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Wednesday, December 5, 2012

A Ruidoso New Year!

We LOVE taking our boys skiing at Ski Apache in Ruidoso! It has become a spring break tradition for us but this year we have decided to be there over New Year's Eve. After a crazy, busy holiday portrait season, we are gonna have some much needed R&R.
Upon posting this on Facebook, I have discovered that MANY of my clients and friends visit Ruidoso over the holidays. So I decided that it would be INSANELY cool to do portraits in the mountains (and hopefully the snow). Since we hardly EVER see snow in San Antonio,
this is my chance to do portraits in the beautiful white snow!
Last year I did some portraits of my boys playing in the snow and my nephews
posing like Abercrombie Models.
Check it out!

I have reduced the price of my normal Destination Fees by a SIGNIFICANT amount
and decided to keep the sessions short and sweet.
I would LOVE it if you would join us in Ruidoso during our stay
 and have some awesome portraits made!
But if not, we may have just started a new yearly tradition :)

I hope this Holiday Season finds you STRESS-FREE and feeling FABULOUS!
Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Home for the Holidays 2012 {San Antonio Family Photographer}

Our Most Popular Holiday Sessions are coming soon....
Home for the Holidays
With your family in town for Thanksgiving or Christmas
it is the PERFECT time to do that family portrait that you have been wanting to do for YEARS!
 
We will make this as easy as possible....
We have picked the location...the gorgeous Mission San Jose
We have picked the dates...November 21 and December 22
All you have to do is call to book the time and select some clothing!
Call 210-497-3809
 and we will set you up with a complimentary design consultation with
 Elizabeth to discuss all of your ideas and even help you with your clothing selection!
 
We only have ONE afternoon appointment available on November 21
OOPS....Sorry....SOLD OUT!
But December 22 still has several openings....as of today.
 
These are ONE hour sessions that have a reduced session fee and minimum purchase.
It's an affordable way to get a Mission portrait
by Elizabeth!
 
 
Cothing Colors that look AMAZING at the Missions:
Black
Brown (any shade)
Khahi
Cream
Terra Cotta
Grey
Click HERE for some clothing ideas
 
Thursday, November 1, 2012

Summer 2013 Portrait Destination....ITALY! {San Antonio Destination Family Photographer}

We are going to ITALY
and would love it if
YOU could join us!
Here are the dates
and tentative locations:
June 18-22 Tuscany
June 22-23 Venice
June 24-27 Rome
June 27-29 Amalfi Coast
All of the above dates and locations are tentative as we still
have yet to secure all travel plans.
If you are interested in meeting up with us at the most
fabulous portrait destination we have been to yet,
give us a call to chat about the possibilites.
DETAILS:
Destination portrait sessions are $650 (1-2 locations)
Minimum portrait purchase of $2000
-----------------
Complete Destination Package includes ALL day at
as many locations as you can fit into one day.
Also includes 40" wall portrait, 50 page Custom Art Book
and 100 Christmas Cards
 $8100


Visit www.zincasso.com for
assistance planning your vacation to Italy.
They provide a fabulous service!
OR
www.ricksteves.com
for Italy on a budget.








Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Happy Halloween {San Antonio Children's Photographer}

Happy Halloween
from all of us at
Artistic Images!
  Below are some of the priceless images created during
MY boys' portrait session.
First off....we forgot the clothes at home.
SO.....this is what they wore to school.
Horribly uncoordinated but it makes for a great story!










 Their beautifully coordinated orangey fall colored clothing
will have to make an appearance at another time. :)
Happy Fall Y'all!
Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Cool New Portrait Decor! {San Antonio Family Photographer}

We have a fantastic NEW product just in time
for our Holiday Portraits!
CUBE DECOR

Take a look at these adorable cubes!
They are available in
JOY
LOVE
&
PEACE
and are perfect additions to your home holiday decorations!
Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Introducing Baby Asher {San Antonio Family & Newborn Photographer}

This beautiful family just welcomed their newest addition....Asher.
I just had to show them off as they are such a
gorgeous family inside and out.
In addition to just being fabulous people,
they also started this amazing organization
 













 
Monday, October 15, 2012

Portrait Collection Ideas! {San Antonio Family Photographer}

Here are some fabulous ideas of how you can create a Wall Collection from your Portrait Session.
Sometimes ONE portrait is simply not enough!


From your Family Session

From your Baby Session

Fabulous with closeups and Word Art

From your Wedding


From your Beach Session

Here are some great display ideas for your portrait collection.
You are only limited by your imagination!
(wall gallery inspiration courtesy of Pinterest and Ann Beck Photography)
Tuesday, October 9, 2012

To Die For Pot Roast Recipe

With the cooler weather arriving (then leaving and hopefully arriving again) I had to post one of my favorite Crock Pot Recipes.

