K Norwood Portraiture

Louis and Nichole

2009-04-16T13:48:00.014-05:00

Having fun at the Revolution Bar!

"Is he flirting with her?"

Just one more kiss!

I was waiting for her leg to "pop up" like it does in the movies!

Bond, James Bond and this is my "Bond" girl!

Here's where Nichole and Louis will say their vows to each other.

I wish I knew what he was saying to her that made her laugh.

An experiment that turned out great from my point of view. What you don't see is Robert on the other side holding the flash and I'm across 4 lanes of traffic with a Pocket Wizard on my camera. I love trying new things.

Meet Louis and Nichole. They are so much fun to be around. A few weeks before we shot these images in downtown Bryan we did a mini shoot of the family. Nichole has a 9 year daughter named Arianna and Louis has a 4 year old daughter named Aslyn. The girls are as cute as they can be, but enough about them..... Let's get back to their parents.

Nichole wanted to do a bit more of a romantic shoot for them so they dressed up and we headed out for downtown Bryan for an afternoon filled with laughter, romance and even a drink to finish off the day at the Revolution Bar in downtown Bryan.

Here are a few of my favorites from their engagement session. Congratulations, Nichole and Louis and I'm really looking forward to doing your Bridal session in Dallas. Yea! A new spot to check out!

Kim Gandy and Bubba Mathis Wedding and Reception

2009-04-14T10:40:00.017-05:00

I love the look on the girls' faces as they watch Kim get ready.

Salon-A Wild Hair

Their "First Look" and "Personal" Photo session

St. Joseph's Catholic Church

The "Real Deal"

You can see the emotion on both of their faces as they listen to their vows being stated by Reverend Monsignor John McCaffrey

Formal Session done before the ceremony

Gorgeous flowers provided by Nita's Flowers

Cakes by Sandee Moss of Cinderella's Stories

Bubba is a big hunter-so check out the duck pond cake!

Band and Music provided by The Rockafellas Band

These guys were great! They even let me get up on the stage and shoot from behind the keyboard player, Donnie Angonia.

Reception and Catering provided by Briarcrest Country Club

On February 28 of this year, Robert and I along with another local photographer (Suzanne Laughlin of Simplistic Photography) were honored to be a part of the Gandy-Mathis wedding celebration. Kim and Bubba had been clients of ours for several months and we got to really know them as we documented their engagement session and Kim's bridal session. Kim is a school teacher in Bryan and Bubba works for Garett Mechanical. Several weeks in advance we met with Bubba, Kim, Verna Mathis (Bubba's mom) and Susan Gandy (Kim's mom) to talk about the wedding day timeline and the details of their "First Look". They had come to us with the desire to have a special "before the ceremony" photo session. We highly encourage our clients to consider this as an option for various reasons but we didn't even have to convince them. They were all for it. That Saturday I started the day by meeting Kim and several of the bridesmaids at "A Wild Hair" Salon in College Station. Then it was off to the church to get ready for the rest of the day's activities. From 3:30-5:30 pm we worked diligently and efficiently with Suzanne posing the groups and Robert shooting from the balcony and me shooting from the aisle. Due to the fact that Mass was at 6pm we were able to take a much needed break and then return in time for the 7pm wedding. The ceremony was beautiful and the reception was exceptional. It was obvious that Bubba and Kim along with their families put a lot of effort into the planning of their day. Everything went smoothly and we had such a fun time mingling with the guests and getting really fun dancing shots. The evening ended with Kim and Bubba being swept away by their limo driver. The next day they would be leaving for a skiing trip in Wyoming! Congratulations, Kim and Bubba Mathis and thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of your very special day.

2009 Spring Bridal Fair

2009-03-26T10:36:00.007-05:00

What a great place to start a "Revolution"! Revolution Bar in downtown Bryan.

Here's where old meets new-beautiful antique lace on grungy old stairs!

The LaSalle can't be beat when it comes to beautiful location shoots.

This says it all!

2009 Spring Bridal Show and Benefit
3/29/2009, 11:00am – 4:00pm
Reed Arena on the TAMU Campus

Come visit us at Booth #74 and check out our cool products for 2009 and a new way at looking at photography for your wedding. We all know that these are tough economic times so in keeping with that we are willing to work with our clients in order to have beautiful photography at affordable prices. Please come by and see what we can offer you and your fiance. Because remember, the one thing that will remain long afterward the day is over are your memories of your event. Keep those memories alive with your images taken by K. Norwood Portraiture.

Glamour Shoot-Nancy Carter

2009-03-06T15:20:00.011-06:00

Recently I had one of my former brides from 2008 come in for a different type of session. We wanted to try something unusual and I think we were able to achieve our goal. For this kind of session there are a few things to keep in mind. First, wear a white shirt or top. You will be photographed on a white background and for the most part we only photograph from right above your bustline. These are closeups, girls. We take tight shots to accentuate your eyes, lips and hair. Secondly, wear your eye and lip makeup just a tad bit darker. By doing so, we really bring emphasis to these areas. Apply the rest of your makeup as you would normally but don't worry too much about any blemishes. When you see the finished product, your skin will look like porcelain. Third, be prepared to sit on the floor for most of the session. We will use a fan to get some movement in your hair and lastly, have fun with it. This is a great time to flirt with the camera. All those pouty expressions you've practiced in front of the mirror will pay off here. I hope you enjoy the images from Nancy's session and make sure to call now to schedule your high key glamour shoot.

