My Favorite Images of 2014

It's taken me over a week to put this post out because I've been agonizing over it. No, really. I've been losing sleep over this post. I originally was only going to post my top 10 favorite images of 2014, but I just couldn't do it. I couldn't get it down to 10 no matter how hard I tried (I started with a group of more than 60 "favorites").  I was just too in love with some of these images. Some of them capture beautiful expressions or personalities or moments. Some of them represent a milestone for me artistically. And some of them I just like because... well... I dunno why. I just do.

So here they are... my 20 favorite images of 2014 (in no particular order) with a brief word about each. I hope you enjoy them as much as I've enjoyed creating them this pat year. I'm looking forward to a great, fun-filled and packed 2015!

This image was shot this summer at the Frio River in Texas just before it started pouring down rain. 

This image was shot before sunrise on a chilly April morning of the Hood County courthouse in Granbury, Texas. If I remember correctly, it was a 3 minute exposure. I have a black and white version of this that I love also, but the lavender sky in this one edged it out slightly.

This is an image from a family shoot late in the summer of two brothers wrestling and playing in their grandparents' backyard. I love the low angle, the light streaming through the trees and the sheer fun this image captured.

This photo was shot at sunset outside of Abilene, Texas. This made the list based solely on the peaceful hour or so I go to spend watching this sunset unfold over this golden wheat field.

This photo is from a family session. I love the shallow depth of field in this image and how crisp and sharp and alive this gentleman's eyes are. I think it captured his kind eyes and his spirit well.

I was shooting video of this beautiful couple's wedding rehearsal and stopped to shoot a few still frames, as well while they were having a quiet moment in a garden at sunset. I'm glad I did.

This was the poster for Sam Houston State University's Homecoming. The theme was a fun take on The Great Gatsby. I love Sammy in a tux and the art deco look, but I absolutely LOVE the smirk on his face.

This image was shot in North Carolina during a shoot on the University of North Carolina campus. This kid's orange hair and blue eyes set against the green grass is just captivating to me.

This image is also in North Carolina. It's a father and son playing. I just love the action and the love in this image. I love the low angle and the weight of the negative space. It reminds me of playing with my own son.

Doesn't this photo just make you want to flop down on a patch of soft grass? :)

This image was shot during the workshop I took at Tamara Lackey's studio this fall. She didn't want to play - she just wanted to pose. But then I found out that that she loves the movie Frozen, so I started singing "Let it Go" and got her twirling.

I just love this shot. This girl was so great and her smile was just infectious.

I shot this in the spring at a private birthday party. I just can't look at this photo and not smile.

This is Cole. He's a mess. In the early summer I was photographing his family and he kept coming up and putting his face in the lens. So we ran with it. This little devilish grin is 100 percent silly boy... and I love that we caught it.

This image is from a wedding I shot in the fall in Austin. This beautiful little one and her sister were both bridesmaids and were just the cutest little things ever. I just find this image so sweet and innocent.

You can't tell me that there's not fun going on here.

This was from a family shoot this fall. This little one started out the shoot firmly in her shell, but gradually came out as we went. It was fun drawing her out and watching her personality explode into the lens. I have several shots of her that are among my favorites of the year, but of them this one is my favorite.

In the fallI did a maternity/family shoot of this beautiful mother-to-be and her family. The yellow grass just glittered like gold around her.

In the spring I happened upon this dance hall out in the middle of nowhere in North Texas. I saw it out of the corner of my eye as I drove by and almost didn't stop. It was getting pretty late and I was ready to get to my hotel. It was pitch black, so I decided to do a light painting on the building front. I'm glad I stopped.

This summer my wife, Kristi, and I took a weekend vacation with some good friends to a vineyard in Central Texas. I shot this just after sunrise one morning while walking through the vineyard. It really captured the magical feeling of the weekend.