To Die For Pot Roast

1 (4 -5 lb) beef roast, any kind  (I used chuck roast)

1 (1 1/4 ounce) package brown gravy mix, dry

1 (1 1/4 ounce) package dried Italian salad dressing mix 
(I cut this in 1/2 to keep it from being too salty)

1 (1 1/4 ounce) package ranch dressing mix, dry

1/2 cup water (I have made this several times, sometimes using beer or wine instead of water)

Veggies (carrots, small potatoes, onions...whatever you like)

Directions:

1. Place beef roast in crock pot.

2. Mix the dried mixes together in a bowl and sprinkle over the roast.

3. Pour the water around the roast.

4. Cook on low for 7-9 hours.  

The easiest and most delicious Pot Roast I have ever made. Seriously!  

Enjoy!    
  (recipe and photo adapted from food.com)
Monday, October 8, 2012

Do we sell Digital Files? {San Antonio Family Photographer}

We have been in business for 20 years. 20 years ago not one single person ever asked to purchase our "negatives". Wow....times sure have changed.

For the past 20 years, Artistic Images, has prided itself in creating beautiful Wall Decor and Leather-bound albums for clients homes. The craft of creating a canvas portrait is a multi-step process that we, along with our professional portrait lab, have perfected along the way.  Over the past 7 or 8 years, we have evolved into the digital age, but one thing has not changed. We are still creating Wall Decor and Leather-bound albums for our clients homes.

Now, we are constantly asked if we sell the "digital files". The answer is always "yes, we do".

However, we are still in the business of creating Art for client's homes.

I would be doing myself and my clients a disservice if I now just sold them a file and then left it up to them to get it printed in some fashion by some place, professional or not. When I release a full resolution digital file to someone, I have lost control of the quality of that image. I have no idea if that person will take that file to Walmart or one of our local professional labs. I have no idea if the person printing the image is a qualified, trained printer, or a 16 year old who knows only how to push the "print" button.

Yes, I know you can go onto Facebook today and find hundreds of photographers who are willing to sell  you a cd of the entire portrait session for pennies. I am very well aware of the fact that I am priced well above what most people are willing to pay for photographic services. I can not do anything about those other photographers. I can only worry about myself and the clients who come to me for their portraiture. And I can promise you this:

A well trained photographer: I am a Certified Professional Photographer; a certification process through the Professional Photographers of America. I am a Master Photographer; only a small percentage of photographers ever achieve this status which is obtained by entering images into International Print Competition. I am a Craftsman Photographer; this is obtained by teaching others the art and the business of photography. After 20 years in business, I still compete every year and attend seminars and conventions to keep my photography fresh and current.

A well trained staff: We are small but we are mighty! Most of my staff has been with me for over 10 years. We are dedicated to creating products with the highest quality while having amazing customer service. We are all constantly updating our systems and skills to have the best photographic product possible.

A product that is created with the utmost of care: Our finished products look amazing because we use the highest quality photographic finishers in the industry. Our vendors are our TEAM and they care as much about the end result as we do. We make take a little more time to create the product because we want it done right and don't want to rush the process.

A finished product that is a work of art: My work may stand out to you as different than the rest. That is because I treat each person, each session, each family as One of a Kind. There are no "formulas" or set "poses" that I do for each and every session. I want your images to be a one of a kind work of art. My hope is that my clients feel that I gave it my all. When they look at their finished images they have a wonderful feeling about the image and the experience.

A day in the life of a MOM:
If I were to use myself as an example of what I feel would happen to most people who purchase a CD of their portrait session it would go like this:
I have the CD. I look at them on the computer and ooh and ahhh. I can't decide. A week later, I look at them again and write down some favorites, get interrrupted and never finish. Another week later, I look at them at midnight and say "I must get these ordered", but can not concentrate hard enough to finish the task. It has now been a month. I have nothing. Nothing but a CD to look at. Life happens and a month turns into 3 months. I don't know where to go to order. I would like a stray hair removed, but I don't know who could or would do that. My CD is now just a screensaver on my computer. I have no wall portrait. No album. Not because I don't WANT it all, I just don't have the time or expertise to make it happen.  If you were to look at my personal hard drive, you would find portrait sessions, birthday parties, vacation photos, etc that ALL live in cyberspace. That happens to ME....and I KNOW HOW to produce quality images....I KNOW WHERE to get them printed. I simply don't take the time to do it.

