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

Memorial Park Engagement: Kylee & Casey

Alyse — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:20:52 +0000

Earlier this week, I fiiinally got to meet the Kylee I’d exchanged emails with for so long… The Kylee with the gorgeous head of hair and fabulously keen fashion sense. The Kylee who’d met her charming fiancé Casey in – WAIT FOR IT – kindergarten. I mean seriously? I’ve been aww’ing ever since! We met up at Memorial Park to capture their engagement pictures and I’m SO happy to share with you all my favorite images from the day. The light was di-VINE. The subjects were nothing short of completely adorable. AND, might I add, these two were SO sweetly accommodating of a photographer hobbling around on two wounded legs. Legit. They are the best. :) K & C – I had such a blast with you guys! And I hope you love your sneak peek!! XOXO!!

When we arrived at Memorial, we noticed about 3,000 trees missing! (P.S. I didn’t make up that number. The guy working at the gym told me!) Apparently this drought we’ve been having was too much for the trees to survive. But we didn’t let the change in scenery deter us. I LOVE finding different ways to shoot at a familiar location. And I think the homes lining the parameter of the park worked PERFECTLY with Kylee and Casey’s über coolness. ;)The FIERCENESS of this girl… And Casey? You aren’t too bad yourself!One thing I observed about Kylee and Casey during our shoot is how simply they “get” each other. Their love is based on the sweetest friendship. :)Huge thanks to some of my favorites ladies to work with – Sunkissed & Made Up – for Kylee’s gorgeous hair and makeup!After a quick change, we headed further into the park. And then commenced a love-fest with this LIIIGHT. I am just in awe of its buttery goodness!!So happy with this moment captured. It just makes me feel content. I really have the best job. Evaaa.Let’s consider this a small taste of their first dance as man and wife in May. Kylee was able to share with me some pretty exciting details about their day, and I couldn’t be more excited! Blush pinks and grays? I mean, reeeally.Kylee. What can be said that hasn’t already been told you your entire life? You’re gorgeous, girl!And we’ll end on the cutest note of all. :)

Happy Thursday!!

Discovery Green Engagement: Tina & Jin

Alyse — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:24:08 +0000

Tina and Jin. It’s impossible not to love them. I was able to shoot T&J’s engagement images earlier this week and couldn’t BELIEVE how comfortable they were for the camera. When it came down to it, they were simply themselves. Full of laughter, joy and excitement for this beautiful time in their lives, and their wedding day fast-approaching. Tina and Jin! You’re amazing. And I don’t just say that because you fattened me up with sweets during your picnic-themed shoot. Seriously. Thank you for being you. And for choosing me to document the love (and cookies) that you share. I hope you enjoy this sneak peek!! XOXO!!

Aren’t they the adorablest? ;)One of my all-time favorites.Jin makes a MEAN chocolate chip cookie.I love the peace on both of their faces…And they brought treats from La Madeleine! YUM.Fact: Jin still brings Tina flowers regularly. :)I can barely stand the cuteness…This here camera is actually one of my favorites from my collection!GAH. LOVE.A quick outfit change, and we were off to explore more of the park. Here they are. Werkin’ it.Digging this color palette.Okay, so either I’M really funny, or Tina is. ;)Golden hour is NO joke, folks. So loving this light!And we’ll leave it at this… One of my favorite moments from the day!

Happy Wednesday!!

Houston Zoo Engagement: Kelly & David

Alyse — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:11:49 +0000

Kelly and David are the cutest, most smiliest couple ever. Having met through mutual friends, it took a good chunk of time before they started talking. But when they did? They just clicked. And now, after two years of long-distance love and a move by David to be closer to his lady, the two are set to get hitched next November. To celebrate and document their engagement, we shot around the Houston Zoo last week, and had the BEST time talking guilty-pleasure television and smashing cupcakes in each other’s faces. :) K & D – Thanks for being so totally adorable and cuddly for the camera. Thanks also to Kelly for trekking your fabulous heels through so much grass in the name of fabulous images. I hope you enjoy this sneak peek!! XOXO!!Why not start off with one of my favorites? :)Kelly… You’re just plain gorgeous.Love me some peonies. Kelly picked these flowers up from Central Market and they made the cutest prop.Love how fierce David looks on the right below. BAM!Really… You can’t go wrong with Sprinkles cupcakes. But this is a fake-out. They didn’t eat them until later.. ;)I asked them to start dancing. :) Love.See what I mean about these two? CUTE-EST.And the smashing… After all, this won’t be allowed on the wedding day. :)

Happy Wednesday!!

Hermann Park Engagement: Rebekah & Matt

Alyse — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:01:21 +0000

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting up with ever-fierce Rebekah and Matt for their engagement session… Shot along the same trails they ran together when first falling in love!! An architect and a dental hygienist with coincidentally PERFECT teeth, these two totally worked it for the camera. If this was any indication of how fun their wedding day will be, then bring on April 27th already! I’m so happy to share with you all some of my favorite images!! XO!!

