*From Alena's poetry prints

Been doing some soulful thinking lately or rather taking small "pauses" in the constant noise that seems to be amongst me all the time. Wondering about my life, and I was trying to figure out how I got to where I am today, and how is it that good things have happened to me in spite of all the hard times…and most of all am I grateful enough? See, um, I am a worrier. A big fat, even the things I have no control over, worrier.

"Worry! Worry! Worry!" I can hear Brian's teasing yet caring voice in my head.

So the other day, again, amongst the increasing noise level, I took a moment and felt myself, my life just pause. We were up at our neighborhood ball fields as Brian wanted to work with Brock a little bit more before his first game the next day and of course you don't have to ask William twice if he wants to play ball. So I took the opportunity to tag along with Anna Grace and go to the park while they practiced at the lower fields.

The air was a bit chiller than normal and there was just the right amount of breeze to make you forget, you are about to embark on those "i-swear-this-is-the-last-summer-i-will-live-in-texas" months. The sun was peeking through the tree branches enough to provide some amazing backlight. I started to notice all the beauty I was sitting amongst. How in the books I read, where the author probably spends thousands of hours developing perfect lines of text that will portray a particular scene- How is that I couldn't be innately this observant all the time?

Was I not grateful for a healthy state of mind, body?

Was I not grateful for my husband who is also healthy, able to work. Who loves me, our children and is happy to work hard everyday to provide for us.

Was I not grateful for these three beautiful, healthy children who at the very moment are happy and feel loved.

What the heck was wrong with me that I wasn't just drowing in gratitude? So of course, the "karen- isms" kick in. I will gather all the paper in the house that should be recycled and create a gratitude journal. I will write in it weekly…no! daily…no! every time I think about it. I will write and constantly be teaching myself to look for the things that seem to be so taken for granted but can be so taken from you in a moment's notice that you feel as if your whole world has just fallen apart. I was probably a good 60 seconds into my mental tirade...

and then it hit me…a slow feeling eased across my entire body…the sight of new growth, a feeling of belonging~ and to what I wasn't so sure~ but a feeling that

somehow,

someway,

everything was okay…..

I am grateful. Behavior doesn't lie. There is a mysterious grace that lingers around us all the time. And all I really have to do is be willing to let it all in….

It can be hard sometimes. Oh, so hard especially for a control freak like myself and I mean with a capital C and F. but I promise it's always there…..

so I got up, took off my lens cap and did what I have always loved to do….capture life. Only this time it was my life and my blessings.

This is one of my ALL time favorites. Anna Grace went and got her Daddy's extra glove and ran to stand on first base. She turned around and was calling for him to throw her the ball! 

She is pointing to an airplane flying by!

Although the shoot started off shaky as Baby Brennan was adjusting to new smells, etc. Bill and the boys felt right at home in our living room watching football and playing with the other kids. It was so super to be able to welcome not only a new client but an instant set of friends who could feel right at home while we set to work capturing Brennan. As it turns out Bill and Brian went to CyFair High School together- small world, I tell ya!

And last but not least, the sweet Birth Announcement that I designed for them!

On November 7, 2011 Stacie Blackburn,  a dear friend of mine was diagnosed with Follicular Non-hodgkins Lymphoma. Like many of us, she was in shock and completely taken off guard as she reported having no "real" symptoms other than pain under her ribs and some bloating. Over the past couple of months she has been receiving treatment at MD Anderson and in constant support from family, friends and the community.Today she received the best news possible in that after a grueling week of tests, she is responding to the treatment and there are no signs of new cancer cells being created! God is good.

It was not only my pleasure, but honor to capture the special relationship she has with her two sons, William and Preston . Like most mama's, we don't often get on the other side of the lens and as a result we don't end up being in many pictures. My heart is so lightened this evening as I finish this post knowing that today was good news and for the first time in what seems like too long, one mama can sleep a little easier tonight. Well, after she gets back from the Rodeo :)

It was my greatest pleasure to be able to capture her sweet, sweet family before the Holiday season began. Her husband Michael and her are terrific parents who truly live a life of love, gratitude and their kids are crazy about them. We had a blast and their three munchkins I couldn't get enough of!

Here's their Holiday Card, which is simply elegant, just like this family is!

Meet Will, Rebecca, William and Thomas Shappley! Super sweet family that was totally game for fun and lots and lots of giggles! They are expecting their third addition to the family in January- can't wait to capture another Shappley! We met up early in the afternoon and seriously laughed the entire shoot. William and Thomas are all boy and were quite the little explorers. It's always a great shoot when parents can just kick back and relax, which is totally Will and Rebecca's style- loved every minute of it!

Enjoy!

