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

There is no such thing as cold water in Houston. And let me tell you, brushing your teeth with luke warm water is like your nails on a chalkboard and my chewing on felt. Not that I’ve ever experienced what chewing on felt feels like… (I blame my 5-year-old self.) Oh Internet, sometimes I realize how crazy I must be to divulge so many ridiculous things to you. Don’t hate.

It’s every photog’s guilty pleasure.. Working too much. A lot of people ask me what I do all day that could possibly take a full 10 hours. Truth is, while Fresh Prince and Everybody Loves Raymond and Tyler Perry’s House of Payne play in the background, I am busy editing and blogging and editing and answering inquiries and editing and running off to client meetings and get this, editing. And I LOVE it. Hence, the pleasure part of “guilty pleasure”. The guilty component comes from the fact that Orchid Sally is on her way out due to neglect, my hallway is still 3/75th’s painted, and this shag rug needs an intense comb-through. I’m thinking of taking a couple days off to finally finish up our home so I can at least blog it. Because, really, we all know that’s what’s most important. ;)

So I’ve had this aching question on the brain for a while now. And maybe you can help me! If you fly over a state’s airspace, can you say you’ve been to that state? Or.. If you’ve set foot in Cincinnati’s airport Starbucks, have you been to Cincinnati? Because my repertoire of travels could stand to include the locations of my last 1,375 layovers.

Speaking of.. Does anyone else judge how safe their flight will be based on how debonaire the pilot’s voice is? Because ya’ll know I do! James Bond could captain my flight any day. Urkel? Not so much.

Props to brides and grooms who are so ridiculously chill that they don’t spazz out when the car I’m driving breaks down between the ceremony and reception! Mind you, it was my parents’ car, which was apparently waiting to die until dearest Alyse came home for a little drive. Props ALSO to brides and grooms who leave 2.5 hours between said ceremony and reception in order to capture formals, b&g portraits, AND to allow for their photographer’s car to mysteriously shut off while cruising down Rt. 28. I cannot say enough about how appreciative I am of solidly solid yet forgiving wedding day timelines! :)

Song of the week: Two Hands by Jars of Clay. Heck, how about every song by Jars of Clay. You know that one band that consistently comes out with amazing-ness after awesome-ness after fabulosity? Jars is that band.

Photog of the week: Megan Lange. A sweet friend, former classmate, and visual story-teller extraordinaire, Megan has always been a source of inspiration and encouragement. Most importantly, she knows her craft forward and backward, as both a journalist and an artist. Check her out *HERE* and *HERE*.

I know it’s Tuesday, but the weekend is already calling my name. On Saturday, Dylan and I get to celebrate with my whole extended family as my sweet and beautiful cousin Abbey marries her best friend Curt. I was so honored to photograph the very moment they got engaged, and now I’m beyond thrilled to document their day!

And now, what today is really about.. (Forgive my hands for making me out to be a little prairie schoolgirl and my entire humanity for making me out to be an idiot.)

Happy Tuesday and congratulations to Kris Milo! :)

I seem to have a lot on my mind for this installment of Tidbit Tuesday. Visual or otherwise, I am a story-teller by trade. :) So ready, set, GO!

I’m realizing I like to give death stares. Not because I’m a meanie, but because I like to keep my nostrils in a state of perpetual flare, my lips pursed tight, and my eyebrows furrowed. This is my concentration face. When I’m editing. When I’m reading. When I’m eating ice cream. You know, the serious stuff. Maybe one day I’ll let you see it. :)

On Sunday, I learned what “eggs over easy” means. I also learned that I love them. Smothered in hollandaise, of course.

This week’s disses go to creepy men on planes who are so creepy you have to run to the back of the plane and shut yourself in the hind lavatory with the stewardess so you can inform her of the suspicious creepage while said creep hides in the business class bathroom for much longer than need be. Sure, I jest now. But it was probably the most terrifying experience of my life. So terrifying, I actually sent Dylan a “Please pray – Scared of guy on plane” text at 33,000 feet, which of course, never even sent. It’s another blog post altogether, really. But when has that ever stopped me? :) I’ll suffice it to say, the captain was informed, and my seat was moved up front since “my stomach hurt due to turbulence.” Yeah right, skeeve ball. I just wanted to get away from your creepy sentiments about “cherishing your memories” while you simultaneously hinted at your hate for America. I have never been SO happy to hear that loud thud of wheels hitting the ground. Thank You, Jesus!

This past weekend, I shot a b-e-a-utiful wedding in Rochester, NY (hense, the flying). And yes, I cried. Because I’m a girl and an artist, and I love love. I cried because shooting weddings reminds me of how much I love my husband. And in turn, how much I love my job.

