Family Portraits at Cibolo Nature Center {San Antonio Photographer}

 Fall is just around the corner!

Thank goodness....I thought I might melt from the unrelenting heat of San Antonio Summers. 

Fall for me means Family Portraits and I literally CAN NOT WAIT to see you guys this year!

Covid has left our studio a little lonely in 2020. We miss seeing our clients that we think of as friends. Many of you have halted your plans to have portraits and I am here to say, let's get back to LIFE! With the hope of some sense of normalcy, we plan to be busy capturing memories in the form of portraits for many of you. And we have already begun booking sessions!

Last year, we visited a "new-to-me" location...Cibolo Nature Center. We discovered some beautiful spots that are totally portrait worthy, so we are heading back there again this Fall. 

As usual, you can always book a session anytime, any day and any location with your family. But once or twice a year I have these Family Portrait Events where I do back to back sessions at the same location (and I even give you a break on the price). This blog post is devoted to our Fall Family Day.

This event is happening on a SUNDAY!! My normal Sunday sessions are $550 and that just pays for the session! Fall Family Day is on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18th and the session fee is only $200! I know....crazy good deal happening!

I will book 6 sessions. SIX SESSIONS only. 3 in the morning and 3 in the afternoon.

Bookings are NOW OPEN....210-497-3809 or EMAIL ME.

Check out some of the gorgeous spots that we will be able to use:

Santa's Beach Vacation {San Antonio Santa Portraits}

 Santa Claus is coming to San Antonio a little early this year!

Due to Coronavirus, Santa didn't get his normal summer vacation at the Beach, so instead he is visiting our special little beach at Artistic Images. 

We have worked so hard making Santa's Surf Shack (only a tiny bit of that is showing here (because it just wasn't quite ready when we created these images). In addition we have added a palm tree and several other fun pieces that really make this set design one you and your kids will never forget!

So, keep your summer wear handy as this year that is the PERFECT attire for Santa's Beach Vacation Portraits. In fact, you can even go without shoes, so you will be able to feel the sand between your toes.

If you have never been to see us for Santa Portraits, you will soon find out that these aren't your average "Pictures with Santa". There are many imposters out there, but we have the REAL Santa Claus here and have been working with for 26 years!! Crazy, right? Between you and me....Elizabeth is his favorite photographer.

Below are some samples from our MockUp that we did in August. We had two incredible models to show you the possibilities...Thank you to Brodie and Josh. 

• Clothing: Aloha shirts, shorts, summer styles, rolled up pants, summer dresses, barefoot, flipflops
• Colors: Light Blue, White, Khaki, Cream, Red, Green
• Props: We will provide all that you see in the photos PLUS more! We will be sanitizing all props between sessions. Feel free to bring your own props if you prefer.

DATE:

SEPTEMBER 26, 2020

PRICE:

$50 session fee, $250 minimum order

Products Include: Storybooks, Storyboards, Portraits, Prints, 

Holiday Cards, Digital Collections and MORE!

BOOK YOUR SESSION HERE

or 

Call 210-497-3809

Cover of our Storybook

Our Storyboard

A few of our Christmas Cards

Business Headshots are SO much more than that! {San Antonio Portrait Photographer}

Business Headshots. They are everywhere. Facebook, Linked In, Business Cards, Billboards, Magazines. Anyone can take a selfie and use it as a "profile pic", but should you?

Obviously, I am in the business of taking portraits, so my answer is NO. Selfies have a purpose, but it is not to be used in a professional environment, for your work or to promote yourself to others.

But it can be so much more than just a photo of what you look like. 

Here is one of the very best examples of why you should Begin with the End in Mind.

This is the story of Jim. Jim is a writer. A good one. Jim has already written a few published fiction novels, but his next project is his biggest yet. His publisher said, it is time to update your "About the Author" photo for the back of your new novel. So Jim called me. We chatted for a few minutes over the phone, reminisced about the family portraits I created for him over 15 years ago and set a date for his new portraits. He wanted a casual, happy photo of himself outdoors. Great! We did the session and he selected a favorite image. This image is below.

