In honor of Monday being Real Housewives of Dallas night on Bravo and Memorial Day, I thought it would be appropriate to post about my recent studio session with Bravo’s fastest rising star, Brandi Redmond. She’s also a patriotic woman, having opened up on the show about her veteran brother Michael’s struggle with PTSD on RHOD. This week, I sit discuss my recent Dallas headshot photography session with Brandi Redmond: Bravo’s Rising Star!

My experience with Brandi was better and more down to Earth than I had anticipated. She’s probably one of the sweetest women I’ve ever met! Brandi, her mother Jana Nace, and her two gorgeous daughters Brooklyn and Brinkley all stopped by the studio and it was exactly like the show – Brandi is 100% authentic. What I wasn’t expecting was how in awe of her I would be! First of all, I’ve been a Dallas headshot photographer for over 15 years – I thought I would be much more composed myself. Second, anyone that knows me knows I’m a Bravoholic and absolutely obsessed with the housewives, so to have this opportunity with Brandi was surreal! Despite the scenes on the show and the reputation she’s been given, Brandi’s extremely composed. She handles herself with tact and poise, even with two adorable children under 7 years old!

The Housewives franchise is not Brandi’s first time in the spotlight. Brandi is a former All-Star, Pro-Bowl and five-time Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. Brandi’s also extremely involved in the Dallas charity community, heavily involved in Folds of Honor benefitting the families of our lost soldiers – a cause near and dear to her heart.

For more on my recent headshot Dallas session with Brandi, check out my Facebook and Instagram. To get your own summer headshots in Dallas, give me a call or submit an inquiry online today.

I pay my bills as a Dallas headshot photographer, but when opportunities come up I take them. Recently, one of those opportunities presented itself – I had the chance to shoot a new creative campaign for a very successful dentist in Dallas. My past experiences in commercial shoots have been interesting to say the least, but this one went off without a hitch. This week, I’m sharing my recipe for success with you: 4 lessons from a commercial photography shoot.

1. Pre-game with the creative team
   I cannot stress this enough. When I’m doing business headshots, it’s pretty simple. But this time, I was taking photographs for a full-scale campaign to be featured in print and on the web. The creative director, copywriter, and client service rep sat down with me and laid out the goals and expectations. We had a clearly-defined goal in mind.
2. Solve your client’s problem
   Very rarely are people taking photos “just because.” There’s a problem or issue in mind. Clearly define your client’s problem or issue and create a solution. In this case, it was to differentiate them from the other dental practices in the area. So we decided to take exaggerated lifestyle shots.
3. Find the perfect talent
   A photographer in Dallas has a great pool of talent. There are major modeling agencies like Kim Dawson, Campbell or Paige Parkes with loads of different looks at your disposal. If your client (like most) tries to set a low budget, there are other agencies out here with models just starting to build their portfolios and need sample shots. Explore your resources, you’ll be glad you did.
4. Speed of service is everything
   Your client probably wanted these photos yesterday. Start. Retouching. Now. I couldn’t get the photos on my computer fast enough.

Hopefully, you’ll be able to follow these four simple tips on your next commercial shoot, on either the client or creative side. For your next headshot session or commercial photo shoot, contact me or give me a call today.

I’m the first to admit that I love retouching. It’s one of the biggest services I feature to my clients and it’s something that can really enhance a photo. I think everyone should look their best, and if that means removing an awkward line or hiding a funny pose, I’m all for that. However, when retouchers and editors cross the line and make their subject appear almost unrecognizable, there’s a problem. I see it more often than I’d like, and in the past I’ve had a heavy hand with the Photoshop tools myself. So this week, I wanted to take a look at 4 epic Photoshop fails as a guide of what to avoid.

Bethenney Frankel’s PETA Fail

Image via Us Weekly

The queen bee of New York housewives, Bethenney Frankel, did a PETA shoot a few years ago and the retouchers ripped her to shreds. They ironed her face, removed every line on her back and side, removed the lower part of her breast, and smoothed her leg out. It’s almost a different person in the side-by-side!

Lindsay Lohan’s Booty Blowout

Image via Instagram

Lindsay has a few photoshop fails, but this one is the most blatant. Just take a peak at Ms. Lohan’s rear end in relation to the wall. Need I say more?

Jeb Bush’s Magic Hand

Image via Entertainment Weekly

During the former Republican nominee’s failed presidential campaign last year, Jeb Bush released a few promotional shots where one of his hands appears to have changed ethnicities mysteriously. Either Jeb’s staff had a bone to pick or he tried appealing to a different voter group!

The Kardashian’s Flawless Fail

Image via Sears

Okay, so I usually love everything these girls do… But this time it was too much. The Kardashian sisters released a promotional campaign for their Sears lingerie line, and the photos were perfect. Too perfect. Their faces look like porcelain! Take a lesson from Kim, Kourtney, and Khloe – sometimes, your imperfections are the very things that give you character.

Take a lesson from these celebs – sometimes, less is more.

This week, I had the pleasure of shooting one of my closest friends, Kurt Haymond. He stopped by the studio for his new PR shots to promote his amazing new store, The Urban Manor, located in Snider Plaza. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to speak with one of Dallas’ most interesting men about his incredible career in fashion, interior design, and visual merchandising.

Kurt leaped into the fashion and interior furnishings world early on in his life. He says he “accidentally got into the jewelry world at 20,” starting his own business and learning the ins and outs of the industry. He soon after found himself working at Calvin Klein as his first experience in luxury retail. He says he gained an extensive knowledge in window designs and merchandising. By chance, he started designing the windows and he fell in love with the creative process.

In 2000, he began working as the lead visual merchandiser of Tootsie’s. He worked with the company for 11 years, with his last project opening the Houston flagship store. During that time, he was written up twice as being one of the leading window merchandisers in the game. He worked on-and-off for Tootsies and Gregory’s, creating beautiful displays across the country.

In 2009, Kurt left his visual merchandising position at Gregory’s and came back to Dallas dressing a handful of private clients. Before long, he couldn’t escape his need to return to the retail world and opened Assembly, a high-end clothing store, in Dallas’ West Village luxury retail center.

Last year, Kurt followed his heart back to interiors and opened The Urban Manor with his daughter Ariel. They found the perfect space at Snider Plaza, where he and Ariel opened shop and have made their dream a reality. Not only do they feature some of the most extraordinary pieces in Dallas, they’ve expanded and opened a floral shop. Their florals are magnificent and they have some of the most beautiful arrangements in Dallas. They’ve recently added custom invitations with Terry Cummings as their new “king of invitations, stationery and weddings.” Kurt says Terry “ignites that creative spark” in himself and Ariel.

They’ve been featured in D Magazine, Park Cities People, and the Examiner. It seems like every where you go (or any link you click), The Urban Manor appears.

They’re looking to expand even further, opening a digital storefront that features the same array of inventory. Stay tuned for more from Kurt and The Urban Manor!