Logan Approved • Commercial • Seabrook, TX

Here are super adorable handmade products that my talented and crafty SIL sells on her brand new website.

LOGANAPPROVED.COM

Her company is Logan Approved and she sells children's hair accessories along with other products such as hairbow frames, toesocks, and tote bags.
Confession:  My daughter has a few Logan Approved hairbows and when I'm feeling youthful I steal them from time to time to wear myself.  They're that cute!

I photographed the featured products on the website, and my daughter was one of the models.  So here's a peek at her awesome modeling skills (and one of many cool fabric flower hairbows you can find on the site).

My SIL talked her cute neighbors into modeling her products for me.  They're the Saley sisters.  Each happy to fix up their hair and wear cute accessories.  I absolutely loved doing this project and I had the best kid/teen models around..... they're all so photogenic.  Thanks girls!!!

Support my SIL and take a look at her website.  Leave a comment telling me which product you liked the most..... if I get enough comments then maybe I can talk her into doing a giveaway on my blog.

Freeman Family • Maternity/Family Portrait • Houston

Since I took these in February I have been dying to post some images from this session. The reason for the delay is simply because I prefer not to share session photos before my clients place and receive their order.  

I remember when I took Matt and Carolina's wedding pictures 5 or so years ago, and now here we were again taking family pictures. With two little ones and another on the way (now 3 little ones), their family had grown and changed so much.  It was a really good feeling to be a part of this family's most joyful moments.

We captured some very sweet moments at El Jardin del Mar.  The weather was nice (a bit windy at times), and for many of these shots the sun cast a soft gleam which made the images all the more lovely. I will include strong and lively shots which also appeal to my eye, as I hope it does to yours as well.   

All images ©Julie Cruz & j.cruz.photography

 

As always, please do not copy these images without permission.

Thank you!

Dominique + Friends • Prom • Galveston

I was super excited to take prom pictures last month.  It was the first time I had been asked to do so, and I think it is the perfect photo opportunity to memorialize an american high school milestone.  Why had I not thought of this before?!  I only wish I had more parents wanting to step away from the traditional prom date pictures taken at the front door right before the couple heads off..... 

We drove to Moody Gardens in Galveston for a few pre-prom pictures of Dominique with her friends.  (I have to tell you, Dominique is the sweetest girl in the world and if you were to meet her family you'd see why she turned out so well.  They are a big family with big hearts.)  So for Miss Dominique we were at the prom hot spot to put a modern twist on her prom photos.  It was a really nice day and the timing was perfect as the last minutes of the sun illuminated my subjects.  I also got the sun lens flare which inspired me for post production work on these pictures.   And I love the warm colors.

All images © Julie Cruz & j.cruz.photography

I always welcome healthy critiques to improve my skills, so if you'd like to know something (How to's in photoshop, photo style, etc.) or give your opinion please do not hesitate.  Thank you! 

Mother's Day Photo Giveaway Results

Time to announce the winners of my favorite holiday giveaway.  Yes, I said winners.  You all gave me such sweet nominations that it was super hard to choose which mother deserved it most.  After all the nomination stories I read I do believe they all deserve it.  That is why I decided to elect 2 winners.

Candace R.

&

Logan S.

The winners must claim their prize before the month's end to set up the photo session.

Thank you!

Mother's Day Photo Giveaway

PHOTO SESSION GIVEAWAY

Every mother deserves to be celebrated! 

 I really want to help someone make this Mother's Day special, so I decided to give away a free photo session which will include 3 final images on a photo cd and she will be featured on my blog.  

I mean how often does your mother pamper herself with a beautiful portrait?  

This is the perfect opportunity to give your mother a special Mother's Day gift. 

All you have to do is drop me a few lines about why your mother deserves to be celebrated.

Here's how you can do it.  

Leave me a comment here on my blog, or send me an email (j.cruz.photography@gmail.com), or message me on my facebook photography page.  

It really is that easy!

I will announce the lucky winner on May 5th.  

That gives you TWO WEEKS to enter this giveaway.... so hop to it!

 

Melani • Bridal Portrait • Galveston

Here's one I have been meaning to show off for quite a while now.  Back in December I traveled down to Galveston to meet up with Melani at the Tremont House Hotel.  I am really please with how these images came out, but then again look at my subject!  How could I go wrong with such a gorgeous bride.  The dress was beautiful, the necklace was unique, the make-up perfect, and all I had to do was snap away.

Choosing which images to share is only half the difficulty of posting, the other half is whether or not to show them in full color, sepia, or b&w (along with other variations i love).  If you know me at all you know that I am very indecisive, so that should give you a clue as to just how time consuming and difficult this is for me. 

All images © Julie Cruz & j.cruz.photography

elegant and refined

playful and relaxed

As always, it is nice to have photo admirers.  I just ask you be respectful and mention credit where it is due... and not manipulate these images so as to take out the logo.

 

Iskander Family • Family/Baby Portrait • Bellaire

My good friend and former co-worker (back at UHCL) contacted me on facebook to do her family pictures.  It was a great surprise since we hadn't seen each other since we attended UHCL.  Since then she had her second baby boy.  I was super excited to meet this little guy for his first professional picture session.  I think you'll agree that baby Jacob and his older brother, Mark, are simply adorable. I could have stayed with them all day taking pictures.  

This was our second attempt to get together to do these pictures, but I think it really worked out because the day was beautiful outside and the choice location was Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox church in Bellaire.  Here's a small sample of the images captured that day.

 All images © Julie Cruz & j.cruz.photography

As always, it is nice to have photo admirers.  I just ask you be respectful and mention credit where it is due... and not manipulate these images so as to take out the logo. 

  

To Pin or Not to Pin

I joined pinterest a while back, but it's taken me time to add the pin it button (big suprise there!.... just like it's taken me this long in 2012 to post to my blog).  I love pinterest.  It's an obsession.  I have to monitor the time I spend on there each week because time flies by and before I know it my day is gone.  Anyhoo, I don't even know that I followed the instructions for adding the pin it button correctly.  I still need to put it on my website (like in another 4 months - ha. ha. ha.).

If you want to show me some love and pin my stuff go for it!  I think it would be one of the greatest compliments to my work.

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