senior Portraits

When Should I take my Senior Portraits?  That’s a question we get every day.  Our answer, other than NOW, is a function of the style and personality you want your portraits to take on.  Our personal favorite as far as a “when” is in FALL.  The LONG fading light in the afternoons is better than any time of year, and we generally are without unexpected storms or wind.  Either way, if you are in Dallas, Arlington, Mansfield, Midlothian or Waxahachie and you are looking for Senior Portraits that are fun, innovative, fashionable and creative, please consider Ivey Photography.

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Wedding Tips for the Best Photography

Ivey Photography is a Dallas Wedding Photography Studio based in Midlothian, TX.  After 10+ Years of Photographing Dallas Fort Worth Weddings, they are experts in capturing the stolen moments that tell the real story of your wedding.  Contact:  Chris Smith, Ivey Photography, 403 West Main Midlothian, TX 76065 972-723-2464 www.iveystudio.com

 

We are passionate about wedding photography.  We want your wedding portraits to be more than you could imagine.  With that said, we have some wedding day tips for you that will help you get the most from your wedding photographer.  We assume after you read this, you’ll be booking us immediately . Not every wedding has perfect circumstances,  but by using these tips, hopefully we will be able to deliver images that are beyond your imagination.

1.  See each other before the wedding.  The reason this tradition exists dates back to arranged marriages.  It wasn’t bad luck to see each other, it was actually forbidden.  We understand that you may still believe in the tradition, but at least hear us out before you completely rule it out.

Benefits
a.  Pictures, pictures pictures.  There will be more high quality images from your wedding day , period.
B.  True Romance.  Seeing each other before the ceremony allows us to arrange the moment for you and have it happen EXACTLY how you want.  If you want the TRUE reaction from your spouse, the time to get it is when you are alone, not when you are standing in front of 200 people.  It will be more romantic, more intimate, and more exciting than you can imagine.  And the photographs will prove it.
C.  No Rush.  No matter how much time you plan for between your ceremony and reception, you cannot shake the feeling of having to RUSH to your guests.  No matter how much you say “We will have time”, you NEVER have enough time alone.  Every couple we photograph is “in a hurry” to get to the reception.
D. Time is Money.  Take FULL advantage of our time and talents by arranging AMAZING sessions before the wedding guests arrive.  Let’s meet at a favorite location, work the grounds of your church, or shoot in the best light.  You are paying GOOD money for photography, and seeing each other before helps you maximize that opportunity.
E.  PARTY on.  Don’t spend time with us when you can be celebrating with your guests.  Moving your photos to the pre-ceremony hours saves you time that should be spent with your family and friends.

2.  If you ABSOLUTELY cannot see each other, PLAN ACCORDINGLY.

a.  ARRIVE EARLY.  The earlier we start, the less stressful the photos will be.  Give us time to work with the Bridal Party and the Bride’s family, and THEN move over and work with the Groomsmen and the Groom’s Family.
b.  Build a GAP.  Instead of SQUISHING your wedding and reception one hour apart, build a 2-3 hour gap between.  This is great if you are moving from your church to a reception site.  Give your guests plenty of time to make the trip, and give us plenty of time to make the photos you want, without feeling the RUSH.  Have an afternoon service, and an evening reception.  Invite immediate family and close friends to both, and invite more guests to the reception only.
c.  BE ON TIME.  No matter what, be on time!  The best planner in the world cannot stop the clock.  Plan for extra traffic, extra phone calls, and budget your pre-wedding time wisely.  You would be surprised how many sunset photos never happened because everyone was running 30 minutes behind.

3.  Hire a certified Planner.  As much as your budget will allow, we urge you to hire a planner to keep track of your time and keep all of your vendors accountable.  More often than not, weddings that run off schedule tend to pinch your photography time first.  A certified wedding or event planner will keep things moving, cater to your every need, and work closely with us to be sure we get the time we need with you to make the portraits you are paying for.

4.  Relax.  Above all, try to enjoy yourselves.  So many couples are so caught up in the process and the details, they forget to slow down, look around, and enjoy their day.  Your images will reflect your attitude completely.  The more you can go with the flow, let professionals do what they do, and understand that everyone is on your team, the more you will enjoy your day.

We hope we can be there to photograph for you.  Congratulations on your engagement.

 

 

Leah & Marvin – Wedding at The Aristide Event Center, Mansfield

Leah and Marvin were married in Mansfield at the Aristide Event & Conference Center.  Their outdoor ceremony was set in perfect light, followed by a reception in the ballroom.  Here are a few of our favorite images from their day.  Keep in mind, it was 107 degrees at the start of their ceremony…..