Uncle Bill is a true artist. A man with many talents and a huge heart, just like his better half, Aunt Linda. He is a lover of old cars and collecting treasures- which makes his home a dreamland for someone like me~ hello? Check out these awesome cars, backdrops, - just yummieness, I tell ya!

Okay, enough @ me and my heaven. We were so lucky that some of the family drove down to visit and of course if you are around me long enough, I am probably going to start taking your picture! Sweet cousin, Lisa and her clan were my first target- They are expecting their second blessing in March and were such awesome participants- Love little man Tucker just as much as we will the next one!

check out the bike reflector- Purcell to the third!

and one last one of our newest addition, Baby Carter! 

Meet Herschel, Lindy, Joshua and Jordan Johnson. Some of my very, very favorite people on this earth! He is an amazing personal trainer. She's simply an outstanding chiropractor.

Lindy and I have been friends for what seems like forever- she's like a sister to me and there is nothing in this world that I don't just gush over with her. We can sit for hours and talk about anything. If I don't see or hear from her for a couple of weeks, we just pick up right where we left off. There's just something about someone who knows your heart, knows your story and you don't have to start in the beginning or middle with- Did I tell you that I seriously love this girl? And her husband Herschel. I just "get" him and think he is an amazing trainer, motivator- seriously phenomenal in training kids on how to be better athletes. 

And that's not all. Their youngest, Jordan is only about five months younger than my Anna Grace and those two are just buddies. Every time they get to see each other, there is so many giggles and love. Totally take after their mama's.

Ok, here's some highlight images from their shoot- way too many good ones to choose from. Be prepared, there is a lot of gushin' going on here....

I knew it was going to be an awesome shoot when I explained to them that we might break a couple of rules and be trespassing but I wasn't for sure, just felt like I needed to disclaim from the beginning what they might be getting into with me. They were totally game and boy oh boy, did we have a blast! Stephanie is simply adorable and you can tell that her entire family just dotes on her as the only female! She is one super mama~

This clan was so natural in front of the lens- My job was like...easy peasy!

Brian is one of those all American guys who really doesn't like to be the center of attention , isn't loud or boisterous, at least when he is not on the basketball court I hear! He is a Senior at CyWoods High School and is aiming to attend Texas Christian University next Fall. We met up this past Sunday and captured some great images for his Senior year. His mama, Andrea has been a friend of mine for a couple of years and was super excited and super prepared!

It's always heart warming to me to see a young man treat his mama so well. Brian was polite and offered to wear and or do anything his mama wanted- What a guy! Being a mama of two boys, I can honestly say that Brian is quite the catch- great personality, looks and amazing value system that I can hope my boys display when they are Seniors!

Well, this sweet thing knows how to put on a show! And her mama, Ashley was a champ! Only eight days post c-section, this mama was game to capture her fourth and first baby girl!

Personally, I would hang each and every one of these in wall size canvas. (Just sayin') But I'm not her mama :)

A big kudos goes out to one of my favorite people in the whole wide world, Cari Cephus, for not only assisting with the set up in this shoot but never turning down a crazy idea of mine~ (let's face it, when I say, "I have an idea...most people start to run!) Cari lead me out to her barn, (which oh my goodness, I am still dreaming about) and helped me not only locate a tree and a handful of branches, but helped cut down and haul it back home here to the studio) which we stayed up late trying to figure out how to safely hang a newborn sack from. Which we did!

She also lent me the gorgeous, mouth watering saddle in these images. Thanks Cari! And Thank you again, Ashley for the honor and risk you took allowing me to capture sweet, sweet Mallory Grace Yoakem!!!!!

The workshop was great, but what was even better where the relationships that  were made, connections that still hold. Donna is a riot! Fun, full of passion for photography and just a great person to be around. When I was delivering my third baby and my first girl, Donna came to the Hospital and captured those first few moments. Those images hold a special place in my heart and I will be forever grateful to Donna for taking her time to do that.

This past week, despite rain in the forecast, missed makeup artists, Donna was gung-ho to capture Molly in September as she does every year. Again, bit nervous photographing another photographer, amazing one at that but I was game. Plus, look at this kid! How can you not ohhh! and ahhhh! over Molly? And the connection Donna and her have is just breath taking- These are the moments that you forget a crazy photographer is around and just PLAY! Just relax, giggle and interact as if nobody is watching and it's just you and them! Take a look but I will disclaim that your jaw might hurt afterwards, it's hard not to wanna kiss those checks and squeeze her over and over again!

When I found out that she was expecting her FOURTH, yes, fourth and it was a girl, I had to shoot her! (I use the term, "shoot" to imply capture with my camera, not the other) She's my kind of gal, so she loaded up her clan- (three boys) and came over to the Studio where for about forty-five minutes we had a blast capturing this very special time in the Yoakem household. Speechless with emotion and laugh-so-hard your ribs are going to hurt is all I can say about just some of the highlight images below. As soon as I hit the shutter each time I thought, that's my favorite. Tell me you can't just hear what these boys are thinking in each of these images??

