POPography

Dancing Down The Aisle

2011-06-21T13:11:00.000-07:00

I <3 Weddings.

I <3 Brides.

I <3 Marriages.

This was a definite " <3 " Kind of day!

Kenny was to marry his beautiful Becca on a very hot Texas Day. 105 degrees to be exact.

Just a couple of random rain clouds and a few sprinkles to give them good luck...

Both rooms let out giggles, laughter and the faint sound of electronic dance music playing....

This day was all about Celebrating how amazing they are for each other.

The guys wore Patent Leather All Stars.......

The Girls were classically dressed in black with amazing pops of color..

It was my pleasure to get to share the day with the bride and groom & their amazing support system.

Cheers to your new life together!

Love,

Leaha

Recent Shoots

2011-06-07T07:09:00.000-07:00

Whew! So life has been busy! Busy is good, right?

Here are some of the recent shoots I have done!
Enjoy!

THE PLACEMINTS
The Placemints Promo Shoot

TRACE LIAM
7 month old shoot

DJ PROMO SHOOT
Preach & J.Caprice

SENIOR SESSION
Dion Senior

WEDDING
Terri & Ryan- OKC

WHEW! I promise to try and keep up now with the blog! Happy Watching.

[Sam] Decatur High School

2011-04-01T08:09:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while its like the stars align and everything just seems to work out...and this was DEF the case for Sam's Senior Portrait Session.

Everyone- Meet SAMANTHA! She is beautiful, lovable & smart! I just adore this girl.

What you don't know....the Wind was blowing in gusts of 30 miles/hr! You have to get quite creative with lighting....positioning...and blocking wind when you want to get amazing shots! I think we succeeded!

Sam is full of positive energy and has such an amazing heart. When she showed up on session with Mom, Dad, Lil Bro, Grandma & Grandpa--I knew this wasn't going to be our typical Sr Session. They are a team...a Unit...a Family. When one goes--they all go. I was inspired by the love & silliness they share together. It really brought a fresh feeling to the session and I must say- Sam was glowing the entire time!

in short---this was a Family Thang!

Sam is from Decatur High School. I'm a little partial since that is where I graduated oh so many years ago myself. We had the pleasure of riding together from location to location and getting to know each other. We had some things in common...things most people would never know about either of us...but it definitely made me realize that everyone has a story. My most favorite part of my job?? THE PEOPLE! Everyone has a story and face-- I want to know BOTH.

When Sam graduates she wants to go to school to be a Sonographer.

I wish Sam the best in all her endeavors. She will be successful in everything she puts her mind to.

Congrats and Happy Graduation!

-leaha-

Breast Cancer Awareness is one of Samantha's passions in life.

Her grandmother is a Breast Cancer Survivor who is celebrating life everyday.

It was a privilege to have her on session and to see the love they share through the generations.

To make a donation or know more of how you can help:

Komen for the Cure

A special thanks to Dad for helping in the wind! High Five to you!

My Sunshine

2011-01-23T19:49:00.001-08:00

There are definite plus's to being a photographer and having an adorable baby. I get to capture as many moments for my walls and memories as I wish. Problem is--sometimes he just isn't having it :)

Luckily at 3 months--he is loving it.

I'm so in love with this child. There isn't a minute that goes by that I'm not dreaming of all the things I want for his life. Such a blessing...

Here is my little joy!

Autumn & Ashlyn's Princess Birthday

2011-01-23T13:55:00.000-08:00

I love my nieces to pieces... :)

They are the energy and center of our family. I think they probably had the biggest birthday party I've ever been to! Princesses even came to the big day! I was glad to be a part of the day!

love you girls!

Here is a link to the photos from the day! If you had a picture with the princesses--you can Right Click and Download your photo to your computer. Enjoy!

PRINCESS PARTY PICS
Just look for the folder named Autumn & Ashlyn

-Happy Birthday-

Leaha

The Placemints

2011-01-21T12:48:00.000-08:00

SESSION with the The Placemints- Dallas, Tx

Teenage Dream

2011-01-11T09:13:00.000-08:00

Yes, I am the mom of a newborn and at the very same time--a teenager! God save me :)

Not really, Madi is a sweet girl and is super helper around the house. It's amazing how much our lives changed adding a baby to the mix! Madi is 13 right now and in the 8th grade battling through mid-terms this week. Lucky for us- it snowed this weekend we were not about to let this chance go by for some great photo ops!

Funny behind the scenes story-- We jump in my GMC Terrain and head off down the road. The snow had stopped by now, but the ground was solid white and I was trying to make sense of what is a road. There is this little park down the road and we were going to pull in and run through the snow to these gorgeous trees in the back of the park. SO, I pull in the park and start gunning the gas....ooops
What we thought was a road was actually dirt....well, mud to be exact.
S T U C K
My tires would not regain traction! So, I kicked in reverse and put one tire on the side walk and one in the mud...and thankfully we managed to get out without having to call Daddy for back up! *sigh*

We were slipping and sliding around in the slush (what we call snow) and it was such a good time. We were laughing and laughing....good times for me and Madi.

And mother nature blessed us with amazing scenery and good memories.

<3 My Madison

-leaha-

Fall Mini Madness!

2010-11-24T15:48:00.000-08:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year......right?
Of course it is!

