Aug
22

Country Engagement Session

Brittany and TJ just might be the toughest couple I’m ever going to photograph getting married. The day of their engagement session, it was about 105° nearly the entire two hours that we shot. I guzzled down buckets of water and eventually ran out. The three bottles that I bought for them went virtually untouched. Brittany drank about a cap full from her bottle, and TJ didn’t even break the seal on his. I honestly have no idea why I didn’t have to call 911 at some point to get medical assistance for these two. Tough as nails, I tell you.

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Their acclimation to the Texas heat may have a lot to do with their lifestyle. These two are turkey-hunting, hog-skinning, calf-raising, fish-finding people. They are no strangers to the outdoors. And for every bit as tough as they are individually, the toughness of their bond is replicated. 

Though they’ve known each other through high school, college and since, it was not love at first sight. It wasn’t until last March that Brittany and TJ became an item after mutual friendships gave them an excuse to become even better friends. 

Brittany & TJ’s Country Engagement Session

Their first date was on opening day of the spring turkey season. The two were both so nervous, they failed to bag anything. And the outdoor tradition has continued right up to the proposal when TJ proposed while working calves.

Brittany and TJ have learned that they balance each other out. Where TJ has weaknesses, Brittany fills in with strengths and vice versa. They’ve become a very well-oiled machine that works together to create a bond so tight that it can’t be broken. They have come to just about read each other’s minds.

Since turkey season means so much to them, Brittany and TJ are even planning their wedding day around opening season next year—March 16, 2019. (You know, I wouldn’t even mind if they served turkey and dressing at their reception!)

Here are some of my favorite images from their shoot!

If you’d like to see all the images from this country engagement session, please enjoy this video. For the best quality, be sure to change the video player settings to 1080 HD.

The post, Brittany & TJ’s Country Engagement Session, first appeared on Ata-Girl Photography Co.’s website and blog. Please feel free to comment here, or share this post with your friends via Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. Please email me if you have any questions about this article or want to share a neat idea for a future blog post with me.

Feb
28

When You’re Engaged

Wedding planning can be very intimidating! But, it doesn’t have to be. Start the process off easy by tackling these eight simple steps.

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  1. Announce Your Engagement
    Decide if you want to share the news with your parents and closest friends before anyone else. Then, share the glorious news with the world! things-to-do-after-engagement-4S1_6330
  2. Start Dreaming
    Make a trip to the nearest magazine rack and purchase each wedding rag on the shelf. Start tearing out sheets or dog-earing pages to your heart’s content. At this point, the sky is the limit. Collect each concept, color-scheme and detail that grabs your attention. If your collection starts to become rather large, you can further organize it in terms of contents: dresses, cakes, uplighting, flowers, etc. Be sure to include your fiancé in on the planning. Let him own some of the day too. Talk about what style the two of you would enjoy most whether the backdrop is a ranch, beach, resort, mountaintop or ballroom. Don’t talk of money just yet.
  3. Set a Rough Budget
    How is your wedding being paid for? Are you going the traditional route and the parents of the bride are going to foot the bill? Are both sets of parents sharing equally in the costs? Or, are you and your finacé going to fund the celebration yourselves? However the wedding is being paid for, this is the time to decide a budget. No further plans can be made until a budget has been set. Be realistic with your budget. Don’t go into debt. This is a once in a lifetime event, but don’t start your marriage with your checkbook register in the red.things-to-do-after-engagement-4S2_3500
  4. Create Your Guest List
    Based on the budget you and your finacé have decided on and the sizes of your respective families and number of friends, come up with a ballpark number of guests you think you’ll end up inviting. The national average cost to feed each guest at the reception is about $63 and that doesn’t account for the wedding cake. To eliminate any mishaps, use Google Docs to create and maintain this list. It will be super easy to share with moms and wedding planner and you can even assign permissions to other users in the future (view vs edit).
  5. Select Your Venue
    Now that you know your budget and how many wedding guests you’ll be expecting, you can now start looking at wedding venues. These are typically booked 12-18 months in advance. Be prepared to compare apple to oranges. What is included at one venue may be an add-on at another. Here are 60 must-ask questions when shopping for a venue.things-to-do-after-engagement-4S2_3534-Edit
  6. Set Your Wedding Date
    Once you’ve paid that deposit on the venue, you simultaneously set your wedding date!
  7. Hire Your Wedding Photographer and Videographer
    You’ve got your wedding date, now is the time to book your photographer (and videographer). Again, be prepared to compare services. Not all packages are the same. My two best pieces of advice are: #1: Be sure you like your photographer better than you like their price; #2: Insurance is a must-have! I have read too many horror stories about photographers not showing up, not delivering images/products as promised or simply put, they are just not capable of photographing a wedding (sub-professional equipment, bad customer service, stress, timeline issues, lighting challenges, etc.). Here are 10 questions to ask anyone you consider to photograph your wedding. Please, please, please do not hire a friend or relative with a nice camera—unless they happen to be a professional. things-to-do-after-engagement-4S1_6299  
  8. Hello! Did Someone Say Party?
    Yes, it’s finally time to party! Let’s have a party to announce the engagement. Traditionally, the bride’s parents host this party, but in the modern world, all bets are off. Do it your own way! This is a great time to announce your wedding party, ask ring bearers or flower girls to participate, ask certain family or friends to host a wedding or bridal/lingerie showers, or let special someones know of a special part they’ll have on your wedding day.

