san antonio wedding photographers Archives

Nov

Fame & Shame #10

It’s time for another installment of Fame & Shame. I am way late on this. I can’t believe I have not written a Fame & Shame since August 28th. Wow!

Shame

Speedy Internet Registerers: After listening to Dale Smith Thomas give an invigorating motivational speech tonight, I made up my mind to register for United 2013. (Jasmine Star and Zach & Jody will be there, y’all.) It is a photography workshop/seminar being put together by David Jay and ShowIt. I was very “disenchanted” (Thanks, Dale!) to discover the event had sold out in one day. 🙁 Next year. Next year.
Sweaters: It was cooler weather last week (for South Texas) and that prompted me to buy two new sweaters. I love sweaters, but can they please keep their shape? By the end of the day, my cuffs reach my knees.
Ozzie: Even if you’ve developed a habit of waking me up every morning at 2:30 to go potty, I still love you! You’re gorgeous!

Fame

Dale Smith Thomas: I was fortunate to attend STRMC’s Heathly Woman Gala and I had the pleasure of listening to a lady who grew up at Route 3, Box 89 speak. Her message was incredible! If I took away just one thing from her, it was that I am gorgeous and so are you! I’ve always thought of myself as a pretty positive person, but from this day forward, I will try harder… I will be even MORE positive! And, I will be more positive with YOU!
30 Minutes: Listening to Dale Smith Thomas’ motivational CD, she asks that you devote 30 minutes a day thinking positive thoughts and coaching yourself to be positive. At the end of a year, you will have invested 28 8-hour days to becoming a more positive person! I’m in!!
YOU: Take 30 minutes today and tell yourself how intelligent, resourceful, capable, gifted, blessed, loved, lucky, fortunate, faithful, healthy, positive, ambitious, awesome, energized, friendly and gorgeous you are!

Ata-Girl Photography Co. | Ozzie

Remember. YOU’RE GORGEOUS! 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.

Oct

Auto/Program vs. Manual

Someone recently asked me why I don’t just shoot on automatic all the time if the camera is able to make technical decisions about a picture. When I first started taking pictures of my kids, I always shot in the automatic mode. Then, I got a really cool camera that had advanced options like action, close-ups, sunsets, or portraits. I sort of have to laugh out loud when I say that because they’re really not advanced options at all. They’re sort of advanced options of the automatic mode–none of which give me the control I need to take the best picture possible.

Since pursuing my love of photography, I have, sometimes painfully, learned how to manually create a good exposure–to use my built-in light meter, my histogram and to look for the light. While my camera is extremely smart and can achieve an excellent exposure in situations where nice, even lighting is present, these are things the camera cannot fine tune. I, on the other hand, can.

Here is a demonstration comparing Program Mode (left side) vs. Manual Mode (right side).

Ata-Girl Photography Co. | Auto/Program vs. Manual Mode

For the program/left picture, the camera chose the settings of 1/250 shutter speed, f-stop/aperture 4.0 and ISO 800. I chose to shoot a very similar photo at 1/500 shutter speed, f-stop/aperture 2.8 and ISO 4000. This gym has exceptionally bad lighting. Ideally, I like to shoot all my indoor sports at a shutter speed of at least 1/640th of a second.

By telling my camera to let in more light (f 2.8 and ISO 4000), I was also able to speed up the shutter speed—capture less time/movement. So, not only is my picture brighter, it has less motion blur in it. Compare the things in motion in each picture: the balls, hands, feet and shoelaces. The picture captured in program mode has motion blur in all those areas, plus it is darker. While my picture, taken in manual mode, will contain more noise/grain, I have stopped virtually every part of the picture except the hitting hand. The left picture barely has any detail in the stands area, but I can see the faces of the Cotulla fans in the picture on the right. My subject’s skin is even brighter. This fine control is extremely helpful in situations like weddings, sweet 16s and quinceañeras, where there is little, if any, light.

If you’re a DSLR owner, I encourage you to get to know your camera and how to make a proper exposure. You can start by test driving the coolest DSLR simulator ever! Your pictures will thank you for it.

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

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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!

Oct

Coolest Simulator Ever!

