ISES Holiday Party from Jim Rode Dallas Photographer

Photography for Ryan Manor was a real pleasure for me over the holidays. Chris Ryan asked me to photograph the ISES Holiday Party and Toy Drive for the Children's Medical Center for the Manor. Yes! Beautiful Ryan Manor is a fantastic location for this event (and other events too! I can't wait to do a wedding there...). The ISES event people and all invited guests received first-class treatment. Toys came in like crazy! I can't wait to read Chris' blog. D.G. Smalling was on-hand to sketch guests -a real artistic treasure.

We went -just before Christmas -to deliver toys to the Medical Center. Chris brought a wagon-load of toys. Susan Lackey met us and escorted us to a playroom where we had the joy of giving to the children spending Christmas in the hospital. Also handing out toys were Mike Miller from Drinks Fantastic, Marla Watson-Werst from Pea Pod Productions, and Debbie Jordan from Magic Moments Events.

Le Beaux Chateau Wedding from Jim Rode Photographer

Parisa and Brent were married and emotion and love filled the air! The ceremony was at Chapelle des Fleurs (now called Le Beaux Chateau) and fun was contagious. Parisa and Brent are from the DC area but felt right at home with first-class wedding appointments like a stunning gown, great food, beautiful flowers, lovely bridesmaids, and loving family and friends. The dancing was spectacular. Their dance together -and Parisa's dance with Dad made my eyes mist!

Little Chapel in the Woods wedding from Jim Rode Photographer

Rose and David got married...yeah. "Way cool" wedding with family-fun friends-fun and reception fun. Rose recently graduated from A&M and chose a fantastic and historic chapel for her wedding. The Little Chapel in the Woods in Denton. Historic. This is the kind of place that you hold close as you know it will always be there. Each year, Sylvia and I drive by out church...gritting out teeth. Still there, but someday...I don't know. Not the Little Chapel, it's a national landmark. Rose and David will come visit 25 years and now just for fun! Nice to know it will be there for the memories.

The reception was at the Downtowner. Bar b que, dancing, singing, hugs and kisses spread around the dance floor. The bride and groom danced and brought cheers! Top it off with the Aggie fight song and you've got yourself the foundation for a solid love story! Read more details at JimRode.com as Rose and David are my Feature Wedding.

This wedding gave me a chance to bracket some of the images, layer them together, and create some great HDR images.

Bridal New Orleans - Jim Rode Photographer Dallas

While the east coast shivers in a snow storm, I'm remembering a wonderful fashion walk around the streets of New Orleans with Dawn. With special thanks to Sarah France, myself and some friends spent time photographing a beautiful bride in a gorgeous Mardi Gras gown and a wicked-cool mask! It was fun to get shots of Dawn on a Bourbon St. balcony, get invited into a great hotel by a fun-loving doorman -then get kicked out by the manager (no big deal!) then on to Canal Street and some great streetcar pics. The mask was so New Orleans!

Dawn was married (to Kyle -Thanks my friend -for letting us photograph your beautiful bride!) just south of Baton Rouge. They met on the Internet 5 years before meeting -what a great love story! They married in Baton Rouge. The rehersal dinner was at the Island club. The Bridesmaids luncheon was at Nottoway Plantation. (Honeymoon in Mexico -Viva!)

This session gave me a chance to bracket some of the images, layer them together, and create some great HDR images. They really pop!

Next week I am photographing an event at the Ryan Manor in Dallas on behalf of Chris Ryan. It is the Ises Holiday Party and Social benefitting Children's Medical Center. Everyone attending is invited to bring an unwrapped children's toy. The hospital has 250 'beds" and that means a lot of children will not experience the holiday in their own home. Many children may only receive whatever gifts we can donate.

If anyone following my blog has been invited by Ises, I urge you to attend and bring an unwrapped toy, plus have a little fun. If you cannot attend but would like to help with a toy donation (unwrapped), I would be happy to meet you in the Grapevine area to pick up your donated toy to add to my own.

You can call me at 817-781-7331.

Flower Mound Wedding Saturday - from Jim Rode Photographer

Woohoo! Amy and William will be married Saturday! (in Flower Mound at Le Beaux Chateau) Be there are be square as they say...
Totally in love.
As we spent the day together, I began to read their eyes. Amy would watch William, looking for the next thing he might do. I'd spot William glancing at Amy when she wasn't looking. Holy Moly! Man are they in love! Passionate is the word that defines these great people. And "fun" too. We had a blast going all over town. Whenever I made a suggestion, A & W were good for it. Got to be one of the best webcasts I ever made. The pictures were so powerful and yet so crazy fun! What a blend, what a day. (I hope Amy and William don't mind the A & W thing. It's my favorite soda, and they are my favorite couple!)

These images pop with bracketing some of the images, layer them together. It is an HDR effect.