A wonderful and professional image of Jim wearing a favorite color and looking relaxed, natural and happy. Exactly what he told me he wanted. 

Two days later I received a phone call from Jim. The image we created was not going to work. His published specifically said, "I don't want a photo that looks like Mr. Rogers". And that is exactly what we had created.

Our discussion led us to dig deeper into the story of the novel that Jim had written. Mystery, Intrigue, Action and Adventure. The image we had created above did not give the idea that this author could produce a believable novel with those elements. That photo portrayed a writer who may have written something closer to a Hallmark Movie. 

So Jim came back in. With a different look and a different mindset, we created the image below.

Now THIS is what the publisher wanted!

If we had begun with the end in mind, we could have saved ourselves some extra work and little frustration. It is such a great reminder to me, to ask questions and get to know my subject a little before just "taking a photo". 

You have heard the saying "A picture is worth a thousand words", right? We just need to be sure we are telling the story that wants/needs to be told.

Here is the link to PREORDER Jim's amazing book:

Infinity's Gateway

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1631951106/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdb_t1_-iL.Eb5T29CCS

Destiny and Kendra Graduate from Texas State University! {San Antonio Senior Photographer}

I was so excited to see these 2 sisters when they scheduled their design consultation for their College Senior Portraits. I had the pleasure of photographing them when they graduated from high school (which seemed like a minute ago) and now here they are, graduating from College! How does that happen so quickly?

These girls are actually a year apart in age, but will both be graduating from college in 2017. What better option than to take their portraits together on the campus of Texas State University.

These two young ladies are the best of friends, roommates, each others fashion advisors and they even work for the same company. You can see their mutual love for each other in their portraits.

While I enjoy every session I have the opportunity to photograph, this one was particularly fun for me as the girls were so stinkin' photogenic and just completely full of joy.

Congratulations Destiny and Kendra!! Can't wait to see where life takes you!

SPACE DAYS {Star Wars Inspired Portraits}

SPACE DAYS

Artistic Images Star Wars Inspired Portraits

September 23 & 24

Sessions for children, teens and adults

RESERVATIONS OPEN 

FRIDAY AUGUST 12th

  

The DARK SIDE

The LIGHT SIDE

 

Image Check Up...How outdated is your business portrait? {San Antonio Professional Photographer}

The other day, I happened to see an ad for a business professional and was surprised to see his business headshot.

It was awful.
It looked like it could have been taken with an iPhone.
The lighting was bad. The quality was poor. There was no "enhancing" done to the image.
Overall, the image was not much better than a "selfie" that you might see on Instagram or Facebook.

I started wondering WHY? Why would someone who is in business (no matter what business) make the decision to have their image be portrayed in such poor light? I mean, we all learned in Marketing 101 that the first impression is the most important impression, right? So the first impression he has made on me is one of lack of quality, attention to detail and genuine lack of care for his professional "image".

Maybe your headshot does look great, it was SO great that you haven't updated it in over 5 years! There is another reason to have a new headshot taken. Trends change, styles change, you change. If you are wearing shoulder pads in your business suit, then it is time for a new photo (and a new suit...LOL).

Whether you choose ME to do your professional headshots, or you choose some other professional, PLEASE do yourself a favor: Get a Professional Business portrait taken.

Maddie's Bat Mitzvah! {San Antonio Event Photographer}

January 31, 2016

Maddie's Bat Mitzvah

The beautiful Temple Beth-El was the location of the ceremony and luncheon. The AMAZING Glowing Out Party was held at the Tobin Center which was the perfect scene for the 

glow-in-the-dark celebration! 

The event was decorated and coordinated by Sweet August Events

and DPC Event Services.

Flowers by Statue of Design

They did an amazing job!!!

Enjoy a sampling of images from the event:

Congratulations to Maddie and her family for a wonderful achievement and celebration!