Some people reach out to me with a crystal-clear vision of how they dream of being photographed. They’ve rehearsed poses, imagined the lighting, and know precisely what they want. We tweak angles, adjust expressions, and capture their essence exactly as they envisioned it. For them, this experience is a tool to manifest their dreams—a way to immortalize their purpose.

​Others have no idea what they are looking for, and that’s perfectly okay. They are seeking inspiration and direction from me, trusting me to guide them through the experience of having their portraits made. Sometimes, we may capture or uncover facets of themselves that they have never seen or haven’t seen in a long time.

Many people fall somewhere in the middle of certainty and curiosity. Perhaps they need professional headshots for their LinkedIn profile, but beyond that, they’re open to ideas. They honor their intentions while leaving room for spontaneity. Maybe we include a casual look that is effortless and easygoing, or perhaps they fall in love with one of my amazing in-studio gowns.

Regardless of where they land on the spectrum of certainty, I do my best to tailor their experience and images to them. 
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I was at the hospital for the birth of my second son when Mary's assistant sent me a message regarding this photoshoot. The photos were going to be for Mary Lyons, "The Wealth Woman". She's a Dallas-based financial advisor who has been making waves within her industry. Vogue was going to be doing a feature on her, so she needed some professional photos of herself for the article. I'd scheduled a couple of months off for paternity leave, but this project sounded like too much fun to pass up. This was the only photoshoot I did during that time, and it ended up being a highlight of my photography journey. 

When I started as a Portrait Photographer in Dallas 14 years ago, I never imagined my photos would be featured in a publication like Vogue. I've always been inspired by the elevated, timeless images the magazine is known for, so to see my work featured inside the June 2023 issue was totally surreal.

We photographed Mary on-location at a beautifully-designed loft in downtown Dallas. As soon as we arrived, I immediately recognized the potential in the space. To elevate the already beautiful natural light, I aimed one light into the upper corner of the window side of the room and brought in a white v-flat to the opposite side to scoop up the light and fill in the shadows. The result was a beautiful, directional light that was both dynamic and flattering. 

I was honored to serve as Mary's photographer for this, and she now calls herself "a client for life". 

How do you dream of being photographed?
Click here to get in touch and learn more about what we can create for you.

Meet Reece. I had the joy of photographing his brother's Senior Portraits a few years ago, and now it was his turn. Reece has an alternative, artistic style and actually enjoys photography too.

​When I was in high school, my Senior Pictures photoshoot is actually was piqued my interest in photography and pointed me down a path that has brought tremendous amounts of joy, creativity, and success into my life. It's hard for me to believe that was 18 years ago! 

Senior Portraits hold a unique significance. They capture a pivotal moment of transition and achievement in a young person's life, the culmination of years of hard work, growth, and personal development. For some, their Senior Photos are the last professional images they have taken of them until they get married. 

Here are some behind the scenes stills, checkout the full BTS reel on my Instagram! 

Are you looking for a Senior Portrait photographer in Dallas? The experience I create is fully-guided and fully-styled, taking all of the guesswork out of what to wear and how to look your best in your Senior Pictures. 

Jason's mom reached out to me several weeks ago, telling me about how she wanted to support his dream of modeling by scheduling a photo shoot to help start his modeling portfolio.

With it being Jason's first time in front of the camera, I didn't expect him to "perform" and have a bunch of poses prepared. In fact, I always take time and care to pose and direct all of my clients, creating intentional, flattering results (even with experienced models). 

If the thought of having your own portraits taken makes you nervous, THAT MAKES YOUR NORMAL. ​

I help style all of my clients' wardrobe before their shoot, but notice that outfits don't have to be super extravagant or elaborate. Often, there is strength in simplicity!

When people view my work, a lot of people initially assume that I only photograph models. Interestingly, the majority of people that I photograph have never stepped in front of a camera before. I think what people identify with in my work is how I style, light, and pose my clients as if they were models, about to be on the cover of their favorite magazine. 

If you'd like to be photographed in this style (whether you are a supermodel or hate the camera), I would be honored to help. Please get in touch here so we can chat more about how you dream of being photographed. 