With the turning of the leaves and the joy of gifts to come--I Love shooting with families this time of year.
The weather is somewhat pleasant and the parks are packed with families enjoying the beautiful days at hand. This year I got to spend all day at the Botanical Gardens in Fort Worth with my families. It was an AWESOME excuse for laying out on the grass and observing how the clouds filter through the leaves while laying flat to the ground. Gorgeous place for gorgeous families.

I hope you enjoy some of these as much as I did :)

Thank you the families for choosing POPography to capture these sweet moments.

stay tuned,
leaha

The beautiful journey of Life

2010-11-24T15:31:00.000-08:00

Documenting life is what I love.

To document the stages leading up to life and then watching life be born-- BEST JOB EVER!

I've had the distinct pleasure in following the journey of my cousin, Brooklyn's Pregnancy. We've always been a close family, but these last few months have really drawn us all together for all the right reasons :) I had my son, Trace, only 6 weeks ago and Brooklyn followed soon after with sweet baby Slate!

Family is the forefront of life and I am so grateful for mine. We are terribly loud and probably slightly obnoxious to others around us, but I think we're pretty great. And I am first to say we have adorably cute babies :)

These are the images leading up to the beautiful birth of Slate Christian on November 23rd.

Congats to Karl and Brooklyn and I cannot wait to take photos of Baby Slate :)

Daddy's Little Soldier

2010-10-12T10:44:00.000-07:00

I've been so lucky lately to shoot with newborns! They are oh so precious and really make you think about how quickly life passes you by. If you didn't know by now- I'm super pregnant. For this session I was 9 months pregnant! I can go anytime!

Baby sessions typically take about 3 hours and a lot of patience! I love them! This one was no different. The baby was in a good mood and quite strong for 5 days old! This was a lucky session because I didn't get messed on! He did get his mommy and you can see here:

Look Closely!

Dominic Blake

Dad is currently being deployed in November for a long term. I feel so blessed to be able to capture this amazing time in their lives while they can all be together.

Congrats to the new family. I wish you all the best with your future!

xx,

Leaha

[Ethan] Decatur High School Senior Rep 2011

2010-09-12T19:14:00.000-07:00

Ethan

Senior 2011

Introducing and outstanding young man, Ethan! I knew from the minute I met Ethan that he would make a great part of my team for POPseniors. This kid really has a big heart and I know he has already started to make his mark in history. I really enjoyed our session together! So much fun.

Ethan is a classic kind of guy. He's totally calm and easy going. He didn't even mind the 100 degree weather! Gotta love Texas!

I loved that he wore his green shirt with his green eyes---then we just happened to find this amazing place in Decatur that had this rugged silver and green texture. Really gave him the POP for the photo.

He is an active member of the Skills USA

Ethan describes himself as:

Hard working

Easy going

Outdoorsman

If you were sitting in this classic Chevy truck with Ethan you would probably be rocking out to

something like Lynard Skynard or Led Zepplin.

When Ethan graduates from High School he would like to pursue a career as a Diesel Mechanic or Wildlife Law Enforcement.

In 10 Years, Ethan sees himself working on cars and owning a ranch.

I will definitely be visiting there :)

Congratulations Ethan on your Senior Year!

Rock it out!

Cydne & Chloe

2010-09-06T18:14:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while you get the distinct privilege of photography a brand new life. Perfect skin, Peaceful, and graced with a family full of love. I was the lucky gal in this case. Knowing that we are expecting our second baby very soon makes these moments even more sweet.

The Carpenters are from Decatur (my hometown) They are a super friendly and compassionate family. They were even so nice to have me in their home for the baby session. Chloe (big sis) was super helpful and became my pal after a few minutes. I was also excited to know PINK was not an option in this shoot...and PURPLE was! *Refreshing*

This sweet baby not once fussed or messed on me. It was a seamless session that I wish would happen EVERY time :) I will tell you--that is rare!

Thank you to the family for such a great experience. I can't wait to do it again- Maybe? :))))

xx
leaha

Introducing Cydne Lynn

BIG SISTER CHLOE!

Look VERY closely :) She has a little attitude, I'd say!

Happy Birthday Baby Baby.....

2010-08-27T15:11:00.000-07:00

I must start off by saying I absolutely love this family. The Righton's are an amazing family. Not only are they fun loving, but they are gorgeous! Christian was celebrating his very 1st birthday. It's hard to believe year ago I took his newborn photos.

I attached a video ....it really sums up how unique they are. Christian doesn't like the traditional "Happy Birthday Song"---so they sing Justin Beiber "Baby baby"

HAHAHA! So funny. Enjoy ! Happy Birthday Christian.

xx
leaha

1 Year ago!

And it wouldn't be complete without a UNhappy photo :)

[Mari] POPSenior Rep 2011

2010-08-18T15:40:00.000-07:00

Mari is a super rad girl who hails from the great state of California! For some reason this makes me want to sing that Katy Perry song that's on the radio every 10 minutes. We had such a super fun (and HOT) time on our Senior Session. Yes, it was 105 in Texas!

We still have one trick up our sleeves for the final portion of our photos. I'll be sure and let you in on that when things work out *grin* I will just say VROOM VROOM

Mari is actually short for Marika. You pronounce it "M-ah-dee" Her name is as unique as she is. Not only is she super cool, but her BFF is fab too! Lucky me!! Shea was along for the session and was able to hang out and grab a couple of really great shots too!

