Brenham State Supported Living Center / David Weekley Homes Thank You

Every year David Weekley Homes in Houston does something amazing - their entire staff collects presents for the residents of the Brenham State Supported Living Center. Then they have some of the residents come up for a Christmas party to present the gifts to them. Then the choral group of residents from the Living Center sing Christmas carols. 

This is a video shot at last year's celebration. I literally had a lump in my throat through the entire party - it was so touching to see the outpouring of support and caring from the David Weekley staff and to see the pure joy on the faces of the Brenham State Supported Living Center residents.

Thank you to the Brenham State Supported Living Center's Volunteer Services Council for allowing me the honor of filming this and for allowing me to share it.

Faith Mission - Impact in the Community {video}

I'm so proud to finally be able to show this video for Faith Mission. It shows - in the unscripted words of the leaders of the community - the impact that Faith Mission has had on Washington County.

Sgt. Michael Quintero Honor Procession

Veteran's Day is about honoring our servicemen and women who defend our country, both living and dead.

I am so very blessed to have many veterans in my life. But this year, I cannot observe Veteran's Day without thinking about one soldier, in particular. In July, Staff Sergeant Michael Quintero succumbed to his battle with PTSD. 

I have only known Michael for a few years. I photographed his and Carla's wedding and photographed their family before he was deployed for a fifth and final time in 2013. Finally, I was asked to photograph his Honor Procession in July from Houston Hobby airport to Sealy.

But there's more to this story.

As moving as his funeral was, I was truly touched by the Texas Patriot Guard Riders, a group of veterans who volunteer to ride in honor of a fallen soldier. They and the Houston Police Department truly treated Michael like the hero he was.

So thank you to our veterans who served in defense of our liberties. And a special thank you to the Patriot Riders for your continued service to our fallen soldiers.

Farewell, Michael Quintero... and Thanks.

I have a heavy heart today because I found out yesterday that a friend took his life in the early morning hours of July 4th.

I met Michael Quintero about three years ago. He and his then-fiancee, Carla, were both veterans who met while deployed and were planning their wedding. They hired me to photograph their wedding on the recommendation of one of my co-workers for whom I had just done a maternity session. They didn't know it at the time, but it would be the first wedding that I would photograph solo - not as a second shooter.

As I met with Michael and Carla one Saturday afternoon at the Starbucks in Brenham I felt a bond with them instantly. They were a playful, joking and loving young couple. Their casual attitude helped to ease my fear about photographing their wedding. As we sat there it felt a lot more like I was having a conversation with longtime friends than a client.

Michael and Carla's wedding was held in Salado, Texas on a gorgeous, cool fall day. The main thing I remember about that day was just how much they made me and my wife feel like a part of the family. They took us in and embraced us in such a loving way. They were genuinely concerned that even though we were there to photograph that we were enjoying ourselves, too. We had so much fun with Michael and Carla's families.

I could not have asked for a better wedding to be my first solo experience. It - and they - were such a blessing to me and to my fledgling photography career.

A few months later I got a message from Carla asking me to do a photo shoot with Michael and Carla and Michael's daughter, Emileigh. This made Michael and Carla my first repeat clients, as well as one of the first family shoots I had ever done. We met at Antique Rose Emporium one May evening to shoot in the evening light.

That session was - and still is - one of the favorites I've ever shot. Once again, Michael and Carla were so gracious and accommodating. And the light was simply, fittingly gorgeous that evening. Michael was about to leave for his final deployment. It was his fifth. There was something that just felt magical and surreal that night.

I've kept in loose contact with the Quinteros in the last couple of years. We are friends on Facebook, and I enjoy a lot of the funny things that Michael shared. My family was hoping to go by and visit Michael and Carla on out next trip through western Oklahoma where Michael was stationed.

A little more than a year ago Carla and Michael welcomed their own little girl into the world. I haven't yet gotten to meet her, but I enjoyed their family posts on Facebook and hoped to get the opportunity to photograph their family again someday.

Yesterday morning I woke up to find a Facebook message from that co-worker who originally recommended me to the Quinteros. She said that in the very early hours of the morning on July 4th that Michael had taken his own life.