I've been photographing Senior Portraits in Dallas full-time for the last 10 years, and I still leave my studio after each shoot feeling inspired, reinvigorated, and thankful. 

The beautiful dress and hat seen above are two of my new studio wardrobe additions that I just received from an amazing seamstress in Germany. I was excited to try them out for the first time with Ava for her Senior Portraits! Even the dress by itself, without the hat, is so timeless! I love how timeless these are- these could have been taken 40 years ago and you'd never know. 

For our next look, we wanted something more minimalistic that really showed off her eyes. I chose to put her in front of one of my studio's glorious 12x12' windows for this gorgeous backlight. 

Using the same window, we just turned and used the ledge for this next look. I love using walls, stairs, ledges, things that give my clients something to lean on- it always helps the images have context and feel more organic. 

Next, we went outdoors with one of my flower crowns for this soft, natural look. 

For our final look, we went for a high-fashion, "wind burn" look. She looked like a living Snapchat filter!

I hope you enjoyed these samples from Ava's Senior Portraits photo shoot. If you are needing a Senior Portrait Photographer in Dallas, and would like more info about what a fully-styled session with me is like, please click the link below to get in touch. I would love to photograph you! 

I recently had the joy of photographing Yaya Gosselin and Nathan Blair, stars from the Netflix original movie, We Can Be Heroes. 

For all of my photo shoots, my incredible team provides professional hairstyling and professional makeup as part of the experience. We also help style your wardrobe, using things you already own, along with pieces that we help you shop for or rent. For this shoot, we had some amazing styles from J+K Kids Supply in Dallas. 

We started out inside my beautiful Dallas studio with Nathan, and we wanted something classic and easygoing for his wardrobe. I thought this tied in well with in old-soul energy, he even shared his love of 80's rock with us and we blared some of his favorites during the shoot.

When Yaya was ready, we transitioned into some fun shots of both of them. They obviously have a lot of fun together!

It was firmly decided that once it was time for Yaya to be photographed, we were to change the 80's rock to something more up her alley, like Billie Eilish (cue "disgusted face" from Nathan). 

After we finished shooting inside my Dallas photography studio, we went outside to create some variety in their photos. My studio is surrounded by city vibes with lots of alleys and textured walls, along with a lot of spots with beautiful nature and greenery. 

Photographing these two was a total joy, and I can't wait to watch their journey unfold as they continue to follow their passion for creating films. 

While I do sometimes get the opportunity to photograph celebrities like Nathan and Yaya, the majority of my clients are "everyday people" who have rarely, or maybe never been in front of a camera. The entire experience with me is fully-guided, you never have to worry about coming up with poses or anything, I've got you covered. 

Let my team and I style your wardrobe, provide professional hair and makeup, and create a photo shoot experience that you'll cherish. 

Meet Daniel! He reached out because he wanted some Portraits to use for his online dating profile. Meeting people online is extremely common, and I get the joy of helping a lot of people like Daniel create images to help them with their profiles.

In all of my Portraits, especially when I'm helping someone with dating photos, I want their images to make the viewer feel like they might already know this person a little bit. 

All of my sessions are fully-guided, so you don't have to worry about coming up with poses or creating expressions, I take care of everything. We even bring in a stylist to help style your hair and provide professional makeup ("grooming" for the guys). 

Most of my photo shoots take place inside my photography studio and outdoors. The studio is located in downtown Dallas- it's full of beautiful hand-painted canvases, and is surrounded by a lot of amazing nature and architecture.

If you're looking for dating profile photos, I would love to help create images that are authentic and engaging. Click below to get in touch and learn more about setting up your own fully-styled photo shoot.

I love photographing maternity portraits, pregnancy is such a magical time of life. Having become a god father last year, and am currently in the process of having my own children, I definitely share in the excitement!

Brian and Lindsey reached out about having me as their maternity photographer, and one of the first things Lindsey asked is "how far along do I need to be in my pregnancy for the best photos?" I suggest 29-31 weeks. By then your tummy will be round but not too heavy, and you'll be able to move around and get into the poses more easily than if you'd waited. 