Do you know what a flight simulator is? Of course you do. Who doesn’t? Okay, let me introduce you to this little piece of software—a DSLR simulator. I think that whoever invented this must have also invented stretchy jeans because this is a piece of pure genius.

From different polls and research that I’ve looked at over the years, it seems that the majority of DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) owners shoot in Automatic or Program mode. To me, that is like choosing to eat a microwave dinner when you could have had chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, country gravy and Texas toast. Crazy! You’ve made the financial investment for your camera, now make the educational investment. Even if you’ve mastered focus, composing, framing, perspective, posing, and storytelling but you haven’t mastered expsoure, your photos are not the best they can be. Learning to have full control over your images will allow you to take much better photographs. Pass the gravy, please.

Distance
Use this slider to replicate how close you are to your subject.

Focal Length
This slider replicates zooming in and out with your lens. A wide, zoomed setting creates the greatest depth of field (DOF) where more things are in focus. Zooming in creates a shallower depth of field. Typically, just the subject will be in focus.

Light Meter
The camera’s light meter will help you to get the proper exposure. This is a great starting point in most lighting situations. Ideally, you will want the indicator lined up with the arrow right in the middle of the meter (between -2 and +2). Be aware, there are exceptions to this.

Mode
I’m pretty sure that every digital camera has an Automatic mode, but there is not one included here. You already know how to use that one. The exposure modes of a DSLR let you control one setting while the camera decides how to adjust the others. In Shutter Priority mode, you set the shutter speed while the camera sets the aperture/f-stop. In Aperture Priority mode, you set the aperture/f-stop while the camera sets the shutter speed. In Manual mode, you get to decide all the controls. This is the part where you get to eat the chicken fried steak. Yum!

Lighting
Evaluating your light source is always the first step in setting up the camera for a proper exposure. Lighting is the single, biggest determining factor of how your camera needs to be set. With only a few exceptions, you can never have too much light. Use this slider to experiment with different indoor and outdoor lighting conditions.

Shutter Speed
The way I explain shutter speed is the amount of time you want to capture—how long your shutter will be open to record information. Being that I ran track for Coach Johnson back in the day (the best track coach ever!), I have an excellent understanding of time. I can mentally break down a second into 8,000 parts if I need to. For example, you may only need a shutter speed of 1/100th of a second to photograph your grandma sitting in a recliner. You can probably get away with a shutter speed of 1/400th to photograph your two-year-old on a tricycle. However, photographing a daytime softball game, you can really stop time with a shutter speed of 1/4000th. Faster shutter speeds allow you to “stop time”, but require lots of light. While slower shutter speeds allow you to shoot with less light, they allow blur to happen.

Aperture
Once we determine how long our shutter will be open, we need to figure out how wide we want the lens to open. The aperture, or or f-stop, refers to how wide the lens will open. The wider the lens opens, the more light passes through to be recorded in your image. It’s very confusing at first, but smaller numbers (f 1.4) mean that the lens is open wider. Larger numbers (f 22) mean that the lens is barely open. The smaller aperture (higher f number) means that more things will be in focus in your image, but you’ll need more light. The bigger aperture (lower f number) means that less of your image will be in focus but you won’t need as much light. This is how you control focus, bokeh, depth of field, magic, etc.

ISO
ISO stands for International Standards Organization, which refers to the group that set the standards for film speed. You can relax. You don’t really need to know anything about ISO except that it determines how sensitive your picture will be to the available light source. Higher ISO settings allow you to shoot at faster shutter speeds in lower light situations. However, shooting at higher ISOs allow “grain” and “noise” to be present in your images. The higher the ISO, the more noise you will have. Lower ISO settings generate the cleanest images, but require more light. I always use the lowest ISO I can get away with so that I have the cleanest images. However, that sometimes means shooting at 4000 ISO at a nighttime football game.

Ready? Go for it!

I’d like to thank the people over at CameraSim.com for this nifty little tool and for also helping with the invention of stretchy pants! But for now, I need to head on out to the gym to work off some of this chicken fried steak.

Be happy, be positive, be healthy and don’t forget to be photographed!

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Oct

Reasons to Hire a Professional Photographer

I’m going to give you the top ten reasons to hire a professional photographer. But first, have you ever heard any backhanded compliments like this?