The Bride

Finishing Touches

Leah & Her Mom share a laugh

Marvin gets last second advice from his dad

Leah & her Dad down the aisle

Overview of the ceremony

A moment alone

Beautiful light

Delicious Cakes

Marvin watches Leah dancing with her Dad

Marvin & the Guys

The Bridal Party

The Last Dance

Wes and Pamela’s Wedding: Marsailis Ave Church of Christ, The Orion Ballroom – Dallas

Pamela and Wesley have been one of our favorite couples to work with.  They are fun-loving, playful, and have a love for each other like we’ve never seen.  Wesley’s son Wes Jr. has been with us the whole way to cheer them along.  They were married at the Marsailis Ave Church of Christ in Dallas, with a reception that followed at the Orion Ballroom.  The view of Downtown Dallas was spectacular.  Here are a few of our favorite images from the night.

Wes Jr, lookin' sharp before the wedding

The Groom

The Dress

The Ladies

The Bride

The Ceremony

The Exit

The Dallas Skyline Portrait

The Cake

The View after Dark

High School Senior Portraits – Red Oak, Midlothian, Waxahachie, Mansfield

We’ve had so many seniors this past month, we’ve almost lost count.  We wanted to share a few of our favorite images from this past senior season.  Most are VERY recent, and a couple are hold overs from the Fall.  There is still time to have your Senior Portraits made, and in our opinion, this is the best month to do it in.  Give us a call and we’ll get you on the schedule.

Tayler from Midlothian

Tayloer from Midlothian during her Full Session

Summer from Waxahachie in her classic cap & gown portrait

Summer from Waxahachie with a great evening look

Ryan from Midlothian in the studio for his Mini Session

Noah from Midlothian wearing his letter jacket during a Full Session

Meredith from Dallas Christian in Mesquite during her Deep Ellum Session

Meredith from Dallas Christian High School in great light

McClain from the Midlothian High School Hockey Team

Kyleigh from Midlothian in a vintage style portrait

Destiny from Midlothian in a cool Volleyball Composite

Desare' from Midlothian in an awesome art piece by Shana

Desare' from Midlothian with one more from her Full Session

Location, Location, Location . . .

People often ask us, “Where are you located?”.  And if you are coming to see our studio, that is a valid question, and you may need directions.  We are located in Midlothian, TX at the corner of 6th and Main St.  Our new studio is 1800 square feet and is the perfect place to view your images, learn more about us, or take a wide variety of portraits.

BUT, if you are considering Ivey Photography as your wedding partner, or need us to photograph a Bar Mitzvah or corporate event, you’ll be happy to know we work all over Dallas and Ft. Worth.  In looking at our list of recent events,  we have experience in many of DFW’s most popular event venues.  I think sometimes it helps to know we’ve worked in these venues, and we have experience with the location, the staff, the lighting, and the layouts.

The Hilton Anetole, Dallas – Corporate Event
The NYLO Hotel, Las Colinas – Bar Mitzvah
The Flour Mill, McKinney – Wedding
Winfrey Point, Dallas – Wedding
The Gaylord Texan, Grapevine – Bridal Portrait
The Mansion on Turtle Creek – Bridal Portrait and Wedding
Perkins Chapel at SMU – Wedding
Highland Park United Methodist Church – Bridal Portrait
Belo Mansion, Dallas – Corporate Event
The Dallas Petroleum Club – Wedding
The W Hotel, Dallas – Wedding
The Magnolia Hotel, Dallas – Wedding
The Dallas World Aquarium – Wedding
Frontiers of Flight Museum, Dallas – Bar Mitzvah

…and the list goes on and on.  When considering your next event photographer, remember, it isn’t the location of the studio that matters, its the experience out of the studio that gets you the shot you want.

Karen & Marshall’s Wedding – Prince of Peace, The Flour Mill

Karen & Marshall were married Saturday at the Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Plano, followed by a great reception at The Flour Mill in McKinney.

Karen & Marhsall – 04/02/2011
Ceremony – Prince of Peace Catholic Church, Plano
Reception – The Flour Mill, McKinney
Planner – Yvette Audrain, Premier Special Events
Catering – Pappas
Florist – Branching Out Events
DJ – Glenn Roush
Photographers – Chris Smith, Shana Woods

Walk down the aisle

Overall of the church

The kiss

Communion

Karen's Mom, tears of joy.

A moment alone

A little fun, during the moment alone

The first dance

Karen's Dad, probably wondering what the total bill $$ was...

A different view of the first dance

The Cake

Father-Daughter Dance

A different Father-Daughter Dance

Bubbles

Karen’s Bridal Portrait – The Gaylord Texan

We planned to photograph Karen at the Canals at Las Colinas.  The wind said otherwise.  It was blowing 40 outside, but was perfect weather inside the Atrium at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine.  We pulled a few strings and we given permission to work for just an hour or so.  Karen’s wedding was last Saturday night, so we can finally reveal the bridal portrait!