Mari is representing POPSeniors @ LD BELL High School

Check out some of the great shots we were able to capture of these absolutely gorgeous girls.

To book your session please email Leahapop@gmail.com or go through the main website POPography

You can also follow on facebook where we can chat it up and get updates on all the sessions of the future!

Introducing Mari

She loves Wake boarding, Motorcross and Surfing!

She is typically found defying gravity in extreme sports.

Mari is super out going and bursting with confidence. I really enjoyed getting to know her and her many sides. She can go from Cowgirl boots to Fox Baseball hats. Now that's talent :)

The girls optioned for a professional make up artist to come on the session.

This is POPography's exclusive make up artist and you could be next!

Shea and Mari are two peas in a pod. It's funny to see them hang out and how the compliment each other as friends. Question is--what would they be without each other...

Good Girls in the bad part of town :)

Shea! Got a great shot of this gorgeous gal.

After high school Mari is considering enlisting in the Navy and going to college

to become a behavioral analyst.

In 10 years she sees herself graduated from college and holding down a position with the police department or the military performing as a behavioral analyst.

Wishing you only the best Mari as you begin one of the most fun years of your life.

On set for Music Video for Upcoming Adam Sandler movie

2010-08-07T21:15:00.000-07:00

What an honor to be on set to document a crazy cool music video.
Here are some behind the scene shots I caught....thanks again to the Wild Boyz for allowing me to be apart of this experience. Also super cool to see my boys at THE AXIS doing their first music video.

Music video Day 2: Pussycat Lounge, Dallas TX

Back Side view of the stage

Milad gets ready for his debut music video on the mic!

Super talented man.

Cool DJ Shot!

Some of the model girls asked for my card...I found it pretty rad that they were keeping them in their high heels during the shoot. :)

Anothe great shot of Milad

Cho is the other half of THE AXIS....one of the most amazing musicians I have ever met. Seriously.

thanks to all who allowed me to be apart of this great day!

Stay tuned,

LEAHA

Push the Business On

2010-07-24T21:23:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while a photographer gets a really cool gig that allows them to hang out with amazingly cool people. Well, folks, that was me earlier this month. THE AXIS hired me to come in and take photos for a package of promotional material. This was covering everything from head shots, green screen, studio shots, and a ton of fun material. These four guys are totally rad and great individuals! Each one is an amazing musician that I simply adore.

Miguel, Milad, Darius, & Cho (left to right)

When you are surrounded by genius people it seems that a great sense of humor is necessary. The dynamic between the five of these men is almost hard to match. Their music recording studio is located in the South Side Loft Building in Dallas.

During the studio part of our session I was graced with the amazing music these guys put together. Groovy house beats were playing from the headphones as we crammed ourselves in the vocal recording box to get the perfect shot. Being around these guys reminds me how much I miss writing electronic music myself ( Thats a whole other life I haven't mentioned on this blog) I definitely left inspired after this session. Good job guys :)

Shari is one of their recording aritsts! What a beauty! She was a doll and so easy to work with!

To book a session: Leaha@popography.org

Stork Delivery!

2010-07-15T13:59:00.000-07:00

Pregnancy- something I know all about right now. I'm currently 6 months and counting. I'm starting to notice that going on photo sessions is getting to be quite the challenge. Laying on the gravel back road to get that really cool angled shot is getting harder and harder. Jumping up on that pool table to get new perspective is challenging...trying to get down is even MORE challenging!

It is always an extreme pleasure to get to work with a beautiful woman in such an intimate time of her life. You never know what kind of girl you're going to get when you schedule a 'maternity' shoot. Personally, I'm the "keep your clothes' on type of chick and that probably doesn't make for much of a cool session :)
Every once in a while you get an amazingly gorgeous girl who is willing to bare it all...almost :)

Bellies are so intriguing. I mean, belly buttons alone are super cool to me! Their is such beauty in the body of a pregnant woman. The curves and lines and glow of her are gorgeous!! It really should be celebrated and put in print for you to always cherish!

Mishan was married on the SAME DAY as our session! Not only was she glowing from the inside out, but she was giddy and full of pure EXCITEMENT! The room was radiating with joy. We sent her newlywed husband downstairs to relax at the bar with some friends. I knew after a nice cocktail he would come back nice and comfortable for his shirtless debut :)

We were shooting at a loft in Dallas (SOUTHSIDE) This place is super cool and this grey wall is becoming one of my favorite places for intimate sessions. Here's the funny secret--its part of my friends professional recording studio. The wall I love is right outside of the studio but there is a glass door to the outside. So in the middle of the session you could very well get someone waiting on the elevator peeping in at what's going on! :) It's an added bonus of excitement. We were able to capture some very intimate shots that I wouldn't want to show on my blog, but they were rather amazing! The great thing about working with someone with an open mind--there are no limits.
Mishan is absolutely gorgeous. I don't think she is capable of a bad session! I'm so happy for her, Eric, and baby Elan. May God continue to bless your life with every step you take.

Best to you,
Leaha

Leaha@popography.org -----> Email me for Maternity Session info!

Why Pay more for Custom Photography?

2010-07-13T16:07:00.000-07:00

Why Does Custom Photography Cost More?

