My friends George and Lauren got hitched last weekend! I met them both  awhile back through a mutual friend, Lauren’s old college roommate Veronica who also happened to marry best friend Eddie. That was the start but long story short we are all pretty close now and they are the most awesome type of people. Photography-wise they’ve hired me to capture the images they used for holiday cards. I also shot their engagement pictures last summer. Given our friendship, I was invited as a guest to their wedding held at Olde Dobbin Station in Montgomery, TX as opposed to being hired on to work the event. Still though I couldn’t resist bringing my camera along and capturing some memories for them while enjoying the ceremony and reception.

Below are some of the shots I took of their special day at Olde Dobbin Station. Congrats George and Lauren!

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So my little brother Kris got married recently at The Sam Houston Hotel in Downtown Houston.  Given that he and his bride Amanda had bestowed upon me the honor of being the best man for all the festivities, I had to worry more about speeches, bachelor parties and that sort of thing as opposed to taking photos like most of the other weddings I usually attend. It worked out well with a beautiful ceremony and many other touching moments throughout the wedding rehearsal, ceremony and reception. And despite all my responsibilities, I still managed to snap a few photos as you’ll see below.

Oh, and my speech went well. Thanks to Eddie for the help!

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Aside from (and also above and beyond) professional photography, my greatest joy in life has to be spending time with my son. Nicky has always been too cool even since he was a baby but now that he’s a little older I’m trying to pay attention to dressing him less like a toddler and more like a big boy. You know, since he’s so keen on reminding me how mature he is being that he’s 5 years old and about to go into kindergarten and all.

Anyways, we went shopping the other day and I picked him up some new threads. Not sure if everything I picked out for him matches but he likes his outfits so I’m going to chalk this up as a success! My little baby boy is growing up fast!

Anyways, check out some quick preschooler portraits I did for my boy in his new outfits following our shopping trip the other day:

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Too much traveling lately so I haven’t had a chance to book as many Houston photoshoots as I’ve liked but I did manage to get back the other day! This time I hosted a studio session with Melody Champagne, an awesome model and friend I’ve known for a little while. It was a very cool and laid back time playing in front of the camera. We started at 9 and the hours just flew by until it was like 1am and we both had to work the next day! lol.

I still haven’t gone through very many of our shots yet since we took so many but I’m confident we got some gems! Can’t wait to go through everything in more detail once I get the chance. I also desperately need to edit my photography website since I have about 8 months of work (some of my best stuff!) to update my portfolio with so hopefully I get the chance to do that and this site will look a little more robust with more eye-popping images soon.

Anyways, here’s a few first look shots from my photo session with Melody. More to come soon!

Want to book your own photo session? Email me for pricing and availability!

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Here’s one of the shots we came up with as a sneak preview:

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Warm summer thoughts on a cold winter day

like your brother and child at play

warms your heart

like a mother’s kiss

priceless moments you’ll always miss.

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Naturally when I see this pair of pajamas online I had to buy them for my boy. And hence this impromptu photo shoot right before bed the other day! Check out the resulting images below coupled with some of my favorite Bruce Lee quotes that apply to life!

#1 – “Be happy, but never satisfied.”

#2 – “Adapt what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is specifically your own.”

#3 – “I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.”

#4 – “If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.”

#5 – “A goal is not always meant to be reached, it often serves simply as something to aim at.”

#6 – “It is not a daily increase, but a daily decrease. Hack away at the inessentials.”

#7 – “As you think, so shall you become.”

#8 – “The more we value things, the less we value ourselves.”

#9 – “The idea is that flowing water never goes stale, so just keep on flowing.”

#10 – Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”

#BONUS – “Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one”

The post 10 Awesome Bruce Lee Quotes for Life and a Portrait Tribute appeared first on Mike Calimbas Photography.

Awesome how something so simple as looking at your refrigerator can remind you of life’s blessings. I’ve got a fairly big social circle but what I’m really thankful for are the best close friends anyone could ask for.

(Most of those cards created with images from my sessions with them, by the way…)

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Super cool to see my Mike Calimbas Photography logo along with TXMMA.com in this UFC 181 Highlight! Both are prominently featured right in the opening frames of this outstanding highlight video. Big thanks to Fight of the Night winner Matthew Hobar along with the entire team at Octagon MMA for their continued support and friendship. The Texas MMA Community is the best!

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