Jake + Rebecca | Elopement at Texas Tech University

What a lovely pair <3

It had been a couple of years since I had taken pictures at Texas Tech University so I was so excited when Rebecca contacted me about shooting her elopement with Jake on campus in early May. They are both medical students and have been together for four years. I love that they chose to make their sweet, simple wedding ceremony all about their love together. It’s the best when a couple can relax on their wedding day. They simply showed up, took pictures, and started the rest of their lives together. It can be as easy as that.

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Alyssa | Bridal Photos at Joseph A. Hill Memorial Chapel

Alyssa is married so I can finally share her bridals! Unbelievable story: this was not the dress she got married in. Her original dress (not this one) was butchered during alterations (the hem and sleeves were literally cut off!). Her dream dress was ruined so she had to pick a new one (this one). But between her bridals and her wedding her talented mom took over and fixed her original dress! She was able to walk down the aisle in her dream wedding dress to her dream guy. What a story to tell.

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Hla Hla + Samuel | Downtown Amarillo Engagement Photos

I think I may be the official photographer of the Amarillo Chin Christian Church! Haha

A few weeks ago I took pictures of two girls Ngun and Zing for their upcoming pageant this summer with the Burmese American community, all arranged by their friend, Par. (I can’t share those pictures until after the pageant). Well, Par gave me a call a couple weeks ago because Hla Hla and Samuel needed engagement pictures! I was so excited for the opportunity to work with them again because last time was such a wonderful experience.

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Cara | Springtime Senior Pictures in Amarillo, Texas

First of all, I can’t get over how pretty Cara is! We got the dreariest day for her senior photos but she is absolutely vibrant. You can barely tell it was kind of rainy because she just shines. She was natural in front of the camera which makes my job super easy. I think everything about this shoot just screams Spring! Her outfits, the deep greens, even the rain, all came together to create something beautiful on a cloudy day.

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Kayla SmithComment
The Otis Family | Spring Pictures in Wolflin

Sometimes it’s worth rescheduling a session not once, but twice, to get the perfect day! And that’s what we did with the Otis family. February was dreary so we pushed the session way back to late March and I think it was worth it. Once we figured out exactly what makes Quint smile (mom tossing her hair around, a lot of encouragement, and tickles) we got some of the cutest giggles. Gosh, this little baby has a smile that can light up a room and this sweet, young family brightened my day.

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FamilyKayla SmithComment
Planning for Stress-Free Family Photos on Your Wedding Day

Family portraits are such an important reminder of a wedding day but unfortunately, they can be one of the more stressful portions of the day. The last thing I want is for you to get the energy zapped out of you by family pictures (especially if bride and groom portraits are afterwards!). Here is my best advice for making sure family pictures go smoothly.

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My Favorite Spots to Take Photos in Palo Duro Canyon

I have taken engagement, family, senior, and wedding photos in Palo Duro Canyon literally dozens and dozens of times. It never gets old for me! Each time I’m driving on the flat plains and then suddenly the world opens up into the canyon, I am amazed. It is absolutely my favorite place to take pictures around Amarillo, Texas. It is beautiful and versatile. And because of that versatility, I thought it was necessary to create this blog to show some of my favorite spots within the canyon to take photos. These little sub-locations within the canyon are completely different from one another and it’s hard to choose a favorite among them. They all look great any time of year but some can look drastically different from one season to another and on those, I’ve noted which season the picture was taken in.

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Esther + Lucas | Palo Duro Canyon Engagement Photos

I’ve said it a thousand times, please bring your dogs to your photo sessions!

Especially when they are twin, white labradoodles. Austin and Dallas were a couple of spirited pups and I think they stole the show during Esther and Lucas’s engagement session in Palo Duro Canyon. I’m just kidding…but they were pretty fun!

These two are about to get married this year (in Arkansas in a glass chapel!). I’m so jealous of their wedding photographer. We got the best day imaginable for their engagement photos and that’s why I love living in Amarillo, Texas. Because even in the middle of January, we have the most beautiful, mild days.

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Jayla + Seth | Downtown Amarillo, Texas Engagement Photos

I’m so happy it’s engagement season because engagement photos are my absolute favorite type of session to shoot! I get to warm up with my clients and get to know them a little bit better before their wedding. Jayla and Seth are a couple that I am so excited about this year! When I first met them during our initial consultation I just knew that they were my type of client. They care about having good photographs of their wedding but they put their trust in my hands to provide that for them - as a photographer, there’s nothing better than that and it makes my job so worthwhile. Their engagement session in downtown Amarillo was full of laughter and silliness, a little romance, and some awesome rooftop views.

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Leah + Tristan | Elegant Wedding at St. Hyacinth in Amarillo

Man. This wedding.

This wedding gives me a lot of feelings, to say the least. I love how Leah put her wedding dress on in the living room of her childhood home. After which she pinned her dad’s boutonniere on and spent precious moments with her mom - those last few moments of her being their little girl, before they would give her away to Tristan. And after Tristan got ready he penned a letter to Leah, right before seeing her walk down the aisle.

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WeddingsKayla SmithComment