Agile Images | Wedding Photographer Dallas,Waxahachie,Midlothian Texas

Visit me at Ivey Studio

2009-01-10T23:16:00.002-06:00

Midlothian, TX - I've officially made the jump to Ivey Photography. You can see my new blog at http://iveyphotography.wordpress.com. You can email me now at csmith@iveystudio.com. Or you can call me at 214-794-8101 or 972-723-2464. I'm at the studio Tuesday-Saturday and shooting anytime you want. Chris.

Final Session: Coons Family, Ft Worth Botanic Garden

2009-01-01T23:19:00.003-06:00

Ft. Worth, TX - I shot my last session today as Agile Images. Tomorrow, I take over Ivey Photography in Midlothian. We already have a VERY busy week planned, and I haven't even moved into my office yet. Today I spent time with The Coons Family in Ft. Worth at the Botanic Gardens. Therese, Jim and their 3 kids were fantastic, even after their little one took a tumble in the parking lot just as we were getting started. She was a trooper and got over her boo-boo quickly. Here are a few of my favorites from their session. We'll see you all at the studio in Midlothian.

Born to Ride: Connor & Paisley

2008-12-26T18:53:00.002-06:00

I took this when my son, Connor, and our neighbor's daughter, Paisley, were cruising the neighborhood on Paisley's new electric scooter. One day when they are in high school, we'll break this out. They are 2 years old. TWO.

Ian's Senior Session, Dallas Christian High School

2008-12-26T11:52:00.005-06:00

Waxahachie, TX - Ian is a Senior at Dallas Christian High School in Mesquite. He is a State Champion in tennis and plays a mean sweeper for the DC Soccer Team. He came down to Waxahachie and we got some very cool shots of him. Here are a few of my favorites. I am booking up fast for sessions in early 2009. If you want a session like this, get with me fast and get on the calendar.

Merry Christmas from Agile Images

2008-12-24T14:30:00.002-06:00

Merry Christmas, everyone. I'll be taking a few days off to spend with my family, and take a hunting trip with my dad. I'll be back next week and then we will finalize the Ivey Photography purchase. I have a new phone number if you need to reach me. 214-794-8101.

The Allen Family

2008-12-24T10:08:00.003-06:00

Waxahachie, TX - I spent the afternoon in the park taking photographs of the Allen Family. Josh, Ben and Peyton had a blast playing in the leaves, swinging, and generally running crazy. They hardly ever knew I was there. I've known their Dad since we were little kids, so we caught up a bit while the kids played. I did manage to get them stopped once so their mom could send out a Christmas card. Here are a few shots from their session.

Agile Images Best of 2008

2008-12-16T00:42:00.004-06:00

In 2008, I took over 60,000 photographs. Yes, SIXTY THOUSAND. If you think you have a hard drive full of photos from your digital camera, you should spend a few minutes with my computer. I decided to take a look back and see what my work looked like at the beginning of the year, and see how it had changed. I learned more in the past few months than I'd learned in the previous few years. I believe I learned something from each of those 60,000 photos, and I am a better photographer each time I go out. Take a look for yourself. There are two links here, one is a "sit back and listen to the music" slideshow. The other is a "click at your own pace" version, without the cool tunes. Either way, I think you'll enjoy my best shots from 2008.

Slide Show Version

Click and Go Version

The image you see here is a snap shot of my screen. This looks like chaos, but it isn't. Believe me, in order to keep track of 60,000 photos in a year, you have to be organized :-).

MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT: Turning Over a New Leaf

2008-12-15T23:36:00.005-06:00

For those of you that know me, you know that I work nights and weekends to make Agile Images what it is. You also know that I want photography to be an even bigger part of my life. I've loved it since I was a kid, and now, I'm putting my heart and soul into a new business venture.

I was lucky enough to meet Janie Ivey at a recent Bridal Show in Waxahachie. Janie's late husband, Ray, started Ivey Photography in 1976. Unfortunately, Ray passed away a few years back, and Janie has reached her limit in running the studio without him. Janie and her new husband, David, have been kind enough to sell me their business, Ivey Photography. I don't know if they had a "For Sale" sign in the yard, but I think they were looking for the right person, at the right time, with the right set of skills. That person, time, and skill set happen to all line up with me.

The Ivey Studio is located in Midlothian, just off of Business 287, on the corner of 12th and Avenue G. The studio is located in a historical old home built in 1889. From the moment I walked in to the door, I knew it would make a great home for me. Over the past 6 weeks, Janie and David and I have become close, and we are all excited about the opportunity at hand. There is a LOT of work to be done, but I have a great support team, and a tremendous history to build on. Even though Mr. Ivey hasn't been shooting at the Studio for a few years now, his Legacy lives on through Janie, and now, hopefully, through me. He was a great photographer, and I hope to maintain the high level of professionalism and integrity that Ivey Photography brings to the photography industry. Janie and her staff are well respected in the community, and I hope to earn that same respect in the coming months and years of owning the Studio.

This blog will no longer be updated after the end of the year. We will instead update the Ivey Studio website, and start a new blog using the Ivey Photography name. Agile Images will remain a part of our business, as it will be our sports and mobile events brand. We will continue to shoot local youth sports, dog events, and any other action you care to mention. Action and event photography are very important to me, and we feel like the Agile Images brand will serve us well and continue to grow as we grow.

Thank you to everyone who has helped me fulfill a long time dream of mine. Thanks to all of our clients who have been so generous and have allowed me into your lives to photograph your families, your weddings, your children, and even your pets. Thanks especially to Dad, Ami, and Chandler and most of all to Angie, who will be there every step of the way as we build the Ivey Photography business. Angie will also be spending a lot of time in the new nursery, as we are expecting our second baby (a girl) in January. We have a lot to look forward to in 2009, and we hope you will be along with us to enjoy it. If you are ever in Midlothian, please look us up and stop by. We're easy to find; just a half block off Business 287 at 12th Street, behind Sonic. See you there

Cody & Lindsey, and Tatum on the way

2008-12-13T21:54:00.005-06:00

Waxahachie, TX - Today I spend time with Cody and Lindsey, a great couple from Venus (not the planet, the city). They are expecting their first baby in February and wanted to get a few shots to remember the occasion. They didn't want anything too revealing, just a few shots they could share with family and friends (and now the entire Internet!). Lindsey looked beautiful and Cody was a great sport. We'll expect to see both of them back with their little girl very soon for newborn photos. Here are a few of my favorites from the day.

Christmas Card Designs

2008-12-09T23:36:00.005-06:00

I thought I'd share a few Christmas Card designs from this year's sessions. These are simple, 5x7 flat cards that are $1 each with a session. The back has a simple textured design with my logo, and they include envelopes.

Mr. & Mrs. Shemberger, Clyde & Jag

2008-12-09T23:26:00.003-06:00

Dallas, TX - After a photo session with the Shemberger Six last month, Mr. & Mrs. Shemberger wanted portraits with their dogs for their Christmas Cards. I loved the idea and we met on Turtle Creek at a great little park. Here are a few of my favorites from the morning session.

Mabra Girls, all Dressed in Brown

2008-12-09T23:20:00.003-06:00

Waxahachie, TX - I took the 3 Mabra girls down to Waxahachie this weekend to shoot for their Christmas photos. They looked fantastic in these beautiful brown dresses. It took a while to get what we needed, but once I got them settled, we had lots of fun. Here are few of my favorites from the day. I actually liked about 25 shots from this session, which is more than usual because I am very picky, but I can only show you a few here. I guess that's a good problem for their mom to have when she picks her favorites.

One of the last shots of the day was a classic...
I found some beautiful light near an old building . . .
On point from the moment we got the camera out, and loved every second of her shoot. . .
Just adorable. There were too many of Paisley to include here. . .
This one reminded me of an OLD photo you'd see in the archives. Love the vintage feel of the dresses with the abandoned railroad . . .

Dolive Family in the Park

2008-12-09T23:10:00.005-06:00

Waxahachie, TX - I'm growing attached to a couple of great shooting spots in Waxahachie. My sister is expecting another son in January. She and her husband came over with their son Cash (seen here before) to do some family shots for a Christmas card. Here are a couple of my favorites.

Cash needed a nap, so he snuggled with mom . . she loves this one!
A photo to show the new baby . .YOU ARE HERE..
These three never stop having fun . .
Easy to get this when Cash was enjoying the leaves under his feet and giggling . .
Same easy shot, minus Dad.

By the way, if you are in the Waxahachie, Midlothian, Ennis, or surrounding Ellis County area, please look me up. There isn't much time left for gifts this year, but don't let that stop you from spending time out with your family, and allowing me to tag along and shoot some photos of it all.

The Brigman Family - Camera Shy? Not anymore!