This backlight! I could shoot with it all day looong. Love the moment on the right below. :)Rebekah! Your eyes… They’re incredible.Did I mention they were fierce? Oh, okay. Good.One of my favorite things about Rebekah and Matt is how cuddly they are with each other. What can I say? I’m a cuddler, too!After a quick change into their casual outfits, we just had to work this tree!Aaaaand one of my new favorite images of all time. :)

Happy Wednesday!!

Hermann Park Engagement: Lindsey & Connor

Alyse — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 14:22:45 +0000

Early last week, I met up with Lindsay and Connor – AKA, the sweetest, most chill, and FUN couple on the planet – for their engagement session. A Houstonian and a Kansas City native, respectively, Lindsey and Connor’s paths crossed while attending Redemption Church in Arizona. Multiple casual church dates later, Lindsey was getting impatient. Then, as she describes, “He finally kissed me!” And they’re now just four months away from vowing to each other their whole hearts and lives, in gorgeous and historic Galveston. L & C – I am SO honored to be a part of capturing this sweet, sweet time in your lives. Thank you for your trust. For being SO lovely to shoot. And for putting up with those crazy mosquitos just for me. I hope these images prove that it was worth it. :) XOXO!!
These two are straight-up cuddlers.And Lindsey? You are the epitome of cuteness. :)I don’t know what it is about Hermann Park about an hour before sunset. But HOLY MOLY. That liiight!!Bottom left = Favorite.After a quick change, it seemed the mosquitoes came out with a vengeance. But based on the hottness of Lindsey and Connor? You’d never know it.Love these two. :)I think their smiles say it all.You guys just fit. And I looove it.

Happy Friday!!

Discovery Green Engagement: Kira & Shaun

Alyse — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:19:10 +0000

Today I am thankful. In what other job would I get to work with people so happy, so in love, and so gosh darn gorgeous? In what other job would I leave my “shifts” feeling as if I’d made yet two more beautiful friends? Today I am thankful for Kira and Shaun… For their excitement, for their trust, and for wearing their hearts on their sleeves. For each other. K & S, let it be known across all the blogosphere that I ADORE you. Thank you for your awesomeness. And thank you for allowing me to capture this sweet time in your lives together. I hope you enjoy this sneak peek!! Oh March, come quuuickly!! XOXO!!
Discovery Green never leaves you wanting for great backdrops. And Kira and Shaun worked. it. out.I wish I looked this good just WALKING. Sheesh.These two know how to cuddle! LOVE this one. :)

Which one do you like better? This?Or this? I, for one, couldn’t decide. So BOTH it is!Kira, Kira, Kira… Would you look at yourself?! You’re gorgeous.
After a quick change we headed to the opposite side of the park!Shaun looking as cool as ever.I loved how Kira’s dress brought out the hues of the gardens around her.These two make me happy just by seeing them happy…Don’t you feel it?? :)

Happy Thursday!!

Baldwin Park Engagement: Julia & Shane

Alyse — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:51:18 +0000

Last week, Dylan and I got to spend a sweet Wednesday evening shooting the sweetest of couples, Julia and Shane. If Julia looks crazy familiar to you, it’s because we’re shooting her twin sister’s wedding in November! And if Shane looks crazy familiar to you, it just might be that you know HIS twin brother. Seriously? A twin marrying a twin? I just about died. Add to this Shane’s ex-actor suaveness and Julia’s absolute adorableness in every way? And well… You get this blog post. :) J & S… We had SO much fun with you guys. You brrrought it hard, and we’re so excited to share with you our most favoritest images!! XO!!

Baldwin Park made the most b-e-a-utiful backdrop. You know I’m a sucker for some awesome light and these gorgeous trees!That Dylan guy… He blows me away. This is his shot. :)My angle.And one of D’s again!This is Julia. She has flawless skin. INSANELY blue eyes. And is altogether lovely.
After getting our nature on, we spent a bit more time shooting in more urban scenery. We LOVED this graffitied wall nearby! Dylan’s shot. :)Oh my word. You two!!! HOTT.Shane looking all debonaire.We then headed down Westheimer to shoot in all the nooks and crannies I’ve always wanted to! Love this shot.It was a tight squeeze. But I think these images were worth it. :)You can’t help but smile at the way Julia and Shane make each other smile…And now for two of my favorites!!

Happy Thursday!!