(1) “That custom-sewn wedding dress is exquisite, you must have a GREAT sewing machine!” (2) “That was a fantastic dinner, you must have a GREAT stove!” (3) “That bouquet is beautiful, you must have a GREAT garden!”

Okay, I think you get the point. These things would never be said to a seamstress, chef, or florist. Yet every day, people compliment a photographer’s camera. While it is true that a camera with a better light sensor or faster glass can take a better picture, the person who clicks the shutter button ultimately makes the photo what it is. Anyone can take a snapshot, but only an experienced professional can capture the moment. Here are ten reasons why you should hire a professional photographer to capture your special day. Here are my top ten reasons to hire a professional photographer:

Reasons to Hire a Professional Photographer

Peace of Mind: Hire a professional instead of relying on on a family member or friends to photograph the event. That way, Uncle Joe won’t miss the cake cutting because he’s catching up with Cousin Emily.
Access: Professional photographers have access to pro-level resources like print labs and album companies. Anyone can order a photo book from Snapfish, but not everyone can order an heirloom wedding album from KISS.
Experience: Not only do professionals have nice equipment, but they have demonstrated a skill and knowledge to consistently produce pleasing images. They don’t take pictures hoping that “they turn out.” They are skillfully prepared for bad lighting situations, uncooperative subjects, and unexpected changes in the day’s schedule.
Photo Equipment: Professionals have invested thousands of dollars in their equipment. Today, many people own DSLR’s, but most DSLR owners shoot in “Automatic” or “Program” mode. Most professionals have learned how to properly use the camera in “Manual” mode and have also invested thousands of dollars in their lenses. They’re not using kit lenses to photograph a $20,000 wedding.
Software & Computer for Post Processing: Professional photographers purchase professional-level software and have spent many hours learning how to use it. They also invest a lot of money in the computer systems needed to run this software. They don’t just turn over images to you straight out of the camera. They deliver images that have been processed using the latest software and techniques to ensure the images look the best they can look.
Insurance: What if Aunt Edna accidentally trips on a camera bag, falls in the pool and breaks a hip? A professional can cover that.
Backup Plans: Professionals have more than one camera body. Professionals have access to and often use second shooters, back up their images… sometimes even remotely and will keep your images for years to come should something happen to your copies.
Diligence & Dedication: Professional photographers spend a lot of time and money attending professional seminars and workshops. (On average, I attend at least two of these each year to hone my craft and keep up to date in the field.)
Vested Interest: A professional photographer is going to perform above and beyond your expectations. Not only are they going to deliver great images, great products and great customer service, they are protecting their brand image in doing so. Their reputation is what puts meat on their table. They have a vested interested in performing well—repeatedly and consistently.
History Preservation: The average cost of today’s wedding is $20,000. The ONLY thing you will keep, besides the dress, is the photographs. The music, food, flowers, cake and venue will all be gone the day after the wedding, but you will have your photographs forever. Make sure they tell the story you want them to.

I make it my personal mission to create a set of images that permanently cements this moment in your mind forever. It is my goal that each image will make you relive that exact moment, stop time and induce all the same feelings you had the second the shutter was pressed. Images mean the world to me, and I want them to mean the world to you as well.

In closing, I spent several minutes trying to figure out how to spell “exquisite” and here is a cute video I found on YouTube. Also, please see all the reasons I lay out why a professional photographer charges what they do. I think you’ll be more surprised what you MAY NOT be paying for more than what you are paying for when you’re hiring your wedding day photographer.

Be happy, be positive, 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.

Oct

Lightroom… Awesomeness

I got a question the other day about what photo editing software I use. My answer was two-fold. In most instances I use Adobe Lightroom 3 (upgrading to 4 when I upgrade my computer). In all other cases (extreme edits), I use Adobe Photoshop CS5.

I’ve only been using Lightroom for about two years, but I have come to love this piece of software heaven. I’m not sure how I didn’t completely loose my mind editing 100’s of photos with only Photoshop. That was not enjoyable.