Just in Time for the Bridal Fair

2009-03-06T15:07:00.003-06:00

It is always exciting to announce a new product and here at K. Norwood Portraiture we are super-excited about this one. Ladies, whether you are a prospective bride or just a woman who would love to be photographed in a high fashion manner, check out our newest addition to a Glamour Session. This session can be added on to any of our wedding packages and makes a wonderful gift for the groom, boyfriend or husband. Our special offer for the Bridal Fair is this: Book your wedding with us and not only will you receive $400 off our top 4 wedding packages, but you will receive a 45 minute high key-high fashion glamour shoot for free. That's a total of $525 savings. Don't miss out on this very special offer.

2009 Spring Bridal Show and Event

2009-03-06T14:56:00.003-06:00

The 2009 Spring Bridal Show and Benefit is being held at Reed Arena on Sunday, March 29, 2009. Brides, you will be able to browse over 100 vendors as you make your way through the event and visit one on one with the professionals who can personalize your wedding, reception or honeymoon just for you. Tickets are $15 per person, in advance online and $20 per person at the door. Don't forget to check us out at K. Norwood Portraiture. I'll keep you posted as to what booth number we have this year. We worked with a great bunch of brides last year. I know the brides of 2009 will be awesome.

I Love Beautiful Weddings!

2009-02-17T18:55:00.010-06:00

Actually, I love designing wedding albums. They are so much fun and I get to tell the story of our client's day all over again.

Check out a few of my favorite pages from Robbie and Hannah's wedding day. And if you would like to read their story-check out the article in Premier Bride's Spring Magazine where our photography is featured in downtown Bryan.

A Winter Wedding in Bryan, Texas January 10, 2009

2009-01-31T13:06:00.014-06:00

Well, the big day finally arrived! Kimbra and Luke were all smiles on their wedding day! They were married at Beacon Baptist Church were Luke's dad, Pastor Nolan Richey said their wedding vows. Then it was off to the Astin Mansion. Even though it was blustery cold, there was a warm feeling throughout the night as Luke and Kimbra enjoyed their family and friends amidst the beautiful stone columns, marble floors and mahogany paneling. The day's events were carefully coordinated by Katie Seaman, formally of Uniquely Yours Weddings and Events and amongst the beautiful decorations was the fantastic cake design of Sandee Moss of Cinderella Stories. Not only was the cake beautiful but tasted delicious.

Our entire team of photographers was honored to have worked with the Lindsey and Richey families and wish the happy couple many years of wedded joy and know that they will remember their wedding day with fantastic images provided by K. Norwood Portraiture.

Some images taken and provided by Mary DeGreve of Candid Creations by Mary, Collierville, TN.

February Special-Ballerinas

2009-01-23T09:48:00.008-06:00

Doesn't every little girl want to be a ballerina for at least a little while. At K. Norwood Portraiture during the weeks of February 9th through the 20th, your little girl can put on her tutu and come in a pretend. This is a Limited Edition Special for an exceptional value. The setting fee is only $50 and your ballerina will receive one free 5x7. The stage is set, the dancers are stretching, come on over to our place and show off your best plie or tendu or maybe even a little attitude. Check out some of our little models and see if this is your little girl. Is she shy, bashful, playful or even a little crazy....well, we can catch her true self.

Last baby of 2008 (at least in my studio)!

2009-01-23T08:11:00.010-06:00

I received a phone call from a daughter of one of my sister's workfriends who stated she really love the images she saw on our site ad would I be available to take her 2 week old son's pictures. I said yes of course, but all I had was December 31st. Perfect for them, perfect for me. Danielle showed up at the studio with the sweetest little baby boy named Weston. He had the finest blond hair that when you photographed just right his hair looked like a little mohawk. Grandma Donna came along to help and we had a blast playing with Weston. He never cried-well almost never cried and had some of the most precious grins while he was sleeping. I can't wait to photograph him again when he is awake a little more. Here are a few images from his photo shoot. Don't you just want to take him home!

The Six Steps to Happily Ever After

2009-01-03T16:32:00.006-06:00

While cruising the internet the other day, I came across something I thought would be of interest to our couples who follow the blog. Redbook did an article on "The Six Steps to Happily Ever After" and I thought I would just include the basics here on the blog. Since the majority of our business comes from our bridal clients I hope they find this as interesting as I did. First let me give credit where credit is due. Majorie Ingall wrote the article for Redbook.

