Alyse French Photography | Houston-Based Wedding and Lifestyle Photographer » Anytime

Tomball Family Portraits: The Dowell Siblings

Alyse — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:55:37 +0000

When Dylan and I were preparing to leave Sully for TEN days over Christmas, I was beside myself with worry and panic and tears. I had absolutely no idea how I could leave my child for that long. I’m sorry, but he is… My child. :) BUT! In came the Dowell family. To the rescue!! We’ve known the Dowell’s for about a year now. They’re the family who bred and raised Sully (formerly known by them as Lil’Ben) until he was about two months old. And they’re the family who welcomed him back home with open arms when he needed a place to stay. I CANNOT tell you what a load off my mind this was!! This shoot of the Dowell siblings was a by-product of our insane thankfulness for everything they’ve done for us! So THANK YOU, DOWELL’S!! We hope you enjoy. :) XOXO!!
Jessica, the eldest, is a GORGE senior in high school who’s a boss at anything math-related. She dreams of being a coordinator for a modeling agency one day.This is Kelly, the youngest. She’ll kick your butt in a swim meet any day of the week. She’s a middle-schooler. And her face is FLAW-LESS.Meet Treavor! He’s the middle-child. (Middles, represent!) He’s about to be a senior. He hunts duck. And he’s in the process of getting his pilot’s license!!Here’s the gang all together. Looking quite stylish, might I add…The areas surrounding the Dowell’s beautiful home in Tomball were perfect for this super relaxed, fun shoot!After walking to a nearby park, we hear grunts from a distance. We look up, and Sully’s parents, Bentley and Roxy are running at us FULL-SPEED. :)Now tell me that Sully doesn’t look JUST like his daddy?!Shot during a rare moment when the pups were sitting still. And how it makes me smile. :)

Happy Thursday, friends!!

Houston Arboretum Portraits: Jenn, Peter & Padfoot

Alyse — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:31:02 +0000

Last week I shot something a little different… I shot a little puppy named Padfoot, whose parents just happened to tag along and look FABULOUS doing so. ;) Jenn and Peter adopted Padfoot (who, might I add, has the best Harry Potter inspired name ever) a couple of months ago when casually perusing the doggy aisle. This little guy caught their eye and their hearts in an instant, and he’s clearly been having a blast in his new home ever since. And be prepared, Internet, he is a CUTIE. To J&P – Thank you for allowing me to capture your new little smiley man. He’s a very lucky pup to have such a sweet and caring mom and dad. XO!!

Such a happy boy!Jenn is such a classic beauty. And those hott red lips didn’t hurt. GORGE.One of my favorites. :)Doesn’t he look so sad?! I imagine these are the same eyes Padfoot gave Jenn and Peter at the shelter. Seriously, how could ANYONE say no??He’s a digger alright!I flipped out after seeing I’d captured this image. That tongue is unreal.Okay, f’real you two. You’re the absolute CUTEST couple. And the absolute most stylin’.Time for a picnic with the boy!This one on the left gets me every time. Padfoot the guard dog, ladies and gentlemen. :)

Happy Thursday!!

Houston City Hall Anytime Session: Kaley & Kyle

Alyse — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:54:04 +0000

So there’s this gorgeous blonde you may’ve seen tagging along with us at weddings… Her name is Kaley and she is an absolute God-send of an assistant! She carries bags like a champ, gets interesting angles while second-shooting, and is all around bubbly and fun and awesome. And that hair? PLEASE GOD, let me have that HAIR. :) I am soo excited to be able to more-formally introduce her on the blog this morning, since Dylan and I shot an anytime session of her and her boyfriend Kyle this last week!! K & K… You were a buh-LAST. And we hope you enjoy some of our favorite shots. :) XOXO!!
Miss Kaley… She’s the cutest. And wait for it. Wait for it..
She’s also the beautifulest. :)Love Kyle’s smile and how perfectly these two fit.P.S. The laugh on this girl is totally adorable. As you can obviously see…So happy with this set. :)After shooting at City Hall we ventured out for some din-din. But before we did, we got a few shots walking around Rice Village.And the light was pure buttah.YAY friends! You looked fabulousss.

