La Brisa Photography

The Countdown Begins!

2012-01-30T11:00:00.002-06:00

Our very own b will be leaving the beloved city of Manhattan, KS for greener pastures in Georgia (check out the announcement HERE) and she has a limited number of openings to schedule your session! Why not take advantage of this GORGEOUS and unexpected weather and book a portrait session with b before she leaves? As an added thank you for her time in Manhattan, we are including an 8”x12” print of your favorite image from your session with b!

Here are her openings for her last portrait sessions EVER in/near Manhattan, KS:
January 31st – Morning
February 2nd – Morning
February 3rd – 3:30pm-5:30pm
February 5th – 3:30pm-5:30pm
February 6th-8th – Morning/3:30pm-5:30pm
February 12th - Morning/3:30pm-5:30pm
February 13th-15th - Morning/3:30pm-5:30pm
February 18th – 3:30pm-5:30pm
February 19th - Morning/3:30pm-5:30pm

If you are interested in booking a session or have any questions, fill out the Contact Form at the bottom of this post OR go to www.labrisaphotography.com and fill out the Contact Us form.

Check out some of b's recent work!

52 WoA: Week 26 - Texture

2012-01-26T10:06:00.002-06:00

I like editing with a big banana smoothie with added peanut butter and mumford and sons. Smooth, frothy and soul cleansing. I’m gonna miss manhattan.

Shutter speed: 1/60th
Aperture: f/2.4
ISO: 80
Processing: Adobe Lightroom 3

Yesterday was my birthday and it was glorious. After numerous surprises and presents, my wife had one more surprise up her sleeve when she came home from work with an amazing Mint Chocolate Ice Cream Cake from Marble Slab. If you do not like ice cream cake, I do not know if we can ever hang out. Seriously. Here is my first slice of my delicious birthday cake. Full Disclaimer: the idea to photograph the ice cream cake for this project was completely from my beautiful wife.

Shutter speed: 1/50th
Aperture: f/3.2
ISO: 6400
Processing: Adobe Lightroom 4 Beta

As a photographer, sometime you need to work on things outside of your normal purview and this project is going to help us (and you) challenge, grow and creatively develop your photography as a whole. Weekly for the next year, we will be sharing our images with you here!

For those of you interested in participating, PLEASE join us! The more the merrier! You definitely do not need to be a professional photographer, this is something you can easily do with your point and shoot, cell phone, ipad2, etc. You can comment with a link to your image here on our blog or on our La Brisa fan page or you can tag La Brisa Photography in your image on your own FB page or use the hashtag #52WoA on twitter that way we can share your efforts with everyone else! If you are interested in joining our La Brisa Aspiring Photographer Workshop group on FB, please request to join as we will also be sharing our images there too.

Next Thursday, February 2nd, Week 27: “Hands” will be due. The image must be created between today and February 2nd. Good luck!

Let me know if you have any questions!

Here is the full list of 52 Weeks of Awesomeness!

~~Week 1 Free for All~~

~~Week 2 Introduce yourself~~

~~Week 3 Show us your home~~

~~Week 4 Your Name~~

~~Week 5 Sports (anything related, teams, players, equipment, etc,)~~

~~Week 6 Guilty Pleasures~~

~~Week 7 ONE object shot at 5 different angels/distances~~

~~Week 8 One for the road (signs, streets, traffic, etc.)~~

~~Week 9 Objects that tell something about you~~

~~Week 10 Things that make your life easier~~

~~Week 11 Your favorite color~~

~~Week 12 Household item~~

~~Week 13 Foods~~

~~Week 14 Flashed (an image created using artificial light)~~

~~Week 15 Sun (sunlight, sunset, sunrise, etc)~~

~~Week 16 Emotion~~

~~Week 17 Lines~~

~~Week 18 What you do outside the world of photography~~

~~Week 19 Weather~~

~~Week 20 Emotional attachment (heirloom/special gift, etc.)~~

~~Week 21 Pets~~

~~Week 22 Things you couldn't live without~~

~~Week 23 Habits~~

~~Week 24 Fire (candle, fireplace, etc.)~~

~~Week 25 Hats~~

~~Week 26 Textures~~

Week 27 Hands

Week 28 Shoes

Week 29 Jewelry

Week 30 OOF (Out of Focus)…purposely OOF

Week 31 What I consider dessert

Week 32 Fill the Frame (close ups)

Week 33 A week in our lives

Week 34 Faith (what you believe)

Week 35 Dance (body in motion)

Week 36 Family & Friends

Week 37 SOOC (straight out of the camera)…before & after

Week 38 Patriotic

Week 39 Object: straight up shots and then straight down shots

Week 40 Something at night

Week 41 Something that gives you the feeling of warmth

Week 42 Smell

Week 43 Water

Week 44 Animals

Week 45 Music

Week 46 Reflections/Shadows

Week 47 Flowers

Week 48 Sleep

Week 49 Action Shots

Week 50 Circles

Week 51 Your car

Week 52 Self portrait

Ten Word Birthday Story Contest!

2012-01-25T09:34:00.003-06:00

In honor of my 30th birthday today, I am hosting a super ridiculous and fun contest for you to win one of my three favorite landscape images that I have ever created. The winners will receive a gorgeous 5”x7” metallic print shipped to wherever and whoever they want! Deadline to enter is midnight tonight (January 25th)! Looking forward to reading your awesome stories!

Below are the images that you can win!

Century Oak @ College Station, TX

Konza Prairie @ Manhattan, KS

Kealia Beach @ Kapaa, HI

the contest:

10 Word Birthday Stories.

Example:

adult beverages.

oreo cupcake smashed.

emotional mommies.

happy first birthday!

Categories:

Hilarious

Tear-jerker

Visually Creative

How to WIN:

Include 10 Word Story as a comment on this blog post (comment box is immediately below the JUDGING tab).
Only three 10 Word Stories allowed per person
Select option "Post to Facebook"
Fill out contact form at end of blog post and copy and paste your story and let us know which image you would like to win
Must be a fan of La Brisa

Judging:

The La Brisa team will select our favorites and notify winners via email. Have fun and good luck!

Laura & Jordan | Kansas City, MO Wedding | b & Chris

2012-01-24T11:12:00.003-06:00

The real joy in being a wedding photographer is the incredible couples that I have the privilege of meeting. Laura and Jordan are extraordinary people. Seriously. Laura is an amazing photographer who owns CapturedInHisImage Photography. Go check out her work!

Today, I am going to let Laura share her experience through her review of La Brisa:

My husband and I cannot say enough good things about the service La Brisa Photography provided during the months leading up to our wedding, on the day itself and the weeks followiing.

In the weeks leading up to the wedding Chris took time to Skype conference with us to make sure we had a schedule and portrait line-up that was ammenable to our day. Of all our vendors, Chris was the one who helped us set the pace for everyone else- I don't know what we would have done without his preparation assistance!

On the day of the wedding Chris and Brandi fit right in with all of our family and friends. From our first-look to the very end of the reception, they made everything comfortable and special, a perfect combination for an otherwise hectic day! We knew they had captured our day beautifully before we even saw pictures. However, when Chris approached my husband and I during our reception and handed us an IPad with a photo slideshow of photos from the day already going, our jaws hit the floor. It was amazing to reflect on the day as the evening came to a close. I was so thankful for their attention to detail and obvious desire to provide top-notch customer service on-top of everything else they had done that day.

We recently received La Brisa's discs of our photos and laughed, cried and reminisced as we looked through all of the incredible images. Chris and Brandi were able to provide us not only with hundreds of beautiful images, but also memories of our day that we will have forever. We highly recommend La Brisa Photography for your wedding portraiture needs!

Thank you again so much for the opportunity to photograph your incredible day! You can view more images from their wedding on the La Brisa Facebook page by clicking HERE. And you can view all the images from their wedding through their online gallery by going to www.labrisaphotography.com and clicking on “Clients” and “Weddings”.

