san antonio wedding photographers Archives

Jul

Paying it Forward

Although I have considered myself a professional photographer for almost three years now, it’s still a little awkward to say those words out loud to describe myself. But, I am a professional photographer. 🙂 During these three years, I have read more words about photography than any other subject matter in my life. I have read tutorials, commentaries, web blogs, magazine articles, twitter posts, and equipment reviews. I have even read graffiti on bathroom walls if it pertained to photography. I’ve watched webinars, podcasts, and videos from every corner of the Internet.

Among everything I have learned, there is one thing about the photography community that has stuck out to me. At first, I bought into this ideology… and made this way my way too… the ideology that photographers horde their knowledge, don’t reach out to fellow photographers, use cutthroat tactics to land gigs, and degrade and insult others’ work. Professional photography can be a very ugly world. However, I do think there are many photographers in the industry who are generous, kind, and giving, but I don’t think that they are “the norm.”

I have since stumbled upon many photographers’ blogs who do not buy into this way of thinking. Luckily, their blogs changed the way I think. At times, it has been a struggle, but I try to make conscious efforts to help out other photographers, to share my (limited) knowledge, and to network so we all get further down the road.

Recently, I had a photography-loving friend contact me and say that he had a Nikon D80 he’d like to give away to an “aspiring paparazzi.” (Although the term “paparazzi” is insulting to some people, I know Fred used it as a term of endearment.) Fred used this very camera to shoot the cover for Bill Chamber’s DVD “Live at the Pub.” Fred is one of the photographers who is generous, kind, and giving. He has taught me a thing or two and always answers any questions I might have. We’ve spent a lot of hours sitting on his couch and talking shop. We’ve attended work shops and entered into art shows together. Fred has loaned me thousands of dollars of equipment for jobs when I didn’t have my own.

Immediately, I thought of Victoria. Victoria JUST graduated from high school and I got to shoot her senior portraits. I already knew that Victoria loved photography, owned a Nikon J1, and was the editor of the high school year book. What I didn’t know is that Victoria wanted to either double-major or minor in photography while attending Texas State University and had recently started a photography business of her own shooting senior portraits for some of her classmates. Fred agreed that Victoria should get the D80.

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I contacted Victoria to tell her about the “paying it forward” and we made arrangements to meet. Although I didn’t have any real part in this transaction, I’m fortunate to have witnessed the generosity and the ensuing gratitude in the photography community.

Ata-Girl Photography Co. | South Texas Wedding Photographer

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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!

Jul

How I Shot Lightning

A month or so ago, during a gorgeous lightning storm, a friend texted me and asked, “How do you shoot lightning?”

I was on my way back from an out-of-town trip, but I responded that I wasn’t sure. Guessing, I sent her some manual settings that I would have started with, but the truth is, I didn’t have a clue. I had never shot lightning before. But, I did think that lightning makes some of the most beautiful images and I wanted to give it a try.

It doesn’t rain much in Texas. So, lightning isn’t something that I get lots of chances to capture. I didn’t have my opportunity until June 26.

Most everything I know about photography, I have either learned by trial and error, read on the world wide web or in a photography magazine, or been fortunate enough to learn from photography-loving friends. So, even though I’m about to tell you how I shot lightning, it doesn’t mean that this is the best or correct way to do it.

I started with manual settings that allowed me to capture the ambient light (street lights) in the distance (f 2.8, ss 1/100, iso 2500). I was using a 17-55mm f2.8 lens.
I used automatic focus to focus on the light furthest away from me, then immediately switched to manual focus and left it there.
I made a mental note to bring mosquito spray next time. They were eating my lunch!
I also switched my camera to its fastest rapid fire setting. In my case, this is six frames per second.
I waited… with my viewfinder pressed firmly to my eye.
I steadied myself against my porch rail and waited. I realized this is a lot like deer hunting.
Anytime, the lightning show started, I pressed the shutter button and hoped I caught something.
After a few tries, I changed my manual settings to f 2.8, ss 1/40, iso 6400 and this is where I stayed for the duration.

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In hindsight, I think I’d have to speed up my shutter speed some. I can detect some camera shake in some of the pictures. I think the biggest components to shooting a lightning show are patience, timing and luck! Enjoy my shots!

Here’s my favorite shot from the night!

Ata-Girl Photography Co. | How I Shot Lightning Tutorial | South Texas Wedding Photographer

(Writing this tutorial was fun! If there is anything technical you’d like me to write about, please leave a comment to this post or drop me an email. I’ll give it my best!)