Happy Monday!!

Memorial Park Bridal Portraits: Laura

Alyse — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:46:04 +0000

Laura is one of the most creative brides I know! Her bridal session was shot in the back woods of Memorial Park early last month and her whole family came along to haul the most beautiful settee, gorgeous vintage couch, and fabulous props. And I was in COMPLETE heaven the second I saw her shoes from BHLDN. Ohhh, but get ready, Internet… This is only a small taste of the fabulosity of Laura and Nick’s wedding day, shot last weekend at Ashelynn Manor and all set for the blog tomorrow. Hope you all enjoy this sneak peak I’ve been dying to share for much too long!! :) XOXO to sweet Laura and her sweet family!!Laura is elegance defined. In so many ways.And I LOOOVED her bridal bouquet. Thistle? Be still my beating heart.Beautiful. And happy. :)Big ups to Laura for pulling this whole thing off. And even scouring off-the-path parts of Memorial to ensure its perfectness.I could marry this light, I love it so.
So happy with this image. And Laura? You look fiiine.Another two faves. With a wave at mom. ;)

Happy Thursday!!

Dolce Seaview Resort Portraits: Katie & Tommy

Alyse — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:12:43 +0000

Two weekends ago, the morning after shooting Lindsay and Jared’s wedding at the Dolce Seaview Resort in NJ, I also had the opportunity to shoot a few images of Jared’s twin niece and nephew, Katie and Tommy. It was crazy early, and these two had had a long weekend rocking it out as flower girl and ring bearer the day before. But, Katie and Tommy could never be anything but totally cute. Here are a few of my favorites. I hope you enjoy! :) XOXO!!

Christmas card, anyone?Tommy’s such a little man!With the absolute sweetest set of brown eyes. :)After a quick outfit change, we shot outside for a bit. And it was PERFECT weather after that freak October Nor’easter.Favorite!!Darling little Katie… Her smile makes my day.Such expressive faces all around. :)And one more of Tommy exploring!

Happy Monday!!

Rice Village Bridal Portraits: Becca

Alyse — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:01:18 +0000

What to say about Becca? She is one of the sweetest people you could ever, EVER meet. She and Chris tied the knot this past weekend, and that’s an entirely different blog post altogether… (See what I did there?) :) But I am soo excited to share a small peek at the bridal images we took a few weeks back around the esplanades near Rice Village. She was an absolute vision/dream come true to photograph. And something tells me you’ll agree… XOXO!!As soon as Becca got out of the car in THIS Pronovias dress, I would never be the same. Seriously? And that hair? GORGEOUS.I could shoot at the esplanades every day of my life.Many thanks to Bergner and Johnson for whipping up this beautiful bouquet!Ahhh, liiight!!Well, B. I’m not sure what I could say that hasn’t already been said. So I’ll leave it at, you’re STUNNING.

Happy Thursday!!

Angleton Bridal Portraits: Kelly

Alyse — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 13:51:09 +0000

Ever since making the treck out to Angleton this past May to shoot Kelly’s bridals at the GORGEOUS Varner-Hogg Plantation, I’ve wanted to show her off soo badly. The willow trees, the architecture, and the history were so inspiring to work with, not to mention working with the sweetest bride ever. And thankfully, now that Kelly and Jared have gone off and gotten married, I no longer have to keep this super fun shoot under wraps. :) I hope you enjoy this mini sneak peek!!Aren’t these white wrought-iron chairs, and white fence so gorgeous?! I could use them as backdrops all day long!
Kelly! You are breath.taking. And that dress? Was made for you.I absolutely fell in love with this 1940′s Ford, once belonging to Kelly’s late grandfather. Such a cool history!Waaah-ooork it, girl.Love the emotion here. :)Upon seeing these ginormous rows of trees, I felt like I was entering a movie set. It surely couldn’t have been real… Oh, but it was! And it was beautiful.