2008-12-03T00:19:00.004-06:00

Frisco, TX - As I explained in a previous post, the weather in Dallas this past weekend forced me indoors for my last two shoots of the week. The wind was blowing 30 and it was cold out. On top of that, my last shoot with the Brigman Family presented an interesting challenge. You see, Malyn, their 3 year old daughter, is scared of cameras. Her mom, Ami, does not know why she is scared, but only that a flash magnifies her fear by 10X. Remember that part about me having to shoot indoors? Yeah. Usually indoors means dark, requiring a FLASH. Mix that with a girl who runs at the sight of a camera, and you see my challenge. Luckily, I'm pretty creative, the house had a FANTASTIC north facing window, and Malyn had two small dolls to distract her. OH, and I almost forgot, Tatum is their 3 week old daughter, and we needed new shots of her, too. SHEW . . Here's what we came away with. Enjoy.

Wind, Cold, and a Mobile Studio for Christmas

2008-12-02T23:04:00.004-06:00

Allen, TX - As you may know, I am primarily an outdoor, on location, natural light photographer. I prefer the freedom of a location so I can be creative, and I prefer not to use a flash since there is already a big giant flash bulb in the sky. The problem with that is when the bad weather hits. This weekend brought some nasty weather to the Dallas area. On Sunday I had two shoots scheduled and if we had to get outdoors to shoot, we were likely going to have to reschedule. Since my clients need these photos for cards and gifts, we can't reschedule. So, like any good Scout would do, we IMPROVISED. I met Jada and her family at her mom's beautifully decorated home in Allen. I set up my Speedlights and a couple of soft boxes, and we went to work. Luckily the front side of the house was shaded and out of the 30mph North wind, so we managed to get in a few minutes outside, too. It was cold, but we did it. Here are a few of my favorites from the day, with commentary:

Morgan was lovely in her red dress. This is my improvised studio work in the lobby of the house. Notice the great scraped wood floor, too. Just beautiful.
This is Mason inside staying warm, looking at me out on the porch scouting the light and the wind situation.
This is grandpa and grandma in a great naturally lit room in their house. Look how great the kids did for this shot.
This is more like it. Perfect light, beautiful baby, FANTASTIC colors, if I do say so myself. This was on the porch after we decided to go outside.
Mason thought the porch offered more entertainment, too. He was tearing up grandmas Christmas displays.

Schaefer Family v 2.0

2008-11-30T00:09:00.003-06:00

Frisco, TX - Today I spent time with the Schaefer Family. We had a great session last year at a Nature Trail in Plano. This year they wanted something more modern, so we made our way through an office park in Frisco. The shots came out great. Here are a few of my favorites. Thanks to Conner, Carsen, and Camden for hanging in there in the wind and cold. See you guys next time.

Stephen, Dallas Christian High

2008-11-25T22:30:00.003-06:00

Waxahachie, TX - Stephen is a Senior at Dallas Christian High School in Mesquite. He came out to Waxahachie to shoot with me this weekend. We got some very cool stuff from a new location (If I told where it was, I'd have to kill you). I am booking now for Senior Portraits for 2009. If you aren't on my calendar, you need to be. Don't settle for those stuffy studio shots with a guy who doesn't know Face Book from a Library Book. Ask any of my Senior clients, and they'll tell you they had a great time and their photos captured who they were. Here are a couple of favorites from Stephen's session.

Twice the Baby Fun

2008-11-24T08:19:00.003-06:00

Dallas, TX - Saturday I was invited to photograph two-month old twins. Olivia and Carlos were born as Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas and are now home with mom and dad, growing like weeds. We captured a few sleeping moments between feedings and, well, you know what else babies do. Here are a couple of my favorites, including one that is a composite of an art piece that was hanging in the Twins' room. Their grandmothers are called "Nana", and I think Nana will be very happy with the new design.

All Aboard: Bottkol Family

2008-11-23T10:44:00.003-06:00

Waxahachie, TX - Friday afternoon I had another chance to photograph the Bottkol kids. We hung out on an abandoned train track and found some shade against an old rusty feed store. Waxahachie has great historic spots with lots of color and texture to shoot against. Where ever you are in Dallas, its worth the trip to come see me. Here are a few of my favorites from the shoot on Friday.

The Seidel Girls

2008-11-17T23:02:00.005-06:00

Waxahachie, TX - Sunday afternoon the weather broke perfectly. The wind laid down and it got back up into the 60's. We had perfect light and historic downtown Waxahachie as a backdrop. A good friend brought her daughters down for a portrait session. We had a great time and as you can see, we got some beautiful results. Thanks, G.

My favorites, with commentary.

One of my favorites of the year...

Sometimes girls just wanna jump . . .
This is a wall hanger for sure . . .
Emily had a giggle between shots. I don't think she thought I would catch her giggling.
Isn't this the sweetest face ever ? Her daddy will melt when he sees this one.
My schedule for December is filling quickly. If you haven't booked, you still have time.

Wind & Cold Didn't Stop Ryan's Senior Session

2008-11-15T19:23:00.004-06:00

Waxahachie, TX - This morning was the coldest, windiest day of the fall so far. Did I say WINDY ? Yeah, windy. But Ryan, a Senior at Midlothian High School didn't mind. He even played his guitar for me in that cold wind. If you've ever played the guitar, you know you have to enjoy alot to play it with frozen fingers! What I like about my job is that I get to meet great people and learn about them. Ryan is a great kid who loves his guitar, participates in his youth group at church and is headed to Tarleton State next fall. When his mom called me and told me he wore a cowboy hat and played the guitar, I had one image that immediately popped into my head. I got that shot. I'm proud of it, and I hope Ryan enjoyed helping me get it :-). Thanks Ryan.

Shemberger Six, A Family Session/Senior Session

2008-11-12T00:12:00.003-06:00

Dallas, TX - This session was unique because I mixed a Family Session with a Senior Location shoot. Elizabeth contacted me and asked if we could shoot a family session, and take some separate time to get some shots of her son, Jave, for his senior photos. Jave is an actor and needed some new head shots for his portfolio, also. Of course, I was more than happy to help and I think we got some great stuff from the Senior Session and the Family set. Here are a few of my favorites from the afternoon. We shot on location in Deep Ellum and at my favorite park near downtown Dallas.

Jamison 3.0, A Family Session

2008-11-12T00:07:00.003-06:00

Dallas, TX - This marks the 3rd year I've had the chance to shoot with The Jamison Family. This time around, they added one to the party! Welcome little Ethan to the group. His big sis has been my cover model for a couple of years now, so she's an old pro when it comes to shooting on location with me. This past weekend we enjoyed a morning in the park, playing in the leaves and checking out the ducks on Turtle Creek. Here are a few of my favorites from the day.

Major Announcement Coming

2008-11-06T07:51:00.003-06:00

I can't tell anyone just yet, but Agile Images has a major announcement coming. For those of you who've said "do you have a studio", or "where is your office", or "can I come by and meet with you on Wednesday at lunch", or "why don't you shoot more", or "do you do this full time" . . . . STAY TUNED . . .

Midlothian Youth Soccer: Strikers Action Photos

2008-11-05T07:56:00.003-06:00

Midlothian, TX - Saturday I had two scheduled sessions with Midlothian Youth Soccer teams. After the second game and team photo, one of the U5 Strikers moms stopped and asked me to stay for their game. Of course I couldn't resist (I love this stuff, you know). Strikers parents can view and order your photos here. Here are a few of my favorites from the game.

With the soccer season winding down, please contact me if you are a coach or parent from another team who still needs photos of your team, or you want photos of one of your games. If you miss me, you can catch me in the spring. This fall I offer a team shot and game action for $25 per player. Each player gets a 5x7 of the team, a 5x7 of themselves in action, and a set of 8 wallets from the action. You can reach me at 972-775-2769 or by email to schedule me for your game.

Midlothian Youth Soccer: Aggies Team and Action Photos

2008-11-05T07:39:00.003-06:00

Midlothian, TX - This past Saturday I shot for the U5 Aggies soccer team. We did a quick team photo and then got right into the action. Thanks to all of the parents for your help in getting the boys up early to take pictures. Your package orders will arrive in a few days. You can order additional prints bly clicking HERE. Red Riders parents will also find some game action shots of your team. When there are only 5 players on a very small field, and they are all chasing one very small ball, it makes it impossible to isolate one team.

These are a few of my favorite images from the game. The first one has moved up the ladder in my all time favorite shots list. This shot was taken DURING the game, with live action going on all around. This little guy just needed a break. Soccer is HARD work.

Midlothian Youth Soccer: Tigers Team and Action Photos

2008-11-03T22:37:00.002-06:00

Midlothian, TX - Thanks to the Tigers and their parents for having me out to shoot their team and game photos. The boys are very skilled and it made the action shooting very easy. I pulled a few of my favorites to show here. Tigers parents, you can click HERE to order additional photos. Your package prints will arrive in a few days.

Client #1

2008-11-02T11:36:00.004-06:00

Ft Worth, TX - Saturday I took Agile Images back to where it all really started. If you've followed me from the beginning, you know that I started in sports. One Saturday, I photographed a football game. My daughter, Chandler, was on assignment with me and was shooting cheerleaders. She took a shot of an 8 year old girl from Crowley. A few weeks later, I got a call from that girl's mother. She says, I love your work and I wondered if you would take our family photo this fall. THAT call was the first time someone actually asked ME to take their family photo, AND paid me to do it!