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Jun

Fame & Shame #6

It’s time for another installment of Fame & Shame and I’m doing a happy dance. It’s Friday. And, I don’t have to go back to work for nine whole days!

Shame

Extremely Hot Weather: If I had my choice, I’d take hot weather over cold weather any day. One of the worst nights of my life involved nearly freezing to death (I’m not sure I’m kidding) during a field exercise in Germany in sub-degree weather. It was ssoooooo cold that the snow didn’t melt inside our GP Medium tent for nearly three days despite the fact we continuously ran a pot-bellied stove. Oh! Getting back to the hot weather! Almost every day this week was 100+. I can tolerate those days here and there, but day-in and day-out is a cruel joke.

It’s too hot to even think about shaming anything else.

Fame

WordPress: By far, WordPress is the best blogging software/application out there! WordPress allows me to keep up with you while I’m on vacation! Even though there are thousands of plug-ins to enhance Word Press, it’s still an amazing tool straight out-of-the-box. The BEST thing about WordPress… it was born in TEXAS! I love Word Press!
Hoot Suite: Hoot Suite is another great product that allows me to keep you informed of everything I post with WordPress at the Ata-Girl website/blog. What’s best is I can post to my Facebook and Twitter accounts way ahead of time… like while I’m on vacation. I can schedule posts and tweets to happen while I’m gone.
VACATION: Even though WordPress and Hoot Suite are both AMAZING products, the VERY BEST item in the “fame” list is this one: vacation. I love road trips, and getting away, and making memories with my family.
(BONUS) OLYMPIC TRIALS: I love watching the athletes compete on the biggest platform of their lives. I wish every single one of them could go on to become actual Olympians! They have so much determination, gusto, discipline, strength… will power. I admire each and every one of them. Anyone who knows me knows that I aspired to be an Olympic athlete as a young girl. I wanted to qualify in either gymnastics, volleyball or track and field. I could have totally been Mary Lou Retton… if I would have known how to tumble… or FloJo… if I would have known a really great nail artist.

Until next time, be positive, be happy, be healthy, and don’t forget to be photographed.

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

Schedule a virtual or in-person discovery meetup!
For more options, visit my “Let’s Connect” page.

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.

Jun

Happy Father’s Day!!

When I call him on the phone, he answers, “¿Quien habla?”

I respond, “Su hija favorita!”

We usually continue with a few more phrases in Spanish. And no matter how much I argue with him, I can’t make him believe (or understand) that none of his verbs are conjugated correctly. He thinks his Spanish is amazing. ¿Ay, qué piensa el padre?

This Father’s Day, I won’t be able to give my dad his present because he is in Vail, Colorado at the King of the Mountain Volleyball Tournament. Even though he is 1,039 miles away, I know he is enjoying himself immensely because he is doing something that he enjoys almost more than life itself… volleyball.

Rather than tell you how much my dad has done for volleyball, I’m going to tell you what volleyball has done for my dad. It has kept him young. It has kept him healthy, and alert, and mobile. It has also given him something to do all those nights he spends at Sonic (where teenagers usually hang out). Volleyball even named a ball after my dad and it got to co-star with Tom Hanks! So, later this year when my dad turns 67, I will say a quiet thank you to volleyball.

But for now, “Happy Father’s Day al padre mejor en todo del mundo! !Te amo mucho!”

Ata-Girl Photography Co. | South Texas Wedding Photographer | Happy Father’s Day

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May

Minions Are People Too

I was recently contacted by Clyde and Brad… minions. They are, however, the two cutest, sweetest minons I have ever met. They were interested in a lifestyle portrait session to celebrate a special event. Their favorite sports team, the Squaws, made the play-offs and had won the first round. Clyde and Brad wanted to document their love for the beloved Squaws and share it with the team… and the world.

Clyde & Brad | Ata-Girl Photography Co. | Lifestyle Session

You see, they have been through a lot this year. At first, Clyde (pictured on the right) was the only minion mascot for the team. Then, he was involved in a terrible bathing accident (in a washing machine) and lost both of his eyes and his mouth. He never lost his spirit, but he did need a close friend and helper. He was introduced to Brad, who quickly became his new best bud. Clyde and Brad go everywhere together and have continued to root for their favorite team. The Squaws have developed a strong superstition that if Clyde and Brad are not at their games, they will not have good luck. Clyde and Brad travel “first class” in #9’s bat bag to ensure they make it to all the games.