Glasbern Inn Engagement: Jenn & Josh

Alyse — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:25:46 +0000

I’ve written about it before… But in the event that you’re still unaware, or lack the full understanding of just how strange I can be, I will write it again. When I get excited – like, REALLY excited – I stop breathing and make an obnoxiously high-pitched and piggish squeal of sorts that is completely involuntary. I can’t tell when it’s coming. But it happens only when there are no words. Which you know (if you’re a regular reader of this blog) obviously isn’t very often… :)

When Josh called his brother Dylan to say he’d asked Jenn to marry him, I stopped breathing, squealed, and subsequently (and gracefully) fell into a table display of t-shirts and jeggings at GAP. Ten months later, my breath has finally started to return to me. But not until after Dylan and I made the trip out to PA to celebrate and document their engagement and wedding day this past weekend. Jenn and Josh – We love you! And we hope you enjoy. XOXO!!
Josh and Jenn were total troopers letting us shoot them at 8AM on the Friday before their Sunday wedding. And I’d say the light was peeerfectly worth it!Can I call this a favorite this early in the blog post? Because it is. My favorite.
The Glasbern provides so many different and STUNNING backdrops for engagement images. I miss me some hills and barns and sheep!Right after a quick outfit change. I am so in love with Jenn’s beautiful, wavy long hair.
Dylan’s responsible for the coolest shoe shot I’ve ever seen, on the right.GAHHH. How stylishly awesome can one couple BE?!I like to think of this picture as a pretty good depiction of just how sweet and genuinely beautiful Jenn is both inside and out.No lie… I just squealed again. Then we got a little crazy. :) For us, anyway.Another favorite. Because I can feel their happiness. And it makes me happy.How have I not mentioned this dress yet?! It’s from French Connection. And it was MADE for Jenn. Clearly.
Loving this shot Dylan grabbed.And one more that simply makes me smile. :)

Be sure to come back next week for Jenn and Josh’s wedding images. I promise you, you won’t want to miss it!!

Memorial Park Engagement: Becca & Chris

Alyse — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:28:41 +0000

Last week, I had the honor of capturing Becca and Chris’s Memorial Park engagement session! And before you question whether I’ve blogged Becca before, we actually shot her sister Kata’s wedding this past February. :) I swear they could be twins. GORGEOUS twins, with hearts just as beautiful. Becca and Chris are both med-school students in the final stages of planning their August wedding. A wedding I may as well make a paper chain snake for, I am THAT excited. Not just for the way they work it for the camera, because oh, do they ever. But because Chris is one of the kindest grooms you’ll ever meet. And because Becca is the perfect match! So without further gushing, I share with you a handful of my favorite images from our time at the park. I hope you enjoy! XOXO!!

When Becca and Chris decided they wanted their session at Memorial, a place I’ve shot at many times before, I knew I wanted to challenge myself to shoot it in an entirely different way than previously done. And I’m pretty happy with the outcome!Okay, don’t you just LOVE them together?Name that movie star! Oh wait, it’s Chris!The park is lined with so many homes with such sweet character and charm. Couldn’t resist placing them in the background for just a few. :)After a quick change, I stuck them in the trees.I’m sure they thought I was out of my mind. But THIS picture is the exact reason I did it. Becca? You are STUNNING.
There is something so aww-inducing about the way these two adore each other so wholly.One more set shot in that sweet golden-y light. And the one on the right is most definitely a fave. :)

Happy Friday/weekend!!

Downtown Houston Engagement: Tammy & Sonny

Alyse — Wed, 25 May 2011 13:43:20 +0000

He was a hairdresser. And she had great hair. You see, Internet, Sonny’s brother owns the salon where Tammy and Sonny met their match – in each other – so very long ago. She’d been coming there for years… And somewhere between sectioning and spritzing, layering and trimming, Sonny made his way into Tammy’s heart. And vice versa. The love that has since formed is something so beautiful and so pure, that my job was made effortless. Tammy and Sonny simply exist to love each other. And my lens and I were the ones ~~lucky~~ blessed enough to be on the receiving end of such beauty and grace.

T & S – Thank you! For everything. For a shoot you absolutely kiiilled. For dinner and conversation that warmed my soul. For newfound friendship. AND for the inevitable future advice I’ll beg of you on how I should next style my hurrr. :) Here’s hoping you enjoy this sneak of your images!! XOXO!!

Oh, and before you have to ask… All hair done by Sonny Vo. :)Tammy!! SHUT UP. How can ONE girl be THAT beautiful?So proud of some of these images I could just squeal. :)If you squint, you may be able to envision Tammy in her wedding dress. If this is any indication of what’s to come, then November come quickly!Love, love!!A quick costume change, and my favorite new tree in all of Houston. :)The “sweet nothings” move. ;)Sonny, you so fierce right now.Just so enthralled with the city sprawled out in the background.Tam. You are flaw. less.And maybe.. JUST maybe my favorite image from the shoot. Or have I said that already? Tammy and Sonny make picking favorites waaay hard.

Happy Thursday, y’all!!