Phoenix Rhys Artistry

Mr. & Mrs. Harrison Travel Back in Time

Published on August 1, 2016January 9, 2017 by Phoenix Rhys Artistry2 Comments

When I first met with the elegant Ms. Rachel and she informed me that their July 2nd wedding would be 20’s themed, I squeed inside. You know what a squee is….. that happy voice in your head (squeeeeee) while you’re calmly sitting there with a polite look of interest on your face when you really want to jump up and down on the table and yell SIGN ME UP! No….you don’t do that? Well I do when I can already envision the awesomeness that will be a Roaring 20’s themed wedding!

And they did NOT disappoint at all……

They found a beautiful venue in Bullard, TX called The Dewberry Plantation. The Dewberry Plantation was built in 1854 and is the only two story pre-civil war era house standing in Smith County. This made the perfect backdrop for their beautiful wedding!

dewberry-plantation-photography-bullard-tx — The inside of the home is absolutely gorgeous and very well preserved!

Rachel & Don’s day would not be complete without their flapper bridesmaids,

and the dashing groomsmen (and woman)!

The ceremony went off without a hitch!

Rachel’s dad Sam walked her down the aisle and delivered her into the waiting arms of her soon to be husband.

After some laughter and tears when the vows were being read, they finally had their long awaited first kiss as husband and wife.

The reception was full of more laughter and even a few tears as Rachel’s son gave a speech and told everyone how Don was the best dad anyone could every have. Okay they were my tears but still! so sweet….

Laughter and smiles seems to follow these two sweethearts wherever they go.

Congratulations Don & Rachel!

Criss can be found floating around on her Website, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter accounts when she’s not running around the house in her cape.

Newborn Portraits in Bullard, TX

Published on May 12, 2016 by Phoenix Rhys ArtistryLeave a comment

Adorable baby Silas Heath was born on April 16^th 2016 in Tyler, Texas and now resides in Bullard, TX. Normally, at the end of a three or four-hour newborn photo shoot, I am covered in baby poop, pee and tears (sometimes of the exhausted mother) but Silas went out like a light! Besides one little sprinkler accident, Silas slept through two hours of an indoor shoot and jostling around on the walk to and positioning of him for the outdoor portion of our shoot. I was impressed! Mom & Granny patiently held a blanket up to block his little body from the sun so he wouldn’t wind up with a sunburn.We had to wake him up at hour four just so mom could get some awake photos with baby. And adorable portraits they are! Mom loves her precious little baby so much.

Check out all of Silas’ Newborn Photographs on his YouTube Video

Criss can be found floating around on her Website, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter accounts when she’s not running around the house in her cape.

Annual Blue Santa Event

Published on December 11, 2015December 12, 2015 by Phoenix Rhys Artistry5 Comments

police-officers-and-kids-prp — They really need some adult supervision (the cops, not the kids)

Most of my clients know that along with owning and running my photography business, I am also a police officer in East Texas. And if you know any officers or any other public servants, you know that this is not something that we just do, it’s who we are. (Because we dang sure aren’t doing it to get rich)

12360274_10204302177709151_4490001902362905619_n — It’s so nice to see old friends and co-workers and it NOT be for a funeral! (Source: Facebook)

Rarely do my skills in both of my jobs get to come together in any kind of good way but this year I had the absolute privilege of photographing (along with Ryan Jordan from Ryan Jordan Photography) this years Blue Santa Event.

Blue Santa was sponsored by the East Texas Fraternal Order of Police in Tyler lead by Tyler PD Officer Chuck Boyce. With donations and assistance from officers and various businesses in the area, it gives underprivileged children, children that have been victims of crimes or that have lost parents because of crime, the opportunity to go Christmas shopping at Wal-Mart with a police officer. Children were allowed to spend around $100 and on several occasions this night, I saw officers pulling out their own cards and cash to pay for the children to have extra. Or in the case of one young man, the officer purchasing him a helmet to go with his new bicycle!

kid-on-bike-blue-santa-prp — That was probably a good idea officer.

Blue Santa was there taking pictures with the kids and asking them what they wanted for Christmas when they first showed up, then they received a Christmas stocking full of goodies made from old uniforms by Michelle Askew.

girl-with-stocking-blue-sant-prp — The stockings were a big hit!