The digital revolution has brought amazing flexibility and ability to control various factors during the image taking and making process. Photographers, the hobbyist, the professional, the amateur all benefit from this ability to manipulate pixels. However, with flexibility comes a price. Digital camera equipment is still considerably more expensive when you factor in its’ lifespan, the need for additional resources for processing those images, the time it takes to get a usable image and the effort that goes into creating a work of photographic art.
We all know that you can go to the local Walgreen’s and pay a $1.99 for a print - as a client you may wonder why you may pay upwards of $50, $70, $90 for a custom photography print. Photographers hear this statement every once in awhile:
“How in the world can you charge $60 for an 8×10 if it costs me less than $2 to print at x store?”

The truth of the matter is the answer to this question is multifaceted. Much of the cost of a photographic print produced by a professional photographer has a lot to do with the time, equipment costs, artistic vision and reputation of the photographer not to mention expertise and the usual costs of running a legitimate business.
The cost of TIME
Approaching it from a time standpoint, let’s imagine that you have hired a photographer who has work that you love. This photographer is traveling an hour to your destination to photograph your session. Here is an example of a time break down:
session prep time (30 mins - 1 hour, includes equipment and back up equipment checks + vehicle checks)
one hour travel time TO session
15-30 minutes prep time at client’s home
90 minutes-2 hours with client photographing subject
one hour travel time FROM session
30-45 minutes uploading time from digital cards from camera to computer
30-45 minutes time spent backing up the original images
2-5 hours editing time to present you with a diverse gallery of edited images
1 hour prep time getting ready for ordering
2-3 hours time with client for ordering images
1 hour sorting through and checking order
30 minutes-1 hour prep time for delivery
30 minutes-1 hour getting order shipped
any additional phone time or time needed for add on ordering, shipment issues, quality issues
In this example, the time spent per client can range from just under 13 hours to 19 hours - dependent on the photographer’s level of service. This is time dedicated only to ONE session. When the photographer charges $150-$300 for the photo shoot (aka SESSION FEE) you are not just paying for the two hours of session time, you are paying the photographer for 12-19 hours complete time for your session.The COSTS of Maintaining a Custom Photography Business:
Regarding equipment costs, a good quality professional camera with a selection of good optical quality lenses and digital storage mediums and computer set up can run from $10,000-$30,000 costs dependent on the photographer. Even though you can purchase a really good quality digital SLR for about $2100 there are still other costs related to photography. A good lens for portrait photography can run from $900 to $2500. A dependable computer system with software loaded for business and creative usage can run $2500 to $8000 dependent on the photographer.
Then come lab costs for specialty products. A good photographer knows the lab is integral to their success. Photography labs dedicated to the professional photographer often cost more and offer a range of products that allows the custom photographer to continually offer new, innovative products for you, the discerning client.
Discussion other costs of running a photography business could take awhile so we’ll skip many of the intricate details. There is of course much more: including costs of running the business, taxes, studio rental/mortgage if the photographer has ownership of a dedicated studio, vehicular costs, costs of advertising/marketing, costs of sample pieces that the photographer will likely bring to your session, etc.
APPLES to ORANGES to BANANAS:
Often times clients will mention to their photographer that X studio in the mall/department store only charges $19.99 for an 8×10 “sheet” or they may mention other things related to discount photography chains. The fact is those discount chains make their money on volume, not on customized 1:1 service. In February 2007 leased photography retail space by a rather well known discount department store that started in Arkansas closed down 500 of their portrait studios across the nation? The reason is simple, you cannot make money on 99¢ “professional” prints if you do not sell enough of them. Interestingly enough - those same studios that offer the loss leader packages often charge much much more for their a la carte pricing (as high as $40-50 for an 8×10). The whole reason the big department stores began offering portrait services in the first place was to get you, the savvy consumer, in through their door so that you could spend more money with them in other departments. Your “PORTRAITS” are considered the “loss leader”.
Going to a chain studio, as a consumer, you don’t have the benefit of 1:1 attention for 2 hours at your home where your child is allowed to explore, play and be comfortable in their home environment, nor do you get the experience that many custom photographers are known for or the lovely captures of natural expressions. You simply get a bare bones, “SAY CHEESE” experience. Keep this in mind when selecting a photographer.
REPUTATION/EXPERTISE of the PHOTOGRAPHER:
Being in demand, being well known for quality work, having a good reputation often costs time on the photographer’s part. Their expertise comes at a cost, their time learning their craft and learning the intricacies of lighting and the commitment put forth on their end to create a persona about their business that oozes professionalism. A great number of photographers go a very long time from the time that they purchase their first good camera to making money at the business of photography. Many photographers, when first starting out, rush in thinking that the business will be easily profitable in no time, how expensive could it be to get a camera and use it to create their dream? They often neglect to factor in the cost of business, the cost of equipment, software, back ups, etc..
Being of sound reputation, a better professional photographer knows that they must always reinvest in their business to create the reputation of being top notch. To create good work- good equipment, reliable equipment, back up equipment is a necessity. The photographer who desires to be known as better/best/unparalelled reputation-wise knows that the most important thing they can do for their business is reliability and dependability. This is how reputations get built. Good work often is a wonderful side product of building that good reputation.
I hope this (lengthy) article helps shed some light on WHY a custom photographer is a better choice for your family’s memories. The photographs that are produced as a result of the professionalism and dedication that your photographer has will be cherished for a lifetime (or more) and great thought and consideration should be placed into hiring who is right for your family’s most precious investment.

