Happily Everlasting Photography

Wedding Season in Full Swing!

2007-06-15T09:28:00.001-07:00

Things have been crazy around Happily Everlasting. I have photographed seven weddings in the last five weeks. We have had the pleasure of working with a lot of great couples! I will post a few recent wedding images soon.

For now, here are a few pictures from an engagement session that I did out in west Texas earlier this week with Jenni and Josh. They are an awesome couple and I am looking forward to photographing their wedding later this year.

Lena + Paul

2007-04-21T10:59:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I met Lena and Paul at the campus of their old alma mater—OU. I had a blast strolling around campus capturing fun shots of the two of them. They are getting married in a couple of months. Unfortunately I was already booked on their wedding day, but my good friend and associate photographer Christian Sangree is going to capture it for them. It sounds like it will be an amazing event!

...and Lena showing off her pool sharking skills in the student union building!

OU has cool red phone booths spread around the campus. I love them!

Kevin's Senior Shoot

2007-04-18T19:23:00.000-07:00

Kevin was a lot of fun to work with! He did great relaxing and he even busted a few G.Q. moves. Its always fun getting to work with senior guys and getting to know them a little during the course of a session.

All of you seniors that are still on the fence for your senior pictures.....its not too late! We are still booking sessions for class of '07 seniors and we even have a few priority sessions available so that you can get your pictures back ASAP. Just give us a ring and we will get you hooked up with some super hip pics!

Little Jaycee

2007-04-18T12:53:00.000-07:00

I couldn't resist putting a few of these pictures up! Jaycee is an adorable little girl I have had the opportunity to photograph a couple of times now. She has amazed me each time by how willing she is to play and pose!

Collages.net—National Images of the Week

2007-04-17T14:44:00.000-07:00

We started using a national service called Collages.net last year. With it we can put images online after sessions and weddings for our clients to order prints. The service offers a ton of functionality and flexibility, our customers have loved it! This week it was an honor to see that they chose one of our sessions for their national website of the week.

They chose Engagement pictures that I took of Janelle and Kyle last week. They were such a great couple to work with and were great sports....despite the strong wind. Kyle has "hooked" Janelle on fishing during their relationship so we got a few fun fishing images out at one of the lakes in Oak Tree Country Club. Below are a few of my favorites images.

The Ultimate Bridal Event- A Big Hit!

2007-04-16T20:55:00.000-07:00

For the past six or eight months I have worked with a group of vendors in Edmond to start the Edmond Wedding Society. EWS is basically a group of vendors in Central Oklahoma (mainly Edmond) that have teamed together to inspire and educate brides that wish to make the wedding of their dreams a reality.

Sunday the Edmond Wedding Society hosted its first event—The Ultimate Bridal Event. About 150 brides, grooms, and family members came to Gaillardia Country Club to hear from many of Oklahoma's top wedding professionals. About 10 vendors spoke to the group—sharing a lot of helpful tips and insights and around 30 vendors displayed their products and services. Gaillardia is such a beautiful venue and the event was a huge success! I am very happy to be a part of EWS and the great group of vendors it represents.

Here are a few pictures that Christian Sangree (my great friend and associate photographer) snapped on Sunday.

We had a great crowd. Here Valerie Naifeh welcomes the group.

Our display at the event.

My parents setup a display for their awesome businesses, Inspirations Tea Room and the Two Hearts Inn.

Patti and I were amazed with Cocoflow's pink (strawberry white chocolate) and green (mint white chocolate) fountains. Major yum!

Mishelle Handy is a great wedding cake designer. We see her cakes at weddings all of the time and they are always beautiful!

Christian shot this during my moment in the spotlight.

D'Plazzo showcased a few of their gowns during their presentation.

Gaillardia is a beautiful venue and definately worth a consideration for all of you brides-to-be!

Kelleigh and Jared's Engagement Pictures

2007-04-04T08:21:00.000-07:00

I was looking back through my blog posts and noticed I haven't put up any recent engagement sessions. Last week I did Kelleigh and Jared's and we got a lot of fun and unique images. They are such a great couple and I am looking forward to their wedding this June. I photographed Kelleigh's sister's wedding last fall and am really looking forward to working with the Dean family again.

The studio continues to be busier than ever! Last week we did a record number of sessions in a week only to break that record with this week's schedule. It is a great time of year for pictures, so don't hesitate to call and schedule!

Studio Makeover!

