This past weekend was evidence of the passion I have for photography as I had an absolute blast photographing Rina and Leon’s wedding.  They are an amazing couple.  I had so much fun captuirng wonderful memories for them.  

Wedding photography is a growing part of my business and I am thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to capture memories for so many incredible couples.  Rina and Leon were the best – so nice, respectful, so in love and so passionate about their new life together.  Here is just a quick “snapshot” of a few images from Rina and Leon’s wedding. 

You know, the other reason I like shooting weddings…it reminds me how lucky I am to be married to my beautiful wife Amelia..for almost 23 years and counting………….

Just a few shots of Rina and Leon from their wedding

Here’s the background – This lovely husband and wife have one son they are of course very proud of and in their hallway at home they have a large portrait of the three of them.  The son recently got married and his wife has always kidded with them that the family portrait is missing her.  The comment was “the family portrait is wonderful, but where’s the cute blond?”  As soon as I heard that while talking to the mother I just started laughing.  It was a great line and of course what we did was re-create the family portrait pose exactly how they had it before, but now we have the “cute blonde” in the portrait.

The young couple are quite extraordinary if you ask me.  They are both firefighters and students, so their schedules are quite busy and finding time when everyone could be together for the portrait sitting in the parent’s house was not easy.  We wish them all the best with their careers and a long and happy life together. 

Just Hanging Around on the Fence

 I then headed north to Conroe for a very special and fun family portrait session.  A family had purchased a portrait package that I had donated to a charity auction that was organized through Associate Pastor, Robert Nuttal, a true hero to his family and friends who is now working with April Sound Church.  Anyway, this family was alot of fun to shoot and as you can see we included the family pets, the two dogs and the horse.  Alot of driving to get there, but worth it.  They were wonderful people to work with.

A beautiful mother and daughter

It’s no secret I love my job as a professional photographer.  I meet alot of very cool and fun people and have had the opportunity to be a part of a tremendous number of special occasions such as weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, family portraits and other special events.  

Owen and a VIP table - okay, you got me, they were all VIP tables.

Two weeks ago was no exception as I was honored to have been the photographer selected to photograph a very special event.  It was the Celebrity Server event with Owen Daniels and Friends at Mortons, Galleria, raising money for Owen’s “Catch a Dream Foundation”. 

Owen Daniels, All-Pro Tight End for the Houston Texans has been very involved in the community and his foundation has been very important to local hospitals.  The event was sold out and all of the guests had a good time and rasied money for a good cause.  Kudos to Owen Daniels, the guys from Prolanthropy. Joe Pogee from Strike Marketing and of course we couldn’t have done it with out the incredible team at Mortons, Galleria .   Check out this article in Culture Map about the event.

Noah at Temple Emanu El

I had a couple of really nice and incredibly fun Bar and Bat Mitzvahs to shoot this month.

First up was Allie - I have know the family for a few years and was lucky enough to have bene able to photograph Allie’s older sister Lauren’s Bat Mitzvah a few years ago.  I have actually know their mother, Marlene since I was 10 years old – we used to go to summer camp together – Camp Young Judaea    Allie was a wonderful subject to photograph and her party had a 60′s and 70′s theme, which was fun for everyone.

The next week I was honored to have the privilege of photographing Noah’s Bar Mitzvah.  In addition, this was the first Bar Mitzvah to be officiated by the new senior rabbi at Temple Emanu El, Rabbi Scott Hausman-Weiss.  This was also the first time I met Rabbi Scott. (as he likes to be called)   He was very nice and I look forward to photographing many more Bar Mitzvahs at Temple Emanu El.

Have a safe and wonderful Labor Day Weekend.

Allie at Beth Yeshurun

I have had the pleasure of working with some wonderful clients to help them design and launch their websites.  One of the most recent websites to launch was for SB Goodman Builders here in Houston, Texas.  Please check out their site at www.sbgoodmanbuilders.com.   When you go to the galleries to see their work, you will see my work as I was privileged to have been the photographer selected to photograph the work you see on their site.