Find a shared dream for your life together. Dream-sharing starts early in the relationship. Couples love to tell the story of how they met but they should continue to write and rewrite their love story as their relationship goes through their married life together. Remember that you are a team with shared values and goals.
Choose each other as your family. For years, each of you have been a part of another family-now you are establishing yourself as a "new" family. Learn to outline new boundaries together between you and all the families connected to you.
Learn to "fight" right. Every relationship will have difficulties and you will fight. What has to be remembered means staying focused on the issue at hand and respecting each other's perspective. "...couples that fight right also find ways to defuse the tension, often with humor." says Daniel B. Wile, Ph.D.
Find a balance between time for two and time for you. This one really hit home for me. Since 1986, my husband has worked for the airlines and had a really crazy schedule. At times, he would be home for a week in a row and I would be working full time. When the weekend came, he was on the road and I was taking care of the kids, etc. Now, I work out of the home and he still has the crazy schedule. We've learned that we don't have to do every errand together or even spend every waking moment with each other. There are days where we will run separate errands and then met for lunch. It keeps us fresh and we don't tend to get on each other's nerves so much.
Build a best friendship. Think about the things that make your closest friendships irreplaceable; the trust that comes with true intimacy, the willingness to be vulnerable, the confidence that the friendship can withstand some conflict. Who better to make as your best friend then your mate. "Happy couples are each other's haven." says Julie Holland, MD, NY psychiatrist.
Face down a major challenge together. You're sailing through life, and suddenly you hit a huge bump. A serious illness. Unemployment. The loss of a home. A death in the family. How do you cope? The truth is, you never know how strong a relationship is until it's tested. All too often, the stress of a crisis can pull a couple apart. But the good news is, when you do make it through in one piece, you might just find yourselves tighter than ever.

So enjoy just a bit a wisdom and we look forward to working with all our clients in the 2009 year.

Cell Phone in Toilet

2008-12-31T13:33:00.002-06:00

Well, I finally did it. Within three days of having my new iPhone, I dropped it in the toilet and messed it up. As of right now, I am without a working cell phone so if anyone who needs to make an appointment for a session or just wants to get in touch with me-call my home number. 979-690-9105

I'm really sorry but I'm a big dummy!

New Year's Special

2008-12-30T16:37:00.003-06:00

January Special

Belly and Baby Session*

$175 each

Includes both a belly session and a newborn session and one 8x10 from each session

Sessions must be booked by January 31, 2009, however, photography sessions can take place anytime before October 1, 2009. This is the perfect time to schedule your sessions early! If your baby has already been born, 2 baby sessions may be substituted as long as your little one is under one year old by the time the sessions are completed. Sessions must be booked together to receive rate. Book up to four sessions. Please contact for details-kathy@knorwoodportraiture.com

*or Baby and Baby sessions!

More Snow

2008-12-11T13:46:00.005-06:00

We got around an inch of snow last night.

It's Snow Down South!

2008-12-10T17:29:00.004-06:00

It's snowing in College Station, TX. Can you believe it! While doing some water therapy on my shoulder, I sat in the hot tub and watched the snowflakes fall around me. I love snow!

Girls Just Want to Have Fun!

2008-12-10T12:36:00.010-06:00

I always have a great time when I get to photograph the Smilie women. In November before my surgery, they came in to do their annual Girls portrait. How cool is that! We had four generations represented in the portraits. Here are just a few from their very energetic, very loud and incredibly fun session. BTW, a big thank you goes out to my sister of "Candid Creations by Mary Photography" for helping with the lighting and baby wrangling.

Just the cutest little girl in the cutest red dress!

2008-12-01T18:30:00.002-06:00

I know people will say their grandchildren are the cutest but honest, mine are the cutest! I mean it-just look at this picture and say she isn't cute and mean it..... Here is a portrait of my youngest granddaughter Genesis Leeann Norwood in her pretty little red dress. I did this one as a watercolor and am looking for any comments on how to make it better. Thanks for looking and let me know what you think!

Wedding Album Designs

2008-12-01T18:10:00.009-06:00

This is my favorite picture of Lori and Jeff and I really like how the cover page came together.

The entire night was filled with fun, drink and dancing! Can't you tell........
Just a few images from the entire album. I'm not sure if I like the blue backgrounds but it was the color theme of the night.

Well, I'm going to try something different and post an album on my blog to see what people might think of it. I've been working on it for a little while and it is finally done. Albums are always so personal to me but can be a lot of fun when you have the right creative mood set. I finished up yesterday listening to music and moving along with no interruptions. I hope Lori and Jeff like it as much as I do! Enjoy!

I Love Fall Weddings!

2008-11-28T13:01:00.017-06:00

I myself got married to my husband in the spring but we did this because he was graduating from college and getting commissioned into the Marine Corps and May just seemed like the best time to get married but if I could do it over, I would get married in the fall. I love when the air turns crisp and there is a slight breeze rustling the leaves that have already fallen on the ground. I also love how nature provides a range of color in the trees. Golden browns, brilliant reds and vibrant oranges seem to blend all together to provide a rich warm palette to use for a wedding backdrop. This is what was provided for us the weekend that Colin Evett and Raechal Johnson got married. The air was nippy, the sun was warm, the trees around the Greenbranch were turning colors and the sunset was brilliant.

If you get to spend any time with Colin and Raechal you immediately learn one thing about them. They are so much in love. They are truly endeared to each other and it shows in how they look at each other and how they speak to each other. When we shot their engagements earlier in the year, we had a blast wandering around downtown Bryan and we knew that their wedding was going to be really special. Colin's sister is an aspiring pastry chef so she designed and baked their wedding cake. The food was catered by Madden's and had an Italian flair due to their love of Italian food and Colin's trips to Italy. One of the bar drinks was even made special for Raechal. It was a favorite of hers from her trip to South America.