Love and hugs to Kelly!! Happy Wednesday!!

The Woodlands Promo Shoot: Mustard Seed Photography

Alyse — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 19:34:19 +0000

Last weekend, Dylan and I had the honor of darting chiggers and clapping away potential snakes-in-the-grass as we photographed two beautifully inspiring and sweet friends, Kat and Rachael! K&R run Mustard Seed Photography, and are an absolute quadruple threat. 1) Awesome hair all around. 2) Their work is phe.nom.enal. 3) They’re funny. And 4) They’re FUN. Oh, and they also know how to pick a good restaurant after a shoot. All three of our husbands and myself can attest to that one. (We can also attest to my breaking a chair after downing some champagne. But I PROMISE the two are unrelated.) :)

Kat & Rach – WE LOVE YOU GIRLS! And we hope you enjoy this sneak peek! It was a total blast!! Minus the chair.

K&R brought along the most fun balloons I almost let fly away by accident more than once… :)I was so glad Dylan came along for the shoot. Not only because I’d need him to suck the venom out of my leg if bitten by a snake. But because he captured this here beauty, and I love it soo much.Kat. Shut up. You’re gorgeous.And Rachael? Please teach me how to be as cool and stylish as you…
Looove the chair they brought along. And the series of photos that were produced because of it. :)I believe this one is called “Running to avoid the snakes as we go get our second outfits.”So very beautiful, the BOTH of you!!
Yeeeah… That one to the right. Well. I’m not sure if I will get in trouble for it or not. But I couldn’t resist. :)Ditto for this one. Bahahaha.

Happy Thursday! Come back tomorrow for Maggie and Paul’s wedding!! XOXO!!

Cooperstown, NY: Styled Shoot with Hannah Elissa Floral Design & Event Styling

Alyse — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 17:33:09 +0000

We were four when we first met. Our moms made quick best friends, and we naturally followed suit. We spent much of the next 20 years under the aliases of Anne Shirley and Diana Barry, forever fantasizing that our Gilbert Blythe’s would be twins, or at the very least, cousins. (Figuring that would increase our chances..) I still remember acting out our mock wedding processionals in the sweet pea fields by my grandmother’s house. And spending hours practicing A Whole New World in anticipation of singing in each other’s ceremonies. Because nothing says romance like a little Aladdin. I mean, seriously…

And the story continued.. Somewhere down the line, I became a wedding photographer, and Hannah became a florist. But not just any florist. MY florist. Hannah so beautifully and meticulously designed all the floral for our wedding, AND she was one of the five girls standing to my right for our ceremony. :)

Which brings us up to last weekend, and a collaborative project spearheaded by Hannah with all of her glorious floral design/event styling prowess. An antique garden in Cooperstown, NY provided the perfect location for a full set up of neutral-toned floral, vintage silverware and candlesticks, antique rusted wrought iron benches, and some of the most beautiful models around. So brides, consider this a small taste of all the beauty that could be your wedding. ;) You can email Hannah at hannahelissa711@yahoo.com. And now… The rest of the story!

Hannah made and hand-painted this super sweet sign I absolutely fell in love with. I’m telling you, she didn’t leave a detail un-awesome.