These guys are incredibly talented, professional and are a pleasure to work with.  Steve Goodman and Moshe Even are the best.  They work on alot of homes in the Houston area and they specialize in high-rise construction, which is not easy and presents its own set of challenges.  They are simply the best in the business.  I have known them for years and have thoroughly enjoyed working with them.  Here are just a few examples of their work and you can see more on their site, www.sbgoodmanbuilders.com

This tpye of photography is something I have been enjoying as well, so check out the portfolio of my interior real estate work and let me know what you think.  http://www.erickleimanphotography.com/portfolio-detail/306/

As you look through the article and the slideshow, you will see some images I took for the story of this way cool hotel suite for kids.  It was alot of fun to shoot, but of course the highlight was working with my old friend, Joe Pogge, the CEO/Principal of Strike Marketing as well as the professionals at the Omni Hotel, Silvia San Martin and Desiree Tapping.   Joe and I go waaaay back more than 20 years to my old days in sales and promotions at Continental Airlines.  Joe is probably one of the best known and the most creative marketing guys I have ever worked with here in Houston. 

Speaking of the best, while on assignment at the Omni, I ran into another old friend who seems to look younger every year, the “queen of wedding and event planning”,  the one and only Alice Small.  Alice, who currently manages and creates event extravaganzas for the Omni, was the event planner extraordinaire for my own wedding 22 years ago last weekend to my bride, Amelia Ribnick Kleiman.  I always enjoy working with Alice and the other fine professionals at the Omni Hotel when I’m shooting weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and other special events.

This shoot was a unique opportunity to showcase the expansion of my real estate and interiors photography, working with various specialty contractors, interior designers, custom home and high rise builders and real estate professionals.  My foray in this area has given me the chance to broaden my skills, experience and talent as a professional photographer by highlighting inanimate objects in a way similar to how I capture the emotion and beauty of brides and other human subjects.  And by the way, these “subjects” don’t talk back when I ask them to move!

Now that you read the article and are thoroughly depressed, one of the things you need to think about is that permanent and lasting first impression you make…and that includes your presence on websites and social media sites like Facebook and Linked In.

You know where I am going with this.  If  it’s time for a professional head shot for you and/or your other employees, please let me know.  Remember, I bring the “studio” to your office or home.  You get images in color and black and white and can use them as long as you like.  To see some of the work I have done with head shots, just click on this link to my my portfolio page http://www.erickleimanphotography.com/portfolio-detail/301/

So what’s the answer?  Well, no need to stop using social media sites.  Just be careful with the pictures you post and think before you wink!

Love the flowers in Linda's hair - simple, yet elegant

One of the highlights for me for the month of June was having the honor and privilege of photographing Linda and Mike’s wedding.  They were such a joy and a pleasure to work with.  If I had to sum up the weekend in just a few short words, which included the rehearsal dinner,  the wedding and luncheon I would have to say for Linda and Mike it was all about family and friends.  The wedding was an intimate affair for about 125 people and there was so much love going around it was unbelievable.

In fact, the day after the wedding my phone rang and it was the bride, Linda.  I knew everything had gone well at the wedding, so I had no idea why she was calling.  You know what, she was calling to say thank you.  Can you believe it?  I had spent most of the weekend thanking them for letting me be part of the wedding and here she was thanking me.  What a class act.  This is why I am so passionate about the work I do.  It’s couples like Linda and Mike that give me so much joy and pleasure.   Here’s just a handful of shots from the wedding .  What a great couple, great family and fun friends.  A perfect weekend.  Mike and Linda – Thank you.

Classy shoes for a classy lady

The rabbi pointing out some important text on the Ketuba - the groom promises everything and the bride promises nothing!

A very relaxed image of a very relaxed couple

For Linda and Mike it was all about family and good friends like the ones you see here.

I have also photographed literally hundreds of high school and college graduations across Texas, Oklahoma, New York, Colorado and California.  Probably the most fun I have had in the graduation photography business has been this year with the completion of six 5th grade graduations.  Now some people might think that a graduation from 5th grade is a little silly, but I gotta tell you that the pomp and circumstance, the pride, the optimism and the smiles on these 5th grade kids, their families and friends and the faculty of each of these school was easily the highlight of my graduation photography experience to date.  The kids are all very well-mannered and respectful and the faculty members and parents I worked with were all top notch.

I have the privilige as a professional photographer to capture memories that will last a lifetime and I am proud to include my 5th grade graduations in that category. The schools I had the honor of working with this year include; Condit Elementary, Gross Elementary, Herod Elementary, Horn Academy, River Oaks Elementary and POE Elementary. 

I am excited to expand my 5th grade graduation program to more schools next year, not only for the commercial aspects, but to see that many more smiles….well it makes my day.  Enjoy.