---------------------------------------------

I hope you found this helpful and interesting. I know its on the back burner of peoples minds as they budget and decide on photographers. Photography is a gift that I love to give someone to keep for a lifetime. You can look back on these moments with happiness and know that you made a smart investment. The sessions for me are so fun and exciting. I love the bond and the fun that takes place between me and my clients on these little adventures.

I look forward to seeing what you have to say about this and also booking your next session :)

-leaha-

ROCK That Dress!

2010-07-13T08:52:00.000-07:00

Im really starting to try and encourage girls and ladies alike, to rock their dresses! We spend so much time and effort getting a perfect dress for so many occasions and then we hang it in the closet or seal it up in a box for no one to see. I know this because I have done it before! BUT, times are a changing and women are starting to celebrate themselves more and more and I intend to document this!

Lynsey is from Oklahoma and has 3 sons. She was recently married in OCT of 2010. She is the mom to 3 amazing boys and she is very well deserving of celebrating. She is like the superwoman of all moms in my opinion!

Funny story....she actually has lost 2 dress size since she was married. She is arrived at the session and putting her dress on when she pulls out some NEON orange industrial clips. I was laughing...this was going to be fun. We pulled and tugged that dress and tightened it around her cute, petite body. Good thing--it worked...Bad Thing--no shots from the back! hah

Either way it was a great 3 hr session and we had so much fun!!

If you look at these photos and you say---GOSH, I really wish I could do something like that. Guess what--you CAN! And then you might think---I don't know if I can look this great--you CAN! I have an amazing make up artist who will come on sight with you and make sure you are looking FAB! Hit me up and lets get to planning. It is worth celebrating YOU!

Here's my AMAZING assistant and technician, Bobby! He's a lifesaver and has a great eye!

Lil Miss Katherine

2010-07-04T05:59:00.000-07:00

Now this is a cutie patootie! My best friend Bobby of 13 years, comes to me with a special request. His girlfriends daughter was staying at a friends house and he really wanted to sneak her away for a session to surprise her mom! I was all over this. Katherine is 6 years old and going into 1st grade. She's super quiet and LOVES her bracelets! One of her nicknames is Tinkerbell- mostly because she is so tiny!
What a precious little girl. I can't wait to see what her mom says about the surprise collection!

Let's take a look at our little "tinkerbell"

My Amazingly Beautiful Daughter

2010-07-04T05:51:00.000-07:00

As a photographer I often find myself forgetting to photograph my own family. We typically do a Family Christmas photo each year, but rarely do I just take my family out and give them the royal photo treatment:)

So my daughter, Madi, is 13 and very deserving of a fun shoot. She's a character! This was her first full session and she was a lot of fun. I think its so important for young girls to know that they are Beautiful just the way they are. They go through so much scrutiny at school with peer pressures on how to look, act, walk, talk. I really just wanted her to be her and I think we captured that this day. Here are a few highlights from her session!

"Grad" we did this session :)

2010-06-28T15:48:00.000-07:00

Iman--what can I say about Iman? He's super Rad and quite the comic. I already had an idea the moment I stepped in to the TocRok Studio.....Video recording equip and a TON of cables....hahah As you will see...

Iman graduated from University of Texas Dallas (UTD). Such a fun session and quick too! He was easy on wardrobe changes and easy on the eye.

Congrats to a great man and I wish you the best in the next venture of your life.

Here are some highlights!

TEXTURES!

2010-06-24T10:16:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for something Fresh to add to your photos!
Try Textures!

HOW? Check out Jodi from MCP Actions! She's super easy to follow and this will make a big statement in your photos!

MCP ACTIONS

Follow her blog--you will LOVE it!

Ravishing Rucker Family

2010-05-27T18:05:00.000-07:00

This family is remarkable! Love love love them!
We had such a fun time. The heat was bearable, but the bugs just about ate us up. There were many laughs and it was truly a fun filled hour!
Thanks to the whole family for making it out and withstanding the Bug Fest :)

Stay Tuned,
Leaha

Celebration of Baby Trace

2010-05-18T18:34:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of our day together. Jeff got his MBA and we got to see Baby Trace together!
What a great day of celebrations!

I'm so excited for my family and proud of my ahhh-mazing husband!

GRADUATION

FINDING Out About Baby Trace! :)

The newest love of my life....

THE GANG!

OUR GROWING FAMILY

HAPPY GRANDPARENTS

tRaSh tHe PrOm dReSs!

2010-04-27T19:09:00.000-07:00

How much fun is "Trash the Prom Dress"?

TONS OF FUN!

Thanks to 2 of my new reps: Katie and Emily from Northwest HS! Big Shout out to you two for making that a great session...even in the dark!

:)

CALlING ALL JUNIORS AND SENIORS

2010-04-20T20:02:00.000-07:00

Find me on facebook Juniors and Seniors!
WHY? Because you could be the face of [POPography] for the 2011 School Year!

Prom People!-Have a prom dress you wanna snazz up? Want to put on some heels and funky jewelry and show off your fun side? Trash Your Prom Dress! NO- you don't actually trash it, but its a fun experience. If you contact me on Facebook and get at least 3 girls to join you--Your session fee is FREE!
Groups of 4- Discount Rate! Contact me on facebook to get the details.