Just like all of my other photo shoots, I love creating variety within your images. I love that we were able to capture some many different moods and looks together. 

If you're looking for a Maternity Photographer in Dallas, I would love to invite you to my studio and hear more about how you dream of being photographed during this special time.

For our next look, we wanted something that was bold and dramatic. We created an "outdoor look" by photographing her against a gray backdrop, and by placing some fake palm leaves between the light and her. This was my first time trying this, and as the images were coming through on my camera I got more and more excited! 

Next, we wanted something more "girl next door", natural and easygoing. 

Our last look, we used my gold hand-painted canvas backdrop (painted by Oliphant Studios in New York), for an earthy, contrasty look. These last two looks actually used the natural light that my beautiful 12x12' windows provide. 

For all of my sessions, I help you create multiple looks like this. We use cloths you already own, perhaps some borrowed or rented pieces, and I even have a collection of beautiful dresses at my studio. (Checkout the post before this one to view these.) We provide professional makeup an hairstyling, and we photograph you in my studio and/or outdoors. You don't have to come up with poses or worry about your expression- that's my job!

Whether you are a professional model like Natalie, or just want to feel like a model for a day and create some incredible photos of you, I would love to chat.

About 5 years ago, I started collecting dresses for my photography studio. My very first dress was actually inspired by my mentor and friend, Sue Bryce. I took a $10 corset from Amazon and about $10 worth of bright white tulle fabric and tea-stained it to give it a faded brown color. After hand-stitching on some fabric to the corset and folding strips of tulle over a piece of ribbon for the skirt, I had my first studio dress. Voila! (below)

That single dress has since grown into a massive collection of beautiful options. I never thought I would have my head turned at the mall by the dress section..never say never.

​I recently photographed each of my studio dresses and cataloged them for my clients. 

If you'd like to look at each dress up close, along with the sizes, click here. These dresses are the perfect supplement to your own looks, that we will help you create before your shoot.

What about the guys? I don't have an as eccentric collection for us, but my mix of solid-colored v-necks, sweaters, and button-ups will definitely be some great base looks that are super flattering. 

How do you dream of being photographed? Soft and romantic, or bold and beautiful? Easygoing and casual or something epic and timeless? Maybe all of the above? 

1. Wash your face using a charcoal face wash, like this. Charcoal is gentle and very good at removing oil/dirt/makeup that may have built up over the day.

2. Use your eye cream. They'll thank you.

​3. Use an AHA (glycolic acid) moisturizer like my favorite, Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Night Serum. A popular drugstore option is Paula's Choice AHA 8%. Glycolic acid gently exfoliates the dead skin on the surface, unclogging pores and revealing fresher, more even skin.

• Pop, squeeze, or pick pimples
• Sunburn
• Use hair or face products with coconut oil or other comedogenic ingredients
• Rub and scrub with an aggressive exfoliant
• Use products that have unnecessary fragrances
​• Sleep in your makeup
• Stress- breathe deeply and know that even if you have the worst skin-day ever, my team is the very best and will make you look absolutely incredible, no matter what.

Have you tried any of these products, or do you have any tricks you use to keep your skin in great shape? Tell me below! If you're interested in setting up your own fully-styled photo shoot, I would love to hear more about how you dream of being photographed- click here to get in touch. 

I recently photographed Connor Saeli, one of the contestants from the most-recent season of 'The Bachelorette' on ABC.

Connor lives here in Dallas, but he said he's only been home a handful of days since the show aired- partly because he has been filming in Mexico for 'Bachelor In Paradise". 

Spending the day photographing Connor was a joy- his good energy and love for life is contagious. 

​Interested in your own fully-styled shoot? Sessions take place in my Dallas studio as well as on-location around the city. Click below to get more details. 

Family Portraits are one of those things in life that secretly get more and more precious as time passes by. They celebrate you and your family, as you are now at this chapter of your life. 

We created 3 different looks for Becky, her amazing husband Trey, and their amazing two children. The first look we wanted something regal with Vanity Fair vibes. 

The second look we did for their Family Portraits was a semi-formal look, and I love how the backlight raining down behind them creates such an airy look and mood. 