I was - and still am - stunned.

It turns out that Michael has been battling some serious PTSD and depression lately. Apparently, it finally just became too much for him to bear. He mentioned to my wife, Kristi, the last time we saw them that he felt like he was made to be a soldier and that he didn't know if he could do the "normal life." He enjoyed being a soldier and being deployed. His enthusiastic posts while he was deployed showed a true joy for his job. But he also loved being a father and a husband to Carla. That was plain for anyone to see.

Please join me in praying for Carla and Michael's families during their difficult time. Please also say a prayer for all of those who have served who are suffering silently with PTSD.

Thank you for your service, Michael Quintero. You were a good, brave man. Our world needs more like you, and you will most certainly be missed.

Thank you, also, for being such an integral part of my life story. I don't know if you ever realized how big an impact you and Carla have made on my life and on my career.

I am truly grateful to have known you.

Meredith & Grant {First Look}

It makes me very happy to share this video of Meredith and Grant's first look. They are such a beautiful couple and their wedding was simply amazing!

More to come...

McIntyre Family {Portraits}

You might already know Nick and Sarah. They're the talented artists behind Exaggerface face painting, whom I got a chance to work with earlier in the year at a birthday party. Sarah is also an amazing painter. Oh, and Nick's dad is Santa Claus. Seriously. So you might say the've got it all going for them and that they have an amazing life. Some might even hate them for that. If you're one of those people, you might want to stop reading right now because their family portrait images might just make your head explode.

Sarah was due any day when we shot these images on a crisp November morning. She was a great model and a great sport as I had her romp, stand then sit in the tall grass. Steam rose for the pond behind her, creating a surreal and beautiful landscape. Oh. My. Gosh.

Then Nick and their son, Greyson, got in on the action and the shoot went from being spectacularly beautiful to all-out fun as they ran and played and I tried my best to make my camera keep up.

Nick and Sarah's baby girl was born just a few days after we shot these photos. I feel truly blessed not only to know this awesome family, but to have had the privilege of capturing this beautiful and tender time in their family's life.

See more images from this shoot at http://www.jamespharaon.com/mcintyrefamily

Nelda & Karl {Married}

Nelda and Karl's wedding has been a blessing in so many ways. It's a blessing that they found each other and that they spend so much time giving to others. They were married in Austin, Texas on Mount Bonnell at sunset on a beautiful autumn Texas day. Surrounded by a handful of friends and family, they said "I do" as rays of beautiful golden sun enveloped them. It was simply breathtaking.

But that's only part of their amazing story.

That story is not mine to tell, but you might notice from the photos that Nelda isn't wearing a traditional wedding dress. The dresses that she, her daughter and granddaughters are wearing were custom made by The Freed Jubilee Market, which gives women who are rescued from sexual slavery a way to restore their lives and to have their dignity restored.

After the ceremony, the entire group headed to Asti, a local restaurant, for a private dinner and reception and some of the tastiest food I've ever eaten. 

Nelda and Karl's day was filled with love, laughter and life in a way that was deeply moving.

Thanks you, Karl and Nelda for allowing us to be a part of your beautiful day. May your lives together be long, happy and full of life.

Thanks also to my amazing second-shooter on this wedding, without whom I literally could not have captured this full day. Heather Robards of Fields of Heather Photography is simply awesome!

To see more from this wedding or to order prints, visit http://www.jamespharaon.com/yawbuckmanwedding

Parker Family {Portraits}

These images are very special to me because these are some of our family's best friends ever. It's not hyperbole to say that I wouldn't be where I am today without Matt - he got me interested in photography, taught me how to use a flash and let me borrow his video camera so I could get started doing video. And as if that weren't enough, he and Lauren are the most gracious, genuine people and parents you'll ever hope to meet. They're love for each other, for their kids and for God shines through everything they do. And then there's their stinkin' beautiful kids... Thank you, Parkers, for everything you do for our family - for your friendship, support and love. I hope these images bless you for years to come as you bless others around you.

See more form this session at http://www.jamespharaon.com/parkerfamilyportraits