Ashley is actually at the Hospital today delivering Mallory Grace Yoakem!!! Ok, just got a text and it is a GIRL this time! Yea- {fyi} for those that don't know the story. When Ashley was pregnant with Oliver, her third boy they had told her it was a girl- until he came out a BOY! So she kept giggling that she wasn't going to believe it until she could see with her own eyes it was a GIRL!

 
 *Look at Oliver's face in the bottom right hand corner- this is hilarious!

When Wendy Dreyer called me about her son, Blake, it was the same story. This kid tops the charts of maturity, self confidence and just an all around great young man who LOVES his mama and his dog, Scout! Now who doesn't love a guy who loves his mama and his dog? Not to mention that he has two younger sisters- I always can tell when a Dad has daughters or a young man, like Blake has sisters. It's just something that those girls do to you! And it's ALL good :) Blake was captain of the Wrestling team and helped out here locally at a Tae Kwon Doe Studio teaching younger kids. Yep, I told you, this guy was amazing!

Blake is now a Freshman at Texas A&M~

Jennifer Hernandez; first a neighbor, then a friend has been a huge supporter of Karen McConaughey Photography for years. Our lives have been intertwined with our children, our community and the same heartfelt energy to give back to the community in which we live coexist. 

Her daughter, Valerie does not fall far from the block of which she came. A young lady of class, huge heart for children, youth group leader, and fantastic friend to others. We had a great time capturing her Senior pictures.

Makeup was done of course by Darla Nunley! 

Bella was coming off a 3 1/2 hr nap so a quick drive through Chick-fil-a was the first pit stop. Then while we were shooting Mom and Dad, Bella caught the frisbee on her upper lip and started gushing blood down her beautiful pale pink dress that matched her mama's! After we regrouped, changed dresses and getting set up for some more family pictures, Sunshine decided she needed a quick dip in the lake, which totally defeated the whole day at the spa she had been given! Crystal was a trooper- her planning, preparations provided the perfect resources for letting it all go and just having fun! This is the stuff that photographers ooze over...the yummy, authentic, candidness of each person just being themselves- I love it! It's what I aim for every time I shoot.

Welp, that's exactly how my shoot with the Hosemann family went down. Prepare to "ohh" and "ahh!"

The Girls on the Run Greater Houston 5K is only a few weeks away! All 35 girls from the Coles Crossing Girls on the Run teams will join the rest of the Girls on the Run Greater Houston teams for this event. Come join us on the course! All proceeds from the race will benefit Girls on the Run Greater Houston!

The race is in Bridgeland on Saturday, May 14 at 8am. The 3.1 mile route will start & finish at the Bridgeland Activity Center. Please come and support our own Coles Crossing Girls on the Run!

Race registration is done through active.com - the direct link is: http://www.active.com/running/cypress-tx/gotr-greater-houston-5k-2011 All community members are welcome to participate - walkers and strollers are welcome!

Use the POWER of RUNNING to make a Difference in the LIFE of a GIRL!

If you have any questions please contact;

Ashley Bass | Girls on the Run Greater Houston | 636.578.0061 |ashley@gotrgreaterhouston.org
learn . dream . live . run .

Contact the Studio today!

"This isn't going to be huge, blown out wedding." There are only going to be @ 25 people there...that includes Federico and I. It's at this small intimate restaurant , with a garden on the side where the ceremony will take place. This wedding will be classy, full of family, friends and celebration; in a very mature, intimate authentic fashion."

Ahhhh! Can you hear the angels singing?? I knew. I knew that this was exactly the type of wedding I could do. I knew looking at her mom and aunt, who are the most adorable twins I have ever met, that still act like twins, dress like twins and are still each other best friends, that this had to happen. Not sure she knew it but quicker than normal, I knew there wasn't going to be anyway for me not  to say "yes," to being her wedding photographer.

To be frank, I am just not a commercially-event type girl. Never have been. Ironic that I spent most of my corporate career at the big ol' Halliburton, but nonetheless the first chance I had to follow my heart, I did. And after many prudes, pushes, and doors literally being swung open in front of my face I entered into the wedding industry very, very hesitantly.

I love to tell a story through photographs. Could do it all day, everyday. And I guess in a way I do.  I love a women who knows exactly what she wants and isn't going to compromise so that she can fit into some "package" or certain "style" that is trendy. Alexandra Skaggs defines this in so many ways- elegance, natural beauty and maturity way beyond her years. I fell in love with her instantly!

After traveling to Argentina...(see? Adventurous!)...she met and says Federico stole her heart, who is just Alexandra's perfect fit!

