Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

So many presents...... So little sleep.

This shirt speaks the truth about most grandchildren I think.

First off, I need to send out a quick apology. I realize that I have been slacking on the blog lately. Between the family holiday escapades and normal work related deadlines I have found it hard to keep you guys updated. So........ Sorry!

Now that I have that out of the way, I must say that 2007 has been one for the books! I have had the pleasure of being part of some very special weddings and I would like to thank all of the couples (who I now consider friends) for allowing me to share and document they're special days. I am also now a proud father of a beautiful little girl, who is just plain amazing. Every day with her is a new experience and being a parent is truly and awesome endeavor.

All this being said, I doubt very seriously that 2008 can be any better than 2007, but I am looking forward to it none the less. God has truly blessed my family and with him by my side "it's all good." Page, Hannah, and I would all like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. God bless.

Frigid temps and good surf.

This time of year brings some occasional cold fronts and most people including my wife head for the covers and crank up the heater. I on the other hand, was on my way this weekend(at 5:30am) with a buddy to enjoy the frigid wind and waves that our first strong cold front had delivered. If you can brave the cold temps, the fall and winter months can bring really good surf with nobody else out.

The outside break had some bombs, but it looked better than it was.

The middle sand bar this year seems to have really come together and is delivering some absolute gems.

Yah....... it was that good.

The high winds had blown this buoy in from the gulf and I thought it looked pretty cool. If you look close you can see yet another barrel in the background.

Re: Passing on a Prayer Request

I got an awesome phone call yesterday. Some friends of mine that put on a local surf report wrote about a man named Mike that had recently found out about a brain tumor. The tumor was going to require surgery and Mike's situation looked pretty bleak at best. I felt the need to pass on the story and the prayer request on the blog.
The phone call as it turns out was from Mike! He wanted to let me know that he had made a full recovery and was heading back to work today. He was really appreciative of all the prayers and good wishes.

It is so awesome to see God at work! Not often do we give God the credit for the miracles that he provides every day. Most of the time they are so subtle that you may not even notice but every once in a while you get a doosy like this one.
I am so happy for Mike and his Family and I appreciate everyones prayers for them. I'm sure the Lord does too.

Happy Halloween!

As you can tell below, Hannah can hardly contain her excitement over her first Halloween.

She's a one armed, orange and white striped ghost? I don't know, but its pretty cute.

Happyzzzzzzzzzzzz. Halloweenzzzzzzzzzzzz. Everyonezzzzzzzzzzzz.

October has been busy!

As if my baby girl being born was not exciting enough, I have also been blessed to be part of some wonderful weddings this month. One of them was in the King Ranch, which up until now, I have only had the pleasure of driving past on my way north.

Michelle was a stunning bride and was up for almost anything. This was evident when I didn't even get a hesitation upon suggesting that we pull in to a nasty back alley to shoot this shot. Turned out pretty cool, huh.

Two people madly in love, sunset in the Kings Ranch, closest family and friends......... what more do you need? Jacqueline and Michael's answer - Nothing.

Everyone is at home and doing well.

These pictures were taken on the 10th and are a little deceiving. It appears that everyone is getting plenty of sleep.......... not the case, I assure you.

Hannah's sleep style resembles her daddy's unfortunately for her.

The package said that the pacifier was for newborns. You could dispute that by looking at the pacifier to face ratio in this picture.

Hannah is here!

Well after being fashionably late (1 week) Hannah has graced us with her presence. The Lord has blessed Page and I with a beautiful little girl. She was born on Monday October 8th at 2:44 pm. Check out the pics.

Page's mood changed significantly after the epidural.

She's a little messy but still pretty cute!

Dr. Gabriel (a true pro) and new family.

Hannah's first moments included poking, prodding, weighing and more. Although she was most uncomfortable, dad didn't show much mercy as he clicked away.

Wife and daughter. How did I get so lucky?

Wow.

Passing on a prayer request.

The following statement was written by a friend who puts on a local surf report. If you have time please include Mike and his family in your prayers and feel free to write them if you want to.

