Tutorials Archives

May

Biggest Expenses of Your Wedding Day

Depending on which large body of water your wedding will be closest to, you’ll be spending plenty of money on your wedding day. A Manhattan wedding averages about $70K while a wedding in Santa Barbara averages about $36K. A San Antonio wedding is more in line with the national average costing about $26K. The average cost does not even factor in the engagement ring or the honeymoon. These “average” weddings will have four bridesmaids and four groomsmen and 149 guests. If the wedding will not be traditional in the sense that the bride’s parents will foot the bill, many couples save for years to plan for the big day. Even with careful planning, most end with busted budgets as they try to create the perfect day to start their lives together.

What on Earth are couples spending that much money on? The Santa Barbara average could cover the cost of a nice home in many areas of the country. My research may surprise you by seeing how expensive certain elements of a wedding day are. Brace yourself!

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10: Stationery

The invitations are only one part of the stationery category. Also consider the cost of reply cards, save-the-date notices, programs for the ceremony and reception, seating cards and thank you notes. There’s also postage and return postage that is associated with these. On average, the invitations alone cost $650. You can also go crazy with wax melts, hand-engraving, or thermography printing. Would you like a professional calligrapher to address your invitations or a custom-designed wedding logo for your special day? All these options are gaining popularity and also adding expense to the stationery category by hundreds of dollars. Some couples are willing to spend the extra money because the invitation sets the mood for the entire event. However, many couples are still opting to cut corners in this category and print their invitations at home.

9: Rehearsal Dinner

The average rehearsal dinner costs the wedding couple $1,127. While the actual rehearsal is only reserved for the wedding party and parents, the dinner can be carried out in a number of ways. According to The Knot, it can be as simple as (1) only the bride- and groom-to-be, (2) the immediate families, (3) the wedding party and their spouses/significant others. Or, (4) the dinner can be an event for all the out-of-town guests. It can be an excellent opportunity to maximize the time spent with a certain group of family/friends before the big wedding day.

8: The Dress

The average bride spends $1,134 on the dress alone. Even though the least expensive dresses only cost a few hundred dollars, designer dresses can easily escalate to tens of thousands of dollars. Since the dress plays the “best-supporting actress” role, how do you put a price tag on the perfect one? During the ceremony, there will be three things in the spotlight: the bride, the dress, and lastly, the groom, and probably in just that order. You can guarantee another $600 will be spent on the accessories like shoes, jewelry, veil, and lingerie. Don’t forget some brides opt to wear a separate less-cumbersome dress at the reception and even change into an additional, yet sensible getaway outfit for the official send-off.

7: The Ceremony Site

If the ceremony site has not been rolled into an all-inclusive venue, couples can expect to spend an average of $1,394 on the ceremony site alone. If the ceremony site is separate from the reception site, consider the transportation. There may be some guests who have flown in and may not have rented a car.

6: The Flowers

Flowers make the list at an average of $2,000. Most importantly, you’ll need a bridal bouquet, bridesmaids’ corsages, and boutonnieres for the groomsmen. You’ll also need corsages and boutonnieres for the parents, and anyone else participating in the ceremony (ushers, greeters, musicians, readers, etc). Since flowers photograph so beautifully, don’t forget about the petals for the flower girl to toss down the aisle, the decorative garlands, and other floral arrangements for the ceremony. Then, there’s the reception site which will require larger, fuller arrangements for the buffet, entrance hall, and table centerpieces. You can save some money by choosing your floral arrangements based on what is available to you locally. If you seek flowers from other regions, exotic blooms, or hard-to-find flowers, expect to pay more.

5: The Music

You should expect to spend at least $900 for a DJ and nearly $3,300 for a band. If these vendors are well-established, expect to spend even more. After the emotional and memorable ceremony, you and your guests will want and expect to cut loose and have some fun. For many couples, this means the perfect music will be played to keep the guests partying into the night. Many couples choose to have a live band, but some opt for both.

Add another $503 for ceremony musicians. Musicians like pianists, harpists, or violinists may add that added sense of class and royalty to your wedding day ceremony.

4: The Bling Bling

With luck, stubbornness, forgiveness, determination, and perseverance, the rings should remain on the couple’s fingers for the rest of their lives. The wedding bands will also serve as symbols of the couple’s love and commitment to each other. With such an important level of significance, it’s no wonder that the average couple spends more than $2,000 for just simple wedding bands. The price of the wedding bands can soar if they have diamonds or other precious stones in the setting. (Sidebar: The average cost of an engagement ring is $6,000.)

3. The Photography/Videography

Photography will cost an average of $2,500 and videography will be $1,481. Preserving all these memories is not cheap. There will be so much activity, excitement, and happiness happening on your wedding day and it will be over before you know it. It is extremely important to capture and document as much as possible for the many days ahead. Larger ceremonies may also require second shooters. Memories will fail and details will fade, but if you plan accordingly, you won’t miss a moment by preserving your wedding day with pictures and video. Most of the photography vendors offer inclusive packages which include make-up artists, engagement sessions, bridal portraits, large photo books, and even same-day slide shows. Not uncommon, the videographer sometimes starts filming the day prior to the wedding to capture final preparations. Photo booths are also quickly gaining popularity!

2: Food & Drinks

Can you imagine taking 100 of your closest friends out to eat at your favorite high-end restaurant? A wedding caterer often averages $63 per guest; serving over 100 people will quickly add up to $10,000. It’s easy to understand how serving food to your guests will be one of the largest wedding day expenses. This number does not even include the wedding cake or groom’s cake. For those, you can easily add another $500 to $5,000 to your budget depending on the size and design of the cakes.

If you’re considering champagne, wine, beer, and/or liquor… add an additional $3,000. Also, consider the cost for liquor permits and bartenders. At first glance, it’s tempting to offer a wide selection of adult beverages to your guests; however, the more of a variety you offer, the higher this expense will climb. According to Destination I Do, it is never acceptable to offer a cash bar to your guests. They also should NOT be tipping the bartenders. If cost is a concern, keep the variety to a minimum.

1: The Venue

The venue is the top priority for most couples, and it’s also usually the most expensive. It is no longer common to celebrate the nuptials being made in a church hall. The Four Seasons Hotel in New York City, Walt Disney World, and even foreign lands are all acceptable venues for a reception. But keep in mind, a fairy tale venue will come with a hefty price tag. The cost for a wedding day venue will also be higher during peak wedding season which is May to October. Costs vary dramatically, but the average couple forks over $12,000 for the reception venue. Keep in mind that some venues will have hidden costs like valet parking or decorations.

BONUS:

Tips & Gratuities:

Tipping your wedding planner, caterer and cake makers, food servers, musicians, photographer, videographer, bartenders, DJ and/or band, stylists, make-up artist, officiant, and basically, anyone who performed a service for you on your magical wedding day is optional, but many will expect a little something at the end of the night.

The Honeymoon:

Almost 85% of couples enjoy a nice, romantic honeymoon after the wedding day. You can expect to be set back an additional $5,000 for a stay at a tropical resort. If you choose a longer stay at a luxurious spot, don’t be surprised if the price tag is tens of thousands of dollars. However, 10% of today’s couples are now combining the wedding and honeymoon into a single experience by having a destination wedding. Depending on the destination and the number of guests, this can actually save the couple money.

Confession: It was in the research and preparation for this blog post that I discovered the difference between stationery and stationary. 🙂

Let’s “hangout!” I wanna hear about your love story!

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About Ata-Girl

I am a San Antonio-based wedding photographer and I cater to outdoor-loving couples who prefer to have all the realness captured on their wedding days. I am the wedding photographer for the outdoor adventurers, the romantics, the laid back, the snugglers, and those who wish to capture all their realness.

I am absolutely in love with capturing the kinds of weddings where there are more hugs than handshakes, the dance floor rumbles all night long, and chairs are pretty much rendered useless after dinner. Whiskey bottles are passed around, most of the wedding party has been best-best friends since kindergarten, Grams is likely to lose her shoes and your partner is much more emotional than you are. These kinds of weddings are my jam!

You can always call or text, but if you really want to get to know me, schedule a meetup!

I started Ata-Girl Photography Co., LLC in 2010. I firmly believe that the unique set of circumstances I have faced in life has prepared me to take a personal and genuine interest in my photography clients. I enjoy documenting the important milestones and captivating moments in people’s lives. I love being a part of people’s journeys and consider myself privileged to document their legacies.

If you enjoyed this blog post and would like to get your hands on 20 FREE interactive wedding planning tools that every couple needs, please take a moment to access them here.

I am a published author (purchase my book here), a podcast host (listen here) (watch here) and a WPPI-C certified professional, full-time wedding photographer. I specialize in a 10-day image delivery, same-day prints, same-day slideshows, Italian handcrafted wedding albums and I have a mobile meeting space.

When I’m not behind my camera, you can find me hiking, cycling, backpacking, camping, enjoying water sports, listening to music (Elvis and Prince), hunting for arrowheads, reading audiobooks, occasionally eating a few glazed donuts (my only weakness to sweets) and then re-starting my keto diet about every 10 days. The most important things in life are for me to see my two daughters happy and to create a family history my grandparents and grandson would be proud of.

Apr

Preparing for Your Destination Wedding

San Antonio Destination Wedding Photographer

This past week, I read that any wedding which is at least two hours or 120 miles away from your home and most of your guests have to travel that same distance is considered a destination wedding. Who knew that the second wedding I photographed was a destination wedding? Having discovered that, it got me to thinking. What are some of the details that go into planning a destination wedding?

Get Your Passport First
Before you even settle on the destination, make your you’ve applied for your passport. You won’t be going anywhere without it!
Will the marriage be legal in the U. S.?
Unless you’re willing to repeat the vows in the U. S., make sure that your marriage will be legally recognized in the States. In addition, each country has its own set of laws for a legal marriage including residency requirements, immunizations, marriage applications, witnesses and blood tests. However, since most destination venues want your business, they are usually more than happy to help you navigate through all the unfamiliar requirements.
The Dress, the Rings & the Groom
Do not forget to take these things! Do not ship these things! Pack them and travel with them. It is also a great idea to get a rider on your insurance policy for the rings—especially if you’ll be dipping into the ocean after the ceremony. Most home policies will only cover claims up to $500 for jewelry.
Combining to Actually Save Money
The best part about planning a destination wedding is that most locations are romantic getaways. This is ideal for honeymooning couples who want to stay put after the nuptials are exchanged. Since there’s no need for additional travel, couples who combine the wedding and the honeymoon can save a significant amount of money.
Travel Etiquette
Be sensitive to your guests. On average, each guest will be spending between $750 and $1,100 to attend your destination wedding. Even if the bride and groom are not paying for the trip, there are things they can do to help attending guests as much as possible. Well in advance, provide detailed traveling instructions that include directions from the airport to the hotel. If possible, make arrangements for guests who are arriving at similar times to travel to the hotel together. They can share a cab, shuttle or rental car. Also include a few lodging options of varying prices so that guests who are on different budgets will have a choice. If your budget allows, consider hosting a dinner, cocktail party or group excursion as way to say thank you to the guests who went out of their way to attend your wedding. Most importantly, remember that most couples who have destination weddings do not register for gifts. This is to show their guests, who are already spending major bucks, that their mere presence is a gift in and of itself.
Wedding Planner/Consultant
A destination wedding consultant will be able to take care of the small but important details for your special day. They have the knowledge, experience and list of the vendors to get the job done quicker and easier than the average bride. In addition to identifying those foreign marriage requirements, a professional planner is often aware of the legalities for the ceremony and reception planning (ie. obtaining an event permit). Again, since the venue wants your business, many popular destinations now have event planners on staff and combine the cost of their services into the packaged wedding deal. Using a professional planner will allow you the opportunity to truly enjoy one of the most important days of your life.
The Photographs
The detail shots of your wedding and reception are great, but if you’ve gone through all the trouble to have a destination wedding, ensure that the photographs easily depict where you were… even if you were stateside in Tulsa. Include many pull backs of the landscape, buildings and surrounding environment.
Relax!
Murphy’s Law will always prevail and like any big day, destination weddings often hit snags along the way. These obstacles and barriers can seem to be compounded due to currency exchange issues, language differences or just general unfamiliarity with the location, its residents, and its customs. If problems arise, just relax and take a deep breath. Stand back and take a look at the issue. Utilize your family or bridal party to help you correct the problem or just to put a different perspective on the problem. Most wedding experts recommend that the couple arrive a few days in advance of the big day. This may allow them to correct any last minute snags before they erupt. The bottom line is don’t let any minor hiccups ruin your day! Enjoy your destination wedding day to the fullest extent possible!

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I am a San Antonio-based wedding and senior photographer who started Ata-Girl Photography Co., LLC in 2010. As one of the up-and-coming San Antonio wedding photographers, I am also available to shoot in Austin, Houston and Dallas and the surrounding areas. I am also available for destination weddings. Ata-Girl Photography Co. offers an amazing San Antonio wedding photography service that you won’t soon forget. As a San Antonio wedding photographer, my sole purpose is to treat your San Antonio wedding like a regal event.

In addition to wedding photography, I also specialize in San Antonio senior portraits and senior portraits for high school seniors in my local surrounding areas.

I am a professional photographer who enjoys documenting the important milestones and captivating moments in people’s lives. I firmly believe that the unique set of circumstances I have faced in life has prepared me to take a personal and genuine interest in my photography clients. When I’m not photographing a wedding, family or high school senior, I enjoy watching my daughter play softball, hiking, cycling and listening to Elvis!

This post first appeared on Ata-Girl Photography Co’s website and blog. Please enjoy this San Antonio senior photography provided by Tammy Blalock and Ata-Girl Photography Co. Ata-Girl Photography Co. also offers superb San Antonio wedding photography in the San Antonio metro and surrounding area and strives to be one of the finest San Antonio wedding photographers.

Apr

Why Are Money Shots Missed?

Earlier this year, an Australian wedding photographer was sued for missing the money shot—the bride and groom’s ceremonial kiss at the end of the wedding. Initially, each party was suing for in excess of $6,000 in damages. In the end, the photographer had to pay the couple $750, and the couple had to pay the photographer $60. So, neither party got what they were asking for.

However, this got me to thinking… why are money shots missed? In order to take the perfect picture, you have to click the shutter button at precisely the exact moment. A quarter-of-a-second too early OR too late, and you’re done… you’ve missed it. Perfect timing is essential. While some obstacles are very complex, here is a list of simple mistakes you can avoid in order to get your money shot.

1. No camera access.

Either you don’t have your camera with you or if you, it’s not easily accessible. If even the slightest possibility exists that you’ll encounter a money shot, have your camera ready to go. If it’s in the trunk or the zipped-up camera bag, chances are you’ll miss the shot.

2. Insufficient memory/power.

Make sure you always have room on your memory card and always make sure your battery is charged. Even better, purchase an extra battery and memory cards.

3. Improper settings.

Even if you shoot in automatic or program mode, you’re still likely to miss the shot. Your camera simply isn’t smart enough to take the best picture in all lighting situations. Once again, I encourage you to learn to shoot in manual mode. You’ll be glad you did. And so will your pictures!

4. Leaving the lens cap on.

As soon as the action begins, take off the lens cap and put it in your pocket. If you’re anything like me and you put the lens cap anywhere else, you won’t be able to find it for 10 or 15 minutes.

5. Chimping.

What is that? Chimping is a term used to describe the action of taking a picture and immediately reviewing your LCD display. This is the BEST way to miss out on what’s going on around you. While it is necessary to check your exposure and histogram periodically, it’s not necessary after each picture.

If you want to make sure you kiss is caught on a memory card… follow these guidelines and make the sure the kiss is more than a peck!

Here are a few of my money shots!

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I started Ata-Girl Photography Co. in 2010 and I am a San Antonio based wedding photographer who is available for destination weddings. In addition to wedding photography, I also specialize in high school seniors and family portraits in San Antonio and the surrounding areas. I am a professional photographer who enjoys documenting the important milestones and captivating moments in people’s lives. I firmly believe that the unique set of circumstances I have faced in life has prepared me to take a personal and genuine interest in my photography clients. When I’m not photographing a wedding, family or high school senior, I enjoy watching my daughter play softball, hiking, cycling and listening to Elvis!

Apr

A Perfect Family Portrait (Part II)

Last week, I wrote about the first reason I get when someone is considering a portrait session but isn’t quite ready to book. The reason they want to wait is weight loss. Today, I write about the second excuse I receive.

#2 – Money

If you haven’t already read this blog post, do so now. I first read that blog post a few years ago and it resonated deep within me. I found it incredibly sad. The recipient, a Colorado-based photographer, Jeanine Thurston, finds the letter so powerful, she reposts it annually as a tribute to her former client. Our days are numbered… plain and simple.

Most of us have cell phones worth $799 or more. Even if we got the same phone on contract, we still paid at least $299. On average, the phone will last two years. Within weeks of owning it, the technology will already be outdated. The vehicles we drive are worth thousands…. $20,000-$50,000. They’ll last us a few years… five on average, more if we’re lucky! But consider this. How will those phones or gadgets, or the vehicles we drive preserve any memories for our children, or our grandchildren? They won’t!

In the grand scheme of things, the fee for a portrait session or wedding coverage is a small one.

Life is not waiting for us to get “perfect.” When a day of your life has passed, it is gone forever… FOREVER, PEOPLE! We can not have it back, buy it back, wish it back, or trade it back. It’s gone. The bottom line is, it’s your legacy! What will your kids have when you’re gone?

Here are some images of my sweet mother who left us when I was 21. I have now lived longer without her than I was able to live with her. I wish I had more pictures. The pictures listed below are TEN of the 43 images I have of my mother. You’re about to see 25% of my sacred stash of images.

Disclaimer: Despite the striking resemblance, NONE of these pictures are of me.

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I started Ata-Girl Photography Co. in 2010 and I am one of the premier San Antonio wedding photographers who is available for local and destination weddings. In addition to wedding photography, I also specialize in high school seniors and family portraits in San Antonio and the surrounding areas. I am a professional photographer who enjoys documenting the important milestones and captivating moments in people’s lives. I firmly believe that the unique set of circumstances I have faced in life has prepared me to take a personal and genuine interest in my photography clients. When I’m not photographing a wedding, family or high school senior, I enjoy watching my daughter play softball, hiking, cycling and listening to Elvis!

Mar

A Perfect Family Portrait (Part I)

When people discuss planning a session with me and they are hesitant, it is usually because one of two reasons: either weight loss or money. I’d like to address the first of these excuses for not documenting life.

#1 – Weight Loss

I know, you want family portraits BUT you’re waiting to lose ten pounds before you schedule a family portrait session. How long has that been going on? When is the last time you looked at an image of your grandmother and thought, “Man, I wished Grandma would have lost ten pounds before she took this picture!” That probably hasn’t happened because chances are, your grandma is the sweetest person you’ve ever known and you love her to pieces. The image depicts her exactly the way you remember or envision her and I know that you cherish the image—especially if your grandma is no longer with us.

What if you didn’t have that photograph? What if Grandma kept waiting until she had lost ten pounds before that memory was captured? You wouldn’t have anything to document or memorialize her. And, that is exactly how your children will feel. After we’re gone, we only leave behind memories, heirlooms, and photos. Ensure your children have all of these!

Speaking as a child of a deceased mother who only left behind a handful of images of herself, this stinks. Especially as you get older, your memory starts to fail. Pictures and portraits cement these memories in your mind. They keep a memory intact that may have otherwise faded. You will never regret having a family portrait taken. But someday, you may regret NOT having it taken.

Here are some PERFECT images of my dear, sweet grandmother… a fine lady who we referred to as Memaw. Though they are not perfect, I cherish these photos and I grateful that I have them!

Continue reading this series here.

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Mar

Portrait Session Survival Bag

A few weeks ago, I told you what was in my camera bag and I promised to tell you about my survival bag.

Being that I love the outdoors and being that I love gadgets, I have a few different types of survival kits. I have a pretty serious survival kit I take on hikes. I have a survival kit that I take to all of my daughter’s select softball tournaments… sometimes the “survival kit” is a cargo trailer I pull behind a truck. There’s also the survival kit I have in my purse: a Leatherman™, a flashlight and some pain relievers and Benadryl™.

Then, there’s my photo survival kit. Something inside me despises being unprepared. (I actually think it’s something I got from my dad.) I like to prepared for whatever life throws at me. It took me several portrait sessions in South Texas before I discovered I needed to make a survival kit for this too.

This bag goes with me to all my photo shoots. It’s almost just as important as taking my camera. Now, let me tell you what’s inside this survival kit.

If these are the most important items in the bag, they are definitely the items that gets the most use. It’s a mirror, comb, hair spray and static guard. I suppose the first three need no explanation, but the static guard comes in handy for clients with extremely straight hair on those days that are charged with a lot of static electricity. There’s no other way to control those hairs that want to stand straight on end.

Thankfully, I’ve never had to use either the safety pins or the sewing kit, but if any of my clients have a wardrobe malfunction, I’m on it.

Runny nose? Dry skin? I got you covered.

There was this one time I got into some poop, Germ X saved my life. Well, not really, but I was thankful for it.

If the comb and mirror are the most popular items, the mosquito spray comes in a very close second. There’s also various other things like band-aids, tape, pain relievers and some feminine hygiene products. I’m sure as time goes on, I’ll add other things that are deemed necessary.

So, there you have it. I am prepared for anything I encounter on a photo shoot in south Texas! Until next time, be positive, be happy, be healthy, and don’t forget to be photographed.

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Feb

What’s in my Bag?

Over the years, I have had a few people ask me what all is in my bag. Well, here’s a list of what’s in my bag.

I started out shooting a Nikon D60, but have since upgraded to two Nikon D7000s. I do have plans to go full-frame one day (I’d LOVE the D4!), but for now, this is what’s in my bag. My favorite things about the D7000 are: its ability to shoot six frames per second, 39 focal points (I toggle; I don’t focus and reframe.) and the dual SD drive for instant image backup.

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Ata-Girl Photography Co. | Nikon D7000s

My zoom lenses are both Tamron. My big lens is a 70-200mm f.28 and the smaller one is 17-50mm f2.8. I use the 70-200 shooting all sporting events, and I use the smaller zoom when I want a wide range of focal lengths and switching out lenses isn’t a possibility. When I shoot football games, I use both of these lenses—one on each camera body. The bigger lens catches all the action on the field, and the smaller lens is dedicated to the sidelines and wide angle shots of the field. The same principles apply to a wedding ceremony: the bigger one for all the bride/groom action and the smaller one for wide shots of the church and altar.

Ata-Girl Photography Co. | Tamron Zoom Lenses

I also have two Nikon prime lenses—a 50mm f1.4 and a 35mm f1.8. A prime lens is one that does not zoom. When you have a fixed focal length and you have to “use your feet” to zoom back and forth. I use the 50mm during all my bridal, engagement, family and senior portrait sessions. I only use the 35mm when spaces are tight and I don’t have enough room to use the 50mm.

Ata-Girl Photography Co. | Nikon Prime Lenses

I have three Nikon SB600s for low light situations like wedding receptions. I set-up two strobes on light stands and one on a camera bracket. I never shoot with a strobe mounted directly to my camera body.

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Ata-Girl Photography Co. | Nikon SB600 Strobes

Nikon’s Creative Lighting System never worked well for me. I could never get it to fire from more than 20 feet away and even then, it was hit and miss. Nikon’s CLS needs a clean line of site. I purchased a system of one Phottix Odin wireless transmitter and three receivers which can fire up to 100 meters and performed well during this creative shoot.

Ata-Girl Photography Co. | Phottix Odin Wireless Trigger System

I also have all sorts of other things like white balance cards, extra SD cards and extra batteries, light stands, flash brackets, light reflectors, bouncers and diffusers, tripods, monopods, and even a photo session survival kit, which I will tell you all about next week. The one thing I think I’m missing is a macro lens for wedding details. This will be my next purchase. Until next time, be positive, be happy, be healthy, and don’t forget to be photographed.

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Feb

Lighting Technique: Light Painting (Part II)

Yesterday, I wrote about photographing a dead oak tree and using advanced lighting techniques to light it up after dark. I can hardly believe this is the same sky in those images.

After Fred and I finished with the strobes, we decided to try another technique called light painting. This is a process where you actually use a handheld flashlight to add light to your image. Some photographers use it to draw images in their photographs (hearts, words, etc.), but I only wanted to try to light the images as evenly as possible.

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Ata-Girl Photography Co. | Light Painting

You need to set a really long exposure in order to capture the light. The exposure is usually so long that you can walk around in your image without being seen. You point the light at the parts of the image you want lit. You can direct the light from different angles and even keep it pointed longer at parts of the image you want to appear brighter.

These images were taken in complete darkness. We only had ambient light from the moon and stars. To capture these images I used a 25- to 30-second exposure. I would get positioned within the frame and Fred would use my wireless remote to fire the camera so he wouldn’t cause any inadvertent camera shake. The fstops I used varied from f8-f13 and my iso varied from 160-250. In a few of the images, you can see where I pointed the flashlight a little too long in places. To get even lighting, you have to concentrate on moving the light slowly and evenly across the image.

I think my first attempt at light painting was a complete success. I’m going to light someone’s church up like this after their wedding and I can’t wait.

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Feb

Lighting Techniques: Strobing (Part I)

I’ve had my strobe lights (flashes) for a while now, but struggled with Nikon’s Creative Lighting System. My D7000 is capable of commanding multiple flashes, but it is prohibitive in the sense that you have to be in line of sight with the flashes and it seems you can’t be more than twenty feet away. That’s very restrictive and doesn’t leave a lot of options for photographing a wedding reception, so I started researching. About the time I had my heart set on a Pocket Wizard system, Phottix Odins released a system for Nikon. Finally. They claimed their transmitters/receivers could communicate in excess of 100 meters. I saved my dollars and purchased a transmitter and three receivers.

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Ata-Girl Photography Co. | Natural Lighting: 1/80, f18, iso100

Now, I had to test them. My good friend, Fred, and I went out to some old, dead Oak trees just as the sun was setting. We assembled all the stands and attached all the receivers to the strobes. We then strategized where we’d place the strobes.

We waited for the sun to disappear behind the horizon—as my dear dad was starting to have a heart attack. Since we only had one transmitter, we were like kids on crack and we joked about it… swapping the crack pipe… erh… transmitter back and forth. After a few hits, or in this case, shutter button presses, we’d swap the transmitter to each other’s camera and fire away. We were on a photographer’s high!

All of the strobed images were taken with these settings: 1/250, f8, iso400 and with the exception of one image, were processed using only Lightroom4. I intentionally left the flash stands in the images so you could tell the placement of our lighting. The only adjustments made during the shoot were the placement of the strobes. Here are my favorite images from the night.

The sky is so dramatic it makes me want to get lost in the images. Since this shoot, neither Fred or I have admitted to having any addictions.

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Jan

Get the Most out of Your New Camera

With Christmas just passed, I’m guessing a lot of you received a shiny, new DSLR camera from Santa! Being the gadget freak that I am, I can imagine how much excitement this may have caused you! If you’re upgrading from a point-and-shoot, then this blog post is just for you. Here are a few suggestions for getting the most joy out of your new toy!

1. Shoot.

The first thing I always do with a new camera is take it straight out of the box and shoot. A new piece of gear calls my name so strongly I can hardly resist the urge. So, take it out of the box, assemble the lens, insert the memory card, and shoot. I must warn you to not throw any pieces away. The first SLR camera I got, I threw away all the lens caps. Once the lens was on the camera, I thought I’d never need them again. As your taking these maiden shots, familiarize yourself with the buttons, dials, lights, and switches. This will help when you proceed to step #2.

2. Read the manual.

Now that you’ve knocked a little dust of the camea, it’s time to do some formal self-instruction. Your manual has answers to most of the technical questions that you may wonder about later. As you read, follow along on the camera to make sure you understand what controls the settings and how to change those settings. Want to know how to turn off the focus beep? Want to know how to shoot in rapid burst mode? Want to know how to delete the unwanted pictures? It’s all in the manual. Even if this isn’t your first digital camera, it never hurts to flip through the manual. The better you know your camera, the quicker you can make decisions about what settings to use when taking pictures. This translates to better pictures.