Reasons why I love Lightroom:

I can easily apply batch edits to groups of photos (color correction, exposure correction, even a batch rotation/tilt, if needed). I no longer have to open up each image, one by one, performing the same edits or running the same actions to get one jpeg. I can zoom through the entire gallery spending less than 30 seconds on each image in most cases.
I can pretty quickly rumage through a gallery and get rid of all the photos I want to reject. When I’m done with the rejection process, I hit one command and they’re gone from the gallery. I can even choose to delete them permanently from my hard drive—which is what I do. Some photographers keep the rejects, but I say, “What on Earth for?”
I can easily catalog my photos with tags to make finding them in the future easier. This is especially helpful with my sports photos. Every image in which, say… “Kyanna Floyd” is the main subject, I tag that photo as such. Two years from now, I can run a filter for “Kyanna Floyd”, and I have instant access to every picture she was tagged in. I don’t have to browse through many, many folders looking for her face or jersey number. This is a time saver times a gazillion!
In addition to the text tags for cataloging, I can use other rating systems to keep track of photos. There is a star-rating system and a color-coding system. Currently, I use the star-rating system to mark photos to apply my watermark to (left vs. right side of an image). Different colors indicate who I will share the photos with (ie. portfolio, clients, etc.) or what they will be used for (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.). I can also create an unlimited number of collections. This comes in handy with creating slide shows.
If more extensive edits are needed, I can easily open the image up in Photoshop. When I save the work in Photoshop, the image is automatically and magically, I think, saved back to my Lightroom with all the changes made in Photoshop.
I can create virtual copies of images if I want to apply different edits or different crops.
I don’t use these features very often, but there are options for slideshows and for printing. It’s pretty easy to put together a collage on the fly.
At ANY time, I can revert the image back to its original state—no matter what editing revisions I have made!

When I used to only use Photoshop to edit images, it would take me hours (HOURS) to get through a sporting event or wedding of 400 images. And, I didn’t really have the liberty to shoot images in RAW because that slowed the culling process down even more. I can now finish editing an event in a couple of hours or so (depending how much my computer wants to cooperate). I’m looking forward to a new system and Lightroom 4 to make my job even easier.

I’m pretty sure I’m not even scratching the surface as far as Lightroom’s capabilities. However, in my opinion, Abobe rocks the house as far as photo editing software goes. If you’re not using an Adobe product to edit your photos, you’re probably not producing the best work that you can OR the easiest way you can. (I’ve never used Photoshop Elements, but many tell me it is just as viable as a resource at PS itself. I would personally endorse it without ever having used it.)

? I have been told that Windows 7 will display RAW files in the Explorer screen. I don’t have that. 🙁 Yet.

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Oct

Who Shot J.R.?

Who shot J.R.? I overheard the answer from one of the tour guides comfirming to a guest that it was such and such. But honestly, I don’t remember who that character was. As much as I loved Dallas in the late-70’s and early-80’s, and as much as I was thrilled by the remake earlier this year, I did not recognize the name. As fun as it was visitng a place that I grew up watching on television, the real reason I was at Southfork was to learn, and be inspired and dream BIG! And, that I did!

I started off the day listening to Kelle Hampton as she described how a simple blog about motherhood has changed her life and led to some great photographic opportunities. I attended some workshops on marketing my photoghraphy business, lighting, and posing couples. I got to listen to Amy Locurto, Angie Arthur, Stacy Reeves and Amy Karp! I finished the evening with a BANG! Not only did I get to see and hear Sue Bryce in person, I won an Epiphan!e camera bag!

It was a bit surreal seeing all these faces in person after reading their blogs for so long. NO! Who am I kidding? I was a lot surreal. I was much too intimidated and shy to approach any of them at the workshop. (I have to figure out a way to get over meeting new people!) However, even without meeting any of my mentor ladies face-to-face, I still walked away with greater knowledge, inspiration and direction than I had the day prior the workshop. The bottom line is, I am a better photographer for having attended.

[AFG_gallery id=’25’]

Turns out it was Kristin Shepard, J.R.’s wife’s sister and his former mistress, who shot him.

[AFG_gallery id=’26’]

Also, turns out I got to run into Sue Bryce face-to-face (Sit up straight, chin foward, shoulders, asymmetrical hourglass, connection) at the elevator as I was leaving the hotel. I did manage to say, “Hi, how are you doing?” without peeing on myself like a Daschund that’s been left home alone for the last week. My only regrets are not taking more than my 50mm lens and not networking more. Until then, it’s better to have an impossible dream than no dream at all! Thanks, Sue and I Heart Faces!