The wedding was just beautiful and it was a pleasure being able to capture their love for each other from many different vantage points. One of the reasons this wedding was so enjoyable was because of the untiring efforts of Cecilia Rusch, Raechal's coordinator. Cecilia made everything run so smoothly. Enjoy a few of the images that we captured from Colin and Raechal's very special day and if you are in need of wedding portraiture or even just a family portrait please contact us at K. Norwood Portraiture. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Gig' Em Matt and Sara

2008-11-26T11:07:00.018-06:00

What do you get when you add the TAMU campus, the Century Tree, a white shirt and a maroon dress and a really cute couple and a fun group of photographers... you get a National Championship of engagement shoots!

Sara and Matt are planning their wedding in late June of 2009. Both are Aggies-Matt is working on his graduate degree in Poultry Science and Sara wants to work with exotic animals. We met up with them at the Century Tree on campus on November 9th to do their engagement session and had the best time looking for places on campus to take pictures. After spending a bit of time at the Century Tree, we strolled around looking for Aggie landmarks. The Academic Bldg made for a great backdrop and then off to the Fish Pond and a few pictures in front of Sbisa Dining Hall and then a walk over to the Chicken and Bottle Cap Alley. (I can't remember if we called it Bottle Cap Alley back in '78) Then we finished up behind the George Bush Library for the final score.

All in all it was a win for both teams-the photographers at K. Norwood Portraiture had a blast and Matt and Sara walked away with winning photography! So we all know what Aggies do when they score--they kiss!

A Downtown Wedding!

2008-11-21T09:04:00.012-06:00

When Hannah first met with us and talked about where her wedding would be held and how it was going to be decorated, I knew we were going to be just right for her. "A Match made in Heaven" would be displayed on the marquee at The Palace and downtown Bryan would be our backdrop for an extremely romantic night. We were a little worried about the lighting but with the expertise of Wade, Cindy and his crew at LiveWire Productions the uplighting was beautiful and added to the warm mid-autumn air. University Flowers provided gorgeous fall flowers and Sweet Memories Cafe did an awesome job with the four-tiered cake. The reception was held across the street at the Cotton Exchange with J Squared Catering providing a delicious meal.

The night was filled with show tunes and wonderful singing. Krista Burke sang a great rendition of "At Last" and Sherrel Williams finished out the ceremony with the song "Are you ready for a Miracle".

Here are just a few highlights of the night's activities.

Busy week!

2008-11-19T08:49:00.004-06:00

Well Monday night was the engagement announcement which dovetailed itself into an early morning get up to go to the Outpatient Surgery Center at St. Joseph's Hospital in Bryan. Tuesday morning I was slated for a much needed shoulder surgery on my left shoulder. We were out of the house by 5:30am and walking through the doors at 6:00am. It didn't take long for them to get me into a preop room and explain the highly technical stuff they were going to do to me. I left instructions with Robert that if anything were to happen to me, he had my permission to remarry in a year but she had to weigh more than me, have warts and talk funny...I don't think he will go through with it, but you never know!

After explaining about how they were going to put something in my neck that would keep my shoulder numb for 3 or four days, Robert said do it-she hates pain! Yep, but I also hate looking like death warmed over too and I've got the pictures to prove it. I doubt you will ever see a post of me like this again, so enjoy it while you can. It's not the most flattering pictures I've ever taken and I promise my clients I will never take pictures like this of you. You will always look beautiful but what the heck-you lose all dignity when you have surgery.

On the flip side, surgery went well, I am obviously posting this afterwards and using my left hand at least to type. I've been editing pictures in the early morning hours when I can't sleep due to being uncomfortable but at least it is not keeping me from getting work done around here. I can't lift a camera for awhile-shucks! but I can edit pictures so for all you people who just got married-don't worry-you will have your images online soon.

Well, here are a few images of the block in my neck and my sling like I promised. Thanks to everyone that has called and checked up on me, I really appreciate the kind words and warm thoughts. And a big thank you goes to my mom and dad for bringing meals over and looking after me and also to my daughter and her kids for coming over and playing Wall-E with their "chief". Enough for now!

Kathy

He Went to Jared's! Well maybe not Jared's but it's definitely a ring!

2008-11-19T08:32:00.006-06:00

Monday night I was asked to bring my camera to our friends house to take pictures of her son asking his girlfriend to marry him. You may ask well why is Kathy writing about this-well my friend's son asked my daughter to marry him so since this is noteworthy-it becomes blog worthy. Actually that day, Robert had lunch with Freddie to show him the ring and do the "ask the dad" question. Freddie got to walk away from lunch so I guess the answer was "yes". Now I don't know to many people who still ask the dad, so it only gave Freddie more points in the "good guy" category for me. They haven't set a date yet but probably April of 2009. Here are some of the pictures from Monday night after a Bible study that is held at their house (actually it was the Delarosa's house...)

