Christmas Family Newsletter

This year has been full of new beginnings.  We welcomed our first baby earlier this year. We named her Deseret Olivia.  Deseret is a name we chose from the Book of Mormon which means honeybee, and at 10 months old she certainly is proving to be a busy little bee and full of sweetness.  Deseret is very silly and mischevious.  She is walking, clapping, and loves showing mommy and daddy new things she learned - like how to squeeze through barriers we put up.  We have enjoyed watching her learn and grow.  Heavenly Father has blessed us with the most perfect baby girl for our family.  We love being her parents.

Abraham has been working hard to get through school.  He's relieved to have another semester of grad school under his belt.  He got his first taste of being 'in the field' with an internship for a human resources company.  He's currently serving in the Elder's Quorom at church, and all his free time is spent playing with his daughter and making his wife happy by giving her time to catch up on sleep.  And now that the NBA is back in play any extra time he finds will be watching his favorite teams play.

Julie is loving her role as a new mommy.  She gets to stay-at-home with Deseret all day and they have grown attached at the hip.  Julie has taken tons of baby pictures and tries desperately to capture every precious moment (impossible of course).  Photography is still her passion and she's had the privilege of working with some new clients this year.  She is currently working on her genealogy and super excited since learning of a family line that has been traced back to Adam (Yes! You read correctly -- I know!!!). 

From our family to yours, we wish you a merry Christmas and joyful New Year.

XOXO,

The Cruz Family

Thanks to Dianna L. Hall Photography for all the wonderful family pictures.
You can check out her artistic photography at http://dlh-photography.blogspot.com/2011/10/league-city-family-photography.html

Talitha • Maternity Portrait • Clear Lake • PART I

I love maternity photography because there is truly something very amazing about that growing bump.  Talitha looks so beautiful.  She's going to be a first time mommy by the end of this month.  We can't wait to meet the precious baby girl.

All images © Julie Cruz & j.cruz.photography

I made the next image shown first in a crisp light & then in a soft light.  To me they are equally as beautiful, but I'd probably go with the second if I were to mount this image & hang it in my home.  It just has that soft angelic feel to it, you know? Then again....?  It depends on the pictures surrounding it.

Seth + Erica • Engagement Session • Houston • POST II

More image variations from this photo session!  I had to share these posed images in their many dramatic aesthetics.  I find each small change leaves a new imprint on how I feel when viewing the image & how it appeals to the eye.

I'd like to know your opinion, whether you're a friend, follower, or just a passerby.

All images © Julie Cruz & j.cruz.photography

warm-toned w/dramatic lighting

Deep shadows w/dramatic lighting

b&w w/dramatic lighting

b&w w/G&B color pop

b&w w/G color pop

b&w w/G&R color pop

b&w w/ R color pop

Seth + Erica • Engagement Session • Houston • POST I

This is a repost of a previous session that I sadly had to take down a while back.  Now I am able to show these images again & with a few tweaks here and there.  We ventured out to the Wortham Falls, next to the Wortham Theater for these pictures.  I love these waters.


  All images © Julie Cruz & j.cruz.photography

Brandi • Portrait Session • Warehouse District

LOOOOVED this photo shoot!  I wanted to experiment with a new location and time and model, so Brandi was a doll and helped me out.  She was so awesome and patient with me.  We took these back in November when I was 7 months pregnant... I laugh now because Brandi had to help me up from the ground several times.  Thanks girl!

All images © Julie Cruz & j.cruz.photography

There are two versions of the following image. First one has a warm yellowish tone & the second one is in a cool tone.  I love both, but the first fits my mood for night time fine art photography. 

The last image is one of my favorites.  I played around with textures & cannot decide which looks best, therefore I am posting the variations that I came up with & letting you tell me which one is to your liking. The first is just color enhanced, no textures. The second is color muted, no textures.

The next set of images are black & white with textures, except the first one is just classic b&w.  You can't go wrong with the classic look.

Once again you decide which is your favorite.... leave me a comment to let me know your opinion.

Emily • Baby Portrait • Clear Lake

My good friends asked me to take pictures of their 3 month old and I could not refuse.  Baby Emily is so adorable.  She was born just a few weeks before my little one.  

Bumble Bee Baby Shower

My sister-in-law had her baby shower the other day and I just loved the theme.  She had Gepedo baby dolls dressed as bumble bees and the colors throughout the room were yellow and lilic.  It was a fresh and modern style, which goes well for a June shower.  And the cup cakes were AMAZING.  My SIL is due at the end of July.  Summer babies are so much fun.  We can't wait to see the little bumble bee baby next month.

Ramirez • Family Portrait • League City

I adore the Ramirez family! They are all so kind and genuine.  I was a very happy photographer by the end of our photo shoot.  It's nice to work with people who can be casual in front of the camera.  Funny thing is they kept telling each other what to do or how to pose... ha ha ha, families!  Hey, it made my job easier. =)