“We’re a little bit unexpected.”
Just after photographing Sarah & Jason’s departure at the end of their reception, their lifelong friend Chuck was telling Elaine how much fun we are to have around that day photographing the wedding – and how he hadn’t expected that at all. Elaine responded by telling him, “We’re a little bit unexpected.” I stopped what I was doing and wrote it down. It sums us up so perfectly. I hope you’ll agree.
I believe magic happens when people are having fun. I love to laugh. I think every wedding day is comprised of a series of moments of pure joy. Families coming together with friends to celebrate the couple. It is just incredible, and so full of laughter. Plus dancing and cake, which are always good things.
I’ve wanted to live in an old house since I was 4 years old. I grew up admiring them in Kankakee, Illinois where I first discovered Frank Lloyd Wright. When I moved to Houston in 1985 and first visited the Heights a short time afterwards, and I knew it was the place I wanted to live someday. With opening my studio here in 2008 and buying our house here in 2011, that dream is now a reality! I could not be happier living here. The people are so amazing, the Heights is so eclectic, I love being able to bike everywhere, all of the restaurants & stores that specialize in serving local food, art events like the First Saturday market and White Linen Night, the list just goes on and on! It feels like being in a small town in the heart of the big city of Houston. Being in an Arts & Crafts Bungalow built in 1920 now gives me the perfect excuse to do a lot of antique shopping too! I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect pieces to complete home. I just love all the wood and the detailing in a great piece of Craftsman style furniture!
I started blogging in 2000 at BigPinkCookie, and there is a ridiculous amount of details of my life that I’ve shared over there. Feel free to read them if you have the time and get to know me even better. Thanks to my blog, I have met the most incredible, amazing people – including Elaine who has been photographing weddings with me since I first started, and my husband who is one of the most awesome men EVER. Our first conversation ever was a geeky one about our cameras. I knew he was the one long before we were married in Galveston in May 2004!
Things I Love:
- My Mini Cooper and my license plates that say “WHEEEE”! (2010 Cooper, Horizon Blue, with white stripes on the bonnet and a white roof)
- My bright blue Electra Deluxe Super Cruiser bike, complete with wicker baskets. I’m all about the Slow Bike Movement!
- Our sweet Bungalow in the Heights, with the front porch swing and the screened in back porch
- Pepperoni & Extra Cheese Pizza from Pink’s, the yummiest pizza around
- Knitting anything that involves wool, especially some super soft Merino
- A perfectly-made frozen Margarita with salt
- Hunting for the perfect antiques for our home in the shops on 19th St or over on Westheimer
- Journaling daily in my Moleskine with my favorite Sharpie Pen
- Supporting local whenever I can! Trips to the Farmers Market, local shops & restaurants, and local craftsman
If you see Mike & I out in the Heights riding our bikes on a Sunday afternoon or me cycling to the studio for a session, be sure to wave & say hello! Please follow me on Twitter and friend me on Facebook, and you can Like our Page here on Facebook as well!
Some of my favorite photos from our Honeymoon in 2004: at Kensington Palace in London, wearing my wedding tiara; with the Eiffel Tower that I adore so much; and at the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.
Destination Wedding commissions are always welcomed, as I love to travel – to date, I have completed assignments in:
- New York, New York – both Manhattan and Brooklyn;
- Cape Cod (Sandwich), Massachusetts – Stephen & Kimberly’s Wedding, February 2007
- Asheville, North Carolina (Weddings in 2007, 2009 and 2010)
- St. Simon’s Island, Georgia – Wedding in 2009
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Bellingham, Washington
- New Braunfels, Texas
- Seattle, Washington
- Mendocino, California
- Carmel, California
- St. Louis, Missouri
- London, England
- Caye Caulker, Belize – Melissa & Brandon’s Wedding, July 2009
- Puerto Villarta, Mexico
- Huatulco, Mexico – Kate & Walker’s Wedding, October 2010
- Bristol, England – Ann & Karl’s Wedding, November 2010
My work has been featured in the New York Times, the Houston Chronicle, Schmap Guides for London and Paris, BarStool Magazine – Houston, My Table magazine, Wikipedia, Houstonist and more. I have also completed assignments for Success Magazine and Success for Women Magazine.
Proud member of the Professional Photographers of America and Wedding and Portrait Photographers International.
Find me also listed on the following sites:
- AllTop
- Wedding Photojournalist Association
- The Artistic Guild of the Wedding Photojournalist Association
- Photographik
- WedFog
- My Houston Wedding
- PhotoLinks – The Photography Network
- Wedding Wire
- Weddings in Houston Magazine (Check out the ad!)
Photos by Sarah Alston of Seattle, Washington. Used with permission.