We finished their Family Portraits photo shoot in Dallas at White Rock Lake. We pulled up at the perfect time, shortly before sunset. 

A few weeks ago, I found out that AJK Images was voted the "2019 Top Photography Service in Dallas" by LocalBest- I'm so thrilled and honored! 

Interested in booking a Family Portrait photo shoot in Dallas? We'll style your hair and makeup, help you choose the perfect outfits, and create a day that you and your family will enjoy and cherish forever.

Last month, I had the opportunity to take some graduation portraits for Tong Yuan (you can scroll down to the last post for some of my favorite shots from that shoot). Days after she went home with her images, I got a call that she wanted to book a session for her mom, who would be coming into town for her college graduation in a few weeks. 
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What a FUN DAY! I got to spend the day in the studio with both Tong Yuan, and her mom, Colleen. We celebrated her mom, as well as the relationship they both share.

After the last photo was taken and the hair and makeup washed off, they both have a special day that they cherish, a day they can relive looking at their images. 

Would your mom want photos like this taken of her and her children? I would love to invite you to my studio for a fully-styled photo shoot experience- it will be a day you won't soon forget! 

Tong Yuan is about to graduate from college, so her family helped her celebrate with a Senior Portrait photo shoot! We wanted to achieve easy-going, natural hair and makeup that felt true to her. We also wanted to create a mix of looks that ranged from powerful and editorial, to easygoing and carefree. 
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These outdoor Portraits were all taken in my studio parking lot in downtown Dallas! Everywhere you turn there are explosions of colors and textures. It's pretty incredible. 

After wrapping up outdoors, we transitioned to some indoor looks. I usually love to add a little bit of lift to hair with a hair fan, but for Tong Yuan, we had a lot of fun intentionally blowing her hair across her face too. 

After Tong Yuan's mom saw her finished Senior Portraits, she booked a mother/daughter photo shoot for the both of them when she comes into town later this month for graduation! I'll update this post with some of those Portraits once they're finished, so stay tuned. 

I create multiple looks like this for all of the clients, really customizing and catering the experience to what you're looking for. I would love to hear how you dream of being photographed! Fill out the form below to get some basic session details and to book your own photo shoot. 

Ryn's mom reached out because she needed a few photos to submit for her high school dance team tryouts. With dancers, there are poses and moves that are options outside of the normal realm of everyday portraits, which can be a lot of fun to shoot.

We started out in my Dallas photography studio. If you've ever been to the Texas State Fair, then you have likely walked right past my space. We placed the light pretty high and above, creating lot of dimension, and capturing her movements in a Vanity Fair style. It was interesting to play with clicking my shutter as she was was either rising, or as she was falling. It really impacted the look and mood of the image. Compare these two images to see what I mean. Which do you like more? 

After we finished up the studio, we went to the nearby American Beauty Mill. I love this location because it's got so much aged character, like peeling paint and rusty doors. Downtown Dallas is full of amazing locations like this, many of which are within walking distance of my studio. 

If you are needing photos for something like school or work, embrace it and create something that you can feel excited about! 

Fill out the form below to get in touch and learn more about booking your own shoot. 

Wikipedia defines personal branding as "..the ongoing process of establishing a prescribed image or impression in the mind of others about an individual, group, or organization." In a nutshell, it's how you present yourself and/or your business to others online.

Your online presence often precedes you, many times before even meeting someone. By having relevant, professional photos for places like your company website, LinkedIn, and social media, you are helping to shape and control the impression you make on the web.
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Bill is a Leadership Coach, and helps CEOs of Fortune 500 companies like Apple, American Airlines, and MGM Resorts by helping them grow their leadership abilities. 

After we finished in the studio, we went to the Bishop Arts District in downtown Dallas for some photos that showed more of the city. I love the reflections we get from the buildings.

Our last stop was at a "WeWork" office, where we rented an office space for an hour. It was up high in one of Dallas' high-rises, so we not only had some fun office settings to use, but we also got to go out on the balcony. Bill's website, LinkedIn account, and social media accounts all look absolutely incredible now. His images make him seem warm, inviting, and professional. 