Be happy, be positive, be healthy and don’t forget to be photographed!

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Oct

Top 10 Wedding Pics (Part 2)

I will now continue my countdown of the pictures I think are most important to capture at your wedding. If you missed 6-10, you need to catch up! Here are the top five…

#5 – Family and Guests Having Fun: Let’s face it. Wedding and funerals are two times when most of your family is together. (Side Note: Not many people photograph funerals, but believe it or not, that is slowly becoming a new trend.) Many newlyweds want the family and friends to feel as connected to the wedding as they do themselves. In fact, today’s newlyweds make great effort to have their wedding be about everyone involved and want it to be a great experience for each and every guest.

Ata-Girl Photography Co. | Top 10 Wedding Pictures

#4 – Wedding Party: Chances are these are some of the most important people in the bride’s and groom’s lives, AND BONUS, they’re all dressed up!

Ata-Girl Photography Co. | Top 10 Wedding Pictures

#3 – Bride/Groom with Parents: No one, I repeat, no one loves the bride and groom as much as their parents do.

Ata-Girl Photography Co. | Top 10 Wedding Pictures

#2 – First Look: This hasn’t always been a wedding tradition. In fact, until recently it was considered very taboo. However, there are many benefits to having a first look the day of your wedding. To name a few, it reduces pre-nuptial jitters, provides private time for the bride and groom before things get crazy, creates an opportunity for some really great photos, and frees everyone up to spend more time with the guests by getting some important pictures over with BEFORE the ceremony.

(This wasn’t actually a first look! But, a girl can pretend, huh?)

Ata-Girl Photography Co. | Top 10 Wedding Pictures

Drum roll, please!

#1 – I Now Pronounce You/First Kiss: These are the moments it all boils down to. The time it took to pick out the dress, decide on the wedding colors, taste all those cakes, choose the venue, consult with all the different vendors, pick a band, and on and on doesn’t really mean a thing. These are the TWO key moments!

Ata-Girl Photography Co. | Top 10 Wedding Pictures

Years from now, when the storytelling is taking place and the grandkids are on your lap, I hope these pictures induce the exact same feelings of love, gratitude, appreciation and happiness that you felt on your wedding day.

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

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Sep

Top 10 Wedding Pics (Part 1)

Hopefully, you’ll only get married once. Ten, twenty, even fifty years from that day, you’ll want to be able to reflect on that day and relish in every teeny tiny detail. You’ll want to retell the story to your children, and then to your grandchildren. God willing, you’ll also be able to recite the story to your great-grandchildren.

Okay, I’ve never been married. Come to think of it, I don’t even think I’ve ever been proposed to. Well, that’s my good fortune and their loss. 🙂 Anyway, having never had a wedding of my own, here is a list of the ten photos that I think are most important to capture. Years from now, when those grandchildren are sitting on your lap, these pictures will help them visualize the day Memaw/Pampaw, Nani/Gramps or Lolli/Pop were married.

#10 – Farewell: This is the last time that most of the wedding guests will see the newlyweds until they return from their honeymoon. I like to think of this moment as romantically riding off into the sunset.

Ata-Girl Photography Co. | Top 10 Wedding Pictures

#9 – Toasts: There will be jokes. There will be tall tales. Capture the entertainment as the bride and groom are unsure what to expect!

Ata-Girl Photography Co. | Top 10 Wedding Pictures

#8 – Bouquet Toss and Garter: These two things have very steep tradition in American weddings. Because of the tradition, you have to get these images. Albeit, they can be tricky.

Ata-Girl Photography Co. | Top 10 Wedding Pictures

#7 – Bride and Groom Getting Ready: These are the last few minutes of their single life. I’m sure thoughts of the past, present and future are flooding through their head—probably at warp speed. Only they know what’s going on inside there.

Ata-Girl Photography Co. | Top 10 Wedding Pictures

#6 – Details: Whether it be the cake, flowers, rings, dress, cuff links, or socks, these are details that have been thought about and planned for months, or even years. In some cases, these are things the bride has dreamed about since she was a little girl. Be sure they are documented!