Congratulations, Freddie and Ashley

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep

2008-11-13T13:41:00.006-06:00

As most people know, October is Breast Cancer awareness month, but what many do not know is that October is also Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. When a parent loses a child at any age, it is hard to know what to say or do-maybe even more so when a parent loses a child at birth. The greatest joy of their life suddenly is replaced with an amazing sense of loss. This loss is always there but with the help of volunteer photographers, many parents are turning to a non-profit organization which supports grieving parents. The Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep organization is made up of affiliated volunteer photographers who share their time and talent and provide parents with remembrance photography. So why am I blogging about this organization. Because I am a volunteer member who is looking for more volunteers in the local Brazos Valley area-we need more talented photographers to share in this very sensitive type of photography. I know this isn't everyone's cup of tea and that's ok. However, I do want to talk to you if you are interested and feel you can handle this type of photographic session. I'm extremely moved by the shear strength these families display in a time of grief and desolation and I'm glad to be available when I can.

Too cute for Words!

2008-11-13T13:14:00.004-06:00

I was so excited when I got the phone call from Kimberly that she and Bubba (Donald) wanted us to photograph their wedding. We just fell in love with them when they came in to interview with us so I knew we would be a perfect fit for them. They both recognized the importance of good photography and I could feel their excitement as they talked about the wedding and their plans. It was hard for me to call Donald "Bubba" at first since that is my youngest daughter's nickname for her brother but after spending time with them on last Sunday afternoon, (November 2nd) I began to think of him as part of my family. Here are just a few of my favorites from their session at George Bush Library. Enjoy!

Rosie Juarez-Quinceanera

2008-10-31T11:53:00.010-05:00

Recently I was asked to photograph a friend's niece for her Quinceanera portraits. I met Rosie and her family at Research Park and we traveled around the park looking for just the right spot to take her portraits. I wasn't aware of everything that went into a Quinceanera but here are some highlights. The custom is a celebration of the young girl and a recognition of her journey from childhood to maturity. It is a religious ceremony that highlights her relationship with God, family, and friends. The festivities include food and music, and in most, a choreographed waltz or dance performed by the Quinceanera and her court. The court can be made up of young girls called a Dama, young men called Escorte or Galan or a combination of both-traditionally up to 14 persons in the court, which with the young girl, would total 15 young people.

There are many traditions throughout the celebration but the one I found most interesting was the Changing of the Shoes. The father ceremoniously changes the young girl's flat shoes to high heels. This is a symbol of the Quinceanera's transformation from a little girl to a young lady.

Congratulations, Rosie on turning 15.

Bridal Portraits

2008-10-31T08:36:00.001-05:00

Getting the Look Down

2008-10-31T08:12:00.002-05:00

So, I am in the process of changing the look of my blog to more represent my business cards and logo so please excuse the multitude of changes that have been going on lately. I finally found a template that I really like and has a warm feel to it and I need to have some template modifications done and then-voila! it will be perfect or at least until I change my mind again. You know that is my prerogative to change my mind, I'm a woman!

Melchor Wedding-October 18, 2008

2008-10-29T15:40:00.020-05:00

After two days of non-stop editing, I finished up the last few images from Carly and Austin's wedding. After the luncheon, we packed up our cameras and headed to downtown Amarillo to get some pictures of just Carly and Austin. She had mentioned something about a house that had some pretty steps and columns. She didn't tell me how beautiful the home was. After doing some internet research, I discovered it was on the National Register of Historic Places and if I'm not mistaken it's the Lee and Mary Bivins House. It was a beautiful backdrop for some very cool shots of the two of them. We also traveled to some gorgeous homes on the outskirts of Amarillo and took some shots of Carly and Austin in front of a house there. We want to thank Stacia for letting us use her yard and her beautiful home as a backdrop.

Then it was off to Canyon, TX for the reception. Here are just a few images from that night. Enjoy and congratulations to Carly and Austin Melchor!

Busy Bridal Weekend (cont)

2008-10-28T04:46:00.016-05:00

As I mentioned before, we started at the Astin Mansion in Bryan and we ended our weekend on Sunday at the Antique Rose Emporium in Independence, Tx. The Antique Rose Emporium is owned by G. Michel Schoup and is a wonderful backdrop for weddings and bridals. It's the home to roses like the "Old Gay Hill China" and the "Highway 290 Pink Buttons". The Emporium has expanded over the past few years and is a photographer's dream when it comes to finding just the right spot for a beautiful bride. Here is where we met up with our newest bride, Kimberly and her mother, Susanne. Kimberly and Donald "Bubba" will be married February 28th, 2009 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Bryan and will have their reception at Briarcrest Country Club.

When we discussed bridals, I felt like Kimberly wanted a location that would show some romance but also a feel of the countryside and nature. We couldn't have asked for better weather-the sky was a beautiful blue and when we finished up the day the sun was setting and a gold tone lit the sky.

Enjoy the images.

Kathy

Busy Bridal Weekend

2008-10-28T04:15:00.017-05:00

The weekend started out with a trip to the Astin Mansion located here in Bryan, Texas to meet with one of our brides, Kimbra Lindsey. She and Luke will be married in January with their reception following at the Mansion. The Astin Mansion was built in 1924 by Roger Q. and Nina Heard Astin. A perfect example of the grand 1920's style architecture, this gem has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Because of the beautiful architecture and scenery, it seemed like just the right place to shoot her bridal portraits. Kimbra is in pharmacy school in Austin and Luke is working in Fort Worth but both attended Texas A&M University.