8 Things To Do When You’re Engaged

I wrote a two-part series with a detailed wedding planning timeline. Once you’ve completed this short list, you can resume your wedding planning here.

The post, 8 Things To Do When You’re Engaged, first appeared on Ata-Girl Photography Co.’s website and blog. Please feel free to comment here, or share this post with your friends via Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. Please email me if you have any questions about this article or want to share a neat idea for a future blog post with me.

Jul
09

Amanda & Jacob’s South Texas Engagement Session

Most doctors treat illnesses and ensure we’re healthy. Amanda’s doctor set her up with a husband… sort of.  Amanda and Jacob started dating in September of 2009 after Amanda’s doctor suggested that she give eHarmony a try.  Jacob was first guy to respond to Amanda’s ad and the only one she ever communicated with.  What is really interesting is that they shared an immediate connection though neither displayed an image or had a very detailed profile.

They exchanged a lot of emails before finally meeting for a movie and dinner on their first official date.  This date was the first time they laid eyes on each other.  Amanda confessed that they had a really strong connection from the start.  So much, in fact, they stayed seated at their dinner table for an additional five hours after they had eaten.  Since film is something that Jacob holds dear to his heart, they saw a lot of movies during their courtship.  They indulged in such films as Inglorious Bastards, Zombieland, and The Fourth Kind pretty much staying within the horror genre.  Jacob has a special interest in films since he directs and even sometimes writes his own scripts for short films.

Since the five-hour dinner took place, Jacob and Amanda have married and the doctor who started this all delivered their second child today!

South Texas Engagement Session

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san antonio senior portrait photographers ata-girl photography since 2010I 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 worldwide. Ata-Girl Photography Co. offers an amazing wedding photography service that you won’t soon forget.  As professional photographer, my sole purpose is to provide you the absolute best photography experience.

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, reading, and listening to Elvis!

The post, Amanda & Jacob’s South Texas Engagement Session, first appeared on Ata-Girl Photography Co’s website and blog. Please feel free to comment here, or share this post with your friends via Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. Please email me if you have any questions about this article or want to share a neat idea for a future blog post with me.

Jun
28

Tribute to Mary Ellen Hendricks Blalock

On June 9, three generations of descendants of Mary Ellen Hendricks Blalock (my great-grandmother) were invited to the chapel at the Air Force Village Military Retirement Community and the Protestant Church to celebrate the music she wrote.  This all came about because my cousins, Sharon and Diane, who are busy planning our annual Blalock Family Reunion wanted to present us with a special surprise.  While the initial goal was simply to create an audio recording, we were ultimately treated to a special performance that would help preserve our family history.  Though we are all aware that our great-grandmother wrote these church hymns, none of us recall ever having heard them performed.  There are five known hymns: O Beautiful Heaven, I’ll Walk With Jesus All The Way, He Is The Lord Of Love and the two that the High Flight Chapel Choir performed, Our Precious Lord Is Coming Soon and Keep Me Near Thee, Blessed Savior.  