Juniors-- Want to be a POP-rep? Find me on facebook and message me. What does this mean? You represent POPography in your school. Free Model Photo sessions, Discount Print Costs, 411 Cards to share with friends....and more! Facebook me to get the details.

Seniors--Need last minute photos! Discount mini sessions available! HURRY time is almost up!

xx,
Talk to you all soon.

leaha@popography.org
POPseniors.com

Here is an example of Trash The Wedding Dress! I can't wait to see what we do with PrOm!

Emma's shoot was a Hole in One!

2010-04-20T19:55:00.000-07:00

Emma is a freshman on the Northwest Varsity Golf Team. She got to take me out to the green and explain all the terminologies that go with the sport. Needless to say, I was lost! She has some serious power in her swing and I can see what she is such a young star at Northwest. GO EMMA!

What a fun session. Full of clouds and nice and chilly outside. We had a lot of fun and she looks as great as she plays golf.

:)

Leahapop

Relay For Life Mini Sessions

2010-04-15T15:17:00.000-07:00

A Huge thank you to all the families and kids who helped me raise money for Cancer Research. It was a huge success and I great appreciate you all. We are doing our Relay for Life Walk in Durant, OK on April 30th.

Here are some great photos from the fun weekend of sessions!

Leahapop

Photos for a Cause

2010-03-28T18:59:00.000-07:00

Contact me to pay it forward! I look forward to hearing from you!
-leaha

SXSW Shennanigans

2010-03-21T15:05:00.000-07:00

What a fun time Austin always proves to be. I never turn down a great trip the the hippy south town :) I always seem to meet the most interesting people and walk away with a pocket full of memories. Here are just a few highlights from my nightclub sessions. I was hired to come to the nightlife events for SXSW to capture some of the great moments and dj's.

Thanks to all I met and the great/crazy moments I caught!

Some links
SPUNDAE
LANAI in Austin

Stay Tuned,
Leaha

The little prince has arrived..Baker Dee King

2010-02-28T09:59:00.000-08:00

My family has always been super close and it was an oh so exciting event when my gorgeous cousin Kenley found out she was going to have her first child. I can remember when Kenley and I would play in the backroom at grandma's house recording vhs tapes of us selling things on commercials. We had the best of times growing up. It was only natural that I would want to be there when the happiest day of her life arrived! BABY BAKER! What a precious addition to our family.

I was blessed enough to be able to stay for 2 days and capture more of his sweet moments. Not once did he scream at me and all my poking and cold handed maneuvers. He was sweet and pie and momma was very generous to let me handle him for the whole day!

Explanation on some of the photos:
Boozer is the family dog who once lived in doors. He is now living outdoors until Baby Baker is comfortable and they can determine how to blend their family. We caught a photo of Boozer looking in on Baker through the window.

This is a Texas Tech Family. It's only right that he is going to be a Raider Fan--in the womb he actually was photographed throwing a Tech Gun Hand. :)

I hope you enjoy these sneak peaks as much as me. Welcome to the world Baker Dee!

Here Comes the Bride DA DA DA DUM! (singing)

2010-02-03T14:50:00.000-08:00

What a privilege it was to photo for Saleem and Melinda! They are a gorgeous couple that now reside in Missouri. They had their wedding reception and cocktail reception here and Texas and was delighted to get to cover their events. This is a very dynamic duo that really know how to throw great parties!

I will post just a few of my favorites of each event. Thanks to the bride and groom for 2 amazing nights in the DFW!

Best Wishes!

Leahapop

Renegade Style

2010-02-02T14:54:00.000-08:00

Renegade Style Sessions are so much fun. You're on the go...looking for places on a whim...and being careful to not step foot in a dangerously dark part of town. :) Crim is an old friend of mine and it was so excited to capture him. Some of the shots came out remarkable and I'm so proud to show them off.

Loved our time together!

stay tuned,

leahapop

Behind the Scenes with Tacrok @ Erikah Badu & Lil Wayne Shoot

2010-01-19T18:52:00.000-08:00

Here are some amazing photos that I caught at the video shoot for Erikah Badu and Lil Wayne. It was such a great experience to behind the scenes on such a great occasion. Thanks to Milad for opening up this opportunity. Working around Taco was such an amazing experience and to see how videos are put together was really wild. You can see the collection on my Flikr acct linked on my home page.

The photos of the music artists are not posted. Hopefully in the future I will be able to post some in my portfolio. Thanks

:) Enjoy

-leahapop

Lights Camera Action!

2010-01-13T16:45:00.000-08:00

I recently had an amazing opportunity to photog at the Erikah Badu/Lil Wayne Video Shoot. I am unable to release any of the photos at this time, but hopefully in the near future I will be able to show you some of the amazing shots I caught of the music stars.

The crew were like an army of ants working diligently to get everything done.

The studio: InMotion Dallas, TX

Invited by the great TACO! From Tocrok!

I'm loading all of the photos from the day (minus the ones of Erikah and Wayne) to my flikr! Check them out!

Erikah Badu/Lil Wayne Behind the Scenes

Thanks to my great friend Milad for helping set this up. I look forward to working on this kind of project again!

