Vanessa and Kino Jr. had a fairy tale wedding.  They were married at St. Joseph the Worker, a beautifully cozy catholic church in McAllen.  Their reception for 500 guests was held at the McAllen Convention Center.  Their wedding was fabulous and the details did not disappoint!  I am so happy that I made the trek to the RGV to shoot this wedding.

Congratulations Vanessa and Kino Jr!

You can see Erica’s blog post about this wedding here.

Here’s to wishing you and your family a safe and prosperous New Year!  Happy 2012!!  I can’t wait to see what the new year has in store!

As you know, I office from my home studio in Georgetown.  I love this set up because I can bake fresh cookies for my girls or fold laundry in the afternoon in between tasks for work.  A few Thursdays back I was folding laundry when my phone rang.  Jennifer called to inquire about my basic wedding package.  As we started talking I learned that her wedding was on Saturday, as in just 2 days!

Jennifer’s story is unfortunately one that most professional photographers have heard. Jennifer was going to have a friend photograph her simple wedding as a favor.  Then, just days before the wedding, she receives a call that her friend has had a death in the family and won’t be able to photograph the wedding after all.  In a panic Jennifer starts searching for a photographer who can capture her day!  Plus, on top of everything, Jennifer had set her wedding time before the time change so her beautiful ceremony was set for 5:30 p.m. and sunset was at 5:34!

I am a firm believer that all things happen for a reason.  Had Jennifer’s photographer not cancelled on them I can’t imagine what her wedding photos would look like.  I was pushing my camera to it’s limits.  All of these photos were taken in almost darkness without flash or in the total darkness with only my flashes.

Here is the story of Jennifer and Chris’s wedding.

I met Chris when I arrived at Berry Springs Park.  He was calm and collected.  I chuckled when he would call his bride to ask her questions about the music or other detail questions that would come up.

The Bride was radiant as she walked down the aisle on the arm of her father.

Their ceremony was simple, but so meaningful.  The pastor spoke about love and dedication.  This was not just a wedding but the beginning of a marriage!

Mr. and Mrs.!  It was completely dark  by the end of the ceremony.

The reception was in Granger at the Cotton Club.  It’s a great dance hall with a small room off to the back which is perfect for parties!

And if the wedding planning stress wasn’t enough for this sweet couple their truck broke down RIGHT in front of the reception venue.  Jennifer was such a trooper. She laughed it off and we had some fun.  How many times do you get to see a hitch hiking bride?

Just down the block was an auto supply store.  What better place to memorialize their crazy evening!

Jennifer and Chris have the best attitude.  They laughed and smiled throughout all of the stressful events that tried to dampen their day.  They still had a wonderful wedding and an exciting start to their life together.  Best of luck to you both! I wish you nothing but happiness as man and wife!

Valerie and Chris couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day for their wedding.  The ceremony was at St. Andrew by the Sea Catholic Church.  This is a unique church.  It is an outdoor venue that is basically a church without walls.  The ceremony was beautiful and the breeze from the bay was soothing.  After the ceremony the guests crossed the street to a unique park center that was on the beach.  I was thrilled to do the formal photos on the beach with the wedding party.

The reception was a great party and fun was had by all!  Valerie and Chris were the best couple to work for.  They loved having fun and made sure their guests were well taken care of throughout the night.  Val’s dad hunted me down to make sure I had eaten.  This is a very hot topic right now in the photographic community.  So many photographers are not being fed at receptions–not this family!  I had a plate of more than enough BBQ and was handed bottles of water and Diet Coke throughout the night by family and friends to make sure my needs were met.   Valerie wins a “Best Bride” award for sending me home with icy beers after I was done shooting her wedding!  It’s great to be treated like a member of the family!

I love the look on the Bride and Groom’s faces the first time they see each other.  These two are so in love and you can see it each time they look at each other.

The shared special glances at each other during the ceremony.

Then it was off to the beach to take the formal photos.

….and you know I love the ring shots!

We went back down to the board walk at sun set to grab these great shots

And no Aggie wedding is complete without the Aggie War Hymn!  WHOOP!

Congratulations Valerie and Chris!  May your marriage be blessed with all the happiness you could possibly wish for!

This styled shoot was planned, from concept to execution, in just 6 days!  I love stepping out of the box and creating a shoot that is not something a traditional bride would think of.  We shot the bridals in Historic Round Rock Cemetery.

