2014 – Looking Back | Favorite Images
Now that the Holidays are over and most of the football games have been played,
I felt like taking a look back at 2014. I sure did snap a whole lotta pictures. Most were pretty good (IMHO).
A few of the images, however, were pretty darn good. Here are some of my favorites.
Children’s playful and smiling laughter . . .
Newly formed families creating special memories . . .
Beautifully colorful and emotional celebrations . . .
Fun-loving return clients that have become friends . . .
Long-time friends that have supported me from before the beginning . . .
Bold adventurers excitedly stepping out into the unknown . . .
Gleefully unencumbered innocence . . .
Families blending together in happiness . . .
Fatherhood . . .
Motherhood . . .
And a ton of awesome clients.
Thanks for your trust and confidence. It’s so much fun shooting you guys.
The Dog Days of Summer | Mr. Mom | Dallas, Texas Lifestyle Photographer
- At September 12, 2014
- By beno
- In General, Lifestyle
0
Summer is over and only the memories remain.
Fortunately, I love capturing and preserving memories.
It’s what I do for a living, after all.
You may have noticed I took a little time for the things that matter most these past few months.
Not to worry! I’m back and ready to go.
Bonnets Making Me Blue | Dallas, Texas Family Photographer
- At May 15, 2014
- By beno
- In Family, Lifestyle
- 0
Part of being a professional photographer in Dallas, Texas means every Spring you shoot thousands of beautiful families frolicking and having fun in the bluebonnets, right?
That’s what I thought too. I was ready to deliver the bad news to the late-comers that I was all booked up and simply would not have time to work them in. Barely enough time to eat.
But, outside of a few wonderful clients nobody came knocking. My website never even crashed beneath the digital strain of the sudden and overwhelming bandwidth overload.
And I’m convinced that it’s not for lack of quality. Hey, I’ve taken some pretty good bluebonnet pictures in my time. Just ask around.
True, the flowers haven’t been quite as brilliant this Spring. But, they’re still out there. We can’t all live in Ennis.
No, that’s not it.
My theory is that, for whatever reason, it’s just not as popular as it was a few years ago. I guess everyone is just blue-bonneted out.
Bummer.
Spring Flower Sessions | Dallas Blooms | Dallas, TX Lifestyle Photographer
- At March 05, 2014
- By beno
- In Lifestyle
- 0
Spring is here and in Dallas, Texas that means it’s time to go outside and have some fun. In Big “D” you gotta tip-toe through the tulips while you can, because three fat months of hotter-than-hot temperatures are just waiting around the corner.
March and April have it going on, though. Just look around Dallas and you’ll see flowers of all shapes and sizes blooming everywhere.
From the Dandelions and Tulips of “Dallas Blooms” at The Dallas Arboretum to the spontaneous spectacle of Bluebonnets that grace the fields and roadsides each year, Dallas has a love affair with Spring Flowers.
There is no better time to gather the family together and have some professional portraits taken.
Please contact me today to schedule your family’s session. The calendar is filling up and like the beautiful flowers that only hang around for a few weeks – these specialized session offerings won’t last either.
Christmas Gift Certificates | Dallas Lifestyle Photographer
- At December 17, 2013
- By beno
- In General
- 0
Okay, it’s only a little over a week until Christmas and you still haven’t gotten your mother a single thing. You’re stumped . . . dumbfounded . . . stupefied. What do you give the person who seemingly has everything?
An iPad? No, too techie.
A motorcycle? No, too butch.
An XBox 360? No, she’s already got one.
And don’t even think about getting her another Snuggly. How warm and unfashionable does one person really need to be, after all?
No, what she really wants is a picture of the entire family to hang on the wall.
This Christmas, give that special someone a Gift Certificate from Ben O’Neal Photography . . . the gift that will keep on giving for years to come.
Contact Ben O’Neal for details.
Happy Anniversary | Dallas, Texas Photographer
- At October 01, 2013
- By beno
- In General
- 0
On this, the One Year Anniversary of Ben O’Neal Photography, I thought it would be fun to go back, dig deep into the vault and share some never-before-seen images taken through-out the past year.
From Rock ‘n’ Roll bands . . .
. . . to leaders of business . . .
. . . to some of the most adorable kids in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex . . . it has certainly been a roller coaster ride the likes of which I never could have predicted.
So many beautiful events . . .
. . . and interesting people . . .
. . . and amazing families that I was fortunate enough to photograph.
As I look back through the images we created together, I’m touched by the trust and confidence everyone so readily placed in me.
These images (and so many more) may look like just a pile of random smiling people . . .
. . . cool looking places . . .
. . . and purposefully proud parents, but believe me when I tell you that the truth is much more than that.
The simple truth is that these pictures tell stories. They are insights into the real and colorful lives of the people I call clients. Each and every one is uniquely special and inherently beautiful, little shining reminders of the fun we had together.
Here’s to many more years – I can’t wait to meet the next image . . .
Double the Fun | Frisco Family Photographer
- At July 24, 2013
- By beno
- In Family
- 2
Angela, a friend of mine from High School, contacted me a while back wanting to do a “double” session with her family and the family of her best friend Brandi. It sounded like a really great idea, so we got everything set up.