12346306_1001000629946936_3159749862688687200_n — Santa puts on his blue suit for us! Thank you Cops 4 Cops for sending Santa to us! (Source:Facebook)

Animal Control officers were also on hand to wrangle the stuffed animals that they were handing out to all the children.

There were so many officers (around 80+) who volunteered that Officer Kerry Long called the fire department across the street so I could stand on top of the fire truck to take the group photograph of them! I’ve never been so proud in my life to call these people family.

blue-santa-police-officers — Officers, Deputies, Animal Control, Game Wardens, State Troopers and MANY MANY MANY departments represented from all over E. Texas as far as Dallas and Marshall!

One officer joked that he didn’t volunteer he showed up for a call and saw all the kids and wanted to shop with them, the call could wait.

The children were awesome! I got big smiles out of everyone and was even informed by SCSO Sergeant Schultz and LISD PD Officer Wilson that I was to address their child as princess and princess only. My bad!!

For a little while, I thought we were going to have to arrest some officers for kidnapping because I didn’t think they were going to give the kids back to their parents!

officer-and-baby-blue-santa-prp — Deputy McDowell, your husband is right behind you, he says you have to give her back!

For anyone who has never spent much time with an officer, most of us are just kids ourselves at heart. We were those kids that wore capes and were going to save everyone and the world.

CBS-blue-santa-officers — CBS left their mike behind on accident, that provided at least 30 minutes worth of entertainment for Officer Boyce. Thank goodness they didn’t leave a camera!

And you know what, maybe we aren’t still running around with bed sheets tied around our necks (well maybe some of them are, we won’t talk about what they do at home) but on days like this maybe, just maybe we kept a child from going without for Christmas or MAYBE we even touched a kid’s heart enough that it breeds a whole new generation of cape wearing heroes.

Do me a favor, readers of mine (all 4 of you), please share this. There is so much bad news out there that these stories of love and happiness need to be shared, recognized, and appreciated this holiday season. And if you would like to donate for next year OR sponsor a child please check it out HERE.

Criss can be found floating around on her Website, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter accounts when she’s not running around the house in her cape.

The Freeman Family’s Newest Member

Published on November 3, 2015November 4, 2015 by Phoenix Rhys ArtistryLeave a comment

Having photographed some of these family members over the summer, I knew I was in for a treat! When Mom contacted me via her mother, to photograph her newborn baby boy and the family, I think she said something along the lines of “NO STUPID HATS!” To which I giggled and thought…awe man when will I get to use the SOMBRERO as a prop!

Some of you who have previously had a customized session by me, probably can recall the look of abject horror I had on my face when you showed me a photograph you found on Pinterest with chalkboards, or scrabble letters. I promise I really don’t make those faces on purpose. They just pop up on my face. However, inside when someone shows me their inspiration, I’m screaming “OH MY GOD THE CHEESY PROPS!!!!! NOOOOOOO!!!!” So thank you for not calling me out on that, if you noticed. Then I calm down and start planning the “look” for your session and try to find the “look” you are going for by showing me these inspirational photographs. So to start off planning a session with a client who absolutely doesn’t want cheesy props makes me think I have found the absolutely perfect client! I love you…….(too much?)

I had a reveal session planned for another client an hour away directly after this newborn & family session. Also, remember hurricane Patricia a couple of weeks ago that hit Mexico? Yea the remnants from that went over the top of us the day of this portrait session. Mom’s husband was so chivalrous when he braved the howling storm to help me get my gear out of my poor little cram packed Mustang. And then again when he helped me cram it back. My car still smells bad from all the wet gear that hung out in it for the rest of the night!

criss-hammack — #BTS (behind the scenes) Photograph courtesy of Mrs. Freeman

Poor big brother did not seem to be impressed by my mad photography skills or his new baby brother but come to find out the poor little guy was fighting an ear infection! He never even cried. I want to lay down in the floor and scream if I get an ear infection and no way you would get a camera near me! Such a little trooper.

Baby Cooper had the alertness of a two month old. Which made for some great lifestyle photographs but he really, really did not want to miss anything! So he didn’t slip off into baby never never land for very long. But that was okay because I’m quick with the camera.

newborn smiling - Tyler TX photographer — Baby Cooper looks like he is up to something!!