She married my great-grandfather in 1902 in Comanche, Oklahoma and had six children.  They traveled to Texas in 1909 as part of the Simmons Land Project in a covered wagon.  My great-grandfather, Alfred, was a piano tuner and music teacher by profession and Mary played both the piano and the violin.  (I wonder if he taught her?)  Mary passed this talent on to my grandfather and my great aunt, Sylvia—two of the five children who lived to adulthood.  I don’t think it’s quite clear when the hymns were put on paper, but it has to be somewhere between Mary’s birth in 1880 and her death in 1975.  Yes, she passed away when she was 95.  You can read more of my family’s history here.

Preserving Family History

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This was a pretty special moment to me… getting to hear the music my great-grandmother wrote.  I’d like to thank the choir director, Tony Bir, special members, Tom Bir and Clare Carrillo, and  and the entire HFC Choir for taking on this special project! It was music to my ears… literally.

Here’s the video I captured on my DSLR of the live performance.  I’ll have to apologize in advance for the constant clicking sound. That is my camera trying to focus and I was unaware the microphone was picking up that sound during the recording.  While I’ve nearly mastered still photos on the D7000, my cinematography is lackluster at best.  If you want to skip straight to the performance, fast forward to about 2:39 on the video.

June was a good month for preserving family history!  You can read about the special mementos my aunt sent me from my mother’s baptism here.

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san antonio senior portrait photographers ata-girl photography since 2010I 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, reading, and listening to Elvis!

The post, Tribute to Mary Ellen Hendricks Blalock, first appeared on Ata-Girl Photography Co’s website and blog. Please enjoy this San Antonio wedding photography provided by Tammy Blalock and Ata-Girl Photography Co. who 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.

Jun
27

The Importance of a Wedding Day Timeline

If you’re envisioning a wedding album filled with shots of the couple getting dressed, playful interactions between the groomsmen, the bridesmaids doing silly dances, shots of the altar and reception area without any guests, and shots of every well-thought detail that went into the 12-month planning of your wedding day, then make sure you prepare your photographer for success!  The only way to guarantee you get a wide array of wedding images like this, is to plan ahead.  Planning is key. In the Army, we used the saying “setting me up for failure” to refer to when you were asked to do something, but weren’t given all the necessary tools or information.  What I want to cover today is setting up for success!

wedding day timline

If you want lots of images of you and your groom, prepare for it.  You want images getting ready, prepare.  You want detail shots of the rings, tablescapes,  signage, then prepare.  You want to capture that loving glance your parents give you right before the ceremony, prepare.  Again, preparation is key, vital, essential.  I can’t stress this enough.

  1. Make realistic goals for each item on the timeline.
  2. Add cushions of time to the really important items.
  3. Always add time for the hair and makeup routine.  An extra 30 minutes is ideal!
  4. If there are different wedding day sites involved, allow for travel and traffic.
  5. Want to enjoy more of the cocktail hour?  Plan for a first look.
  6. Know what time the sun sets.  Schedule a short session during the golden hour 30-45 minutnes prior.
  7. If you want sunset images, make plans to steal away for a few minutes during the reception.
  8. If you want pictures of both you and your groom getting dressed, select a collection with a second shooter.
  9. Enlist the help of your maid-of-honor to round up family members for group shots.
  10. Just prior to the cocktail hour officially beginning, plan to briefly clear out the reception area (of staff and guests) for a clean photograph.
  11. If the timeline starts to slide, don’t panic.  Deal with it and reasonably try to make up the deficit.
  12. Make sure your photographer reviews your timeline at least 45 days prior to the wedding and again at two weeks out. That way, if scheduling changes need to be made (hair dresser, etc.), chances are they still can.

the importanc of a wedding day timeline

Being that the wedding photographer is the only vendor you book that will be spending the entire day with you and also responsible for documenting it all, I believe your timeline is key to maximizing your wedding photography experience and to adequately allow for each part of your story to be captured!  The goal of a timeline is not to rearrange the overall flow of your day, but to plan around your static details like the ceremony and reception.  This will ensure the wedding day will be fluid and have plenty of time for photos.  Ultimately, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy your day!