I ALSO love my husband because over the weekend he informed me there was a “surprise” waiting for me back home. Now usually, a “surprise” means a pack of gum, or a paper flower. You think I’m kidding.. But this time, I walked in at 12:40AM and woke Dylan up with an, “Are you KIDDING ME?!”  As I entered the hallway, I noticed a piece of unfamiliar furniture. More precisely, a GORGEOUS wooden and upholstered chair that is so beautifully vintage and wonderful. Pics will follow when I finally get to blogging our new home. :) Be excited!

If you know me personally, you know I’m quite easily fascinated. By the fact that strawberries can taste THAT incredible all by themselves. That lasers can “read” circular plastic disks to make MUSIC?! What the heck is up with that? Well, I’d like to dedicate this next tidbit to Zingiber Officinale, of the family Zingiberaceae. Yes my friends, ginger – My favorite plant and source of YUM. I could eat pickled ginger all day long. And I’ve been guilty of stealing Dylan’s share of it on sushi dates more than once. What amazes me most about ginger though, is its natural healing properties. Don’t mean to go all hippie on ya’ll, but when I suffered the death that was mono my junior year of college, I found ginger to be the ONLY thing that made me feel better. God just plain amazes me. To think He created such a plant with all of this in mind? BAM.

So, the other night, I walked into the wrong hotel room. Not embarrassing at all..

Which brings me to my next tidbit. (Not really, but I do love me a good transitional sentence!) One of the most rewarding parts of my job is learning that more people than just my mom actually read my blog. Every once in a while, readers come out of the woodwork, be they long, lost classmates from Teddy-Bear Time preschool, or complete strangers from Wooloomooloo, Australia. So for the fun of getting to know you all a little better, and with Alyse French Photography experiencing a rebrand in the near future, we are wondering…

Who are you? A bride? A fellow photog? A buddy ol’pal? What first led you to read this blog and what keeps you coming back for more? What would you like to see more/less of? I’m really interested to see who of you will respond! Everyone who responds via the comment section below will be entered into a random drawing for a $25 iTunes gift card (to be announced next Tuesday). And who doesn’t like more music? Hollaaa.

In conclusion, here’s a tiny sneak of Pete and Niki’s wedding. I’m ploughing through these images like never before, and am hoping to have their post up shortly!

Happy Tuesday!

There are two things in this life I’ve never quite understood. The Discovery Channel‘s Shark Week, and HD television. Until, of course, the two came together. Then HOLY MOLY, I’m hooked like a bull shark on a tuna chomp. (Ha! Look at me all “I know what I’m talking about.”) I’m not sure if I love sharks, or absolutely hate them. But I DO love Shark Week!

I miss Dylan. Is that lame? Oh, but I do. I miss him in advance, really. We’ll spend our first three days apart this weekend. CRAZY. What’s crazier is that we’ve spent the last 51 days together. We still let out the occasional and mind-blowing “We’re MARRIED!!” every once in a while.

One of my favorite parts of living down south? The legit Cajan-style jambalaya baby!! Some other things I’m noticing that aren’t so pleasant? Three-inch-long dragon flies that travel in swarms. Random, I know, but it’s Tidbit Tuesday.

Newhouse taught me to analyze camera angles and lens filters and filming techniques. Running a business taught me, well, business and branding. So when I see a print ad or commercial I like, I get a little overly excited. Who of you have seen the new commercials for the iPhone 4? Absolutely brilliant. Of course, I don’t think I would opt to tell my husband we’re having a baby over video chat, but the whole concept behind the ads is spot on.

Disses to UPS and UPS.com this Tuesday. You’ve been caught red-handed. There is no one by the name of “Toledo” who could have possibly signed for my package. Get with it, UPS, get with it.

Barnes and Noble is my little piece of heaven. Where else can you sip your green tea frap, people watch uninterrupted (yes, it’s my guilty pleasure), and read only the good chapters in thousands of books? Which brings me to my new read, full of good chapters. Stuff Christians Like by Jonathan Acuff. Based on his blog, this book is absolutely hysterical and soberingly convicting all in one. I pleaded with Dylan to buy it for me.. For my half birthday and two days celebration. And he did. And it’s mine. And I love it. :)

I kid you not, I experience hiccups after every meal. And still, I never learn to slow down when I eat.

Photog inspiration of the week: Stephanie Fay based out of Scottsdale, AZ. This girl is genuine, sweet, beautiful, and holds about 1,743 sq. grams of talent in her left elbow. I am continually astounded by her eye for light and color and texture. If you haven’t gotten to know her through her blog or website, consider this my virtual shove.

Apparently, it’s that time again. Because you see, just about once a day, I realize I haven’t thought about writing out wedding thank-you’s since, well, the day before. They’re coming people, they’re coming. Tomorrow.. No, really. In the meantime, know that we are thankful. :)

I leave you with a sneak peek of Thursday. And my new favorite image. I’m thinking canvas gallery wrap for my office wall, no?

Happy Tuesday!!