For someone who had just had a cesarean five days earlier and no sleep with a toddler and a newborn to care for, Mom was absolutely beautiful and Dad looked so proud of his little family.

Whatever kind of day I have had though, quietly sitting and taking photographs of newborns makes my day. Especially with clients like these. Thank you both for working with me to preserve these precious memories!

Tyler Texas Newborn Photographer — Shhhhhh……..

Phoenix Rhys Photography can be found floating around on her Website, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter accounts when she’s not out having fun with her clients.

How to lose the wattle (How to take photos without having a double chin)

Published on July 3, 2015August 1, 2016 by Phoenix Rhys ArtistryLeave a comment

Quick, does anyone remember Ally Mcbeal….. I used to love that show when I was younger and they have re-runs now!

Does anyone remember that guy Fish that had a wattle fetish? You know, the loose skin that’s on a woman’s neck. Guess what, if you have that fetish, no woman is going to appreciate you pointing it out. In fact, my third most requested thing (after will you make my ass bigger or my waist smaller) is can you remove my double chin?

Actually, that would be a HUGE pain in the petunia to do in Photoshop and I would charge you extra and really I tend to notice it when I’m posing clients before I press the shutter and adjust them. So let me give you my tricks to banishing the DOUBLE CHIN (there was an echo after that) for when you take selfies or someone else breaks out their cell phone and points it at you! DO AT LEAST ONE OF THESE THREE EASY THINGS.

#1 REALLY EASY THING TO DO

STOP FACING THE CAMERA HEAD ON AND BEND SOMETHING! I repeat stop turning your body and head towards the camera at the same angle with your hands at your side. If you have a joint (no not that kind) then bend and move it. I suggest shifting your body because your body facing the camera also causes you to appear wider and lord help you if you’re wearing stripes.

Just to note this is a straight on photo with me doing everything we are going to talk about wrong.

Now in this one I am still slightly canted. In case you’re wondering, I was looking in the mirror at my “wattle” while preparing for a client consultation when inspiration hit for this post. This time I wasn’t driving when inspiration hit so I didn’t put anyone else in danger!

#2 Head Out, Chin Down

You will hear me tell you this when we begin your session, then you’ll promptly forget and hear me repeating it over and over again. Why? BECAUSE this is the #1 thing that banishes the DOUBLE CHIN (echo again).

Head back & relaxed Good bye chin & Jaw! — Head back & relaxed

Head out & chin down PERFECT shadow contouring the chin

Easy now, don't get too crazy with it.... — Easy now, don’t get too crazy with it….

Sticking your head out and putting your chin down feels a little awkward but it’s only until the photo is snapped.

#3 THE DREADED ABOVE EYE SELFIE

Do you know why women take selfies of themselves with the camera above their head? (Sometimes not paying attention to what’s behind them)

Because it’s a flattering angle and one of the oldest…..help me look skinnier in photos…tricks in the book

Let’s talk perspective…..

I remember this being like the first assignment in photography school. Perspective…everyone promptly went out and basically created an image like this. My instructors were not impressed with our lack of creativity. (and this was before GOOGLE!)

Whatever is closest to the camera is going to look bigger and the further away the smaller it appears. Also, being above eye level gives your chin and jaw definition. Thus banishing the double chin. (Perspective is also what caused my tatas to appear ginormous in those last images…. they were the closest thing to the camera)

20150627_095736 — Also…. ladies….you don’t have to be this high above eye level, slightly above will do

So, when someone whips out a camera and you’re paying attention you turn slightly to the side, tilt your head down and stick your chin out (slightly) and if the camera is higher than your eye level shift your eyes up.

Also, let me repeat my mantra. A camera takes a 3D moment in time and spits it out in 2D. It is not magical. You are a moving breathing person. You don’t have to un-tag yourself from every FB image your friends post of you because when you’re out and about you don’t really look like that one photo makes you look!

Or better yet come see me. I’ll take awesome FB profile images for you. 🙂

DO YOU KNOW HOW FLIPPING HARD IT IS TO TAKE A SELFIE WITH A SAMSUNG NOTE ONE HANDED?

Criss can be found floating around on her Website, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter accounts when she’s not running around the house in her cape.

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