Ata-Girl Photography Co. | Top 10 Wedding Pictures

These are five of the pictures I think are most important in wedding photography. Stay tuned, for the rest of the list.

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

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Sep

Photographer’s Confessional

Becoming a photographer is a journey that never ends. I’m sure there’s never a point in any profession that you reach one day when you’ve learned it all. Technology changes, trends change. Day in and day out, I try to learn things. Whether it’s reading a blog article, watching a webinar, or simply just looking at a photograph, each day I try to expand my photography horizons. I try to become better each and every day.

However, there are things I’ve done and things I haven’t done that pretty much have made me FAIL as a photographer. Here’s a list of silly things I’ve done as a photographer and I’d be embarrassed to ever confess in public. In fact, if anyone ever asks about any of these incidents, I will deny it… adamantly.

The earliest blunder I can remember is from around 1991. I bought a brand new 35mm SLR. Once I affixed the lens to the body, I threw away the lens and body caps.
I have left the house without camera batteries and data cards. Thankfully, NEVER for a paid gig and NEVER on the same day.
Until about a year ago, I never backed up my images. And until about a week ago, I didn’t do it faithfully.
I used to delete all my RAW files after generating the final JPEGS. I thought they took up way too much space and I’d never need them again.
Once, I didn’t check my camera settings prior to a session and shot the WHOLE THING in “basic JPEG.”
Once, my lens wouldn’t autofocus. I spent about two hours wondering what was wrong with the lens before remembering I had it set on manual focus.
I once shot pictures using a custom white balance that I prepared days before for an entirely different session. In fact, I think I shot pictures using that same custom white balance on two separate occasions before finally wondering, “Why are my images SO BLUE?”
I once used a long lens to take a picture of another photographer’s equipment just to see what they were using.

These are all awful mistakes that I hope to never repeat. What’s an embarrassing thing that you’ve done as a photographer? Leave your comment here and share your awful mistake.

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

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Aug

Literally… A sweet Sweet 16

Kellie was born smack dab in the middle of her two brothers: Cory and RJ. One would think that this alone would determine she’d be less girly. SOOO not so! From early on, she pranced around like a ballerina on her tippy-toes refusing to walk flat-footed like everyone else.

Kellie eventually stopped walking on her tiptoes to join the rest of the world. FCCLA, volleyball, basketball, golf, powerlifting, cheerleading, and later becoming a mascot—an All-American mascot for three years IN A ROW, are all things she has participated in while becoming a very beautiful, young woman.

Kellie celebrated her 16th birthday surrounded by family and friends… a lot of friends. The Live Oak County Fairgrounds Center was transformed into a very sweet place. Bright flourescent colors draped the walls, celing, and tables. Balloons, beautiful flowers and oversized lollipops were the tables’ centerpieces. There was more candy at Kellie’s sweet 16 celebration than you could shake a stick at. Chocolate fountains, strawberries, marshmallows, and virtually every candy known to man was served buffet style. There was also an endless supply of Kellie’s favorite… cotton candy. Even the big gift reveal, a 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, looked like a yellow M&M… a very fast M&M. Kellie nicknamed the car her “baby”.

The candlelight ceremony was very touching. She gathered up her parents, brothers, grandparents, aunt and uncles, tias and tios, her boyfriend and her closest friends. An emotional audio recording played in the background as she lit a candle for each special group of people. The recording told each group exactly how much she loved and appreciated them. It reminded them that they were a part of who she had become and thanked them for being part of her life.

The guests were entertained by alternating sets of Grupo Moya, a DJ, and Ally Cossetti of Refugio, Texas who sings in many competitions and also sings the National Anthem at the Astros games. Kellie and her father, Roy, danced to “I Won’t Let Go”, by Rascall Flats and this was very sweet… until the end when Kellie started to sing to her dad. It appeared to hurt his ears, but he ~~tried to tune her out~~ listened, smiled and twirled her around nonetheless.

It was a beautiful night and a beautiful celebration for a beautiful girl named Kellie.

To view the entire gallery, click here. Here are some of my favorite images from the night.

[AFG_gallery id=’24’]

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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!