Dress Designer: Designer Unknown from Ida's Bridal – Overland Park, KS
Tuxedo: Designer Unknown from Men's Warehouse
Bridesmaid Dress Designer: Designer Unknown from David's Bridal
Ceremony Venue: Tiffany Greens Community Center – Kansas City, MO
Reception Venue: Tiffany Greens Community Center – Kansas City, MO
Cake Designer: Shining Stars Catering – Kansas City, MO
Hair Stylist: Be Chic Bride – Kansas City, MO
Make Up Artist : Origins at the Zona Rosa Dillards – Kansas City, MO
Shoe Designer: Converse
DJ: Carrieoke Productions - Kansas City, MO
Caterer: Shining Stars Catering - Kansas City, MO
Flowers: Hy-Vee Floral
Programs: DIY by the bride

In one of my favorite candid moments, after Laura and her mom had a mini-dance party they gave each other one of those, “I am so incredibly happy!” hugs and it was perfect.

First Look

FIST BUMP!

Joyfulness.

During the slideshow, all of the bridesmaids were in identical states of awe

First Dance

Super fun Father-Daughter Dance

And Laura and Jordan with La Brisa! =)

Until the end of January, b and I will be offering a very special opportunity to you called the 2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness! We have filled this calendar with some of our absolute favorite images that we have ever created and we want to share them with you. In honor of our desire to give back, 100% of profits will be donated to the ALS Foundation in honor of Robert “Bobby” Rawle.

These 13.5"x19" beautiful calendars are $35 plus shipping and can be purchased here – 2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness.

Check out the preview of the calendar!

View La Brisa's Portfolio site!

Alyssa & Danny | Moncks Corner, SC Wedding | Chris

2012-01-23T10:59:00.002-06:00

When I met Alyssa and Danny for their Attraction Session before dawn in Las Vegas, I was immediately blown away by their gorgeousness and super fun go-for-it attitudes! Well, their engagement images did not disappoint as you can see here Alyssa & Danny | Attraction Session | Las Vegas, NV | Chris AND I was super pumped for their wedding.

When I arrived in Charleston, South Carolina for their wedding, I was excited to cross off another state in my 50 States by 2015 goal, but also Charleston is often selected as the top destination wedding locations in the world and I absolutely can see why. The people are so welcoming and friendly and the architecture and history of the area is phenomenally unique.

Alyssa’s bridesmaids (and friends) are stunningly beautiful. True story. And believe it or not, they were an absolute blast all day! Danny’s groomsmen were ridiculously fun and goofy. And Alyssa and Danny’s families were so welcoming and hospitable that I felt like one of their cherished guests.

Thank you again so much for selecting La Brisa for your wedding day! I wish you the very best in your new life together and I hope you absolutely LOVE your wedding images!

You can view more images from their session on the La Brisa Facebook page by clicking HERE. And you can view all the images from their wedding through their online gallery by going to www.labrisaphotography.com and clicking on “Clients” and “Weddings”.

Dress and bridesmaids dresses: Designer Unknown from David's Bridal
Tuxedo's: Designer Unknown from Men's Wearhouse
Ceremony & reception venue: Old Santee Canal Park
Cake designer: Jenni Wong
Hair stylist: Kady Oliver Bluthardt
Make-up: Sydney Pratt
Shoes: Bought at DSW, brand: Moda. Professionally dyed at The Shoe Lab
in Las Vegas
DJ: Brickman Entertainment
Flowers: Ashley Tallon Fenters
Caterer: Miss Angie
Programs: handmade by alyssa and her mom

A little moonshine before the festivities begin!

One of my favorite wedding moments ever. After walking down the aisle and seeing each other for the first time, Grandma Florence and Grandma Sharon, realized that they were wearing identical outfits! Hilarity ensued!

Danny’s reaction after seeing Alyssa for the first time.

They committed their lives to each other under a sun-kissed wedding ceremony.

First dance

Incredibly sweet moment during the mother-son dance

South Carolinians know how to DANCE!

One of the best garter removals I have ever seen. True story.

Headed to the afterparty!

These 13.5"x19" beautiful calendars are $35 plus shipping and can be purchased here – 2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness.

Check out the preview of the calendar!

View La Brisa's Portfolio site!

Kristen & Bret | Wedding | La Selva Beach, CA | b & Chris

2012-01-20T15:04:00.001-06:00

Kristen and Bret’s wedding was absolutely phenomenal! B and I traveled back to my hometown in preparation of their beautiful wedding overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The details were amazing and their entire day was absolutely perfect. Seriously, it was a fairytale wedding. A huge thank you goes out to Carrie for being an awesome Maid of Honor and super helpful throughout the day.

Kristen and Bret, you are amazing. Thank you again so much for selecting La Brisa for your wedding! We hope that you absolutely love your images!

You can view more images from their session on the La Brisa Facebook page by clicking HERE. And you can view all the images from their wedding through their online gallery by going to www.labrisaphotography.com and clicking on “Clients” and “Weddings”.

Ceremony Venue: Villa Viscaya, La Selva Beach, CA
Reception Venue: Villa Viscaya, La Selva Beach, CA
Cake Designer : The Buttery
Hair Stylist : Hair We Are, Watsonville, CA
DJ : Music Now, Jack Crawford
Caterer : Five Star Catering

Kristen’s parents’ home has a hallway filled with family and school portraits and it was a perfect backdrop to showcase her beautiful dress!

Growing up, Kristen would look out the front door of her parents’ house and envision getting married right at this spot. During the ceremony, b drove over to Kristen’s parents’ house to create this image of Kristen’s childhood dream.

During the father-daughter dance, I love this moment and look from Kristen’s mother.

Bret is quite the dancer…

…And I am quite sure that he received those skills from his parents!

A little light painting to end the evening…

And of course, the newlyweds with the La Brisa team!

For a few more days, b and I will be offering a very special opportunity to you called the 2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness! We have filled this calendar with some of our absolute favorite images that we have ever created and we want to share them with you. In honor of our desire to give back, 100% of profits will be donated to the ALS Foundation in honor of Robert “Bobby” Rawle.

These 13.5"x19" beautiful calendars are $35 plus shipping and can be purchased here – 2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness.

Check out the preview of the calendar!

View La Brisa's Portfolio site!

52 WoA: Week 25 - Hats

2012-01-19T11:00:00.001-06:00

This is my friend Ashley, she is gorgeous and very pregnant. And I love her. And this is my floppy hat. And I think she looks good in it.

Shutter speed: 1/1000th
Aperture: f/2.0
ISO: 100
Processing: Adobe Lightroom3

Figgins is Brisa’s dog. Brisa loves the Angels and named Figgins after (at the time) an Angels baseball player named Chone Figgins. This is Figgy wearing her Angels baseball hat.

Shutter speed: 1/400th
Aperture: f/2.0
ISO: 50
Processing: Adobe Lightroom 4 Beta

Next Thursday, January 26th, Week 26: “Textures” will be due. The image must be created between today and January 26th. Good luck!

Let me know if you have any questions!

Here is the full list of 52 Weeks of Awesomeness!

~~Week 1 Free for All~~

~~Week 2 Introduce yourself~~

~~Week 3 Show us your home~~

~~Week 4 Your Name~~

~~Week 5 Sports (anything related, teams, players, equipment, etc,)~~

~~Week 6 Guilty Pleasures~~

~~Week 7 ONE object shot at 5 different angels/distances~~

~~Week 8 One for the road (signs, streets, traffic, etc.)~~

~~Week 9 Objects that tell something about you~~

~~Week 10 Things that make your life easier~~

~~Week 11 Your favorite color~~

~~Week 12 Household item~~

~~Week 13 Foods~~

~~Week 14 Flashed (an image created using artificial light)~~

~~Week 15 Sun (sunlight, sunset, sunrise, etc)~~

~~Week 16 Emotion~~

~~Week 17 Lines~~

~~Week 18 What you do outside the world of photography~~

~~Week 19 Weather~~

~~Week 20 Emotional attachment (heirloom/special gift, etc.)~~

~~Week 21 Pets~~

~~Week 22 Things you couldn't live without~~

~~Week 23 Habits~~

~~Week 24 Fire (candle, fireplace, etc.)~~

~~Week 25 Hats~~

Week 26 Textures

Week 27 Hands

Week 28 Shoes

Week 29 Jewelry

Week 30 OOF (Out of Focus)…purposely OOF

Week 31 What I consider dessert

Week 32 Fill the Frame (close ups)

Week 33 A week in our lives

Week 34 Faith (what you believe)

Week 35 Dance (body in motion)

Week 36 Family & Friends

Week 37 SOOC (straight out of the camera)…before & after

Week 38 Patriotic

Week 39 Object: straight up shots and then straight down shots

Week 40 Something at night

Week 41 Something that gives you the feeling of warmth

Week 42 Smell

Week 43 Water

Week 44 Animals

Week 45 Music

Week 46 Reflections/Shadows

Week 47 Flowers

Week 48 Sleep

Week 49 Action Shots

Week 50 Circles

Week 51 Your car

Week 52 Self portrait

These 13.5"x19" beautiful calendars are $35 plus shipping and can be purchased here – 2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness.