After driving through the hectic traffic of both San Antonio and Austin, she arrived with her mother and father. Dad was sent off so he wouldn't see her in her dress and mom and friends and roomie stayed around to help out.

Her are just a few shots from her session. I love her dress!

Melchor Wedding Activities

2008-10-28T03:44:00.011-05:00

Well, it seems like I can't sleep so I thought I would work on a couple of images from the pre-ceremony of Austin and Carly Melchor. I had never met Carly before but I've known Austin for the last nine years and when he told us he was moving to Amarillo so he could be closer to Carly during their engagement I knew he had met the right girl. We met Carly on Friday before the wedding and fell in love with her also. She is so bubbly that her enthusiasm for life is contagious. It was like we had known each other forever. We visited at the rehearsal dinner and then checked out the Kingdom Hall where they would get married. The bridal party was made up of close friends and family and some whom shall not be mentioned (you know who you are) were loving the camera.

Saturday started out early with driving to the airport to pick up our 2nd photographer (my husband Robert). He had lost his car keys on his trip to Hawaii so he needed to run to the mall for extra clothes. BTW, he NEVER goes to the mall so this was a real chore. After getting him squared away, I drove him back to the hotel and then it was back to the mall for some getting ready shots at the local Dillard's. The staff was very nice and I traveled back and forth between the Chanel counter and the Dior counter-getting shots of Carly and Lenea getting their makeup done. Man, next time I'm getting my makeup done before a wedding. It looks like fun!

Here are a few images from the morning's activities. Will post more later!

Kathy

One Cute Couple

2008-10-27T10:45:00.002-05:00

Just wanted to post another portrait of a really cute couple that attending the Fall Bridal Fair at the Hilton in September. This is our third session and the couples just get cuter and cuter. Sallie and Joey are from the College Station area and graduated from College Station ISD several years ago. Joey is a big hunter and the first time we set up our session he forgot and was out hunting. Ooops! But no matter, they came in last week and we had a great session. Enjoy!

More beach portraits!

2008-10-22T14:26:00.004-05:00

Who Left the Baby On the Beach?!?

2008-10-22T14:01:00.006-05:00

Just wanted to share some portraits that my very talented sister took while vacationing with us in Hilton Head. Mary is a portrait photographer in Collierville, TN and photographs the cutest babies and families. She outdid herself by offering to take family portraits of us on the beach one night. We had so much fun and I wanted to show off her work. Thanks Mary. BTW, we didn't really leave the baby on the beach...or did we?

Beaufort Shrimp Festival

2008-10-02T18:33:00.009-05:00

It is that time of year again! Time for the annual Fall vacation to Hilton Head, South Carolina where the guys will play golf and the girls will lay around the pool working on our tans and drinking pretty looking drinks. Each year we try to get over to the Beaufort Shrimp Festival for some tasty shrimp and a look at the local sites and this year is no exception. Friday we will fly into Jacksonville airport then Saturday make our way to Beaufort to enjoy the sites and sounds of the festival. Historic Beaufort has some awesome photographic opportunities and I never tire of walking around the historic district. Most of the homes were built around the early 1800's and have large open porches and boast of old oak trees that epitomize the romantic feel of the Old South. The festival will have free music, lots of entertainment for kids and adults alike and plenty of shrimp to devour. We may be from Texas but we love our Coastal Carolina shrimp. Here a just a few of the last trip to Beaufort during the Shrimp Festival. Hopefully we will have just as much fun at this one as we did in 2005. Look for more posts about South Carolina and the places to visit.

Nancy and Chad Carter

2008-10-02T17:15:00.015-05:00

Nancy and Chad were married Saturday September 13th, 2008 in Bryan, TX. After braving the weather that morning, the girls got ready at our house in College Station. There was lots of laughter and even some cute shots of the girls sitting in the bathtub off the studio.

From our house we then traveled to St. Joseph's Catholic Church in order to finish the dressing part. The service was performed by Father John and the reception was held at the Kurten Community Center in Kurten, TX. Hurricane Ike was the uninvited guest of the day, but the weather did nothing to dampen the spirits of the friends and family of Chad and Nancy. Everything looked beautiful and everyone had a great time.

Engagement Special

2008-10-02T16:47:00.005-05:00

It's been a busy week here at K. Norwood Portraiture. We've had several couples come in and take advantage of the Bridal Show special and Robert and I have really enjoyed meeting them. Every couple has an interesting story about how they met. I'm including a few images from our latest sessions with Jeni and Josh and Tashina and Chris. Congratulations to them on their upcoming weddings! Continue checking back with us to see new engagement images as they are added and if you attended the Bridal Fair at the Hilton and you stopped by our table, don't forget that your coupon expires November 21, 2008. Call us soon to talk about your wedding photography needs.