2007-03-28T15:11:00.000-07:00

We have just completed a studio makeover! We have created three new looks by faux finishing, adding some paneling and some new fixtures. We also just purchased a bunch of new furniture for use in studio portraits. We are excited about all of the fun new possibilities. I will post some of our recent studio images soon, but for now here are a few of Patti (my beautiful wife and business partner) that were taken with our new concrete wall.

Happy Spring!

2007-03-25T15:26:00.000-07:00

Spring is here! We have been enjoying the great weather, shooting a record number of sessions at the studio and around town. A big "THANK YOU" to all of you who have sent friends and family our way lately. It seems as if our business has exploded in the past couple of months.

Here are a few new pictures of April and Oliver. I took them in one of the new corners of our camera room. We have several awesome new looks available in studio. Feel free to drop by the studio to check them out and we can plan the perfect session for your family.

Happy Birthday Savannah!

2007-03-05T10:01:00.000-08:00

I had the opportunity to take some 1 year birthday pictures for Savannah late last week. She is adorable, so I thought I would put a few pictures up here.

This reminds me, we are in the process of remodeling the camera room in our studio to provide some awesome new "sets" and backgrounds. I will upload some new pictures when we get everything together.

Days Gone By

2007-02-27T19:19:00.000-08:00

It's amazing how time goes by! Since Patti and I have had our little girl, April, we have moved twice, had a baby boy (Oliver), built a new studio, and undergone various other changes that aren't quite as life altering but maybe just as consuming. We have enjoyed everyday, but wow, the time is gone.

One of the coolest things about photography is the ability to capture today in all of its glory and detail and preserve it forever. I love seeing parents and grandparents snapping away with their cameras, knowing someday the kids they photograph will be able to see their childhood.

Patti and I were playing around in the studio with April and trying some new photography techniques. I didn't really notice until I looked at the pictures on the back of my camera, but our kids are growing! Our little girl isn't so little anymore. It was a great reminder to enjoy every day and make the very best of the years we have with them.

Senior Myths.....BUSTED!

2007-02-02T08:14:00.000-08:00

Its already starting. The phone has been ringing and consultations are being scheduled. Its Senior Season Part II----The Guys! We photograph a lot of seniors between July and October, but I can't help but notice a trend....only about 20% of them are guys. It seems as if guys are a little reluctant to hurry into the whole idea of capturing this important milestone in life and sharing it with friends and family. Last year it was late February before reality set in and many of our senior guys called to schedule. This year it has already started.

There are a few common misconceptions about portraits that I would like to dispel......
MYTH #1-Senior pictures are always so "stiff" and they won't look like me anyways.
Not true! We put a lot of effort into finding environments and creating sessions where you can be you. My portrait approach is that of directing (a lot like a movie director). I give input to put you in natural and comfortable positions and situations that photograph well.

MYTH #2-My face is broken out and in no condition for pictures.
Busted! We utilize the latest image enhancement technology to make your skin look great. Don't stress, break outs are a fact of life but they don't have to be a part of your pictures.

MYTH #3-I don't have time right now.
Are you sure? We schedule around your needs. Although our priority scheduling slots fill quickly, we offer sessions in the evening and on weekends.

MYTH #4-Senior portraits are not really that important.
No way! They are once in a lifetime and you can't recreate them in the future. In fact, ask nearly any adult and you will find that the most important pictures taken in their life are wedding pictures, baby pictures, and senior pictures. It is a unique time in your life that you will be glad you captured for years to come.

So if any of you senior guys out there are still holding out, I've got a message for you: Go for it guys....take the plunge! I promise senior pictures are easy, painless, and FUN!

Here are a few images of Matt that I pulled out from a session back in December.

Blogging Meltdown!

2007-01-20T18:18:00.000-08:00

Hi Everybody, I hope you are having a wonderful New Year! Since the last blog entry we have done 8 or 10 weddings, dozens of sessions, implemented new studio management software, launched a new website (at www.happilyeverlasting.com) and even moved into a new house. Things have been crazy!

I hope to get several more recent photos from weddings and other sessions uploaded soon. Here are a few images from a wedding that we did at the Dominion House in December...Karen and Paul's big day! It was a beautiful wedding and they were great to work with.

Holes in our schedule are already filling in for 2007, but we still have several 2007 wedding weekends available. Contact us today for a free consultation and we can discuss the perfect photography options for your big day!