Wedding Day Timeline

Here is a very basic wedding day timeline to get you started:

When What Where
Pre-Ceremony
11:00 AM photographers arrive, coverage begins venue
11:00 AM hair & makeup/getting dressed shots nursery
12:30 PM clothing gets picked up from house couple’s   house
1:00 PM ring, dress, bouquet, etc. detail shots venue,   inside, outside
1:00 PM second shooter gets groom’s details study   room
1:00 PM venue opens venue
1:15 PM catering staff arrives venue,   inside
2:00 PM sound system arrives/is set up venue,   inside
2:15 PM bride/bridesmaids shots outside
2:15 PM second shooter gets groom/men shots outside,   opposite side of church
2:30 PM florist arrives to set up flowers venue,   inside
2:30 PM second shooter shoots reception area details venue
2:45 PM couple’s first look/wedding party shots venue,   outside
3:00 PM cake delivered venue,   inside
3:15 PM pre-ceremony family pictures venue,   outside
Ceremony
3:45 PM guests start to arrive venue,   outside
4:00 PM official start time on invites venue,   outside
4:15 PM processional venue,   outside
4:35 PM recessional venue,   outside
4:40 PM family and bridal party formal photos venue,   outside
Cocktail Hour
4:40 PM second shooter shoots reception area details venue, inside
5:00 PM cocktail hour begins venue,   inside
5:15 PM alone time for couple study   room
5:30 PM couple joins cocktail party/mingle with guests venue,   inside
Reception
6:00 PM guests seated for dinner venue,   inside
6:10 PM first guests to buffet venue,   inside
6:30 PM last guests through buffet venue,   inside
6:30 PM toasts – four total venue,   inside
7:05 PM brides’ dresss gets bustled venue,   inside
7:10 PM first dance venue,   inside
7:15 PM father/daughter, son/mother dances venue,   inside
7:30 PM couple sunset pictures venue,   outside
8:00 PM cake cutting venue,   inside
8:10 PM dance party! venue,   inside
9:00 PM
bouquet/garter toss
 venue,   inside
9:40 PM last call venue,   inside
9:50 PM official send off venue,   outside
11:00 PM reception/coverage ends venue

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san antonio senior portrait photographers ata-girl photography since 2010I 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, reading, and listening to Elvis!

The post, The Importance of a Wedding Day Timeline, first appeared on Ata-Girl Photography Co’s website and blog. Please enjoy this San Antonio wedding photography provided by Tammy Blalock and Ata-Girl Photography Co. who 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.

Jun
25

Planning for an Outdoor Wedding

Be it a botanical garden, a cliff overlooking waves crashing on the ocean, a ritzy ranch or your own backyard, pulling off an outdoor wedding requires legwork, planning, organization and a little bit of luck that the bugs don’t show up. Outdoor weddings are special but being that you’re basically starting from a blank canvas, you have to plan for everything from the lighting to the restrooms. Here are some tips to pull off a flawless outdoor wedding and reception:

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Planning for an Outdoor Wedding