The Rehearsal Dinner was held at her Aunt's house, whom has the most impeccable taste and is a total joy to be around. Her and Her mom are like the Aunt's everyone should have!

Rehearsal Dinner -

Food - La Vista

Flowers - buckner flowers

The Wedding started out at Hotel Granduca, where everyone got ready and just hung out. Then we headed over to Ouisies, where the ceremony and reception would take place. One other cool part of this whole deal was that Alexandra's brother was the officiant! He also married her other brother and his wife and officially retired after the ceremony!

Hair - Urban Retreat - Sarah

Make Up - Bobbi Brown from Neiman Marcus (her name was Rhonda)

Music - Mark Towns http://www.marktowns.com/

Flowers - This is Ouisies recommendation - Frances of FM Designs fmdesigns2007@gmail.com,

Dress - Monique Lhuillier from Louise Blum (I think they went out of business)

Shoes - Mary Norton, I ordered from Gilt Groupe

Hotel - Hotel Granduca - www.granducahouston.com - we LOVED the hotel.

Enjoy just a few, well, maybe more like 30 images of highlights!

Some of you may know them through Cypress TaeKwon-Do. They are the owners and Mr. Robert has been teaching thousands of kids over the years. They are some of my favorite people to be around and they emanate genuine authenticity- which is probably why I love being around them.

Valerie not only volunteers a ton at the church, she also helps run the school as well as home schools both their children; Robert Jr. and Morgan. Unbelievable!

We captured these shots while preparing for the school's photo shoot (which I will be posting later on this week) as well as some of Valerie and Rob's 15 yr (is that right?) wedding anniversary! What to go guys!

Third out of three boys with one rockin' mama! This little dude was so sweet, so easy to work with and loved his mama even at 14 days old! Sarah, his mama could calm him down so easily, I was amazed! And for it, he had the shoot of a lifetime!

Lots of fun hats from etsy!

I love Newborn shoots- especially during the week while my boys are at school! So peaceful, relaxing and most of all fun!

This was my very FIRST wedding contract that I booked all on my own last year.

I've shoot many weddings before and after this one, which I will be posting (all week) I've been a second shooter many times, even  helped other photographers out for completely FREE- but this was my first contract, all on my own. Yea me!

Throughout your life, if you are lucky, you come across people that are just attractive inside and out- you are drawn to them and always feel good after being around them- which was this bride, Carolee Crawford. And basically, everyone that surrounded her; Her Mom and Dad, her fiance Rick Wilson- all of them!

You saw her Bridals here.

Amazing Engagement here.

Now experience what her Wedding Day was like!

Venue: Cypress Chateau

Hair: Marta Dean "Magic In Motion"

Makeup: Stacy Okonski (stacyokonski@gmail.com)

Cake: Cake Affairs & Culinary Creations

Florist: Sabrina

I can't find the DJ's business card right now, but he was really awesome!

I was struggling with ways to really celebrate this milestone with him as seven is really the age where all the little ooey-gooey stuff no longer is "cool."

So, I am pretty proud of myself as my two true loves came into play. One is anything to do with my boys and the other is photography!

So, after ALL the boys went to bed, I wiped out six cupcakes and decorated them with small black and white pictures for each year of his life!

Oh! There were so many but I decided to choose some from his actual parties.

It was such a simple idea and it paid off in the most precious way. He woke up at 4:30 a.m. that morning and was in total awe of all the decorations. We got to sit around and talk about each year and party.

Just love them. The smell, their soft smooth new skin, their expressions. Yowsiers! my jaw usually hurts as much as my hand when it's all over. So it's only natural that I would have the urge, or rather inspiration from my latest session to design some rockin' birth announcements!

Enjoy!

p.s. working on a new line of Holiday cards as well...so much fun!

This is a 5x7 postcard that offers single or double sided printing. This is the FRONT.

And here's the back! yummy!

Here's a 5x7 panel card, which contains a front, inside front, inside and back side layout.

Here's the inside.

This is the inside main page.

Here's a 5x5 panoramic card. It actually folds out with three panels. This is the FRONT cover.

This is the inside panels.

This is a unique size; 8x4 panel card.

This is a 5x5 x 4.25 promo card (which is like a postcard) This FRONT.

This is the BACK side.

He blessed us this past week by hanging out here in Houston. Of courese, I had to steal a couple of shots of him and the boys in the studio- you know it was bound to happen!

Thanks Dad!

I actually met Caleb, the owner of Cork Cafe during my time working for Corbin Van Arsdale, during his campaign. Since then, Cork Cafe has become quite a little place of mine to hang out- especially with the free wi-fi! well, the wine too!

You just meet the bride, Carolee ...now met Rick Wilson, her fiance'....the two are amazing together!