Jenna and Jamey's Engagement

2006-10-10T12:41:00.000-07:00

I just posted a few of Jenna and Jamey's wedding pictures the other day, but here are a few of my favorites from their engagement sessions as well. We usually do engagement sessions months before the wedding, but in this case Jamey had been serving in Iraq so we did the session a few days before their wedding.

I took their engagement pictures in several location around the OSU campus, but my favorites were taken on 'the Strip'. We were walking around down there taking a few pictures in an alley and a man from one of the old buildings (the old Wormy Dog Saloon) came out and invited us in to take pictures. They are converting it into apartments for students to rent and a lot of the building was gutted. It was PERFECT!

Jenna and Jamey Did It!

2006-10-08T22:07:00.000-07:00

September 30. Stillwater, Oklahoma. Orange Peel.

As thousands of people descended upon the OSU campus for the annual 'Orange Peel' to be entertained by the likes of Alan Jackson, Bill Engvall, and The Hero Factor....there was something else big going on in town. And I mean BIG! =)

Out of all the weddings I have done, it was the first with the groom in uniform. It makes for a great prince charming effect! Jamey was certainly the dashingly handsome prince and Jenna the fairytale princess. And the venue at OSU is certainly storybook!

Here are a few images from the wedding....

We crossed paths with another couple tying the knot...

Melinda & Sean Did It!

2006-10-08T22:01:00.000-07:00

Melinda and Sean were married on Saptember 23. It was a pleasure working with them and getting to know their friends and family. The evening reception was outdoors and WOW, it was perfect. Here are a few images from the wedding.

Family Update

2006-10-08T20:01:00.001-07:00

Well, good intentions have gotten me no where in regards to keeping this blog up-to-date! We have experienced tremendous growth over the past several months and it has been hard to find the time to get everything done. I have several weddings to post up here as well as some great pictures from other recent sessions. I will work on updating things here this week.

I wanted to take a few minutes to put up a few recent pictures of my family. I take over 10,000 pictures every month and enjoy working with all of my clients. But I must confess...my greatest joy is getting members of my family on the other side of the camera. Patti (my wife) has been developing her photography skills and she took the awesome shots of April and Oliver below. Oliver turned 1 at the end of August and April turns three at the end of this month. It is amazing how fast they grow!

Trisha and Lee Did It!

2006-09-25T11:19:00.000-07:00

We had back-to-back weddings this weekend, one on Friday and one on Saturday. Trisha and Lee were married on Friday night at Coles Garden. The ceremony was outside and the evening was absolutely perfect! They have so many great friends and family By the time Christian and I were packing up to leave we felt like a part of the family. Here are a few random shots from the evening......

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT: Trisha and Lee spent a few minutes alone before the wedding. Here is Trish on her way to show off her dress to Lee.

DANCING ON AIR: Lee was quite the dancer! He really wowed us as he glided across the floor.

SNAP! CRACKLE! POP!: Trish and Lee have had many special memories in their relationship that involved "Cereal Moments." What better way to memorialize that than to have a bowl!?!

GUESTBOOK: Trisha and Lee are one of the first couples to use the new style of guest book we recently introduced. It is full of pictures from their engagement session that guests can sign next to.

Seniors, Seniors, Seniors!

2006-09-18T20:37:00.000-07:00

We have stayed very busy with high-school seniors this month. Seniors are so much fun to photograph because they are much more cooperative than many of the two year olds I photograph and the environment is not surrounded in the stress of a wedding day that I see so often. It is the perfect opportunity to be creative and try fun new locations. I definitely enjoy approaching each senior session from a new perspective and trying to incorporate as many of the senior's interests and ideas as possible. Afterall....why shouldn't your senior pictures be as unique as you are???

Here are a few of the seniors I have had the opportunity to work with in the last couple of weeks....

Melissa & Nathan's Wedding

2006-09-17T21:13:00.000-07:00

Well, I did it again.....I have gone far too long without posting updates on this blog. I apologize to everyone who checks things out here regularly and I promise that I will set aside more time to keep things updated.

My schedule has stayed very full at the studio over the past several weeks with consultations and sessions. I have captured a lot of great images and had the opportunity to work with several wonderful clients! I have also invested a lot of energy into changing how we present images online for clients to review....but that is for another blog update that is soon to come!

Right now I want to share a few images from Melissa and Nathan's wedding. They were such a fun couple to spend the day with and they had a beautiful ceremony at Quail Springs Baptist Church. Afterwards everyone headed over to the Waterford for several hours of fun! Here are a few of my favorites from the day.....