Check out the preview of the calendar!

View La Brisa's Portfolio site!

My Surprise (early) Birthday Present!

2012-01-18T10:51:00.001-06:00

Many of you know how much my family means to me. I definitely would not be who I am today without the love, support and encouragement of my family. Well, for an early birthday present, my wife, Brisa, surprised me by having my sister and my two adorable nephews, Matthias and Jeremiah, fly into Houston for a few days! What made it even more awesome was that it was the same weekend that my parents were visiting and so my life was overwhelmed with family and love!

Saturday, January 14th, 2012
I had already scheduled an Attraction Session with Kelly and Brandon and so Brisa hung out with the boys and then I went to pick up my parents from the airport. We spent the afternoon together watching football and then we headed to Baker’s Ribs for some delicious BBQ and to watch the end of the 49ers game. Go NINERS! Then we headed to Voss Creamery for some ice cream!

Sunday, January 15th, 2012

We live in an apartment with 2 dogs and 3 cats. Enter in 3 more adults and two adorable boys under the age of 3 and our home instantly transformed into a petting zoo/hostel! While watching football and taking naps, we also made cookies and birthday cupcakes! For my birthday dinner, we went to Pappasitos and had an amazing dinner filled with a ginormous sombrero! The boys loved the atmosphere and they even received balloons! Afterwards, we headed home for bathtime and storytime and a restful night of sleep.

Monday, January 16th, 2012

Sadly, my parents were leaving this day and they were really bummed to leave their grandsons. We had an opportunity to meet up with my cousin and her little girl for lunch at China Gourmet while Brisa unfortunately had to go to work. The food was phenomenal and my mom was super excited because they served authentic Taiwanese food that reminded her of home.

Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

On the last day of their visit, I spent quality time with my sister and nephews! We started with some breakfast at home and then we went to a few shops around Houston before visiting Aunt Brisa at work for one last goodbye hug and photo!

A huge thank you to my sister for flying all the way from Washington, D.C. with the two little ones for one of the best surprises ever! I cannot even begin to imagine how difficult the traveling was and I am so appreciative to have the opportunity to hang out with all of them! I love my family so much and I had an absolutely incredible few days with them. Thanks Brisa!

These 13.5"x19" beautiful calendars are $35 plus shipping and can be purchased here – 2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness.

Check out the preview of the calendar!

View La Brisa's Portfolio site!

b's Epic Road Trip.

2012-01-16T10:36:00.001-06:00

3,496 Miles.
11 Days.
7 States.
1 Epic Road Trip.

Hello, La Brisa Friends and Family! As Chris and I are always striving to improve our skills and service, we are also trying to finds ways to improve the La Brisa experience. If it’s okay with all of you, I’m going to start sharing my portrait sessions and life experiences. What do you think?

Day One.
The entire reason for the trip was my BFF Sara, she was making the jump from Nebraska to California. Apparently beaches and 70 degrees year round make San Diego a desirable place to dwell. Who would have known?! Mr. Mussack and I were up for the challenge of following Sara out to the West Coast for two reasons: 1) We wanted to make sure she arrived safely. 2) All of the stuff I’m about to talk about.

We started our journey in Bellevue, NE. Sara said goodbye to her mom, dad and of course, her pup Buddy. Leaving at 7 AM, our first destination was Breckenridge, CO.
Five hours into the drive we stopped for lunch in Paxton, NE at the famous Ole’s Big Game Steakhouse. If you ever find yourself in western Nebraska on I-80, do yourself a favor and at least poke your head in at this joint. It’s pretty incredible.

Before the trip, Sara did her research and made sure we had a few great places to take breaks. Next stop: Tommyknocker’s in Idaho Springs, CO. Tommyknocker’s is known for their quality handcrafted lagers and ales and boy did they stand up to their reputation.

We made it to Breckenridge by 6 PM were able to sample Breck’s finest at the Breckenridge Brewery. At this point in this post I already know how little I really had my camera. So many moments missed. Dang it.

Day Two.
Sara organized two days for us to hit the slopes so she could finally exercise her seriously impressive boarding skills (Nebraska isn’t really known for its killer mountains). Mr. Mussack and I were stoked, the only problem: we had never been. Like, ever. Sara convinced us that we were perfectly capable of teaching ourselves (with her help) and that we’d be pros by the end of the day. After the 200 meter “snowplow” to what looked to be a long line, Sara announced that we were there! That meant that we were third in line for ski lift. HOLY. MOLY. Surprising enough we were able to get on and off the lift just fine. This, of course, gave me a false sense of confidence and before Sara could finish saying “Just keep your skiis V’d!” I was down the hill. Like straight down, skis straight and no knowledge of how to stop. FLUFF! Snow everywhere! Any way, two more looooong trips down the greens and Mr. Mussack and I were done for the day.

We dined at another of Breckenridge’s fine establishments, The Motherloaded where I actually was able to shoot my 52 WOA photo for the week: things you can’t live without.

Day Three.
More snow. More falling on my butt. More fun. We actually made it down peak 8 through three different paths, but unfortunately Mr. Mussack and I will not be qualifying for the next winter X games.

Day Four.
Driving, driving and more driving. The three of us successfully made it in and out of Utah stopping really only twice: at the Utah state sign and the Moab Brewery. Utah is really a beautiful state and I wish we could have stopped more for photos but we were on a deadline, destination: Phoenix, AZ. We made it there by 10 PM and Mr. Mussack and I settled into our hotel room as quickly as possible we both knew the inevitable was happening the next morning.

Day Five.
Sunrise photographs near the Superstition Mountains. This was my first real attempt at sunrise landscape photography, I guess I’ll let you be the judge on what I need to do differently. It was a beautiful experience regardless.

Mr. Mussack and I did a little shopping while Sara picked Alycia up from the airport and we reconvened for the night’s festivities.

Sara’s cousin planned for all of us to ring in the New Year in Old Town. Local establishments team in together to form a block party type of celebration where we took in the fun and hospitality that Phoenix has to offer.

Day Six.
Last leg on the trip out west. I surprised my trip mates with early morning Dunkin Donuts and we were off to San Diego. I-8 was quite a drive. Desert. Cactus. Mountain. Desert. Cactus. Mountain. Desert. Cactus. SAND DUNES!!

We arrived in Pacific Beach, CA at exactly 4:46 PM. That time doesn’t sound incredibly imperative however 4:46 PM happens to be exactly the perfect time to take sunset photos on Ocean front walk. BOOM.

Day Seven.
Bike rides, beaches and acai bowls. Destination found. These are all the vital elements that have made every one of my trips to San Diego amazing and this trip was no different. Sara’s sister Jessica and her brother-in-law Marc always know how to make the visit to SD perfect. Guess what? It worked so well Mr. Mussack wants to live there…I will not object.

We ended the day at the Stone Brewing Company in Escondido. Delicious.

Day Eight.
It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later. After consuming THE BEST breakfast burrito ever made, Mr. Mussack and I left our little Sara Bear and headed into the high desert. 29 Palms, CA may not sound like a highly sought after vacation destination but it did house the most adorable attraction of the trip. Mr. Lincoln Wilson was born only five days before we arrived and I was more than overjoyed to photograph my best friend’s beautiful family.

Day Nine.
It was a short visit but we were headed back home. On Route 66, through the Mojave, with the check engine light on. NBD. We drove what seems like forever that day but made it to Flagstaff, AZ and rested for the night.