What are your photos saying about you? If you would like to refresh your personal brand with some Portraits, I would love to hear more about how you dream of being photographed.

As you prepare for your photo shoot in Dallas, there are ideal times to have certain things done, such as your hair and nail appointments. Follow the simple steps below to take the guesswork away and look incredible for your shoot. 

• Give your eyes some love. Start by using your Rhoto-V eye drops to remove any redness. Then take the spoons out of the fridge and gently rest them over your closed eyes- this will instantly tighten and wake up your skin, helping to eliminate bags and fine lines.
• Arrive with dry hair and a clean face. No need for any makeup or products except for lip balm.
• Sit back and let it all happen for you! My stylist will have everything you need to create your perfect look. 

There you have it! A few simple tips and tricks to having beautiful skin before your photo shoot.

Did you know that a photo shoot with me is a fully-guided, fully-styled experience? Not only will I help you make sure your skin looks great, but my team and I help style your wardrobe, provide professional hair and makeup, and create an experience that celebrates you!

Please click below to get in touch- I would love to answer your questions and help book you in.

A lot of my friends and followers are fellow portrait photographers, so I wanted to share a recent experience I had in the studio where I tested and compared different types of light. 

The idea was to take a few different photography lighting setups, and see how much of a difference is made by only changing the modifier. I chose the work on the lighting setups that I don't use as often, so I can grow and get more comfortable with them for my clients. 

This "play day" was inspired by the incredible Felix Kunze, and his lighting tutorial, The Lighting Series. 

Senior Portraits should be an authentic expression of who you are at this point in your life..something that your parents can cherish forever, and something your grandkids can hold and say, "holy crap my grandma/grandpa was amazing!" 

When you book your Senior Pictures with me, we create a magazine-style photo shoot that is tailored around how you dream of being photographed. For Lexi's Senior Pictures, we photographed her in a total of 6 different looks, and I love every one of them! Her and her family wanted her Senior Pictures to have a fashion-inspired flair. These are a few favorites from each of her outfit changes.

My flower wall is one of my favorite things in the studio. It's constantly evolving, because I will pick off flowers to put in your hair, make flower crowns, and shoulder pieces, and then replace them with new ones. I love photographing white, ivory, dusty pink, and apricot tones against the flower wall. Below, it's the same outfit, just shot white on white, which I think is so clean and beautiful. 

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The second look we photographed her on my "green/gold" Oliphant canvas backdrop, which compliments her hair and skin tone. This gorgeous natural light is from my 12' loft windows in the studio. 

I love this next look- we used my gray Oliphant backdrop, and I positioned the light behind the drop aimed towards me to give her that beautiful contrast backlight. The haze and glow created makes this one of my favorite studio lighting setups to use. 

Almost every one of my Senior Pictures photo shoots starts in my studio, and we finish up on location outdoors. I love this portrait of Lexi against these palms- I actually picked up grass and held it between her and I to create that softness creeping in from the bottom of the frame.

Since Lexi got accepted to OU, she wanted to incorporate her college future into some of her senior photos. (Confession...I've been in Dallas almost 8 years now and I still don't own a pair of cowboy boots!)

We only take our high school Senior Portraits once, so embrace this time and do it right. My team and I will help style your wardrobe, do your hair and makeup, and create a unique experience that you and your family will cherish forever.

Fall is one of the busiest times of year for senior pics, and while September is fully booked, we still have a few spaces currently available in October and November. 
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As you search for the best Dallas Senior Photographer for your needs, I encourage you to see what others have to say about their experience by reading online reviews. Click here to visit our Facebook Reviews, and click here to visit our Yelp! reviews, 

A few months ago, I was tagged in a video on Facebook, where a family gifts their daughter, Hannah, a photo shoot with me in Dallas for her birthday. Watching this video still brings the biggest smile to my face!

When Hannah, her mom, and I met to discuss the details for her shoot, the first thing they told me is "she already had her Senior Portraits done, so we want these to be something extra special. Get extra creative!"....music to my ears! We created an eclectic mix of looks for her, everything from bold and striking, to soft and elegant. These are a few of my favorites (which also happened to be her favorites) from her photo shoot. 

