The Green Family | Vivid Family Photos at Amarillo Botanical Gardens

I’ll be honest. I was a little nervous when Brittney, a professional photographer here in Amarillo, asked me to take her family photos. I always get nervous when I’m shooting for other pros! But once I started the session at the Amarillo Botanical Gardens I was totally at ease because her family is so much fun! First, her son is a definitely a photographer’s kid so that made things easy. Second, her family has a natural way of interacting with each other that makes those candid shots a breeze. I barely had to do a thing to bring their personalities out in the pictures. It seemed more like a fun evening than it felt like work to me.

FamilyKayla SmithOctober 8, 2019Comment

The Dolezol Family | Fall Family Pictures in the Park

About five years ago, when I was just starting my photography business, I asked the Dolezol family if I could take their pictures for practice. They graciously accepted my offer and all these years later, I got to take their family pictures again. It’s kind of unbelievable how much their kids have grown and how much I’ve been through as a photographer in that span of time.

FamilyKayla SmithSeptember 17, 2019Comment

Addie | Portraits in the Studio

This girl! What can I say? She’s the best.

Addie has been my second shooter for weddings for over two years and she puts up with a lot from me! Haha. She is patient, kind, and often makes up for my shortcomings. We are opposite in many ways and I think that helps us when it comes to taking pictures at wedding. When I’m rushing around, she is calm and methodical. I could not ask for a better employee and friend.

PersonalKayla SmithSeptember 13, 2019Comment

Brian + Aliese | Summertime Garden Wedding in Dumas, Texas

This wedding seriously had it all: a Volkswagen van photo booth, live chickens, tons and tons of orchids, a food truck, and sweet ceremony in a lush, butterfly-filled garden. I don’t think weddings get better than that. Brian and Aliese created a beautiful wedding but more importantly, they focused the day around joining their two families by keeping things relaxed and easy-going. They got married in the bride’s cousin’s beautiful backyard and the day was an intimate celebration with close friends and family.

WeddingsKayla SmithSeptember 6, 2019wedding, texas, bride, the knot, dumas, bridal, groom, marriedComment

Kylie | Senior Pictures in Downtown Amarillo

Yes! It’s already time for senior photos! While a shoot a lot of weddings, senior photos are one of my FAVORITE things to shoot because they are so much fun. To me, taking photos of seniors is easy and fun because a) teenagers these days have so much confidence in themselves and b) they are so cute!

Kylie was no exception. We started the session at Studio Amarillo to get some classic yet cool pictures and then we went download where we were blessed with the most perfect evening. I love it when clients and their moms give me ideas for pictures because they point out things that I might have missed.

SeniorsKayla SmithAugust 26, 2019Comment

Ben + Danielle | Anniversary Pictures in Palo Duro Canyon

I have so much catching up to do with my blogging! I shot Ben and Danielle’s vibrant and bright anniversary pictures back in July and I can’t believe I’m just now sharing them. These two have been married for a decade and they wanted to commemorate the occasion with photos of just the two of them. This is my third time meeting Danielle (I took her sister’s senior pictures and then their family photos last year) and I love getting to see clients again and again - especially for such big moments in life. We shared a ton of laughs and we saw a tarantula scurry across the road in Palo Duro Canyon (yikes!).

EngagementsKayla SmithAugust 26, 2019Comment

Eduardo + Rachel | Wedding at Panhandle Charm in Amarillo, Texas

Eduardo and Rachel’s wedding was full of genuine moments, well thought-out details, and some of the sweetest people that I’ve met. It was beautifully simple and elegant at the same time.

They started their day with an emotional first look. These two have been best friends and then a couple for a decade and I think they felt the weight of their relationship and their friendship in that moment when they first saw each other on their wedding day. Then, they prayed together - which is a wonderful way to start a wedding celebration.

Kayla SmithAugust 7, 2019Comment

Kaden + Averye | Glamorous Industrial Wedding at Kitalou Gin in Lubbock, Texas

To say that I was excited about Kaden and Averye’s wedding would be an understatement. For one thing, the two of them are absolutely adorable. They are high school sweethearts and they knew they would one day get married. After several years, they committed their lives to one another in front of 400 of their closest family and friends. They are loved by a lot of people and it’s not surprising.

Mark + Madi | Fun and Playful Engagement Photos in Amarillo, Texas

Just know that if you decide to book your engagement/wedding photos with me, I’m definitely going to make you hug, kiss, and cuddle, and I might even make you dance in the street or run down the road holding hands with each other. Fair warning! Madi and Mark were one of my most FUN couples to date! I never had to prompt them to laugh at each other or giggle. It was so natural for them. Their smiles, their hugs are genuine and they come from a place of pure love for each other. They are best friends. They went along with all of my crazy plans and had a great time while doing it.

EngagementsKayla SmithJuly 15, 2019engaged, engagement, love, couple, photographer, amarillo, downtown, palo duro canyonComment

The Forrest Family | Lighthearted Summertime Family Photos in Canyon

You know what I love about three year olds? We’re on their time, their schedule, and they honestly run the photo session - which makes my job easy! Little Kennedy here is so spirited and precocious. The best photos that we got (in my opinion) are the ones where her sunny personality shines through. I love the way she hugs her mom and laughs with her dad. I feel like those are the photos that mom and dad are going to look back on and remember what she was like during this time. It’s easy to forget how your babies were even a month ago. I think pictures can help jog those memories more than anything else.

FamilyKayla SmithJuly 15, 2019Comment

Ngun + Zing | Portrait Session in Traditional Burmese Dress

Coolest photo shoot ever? Yes.

To be honest, I didn’t know what I was going to take photos of before I showed up to this session. Par (not pictured) had booked the session last minute and didn’t quite explain to me what the purpose of it was! Haha! But sometimes surprises are absolutely wonderful. She explained to me that in the Burmese American community there is a conference every year in Indiana and within that conference there is a pageant for the young women. Her sister, Ngun, and their friend, Zing, are going to be in that pageant in July and they have to have pictures of themselves in their traditional Burmese clothing for it.

Kayla SmithJuly 11, 2019Comment

Seth + Jayla | Traditional and Elegant Wedding at St. Mary's Cathedral in Amarillo

Seth and Jayla are really the loveliest, sweetest people and I feel lucky that they chose me to take their wedding photos. And not only are they sweet, but their family and friends are spectacular. They had some of the nicest bridesmaids and groomsmen that I’ve encountered in the many weddings that I’ve photographed. It’s no wonder they invited over 400 people to their wedding! They are loved by many.

WeddingsKayla SmithJuly 6, 2019amarillo, texas, photographer, wedding, catholic, bride, groom, wedding photographerComment