Clyde & Brad | Ata-Girl Photography Co. | Lifestyle Session

They love spending time at the Squaws’ playing field, so that is where we started the photo shoot.

Clyde and Brad have been to so many softball games, they have recently taken up the sport themselves. They enjoy playing against each other and put together a quick pick-up game whenever they can. They only wish they knew more softball-playing minions so they could establish a minion softball league.

After we finished up at the field, they wanted to venture around town a bit. The only time they have ever been outside of their home/traveling vessel, is at the field. They wanted to see where the mighty Squaws are from. They received a personalized tour of the town.

Along the way, the also met up with some dear friends of the Squaws’.

All-in-all, they had a great day and will NEVER EVER stop supporting the Squaws. Go Squaws Go!!

Clyde & Bard | Ata-Girl Photography Co. | Lifestyle Session

Clyde & Brad | Ata-Girl Photography Co. | Lifestyle Session

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Apr

What Happens After I Press the Button?

When I press the shutter button on my camera, I have only completed a small portion of my work. Generally speaking, if I shoot pictures for an hour, I’ll spend three to four hours editing those pictures. But, if I’m doing a single person session, I have been known to spend even more time than that perfecting the images. If I neglected the image at the time I captured it (improper exposure, distracting background, or closed eyes, for example), I can spend as much as 30 minutes editing just one image. My goal is always to spend the least amount of time as possible on post processing.

However, I have not always edited my pictures. When I first started dabbling in photography, I simply didn’t want to invest the time it took to post process my images. I didn’t think it was important or necessary. Simply put, it’s a time consuming process and not a very enjoyable experience… at least until the finished product is produced. Images straight out of the camera tend to be a little flat and I have since come to the realization that not only does this process enhance the images I capture, but that I owe it to my clients. They are paying for a professional image and they expect a professional image. Therefore, I try to deliver a professional image. Post processing is a necessity in today’s professional photography world.

I use Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom for all my editing and each image I capture receives this special treatment. These are two very powerful softwares (especially Photoshop) and they have very steep learning curves. It has taken me years to learn these softwares. These softwares allow me to take an unusable picture and showcase a genuine laugh that would have otherwise been lost. I never make such drastic changes that the editing jeopardizes the authenticity or changes the reality of the photograph. This tweaking process allows me to polish an image with colors that pop and add a level of crispness and sharpness that cannot be obtained straight out of the camera.

Even after years of learning and experience with post processing, I still haven’t mastered this task. I still consider myself at an apprentice, if you will. However, I can say with confidence that I’m comfortable with what “my style” is and I do believe that the improvements I am making to my images are definitely for the better. The fine tuning is making the difference between an image that is just okay and an image that says “wow.”

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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 San Antonio 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

Fame & Shame #4

It’s been an incredibly busy couple of weeks. Between high school sports, portrait sessions, trying to get to the gym and/or cycle, Easter, and the place I spend most of my waking moments (JOB), I have been a very busy girl. I barely found the time to squeeze in this installment of Fame & Shame. Enjoy!

Shame

Friday the 13ths: I’m not superstitious in the slightest, but I know a lot of people are. That’s why this is making the list today!
End of the Regular Softball Season: After tonight’s game, we have one more regular season game. My baby is in the 10th grade and this year has gone by soooo fast. I’ve only got two more years to cherish all the competition. (Actually, I can still watch my niece, Karley, play high school ball until 2016.)
Bad Sportsmanship: If there is anything that bugs me in sports… especially in youth sports… it’s bad sportsmanship. If you can’t lose with the same grace you win with, you don’t belong. Aggressive chests bumps are INexcusable!

Fame

Photo Project 365: So far, I’ve counted 13 people participating. Is this a coincidence that there are 13 people participating on Friday, the 13th? I am having a blast and I hope everyone else is too. Some REALLY GREAT shots have been posted to the Ata-Girl Facebook wall. If you haven’t joined and have considered it, don’t be scared – jump in!
Dr. Pepper 10: I LOVE Dr. Pepper… I mean, I really LOVE Dr. Pepper! So, when I tasted this 10-calorie-per-serving option, I was elated. It is SO much better than the diet version. Now, I can enjoy ALL of the 23 flavors without any feelings of guilt.
PLAY-OFFS!: On April 5th, the Squaws secured a play-off appearance that didn’t depend on what happened during the rest of the season. Even the last time the Squaws made the play-offs (2008), it was not a sealed deal this early on. Good luck, Squaws! Hope you guys advance farrrr into the play-off brackets. Keep doing what you’re doing and have fun!