Saturday marked the third time I've photographed Melissa, Tim and the kids (bigger now!). We took it back to the Botanic Gardens in Ft. Worth, the site of our first session together. Here are some of my favorites from the day. Thanks again to Tim and Melissa for being so supportive of Agile Images.

My #1 Client

2008-10-26T23:00:00.005-05:00

For any of you that know me, you know my daughter, Chandler, is 17, and graduating from Dallas Christian High in May. She's a National Merit Scholar, has personality and wit (just liker her dad), and I can't remember the last time she caused me any trouble. Yes I know, she's too old to have a dad my age, but that's not her version of the saying (I'm too young . . .).

Today, we went to downtown Waxahachie to work on her Senior Portraits. I'd been looking forward to this day for a while, but not so much that I wanted it to get here, more that I wanted to spend time with her and see how great she would look when we were done. Since she is a special "client", I thought it would be a good time to share some of the images, and talk about the different finished looks I can produce. We haven't decided on which of these we will print, but I processed a few versions of my favorite two shots from the day. I wanted to explain each and show you what you can expect in terms of finishing when I shoot a portrait for you.

Here is the first image. This is a good shot, even straight out of the camera, but you'll see it is a little bit washy, and doesn't "draw" your eyes to any one specific part of the shot. I like this pose for her because it is very natural, very relaxed, and makes me think she's still 14 and needs a ride home from the movies :-).

The next shot is the "basic edit", I like to call it. I color corrected it, softened her skin some, and brightened her eyes. Pretty basic and its ready to print.This is a basic black and white process from the same image. Its a classic feel and the focus point really moves to her face in this one. I burned in the edges a little to draw your eyes in.
I call this one the Wash Out. Essentially its a high fashion style process that blows out all of the highlights in the shot. It makes skin look super bright and is a very non-traditional antique look. I suspect Chandler will use this one for her Facebook page because its "COOL!".I call this one "The Look". I used a similar process as the "Wash Out", but didn't blow the whites out, and kept the colors fairly natural. Again, the focus here is on her face, where it should be. Her green eyes really pop in this version.

Ok I used a few different processes to finish the next image. First, the out of the camera version. Not bad and this actually works for me since the scene calls for a vintage feel. Again, a little bit washy, and needs "pop".

The next version is the "basic process". A little boost in contrast, a little color pop, and some skin smoothing to make her skin even more perfect.Now, my personal favorite, the black and white. This is actually a special black and white that is realted to the Sepia family, and has a little more red left in it than normal. It works great with the old rail yard we were shooting in.
And finally, my favorite, I call this one my HEY edit. Which came from the man that taught me this processing technique. Its essentially a boost in contrast, and some added warmth, along with a really strong vingette technique. To me this one looks like a catalog image for whatever brand of jacket Chandler is wearing. I'll probably frame this one for the office.
I hope this illustrates some of the really cool processing techniques I am using. At least it shows the various results. I can't tell you exactly HOW to get these looks from your own photos, of course. But if you're handy with Photoshop, you can probably get creative.

If you want to see Chandler's Senior Gallery in progress, click here.

Pretty in Pink, or Any Color: Skylar

2008-10-26T10:29:00.003-05:00

Ft. Worth, TX - Yesterday I had the chance to meet up with Skylar and her mom at the Ft Worth Botanic Gardens. Skylar is the reigning International Girl 2008 Baby Miss. I met her through the pageant system last summer. After months of talking about a session, we finally had our day in the sun. We had great light, a very cute little girl, and a great setting. We started at Trinity Park and then moved across to the Gardens. Here are a few of my favorites.

Dog Park: Rhodesian Ridgeback Confirmation Photos

2008-10-26T10:17:00.006-05:00

Ft Worth, TX - I got a call this week from a client who needed to update her portfolio. Usually this means we're shooting with a family or maybe a baby, or for a corporate head shot. Well this client is different. He's a Rhodesian Ridgeback. My client, Michele, shows her dog all across the country in confirmation events for the AKC. He recently won an event and Michele needed some shots for an ad in one of the upcoming show catalogs. The shots had to be of very specific movements this particular breed makes. After about 30 minutes of shooting, I think we got it done. I love these kinds of shoots because they are totally foreign, and the client knows more about what she wants than I do. I love being able to produce the result, even though I was the one being told what to shoot! Thanks Michele.

Midlothian Youth Soccer: Spirit FC Team and Action Photos

2008-10-22T23:08:00.003-05:00

Midlothian, TX - Thanks to the Spirit FC of Midlothian for allowing me to photograph their action and team portraits recently. Continuing in my series of soccer shoots this fall, we did a little bit of action, a little bit of tradition, and a little bit of fun at the Spirit FC shoot. Parents, you can order additional prints here. The rest of you can enjoy a few of my favorites from the day.

Photos at Getzendaner Park, Waxahachie

2008-10-22T22:45:00.004-05:00

NOTE: This post marks the end of a series of posts that covered the busiest weekend in Agile Images history. Over 4 days I had 6 shoots covering over 300 miles and 22 people. Thank you to all who participated.
Waxahachie, TX - Getzendaner Park in Waxahachie is a great old park founded in 1889. This past Sunday, I took the end of a long weekend to take some pictures with my own family. My wife and I are expecting our 2nd child, and my son loves the park. I didn't really need much of an excuse to bring the camera. I offered some shooting advice to my mother-in-law, and with my help, we got these great shots. I suppose this also helps you identify me if we've never met! Should be pretty easy to figure out which one is me...

I still have a few weekend dates open for Fall Sessions (Nov-Dec). I am still running my packages for fall, so be sure to take a look at the pricing.

A Family Session: The Autry's

2008-10-22T22:27:00.004-05:00

McKinney, TX - Saturday I spent time with the Autry Family in Downtown McKinney. McKinney has a historic downtown square with LOTS and LOTS of great photography opportunities. We took time in the evening to catch some great light and ended up with results I am very pleased with. Take a look at a few of my favorites. Thanks to Tracie and her beautiful family for making this look easy! Click on the images for a larger view.

A Family Session: John, Paige & Greyson

2008-10-22T08:32:00.003-05:00

Dallas, TX - Sunday I spent time at one of my favorite parks in Dallas with John, Paige and Greyson. We actually made stops at two parks along Turtle Creek playing with squirrels, feeding ducks, and of course, taking lots of photos. I really enjoyed my time with JPG and I look forward to taking lots of pictures of them as their family grows. Here are a couple of my favorites from the day.

International Girl Pageant: Texas Girls

2008-10-20T23:47:00.004-05:00

Arlington, TX - This past weekend I was invited back to meet with the 6 winners of the International Girl Miss Texas Contest. The girls were all in town helping promote and operate a preliminary competition for the 2009 International Girl Miss Texas Pageant. We met up for some fun shots of them in several different outfits. It turned out to be one of the most challenging shoots I've done. The hotel they booked didn't reserve a ball room for us where we'd planned to shoot much of their session. So, we improvised, setting up my lights in the hotel lobby, making our way outside near the pool, and even pushing a couple of the shots back until the next morning. We managed to get in all of the work they requested and they were happy with the results. See for yourself.

A Senior Location Session: Heather

2008-10-20T23:36:00.004-05:00

Dallas, TX - Last week I had the chance to shoot with Heather in Downtown Dallas. Heather is a senior at Crandall High School. We spent some time in Deep Ellum shooting her Senior Portraits. Heather has these AMAZING blue eyes, so be sure to click on the images to see them up close. Heather had never had her picture taken professionally before, so she took a little while to warm up. Once she did, I think we got some great stuff to help her remember her Senior year.

Alliance Air Show

2008-10-20T23:09:00.004-05:00

Ft Worth, TX - Last week we took my son to the Alliance Air Show in Ft. Worth. He LOVES airplanes and helicopters, so what better way to spend a Sunday than out in the sun at the airshow. Of course, I took the camera along to catch all of the action. I got lots of family photos for the scrapbooks, but I also got these very cool shots of some of the planes in the show. There was the P-51 Mustang Flying Tiger, the P-40, an F-15, and one of the F-16 Thunderbirds.

Midlothian Youth Soccer: Dynamo Team and Action Photos

2008-10-14T19:42:00.003-05:00

Midlothian, TX - I've been busy with soccer photos lately. I love shooting soccer action because I grew up playing (still play, by the way) and I think I have a feel for what a good soccer photo should look like. We have some great kids in Midlothian and this week the Boys U5 Dynamo was ready to show me their moves. Thanks to Leigh for inviting me out. My schedule is booked solid on the weekends, but if you're a coach or parent in Midlothian and you want team photos like these, I can get you in during an afternoon practice. Just email or call me at 972-775-2769. I offer a one price package for $25. Here are some of my favorites from the Boys Dynamo shoot. Dynamo parents can click here to view and order more photos.