Stay tuned,

Leahapop

Family Ties

2010-01-06T14:56:00.000-08:00

My family took a 9 hour trip to the great state of Louisiana! My husbands family lives in the deep southern town of Lutcher! We had an excellent trip and got to spend lots of quality time.

As Christmas gifts- I decided to photo his Godmother's Family and his Godfather's Family. What a pleasure and fun memory we had.

Enjoy how sweet they are!

Thanks to the families for being so cooperative in the FREEZING weather!

-leahapop

Life is a Miracle

2009-12-24T13:41:00.001-08:00

From the moment you're conceived to the moment you are born...to the all the moments you share in life- It is a miracle. Jesus was very creative and thoughtful when he made each one of us. Miracles are happening all around us and I think we should start taking notice more often.

This family is very special to me. Lynsey is my best friend of 18 years and Jeremy is my great friend of 12 years. I'd like to think I had something to do with them meeting :) Recently Jeremy was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. We did not believe the report and immediately started praying and raising money to help their family.

( My Crew: www.crazyhourcrew.com )

We recently got news that his tumors have shrunk in HALF! Thank you JESUS!

This called for celebration. Lynsey had all her kids together for the holidays and we decided to take photos of such a great occasion. I love this family and their hearts really show through these photos. Enjoy

Merry Christmas Everyone!,

Leahapop

Project Time

2009-12-17T18:56:00.000-08:00

Everyone is trying to save money here and there...and well ANYWHERE!

I am about to embark on a big spend for my lighting. It's time for some upgrades and this is a costly endeavor. Let's just say Alien Bees and myself are about to have a major transaction in our near future :)

I'm always down for a challenging project and with the holidays near I will be free from teaching. My BFF and Assistant (Bobby) are going to build our own Beauty Dish.

Check out the link below:

http://davidtejada.blogspot.com/2008/04/beauty-dish-for-sb-800.html

I'll be sure to get photos and how the build goes when we finish. Til then- wish us luck!

-stay tuned-

leahapop

Giddy for the arrival of Gidian!

2009-12-04T20:07:00.000-08:00

Had such a great time shooting with one of my awesome musical co-workers. Naoka and her husband have an amazing miracle story.

They had been trying for MANY years to get pregnant and struggled. It was amazing the faith and hope they still carried through their roughest times. Naoka always said when and if God gave them a baby--it would be His will and perfect timing. Now we are 2 weeks away from her due date and everyone is all smiles.

Good thing we worked this in quickly! She had already dialated 1 cm! The countdown is on!

What a beautiful person and great time we had. Congrats to the Harada Family on Baby Gidian!

Our little King

2009-11-30T14:25:00.001-08:00

My precious cousin Kenley is getting ready to have her first baby.

Baker King

It was such an honor to shoot with her. It;s so amazing that she asked me to do this with her! It was a joint effort of 4 of us cousins. We had a hoot and a really good time together. It is something I will never forget!

Love you girls!

Leahapop

Wacky Waco Was Awesome!

2009-11-30T14:11:00.000-08:00

Talk about car sick! I was on my mini-getaway for Thanksgiving in Lubbock, Tx. I started the hefty drive at about 7am. Thank goodness for my loving hubby who drove us back to the DFW area (5.5hrs)

As soon as we got home I threw myself together and slapped some make up on! Out the door I left on my venture to Waco, Tx. (1.5hrs) My assistant and best friend, Bobby, made the drive a real fun time. It's always good to catch up with friends.

When we arrived at the Arboretum- it was gorgeous and full of trees and scenic beauty. The family was the sweetest family! Baby Brody was a joy--he really kept it together. And Mr. Eric (the oldest son) was such a great help and model :) Mom and Dad were so patient and full of ideas. And darling little Kendall- what a beauty. She's free as a bird and I really enjoyed chasing her around. Overall- amazing session.

The entire way back I gabbed about how excited I was to get into the editing process. Thank you to a family that gave me new inspiration and great memories.

Stay Tuned,

Leahapop

Edit Edit...and Edit

2009-11-24T19:03:00.000-08:00

There are so many steps and layers to getting a photograph to what you want. I sit many hours adjusting, "Fixing", and taking a great shot to a new level. I really enjoy all the steps in the process of completing a session. My favorite part is the session itself. I get to know my clients and create small blocks of memories with them. It's fun to build a relationship with them and hopefully get to build on that at another session in the future.

These are just a few edits I did. Thought I'd share a bit of what I do. I really enjoy saturating my photos. Another popular choice among most youngsters is a vintage or antique finish.

Take a look around and hopefully you'll be in one of my collections soon.

Stay Tuned,

Leahapop

Arboretum Awesomeness!

2009-11-24T18:56:00.000-08:00

What a gorgeous family. The Wagners are so sweet and wanted to get together for a mini- Christmas session. Little Raylee was as good as gold and the gardens were beautiful this time in Fall. Loved my time with the family and I so hope I can get together with them again in the future!

Happy Turkey Day Everyone!

Leahapop

Tiny Tot

2009-11-20T18:22:00.000-08:00

Weighing in at a very small 6 lbs.....baby Weston. Such a sweet little thing. I was glad to have the family over to the house. Mommy (Karissa) is a co-worker of mine at school. Her and her husband are super awesome and baby Weston is super sweet. He was a gem. He slept almost the entire session!-What a dream! Daddy had a warm "surprise" towards the end that gave us all a nice laugh.