Day Ten.
Early start. I mean EARLY start. I was just so darn excited to see THE meteor crater near Winslow, AZ. We came, we saw, we conquered then kept driving.

At this point I wanted to take photos of everything but nothing really jumped out at me…well until WE CROSSED THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE! Turns out, it was just a sign to let you know you passed it…no visitors center or magnet. Dang it.

We stopped in Albuquerque, NM at a Starbucks so I could photograph week 23 of 52 WOA: Habits.

I really wanted to get a photo in New Mexico, something that really signified the entire state. The problem was I didn’t know what that was. Well, until we hit the state line and then it was gone.

I don’t know if I have mentioned how great our friends are yet but they truly are amazing. With three hours notice both Mr. Mussack’s friend Mitchell and another of my bests, Amanda Lock, were able to meet us at the Hornet in Denver for a late night dinner.

Day Eleven.
You didn’t think I could travel the Southwest without running into Chris, did you. Well, I guess we actually intersected each other in Denver but it figures, doesn’t it? Mr. Mussack and I had the honor of dining with Chris Hsieh himself at Lucile’s for breakfast. I still can’t get over how weird that was. The interception, not the restaurant.

We finished our drive heading East on I-70 where we stopped for the state line and little else. We were tired and ready to be back in the Cottage.

These 13.5"x19" beautiful calendars are $35 plus shipping and can be purchased here – 2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness.

Check out the preview of the calendar!

View La Brisa's Portfolio site!

52 WoA: Week 24 - Fire

2012-01-12T10:08:00.001-06:00

The keys to photography is seeing light and how you portray light in your image. One of the may concepts of sculpting light is understanding the Exposure Triangle (ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed).

Shutter speed: 15 Seconds
Aperture: f/20
ISO: 50
Processing: Adobe Lightroom 4 Beta

Have you ever had a great candle that you loved and like to have it lit ALL OF THE TIME? Have you ever had a great candle that you loved and like to have it lit ALL OF THE TIME in a jar that burns all the way to the bottom? Have you ever gotten your hand stuck in that same jar? Ya, me neither.

Well, I'll share a secret that my Mamma taught me. Use a spagetti noodle to light that awesome candle! NO MORE STUCK HANDS! YAY.

Shutter speed: 1/50th
Aperture: f/2.0
ISO: 100
Processing: Adobe Lightroom3

Next Thursday, January 19th, Week 25: “Hats” will be due. The image must be created between today and January 19th. Good luck!

Let me know if you have any questions!

Here is the full list of 52 Weeks of Awesomeness!

~~Week 1 Free for All~~

~~Week 2 Introduce yourself~~

~~Week 3 Show us your home~~

~~Week 4 Your Name~~

~~Week 5 Sports (anything related, teams, players, equipment, etc,)~~

~~Week 6 Guilty Pleasures~~

~~Week 7 ONE object shot at 5 different angels/distances~~

~~Week 8 One for the road (signs, streets, traffic, etc.)~~

~~Week 9 Objects that tell something about you~~

~~Week 10 Things that make your life easier~~

~~Week 11 Your favorite color~~

~~Week 12 Household item~~

~~Week 13 Foods~~

~~Week 14 Flashed (an image created using artificial light)~~

~~Week 15 Sun (sunlight, sunset, sunrise, etc)~~

~~Week 16 Emotion~~

~~Week 17 Lines~~

~~Week 18 What you do outside the world of photography~~

~~Week 19 Weather~~

~~Week 20 Emotional attachment (heirloom/special gift, etc.)~~

~~Week 21 Pets~~

~~Week 22 Things you couldn't live without~~

~~Week 23 Habits~~

~~Week 24 Fire (candle, fireplace, etc.)~~

Week 25 Hats

Week 26 Textures

Week 27 Hands

Week 28 Shoes

Week 29 Jewelry

Week 30 OOF (Out of Focus)…purposely OOF

Week 31 What I consider dessert

Week 32 Fill the Frame (close ups)

Week 33 A week in our lives

Week 34 Faith (what you believe)

Week 35 Dance (body in motion)

Week 36 Family & Friends

Week 37 SOOC (straight out of the camera)…before & after

Week 38 Patriotic

Week 39 Object: straight up shots and then straight down shots

Week 40 Something at night

Week 41 Something that gives you the feeling of warmth

Week 42 Smell

Week 43 Water

Week 44 Animals

Week 45 Music

Week 46 Reflections/Shadows

Week 47 Flowers

Week 48 Sleep

Week 49 Action Shots

Week 50 Circles

Week 51 Your car

Week 52 Self portrait

Email us (info@labrisaphotography.com) about your upcoming wedding or to schedule a portrait session!

View La Brisa's Portfolio site!

La Brisa 2011 Favorite Pet Images

2012-01-11T14:15:00.001-06:00

2011 has been and continues to be the most successful year at La Brisa ever. I am floored and humbled by your continued support and encouragement. Thank you to all of our clients and fans who spread word of La Brisa.

In the last iteration of favorite images from 2011, today I want to share with you my favorite animal images! As most of you know, my wife is a veterinary and I have always loved animals and so I have had numerous opportunities to photograph amazing animals. I especially love it when clients include their animals in their portrait sessions! Here is a collection of my favorite animals that include a heavy mix of our own canine and feline children!

To review, here are our favorite images of 2011:
La Brisa 2011 Wedding Favorites
La Brisa 2011 Attraction Session Favorites
La Brisa 2011 Joy Session Favorites
La Brisa 2011 Style Session Favorites
Favorite 2011 Images of My Family

For only a few more days, b and I will be offering a very special opportunity to you called the 2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness! We have filled this calendar with some of our absolute favorite images that we have ever created and we want to share them with you. In honor of our desire to give back, 100% of profits will be donated to the ALS Foundation in honor of Robert “Bobby” Rawle.

These 13.5"x19" beautiful calendars are $35 plus shipping and can be purchased here – 2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness.

Check out the preview of the calendar!

Email us (info@labrisaphotography.com) about your upcoming wedding or to schedule a portrait session!

View La Brisa's Portfolio site!

Favorite 2011 Images of My Family!

2012-01-10T11:11:00.001-06:00

2011 has been and continues to be the most successful year at La Brisa ever. I am floored and humbled by your continued support and encouragement. Thank you to all of our clients and fans who spread word of La Brisa.

In our last couple of installments of our favorites of 2011, today I want to share my favorite personal family photos of last year. Amazingly enough, I was able to see my family and especially my nephews numerous times in 2011 and I feel very blessed that this job affords me the opportunities to travel and see my family so much! Here are my favorite images of my family this year!

These 13.5"x19" beautiful calendars are $35 plus shipping and can be purchased here – 2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness.

Check out the preview of the calendar!

Email us (info@labrisaphotography.com) about your upcoming wedding or to schedule a portrait session!

View La Brisa's Portfolio site!

La Brisa 2011 Wedding Favorites!

2012-01-09T15:46:00.001-06:00

2011 has been and continues to be the most successful year at La Brisa ever. b and I are floored and humbled by your continued support and encouragement. As I was putting together these images for today’s post, I could not help but smile at the sheer number of amazing wedding clients that have blessed La Brisa with opportunities this year. In 2011, we have traveled all over the country to photograph beautifully unique and phenomenal weddings - Hawaii, Arizona, Texas, California, Kansas, Kansas, Kansas, Kansas, Kansas, New Jersey, Kansas, Kansas, Nebraska, Kansas, Nebraska, Kansas, California, South Carolina, Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Kansas and Illinois! From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

Here are a few of our favorite images from each wedding!

These 13.5"x19" beautiful calendars are $35 plus shipping and can be purchased here – 2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness.

Check out the preview of the calendar!

Email us (info@labrisaphotography.com) about your upcoming wedding or to schedule a portrait session!

View La Brisa's Portfolio site!

52 WoA: Week 23 - Habits

2012-01-05T15:47:00.002-06:00

My fingers feel and look naked when they don’t have a little color. I am constantly painting, peeling and repainting my digits, but personally, I prefer when my Mamma does it for me. This series of photos was unusually difficult: at a Starbucks in Albuquerque, NM for internet access, with a mini bottle, setting the timer and keeping still enough for a creative focusing point.