A BIG Family in the Park

2008-10-12T23:53:00.006-05:00

Dallas, TX - Today I was asked to tackle a shoot that was, admittedly, intimidating. One of my longest standing clients, Shara, asked me to take a family portrait for her. Now this would normally have been simple, since "family portrait" usually means mom, dad, kids, right? WRONG. Shara really meant FAMILY when she said family portrait. See, Shara was going through something that we all will go through soon, as some of you may already have gone through. She lost her dad recently. When he passed away, she realized she and her family had never had a family portrait made. Shara brought along her mom, her sister, her brother, and all of their spouses and kids. We had 17 in all today. This was the most people I'd photographed at once outside of a wedding. I think you'll see, we all managed to get through it just fine. Thanks to Shara, Mom, and your great family for allowing me to share your day in the park.

Midlothian Youth Soccer: Firecrackers Team and Action Photos

2008-10-09T19:55:00.003-05:00

Midlothian, TX - I had the pleasure of shooting a team photo and some action shots of the U6 Firecrackers soccer team on Saturday. Here are a couple of my favorite shots from the game and a link to the gallery for parents to purchase photos. Click here to Order Prints

Sunday in the Park: Jordan

2008-10-06T19:26:00.004-05:00

Dallas, TX - I met Jordan and his mom at a park near Turtle Creek on Sunday. Jordan is going to be the star of his family's Holiday card this year, so he needed some new photos. Mom brought a very hip outfit and Jordan brought his smile. He loved the camera (literally wanted to play with it) and did a great job. We shot for almost an hour, a long time for a 19-month old. Way to go Jordan. Here are a few of my favorites from the session. Click the photo for a larger view.

I still have time slots open for November and December Sessions. Email or call me if you would like to get on my session calendar.

Lake Fork Fishing Trip

2008-09-30T23:47:00.003-05:00

Emory, TX - Sometimes I make time for myself and go do "guy stuff". This past weekend I went fishing with my good friend Kurt (owns Dallas Golf) at Lake Fork. We had a great time, and I always appreciate the photo ops the Lake brings. This weekend I got a cool shot of a Heron, an early morning landscape, and a shot of me with a big ol' bass ! Thanks to Kurt on the camera.

Kenny Loggins Concert Photos - House of Blues, Dallas

2008-09-30T23:15:00.006-05:00

Ok, I have a confession. I went, I had fun. My mom (pictured below with Kenny) is a HUUUUGE Kenny Loggins fan. She doesn't see well at night and needed a chauffeur to the show (I swear !). I went with her a couple of years back and promised that when he came to town again, I'd take her and bring my camera. Last night Kenny played the House of Blues in Dallas. First, what a GREAT venue. Second, the show was awesome. Sure he stuck the over-played, over characterized staples in there (Footloose, TopGun thing, etc), but the night was made by a 15-minute jam session on Celebrate Me Home. In addition to tickets, my mom is somehow special and had backstage passes to meet Kenny. For me, this was a treat. For her, she's met him so many times he knows her by name. The House of Blues was relaxed on their camera policy so I got in with my D300 and 50mm f/1.4 lens to get these shots. Feel free to download and share if you're a Loggins fan. Just leave the copyright symbol on and don't print or reproduce, please. Just click to see larger versions. Or you can click here to see a gallery of photos.

This last shot is funny because of a couple of things. 1. I know in looking at this photo that I am CLEARLY the youngest person in the room. 2. Look at all of the cameras, phones, PDA's etc. I'm in the back with a $2500 camera getting great shots and these people are trying to squeeze out one decent photo from a PHONE! Funny. By the way if you were at this show and want a larger version of a photo you see here, just email me.

Midlothian Youth Soccer: Wildcats Team Photo and Game Action

2008-09-22T23:14:00.004-05:00

Midlothian, TX - I had the chance to shoot a team photo and some game action for the Wildcats Soccer Club in Midlothian. The girls worked hard in their game and I captured some great action, as well as some cute candid shots that I think the parents will love. Here are a few of my favorites. Wildcat parents, you can expect an email in a couple of days with a link to your online galleries for ordering.

A Family Session: Wally, Michelle and McKenna

2008-09-21T00:52:00.004-05:00

Dallas, TX - This morning I spent time with an old friend, his wife and their daughter. We took in the sights at the Dallas Arboretum. Fall means lots of great colors and some beautiful photos. Here are a few of my favorites, including one of a little girl who didn't want to stand on a stump. :-). As you can see we had great lighting this morning. It seems like no matter what time of day I go to the Arboretum I can always find a quiet place to get shots like these. Book your fall session with me now and take advantage of the Fall Promo.

A Senior Session: Tricia, Part 2

2008-09-18T23:53:00.004-05:00

Dallas, TX - Last week we shot part one of Tricia's Senior Location Session in Downtown Dallas. It was raining so Tricia wanted to come back for a second session and some late afternoon sunlight. We found just that and did some beautiful work. If you haven't booked a Senior Location Session with me, you better hurry. Fall dates are booking fast. Here are some of my favorites from today's session with Tricia. Click on the photo to enjoy a larger view.

Announcing the Agile Images Fall Portrait Specials

2008-09-17T07:30:00.004-05:00

Howdy friends,

I am booking up fast for Fall Sessions, and now that I am offering a Fall Special, you'll want to lock in your date with me soon.

I am promoting two packages this Season, as follows:

Package #1 - $395

-One hour (or whatever it takes) family session, at a location of your choice. Choose from any style you see here at great locations like the Dallas Arboretum, Lakeside Park on Turtle Creek, Chestnut Square in McKinney or Deep Ellum in Dallas. The possibilities are endless. You can expect approximately 100 proof exposures to choose from.

-A CD containing your favorite 25 images from the session

-25 Custom designed Holiday Cards (single fold, high end cards)

-An 8x10 of your favorite image

-4 5x7's of your choice

My regular pricing on these items is $775

Package #2 - $275

-Mini session (30-45 minutes) at a location of your choice, see above. You can expect 25-40 exposures to choose from.

-A CD containing your favorite 10 images from the session

-An 8x10 of your favorite image

-2 5x7's of your choice

My regular pricing on these items is $495

Standard Fall Booking rates are $125 booking fee plus a $250 minimum product deposit. Take advantage of this offer while it lasts. I will be booking sessions up through the 2nd week of December. You can reach me at 972-775-2769 or at csmith@agileimages.com, to schedule your session.

A Baby Session: Cash Turns One

2008-09-13T13:14:00.005-05:00

Dallas, TX - Cash is my nephew, and turns one on September 25th. With Hurricane Ike coming through on Saturday, we moved Cash's One Year Old Session to Friday afternoon. We met at a park near downtown Dallas. We got some really great stuff of Cash, all squeezed in a 45 minute window before his nap time. The last shot is what happens when an 11.5 month old gets tired, hot, cranky and thirsty on a photo shoot. Click on the photos to see a larger view.

A Senior Session: Tricia

2008-09-09T23:29:00.004-05:00

Dallas, TX - Tonight we shot the first part of Tricia's Senior Location session. We did a casual shoot in Downtown Dallas. Tricia was awesome to work with and I'm looking forward to part two next week. Tonight we were expecting rain, so the umbrella made a great little prop. Here are a couple of my favorites from tonight's session.

Central Texas Dove Hunting Trip

2008-09-07T10:49:00.005-05:00

San Saba, TX - Once in a while I get to take a "guys trip". I always bring my camera along, and this weekend brought the annual trip to Central Texas to hunt for doves. Its mostly a weekend with my Dad and a bunch of old friends where we hunt a little, catch up on old times, and EAT alot. Whatever we're doing, its always a good photo opportunity, and a great time. Here are some shots from the trip.

This is my dad, David. He's a big guy, with a bigger laugh.
This is the sunset over Hamilton County near Highway 281.
This is a leaf that was in the spring fed creek near our camp. Its CLEAR and COLD!
This dragon fly thought the water looked good too.
This is Josh, who's the youngest in the group, but never misses a shot.
This was Friday night's dinner . . .mmmmmmm.

Arlington Camera Photo Contest Winner

2008-09-07T10:23:00.002-05:00

Arlington, TX - Arlington Camera held a "Dog Days of Summer" Photo Contest this summer. I entered my shot of Pilot from earlier this summer. The judges at Arlington Camera were kind enough to select it as the WINNER of the Pets Division. We did not win the grand prize, but I am proud of the recognition from Arlington Camera. You can see all of the contest winners by visiting the Arlington Camera website.

Here is the winning photo:

Real Estate Photos: Olson Custom Pools

2008-09-05T12:40:00.005-05:00

Midlothian, TX - Sometimes, I get special projects that don't involve people. Yesterday my assignment was to photograph a swimming pool for a new business. Olson Custom Pools is owned by Roger Olson, who also owns Olson Custom Homes. He is now offering swimming pools and needed some shots for his website and brochures. I thought I would show these just to mix it up on the site, and to remind us all that we should be sitting my this thing drinking margaritas!!

Colors that Make You Say WOW!

