Ann and Daniel had dreams for their engagement session. Big dreams. More specifically, dreams of colorful plastic balls. They told me to meet them at a Mcdonald’s where they would jump into their ball pit, smiling, laughing, and acting like little children. It was going to be fun. Epic. Original.
Well, turns out there are absolutely NO BALL PITS in the DFW metroplex. Anywhere. Apparently, kids were peeing in the pits, “adults” (aka immature 21 yr olds) were throwing glass bottles in, and parents couldn’t buy enough Purell to disinfect each ball after not-their-kid put one down. So, years ago, ball pits were banned. Forever. But, before learning that fact, we turned around and went to Chuck E Cheese’s. Surely, they wouldn’t take out the ball pit there. Wrong. So, these images were taken in the parking lot of an abandoned Macy’s across the street. Ball pit or no ball pit, these two are smokin’ hot.
We then drove down to the new arts district and wandered around.
Gotta give props to Daniel for doing these jumps. Obviously, we didn’t get it on the first try. But, he’s been doing the P90X and Insanity workouts together, so this was nothing.
If you haven’t seen the new Winspear Opera House, here you go. But, really. Go see it in person. You’re missing out.
Now, this next part is fate. For over a year now, I’ve wanted to shoot on highway 45 coming into Dallas. Highway 45 is what you take to get to/from Houston and the view of downtown from that side is just so much more unique than any of the other sides. So, every time I drive back from Houston, I see the view and imagine ways for me to put a couple in front of it. I even considered a drive by where I would drop off the couple on the shoulder, instruct them on how to stand, and then photograph them from my car as someone drove me by. That way, I wouldn’t be parked on the shoulder and risk getting a ticket. Yea. Great idea.
So, when Ann and Daniel said they wanted to take a picture of the 45 sign, I told them my dream and slowly massaged the idea into their minds. During most of their relationship, Daniel lived in Houston while Ann lived in Dallas. Every month, he would drive up and spend the weekend with her, then drive back to Houston early Monday morning straight into work. He’d visit her 3 weeks out of the month and she’d visit him the 4th. So, needless to say, 45 has a special place in their hearts.
And so here we are, driving down 45, trying to figure out how to do this….and guess what? They’re doing road work. How perfect could this be? Someone up there must’ve wanted this shot as bad as me!
So we parked on the shoulder (the left lane was being merged right) and slowly got out. One thing we didn’t think of was the fact that we were on a bridge. And bridges shake when cars drive on it. And it feels like an earthquake when semis drive on it. Oops. I posted an image on facebook that accurately describes the…situation.
But, despite the cars speeding by (think 65mph+) and the semis roaring through, Ann and Daniel managed to drop it like it’s hot.
And, here’s that darn 45 sign you wanted, Daniel.
Guys, thanks for being so brave. And awesome. I can’t wait for your wedding. I wonder what other life threatening shots we’ll come up with!