Shutter speed: 1/200th
Aperture: f/1.8
ISO: 500
Processing: Adobe Lightroom3

My life is full of clutter. I tend to buy a lot of camera equipment and I constantly invest in La Brisa. My worst habit though is how disorganized I am with my material items and my life. Unintentionally, Elvis wanted to be included as well.

Shutter speed: 1/80th
Aperture: f/4.0
ISO: 200
Processing: Adobe Lightroom3

Next Thursday, January 12th, Week 24: “Fire” will be due. The image must be created between today and January 12th. Good luck!

Let me know if you have any questions!

Here is the full list of 52 Weeks of Awesomeness!

~~Week 1 Free for All~~

~~Week 2 Introduce yourself~~

~~Week 3 Show us your home~~

~~Week 4 Your Name~~

~~Week 5 Sports (anything related, teams, players, equipment, etc,)~~

~~Week 6 Guilty Pleasures~~

~~Week 7 ONE object shot at 5 different angels/distances~~

~~Week 8 One for the road (signs, streets, traffic, etc.)~~

~~Week 9 Objects that tell something about you~~

~~Week 10 Things that make your life easier~~

~~Week 11 Your favorite color~~

~~Week 12 Household item~~

~~Week 13 Foods~~

~~Week 14 Flashed (an image created using artificial light)~~

~~Week 15 Sun (sunlight, sunset, sunrise, etc)~~

~~Week 16 Emotion~~

~~Week 17 Lines~~

~~Week 18 What you do outside the world of photography~~

~~Week 19 Weather~~

~~Week 20 Emotional attachment (heirloom/special gift, etc.)~~

~~Week 21 Pets~~

~~Week 22 Things you couldn't live without~~

~~Week 23 Habits~~

Week 24 Fire (candle, fireplace, etc.)

Week 25 Scrapbooking (stash, room, lo's, etc)

Week 26 Textures

Week 27 Hands

Week 28 Shoes

Week 29 Jewelry

Week 30 OOF (Out of Focus)…purposely OOF

Week 31 What I consider dessert

Week 32 Fill the Frame (close ups)

Week 33 A week in our lives

Week 34 Faith (what you believe)

Week 35 Dance (body in motion)

Week 36 Family & Friends

Week 37 SOOC (straight out of the camera)…before & after

Week 38 Patriotic

Week 39 Object: straight up shots and then straight down shots

Week 40 Something at night

Week 41 Something that gives you the feeling of warmth

Week 42 Smell

Week 43 Water

Week 44 Animals

Week 45 Music

Week 46 Reflections/Shadows

Week 47 Flowers

Week 48 Sleep

Week 49 Action Shots

Week 50 Circles

Week 51 Your car

Week 52 Self portrait

Email us (info@labrisaphotography.com) about your upcoming wedding or to schedule a portrait session!

View La Brisa's Portfolio site!

BREAKING NEWS: b is moving!

2012-01-04T10:58:00.001-06:00

With a contradicting saddened yet excited heart, I have to announce that b is leaving Manhattan, Kansas and is moving to Augusta, Georgia in February! She will be continuing on with La Brisa and will be spreading our roots to the South!

If you have been waiting to schedule a Attraction, Joy or Style session with b or if you recently were engaged in the Manhattan area, NOW is the time to do so because she will only be scheduling a limited amount of sessions over the next 4 weeks until she moves! She has availability in the mornings and from 3:30pm-5:30pm in the afternoons/early evenings. You can schedule a session by going to www.labrisaphotography.com and filling out the Contact Us form. Do not miss out on the unique opportunity to be photographed by b! =)

Here is a taste of the awesomeness you can expect from your portrait session with b!

These 13.5"x19" beautiful calendars are $35 plus shipping and can be purchased here – 2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness.

Check out the preview of the calendar!

Email us (info@labrisaphotography.com) about your upcoming wedding or to schedule a portrait session!

View La Brisa's Portfolio site!

La Brisa 2011 Attraction Session Favorites

2012-01-03T11:23:00.002-06:00

2011 has been and continues to be the most successful year at La Brisa ever. I am floored and humbled by your continued support and encouragement. Thank you to all of our clients and fans who spread word of La Brisa. Our Attraction Sessions and Weddings (coming soon) are the bread and butter of La Brisa. I feel that photographing couples in love and interacting with only each other are where we truly excel. We call them Attraction Sessions because we honestly believe that regardless if you are newly engaged or have been married for 40 years, these sessions will re-energize your attraction to each other and it is absolutely beautiful. Enjoy the images!!

Michelle & Eddie | Houston, TX | Chris

Toni & Jarrod | Houston, TX | Chris

Alyssa & Danny | Las Vegas, NE | Chris

Tracey & Charlie | San Francisco, CA | Chris

Jen & Jason | San Jose, CA | Chris

Megan & Dalton | Manhattan, KS | Chris

Stacy & David | Manhattan, KS | b

Nikki & Jared | Manhattan, KS | Chris

Whitney & Josh | Manhattan, KS | Chris

Whitney & Josh | Manhattan, KS | b

Danielle & Scott | Manhattan, KS | b

Tracy & Ben | San Diego, CA | Chris

Elizabeth & Ande | Manhattan, KS | Chris

Jen & Jamie | Manhattan, KS | b

Lindsay & Bill | Lyons, NE | b

Kirsten & Jeff | Houston, TX | Chris

Perryn & Mike | Manhattan, KS | b

Shelby & Derek | Manhattan, KS | b

Krystin & Sam | San Diego, CA | Chris

Alexis & Marcus | Omaha, NE | b

Crystal & Jon | Smithville, MO | Chris

Kim & Brek | Manhattan, KS | b

Kim & Brek | Manhattan, KS | Chris

Jen & Jason | Manhattan, KS | Chris

Jen & Jason | Manhattan, KS | b

Jen & Jason | Manhattan, KS | Chris

Janel & Stephen | Fort Collins, CO | Chris

Brooke & Skeet | Parkville, MO | Chris

Jenna & Travis | Sedona, AZ | Chris

Brooke & Brandon | Manhattan, KS | Chris

Stephanie & Wayne | Fort Collins, CO | Chris

Katie & Zac | Manhattan, KS | Chris

Katie & Zac | Manhattan, KS | b

b & Tim | Manhattan, KS | Chris

These 13.5"x19" beautiful calendars are $35 plus shipping and can be purchased here – 2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness.

Check out the preview of the calendar!

Email us (info@labrisaphotography.com) about your upcoming wedding or to schedule a portrait session!

View La Brisa's Portfolio site!

2011 Year in Review

2012-01-02T11:28:00.001-06:00

2011 has been an absolutely phenomenal year for La Brisa. Actually, 2011 has been the BEST year so far and it is not even close. From our amazing clients to all of our incredible fans, I am so amazingly grateful and appreciative. Again, I am humbled by our success and I will be forever indebted to all of you who continue to support La Brisa!

For the first time in the past three years, I lived in one place for the entire 2011. Whoa, right? I cannot believe that I have lived in Houston for over a year now and it has been awesome to create some roots in this town! One of the biggest changes for La Brisa in 2011 was adding commercial photography to my repertoire of skills. I have been blessed with several incredible opportunities to challenge my photography abilities and build my portfolio for future genres. 2012 is going to be a game changer for us. We have quite a few projects and news that we are super excited that we cannot wait to share with all of you! Stay tuned!

If you check out our 2009 by the numbers and the 2010 Year in Review, you'll see that we continue to grow, expand and progress. Thanks to the wonders of social media, we hear/see/read your feedback about our images, true confessions and whimsical ideas and it is invaluable. So keep commenting and telling us what you like or do not like because we take your opinions and suggestions to heart!

A HUGE thank you goes to b! She has been rockin it in 2011 and is really the primary reason for our success this year! In 2011, she started photographing weddings on her own and her skills and creativity have truly progressed with all of the continued opportunities. La Brisa would not be half of what it is today without her. True story.