2008-09-02T23:01:00.005-05:00

I was at a birthday party for my friend's daughter this weekend. I was taking pictures, as usual, and I got this great shot of one of the girls at the party. This is Addison. Click on the photo to see a larger view and the detail and color in Addison's eyes, which are just beautiful. It was just a snapshot, but I had to show the amazing colors.

Meet Me at the Waxahachie Bridal Extravaganza

2008-08-30T10:33:00.003-05:00

WWaxahachie, TX - I've been shooting weddings now for three years. This is the first time I've ever taken the step to actively market myself. Before now, I've taken my jobs through referrals only. I want to do a few more weddings next year, so I'm exhibiting at the Waxahachie Bridal Extravaganza in September. I'll have a booth there, so if you're in the area, come by and see me. Maybe you've looked at my work online, but never met me or seen my printed work. This is a great chance to stop in, see my albums, see my prints, and generally get time with me to talk about your wedding. I don't have a booth number assignment yet, but I should be easy to find once you get in. Here are the details

Date: Sunday, September 21, 2008
Bridal Show: 5th Annual Waxahachie Bridal Extravaganza at Waxahachie Civic Center
Price: $3
Event Details: 2000 Civic Center Lane Waxahachie, TX 75165
Phone: 972.938.3434 ext.204
Email: aortiz@waxahachie.com
Website: www.waxahachie.com

I found this photo while I was preparing to print some items for the show. I often show all of the public, happy, beautiful scenes in my galleries, but I particularly like this one. It shows a little tension, a little nervousness, a little anticipation, and its a little different than what I usually show.

Custom Wedding Album: Jim and Penney

2008-08-24T10:41:00.007-05:00

I recently photographed Jim and Penney's wedding. Now, I've completed the design for their custom wedding album. The album is a flush mount style, made in Italy. It is a seamless design, so the pages you see here are actually two sides of a spread. I designed the book to tell the story of Jim and Penney's wedding day. The book chronicles the events from the first time I see the bride and groom to the moment they get in the car and leave for the honeymoon. Their friends and family who see the book will truly get a feel for all of the events as they happened. You can see the entire book by clicking here. These are a few of my favorite pages.

The cover features Arlington Hall at Lee Park in Dallas, the site for the wedding and reception.
Penney gave Jim a Movado watch, engraved "I Do. 08-08-08."
The view from both sides, backed with Jim and Penney holding hands.
The kiss and the joy.
The cake.
The last page of the book.
If you are planning a wedding, please contact me for more information on wedding photography and custom wedding albums. I am booking now for 2009 wedding dates.

Nine Border Collie Puppies and a Photographer

2008-08-23T21:12:00.003-05:00

Midlothian, TX - This afternoon we spent some time in the fading light with 9 new Border Collie puppies and a couple of older BC's, one of which is the daughter of our dog Razor.

The nine puppies should have their own calendar, but we needed 3 more to make it around the year. Instead, here are some of our favorites from the session.

High School Senior Graduation Announcements

2008-08-23T18:48:00.004-05:00

Last week we finished shooting for Bryce, a Midlothian High School Senior. This week we designed his graduation announcement. This prints 4"x8" on a flat photo card. We can include a custom designed, one-of-a-kind graduation announcement in your package. Call or email me for details on Senior Location Sessions.

A Family Session: Matt, Tara & Little Ava

2008-08-23T13:49:00.004-05:00

Dallas, TX - I spent the morning with Matt, Tara and Ava at the Dallas Arboretum. Ava's 1st Birthday is next week so she needed to have her portfolio updated :-). Here are a few of our favorite shots from the session.

A day of free time and a new lens !

2008-08-21T18:19:00.003-05:00

Midlothian, TX - Part of the allure, if you will, of being a photographer is that I get to play with great camera gear all of the time. This week I picked up a gem of a little lens and I'm excited to share the first few photos from it with you. The lens is a Nikkor 50mm 1.4 AF D. The fixed focal length lets me compose with my feet and shoot easily with one hand. Great for framing a shot with one hand and getting a baby's attention with the other! I generally shoot my portraits with longer lenses to "stay out of your face", but for kids, this lens gives a very intimate feeling. See for yourself.

This double rainbow appeared over our neighborhood on Wednesday afternoon. I couldn't resist the shot.

Dave Matthews Band Concert Photos - LeRoi Moore

2008-08-19T21:56:00.003-05:00

Only seconds after I created the post for my Dave Matthews Band concert photos, I learned that long time saxophonist for the band, LeRoi Moore, passed away. He was injured in an ATV accident in June and was not on tour with the Band this summer. This is a very sad day for DMB Fans.

Dave Matthews Band Concert Photos

2008-08-18T22:01:00.010-05:00

Dallas, TX - As many of you know, my favorite band is The Dave Matthews Band. If you're reading this site you already know that my other favorite thing to do is shoot photos. On August 19, 2006 I was given the unique opportunity to have both of those favorite things come together. A friend of mine was starting a concert review magazine. He asked if I would be interested in shooting the first 3 songs of the Dave Matthews Band concert for his debut magazine review. He no more than got the words out before I was jumping through the ceiling with excitement. As it turns out, the magazine lacked funding and the shots never published, but it made this photographer and Dave Matthews Band fan very, very happy nonetheless.

I am posting this now because we just went to see Dave in concert on Saturday, and it reminded me that I need to update the site with the photos from 2006.

Here are a few of my favorite shots from the show, and you can click to see a slide show. Music provided by, of course, The Dave Matthews Band (So Much to Say). Enjoy.

A Senior Session: Bryce Part 2 - Portraits

2008-08-15T22:13:00.004-05:00

Dallas, TX - On Thursday I had a chance to meet back up with Bryce, a senior at Midlothian High School. We did part one of his session the week before. We shot some paintball action then, and we followed up with a casual portrait session in Downtown Dallas. Bryce was great to work with, took direction very well, and we had a great time. We caught a break from the rain and even got in a few rays of fading sun. Here are a few of my favorites from Bryce's session, and a link to a complete slide show with a full compliment of shots.

A Portrait Session: Tara - Singer and Actress

2008-08-13T22:41:00.005-05:00

Dallas, TX - Deep Ellum - I found myself back in one of my favorite photography locations today. I was working with Tara, a 14 year old aspiring actress and singer. Tara needed new shots for her portfolio and I was glad to help out. We spent some time wandering the streets of Downtown Dallas and had an easy time finding great light and cool spots to shoot in . Tara had a great sense for when to turn on the smile and when to show her "dark side". She made it easy to get in all of the looks she needed to overhaul her portfolio. Here are a couple of my favorites from her session.

A Wedding: Jim and Penney

2008-08-10T18:57:00.006-05:00

Dallas, TX - Jim and Penney were married on Friday, 08/08/08 at Arlington Hall in Lee Park, near downtown Dallas. The setting is beautiful, and the pictures came out great, if I do say so myself. Thanks to Jim and Penney for allowing me to share this special day with them. I don't have all of the photos processed yet, but I did pick some favorites after a few passes through the more than 1400 shots. More to come when I put together my Top 100 slide show.

Penney works on her 1920's starlet pose . . .
Little Nolan, the ring bearer, waits for his chance to help out . . .

Jim waits in the wings while parents are escorted in . . .

The groom's view . . .

The ring fits and something made them laugh . . .

The Bride's view . . .

A Sand Ceremony . . .

The Kiss . . .

The After Kiss . . .

My idea of a portrait . . .

The reception was a blur . .

Special thanks to Sarah Stewart of Arlington Hall and to Cory for being a great assistant for the day.

If you need a wedding photographer in Dallas, please contact me. I am booking now for 2009.

A Senior Session: Bryce and Paintball

2008-08-07T08:19:00.004-05:00

Midlothian, TX - Last night we completed part one of Bryce's Senior Location Session. Bryce is a senior at Midlothian High School and an avid paintballer. Ok, I just realized I'm not exactly sure what you call someone who plays paintball, but you get the idea. He's good at it, and I think the photos we got show that he loves it, too. Watch here next week for part 2 of Bryce's session where we make him look like a rock star in his street clothes.

Winner: International Girl Cover Model Award

2008-08-05T22:58:00.007-05:00

Congratulations to one of my new clients, Macy Fangman, who won the National Cover Model Award given by the International Girl Pageant System. Macy won the award after submitting a photo taken by yours truly, Chris Smith, of Agile Images. We're very proud that the photo, and Macy, received such recognition. This is the winning photo.

International Girl National Pageant: Off Stage

2008-07-29T22:49:00.005-05:00

During the International Girl National Pageant in Dallas this past weekend, I got a chance to work with a few of the contestants off stage. Macy, Malori, and Kelsey were all great models. Each of them is working on building up their portfolio, so I was glad to help out.

International Girl National Finals Pageant 2008

2008-07-29T21:06:00.006-05:00

Photos for the International Girl 2008 National Finals Pageant are now available to order. Click here to view information on packages and online ordering. We are adding albums daily, so if you do not find your album, please check back often. We are uploading the youngest girls first. Thanks for your patience. If you placed an order at the event, you can expect to receive your products in 1-2 weeks. Thank you.