Pictures form Hurricane Ike

2008-09-17T08:34:00.004-05:00

Hurricane Ike leaves a path of destruction for those in South Texas. For those of you keeping up with the latest news around here... gas prices are on the rise again and we are seeing gas stations run out of gas on a regular basis. With no electricity in many parts of the surrounding area and Houston, people are traveling to College Station to buy supplies and much needed gas. Isn't it alarming how much we do relies on the need for electricity. You can't pump gas without it, you can't get money without it, you can't buy groceries without it, so what are people to do? I think the most helpful thing we can do is to keep our cool, help out where we can, volunteer in your local church as we do, bring food or gas to a loved one who lives in the affected areas and remember that we are not alone in a crisis. Here a K Norwood Portraiture we are trying to do our part by also conserving gas when we can and staying in touch with loved ones to be there at a moment's notice. If we can help out in anyway, please let us know.

Hurricane Ike Come and Gone

2008-09-17T08:32:00.004-05:00

Hurricane Ike

2008-09-11T23:12:00.004-05:00

Well for all you people out there following the track of Hurricane Ike, it looks like the Brazos Valley is going to get it's fair share of wind and rain. So we are going to batten down the hatches and hang on to our hats and ride the storm out here in College Station. However, we are going to do our best to shoot a wedding on Saturday if we don't get any tornado warnings or such. Nancy and Chad still are planning to get married at 3pm at St. Joseph's Catholic Church so we will be there to document their special occasion. Rehearsal went well tonight and everyone seems to know their part to play.

The festivities will begin on Saturday morning with the bridesmaids getting ready at our house-of course this is about the same time that the storm should be hitting our area. I think it's only fair to say we will be having a bonafide "hurricane party" from that moment on. (If you think about it, this will probably make for a great story for Chad and Nancy to tell their children one day) Then we will make our way over to the church and hopefully no one will get blown away. Then it's business as usual...The reception will be at the Kurten Community Center and Nancy promises that we will all have a wonderful time. Rob and I have really enjoyed getting to know them better and they are such a cute couple.

Well, it's about time for me to call this quits tonight. I will post a few images from their engagement session and then pray for better weather. (Isn't hurricane season a blast!)

Enough for now,

Kathy

September brings Football Season

2008-09-06T22:38:00.003-05:00

Can you believe it is already September 6th and school is underway and the Aggies have played their 2nd football game of the season. I feel like the summer flew by so fast and now it's time to start thinking about fall clothes, sweaters and sitting outside next to the fire. It's been a really hto summer and I'm looking forward to some cool evenings around here.

Things have been moving forward with the new site. I think we fixed the problem with the ordering system and now are set up with PayPal and the ability to order using credit cards. We've tried to streamline the new site in order to help out our wonderful clients.

Today we were out at Research Park taking pictures of a lovely young girl named Rosie. Rosie will be 15 in October and needed to have Quinceanera portraits done in time for her party. We had a wonderful time and will be adding a few of her portraits to the blog in the next day or two.

On Saturday we will be at St. Joseph's Catholic Church for the wedding of Nancy Davis and Chad Carter. They are such a cute couple and have been so much fun to work with. This job has so many benefits...besides getting to do what I love to do, I get to meet really neat people. Look for images of their wedding in the next week.

Well enough for now,

Kathy

Visiting Laguna Beach

2008-08-11T12:48:00.001-05:00

More photos...

Southern California

2008-08-11T11:43:00.000-05:00

The weather has been perfect here while we've been on a short hiatus. Our good friends, Paul and Tari have been turning us into beach bums with a trip a day Crystal Cove. Friday we hit the beach after a quick change into bathing suits at their home in Laguna Beach and then off to their favorite beach location. The weather was beautiful-no marine layer clouding the bright sun and wonderful cool refreshing breezes. The Pacific is a mite bit colder than our warm Gulf but the waves were spectacular. On Saturday we went to breakfast at the Beachcomber which is a quaint little cottage turned into restaurant. We got to see the house where they filmed the movie "Beaches" and our friends told us about the history of the area. Saturday evening was a time for us to meet 4 more couples who were also attending the Pageant. The food was wonderful and the friends were incredibly entertaining. Then it was time to walk to the trolley and head to the Canyon for the Pageant. If you've never been, it is a treat to see. When you enter into the area, you see displays of any kind of art you can imagine. I, of course, tried to see as many exhibits that had to do with photography as possible. The unfortunate part of seeing the Pageant is that you can't take any pictures inside the coliseum so you will just have to see it for yourself. Sunday after breakfast we were back at the beach taking turns getting knocked down by the waves. The waves were so strong that I didn't quite make it through one and came up spitting. All I remember is seeing white above me and telling myself..hold your breath, hold your breath...sure enough a moment later I came up spitting. The surf can be very deceiving! From then on, this Texas girl just got wet when she needed too. Once was enough for me.

Here's a few shots from this weekend.

California Bound

2008-08-08T00:19:00.000-05:00

We will be out of the studio for the next few days as we will be traveling to Southern California. Our good friends are taking us to the Pageant of the Masters. I've wanted to attend for many years and we are finally getting the chance.

I'll post pictures later.