Wow! This group was super fun and full of energy. I enjoyed all of the different pairings and match-ups they wanted to capture.
We couldn’t have chosen a better location, either. The Heritage Museum in Frisco came through big time. I absolutely loved the scenic elements and the abundance of spectacular exterior walls on all of the old buildings. Everywhere you turn there is another metal barn or a beautiful rock wall or some sort of old, rustic wooden structure.
This is just one of those places where, on a good evening, you know you’re going to see at least a handful of photographers with their clients.
The BFFs looked beyond amazing as well. I loved the outfits they had prepared for themselves and the rest of their families. Super cool and bursting with color.
On top of all the fantastic old buildings at the Frisco Heritage Museum, they also have a wonderfully authentic train.
Needless to say, I filled up my memory card shooting these guys. They were just so photogenic and the location provided an endless variety of amazing background settings.
Before long, we had worked our way around the entire center, shooting well past the point when the light had actually given out.
I’m so glad that Angela and Brandi contacted me. It was an amazing session filled with near perfect light, a ton of interesting settings and two whole families full of really cool looking kiddos.
Breckenridge, Colorado | Colorado Lifestyle Photographer
- At June 25, 2013
- By beno
- In General
- 0
Our family recently returned from another yearly trip to the beautiful state of Colorado. Since moving from Denver to Dallas, we seem to be heading back up to Colorado as often as we can.
The natural scenery was as spectacular as ever, with wonderful weather to enjoy the entire week. A favorite past-time was checking the weather App on our iPhones and commenting on how much more pleasant the temperature was in Breck as compared to Big D.
We hiked and swam and played and walked all over town. One morning we even shared breakfast with a hungry gang of Chipmunks. Who knew that the average chipmunk can consume three times his body weight in sunflower seeds before 10:00 AM!?!
Our kids were both born in Colorado and we want them to know as much of it growing up as they can. It’s so fun exploring and discovering new wonders with them.
The beauty of the mountains is everywhere, and as a photographer, I was on sensory overload all week with my camera clicking away like crazy. This year, I made it a point to focus on shooting some of my favorite details in and around Breckenridge that I don’t normally get to photograph.
Just like any beer enthusiast, I always try to hit the Breckenridge Brewery while we are up there. But, I have never really tried to take any pictures.
This time, I walked in with my camera strapped around my neck and sat down at the bar. I laid my Nikon right there on the bar in plain sight. After exchanging a few pleasantries, the bartender asked if I was out taking pictures. Before I knew it, she had invited me behind the bar where I was able to get in close for some very cool views of the place.
Thoroughly refreshed, it was time to snap a few pics at a local Ski Shop. I love the gear associated with the snowsports industry. Every spring in mountain towns all over the country you’ll find walls of boots on sale and bins of last year’s skis marked down.
It’s like an X-Games prop department. The details were too good to resist.
After grabbing a Mocha at the uber-cool Starbucks, I stopped into the Patagonia Store. I love their clothing as well as their corporate rational and strategy.
The salesperson was really friendly and we talked awhile about the company and their aesthetic and other things such as taking days off of work to hit the slopes.
He invited me to take as many pictures as I wanted. So, I did exactly that.
Before heading back up the mountain, I popped in to Empire Burgers for some goodies. One of the waitresses let me shoot the shirt right on her back. How’s that for service?
Our view from the balcony of The Grand Lodge on Peak 7 was spectacular. It was hard not to spend all of our time out their just watching the breeze blowing through the trees.
On the drive home, we decided to visit The Great Sand Dunes National Park. Now, that is a photogenic location, if I’ve ever seen one.
The kids loved it and were even sworn in as Junior Rangers. Unfortunately, the position doesn’t pay much.
All in all, it was an amazing adventure and we are already planning our next trip back.
Catch Me if You Can! | Dallas Lifestyle Photographer
- At May 21, 2013
- By beno
- In General
- 0
No matter who wanders in front of my lens, The G Man will always be my first photographic love.
My original model and still constant inspiration. The Grantster is hands down the fastest individual ever captured by Ben O’Neal Photography . . . and that only happens on rare occasion.
I love you son.
Bluebonnet Extras | Dallas Lifestyle Photographer
- At March 28, 2013
- By beno
- In Lifestyle
- 0
If you have been following my photography, you’ve no doubt seen the bluebonnet image of my son before. It’s pretty special to me for a whole host of reasons . . . not least of which – it’s reception convinced me to go pro.
Now that a year has passed since that award-winning photograph was taken, I thought it might be fun to post some of the other images captured that Spring evening.
I LOVE taking pictures of my kids. It’s as simple as that. The bluebonnets, were, admittedly a ruse. I was just stoked to be taking my camera out of the bag.
Now that a year has passed and Ben O’Neal Photography is going strong, taking a look at these pictures reminds me how excited I used to get just spending time snapping images of my son and daughter.
I hope you will contact me today about setting up your family’s Bluebonnet Mini-Session. I can’t wait to make some more photographic magic in the Texas wildflowers this Spring.