2011 by the numbers for La Brisa Photography

$2,442.72 = amount that was donated to Corby's Castle, Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership and UniteChange through Photography for a Cause!

40,238 total visits to the La Brisa website, blog and client site

404,792 total page views of my website, blog and client site

77 countries visited the website, blog or client site

3,190 Facebook fans - www.facebook.com/labrisaphotography

2,031 followers on Twitter - www.twitter.com/labrisaphoto

213 Blog Posts

23 weddings (Hawaii, Arizona, Texas, California, Kansas, Kansas, Kansas, Kansas, Kansas, New Jersey, Kansas, Kansas, Nebraska, Kansas, Nebraska, Kansas, California, South Carolina, Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Kansas and Illinois)

48 Attraction Sessions

66 Joy Sessions

25 Style Sessions

6 Aspiring Photographer Workshops (APW) attended by 68 photographers in Kansas and Nebraska

And here are two of my favorite portraits of the year...

These 13.5"x19" beautiful calendars are $35 plus shipping and can be purchased here – 2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness.

Check out the preview of the calendar!

Email us (info@labrisaphotography.com) about your upcoming wedding or to schedule a portrait session!

View La Brisa's Portfolio site!

52 WoA: Week 22 - Things that you could not live without

2011-12-29T09:14:00.004-06:00

I am going to cheat a little bit and explain my image for this week because I feel like it. =)

I cannot live without my parents. They have given me so much. Though more importantly, I cannot live without my mom. She has taught me so much about how to be kind, generous, positive and a gentleman that a beautiful woman would like to marry someday (thanks Brisa!). That is why she is the focus of the image because her work ethic, unselfishness and love means so much to me.

Shutter speed: 1/60th
Aperture: f/4.0
ISO: 1600
Processing: Adobe Lightroom3

Shutter speed: 1/13th
Aperture: f/4.5
ISO: 2000
Processing: Adobe Lightroom3

Next Thursday, January 5th, Week 23: “Habits” will be due. The image must be created between today and January 5th. Good luck!

Let me know if you have any questions!

Here is the full list of 52 Weeks of Awesomeness!

~~Week 1 Free for All~~

~~Week 2 Introduce yourself~~

~~Week 3 Show us your home~~

~~Week 4 Your Name~~

~~Week 5 Sports (anything related, teams, players, equipment, etc,)~~

~~Week 6 Guilty Pleasures~~

~~Week 7 ONE object shot at 5 different angels/distances~~

~~Week 8 One for the road (signs, streets, traffic, etc.)~~

~~Week 9 Objects that tell something about you~~

~~Week 10 Things that make your life easier~~

~~Week 11 Your favorite color~~

~~Week 12 Household item~~

~~Week 13 Foods~~

~~Week 14 Flashed (an image created using artificial light)~~

~~Week 15 Sun (sunlight, sunset, sunrise, etc)~~

~~Week 16 Emotion~~

~~Week 17 Lines~~

~~Week 18 What you do outside the world of photography~~

~~Week 19 Weather~~

~~Week 20 Emotional attachment (heirloom/special gift, etc.)~~

~~Week 21 Pets~~

~~Week 22 Things you couldn't live without~~

Week 23 Habits

Week 24 Fire (candle, fireplace, etc.)

Week 25 Scrapbooking (stash, room, lo's, etc)

Week 26 Textures

Week 27 Hands

Week 28 Shoes

Week 29 Jewelry

Week 30 OOF (Out of Focus)…purposely OOF

Week 31 What I consider dessert

Week 32 Fill the Frame (close ups)

Week 33 A week in our lives

Week 34 Faith (what you believe)

Week 35 Dance (body in motion)

Week 36 Family & Friends

Week 37 SOOC (straight out of the camera)…before & after

Week 38 Patriotic

Week 39 Object: straight up shots and then straight down shots

Week 40 Something at night

Week 41 Something that gives you the feeling of warmth

Week 42 Smell

Week 43 Water

Week 44 Animals

Week 45 Music

Week 46 Reflections/Shadows

Week 47 Flowers

Week 48 Sleep

Week 49 Action Shots

Week 50 Circles

Week 51 Your car

Week 52 Self portrait

Email us (info@labrisaphotography.com) about your upcoming wedding or to schedule a portrait session!

View La Brisa's Portfolio site!

2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness!

2011-12-28T15:51:00.001-06:00

I am in Chicago for my last wedding of the year! Super excited to cross off another state from my 50 States by 2015 goal! The best part is that my entire family is here to attend the wedding so I get to hang out with my awesome nephews. Sadly, Brisa could not make the trip because of her work schedule =(

In the near future, I will be posting our favorite Attraction and Wedding images of 2011! Definitely check out our favorites that we have already posted: La Brisa 2011 Style Session Favorites and La Brisa 2011 Joy Session Favorites!

Only a few days left to order a 2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness! Please help us, help others!

Until the end of 2011, b and I will be offering a very special opportunity to you called the 2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness! We have filled this calendar with some of our absolute favorite images that we have ever created and we want to share them with you. In honor of our desire to give back, 100% of profits will be donated to the ALS Foundation in honor of Robert “Bobby” Rawle.

These 13.5"x19" beautiful calendars are $35 plus shipping and can be purchased here – 2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness.

Check out the preview of the calendar!

Email us (info@labrisaphotography.com) about your upcoming wedding or to schedule a portrait session!

View La Brisa's Portfolio site!

La Brisa 2011 Joy Session Favorite Images!

2011-12-27T13:10:00.001-06:00

2011 has been and continues to be the most successful year at La Brisa ever. I am floored and humbled by your continued support and encouragement. Thank you to all of our clients and fans who spread word of La Brisa. Through the end of the year, we will be sharing our favorite images from 2011. Today, we are featuring our favorite Joy Session images. We call them Joy Sessions because we want to evoke the purity and warmth of your family's joyfulness in our images. Enjoy!!

S Family | Las Vegas, NV | Chris

C Family | Houston, TX | Chris

W Family | Manhattan, KS | b

X Family | Houston, TX | Chris

S Family | Houston, TX | Chris

R Family | Houston, TX | Chris

D Family | Manhattan, KS | b

P Family | Wamego, KS | Chris

S Family | Houston, TX | Chris

S Family | Rockville, MD | Chris

O Family | Silver Spring | Chris

O Family | Manhattan, KS | Chris

S Family | Manhattan, KS | Chris

G Family | San Diego, CA | Chris

S Family | Manhattan, KS | Chris

K Family | San Marcos, CA | Chris

K Family | San Diego, CA | Chris

W Family | San Diego, CA | Chris

K Family | Houston, TX | Chris

A Family | Manhattan, KS | Chris

W Family | Manhattan, KS | Chris

P Family | Yorba Linda, CA | Chris

W Family | Manhattan, KS | b

N Family | Manhattan, KS | b

R Family | Manhattan, KS | Chris

B Family | Manhattan, KS | Chris

C Family | Manhattan, KS | b

E Family | Houston, TX | Chris

S Family | Houston, TX | Chris

D Family | Wichita, KS | Chris

B Family | Manhattan, KS | b

S Family | Manhattan, KS | b

W Family | Lyons, NE | b

R Family | Lyons, NE | b

R Family | Topeka, KS | Chris

O Family | Manhattan, KS | Chris

S Family | Topeka, KS | Chris

W Family | Alma, KS | Chris

H Family | Washington | b

F Family | Washington | b

S Family | Houston, TX | Chris

R Family | Manhattan, KS | b

A Family | San Jose, CA | Chris

A Family | San Jose, CA | b

W Family | Palo Alto, CA | b

W Family | Palo Alto, CA | Chris

J Family | Houston, TX | Chris

R, K & K Family | Houston, TX | Chris

B & S Families | Kansas City, KS | Chris

K Families | Houston, TX | Chris

H Family | Manhattan, KS | b

A Family | Overland Park, KS | Chris

A Family | Overland Park, KS | b

F Family | Omaha, NE | Chris

W Family | Great Falls, MD | Chris

A Family | Washington, DC | Chris

E & H Families | Houston, TX | Chris

H Family | Houston, TX | Chris

F Family | Wamego, KS | Chris

S Family | Houston, TX | Chris

These 13.5"x19" beautiful calendars are $35 plus shipping and can be purchased here – 2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness.