So... had the privilege of teaching a high school basketball coach how to surf recently, his team just made the state finals, got a box of championship tshirts and even a pair of team nike court shoes from the guy, he's pretty proud of his team I'm sure, and I'm guessing they are plenty stoked on him. Well, his name is Mike, 6'+++, big ol' boy, always wanted to surf. So he gets a few waves, pretty dang clumsy I must admit (sorry Mike) but thats to be expected for a guy in his 40's that's never surfed, but he got a few, and was stoked as any grom. He wouldn't quit emailing me about what a great time he had surfing... but its such a refresher to hear about some one's "first time". One email said that he bought a bunch of Indo Boards for the team for training...go figure. I think it was for him. Well, today his wife calls, said Mike never stops talking about surfing, but during his lesson, he felt really clumsy and uncoordinated, and so he goes to his doc for a checkup and tells doc that he felt like he couldn't keep his balance. Doc does a catscan... and Mike finds out he has a massive brain tumor. His wife called me today from the waiting room to let us know he was going through an 11 hour brain surgery. I'm not sure of his prognosis, she said he had paralysis and to pray for him. So, if any of you have a moment say a prayer for Mike, or a word of support, here's his email .

Making some time for surf.

We have been blessed to have some really fun surf the last week or so. I managed to break out the camera on one of the smaller days to grab a quick pic of my buddy Rob. Rob did a great job of showing all the fishermen there that Port Mansfield is good for something besides fishing.

Studio Tour on the Website and Blog

Well..... I don't think that anyone is going to be knocking down the door to have me host a tv show anytime soon. Regardless, the studio tour has been added to the video section of our website. Feel free to watch the amateur at work.

ASP World Title Still Up For Grabs

With the number one and two ranked surfers being upset in the last competition at Trestles the world surfing title is still up for grabs. The next competition starts this week in France! The time difference is pretty severe, but if you get bored late, you should check out the action.

Hannah Update

Hey everyone! Here is the latest view of Hannah. She kinda looks like a scary snowman to me. If you can't make her out don't worry. It only took two people pointing and 10 minutes for me to see her.

Drawback to living on the Coast

I really love being "On the Border by the Sea" but..... living on the coast comes with the occasional scare. New Orleans still hasn't fully recovered from Katrina two years ago. So when a storm comes barreling through the Caribean you can only pray that your home, family, and friends will remain safe. Here is what the latest scare looks like.

August Bridal Show

It was another great bridal show put on by Maureen Caballero! I came a little short handed this time around which actually turned out alright because I got to talk to everyone first hand that came by the booth. I also really enjoy talking to all the other great vendors out there. Fidel and Jesse from El Rio wedding guide were across the aisle which was cool since one of our photos was on the cover of their magazine this time around. They were also nice enough to watch the booth a few times when I had to make a break for the restroom (too many Red Bulls). If anyone still has questions feel free to call us or shoot an email our way.

This is going to be one crazy wedding!

Jesse looks pretty tired but still manages a smile.

Richard Parker Photography on the cover of "El Rio"

I am constantly striving for excellence in photography and for my clients, so it is nice when you are featured in an editorial or grace the cover of a publication. This time around we are on the cover of the "El Rio" Wedding Guide. Pick one up when you get a chance. They are free!

Website Update

Our website has a new video feature! Right now there is a clip from the "Wedding in a Week" and we hope to have a studio tour and other videos loaded soon.

Lunar Eclipse?

Nope. It's not an eclipse.

It's my wife and unborn child in all their glory. Pretty cool huh. October is just around the corner and I realized that I had not really taken any good belly pics. Here is one of our favorites from this session. Hopefully Page will forgive me for the planetary reference to her stomach. Love ya babe!

I am blessed!

I know I have said it many times but I can't say it enough. I am extremely blessed! This summer I have been around some of the coolest people ever. It is such a blessing to constantly be surrounded by couples who are so in love that it spills over and fills the hearts of those around them. I love my job.

I was asked to speak to the South Padre Island Rotary Club last week and I would like to thank them for their hospitality and interest in photography. I had a great time and would be honored to go back again. The questions that I received have led me to consider doing a workshop for local enthusiasts. Check back for details.

As I mentioned yesterday the bun(Hannah)is still cooking in the oven(Page) and everything seems to be going just fine. I have to say that there is nothing like someones first unborn child to keep them on their knees. In that regard I have to thank little Hannah because my relationship with God has strengthened just because I have been talking to Him more consistently. I think we tend to forget how powerful and helpful prayer is to us. Not in the sense of getting things that we ask for, but in the fact that an open line of communication gives us a better sense of who we are, where we are in our lives, and a real peace that only comes when talking to the Almighty.