Dog Days of Summer

2008-07-14T23:14:00.005-05:00

Midlothian, TX - On July 4th we hosted the Top Dog Racers 4th of July Party. If you aren't familiar with them, checkout www.topdogdallas.com. They are an amazing group of people and dogs. They participate in dog disc, flyball, agility, and much more. Pam Martin, the owner of Top Dog Obedience, brought out her dog Pilot for a little R&R. Normally you can find Pam and Pilot on shows like Pet Star and Martha Stewart. But last week, they were just hangin' in the pool with us.

Sidebar: Agile Images got its name when my wife was participating in a dog agility event. There was no one there taking photos, and I thought "I could be taking pictures and selling them". My daughter said, "you will need a name." And the word AGILE just popped into my head. Thus, Agile Images was born.

If you have a pooch that you would love to have a photo of, give me a call. We printed this one 20x30" and you can find it hanging in the training center of Top Dog Obedience in Garland. Thanks to Pilot and Pam for the great shot.

By the way, Pam and her crew of dogs and other trainers from Top Dog perform at the State Fair of Texas each year. Here is a shot of her and her dog Viva from last fall. Dog World Magazine is running an article on Pam soon and if I'm lucky this shot might get in the issue. Cross your fingers for us !

Abby Blue Eyes

2008-07-13T17:46:00.003-05:00

Mesquite, TX - A recent family reunion turned in to an impromptu photo session with my little cousin Abby. Abby liked to say "cheese" when she looked at the camera, but I taught her to say "peanut butter" and "lizards" instead, and we got some really cute expressions. Here are a few of my favorites from Abby's session.

What's great about photography is that you can take a location such as the one we were in, and make it look like we meant to be there. All of these were shot on the back porch of a retirement center in Mesquite, TX. We didn't plan them, we didn't add a flash or a reflector or any props. We did have great light and a really cute kid, and that is usually all you need to make a great photo.

Give me a call if you're looking for photos like these of your kids. I can do it anywhere. You bring the little one, I'll bring the camera, and we'll let the setting sun take care of the rest.

972-775-2769
csmith@agileimages.com

A Baby Session: Alex

2008-07-13T17:04:00.004-05:00

Thanks to the Cudd Family for allowing me into their home to take a few shots with Alex, their daughter. Alex's smile wasn't turned on yesterday, but her big brown eyes were shining. Here are a few of my favorites and a composite that I created for Alex's room.

If you have a little one that you need new photos of, please call or email about a session. 972-775-2769 or csmith@agileimages.com

All Work and No Play - NEVER !

2008-07-12T08:04:00.007-05:00

Crystal Beach, TX - Last week I spent the week with the family in Crystal Beach, TX. Its a small town on the Bolivar Peninsula near Galveston. We stayed in a great house on the beach and had a great time. Of course the camera was in tow and I think I took 750 shots while we were there. I don't post much personal stuff here, but since some of the photos were worth talking about, I'm doing it now. Some need a little explanation, so follow along.

First, the night we arrived was the 5th of July. Normally that means we've run out of fireworks and we're back to our normal quiet nights at home. Well someone forgot to tell the THOUSANDS of people on Crystal Beach that the 4th of July was the night BEFORE !

Next, Angie found a quiet moment alone to watch us play Little Tikes basketball with Connor. I just liked the light in this spot and the pattern of wooden stair rails made an interesting pattern.

Next, my daughter Chandler and I found that perfect golden light on the balcony of our beach house.

Next, this is a shot from crystal beach. Its a LOT darker here than it appears. The sun had already set when this shot happened. I liked the pattern created by their height, and the fact that everything I work for is right here in this shot.

Next, this is one of the many faces of Connor when he watches The Robinson's on his portable DVD player. The blinds made a cool background and the morning light coming in the window was just right. A big door made a perfect catch light in his big hazel eyes.

Next, my father-in-law took on one of those wave machines at Schliterbahn in Galveston. He's 54 I think and he did better than about 99% of the people attempting it. If you ever take your camera to a water park and shoot in a really bright situation like this, be sure to tell your camera to OVERexpose the shot so that your subject doesn't look like a big black blob in the center of a bunch of white water.

Next, Chandler and I got a kick out of the gulls that were brave enough, and hungry enough, to take a piece of bread right out of your hand. This is on the ferry between Crystal Beach and Galveston.

Next, Connor and me enjoying the ferry ride. Photo by Angie. I figured since most of you don't even know what I look like, now you do. I'm the big one in the green shirt.

And last, my favorite shot of the trip. No, it doesn't look like much here, but it is something to talk about. That little SPECK of something in the seagulls mouth is a SEAHORSE ! Now if you would have told me that a seahorse would wash up on Crystal Beach, and you'll photograph a seagull eating it and flying away with it, I would have said you were nuts. First, I didn't know seahorses were swimming around out there. Second, I didn't know a seagull would eat a seahorse. Third, I never thought I'd see one in the other's mouth even if it did happen. And last, the hardest part, be there with my camera to catch it. There's also a super-crop version so you can see what I saw. This is when the 12 megapixels comes in handy on the Nikon D300.

Ok that's my photo safari from Galveston, TX. Enjoy and call me to book a session.

Portrait Session: Macy & Matalee

2008-06-30T23:02:00.007-05:00

Plano, TX - We took time to photograph 2 of the contestants in the Texas International Girl Pageant in a private portrait session. We used the hotel and an office park as our backdrop. I think the girls were surprised that we didn't need a studio or any lights to capture some great images. Thanks to Macy and Matalee for being great models. Here are a few of our favorites from the session.

Texas International Girl Pageant Photos

2008-06-30T22:38:00.006-05:00

Plano, TX - This past weekend we photographed the Texas International Girl Pageant. Thanks to all of the parents and contestants for their hard work. The photos will be available to order by the end of the week. We are currently editing and uploading over 2500 photos from the event. Please check back often as we are uploading new galleries daily. You will be able to find an individual photo album for each participant by clicking here.

Here are the packages that are available. Packages can only be ordered by email or phone. Individual prints and gifts are available for online ordering. To order a package, please choose the photos you like from your online gallery and email or call with your order.
Phone: 972.775.2769. Email: info@agileimages.com.

Package Information

Scrap-Bookers Premier Pack
Get every photo we take in print and digital form. This is our lowest product price and the best value.

4x6 Print Price: $2
Digital Price: $3
This rate is only available when purchasing every photo from your gallery. This package has a price cap of $400. This means that no matter how many photos are in your gallery, you will not pay more than $400. Example, if there are 50 photos in your gallery, your price would be $250 ($100 for the prints, and $150 for the digital files).

Scrap-Bookers Digital Pack
Get every photo we take in high-resolution digital files. Perfect for sharing, printing, or desktop publishing

Digital Price: $3
Print Price: N/A
This rate is only available when purchasing every photo from your gallery. This package has a price cap of $300. This means that no matter how many photos are in your gallery, you will not pay more than $300. Example, if there are 50 photos in your gallery, your price would be $150.

Scrap-Bookers Print Pack
Get every photo we take in high quality 4x6 prints. This is our lowest print price and a great value.

4x6 Print Price: $2
Digital Price: N/A
This rate is only available when purchasing every photo from your gallery. This package has a price cap of $200. This means that no matter how many photos are in your gallery, you will not pay more than $200. Example, if there are 50 photos in your gallery, your price would be $100.

Princess Premier Package
15-4x6 Prints
5 5x7 Prints
3 8x10 Prints
20 Digital Files
Total Value $270

Package Price: $150

Poster Package
15-4x6 Prints
5 5x7 Prints
3 8x10 Prints
20 Digital Files
1 16x20 Custom Compilation
Total Value $370

Package Price: $225

Princess Package
15-4x6 Prints
5 5x7 Prints
1 8x10 Prints
10 Digital Files
Total Value $190

Package Price: $95

A Wedding: Barry and Brandi

2008-06-18T07:45:00.010-05:00

Irving, TX - On Saturday, I teamed up with my shooting partner James Prescott (jamesprescott.net) to photograph Barry and Brandi's Wedding. The ceremony was held and First United Methodist Church of Irving. We were limited on where we could shoot from during the ceremony, but I think we made up for it with our other shots. The Irving Heritage Park was nearby, so we stole a few minutes to do some shots there, too. Here are a few of our favorites for now. You can see a slide show of the wedding here.

Feel free to call or email me to consult about your wedding photography. I book up to one year in advance, so don't wait too long.

Just for Fun: Dog Portrait

2008-06-12T07:44:00.004-05:00

If you have dogs and love them as much as we love our dogs, you understand that having a great photo of your dog can be just as special as having one of any other member of the family. We have large photos of our dogs all over the house. Last night, I shot this one and we'll be adding it to the walls soon. If you have a K9 you love and want a great photo of him/her, please call and let's set up a session.

Razor, our Border Collie.