Check out the preview of the calendar!

Email us (info@labrisaphotography.com) about your upcoming wedding or to schedule a portrait session!

View La Brisa's Portfolio site!

La Brisa 2011 Style Session Favorites!

2011-12-26T12:18:00.002-06:00

2011 has been and continues to be the most successful year at La Brisa ever. I am floored and humbled by your continued support and encouragement. Thank you to all of our clients and fans who spread word of La Brisa. Starting today, I will be sharing our favorite images of 2011! b and I will start with our favorites from our Style Sessions. Within our Style Sessions, we have been blessed with an extraordinary group of 2012 Seniors and we are so incredible grateful that you selected us! Enjoy the images!!

Andrew - b

These 13.5"x19" beautiful calendars are $35 plus shipping and can be purchased here – 2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness.

Check out the preview of the calendar!

Email us (info@labrisaphotography.com) about your upcoming wedding or to schedule a portrait session!

View La Brisa's Portfolio site!

Merry Christmas from La Brisa!

2011-12-25T11:39:00.001-06:00

Merry Christmas! We just want to wish you a very Merry Christmas in true Awkward Family style fashion! Hug your loved ones extra tightly today! =)

These 13.5"x19" beautiful calendars are $35 plus shipping and can be purchased here – 2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness.

Check out the preview of the calendar!

Email us (info@labrisaphotography.com) about your upcoming wedding or to schedule a portrait session!

View La Brisa's Portfolio site!

Merry Christmas Eve! =)

2011-12-24T14:03:00.001-06:00

Merry Christmas Eve everyone! Every year when I was younger, my family would go to midnight candlelight service on Christmas Eve and then we would sing Christmas carols all the way home. Then my mom would make some hot chocolate and we would open our presents and sleep in the next day. Simple, but a tradition that I loved and miss very much. Hope you are enjoying your old family traditions or are making new traditions this year!

As you are looking for belated Christmas gift or maybe looking for something nice for your home or office in 2012, please consider purchasing a 2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness! So far, we have sold 24 calendars. Thank you to everyone who has purchased one already! We would LOVE to sell many many more!

These 13.5"x19" beautiful calendars are $35 plus shipping and can be purchased here – 2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness.

Check out the preview of the calendar!

And just in case you did not already know, I love my canine children! Here are Figgins and Paz mugging it up for the camera!

Email us (info@labrisaphotography.com) about your upcoming wedding or to schedule a portrait session!

View La Brisa's Portfolio site!

Nikki & Jared | Wedding | Danville, Kansas | b & Chris

2011-12-23T13:43:00.003-06:00

Happy Friday everyone! Today, I am excited to feature Nikki and Jared’s amazing wedding! You may remember their phenomenal engagement photos here - Nikki & Jared | Attraction Session | Kansas | Chris. Thank you again so much for selecting b and I to photograph your big day! We hope that you LOVE your images!

You can view more images from their session on the La Brisa Facebook page by clicking HERE. And you can view all the images from their wedding through their online gallery by going to www.labrisaphotography.com and clicking on “Clients” and “Weddings”.

Dress Designer: Maggie Sottero, from Reni’s Bridal -Wichita, Kansas
Ceremony Venue: Immaculate Conception Catholic Church - Danville, Kansas
Reception Venue: Reception hall at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
Cake Designer: Anette Adelhardt - Pratt, Kansas
Groom’s Cake Designer: Pat Conklin of Pat’s Floral - Argonia, Kansas
Hair Stylist: Shannon Edwards of Salon 180 - Alva, Oklahoma
Shoe Designer: Gianni Bini
DJ: Advanced DJ -Wichita, Kansas
Caterer: The Fence Post - Harper, Kansas
Videographer: Anecdotally Yours - Kansas City, Kansas
Flowers: Cindy Brungardt of The Floral Shop - Medicine Lodge, Kansas
Programs & Invitations: Total Printing Solutions - Wichita, Kansas
Tuxedo: Stephen Geoffrey (Chocolate Parisian) from Pat’s Floral - Argonia, Kansas
Bridesmaid Dress Designer: Alfred Angelo, style #7127 from Mia’s Bridal & Tailoring - Olathe, Kansas
Horse & Carriage: Kevin & Celia of Rockin B Carriage Company - Abilene, Kansas
Limousine: Artistic Limousine - Wichita, Kansas

Email us (info@labrisaphotography.com) about your upcoming wedding or to schedule a portrait session!

View La Brisa's Portfolio site!

52 WoA: Week 22 - Pets

2011-12-22T14:11:00.003-06:00

Shutter speed: 1/60th
Aperture: f/4.5
ISO: 400
Processing: Adobe Lightroom3

Shutter speed: 1/60th
Aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 640
Processing: Adobe Lightroom3

Next Thursday, December 29th, Week 22: “Things you couldn’t live without” will be due. The image must be created between today and December 29th. Good luck!

Let me know if you have any questions!

Here is the full list of 52 Weeks of Awesomeness!

~~Week 1 Free for All~~

~~Week 2 Introduce yourself~~

~~Week 3 Show us your home~~

~~Week 4 Your Name~~

~~Week 5 Sports (anything related, teams, players, equipment, etc,)~~

~~Week 6 Guilty Pleasures~~

~~Week 7 ONE object shot at 5 different angels/distances~~

~~Week 8 One for the road (signs, streets, traffic, etc.)~~

~~Week 9 Objects that tell something about you~~

~~Week 10 Things that make your life easier~~

~~Week 11 Your favorite color~~

~~Week 12 Household item~~

~~Week 13 Foods~~

~~Week 14 Flashed (an image created using artificial light)~~

~~Week 15 Sun (sunlight, sunset, sunrise, etc)~~

~~Week 16 Emotion~~

~~Week 17 Lines~~

~~Week 18 What you do outside the world of photography~~

~~Week 19 Weather~~

~~Week 20 Emotional attachment (heirloom/special gift, etc.)~~

~~Week 21 Pets~~

Week 22 Things you couldn't live without

Week 23 Habits

Week 24 Fire (candle, fireplace, etc.)

Week 25 Scrapbooking (stash, room, lo's, etc)

Week 26 Textures

Week 27 Hands

Week 28 Shoes

Week 29 Jewelry

Week 30 OOF (Out of Focus)…purposely OOF

Week 31 What I consider dessert

Week 32 Fill the Frame (close ups)

Week 33 A week in our lives

Week 34 Faith (what you believe)

Week 35 Dance (body in motion)

Week 36 Family & Friends

Week 37 SOOC (straight out of the camera)…before & after

Week 38 Patriotic

Week 39 Object: straight up shots and then straight down shots

Week 40 Something at night

Week 41 Something that gives you the feeling of warmth

Week 42 Smell

Week 43 Water

Week 44 Animals

Week 45 Music

Week 46 Reflections/Shadows

Week 47 Flowers

Week 48 Sleep

Week 49 Action Shots

Week 50 Circles

Week 51 Your car

Week 52 Self portrait

Email us (info@labrisaphotography.com) about your upcoming wedding or to schedule a portrait session!

View La Brisa's Portfolio site!

b & Tim | Attraction Session | Kansas | Chris

2011-12-21T19:53:00.001-06:00

In my photography journey, every so often, I have a session that makes me instantly realize how much I have improved over the years. b and Tim are incredibly photogenic, very much in love, adore each other and dressed extremely well for their Attraction Session which made my job that much easier. I cannot thank b enough for everything that she does for La Brisa and hopefully this session is just a small gesture of appreciation that I can give to her. La Brisa Photography has exceeded my every expectation because of b’s commitment, creativity and passion and I will be forever grateful. Hope you enjoy the images!

A HUGE thank you goes out to Autumn of Falling Leaves Photography for assisting and second shooting with me for this session. You ROCK!

You can view more images from their session on the La Brisa Facebook page by clicking HERE.

These 13.5"x19" beautiful calendars are $35 plus shipping and can be purchased here – 2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness.

Check out the preview of the calendar!