Of course the guys couldn't focus on getting ready until they requisitioned a TV to see how the OU game played out! =)

Oliver is 1!

2006-09-01T13:37:00.000-07:00

It has been a whole year since Oliver was born! He has been such a blessing to my wife Patti and I and to his big sis' April. I thought I would share a picture of him getting after his birthday cake in true Rhoads family style! =)

Edmond Wedding Society

2006-08-29T15:26:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how time gets away! We have had the busiest month ever at the studio and I have not found time to keep the blog updated. We have some done some awesome sessions in the past couple of weeks and I will try and post a few of the images as I get time in the next few days.

Sunday we had the kick-off meeting for Oklahoma's newest bridal association....the Edmond Wedding Society. For the past few months I have been working with Debra Sanders and Saundra Trewick of D'Plazzo (wedding gown designers), Robyn Martin of The Wedding Belle (bridal consultant), and Stephanie Hill of the Perfect Wedding Guide (publication for brides). We are creating a network of vendors to support Oklahoma couples and will host educational events for soon-to-be brides and grooms in the future months. I missed the meeting where they chose officers a few weeks ago and got voted in as president. I learned my lesson, I won't be missing any more meetings. =) We are currently choosing vendors to participate, but I will post updates here once we have our first event set for the public.

Jenny & Michael's Wedding

2006-08-15T16:44:00.000-07:00

We spent Saturday capturing Jenny and Micahael's wedding at St. Joseph's Old Cathedral in Oklahoma City. Jenny and Michael are a great couple. Its funny, Christian Sangree (my associate photographer) and I were talking afterwards and even in the short time we spent with them we felt like we had been long-time friends. We certainly wish them the best in their new life together in Chicago!

It was my first time in St. Josephs and the church is amazing! It is right across from the Oklahoma City Memorial. The reception was at the downtown Sheraton and they certainly know how to do a first-class job with the food and decor. Wow!

Below are a few fun pictures from the wedding. Kudos to Christian for the great shot of the guys in the park and of Jenny's face when she first saw Michael.

Tour the Studio!

2006-08-09T21:08:00.000-07:00

Wow, it has been a great year! I know everyone always says this, but this year has flown by! I can't believe this is already August. We were extremely blessed to have the opportunity to move into a new studio this year. I have had several people ask me about putting pictures of the office online....and after seven months, here you go! =)

THE EXPERIENCE BEGINS NOW
Relax and make yourself at home. This is just the beginning of an amazing experience which will result in images that you absolutely love! While you’re here, take the opportunity to browse our portrait gallery and look through thousands of images in our custom albums.

NOW SHOWING....YOU!
See your images BIGGER than life. We utilize the latest technology in projection and surround sound to deliver an unforgettable presentation of your proofs in studio. Tissues are available upon request!

LET THE MAGIC BEGIN
We use the latest professional digital technology to create stunning images. With help from Canon, Apple, and Adobe, we are equipped to produce pictures that are second to none!

FULL SPEED AHEAD!
We feature an advanced digital workflow that allows us to achieve incredible turnaround times while maintaining uncompromising quality.

GET REFRESHED
Across the hall is the kitchen. Feel free to grab a coke or frappuccino and look at our frame samples while you’re at it. We feature the finest options in affordable custom framing.

DRESS FOR SUCCESS
Down the hall and to the right is the luxurious dressing room. Bring as many outfits as you like! We also have a closet full of costumes—from princess dresses to cowboy duds—ready to transform your little ones into storybook heros!

PICTURE PERFECT
In the back is where the action takes place! The relaxed, unhurried atmosphere of our studio gives you a chance to just have fun and be yourself. We have several backgrounds, sets, and styles available in studio. Of course, we also use the whole world as our studio. We are more than happy to create your images in the location you choose.

That concludes our virtual tour...please fee free to drop into the real studio anytime!

High School Seniors....Book Now!

2006-08-09T15:26:00.000-07:00

Below are a few pictures I took of Sara during her session. She has her pilot license so we went upto the airport in Guthrie and took several images around the airplanes that she flies. We then found some old buildings and took more pictures before finishing her session at Lake Heffner. Sara did great! One minute she would have her 'all-business-serious-game-face' on and the next minute she was busting out laughing.

For those of you high school seniors that have been holding out on pictures (you know who you are) =).....it is not too late! We even have a few specials going on our session fees right now...call or e-mail the studio for details.