One only needs to watch the news for just a few moments to understand how blessed each and every one of us is. I will continue to be thankful for all of the undeserved grace that is showered on me and my family every day.

A Great Summer So Far!

So far we have had a very busy but very good summer. The only thing that has suffered is the blog. Because of my crazy schedule I have neglected my blog and I have been hearing about it from friends, family and clients so..... sorry guys. I will try and do better.
Quick update:
Page and I had another doctor's visit and little Hannah seems to be on track in her development. The other thing that is on track is the home improvements. The pink color that eminates from Hanna's future bedroom is nearly blinding and the final touches around the rest of the house are getting taken care of. God bless.

House Renevation = Headaches and Heartaches

Page and I have spent the last few month trying to renovate our home (which is over 100 years old). In February we were all pumped being on a high from watching some of our favorite programing on HGTV and the DIY network. Now that we are in to our fourth month of fixing and have been without a kitchen for three weeks our excitement has turned in to exhaustion.
Our normally clean house is constantly covered in sheet rock dust with a wonderful hint of paint fumes. Those of you who know me well know my weakness for fast food but I have to say that even I am growing tired of takeout.

As always there is light at the end of the tunnel. We hope to be done in the next three weeks and expect it will be done four weeks after that (inside joke for those of you who have done this kind of project before.) God bless.

Texas State Surfing Championships

There will be thousands of people headed to the beach this weekend due to the Memorial Day holiday. If you are one of those thousands and are looking for something different to do, you can head to Isla Blaca Park where the Texas State Surfing Championships will be going on Saturday and Sunday. The TGSA competions are always a lot of fun and showcase a lot of talent.

The first heats will be in the water at 7:30am.

It's a girl!!!!

Well........................

It looks like I am going to have my hands full and Page is finally going to have a full time shopping buddy. We are super stoked to announce that we are having a girl!!! Time to go pick out what shade of pink is going on the walls.

Everyone has been asking whether I wanted a boy or a girl. My response has been "It doesn't matter... He or she is going to be a surfer either way."

"Wedding in a Week" wrap up

Needless to say, the "Wedding in a Week" was one of the coolest weddings we have had so far. Click here to see how Lisa and Stephen's fantastic week ended.

Billabong Pro Teahupoo

If you guys are bored you can check out the pros surfing one of the biggest, heaviest, waves around. The Billabong Pro Teahupoo is the WCT's third event of the year.

Personal Pics from New York

Even though we had some crazy deadlines and a tight schedule, Page and I had a few moments to take for ourselves in New York. Here are a few personal pics from the trip.

Nice view huh! This was from our hotel overlooking Central Park.

This was looking back at our hotel from Central Park.

This is the infamous Times Square. It's much more impressive at night but I only grabbed a photo during the day.

Looking up at the Rockefeller Building.

This is one of my favorite pics of the trip. It is a view of St. Patrick Church amongst the skyscrapers with a sign on the cab that says "Never Hide."

Awesome wedding!

The "Wedding in a week" was a huge success. I had so much fun, I can hardly call it work. If you missed the show this morning you can watch it on the web on the CBS Early Show web site. Check out the Early Show on Monday to see the surprise Colin has for Lisa and Stephen. I will put some pictures on the blog and website later.

Broadway Surprise

Page and I caught a broadway show the other night. We went to see "Chicago" and it was unbelievable. During the intermision we were browsing through the Playbil and to our surprise, we noticed that the lead actress (Bianca Marroquin), grew up right here in Brownsville. You always have to go out of town to realise what a small world it is. Page and I are truly proud of Bianca. She has reached the very top of a job that has no shortage of competition or talent. Next time you are in New York you should check her out.

Change of plans

The "Wedding in a Week" has been postponed until next week due to the unfortunate incident at Virginia Tech. Look for the wedding to take place next Friday morning on the CBS Early Show. Our hearts go out to all the families and friends of those who were lost. God bless

Wedding in a Week?

Is it possible to put together a wedding from start to finish in a week? It is if your Colin Cowie. Colin is one of the world's best event planners and he is showing it again this coming week. Colin and The CBS Early Show have teamed up to give Stephen and Lisa the wedding of a lifetime. I was chosen to take the photos for the event and I have to say that I can hardly contain my excitement. The wedding is going to be in Central Park in New York City and it should be a blast. If you want to stay abreast with what is going on with the couple, tune in to the Early Show every day next week. I will try to update my blog every day that we are there.