Email us (info@labrisaphotography.com) about your upcoming wedding or to schedule a portrait session!

View La Brisa's Portfolio site!

The First La Brisa APW TT Event!

2011-12-19T12:30:00.001-06:00

b and I host a Facebook Group for the La Brisa Aspiring Photographer Workshops and we are starting a social meetup every month on the Third THURSDAY (TT) for aspiring/experienced photographers to meet and chat about photography, their lives, etc. Well, this past Thursday, was the first TT ever and so we decided to go all out for our amazing photographer friends in Manhattan, Kansas, where La Brisa started! After doing some research, I found a PERFECT location for our meetup at the Pierre Street Inn which is a beautiful bed and breakfast with a professionally trained chef/caterer! If you are looking for a place to stay or if you are hosting an event, I highly recommend the Pierre Street Inn!

We asked everyone to bring in food items to the Flint Hills Breadbasket and we were able to donate 60 pounds to the food bank! How awesome is that? That is right, we rock!

If you are interested in the Aspiring Photographer Workshop group, request to join by clicking HERE. We share what we know with each other and everyone is gracious with their knowledge and time. Photographers of all skill levels are welcome!

Enjoy our ridiculous images! =)

The big group!

The Pierre Street Inn is absolutely gorgeous! Check out these images by b!

We had an Italian inspired menu of light appetizers.

Oh, La Brisa! =)

As a photographer group, of course, we had to take some ridiculous photos together!

Former volleyball players...

Former cheerleaders…

These 13.5"x19" beautiful calendars are $35 plus shipping and can be purchased here – 2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness.

Check out the preview of the calendar!

Email us (info@labrisaphotography.com) about your upcoming wedding or to schedule a portrait session!

View La Brisa's Portfolio site!

52 WoA: Week 20 - Emotional Attachment (Heirloom/special gift/etc.)

2011-12-15T14:21:00.001-06:00

Shutter speed: 1/125th
Aperture: f/2.0
ISO: 800
Processing: Adobe Lightroom3

Shutter speed: 1/60th
Aperture: f/3.2
ISO: 125
Processing: Adobe Lightroom3

Next Thursday, December 22nd, Week 21: “Pets” will be due. The image must be created between today and December 22nd. Good luck!

Let me know if you have any questions!

Here is the full list of 52 Weeks of Awesomeness!

~~Week 1 Free for All~~

~~Week 2 Introduce yourself~~

~~Week 3 Show us your home~~

~~Week 4 Your Name~~

~~Week 5 Sports (anything related, teams, players, equipment, etc,)~~

~~Week 6 Guilty Pleasures~~

~~Week 7 ONE object shot at 5 different angels/distances~~

~~Week 8 One for the road (signs, streets, traffic, etc.)~~

~~Week 9 Objects that tell something about you~~

~~Week 10 Things that make your life easier~~

~~Week 11 Your favorite color~~

~~Week 12 Household item~~

~~Week 13 Foods~~

~~Week 14 Flashed (an image created using artificial light)~~

~~Week 15 Sun (sunlight, sunset, sunrise, etc)~~

~~Week 16 Emotion~~

~~Week 17 Lines~~

~~Week 18 What you do outside the world of photography~~

~~Week 19 Weather~~

~~Week 20 Emotional attachment (heirloom/special gift, etc.)~~

Week 21 Pets

Week 22 Things you couldn't live without

Week 23 Habits

Week 24 Fire (candle, fireplace, etc.)

Week 25 Scrapbooking (stash, room, lo's, etc)

Week 26 Textures

Week 27 Hands

Week 28 Shoes

Week 29 Jewelry

Week 30 OOF (Out of Focus)…purposely OOF

Week 31 What I consider dessert

Week 32 Fill the Frame (close ups)

Week 33 A week in our lives

Week 34 Faith (what you believe)

Week 35 Dance (body in motion)

Week 36 Family & Friends

Week 37 SOOC (straight out of the camera)…before & after

Week 38 Patriotic

Week 39 Object: straight up shots and then straight down shots

Week 40 Something at night

Week 41 Something that gives you the feeling of warmth

Week 42 Smell

Week 43 Water

Week 44 Animals

Week 45 Music

Week 46 Reflections/Shadows

Week 47 Flowers

Week 48 Sleep

Week 49 Action Shots

Week 50 Circles

Week 51 Your car

Week 52 Self portrait

Email us (info@labrisaphotography.com) about your upcoming wedding or to schedule a portrait session!

View La Brisa's Portfolio site!

Kelcie | Style Session | Kansas | b

2011-12-12T14:14:00.001-06:00

Happy Monday! Today, I am excited to feature b’s Style Session with the gorgeous Kelcie! She is classically beautiful and a majestic dancer too!

Thank you again for selecting La Brisa to photograph your senior portraits! b and I wish you the very best in your last year of high school and pure awesomeness for the world that awaits you afterwards! =)

You can view more images from their session on the La Brisa Facebook page by clicking HERE.

These 13.5"x19" beautiful calendars are $35 plus shipping and can be purchased here – 2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness.

Check out the preview of the calendar!

Email us (info@labrisaphotography.com) about your upcoming wedding or to schedule a portrait session!

View La Brisa's Portfolio site!

2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness!

2011-12-11T15:34:00.001-06:00

Happy Sunday everyone! For those of you still looking for the perfect Christmas gift for your families and friends, please consider a gorgeous 2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness!

These 13.5"x19" beautiful calendars are $35 plus shipping and can be purchased here – 2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness.

Here is one of the images from the calendar. This is an image of the Century Oak at Texas A&M’s beautiful campus!

Check out the preview of the calendar!

Email us (info@labrisaphotography.com) about your upcoming wedding or to schedule a portrait session!

View La Brisa's Portfolio site!

Sarah | Style Session | Kansas | b

2011-12-09T12:50:00.001-06:00

Happy Friday! Today, I am excited to feature b’s Style Session with the dropdead gorgeous, Sarah! With her movie star looks, incredible athleticism plus her super fun personality, there is no doubt that Sarah is destined for an amazing future! =)

Thank you again for selecting La Brisa to photograph your senior portraits! b and I wish you the very best in your last year of high school and pure awesomeness for the world that awaits you afterwards! =)

You can view more images from their session on the La Brisa Facebook page by clicking HERE.

At the end of Sarah's session, she wanted a photo with her sister and I think this perfectly reflects their awesomeness!

Looking for a Christmas gift?

These 13.5"x19" beautiful calendars are $35 plus shipping and can be purchased here – 2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness.

Check out the preview of the calendar!

Email us (info@labrisaphotography.com) about your upcoming wedding or to schedule a portrait session!

View La Brisa's Portfolio site!

La Brisa Photography

The Countdown Begins!

52 WoA: Week 26 - Texture

Ten Word Birthday Story Contest!

Laura & Jordan | Kansas City, MO Wedding | b & Chris

Alyssa & Danny | Moncks Corner, SC Wedding | Chris

Kristen & Bret | Wedding | La Selva Beach, CA | b & Chris

52 WoA: Week 25 - Hats

My Surprise (early) Birthday Present!

b's Epic Road Trip.

52 WoA: Week 24 - Fire

La Brisa 2011 Favorite Pet Images

Favorite 2011 Images of My Family!

La Brisa 2011 Wedding Favorites!

Top 5 Most Visited Blog Posts of 2011!

52 WoA: Week 23 - Habits

BREAKING NEWS: b is moving!

La Brisa 2011 Attraction Session Favorites

2011 Year in Review

52 WoA: Week 22 - Things that you could not live without

2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness!

La Brisa 2011 Joy Session Favorite Images!

La Brisa 2011 Style Session Favorites!

Merry Christmas from La Brisa!

Merry Christmas Eve! =)

Nikki & Jared | Wedding | Danville, Kansas | b & Chris

52 WoA: Week 22 - Pets

b & Tim | Attraction Session | Kansas | Chris

The First La Brisa APW TT Event!

52 WoA: Week 20 - Emotional Attachment (Heirloom/special gift/etc.)

Kelcie | Style Session | Kansas | b

2012 La Brisa Calendar of Awesomeness!

Sarah | Style Session | Kansas | b