Family Session: The Bottkol Family

2008-06-08T21:01:00.008-05:00

Generally, when a client calls and wants to do a family session, I offer the location and we meet there based on my recommendation. The location depends on the time of year, the time of day, and what the family hopes to get out of the session. Today was different, as for the first time in a while, a client turned ME on to a new location. Meet The Bottkol's and enjoy a few of their shots from a spot on a rocky creek near Midlothian.

Midlothian T Ball: Rangers vs Scrappers

2008-06-01T16:00:00.010-05:00

Midlothian, TX - Saturday I was invited to shoot the team photos for the Rangers T Ball team. After the team and individual photos, I stuck around and shot their game against the Scrappers. Parents, you can click here to see the team photos as well as the game action, or click Baseball in the right navigation.

If you aren't familiar with Agile Images, please spend some time looking at my work. For those of you with young families, be sure to look at my family and children's play sessions. For you hard core sports addicts, check out the Custom Sports Posters!

Here are a few of my favorite shots from Saturday.

By the way, this kid landed safely and the judges gave the pair a 9.7. The score would have been perfect, but he didn't keep his toes pointed throughout the throw. It didn't matter, because he hit an inside the park home run. :-)

Now accepting credit cards

2008-05-28T21:28:00.004-05:00

Announcement: We now accepting accept all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover). You've always been able to pay for your event prints using a credit card, but now when you book a portrait session, a wedding, or pay for prints, I can take your credit card, cash or personal check.

A Bridal Portrait Session: Brandi

2008-05-25T16:42:00.009-05:00

Dallas, TX - I spent Saturday morning with Brandi at the Dallas Arboretum. It was a little hot and humid, ok A LOT hot and humid. Brandi proclaimed never to advise a June outdoor wedding for fear of melting! Despite the heat, Brandi was a great sport as I dragged her and her mother-in-law-to-be all over the park looking for places to shoot. I had a plan that we stuck to and we shot for exactly 2 hours. Here are some of my favorites. You've seen Brandi here before, as this is the last installment in her wedding package before the actual wedding. She's been keeping me busy! You can see a full gallery with all of the processed images here.

A Family Session: Brandi and Barry, et al.

2008-05-22T22:47:00.010-05:00

Dallas, TX - On a secret spot near downtown Dallas today, I spent a few minutes with Brandi, Barry and their young family, including their 2 dogs. We were planning to catch a family shot they could use at their wedding reception, but we also ended up with some really cute stuff of their two little girls. Sometimes two hungry little ones and two dogs in a park don't make for a "perfect" family portrait, but that's when I'm at my best . I'm sure they will like what we got from the day. If you would like to book a session like this, please contact me.

A Wedding: Curtis and Jessica

2008-05-19T07:38:00.010-05:00

Forney, TX - Saturday, May 17, 2008.

Curtis and Jessica were married at the Reagin House in Forney, TX. The ceremony was at 11.30 am on Saturday in the Courtyard of the 112 year old home. This was the first daytime wedding at The Reagin House, and I was very happy with the results. Here are a couple of my favorite photographs, and a link to more complete slide show.

My daughter, Chandler, was on camera #2. We shot the wedding with the Nikon D300, Nikon D200, a 17-55 f2.8 for the wide angles, and an 80-200 AF-S f2.8 for the long shots.

Agile Images Digital Processing: Fun with Textures

2008-05-13T07:45:00.007-05:00

I wrote about using textures to dress up a portrait once before. It is a fairly common technique now where we use a photo of something else to add a textured layer to a portrait. The result is more of a high fashion, magazine style, photo. I took a couple of my favorite images from the Senior Location shoot with Debbie and added some texture to them. I don't use this often, but for Debbie's personality and style, it seemed appropriate. The effect is slight, so I posted the before and after shots here to compare. Click on them for a slightly larger view.

With Texture

No Texture Applied
With Texture
No Texture Applied

A Senior Location Session: Debbie

2008-05-11T10:48:00.008-05:00

Debbie is a senior at North Mesquite High School. We met in Deep Ellum, in Downtown Dallas for a session on the streets. Debbie was a lot of fun, easy to work with, and we got some really cute shots from her session. Here are a few of my favorites.

Agile Images Digital Post Processing: One Image, Unlimted Options

2008-05-08T22:15:00.010-05:00

Today, almost everyone has a nice digital camera at home. Some people even have have top end digital cameras that cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. As a professional photographer, I pride myself on making my images unique. One of the ways I do this is through some careful and creative post processing. So much of photography is focused on what happens WHEN you click the shutter, that few people realize that the real work begins when you OPEN the digital files. People often ask me, "How long can it take to process a digital photograph? Isn't it just a matter of dumping them from your camera to the computer?".

NO!

I wanted to share some behind the scenes work with you so that you understand the difference between a "snapshot" and an Agile Images "photograph". When you book a portrait session with me, you aren't only buying my time at the shoot, you're buying my time to make your images unique.

Here is a series of images that I processed from a recent shoot with my daughter in her prom dress. The first image is literally out of the camera and imported to my computer. Notice that it looks "fine" and all of the ingredients are in place for a good photograph. Its in focus, its of a pretty girl, and it is generally "nice". I used a Nikon D300 and a Nikkor 17-55 f2.8 lens to get this shot, one of the highest quality combinations on the market. But even with high quality equipment, it isn't PERFECT. If you were happy with this, you could print it out and be done with it and it would make a very good photo.

I however am not content with this, and frankly, my daughter isn't either. "Make me look like a supermodel, Dad", she tells me when we're done! Here are 3 of the processed images that I've created using various post processing techniques. I hope they give you some insight into the different looks that I can create using one single image. The possibilities are endless, but I like to keep it simple. Here we go . . .

The first is what I call "Natural". I left the skin tones as natural as possible, added a little pop to the lips, cleaned up a few slight blemishes and added some snap to her eyes. Its prettier than the original and is more "polished" and ready for print.

Next is what I call "Wash Out". I made her skin look powdery smooth, and really blew out the highlights so that everything is very "bright". I think it really enhances how her green eyes and the green dress compliment each other. It is a less natural look, but I consider it more "glamorous" than the Natural version.

Next is the Black & White Wash. This is just a black and white version of the Wash Out technique. It is a classic black & white where the whites are slightly over exposed for a very smooth look. This will look great in a big black frame with a bright white matte.

I

The Dress

2008-05-05T08:49:00.003-05:00

Some photo sessions are different. Yesterday I didn't know whether to laugh or cry about my "client". When I looked through the viewfinder I saw an 8 year old girl playing dress up in a big girl's prom dress. When the shutter went off and this image appeared on the screen, I realized that it was my daughter, all grown up, all dressed up, and looking amazing.

Baseball Portrait Session: Midlothian Lone Sharks

2008-04-30T22:56:00.008-05:00

Midlothian, TX - Thanks to the parents of the Midlothian Lone Sharks Baseball Team of the Midlothian Area Baseball Association for allowing me to come out and take the individual and team photos for the 2008 Spring Season. We got individual shots of each of the boys and a team photo. After the session, I stayed around to shoot some action during the Lone Sharks practice. The light was perfect and the all of the boys did well with the camera on them. Here are a few of my favorites.

Lone Sharks, click here to order prints and see the Photo Packages.

If you are a coach or parent from another Midlothian Area Baseball team and need team and individual photos like these, please email to schedule a session with me.

Custom Portrait Composites

2008-04-27T18:42:00.011-05:00

I think we used to know these as collages, but now the PC term for them is "composites". Some photographers call them story boards. The idea is that we take several of your favorite shots from a session and layer them into one big print. I think these are best printed on Gallery Canvas Wraps for more "WOW", but we can print them in any size or shape, on any medium.

Design fees are $100, and print prices are based on my standard print pricing. I try to build everything into a standard frame size for easy and inexpensive framing.

Here are some samples.

This will frame 18x24"
Each of these will frame to 11x30"

This would make a 16x20' or 24x30' canvas
This will frame 20x30"

An Engagement Session: Jim & Penney

2008-04-26T14:33:00.007-05:00

I met with Jim and Penney today to discuss their upcoming wedding. We took time to shoot an engagement session at Arlington Hall on Turtle Creek Blvd. in Dallas. Arlington Hall is a popular place for weddings and is set in Lee Park north of Downtown Dallas. The grounds are beautiful and a great place to shoot any type of outdoor session. Congratulations to Jim and Penney. Here are a few shots from their session today.

Custom Sports Posters

2008-04-20T08:47:00.007-05:00

One of my most popular products has been the sports compilation posters I create. I started doing these when a parent asked if she could get several photos printed on one large print. Immediately it popped in my head that I could go one better. So I created a custom sports poster for her. She ended up buying one for each sport her son played, and one other for her daughter! I create each poster from scratch, with a creative design, using photos I've taken at your game. Posters range in price by size, but the most popular is an 18x24" design that is $75. My fee for building the poster is $50, and then I add the print size on to that. I can print these up to 70 inches high if you really want to make a splash! Here are some examples...
You can even make one for your dog...