This was our last looks of the day- we were in a pool of tulle!

If you are interested in your own creative photo shoot, I would love to hear more about how you dream of being photographed. Fill out the contact form below to get more details on how a session works. 

I LOVE PRINTING!

I handcraft each one of my prints, they are the tangible manifestation of everything that I do. The experience of your photo shoot, the images we capture of you, all transformed into prints that will forever be a part of your legacy. 

​"You see my soul, Andrew", is what Ashley told me when she first saw this image- that's got to be one of the highest compliments I've ever received. This will be something Ashley's future kids will be able to cherish and always have to look at and say "that's my beautiful mother". 

I print with the Canon Pro-4000, a workhorse....and it's the size of a horse in my office.

​Along with Wall Portraits, I also create Folio Boxes. The boxes are handmade in Italy with Italian leather, they even SMELL amazing. We can fit up to 30 of your favorite images inside. 

Craig and Chris just got engaged, and they wanted to take some portraits to celebrate. We met in downtown Dallas, near the historic book depository. That area of Dallas is called "The West End", which appropriately sits on the far west end of downtown. What I love about this area is that the setting sunlight gets to pour through the buildings, giving us gorgeous natural light. When outdoors, a lot of the time, I am using natural light, but I am often bouncing or blocking the light to really shape it into how I want it to look. After The West End, we stopped by The Bishops Arts District.

During our-shoot styling consultation we started talking about shoot locations and they said they wanted some wide-open, natural spaces to go along with all of the Dallas city vibes. We finished the session at White Rock Lake.

Photographing these two left me feeling replenished- their love is so pure and contagious. If you and your love are interested in creating some photos you can cherish, I would love to help. Click here to get in touch and learn more.

Senior Portraits hold a special place in my heart, because they are where my portrait photography journey began. I've always had a camera in my hand for as long as I can remember, but it wasn't until my junior year of high school when I started to really focus my camera towards people.

I was taking a classic film photography class at the time, and I noticed that a lot of my friends in the grade ahead of me had their senior photos done by the same photographer. Every single one of them had the exact same set of images, like exactly the same. They were good shots, technically, but they lacked connection and creativity. Seeing that void inspired me to start taking my friends' senior pictures, which has kind of been my jam every since.

Enough about me- Matthew's mom reached out to me because she was looking for a senior portrait photographer in Dallas that could provide her with what I was just describing, something different. Matthew wanted his senior pics to have an eclectic feel, really showing the different sides of him and his personality. 

The first two photos (above and below) were taken on the west side of Dallas in an abandoned warehouse. It was the perfect setting for more of a high-fashion senior portraits style. 

We also wanted to include some looks taken in a more modern part of town, The Bishop Arts District. I love the variety we get, from the different styles of clothing to the really diverse locations. 

He also wanted a shot that screamed "Dallas", and the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge is one of Dallas' most impressive and iconic landmarks. Lastly, he wanted some more classic, Vanity-Fair style shots in the studio, which I always love. 

Senior Portraits are your opportunity to express yourself and create something that will make even your grandkids think you're cool. I would love to talk with you about how you dream of being photographed. Click here to get in touch

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Bella's parents brought her to Dallas from San Antonio for a photo shoot with me in 2016. After I shared her images with them, they told me that they decided to make this something that we do every single year. 

I love that! Every year, I'm given the opportunity to to show her her truest beauty, as she changes and grows into the woman she's becoming. I can't help but think ahead to 20 or 30 years from now, when these images will probably be some of her most treasured possessions. She will have this amazing collection of images that will become part of her legacy, something she can cherish and share with her own kids some day. 

All of the images shown above are from last year, here are some from her most recent photo shoot that I hope you enjoy. 

 

Seeing Bella and her family every year is starting to feel like getting to see part of my own family each year- it's something I cherish and look forward to.

​When is the last time you've had professional photos taken of your children, or better yet, yourself? One day your children will look for photos of you- what will they find?

If you are interested in creating some portraits like these, please click here to contact me, I would love to talk. 

Don't forget to follow me and watch my story on Instagram to keep up with my latest work and adventures!