Engagement: Lauren + Richard

At Lauren and Richard’s session something just clicked for me. I found myself creating portraits that had me feeling excited about my chosen profession, and made me want to go shooting the next night, and the night after, and the night after that. Where did this feeling come from? In part it came from feeling like I really “clicked” with my camera, and that lens, body, and brain were really working together. I felt confident and artistic, and that’s a place I would like to continue to visit.

I most certainly can’t deny the role that Lauren and Richard played in making this session so great for me. Richard is a guy that screams southern Texas charm, and Lauren is a gorgeous little blonde who is not afraid to admit she likes to be in front of the camera. I’m also one of those people who like to have their picture taken and I really love spending time with people who exude the confidence that helps make great portraits.

There are two key elements to creating great portraits, first being the aforementioned confidence. Know what the second element?

An attitude open to all of the crazy ideas your photographer has.

Sometimes my ideas can get REALLY crazy. Like asking these two to make their way into this old abandoned building to pose next to an enormous hanging slab of concrete.

And sweet Lauren didn’t even blink an eye when she turned around and spotted what looked like lizard eggshell remains.  I wasn’t bothered by the eggshells, but I did hightail it out of there really quickly when Richard spotted a yellowjacket nest. And let’s not even talk about the dried up snake skin we found which looked to be several feet long.

Lauren and Richard were set up by a mutual friend who told Lauren she thought they would be a great fit. Unfortunately this mutual friend forgot to inform Richard why she had invited him over, so he didn’t pay her any attention upon introduction. She wasn’t ready to give up though, and approached him one last time. He wised up, gave her a ride home, asked for her phone number, and called the next night to set up their first date.

I was blown away with how natural Lauren was in front of the camera. She has an excellent sense of self-awareness and I had to do very little coaching to get her into these really fantastic poses. She was constantly turning her head, pointing her toes, and resting her hands just so.

Lauren and Richard are planning for an October 16, 2010 semi-destination wedding at Moon River Ranch in Satin, TX. Richard’s family is from a small town south of San Antonio, called Devine, and Lauren’s family lives in the DFW metroplex so they decided to compromise and have everyone meet in the middle. I’m so happy to say that I will be joining them for what I know is going to be a fabulous wedding!

We met across the street from the Swift Meat Packing Ruins for the photos above, and then proceeded to do a little bit of trespassing onto the Swift grounds. I’ve been wanting to visit this location for a shoot for months now, but it is an off-limits area so I needed an adventurous couple willing to slip through a crack in the fence to get inside. Once inside we learned we weren’t free and clear yet after a large group of shady looking teenagers walked on the other side of this building. Lauren and I had Richard there to protect us though.

I think these two will agree that the danger was worth it though.

THAT SHOT!

My husband doesn’t like the graffiti in the background, but I like that her beautiful clear face jumps out at me despite the busy background. And that she looks smokin’ hot.

What’s behind these doors? Now that you know it’s an abandoned meat packing facility I think it’s best if you don’t know. Just focus on the adorable couple standing in front of them.

It was a steaming hot day in Fort Worth and Lauren started to feel a bit ill at this point, but she really pushed through the nausea and kept posing like a rock star. Don’t you love the way her dress is billowing out a bit in this one?

Does the Swift Packing area look familiar to anyone? It was actually used in the filming of the Fox tv series Prison Break! I love this spot because it makes me think of Hawaii. Not sure why, but I think it’s the watchtower in the background (which kind of looks like an old school lifeguard stand) and her flowy purple dress.

She’s the city girl who took him on an airplane for the very first time. He’s the country boy who took her out to feed deer in the country. They are so lovely together.

We jumped in the car and got a drink (poor Lauren felt so bad that she drank a water bottle full of steaming hot water) and they did a quick wardrobe change. I laughed so hard while she attempted to change her clothes in the front seat of the car with Richard doing watchdog duty to protect his fiancees modesty.

The Love Shack in downtown Fort Worth is one of their favorite haunts, and Lauren sent me an inspiration photo of another couple in a similar setting. If the light wasn’t disappearing so fast I would have sat down and had something to eat. It smelled amazing!

I adore their bright colored polos in the soft light of the setting sun.

When I asked them to describe their relationship to me, Lauren waxed eloquently about their dedication to the relationship. She loves that she can look in Richard’s eyes and see that he is giving his all to this relationship, and it’s the same look she’s seen from him since the day he proposed. Lauren takes that dedication and gives it right back to him, and their relationship really works.

I’m pretty sure this genuine laugh came after a random couple stopped to take a picture of me taking a picture of those two. It was a busy night in downtown Fort Worth but these two posed and cuddled like there was no one else around.

All three of us were wearing down at this point so they took a moment to rest on a nearby bench.

A nearby vendor  saw how warm they looked and called over to them to buy a drink. I saw a great photo op coming on!

Still not quite sure if Lauren bought that beer so she could drink it or use it to cool herself down. I don’t blame her though, it was HOT in Fort Worth that night.

Definitely a contender for That Shot in this session. Love these two having a moment in one of their favorite parts of town, oblivious to everyone around them (even the camera!)

I just wasn’t ready for this session to be over so right before we got back to my car, I told Richard to lean back and relax and asked Lauren to give me something sexy and a bit pouty. I opened my aperture up to 1.2, turned my shutter speed down as low as I dared, and got a lovely series of these two with zero inhibitions being exactly who they are.

I think that’s the reason why I’m so excited to photograph their wedding, because these two are some of the most genuine and open people I’ve ever met. I felt an instant connection with them, and Richard turned this session into a great little history lesson on the Fort Worth Stockyards, taking the time to show me around  and explain all that he knew about the area (which was really a lot!. He is such a sweetheart, but then again, so is Lauren. I’m not sure which one of them is luckier to have the other.

Richard and Lauren, I really, truly enjoyed my time spent with you and I look forward to the opportunities to do it again in the future. Thank you for braving snake skins, scary teenagers, and surging crowds, laughing and smiling all the way through.

Best,

Jenna