Happy Halloween!!!!

Special thanks to my models Shane and Brenna.

Hair by Erin Callaghan

Makeup by Sandi Schumucker

Shelby is a wedding planner and has recently started working at Angel Springs as their on-site coordinator.  She has excellent attention for details and it showed in all of the special touches on her wedding day.

The bride and groom happily prepared for the day with friends and family close by.

Shelby and Josh didn’t share a first look.  They wanted to keep to tradition and not see each other before the ceremony.  They exchanged gifts around the door of the bridal suite.  They each read their letters to each other aloud.  Everyone in the room, myself included, joined in their happy tears.  Their letters were so sweet, filled with words of love and special scripture.

Their ceremony was one of the most special events I have ever had the privileged of attending. (I know, I say that about all the ceremonies.)  While waiting for his bride, Josh was overcome with emotion.  His love for Shelby is so pure and strong he just couldn’t contain the feelings he was having while waiting to start his life with the woman of his dreams.

My 2nd shooter, Mollie, captured this image.  They are so connected, even during prayer.

The next two images is a perfect example of why I have two photographers with my packages.  Mollie and I captured these images within seconds of each other.

They shared Communion with each other as part of their ceremony.

Reception:

Shelby never left the dance floor.  She celebrated with her friends and family like a bride should. Josh enjoyed the time with friends and family and made sure to spend time with the littlest of guests who were in attendance.  This couple enjoyed their party more than any other couple I have ever photographed.

Congratulations Shelby and Josh!  I pray that you are blessed with many years of happiness in your marriage.

And a special Happy Birthday to Josh today!

Special thanks to the great vendors that made the wedding great and my job even easier:

Wedding Coordinator: Donna Aleman of Ame Soeur Events

Venue: Angel Springs Event Center

Catering: Mopsie

Flowers: Bouquets of Austin

Cakes: Galaxy Bakery

DJ: D&C Entertainment

You can’t get shots like this with only one photographer!  I looked at the metadata on these two photos.  My second shooter and I took these photos within 14 seconds of each other.  I insist on having a 2nd shooter with me so that moments like this are not missed during your wedding day!

Judi prepared for her day in the historic inn.  Her gown was breathtaking!  Even Bill (a guy!) couldn’t stop going on about how pretty her dress was.

Angelic Strings  provided beautiful music for the guests as they arrived.  Michael and Belinda are so talented and always a joy to work with.  (I’m a bit biased because they played at my wedding!)  Micheal wrote a special arrangement of Billy Idol’s “White Wedding” for Judi to walk down the aisle to.

Congrats Judi and Sean!  Your rocker wedding was a blast!

As Michelle prepared for her day she was calm and smiling.  Laughter filled the bride’s room as the ladies prepared.

The guys kicked back and relaxed with a few adult beverages, RC bumper cars and lots of laughter.  Groomsmen often take some fun shots throughout the day. This group was no exception!

Just before the ceremony Michelle spend a few special minutes with her parents.  Her Mama could barely hold back the tears, which of course, set off a chain reaction.  They are so close and you could see her dad’s pride in his eyes as he looked at his baby girl in her wedding gown.

Then it was time for the ceremony.

As Michelle’s dad gave her away to Chad he said “Take good care of my baby.”  Oh, that was it.  I was crying!

Michelle’s grandparents holding hands during her ceremony.  So sweet.

And then it was time for the party to start!

Michelle’s sister eloped last year.  Michelle announced that she wanted Stephanie and her husband to have their first dance.  Just another example of how these ladies are not just sister but best friends.

Michelle’s grandmother stole the show with her dance moves.  I love how feisty she is!  How many grandmas know all the words to Superfreak?? This grandma did!

Congratulations Michelle and Chad!  May you have many happy years together!

All of the images from the photo booth are available for download HERE.

We shot her Bridal Portraits during part of the hottest days in Austin’s history.  Thankfully we could use her venue, Angel Springs, for her session.  The air condition was  a blessing!

September 3, 2011 was a beautiful day.  The Summer heat wave broke ever so slightly so that we did not completely melt.  It was still warm but not unbearably hot.  Their wedding and reception was at Star Hill Ranch.  This venue is truly Historic Texas beauty.  The owner has moved buildings from around the state to create a town of his own.  The fully restored buildings provided the perfect backdrop for Crystal and Anthony’s wedding.