This is why Artistic Images will NEVER be that photographer. When you hire me, you hire my staff and I to produce the highest quality imagery possible. With the highest quality product line that is available. We do not settle for mediocre.

So, do we sell digital files?
Yes, we do. ANY image where a print is purchased (gift, wall or in an album) is now available as an ePix (small resolution digital files perfect for online sharing). WE do the printing and YOU do the sharing.


Which one will leave a legacy for your family for generations?

xoxo
Elizabeth

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Fall Portrait Clothing Ideas {San Antonio Family Photographer}

I put together some images that I felt showed
Fabulous Fall Clothing
for
Family Portraits.



In addition, I wanted to share a few
Helpful Hints:
*Stay Away from Big, Bold Patterns!
*Everyone should feel GREAT about their outfit!
*Dark or neutral shoes are best!
*Stay away from white or bright neon shoes!
* If you want to appear thinner, wear all one tone
(either all light or all dark or all neutral)
*Unless you LOVE your arms, wear sleeves.
*Red and Orange are extremely BOLD colors. If you wish to wear those
colors, GREAT, simply be sure it is represented throughout your family.
(if you are the ONLY one in RED, you will stand out like a sore thumb)
*Avoid tight fitting OR very baggy clothing as they do nothing to flatter the figure.
Here is a great piece I got from Pinterest to help put colors and clothing together.
Honestly, I don't know the originator of this great clothing guide, but it is brilliant!
Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Santa Portraits 2012 {San Antonio Santa Portraits}

Here it is!
The long-awaited reveal of our
2012 Collector's Series
Santa and Holiday Events!
 
For All Ages....Santa's Bake Shoppe
Bake cookies and assemble a
Gingerbread house with Santa Claus!
This set reserved for children only, no families.
 
For All Ages...The Wonder of Christmas
Decorate the tree, read with Santa and
give Santa a hug!
This set reserved for children only, no families.

 
A Modern Christmas!
A Simple Holiday Portrait of your children or your family!

 

Fall Portraits Coming Soon! {San Antonio Family Photographer}

Hopefully, the weather is going to get cooler soon and we will do a big cheer that
FALL is finally HERE!
 
This is the busiest time for us and we want to make the most of our available times.
 
We have already started taking reservations for Fall Portraits and times are filling FAST!
 
A couple of Helpful Hints to get the session YOU want this Fall:
 
1. Saturdays fill FIRST. Already, there are none available in September. October has TWO
Saturdays left open and November only has ONE.
If your family NEEDS a Saturday, get on our calendar now!
 
2. Fall Family Days this year will be at two locations on two different days.
Bracken Village....Saturday, October 13
Guadalupe River State Park....Sunday, October 21
If a weekend is necessary for your family, this is a GREAT option!
 
3.Before the time changes (November 4) you might want to consider a weekday
afternoon session for your family. Once the time changes, it will be dark by 6, therefore,
making it a challenge for you to do a session after school is out. October is a
FABULOUS month for Family Portraits!
 
4. Plan Ahead!  Don't wait until December to think about your Christmas Cards. If you had
a session already, we can do Christmas Cards NOW! We do pride ourselves in creating
beautiful cards that are keepsakes for all your friends and family.
 
Below are samples of the Fall Family Events that are coming up, but remember,
we can do Family Sessions anywhere and on anyday.
 
 
 
 
For More Images from our Event Locations
watch this slide show:
 
 
 
Monday, August 27, 2012

A Summer full of fun and adventure! {San Antonio Family Photographer}

Well the summer has come to an end. Today I am actually a bit sad about that. We had a fabulous summer full of travels to new places, exhausting adventures and amazing portrait sessions. The kids were really happy to get back to their cousins and their friends that they didn't get to see all summer long.
Trey and I came back to a crazy schedule jammed with portrait sessions, consultations, kids activities, marketing designing and future planning.
Here are some of the highlights of our trips.

Kauai, Hawaii (aka, Paradise)
Jackson surfing

Joshua surfing!

Jacob and Trey in the cold waterfall pool!

Waimea Canyon with the family!

Joshua swinging from the Indiana Jones rope swing from Raiders of the Lost Ark.




Had to take time out to do a family portrait while we were in Paradise.


Then we were off to Florida!
Destin, Naples and Orlando

Joshua making a sand castle with the boys in the background.









Some of the portraits we created at DisneyWorld:






Then we were off to
ALASKA!
Here are the portraits I created in the magnificent scenery!



The wildlife, the mountains, the glaciers.
I could have stayed all summer!










 I would say we had a pretty amazing summer! I appreciate all of the clients who trusted me to capture their precious memories in these beautiful Destination Locations.
I love each and every one of you with my whole heart!!!