Until next time, be positive, be happy, be healthy, and don’t forget to be photographed.

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

Schedule a virtual or in-person discovery meetup!
For more options, visit my “Let’s Connect” page.

About Ata-Girl

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

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.

Apr

Great Day!

In most Slavic languages, Easter means “Great Day.” It is always a great day when I get a great shot. Sometimes, I capture the most amazing image I’ve ever pressed a shutter button for. I raise my camera, place my eye next to the viewfinder, follow the action, and release the shutter. I then bring my camera down to review the image and I’m totally amazed by what I captured. It’s the same feeling I get when I stumble upon an arrowhead, reel in a big fish or discover a great burger joint. It’s dopamine for my brain!

Then… (insert long pause) there are times when I take a picture (or look back at a picture) and I’m like, “What is that? Who took that? Really?? THAT is what I captured?” My level of confidence quickly dives into the negative zone. Self-doubt creeps in. I question my skill… my art. I interrogate my knowledge. I feel yucky! I ask myself why have I spent so much time and money on this hobby-turned-business. Do I dare deserve to continue?

I think it’s perfectly natural to occasionally doubt yourself. I think the yucky pictures are just subliminal messages to remind myself to keep working hard at my art. They remind me to constantly improve my skill. It reminds me I still have a lot of stuff to learn. And, it makes me eager to improve. I get excited all over again! My confidence level begins to gradually increase.

Then, I get a GREAT DAY picture like this!! I’m good again. Dopamine is on board.

Dopamine for Ata-Girl!

Happy Easter, everyone! I hope you’re having a GREAT DAY and getting to spend the day with loved ones and/or family! I am; I am blessed! 🙂

P.S. If all goes as planned today, I’ll also be taking some baby bump pictures!

**http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter

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Mar

Fame & Shame #3

It’s time for another installment of Fame & Shame.

Shame

Thieves: Last week, while I was in Austin, my truck was broken into. Stop taking what doesn’t belong to you! Period.
People Without Patience: “Just be patient,” my mother always told me, “there’s no harm in waiting.”
Bad Drivers: People who “steal” my safe following distance and don’t have patience enough to wait their turn make me ill. (Yes, that was a deliberate combination of the two items listed above.)

Fame

Texas Wildflowers: With Blue Bonnets, Indian Blankets, Dandelions and even Prickly Poppy in bloom right now, Texas is gorgeous. They make my cycling trips worth it!
Filterstorm Pro: I love this handy little $3.99 app that I downloaded to be able to edit pictures right on my iPad. What a nifty piece of software! Love it!!
Unbroken: This is the book I am reading right now. It’s about Louis Zamperini who is a World War II prisoner of war survivor, inspirational speaker, and former American Olympic distance runner. It’s an excellent read! I can’t wait to finish.

Until next time, be positive, be happy, be healthy, and don’t forget to be photographed.

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

Schedule a virtual or in-person discovery meetup!
For more options, visit my “Let’s Connect” page.

About Ata-Girl

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

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.

Mar

South By

I just spent the about a week at the most creative place in the world–SXSW or South by Southwest™. The cool people just call it “South By.” It’s an annual conference held in Austin, Texas where creative people from all over the world convene to congregate, network, and learn. It’s divided up into three parts: interactive, music, and film. Attendance comes at a steep price tag, but I was lucky to attend having been sent by the company I work for.

During the event, there are literally hundreds of presentations, panel discussions, and mentor sessions covering all kinds of topics. I attended about 20 over the course of four days. South By even draws major celebrity talent like Bruce Springstein, JayZ, Nick Cannon, and Rainn Wilson. Although I don’t watch The Office, I couldn’t help but be curious about what goes on inside Rainn’s brain—which was the title of his presentation: What Goes on Inside Rainn Wilson’s Brain. His was the only celebrity-paneled presentation that I went to.

Some of the mini seminars I attended covered topics like: B2B Advertising, Staying Creative, Designing for Your Audience, Being Super Better, Connecting to Your Customers, Photocamp, Branding, Product Plots and Launches. All the information was overly stimulating and at sometimes overwhelming, but I came away with lots of great ideas that I can’t wait to implement at work.

The presentations are spread out all over downtown Austin. While a good majority were in the Convention Center, I often had to walk blocks, sometimes miles to get to the next presentation. This was right up my alley. South By was an experience that has rejuvenated and empowered my skill and imagination. I hope to repeat the experience next year. Here’s my favorite picture from the trip:

Austin, TX: Congress Avenue During SXSW

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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!