A Wedding: Jeremy and Beti Sartor

2008-04-20T08:09:00.003-05:00

A couple of weeks ago I posted a few unfinished proofs from the Sartor Wedding. Now that I've delivered the finished product to the bride, I can share a gallery of my favorite images from the day. If you are looking for a wedding photographer, you can get a good feel for the style of work I do by looking at this. You will notice the glaring absence of the "stacked family" shots. I will and can do those traditional formal shots for you, but I prefer to shoot photos that I think you'll love in 15 or 20 years when you look back at the day. I don't happen to think those photos are the ones you'll cherish. Its just my style, but its your day and I'm there to shoot what makes you (and your parents) :-) happy.

Click here to view my favorites gallery.

This note came from the new Mrs. Sartor after she received her images:

Hi Chris! I received the DVDs today and just got around to sitting down to watch them and I LOVE the pictures!! They are fabulous!! I laughed at some and I was touched by others...You guys did a fantastic job!! I can't wait to show Jeremy who is asleep right now. We will get back to you when we have decided which pic's we want done. Good night! & Thanks a bunch! Mrs. Beti Sartor

A Family Session: The Palmers in Bluebonnets

2008-04-19T23:17:00.008-05:00

Midlothian, TX - We had a great afternoon for pictures today. I met the Palmer Family for a Family Session in the Bluebonnets and wildflowers. We shot at my "secret spot" on 13 acres in Midlothian, Texas. It was a laid back session and the kids had a great time. I love the sunbathed afternoons here this time of year. Thanks to Trent, Dianne & the kids for making it so easy. Here are a couple of my favorites from their session. Thanks to Dianne for her comments: "Dear Chris, I have looked over the pictures & boy it is going to be hard to choose because I really like them all."

Midlothian Area Baseball Association Game Photos

2008-04-19T17:44:00.012-05:00

Midlothian, TX - I was able to get out this morning and shoot a few baseball games at Jaycee Park in Midlothian. Thanks to all of the nice people who helped me get the word out at the games. I caught game action from the T-Ball (Shetland Division) and the Pinto and Mustang Divisions. Baseball is one of my favorite things to photograph. It offers me the rare chance in sports to isolate one player at a time and make sure I get a good photo of everyone, regardless of skill level or position. I especially enjoy the challenge of timing the shot when the ball meets bat. Even with the Nikon D300's 8 frames per second, you can never predict where or when each player might choose to swing. Here are a few of my favorites from the day.

If this is the first time you've visited the site, be sure to checkout the Family and Children's Portrait Information.

Click Here to Order Photos

I will have all photos loaded from the games by Sunday Evening. I shot over 1500 frames, so it takes some time to get them all up. Thanks for your patience and enjoy the photos. For you gear heads, I shot the action with the Nikon D300 camera using a Sigma 120-300 F2.8 lens and a Sigma 1.4x Teleconverter.

Click Here to Order Photos

Soccer: FC Dallas Academy Boys vs. Texans Soccer Club

2008-04-13T19:52:00.008-05:00

Thanks to Shara and all of the parents of the '00 FC Dallas Boys team today for inviting me to your game. Your game photos can be found here, after 9pm Sunday April 13th. I've picked out a few of my favorites to show here on the site.
As a soccer player myself, I thought it was a well played game and I enjoyed photographing it very much. One tip for next time, tell your boys to get their heads up when they carry the ball (dribble). It makes for a better photo. Oh, and they can also see their teammates to pass to easier! Kidding, enjoy the photos. :-)

Click here to order prints

Texas Bluebonnet Photography

2008-04-13T08:46:00.011-05:00

Its that time of year to try and pull off the classic "kid in a bluebonnet patch" photo. You've all tried it, you've all been through it. Parents love it and kids don't understand it. "WHY are you putting me in these tall blue weeds?", they must be thinking. "BECAUSE IT IS DARN CUTE!", you reply!

Yesterday at my in-laws house, I took my son out for his annual Bluebonnet photos. You may have seen some of them here before. Our bluebonnet patch is on 13 acres in Midlothian, TX. We didn't get the same crop we got last year, but we still have plenty to get in a nice shoot without the Texas Highway Patrol or TXDOT Crews bothering us along the side of the highway. In addition to the bluebonnets, we have a few scattered Indian Paintbrushes that make for great color, as well as a patch of yellow wildflowers that are great, too. The neighbors have a bright red barn with a Texas roof, to top it all off. You can see it in the distance of the last photo here.

If you would like to do a session like this, call me. I can shoot anytime after 5pm, as the best light is between 6:30 and 7:30pm. Its a $75 sitting fee and a $25 minimum print order. If you're like me, there's no way $25 will cover it!! :-)

For you photographers, this set was made with the D300, a 17-55 f2.8 and an 80-200 f2.8.

A Wedding: Jeremy and Beti

2008-04-08T22:23:00.011-05:00

Congratulations to Jeremy and Beti on their marriage, and thanks to them and their families for allowing us to spend the day with them and photograph the wedding. My daughter Chandler and I photographed their wedding Saturday, April 5 at St Mary's Catholic Church in Southwest Dallas. The reception was held at the Dallas World Aquarium. I shot with the D300 and Chandler backed me up with the D200.

These are a few of my favorite images from my initial processing. I will post a "Best Of" gallery later, but so many people are asking me how it went, I thought I need to show a couple of my early favorites. These haven't actually gone to final post processing, but for a sneak peek, they will have to do. I should be finished with final processing in about 2-3 weeks and I'll reveal all of the images then.

The Lattimore's Family Session at The Dallas Arboretum

2008-04-07T19:53:00.005-05:00

I had the chance to spend Sunday morning with Shara, Makayla, and Kade at The Dallas Arboretum. They are nearing the end of the Dallas Blooms Festival at the Arboretum, but I've never seen it look better. From my place in Midlothian, it takes about 35 minutes to get there, and I can meet you no matter where you are driving from in Dallas/Ft. Worth.

Thanks to Shara and the Kids for a great shoot.

For you photographers, I shot the entire session with the Nikon D300, Nikkor 17-55 f2.8, and an SB-800 Flash.

If you would like to schedule a family or children's session like this one, please contact me.

The Agile Images Asuka Photo Book

2008-04-03T08:22:00.008-05:00

Last summer I shot a wedding and the bride wanted a non-traditional photo album. I had always wanted the opportunity to produce a coffee table album for someone, and she gave me the chance. I built the book with Asuka Book, a custom coffee table book manufacturer. The book turned out amazing and the bride and groomed were thrilled. You can actually see some of the pages in my wedding portfolio.

Each set of pages is made up of wide double truck images that look like panoramic photos on a computer monitor, but when printed, they make up the left and right pages of a book. With Asuka Books, there are no templates, no drag and drop web interfaces, nor any styles to copy. The designs are all my own and 100% original. It is a very rewarding process that takes many hours to complete.

In order to promote my business, I am creating a printed version of my portfolio. I am using Asuka Book again and designing from scratch. I wanted to post my progress here so you could see some of the book as its being produced. It isn't finished, and won't be for a while, but its coming along. When you're looking at the pages, they are laid out as if you had the book open on the table. The cover is opposite, as if you were laying the book spread out face down.

If you want an a custom coffee table book, I can build one for you. Whether its for a wedding or a baby's first year, or any other occasion, these make fantastic keepsakes. When I delivered the wedding book to the bride's mother last summer, she had to be careful not to get tears on the pages. That was the best compliment I've ever been paid about my work!

Books come in sizes from 5x5", 20 page, Soft Cover, up to 11x12.5", 100 page, Leather Bound editions. The pages are very thick, high quality print, with either a glossy or satin finish. Prices start at $250 and go up to $1500.

Ok on to my portfolio book . . its a work in progress, and I'm adding pages daily. I hope to get it to about 60 pages before printing. Use a little imagination and picture the gutter of a book right through the center of this long image. You can click on each image to see the full sized version and all of the detail in each page.

Front and back covers (front is on the right)

A couple of the content pages
If you are interested in following my progress with the book, you can view updates and all of the pages by clicking here.

Real Estate and Custom Home Photography Services

2008-04-01T22:40:00.013-05:00

In addition to my family and sports photography, I've also started doing some real estate photography. I've worked for Olson Custom Homes in Midlothian, TX and The Nix Group in Highland Park, TX. I am making my services available to builders, real estate firms, and individuals in Dallas-Ft. Worth and all of North Texas. If you are a custom builder or real estate agent, you know that taking photographs of your property can be difficult and time consuming. Without the right equipment and a quality photograph, you can do more damage to your property's value and image than good. Let me handle it for you and deliver results that will impress your customers and clients. I shoot natural light and flash setups, depending on what the situation calls for. I deliver all of the photos to you on a CD in hi resolution .jpg format, ready for print or the web.

Still Photo Session Fees: $100 Base Price
Includes one exterior/elevation setup
$25 per interior room or additional exterior setup
I can also put together High Definition video tours for a more complete overview of your property. Click here for an example of one I did for Olson Custom Homes in Midlothian, TX. Video tours are quoted on a case by case basis.

Here are some examples of my real estate photography: