I’ve now had the honor of completing a few styled shoots with some incredibly gifted and respected fellow San Antonio wedding vendors. This recently caused me to have a revelation. Styled shoots are much harder, both physically and mentally, than actual wedding days.

Theoretically speaking, styled shoots should be much easier since 99.9% of what happens is more or less controlled. However, at the end of the day when one of these shoots are completed and it’s time to pack up and go home, I feel about three times more exhausted than had it been an actual wedding. The answer has eluded me for a few years, but I recently had an epiphany and I think I discovered why this is.

The answer lies in chemistry.

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Adrenaline: a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands, especially in conditions of stress, increasing rates of blood circulation, breathing, and carbohydrate metabolism and preparing muscles for exertion.

During an actual wedding day, I am hyped up on pure adrenaline. I am operating under so much pressure to get things as near perfect as I can because there are absolutely no do-overs. A wedding day is for real for real. I must perform to the best of ability and make the absolute most out of every image I capture with my camera.

On the other hand, while a styled shoot is much more relaxed and there is not nearly as much pressure to “get things right the first time,” I don’t have the luxury of a natural elevating fuel pumping through my system. I’m working on my natural state of chemistry and my astute love for creating things, which is powerful, just not as forceful and effective as a hormone.

Eilan Hotel & Spa Resort Shoot

This shoot was fabulous! Lizzette (from His garden) constructed a perfect team to work with (see below). Everyone was basically a beast on this day including Karissa our beautiful model, Bianca (Olivia Grace Bridal) and Laura (Love Lipstick & Lashes) who all stayed for the entirety of the shoot!

You can see this shoot in printed format in the July/August 2019 issue of San Antonio Weddings Magazine on page 374.

The incredibly talented wedding team that assisted for this styled shoot were as follows:

Venue: Eilan Hotel & Spa Resort
Photographer: Ata-Girl Photography Co.
Planner/Coordinator/Florals: from His garden
Planner/Decor: Events by Touch of Elegance
Gown:
Hair: Hair Artistry by Morgan
Makeup: Love Lipstick & Lashes
Caterer/Bar: Eilan Hotel & Spa Resort
Cake: Jenn Riesman Cakes
Invitations/Paper Suite/Signs: Calligraphy by Kim DuQue
Jewelry: Diamonds Direct
Transportation: Elegant Ride
Models: Karissa Uresti (bride) and Rich Action (driver)

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

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

I am San Antonio’s most unique 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.

I am a full-time, internationally-awarded and WPPI-C certified professional wedding and senior photographer based in South Texas near San Antonio. I offer a premier and personal service coupled with an unforgettable photography experience. I cater to clients who appreciate quality photography and help them to create family heirlooms that will last for generations.

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.

When I’m not photographing a wedding, family or high school senior, I love to spend my spare time hiking, camping, cycling, reading, listening to Elvis and Prince. 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!

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