I spent my 31st birthday in Stavanger, Norway while accompannying my husband on a work trip. It was mid June and cold - at least for my Texas blood. When we first decided that Colin (our 15 month old son) and I would come to Norway, I started googling and researching Norway from every angle. The biggest attraction, aside from its oil industry, seafood and adorable port side culture, is Preikestolen, also dubbed Preacher's Pulpit, or Pulpit Rock. The cliff, aptly named for its technical climb and epic views, creates somewhat of a religious experience once you reach the top. I've never had a fear of heights, but even I was a bit shakey on top of the cliff. It was an amazing feeling and so very terrifying at the same time. It was beautiful and perfect and I felt all of the feelings. It was easy to feel a range of emotions while hiking up - we got to experience several different climates on the way up, including dry spots with vast views, areas so thick with fog that we could barely see our hands in front of us, cold points where I had to put on a sweater, and parts so hot and exposed that I sweated completely through my shirt. This is definitely the hike of my lifetime, and I've done several. I hope to do more, but I think this one will always take the cake...
A few things.
Well hello! It's been a while since I updated my photo journal. It's not for lack of photos - quite the contrary, actually. Since moving to Paris, we have seen so many beautiful, photo worthy places that my photo collection is growing exponentially and I don't even know where to start. Since November, we have been to Belgium, England, Scotland, and I am currently enjoying a short stay in Norway. Not to mention a really fun trip to Normandy and Chinon in the Loire Valley of France. Since I have some catching up to do, I will post a few photos from the last 6 months...and, I will make sure to stay on top of this journal in the future!
















The Argyle League
The Argyle League opened in the summer of 2014 in Houston, Texas. To the naked eye, it's a barber shop that offers traditional grooming services for men. Beneath the surface, The Argyle League is "clubhouse open to all" - a place for men to become better versions of themselves, to learn the art of style, and to have a little fun in the process. Carlos Carrillo and his wife Lauren know a thing or two about style - I should know - they are two of my best friends. Carlos has always had impeccable taste and Lauren is like a modern day Audrey Hepburn. Our son Colin had his very first haircut in one of the barber chairs at The Argyle League, which, in my book, is the ultimate seal of approval. I had the pleasure of photographing this space this past fall. Friendship aside, this place is perfect. The white, textured walls offer the most flattering light. The dark stained woods and few hand picked antiques are both masculine and glamorous at the same time. The simplicity of the product and tool displays are curated perfectly to showcase their craft but still look uncluttered. The textiles are traditional stripes and cotton - my favorite. I love everything about The Argyle League! And I know you will, too. Click through the photos to see the space. And if you are ever in Houston, stop in and grab a shave, a haircut or a shoeshine. There is also a really awesome coffee shop next door.
The Argyle League
703 West Alabama
Houston, Texas
77006
713.702.1026
To book an appointment: http://www.secure-booker.com/argyle/BookOnlineStart.aspx
Senior Portraits with Olivia
I had the pleasure of working with Olivia recently on a gorgeous spring day in Tulsa. Olivia is weeks away from graduating from high school, and she was eager to get some images to send out to family and friends. I love doing senior portraits- the energy and the excitement that an 18 year old has for life is contagious!
Olivia was a good sport - our shoot ran late and the sun was right over us, which is never ideal. There wasn't a cloud in sight that day either, so she was dealing with full on sun glare. I don't normally shoot in direct sunlight, but I really love the way the images turned out! I might have to play around with direct sunlight a little more in the future...
Maternity Photos/ 31 weeks.
I took some maternity photos of myself today. I am 31 weeks, and with 2 months out I figured now was a good time since I can still (kind of ) move around a little. We have a platform bed that is low to the ground, so getting in and out of it has been more and more of a challenge lately! I got quite the workout taking these photos. Still, I am happy to have gotten a few to look back on and to show our son one day. It will be so cool to point to my belly in those photos and tell him "you were in there!!". I completely stole the idea to use a book in one of the photos from Pinterest. And I love the way it turned out. Maternity photos are so fun to take - I think women are beautiful when they are pregnant. It's such a special time. Scroll through to see all 4 photos.
Corporate Headshots with Charissa Simmons.
I had the pleasure of working with Charissa, an Area Sales Manager for Premier Locations. She is based out of Oak Ridge, TN, and was in Tulsa on business this past week. When she contacted me about doing her photos, I was thrilled because, having met her twice before, I was familiar with her striking blue eyes and sweet smile. She isn't all beauty though - she is one of the leading managers in her company. Beauty and brains. I am hoping to add more corporate photography to my resume in the future. Click the picture above to scroll through both images.
Hawai'i.

I took this photo in January of 2013 while in Hawai'i. We stayed in Maui, and it rained for a lot of the trip. Rain at the beach is kind of one of my favorite things - we still had plenty of sunshine. This day, we all piled in a tiny rental car and decided to trek the road to Hana. The road to Hana is a 52 mile long, winding highway - mostly switchbacks up and down, and is nestled inside Maui's beautiful rain forest. There are tons of waterfalls and lush tropical plants to stop and take pictures of (and yes, I got MANY). We stopped at this beach on the way - the sky was gray and it sprinkled on us the whole time we were there. It was chilly, and the sound of waves and thunder really put me in touch with nature's authority and grandness. While taking this photo, I was almost taken out by a massive rolling wave. I underestimated its reach. This is my favorite photo from the trip, and I recently printed it and gave it to a friend for her birthday. This beach reminds me of her - beautiful and strong, and not to be underestimated.
Anthony & Tori
This is one of my favorite shoots to date. I did an engagement photo session for Anthony & Tori back in September, and we were lucky enough to gain access to Post Oak Lodge's beautiful scenery. From the northwest spot, you can see the city of Tulsa and the beautiful downtown skyline.
Click the image to scroll through!
Flowers.

This is one of those photos that, for whatever reason, makes me so happy each time I look at it. I hope it has the same affect on you. I like to keep fresh flowers around the house when I can, and I usually buy the "cheap ones" because they last longer.
Happy Monday!
Bison & Bear.

This is a photo from one of my favorite shops here in Tulsa called Bison and Bear. I did a post on this store over on my blog, The Clever Bunny. You can read all about this store by clicking here. Among other things, they have a great selection of handmade pottery, wooden bowls and woven baskets. I love the richness of the colors in this photo, offset by the pale green leaves of this pretty little succulent.
2014.

Welcoming a New Year means looking back on the previous one, for me. I took this photo in May of 2013 in Talkeetna, Alaska. We drove about an hour and forty five minutes north of my in-laws' home in Eagle River, Alaska and stayed in a cabin near Denali Park. We could hear the snow dogs howling from their kennels at night. It was a great adventure.
In 2014, I really want to grow my business. This means expanding my viewership on this website. I have thousands of photos I want to share with you, and that collection grows every day. So I decided to start a little photo journal, or blog, to engage with those who stop by my website a little more. I will share travel photos, peeks from former and current photo sessions with clients, and anything else that I am working on at that time.
I hope you enjoy! And please check back often!
~Katy