Enter: Two of three adooorable flower girls. You can also see the “ceremony” set-up to the right.
Han used ALL of my favorite flowers. Peonies, hydrangea, ranunculus, garden roses, sweet pea? Be still my beating heart…LOVED the succulents used in the ring bearer boutonnières…As well as the ranunculi used in our groom’s!Sweet little Lucy. She was just the best!Miniature bird-nests took the place of the more-traditional ring bearer’s pillow.One of my favorite parts about working this shoot was how involved Hannah’s nieces and nephews were. Are they not the absolute cutest bunch?Lantern-lined aisle. LAWVE.Hannah was also the mastermind behind this small dessert table. Antique polished silver photographs so well!Reception time! Enter: The table set-up.Complete with mix-matched wooden chairs, homemade pedestals for two gorgeous urn arrangements, and the most exquisite antique garden to frame it all. Meet our bride and groom: Martha Swann and her man, Rob Long. They did an amazing job!These pink willow dishes had me at hello.Etched glassware. Soo pretty! :)One of the most incredible centerpieces I’ve ever seen. This girl constantly out-does herself…Portrait time! But first, a quick tangent… Martha (also a photog) and I had been communicating via email for a solid few months before meeting face-to-face at this shoot. She actually wrote about the experience and interviewed me (over the de-LISH open-faced reuben served at Doubleday Café) for her blog HERE. :)Rob has got to be one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. And Martha, one of the sweetest girls I’ve ever met. They are quite obviously the per-fect match. And both Hannah and I are SO thankful for their lending us their beauty and sweetness.Lastly, the HUGEST thanks ever belongs to Hannah Elissa Floral Design & Event Styling. You made this shoot what it is. Down to every last detail. Love you!!

Happy Friday! XOXO!! :)

Just Because: Casey and Cam

Alyse — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:53:43 +0000

Where to start with Cam and Casey! I’ve known Cam for quite some time. Nineteen years, give or take. I remember being at the hospital right after he was born, in disbelief that any baby’s head could be so huge. And then high-fiving Lorae for our spot-on prediction of what our brother’s nose would look like via Dr. Seuss’s “My Book About Me: By Me, Myself” and the simple knowledge that the name Cameron means ‘crooked nose’… ;) Now Casey I’ve only known for about a year. She’s one of those people you meet and instantly like – no, LOVE – without necessarily knowing why. Beside the fact, of course, that she’s one of the sweetest, most genuine, and beautiful souls on God’s great earth. Literally. But Cam and Casey, together? That might just be the most beautiful thing.. And I am beyond thrilled that they let me shoot them while home in NY last week. Here are a few – okay, a bajillion – images from their “just because” session. C & C, your big sister loves you both SO much more than you know. And she’s so proud of who you are. Together. XOXO!!

I was NOT kidding about this girl, Internet… And Cam, while I do feel obligated to poke fun at you for the head you’ve grown in to, we all know you’re a stud.

I LOVED shooting back home in an environment complete with trees and grass and plenty of rolling hills. Every one of these images was taken right outside our family’s home in Sharon Springs. And this shot is one of my absolute faaavorite favorites. :)These two took direction so well, I was beside myself. And even when they did their own thang, they were just too darn cute not to photograph.Can you belieeeve this beautifully-murky light going on? I loved it.It’s always fun challenging myself to shoot the same location I’ve shot at multiple times before in a completely different way. So stoked about this image!To CAM! :)Hey Casey, for how much moolah would you consider cutting off all of your gorgeous locks and giving them to me instead?Casey was SO easy to shoot in so many ways. But the best part was always her adorable nervous-laugh reaction to compliments from behind the camera. Particularly after asking her to give me a serious face and then gushing at how stinking amazing she was doing. :PWe then headed out into the middle of the road, where exactly three cars drove by during a solid half-hour of shooting. The perks of living/shooting in a small town!And I don’t even know what else to say that I haven’t already said…Right in front of the house.And a few by the willow tree next to the driveway. I sorta kinda want a canvas of this. Then again… Is that weird? :)Cam posed up a stooorm. A pseudo-client after mine own heart!
Yay!! That’s my house. Miss it already!Ohhh Cam. Never say I’m not funny. Because, CLEARLY, I am. :) P.S. Looking quite handsome.Yet another example of the crazy-face-post-serious-face phenomenon. :)Laaawve.GAH. Like? For real?After another outfit change, we ventured out back one more time. The picture on the right makes me soo very happy and mushy inside.Love me some CAM!!And the final picture we shot. But not because I couldn’t have gone on forever. :)

Happy Wednesday!!