Enough for now

Kathy

NILMDTS

2008-08-08T00:07:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends,

Today I received a call from the Labor and Delivery room at one of our local hospitals about the tragic passing of a newborn. This is my 3rd bereavement photography session and equally as sad. The little one was just beautiful and perfect in every aspect and I only hope I was able to capture the beauty and innocence of a newborn's life. I hope through the NILMDTS program that this family will begin the healing process when they receive their copies of their child's photo session. The cause is a good one and one I am proud to be a part of. If you are a local photographer and you feel you have it in you to help with bereavement photography please contact me at 979-690-9105 and I will get you started in the right direction. Right now, I am the Area Coordinator and sole photographer. I would cherish the help dearly! Please think about these little ones and how these sessions are a boon to the parents. I also have to give the girls on the LDR floor a big hand. They were wonderful and so supportive of my efforts.

Summertime Fun

2008-08-06T22:42:00.000-05:00

Things have been really busy around the studio lately. I just returned from a fantastic conference in Austin and learned some really cool things that I will start implementing in the studio soon. I found a great place to get some cool funky looking frames for little kids rooms and can't wait to see them up on the wall. We also purchased a new backdrop for our maternity and baby sessions. Robert and I have just finished getting the studio back in order after having the walls finished in a venetian plaster. This is going to be a wonderful backdrop for family sessions and even a cool way to feature a senior session.

Just as a reminder-there is a bridal special going on right now. Sign a contract with us in the month of August and get $200 off your wedding package and don't forget to check out our table at the Fall Bridal Show at the Hilton in College Station.

CFPA Conference

2008-07-29T15:03:00.000-05:00

Just to let everyone know, I am out of town in Austin attending the CFPA conference and have been listening to some wonderful speakers. There has been some great information shared by some awesome photographers from all across the United States.

The focus of K Norwood Portraiture has been with its wonderful wedding clients but I am in the process of expanding my portfolio to include more maternity and babies. If any of you reading the blog know of some expectant moms who would like to receive a free session and a free 8x10 for modeling for me, please refer them to me. I have some wonderful ideas and I know we can have a great time together trying out these new ideas.

I will be back in the studio on Wednesday morning-working on Heather and Braden's mommy and me session. Look for some new posts coming up real soon.

Enough for now!

Lori and Jeff

2008-07-26T00:03:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow is the wedding of Lori Thornton and Jeff Novosad. They are getting married at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in downtown Bryan. St. Anthony's is a 150 year old church with beautiful stain glass windows and is known for it's blue wall in the altar area. Tonight we shot pictures of the rehearsal and it looks like Lori has the wedding well planned. We are so glad to be a part of their special day.

Best wishes from all of us,

Kathy, Robert and Kerri

We are LIVE!

2008-07-25T23:55:00.000-05:00

Well folks,

It is finally done. The new site is live and ready for you to visit. There will be some fine tuning to do so if you see something that doesn't look right to you, email me to let me know what needs to be changed. It's time to start blogging about the upcoming weddings we are doing here at K Norwood Portraiture-actually we are still using the name K&K Wedding Photography but it will be totally phased out by December of 2008.

Can't wait to hear from you all.

Kathy

WeddingWire

2008-07-24T08:19:00.000-05:00

Please check out my blog if you happen to come across my site while using Wedding Wire. I'm really excited about this new marketing technique.

Kathy

Website Latest Update

2008-07-23T23:50:00.000-05:00

Well, the site grows-from just a few images, to a full fledged site. I'm so excited. Friday is the deadline to get everything up and running. I'm working with a web designer now to fine tune the last little details. But what else has been going on!

We just got back from a much needed vacation at Galveston Beach. The whole family was able to come and it was great to watch my granddaughters-14 months old and 3 months old enjoying the waves and playing in the sand. I will need to upload pictures tomorrow of my niece trying out her first skim board. And the week before the vacation, I had an engagement shoot, a bridal shoot and a 3 week old infant and mother shoot. Busy I was, in the famous words of Yoda! While it was a long week, it was a wonderful week of getting to know Chad and Nancy better and finally meeting the daughter-in-law of a very good friend. Heather and Braden are just the cutest mom and son combo. Braden even made it through the entire session without getting us wet.

Well enough for now,

Kathy

New Website

2008-07-07T14:36:00.000-05:00

Wow! I can't wait for everyone to see the new website. The galleries have been updated and new pictures have been added. We did a wedding June 28th and I have even added some of their images to the site. We all worked so hard that day but it really paid off. I can't thank Suzanne and Peter enough for their endurance and readiness. Teamwork is wonderful. I will really miss them as they move on to bigger and better things, but I am so thankful for my husband and his willingness to share in this wonderful business. I've never met a more wonderful man. I'm not one to share my feelings too much in the open airways but I'm glad he is on my team and I know that he will be an integral part of the KNorwood Portraiture success along with all our wonderful clients and friends. Well, if I'm ever going to go live with this website I better quite chatting and start working.

Enough for now!

Going Live with New Website

2008-07-04T10:03:00.000-05:00

I am so excited about my new website. Change is inevitable but sometimes you worry about change. Well, this is a change in the right direction. I hope that all my clients enjoy the new look that KNorwood Portraiture is taking. Thank you for your continued business and support.

Enough for now,
Kathy