  1. Water and electricity.  These two utilities will make or break your event.  You’re going to need to supply the caterer, the band/DJ, the reception tent and the bathrooms with these two items.  Make sure you have an ample supply of each.  Also key, make sure all of your vendors have sufficient experience with tented events.  They are very different from indoor events in terms of planning and execution.
  2. Latrines, water closets, lavatories, loos, washrooms and privies!  No matter what you call it, make sure you have plenty.  Plan on having one for every 35 guests.  In today’s world, you can rent these with granite counter tops, piped-in music and even air conditioning and heating.  Give your guests something extra to talk about by supplying local, hand-crafted soaps, fresh flowers or monogrammed towels.
  3. Pick your tent.  Add some formality to the event and shield your guests from sun and rain!
    a.  Stake your ground:  The only limitations as to where your tents can be pitched are (1) what’s the ground made of and (2) what’s under the ground… as in water lines, electric lines, etc. Other than that, a tent can be put up just about anywhere. Pick your destination.
    b.  Pick your tent: Pick a tent that fits your style/vision and spaciously accommodates your guests. Tents can be casual or formal and come in many different sizes, shapes and materials. Tents, or rather the way they are erected, are also specific to the type of surface they will stand on, like grass/dirt or pavement.
    c.  Weatherproofing: Make your guests as comfortable as possible by weatherproofing your tent. Be sure to keep the tents cool in the summer with fans and air conditioning units and warm in the winter with heaters.
    d.  Floors and walls: Yes, you’re pitching a tent, but you can always add stability and comfort. Floors will help with uneven ground (especially if you have guests with mobility concerns) and walls will provide additional protection against the wind and rain.
  4. Rent extras.  Decide what elements are the most important aesthetics to pull off the look for your outdoor wedding!  If crystal chandeliers, textured curtains and tiebacks, curvy couches or a long, wooden bar is what will finish off the look, rent it!  You can virtually rent anything.
  5. Create a relaxing space!  Make your outdoor space as inviting as possible.  Use lounge chairs and lots of pillows to create a relaxing atmosphere.  Consider seating dinner guests at smaller tables of four.  Purposely create small niches where groups of people and congregate and visit.  Keep the band/DJ’s location in mind.  It’s hard to talk over a 115 decibels of noise.
  6. Light it up!  Don’t leave your guests in the dark.  You can set the mood with paper lanterns, pin lighting, twinkling lights or regal chandeliers.  Remember to also light up surrounding walkways for easy access to the bathrooms and parking lots.  You can use luminaries and lights that point up into trees, bushes and architectural elements along the paths.  Hang tea lights from Mason jars or covered votives to add lighting drama.  Remember to have a licensed electrician inspect the space before lighting up your tent and it may not be a bad idea to keep him on hand during the event.
  7. Almost the most important, control the bugs.  Pull out all the stops to help the bugs from being the most remembered element of your wedding day.  Think about having your outdoor area sprayed by a professional exterminator a day or two ahead of your event.  Use citronella candles or tiki torches like there’s no tomorrow.  Strategically place those insect repelling cloths around the tent and in the bathrooms for your guests.
  8. Backup plan!  Work with the venue and wedding planner to have a fail safe backup plan should bad weather make an appearance.   The last thing you want to see are hundreds of your wedding guests making mad dashes to their vehicles to escape rain that is falling sideways.

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BONUS TIPS:

  • Time your outdoor wedding around sunset so that your guests will witness you take your vows surrounded by the golden hour.
  • Also, make sure the seating arrangement prevents the sun from shining directly into your guests’ eyes.
  • If within a city limit, check the city’s ordinances regarding outdoor live music.
  • In some cases, you may also need permits for outdoor weddings.
  • Make sure your guests can hear you and work with your DJ to mic you up!
  • Remember your caterer will need a separate tent to prepare the meal.  Ask if they’ll need gas/propane.
  • Make sure that your food stations (buffets, snacks, cakes, etc.) have proper cover and protection from wind and insects
  • Overestimate the number of cold, non-alcoholic drinks you’ll need if you’re planning a summer wedding.  Water, lemonade, tea and punch work well.
  • Don’t overlook the importance of hot chocolate if it will be a winter event.
  • Reserve your wedding venue for the morning after the event as well.  This will give your wedding planner plenty of time to schedule the return of your rented items.
  • Make sure you know each vendor’s return policy and create a spreadsheet or calendar documenting the same.
  • Don’t stress. Even if every little detail isn’t pulled off to the tee, keep smiling. The important thing is, you’re getting married!

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san antonio senior portrait photographers ata-girl photography since 2010I 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, reading, and listening to Elvis!

The post, Planning for an Outdoor Wedding, first appeared on Ata-Girl Photography Co’s website and blog. Please enjoy this San Antonio wedding photography provided by Tammy Blalock and Ata-Girl Photography Co. who 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.

Jun
21

Surprise Family Heirloom

As I’ve said before, my mom passed away 20 days after I turned 21.  It was 1992, and I had seen her only once since January when I came home on leave after completing my A. I . T. training with the U. S. Army.  That was probably sometime around June or July en route to my first duty station in Missouri.  She didn’t know I was coming home for sure.  Our main communication was through mail… snail mail, so in all likelihood, I beat my own letter home.  I remember walking into her bedroom in the middle of the afternoon only to find her napping.  The only times I remember her taking frequent naps were during her times of depression.  (I only know that now looking back… you know?  Hindsight? 20/20?)

I wished I would have known that would have been one of the last times I’d see my mother alive.  I wished I had had the ability to hone in on her anguish, her pain, and her battles with mental illness.  I wish I had had the ability to save her sweet life.