Lovely family and the pictures are sweet. Congrats to the Fairly Family!

Stay Tuned,

Leahapop

City Slickers

2009-11-14T20:14:00.000-08:00

The Bearden Family is one cool fam! They drove about an hour to meet up in the oh so famous "Deep Ellum" in Dallas. They're a super busy family that is always on the go and always looking together and trendy! I was so excited to finally shoot with this family! Tisha is one of my closest co-workers and we had been plotting this session for quite some time.

They turned out fab- and we all walked away smiling. SUCCESS!

You guys did great!

Stay Tuned,

leahapop

Forever Friends

2009-11-14T19:56:00.000-08:00

I've always been quite fond of my friend Crystal. After all, we did go to HS together, sing together, compete together, sleep over at each others houses, and endure many adolescent trials together. Now we're all 'grown up' and have families and a few added wrinkles. (I speak for myself :)

What a gorgeous and fun family. Clara is so sweet and patient. She was there every step to make sure little brother was ok. And C.J.- what a character. He lives on the edge and it was fun capturing this time with him. Baby Christian- what big blue eyes he has. Didn't make a peep the entire time. Crystal and Caesar are amazing parents. You will see how awesome they are through the photos.

Great spending time with you guys today and enjoy your memories! I sure am! :)

Love ya!

Stay Tuned,

Leahapop

Cuz you're my best friend

2009-11-03T16:59:00.000-08:00

My bestest-est friend Lynsey was married to my long time friend Jeremy. My gift for them was to capture this happy time in their lives. They're a gorgeous couple inside and out. It was my pleasure to do this with them.

Jeremy is fighting Pancreatic Cancer. We are raising money and taking donations. We are fighting the good fight and using the money to help him and Lynsey and their son, Bo. All contributions are a blessing and we appreciate your support.

Please visit: Crazy Hour Crew

Until next time,

Leahapop

Pumpkin Patch with my girls

2009-10-25T11:46:00.000-07:00

I love my nieces. They are at the perfect age- almost 4! They are fast and hard to catch, but sweet as pie. We enjoyed an early afternoon at the Black Creek Pumpkin Patch near Decatur, TX. We had hay rides, petting zoos, pumpkins, face painting, and frito pies!

We enjoyed our time with the family and now onto the pumpkin carving. I think I will just take pictures. :)

Til Next Time,

Leahapop

Get Fit!

2009-10-22T15:56:00.001-07:00

Love Love Love Michael Kuang. Excellent human being with a bigger purpose to make peoples lives healthier. We had a great time running around Dallas catching up and conducting a session.

Check out his site and look him up if you're in the Dallas area.

www.syphonfitness.com

Get fit everyone :)

Stay Tuned,

Leaha

1+1= <3

2009-10-07T18:50:00.000-07:00

This couple is just so much fun. I adore them and wish the very best for them as they get married this October. Best wishes and what a beautiful couple you make!

Til next time,

Leahapop

Here comes the Bride

2009-10-07T18:33:00.001-07:00

I spent this past Saturday with the beautiful Adriane! What a beautiful bride she makes. The weather was easy on us and allowed for a very pleasant session. We stayed in 2 locations within Dallas city limits. Turtle Creek is where we spent the first half of our shoot getting our grassy knoll pictures. What a beautiful park they have! Then we headed to Deep Ellum to finish up our shoot as the sun started to set! We got some amazing shots and here are a few of my favorites.

Thanks to Bobby for assisting me and the bride for being so amazing to work with!

stay tuned,

leahapop

Dance Revolution: DJ Preach

2009-10-07T18:23:00.000-07:00

I love dancing. I love music. I love my best friend. He rocked a great show.

GO DJ GO DJ GO!

stay tuned,

leahapop

Two by Tutu

2009-10-07T17:52:00.000-07:00

Here are some examples of different finishes I love and put to use in this shoot.

Chasing around one 3 year old- exciting. Chasing around two 3 year olds in tutu’s- double exciting!

Autumn and Ashlyn were not as thrilled to run around the park to take photos in their tutu’s. Their eyes were glued to the 2 story playground across the street where other children were freely running and climbing in their leisure time. Waiting, talking, entertaining, and learning to be patient started wearing thin. I mean come on, who wouldn’t want to trash the tutu and jump on the giant money bars!?

After about 45 minutes we decided to take a rest from the running around the park. The ducks got old, the sun got hot, and the invisible fish I was trying to get them to see were just not there! We ended with a small break. I asked them to lay on the ground and see if they could hear the worms talking. Believe it or not–they tried REALLY hard to hear those worms. I guess their worm voices were too quiet today.

Either way–they are precious girls. And the pictures—-well, they tell the story of 2 of my favorite clients. Who wouldn’t love two princess fairies in pink?

My new 70-200mm was a blast to use…I think my arm muscles got more of a workout than the 2 girls I was chasing!

-stay tuned-

leahapop

Texas Our Texas

2009-10-07T17:35:00.000-07:00

Part of me wants to break out in song right now. Being a music teacher and getting to teach Texas History through Music is fun. In leu of starting our Annual Tx Musical at my school—I got to actually go and visit the state capital! Here are some quick shots I was able to get! Enjoy. It was BEAUTIFUL!

stay tuned

Leahapop