Los Fresnos High School Speech

I was invited to speak to the technology students at Los Fresnos High school last week and I have to say it was a blast. I was blown away at all the interest in technology, photography, and business. Both the staff and the students were very accomadating and gracious and I would be glad to go back any time.

So much to do. So little time.

I just realized that I have been neglecting the blog. We have been crazy busy getting caught up since I have been out of town so much lately. Here are a few pics from the Vegas trip.

Dad showing me how it's done!

Our hotel.

Kinda cool pic of the Belagio

My buddy Mike Colon in action at WPPI

Can you tell which one is the model? Nice shoes Mike!

WPPI in Vegas

Hey everyone! I am out of town this week in Vegas for the WPPI convention and trade show. So far it has been a lot of fun. I have seen some friends that I have'nt seen in a while and for the moment I am ahead at the tables. I will be back next week and hopefully have a few picks from the trip.

Tieing the knot

We have joined forces with the knot! The knot is one of the leading magazines and websites for information on weddings. Many of our clients come from out of town or are doing destination weddings. Taking this in to consideration, I decided to increase our marketing to include the rest of Texas. It is an exciting step in the growth of our humble little business and I am looking forward to our future with our new partner.

Click on the link below to check us out at the knot

The Knot: Local: Vendor Details

Be back next week

Hey everyone! Page and I have been in Oklahoma all week. The weather has been great and we have really been enjoying ourselves. I will try and get back to all of your emails and phone calls on Monday. God bless.

Life can change in an instant.

This is what my instant looked like.

Page is awesome!

This being Valentine's Day and all, I thought I would take the time to say how awesome my wife is. In addition to being a great spouse, she is a phenomenal teacher, she speaks German (and a little Spanish), and is going back to school for her Masters. She loves God, her family, and me, despite my "work hard and surf harder" lifestyle. She is my inspiration and I thank the lord every day that a bum like me could end up with such a great partner.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Oh yeah. She's pretty too!

South Padre Island... our little paradise.

Here are a few pictures from South Padre Island this morning. As I was taking them, I couldn't help but think of what my friend Stan Hulse says every time I ask him how he is. His reply is always "Just another day in Paradise." Well said.

A view from Port Isabel.

I'd like to say I had both hands on the wheel but...

Thanks, God!

As you guys might know, the weather has been less than picture perfect the last few weeks. The forcast for last weekend did'nt look any better, but with my clients (and new friends) Scott and Nicole coming in from Austin, rescheduling wasn't really an option. As God would have it, the weather cleared up long enough to give us some outstanding light and some great photos. I always pray before each shoot that I might capture great moments and get good shots, but it was an unexpected blessing to get the change of weather as well. Thanks, God!

Scott and Nicole are an awesome couple and I am really looking forward to they're wedding.

Teddy

Page and I have a new member of the family! His name is Teddy (for his resemblance to a teddy bear) and he has a ton of charm. With a great attitude and cuteness to spare, a lot of people think we got him at the pet store. However, Teddy is an ex inmate of the Brownsville Animal Shelter. If you are in the market for a new dog or cat the "pound" is the best place to start. I was astonished (and saddened) at the amount of good looking animals they have that need a home. We could have easily been happy with a dozen different dogs, but in the end decided on the teddy bear. If you are interested in getting an animal from the shelter I have included the contact information below.

City of Brownsville Animal Shelter

416 F.M. 511

Olmito, TX. 78575

(956) 544-7351

McAllen Wedding Fair

Another great show in McAllen! The census showed there to be over 500 brides at the show and judging by the quality of my voice today we talked to a good percentage of you. I just wanted to say that we had a great time and met a lot of cool people. If you didn't get to talk to us or you forgot to ask a question, please don't hesitate to call or email. God bless.

Better Brownsville

I had the privilege of attending an event put on by the Brownsville Chamber of Commerce last week that was really interesting. It was called "speed networking." The event basically gave business owners and/or business presenters a chance to meet and network together. Each business had 60 seconds to tell the others who they were and what they did in the community. Many of you are probably saying at this point "who cares!" but it was a real inspiration, to me, to see so many people excited about making Brownsville a better place. Although I had to leave early for a previously scheduled appointment, I was real impressed to see a positive glimpse into our future here "on the border by the sea."