I only had 21 years to build memories with my mom and seven of those were teenage years; I’m not even sure those count.  Boy, what I wouldn’t give to re-do some of those times.  So, each time I come across something that belonged to my mother or reminds me of my mother, it’s a wonderful gift.  It’s a chance to remember her, and long for her, and appreciate her legacy.  And not that I don’t do that daily… what I’m talking about here is extra… bonus!!

preserving family heirlooms history

Earlier this week, I received one of those bonus gifts.  My dear Aunt Helen from Georgia mailed me some cards that had some sort of significance to my mother’s baptism in 1951.  Opening them up, looking at them, and feeling them in my hands made me feel a direct connection to this day in my mother’s life.  The paper feels frail and weak.  The edges are tattered slightly.  The colors seem to have faded.  These cards are at least 62-years-old, and they smell like it.  They are my newest heirlooms.  I love them!  I’m 43 and I miss my mom!

With exception to the Holy cards, I have to note two things.  Number one,  I really don’t know what the other cards are.  They appear to be some sort of “storybook” because they are numbered.  The packaging indicates there are eight but I only have seven.  I would guess they tell a Bible story but being that I was raised as a Catholic, I rarely opened a Bible.  Well… that’s how Catholicism went in my house anyway.  The other thing I don’t know who Adeline Korus is.  On the backs of the Holy cards, Adeline is listed as the Godmother and Adolph is listed as the Godfather.  Though, the strange thing about that is that my Uncle Adolph did marry a Madeline… Madeline Metzger.  I guess he liked names ending in “adeline.”  I find it funny that neither spelled “baptized” correctly.  Also worth mentioning, my mother’s birthdate is listed incorrectly on the Godfather’s card.  She was born June 11, not June 1 (or 7—not sure what that says).

Any how, if you know anything about these cards or anything about my mom’s Godmother, I’d love to hear it!  In the mean time, be positive, be happy, be healthy, and don’t forget to be photographed.

(**This search revealed that, “It is very rare to find full sets of these wonderful, whimsical illustrations by Jacques Gouppy.  Jacques Gouppy was a prolific illustrator of postcards, collectible stamps, holy cards, books, Christmas and greeting cards, and illustrations such as these. His work spans from the 1920s through 1950s.”)

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san antonio senior portrait photographers ata-girl photography since 2010I 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, reading, and listening to Elvis!

The post, Surprise Family Heirloom, first appeared on Ata-Girl Photography Co’s website and blog. Please enjoy this San Antonio wedding photography provided by Tammy Blalock and Ata-Girl Photography Co. who 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.

Jun
20

Hottest Wedding Themes of 2013

According to most wedding industry experts, most couples style their wedding around a palette of signature colors.  However, an increasing number are also choosing a theme or style.  Strapless ball gowns, delicate jewels, something blue… some trends never go out of style.   But couples are personalizing their wedding days by interjecting their unique styles and interests.   According to my research on Google, here are the most popular wedding themes and styles for 2013.

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San Antonio Wedding Themes

#6 – Wild-Card: Glamping: Last June, Matthew McConaughey made glamping a house-hold term.  Brides are loving the idea of a grown-up summer camp—the term combines glamorous with camping.  You’re outdoors, but there is no roughing it.  Think brown paper bag programs, benches and pillows, cocktail hour picnic baskets, blankets spread on the ground and games of horseshoes and washers.  Couples share their love of the outdoors with the wedding guests, but no one is uncomfortable.  Matthew even provided air conditioned tents for his overnight guests at his Austin ranch.

#5- Sleek & Modern: Modern brides are opting for modern weddings with bold, sleek, and clean architectural lines.  The style is crisp and highly sophisticated.  Symmetry and balance are important aspects of this aesthetic, but the most important element to pulling off this design is to buck tradition.  A modern wedding is more like a fabulous and fun party.  Get creative; forget about formalities!  Wear a blush-colored wedding dress or skip the bouquet toss and give it to your grandmother.

#4 – Techy Wedding:  E-invitations, nuptials streamed live over the Internet, virtual guests, interactive speeches with songs, dances and multimedia presentations, and even customized hashtags are making their way into the wedding world!  Facebook and Skype are even being used in the mix to help in the planning process.  Forget about paper invitations and formal RSVP cards!  These techy weddings involve having your guests use a smart phone and QR (quick response) code to respond to your wedding invitation.  Fun fact:  Royals, Kate and William, kept everyone informed with their wedding website (OfficialRoyalWedding2011.org).