3. Create a filing system.

Just a few days ago, one of my high school buddies posted a picture of her husband’s receipts he’d collected throughout 2012 for his tax return. Literally, they were wadded up pieces of paper placed in one of four “storage bins”—three ball caps and an aluminum pan. This is not the approach you should take to storing and organizing your photos. I create very specific folders for the events I capture. For instance, the file path may look something like this: C:/mydocs/pictures/2012/New Year’s Eve. I file by each year and then by each specific event so I can find things easily. I also use a tagging sytem so that on a whim, I can collect images of a specific person without the hassle of navigating through each and every folder. You can add tags to photos simply by using either Windows Explorer or Windows Photo Gallery Picture Viewer. Though time consuming, it is very helpful in the long run.

4. Use all the shooting modes.

Without knowing what an fstop is or iso is, it’s really impossible to take a quality photograph in the manual mode. But, you can learn. When it’s play time with your camera, turn the dial off of automatic. Refer back to your manual to know what mode P or S or AV refers to. In these modes, play with the camera’s settings to see how they affect the image. However, when you’re documenting something important, remember to put the camera back in the mode you’re most comfortable with. If you learn to make all the decisions for the camera, your images will be tons better. You can even use this simulator to experiment!

5. Experiment.

Take multiple photos of one object. Each time you take a picture, change the iso. Start with 100, 200, 320, 400… work your way up to 3200. See how this setting affects your photo. Now, place your iso back to 100, and begin changing your fstop or aperature. Start with 2.8 (or your lowest setting), then work your way to up f4, f11, f20 and so on, stopping on each fstop to see how this changes your image. Do the same thing with the shutter speed. Experiments, such as this, will help you gain an understanding what the settings do. Eventually, you will be able to make calculated and deliberate settings to creatively enhance your images.

6. Take your camera everywhere!

Going to the grocery store? Take your camera. Taking the kids to the park? Take your camera. Car wash, road trip, hunting? Take your camera. Put your camera in your purse, or your glove box, and take it with you. Once you get to know your camera better, all that’s left to do is shoot. Document whatever happens. Don’t worry about taking too many pictures… it’s a digital age! You can delete what you don’t want to keep.

7. Post process.

Discover the art of post processing. It’s amazing what only straightening and cropping can do to improve your images. I Heart Faces hosts a weekly Fix it Friday where they supply an image for you to post process. Not only can you practice your skills, you can compare them to other photographers who are editing the exact same image. Some of them also detail each step taken to reach the end result. This is a GREAT place to learn!

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I started Ata-Girl Photography Co. in 2010 and I am a San Antonio based wedding photographer who is available for destination weddings. In addition to wedding photography, I also specialize in San Antonio senior portraits and senior portraits for high school seniors in the surrounding areas. I am a professional photographer who enjoys documenting the important milestones and captivating moments in people’s lives. I firmly believe that the unique set of circumstances I have faced in life has prepared me to take a personal and genuine interest in my photography clients. When I’m not photographing a wedding, family or high school senior, I enjoy watching my daughter play softball, hiking, cycling and listening to Elvis!

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Hi, I’m Tammy.
I'm a San Antonio-based wedding photographer for outdoor-loving couples who value real moments.

I am a San Antonio-based wedding photographer and I am absolutely in love with capturing the kinds of weddings where there are more hugs than handshakes, the dance floor rumbles all night long, and chairs are pretty much rendered useless after dinner. Whiskey bottles are passed around, most of the wedding party has been best-best friends since kindergarten, Grams is likely to lose her shoes and your partner is much more emotional than you are. These kinds of weddings are my jam!

Since 2010, I have excelled in helping each of my couples plan for one of the very best days of their lives! I’d love to share my very personalized wedding experience, my super-human organizational abilities, and my U. S. Army combat skills (when needed) with you too.

I want your wedding day to be as perfect as you do! I am all in with my whole heart!