#3 – Homestead Elegance: Ritzy ranches, Mason jars, rustic pine columns, antique picture frames, and long-flowing drapes are used in this look.  Think of it as very romantic and natural.  Use neutral colors like browns, green, and nudes for the decor elements.  Slices of aspen and birch bark for the centerpieces are the perfect accents.  Antlers, feathers and recycled vegetable tins will also be combined into the look.  The tablescapes will add a polished look to a natural surrounding.  Anticipate rolling hills or majestic mountains to be the altar’s backdrop.

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#2 – Royal Flair:  This look will stop nothing short of an elegant, epic love story straight from Buckingham Palace.  From lush centerpieces and show-stopping chandeliers to laced-lined invitations and jeweled wedding stationery, this theme is the most sophisticated and elegant.  The simplest thing you can do to modernize your wedding, is modernize your vows.  For example, Kate chose to remove the word “obey” from her modernized vows to Price William.  All-white flowers, sleeved wedding gowns, nine-foot trains, and being announced with court trumpeters are all details that can put your royal affair over the edge.

#1 – Inspired by the Great Gasby/Art Deco:  Look to the Roaring 20’s for inspiration here.  Hollywood is coming back into fashion and so is chandeliers, rhinestones, flowing fabrics, arm-length gloves, prohibition-era cocktails, sequined linens and gold flatware and glassware.  The invitation, the altar backdrop, the cake… everything will be decorated with geometric shapes.  Imagine your bridesmaids wearing flapper style knee-length dresses with fringed trims and strings of pearls dancing to the tunes of a jazz trio.  Swap the traditional veil for a headpiece accented with large jewels and feathers.  Complete the look with romantic flowers and cascading bouquets featuring Casa Blanca lilies, stephanotis, fragrant gardenias and cabbage roses.

However, if you’re just looking for a sure-fire way to ensure your guests have a great time and to make sure they remember your wedding night for a long time coming, just make sure it fits your style.  You don’t have to follow a particular trend or theme to create a personalized, memorable, once-in-a-lifetime event.  Be true to your heart!

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san antonio senior portrait photographers ata-girl photography since 2010I 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, reading, and listening to Elvis!

The post, Hottest Wedding Trends of 2013, first appeared on Ata-Girl Photography Co’s website and blog. Please enjoy this San Antonio wedding photography provided by Tammy Blalock and Ata-Girl Photography Co. who 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.

Jun
18

Tell-Tail Signs You’re Dealing with An Amateur

Please don’t take this the wrong way.  I am not looking to take shots at any photographer who is trying to establish a legitimate photography business.  It’s a steep but reachable goal that involves time, money, patience and motivation.  Any photographic artist who is serious about succeeding will.  After all, nearly each one of the items on this list also applied to me when I started.  However, if you’re looking to hire a photographer to capture one of the most important days of your life, and IF the images captured on that day will be important to you, please consider this list of tell-tail signs that you’re dealing with an amateur.  The bottom line is to make sure you like the photographer’s work {art} MORE than you like their price.

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San Antonio Wedding Photographers

  1. No website. Facebook presence only.  Being that I was a website designer in a past career, pretty early on I created a web presence outside of social media.  If your potential photographer refers you to a portfolio only seen on Facebook, be warned.  They don’t take their business seriously.
  2. Doesn’t pay taxes.  This can apply to income tax, sales tax, county property/business tax or state franchise tax.  There are a lot of taxes to be paid.  Your photographer isn’t quite obligated to charge you these taxes, but they are mandated by law to pay these taxes.  If your potential photographer isn’t paying some or all of these taxes, they don’t take their business seriously.  And, they could get in serious trouble.
  3. No insurance.  I don’t ever want to have to file a claim on this policy, but when you hire me to cover your event, I’m insured.  If I trip your Aunt Edna, if Aunt Edna bumps into me and I drop my camera (Don’t worry!  See item #5, I have a backup!), or if all of the SD cards are burnt to a crisp because I crash my car on the way home, I’m covered.  If your potential photographer doesn’t carry a liability policy, they do not take their business seriously.
  4. No written agreement.  Having a written agreement removes all the guesswork from the photographer/client relationship.  It establishes a working timeline, a model release, a copyright (if any), a completion schedule and a retainer/payment plan.  A written agreement should be clear and concise and provide a list of expectations from each party.  In this day and age and with all of the technical complexities, a verbal agreement sealed with a handshake just won’t cut it.  That leaves too much room for ambiguities or misunderstandings.  If your potential photographer doesn’t provide a written agreement, they don’t take their business seriously.
  5. No backup equipment. The first time my camera broke, I was out of commission for months… months!  While waiting on the repairs to be made, I immediately starting saving for an additional camera.  Now, if one happens to break, it’s really no sweat off of my back.  I can continue to work.  If your potential photographer doesn’t have backup equipment, they don’t take their business seriously.
  6. Lacks technical skill.  This is really the most obvious sign.  If your potential photographer  frequently shoots in Automatic or Program mode and/or uses on-camera-flash in all low light situations, they do not take their business seriously. Even if items 1 through 5 on this list applies to them, they may still be capable of taking an excellent photograph.  But, if they lack sufficient technical skill, your images will not be the best they can be and they don’t take their business seriously!  Seriously!!  An appropriate metaphor would be comparing  a box cake against a made-from-scratch, edible, piece of art from an experienced cake designer.  Both are cakes, but one is much better.

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Since day one, I have viewed my business as an extremely serious one and had a vision of where I want to be… I continually take steps to accomplish this vision and make it a reality.  I’ve even made additional strides to expand my business and establish myself as a legitimate business owner and photographic artist:

  1. I attend or purchase workshops, seminars and clinics to improve my photography skill.
  2. I registered my business with the State of Texas.
  3. I became a paying member of an international group of photographers.
  4. I network with like-minded professionals.
  5. I expand my photographic and/or business knowledge on a daily basis.
  6. I look for second-shooting opportunities with established wedding photographers.
  7. I examine photography work outside of the wedding industry.
  8. I subscribe to and read wedding-related blogs to stay on the forefront of trends and styles.
  9. I try to find personal connections with my clients.
  10. I find ways to differentiate my business and experience from that of other photographers.

So, while I am not yet where I want to be, I can certainly see where I am going.  That makes my heart happy!  If you’re just starting out and if you’d like to chat, I’m available to share whatever knowledge I’ve gained thus far.  Feel free to instant message, email or call!  Until next time, be positive, be happy, be healthy, and don’t forget to be photographed.

_______________________________________________________________________________

san antonio senior portrait photographers ata-girl photography since 2010I 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, reading, and listening to Elvis!

The post, Tell-Tail Signs You’re Dealing with An Amateur, first appeared on Ata-Girl Photography Co’s website and blog. Please enjoy this San Antonio wedding photography provided by Tammy Blalock and Ata-Girl Photography Co. who 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.

Jun
17

Andrew & Amanda’s Destination Wedding

Who knew that only the second wedding I photographed would be considered a destination wedding?  The evening prior to the wedding, I drove to Kosse, Texas… a 470 mile round trip.

San Antonio Destination Wedding

Andrew and Amanda’s love story began at youth church camp.  They’d see each other every summer, and it wasn’t too long before their love blossomed into something special.  When Andrew graduated from high school, he decided to serve his country and enlisted in the United States Army.  There would be no more summer meetings at church camp.  So, Andrew quickly decided to surprise Amanda with a proposal over the Christmas holidays her senior year in high school.  They decided to marry as soon as Amanda graduated.  Really!  Within a week of her graduating from high school, they’d be tying the knot!

While Andrew was completing his soldier training, Amanda and her mom tidied up all the plans for the cozy and intimate affair.  Amanda’s maid-of-honor would be her little sister and her bridesmaids would be some of her best friends from high school.  The groomsmen would be Andrew’s training buddies.  Both families nestled in the small church at the corner of Monroe and Narcissus to witness the nuptials.  Silver and yellow garnished the wedding party, the church, and the reception hall. Andrew and Amanda drove away to their honeymoon in a shower of yellow confetti.  Where’d they go?  Why back visit old friends from church camp, of course.

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