Anthony’s son, Andrew, came to visit Crystal as she was getting ready.  He gave her a kiss and then went over to the Groom’s house to tell his daddy that he got to kiss Crystal first.

Crystal’s Dad was overcome with emotion when he saw his little girl.  He is such a wonderful man.  You could see his pride beaming all day.  The emotions of the day were touching.  He really was happy for his daughter to finally find true love.

The ladies were beautiful and beaming.

Don’t mess with these guys!  They mean business!

The ceremony was held in the historic chapel.  Their service was intimate and the pastor shared touching stories about their love for each other and the new family they were forming.  I turn into a big cry baby at weddings.  Their wedding was no exception, I teared up and fought back tears through each frame I snapped away.

The entire family participated in a sand ceremony.  Each person added their color of sand to make a beautiful piece of art that will have a special place in their home.  Each color stands out yet they all blend together to make an unique vessel that represents their family.

Take a look at this new gorgeous family!

After some stuffy family photos we let the kids cut loose a little and have some fun with jumping photos.

This is a photo of two people madly in love!

Crystal and Anthony provided entertainment for their guests during the reception.  Ballet Folklorico preformed two dances before dinner.

My Second Shooter Addison of Addison Studios captured these great images of the Mexican Hat Dance.

The couple shared their first dance to Adam Sandler’s “Grow Old With You.”  I love how they were singing to each other.

Krissy’s Cake made the delicious cakes.

Congratulations Crystal and Anthony.  I pray you have many happy years together.  Thank you for allowing me to capture your special day.  I am truly honored to be your photographer!

Crystal is a bride with her own style.  She had no problem wearing cowboy boots and a bird cage veil.  That’s my kind of bride!

Crystal is a beautiful bride!  I can’t wait to share photos from their wedding with you next!

Leave a little blog love below for Crystal!

Okay…so where am I going with this?

I was recently engaged in a conversation with a Bride.  She wanted to know why photographers charge so much for wedding coverage when all you get is a DVD of the images which only costs a few dollars to produce.  This Bride and I obviously didn’t see eye to eye on the value of photography.  Her budget for wedding photography, as it turns out, was $500.  The package she was interested in costs six times what she has budgeted and would with most wedding photographers in Austin.   Over the course of our conversation I educated the bride that taking photos on her wedding day was more than just showing up and snapping off some pictures with my camera. I have to pay a second shooter, have the equipment to shoot the wedding and back ups in case my primary equipment fails.  I have to carry liability insurance, pay taxes, continue my education, and have a computer to keep up with business.  I have to have the computer to edit your images and the latest software to make the images look great.  I will spend 2-3 hours editing photos for each hour that I shoot, and an additional 2-3 hours for each hour my second photographer shoots.  If you sit down and put pen to paper I wouldn’t even break even if I shot her wedding for $500 (in labor cost alone, after I pay my second shooter I’d make just $7.14 per hour–that’s less than min wage!)

There is value in what I do.  My photos are like the recipe from Neiman Marcus.  If I give you the photos you will have the recipe and you will never come back for cookies again, metaphorically speaking.  In the days of film you only received the photos you ordered.  Now with digital imaging you can enjoy your photos faster than ever before, share them to anyone you would like and print them right in your home.  The value is no longer in the final product so much as it is in the process of capturing and refining the image.  So the price you pay is not just for the DVD of some digital files. Instead you are paying for the process that goes into producing the product of images.

They aren’t chocolate chip cookies, but these are my grandmother’s syrup cookies–worth a million dollars!

Meet Kandi Cook of KR Creations and Events-.  Kandi is a wedding and event planner with over 15 years of expereince in the event industry.  She has a background in business, with a former career as a bank executive.  Her eye for style and attention to detail is exactly what brides are looking for in an event planner.  Kandi’s company also coordinates rentals and invitations.

I highly recommend that all of my couples hire a planner to help with their wedding day. She can create a package that would have her helping for the entire process or just for the day of your wedding. These packages will have her coordinating all of your day of activities so that you can enjoy your day and have to burden your friends or family with making sure the flowers are delivered and the cake is ready to be cut for your guests.

If you are in the market for an event planner call Kandi to see if she’s the right fit for you and tell her that I sent you!

Mary wore red shoes for her wedding day.  She also had a fabulous cuff bracelet that coordinated perfectly with her gown.

Mary and Curtis bucked tradition to share a “First Look”.  This afforded the couple some special time together before the ceremony.  It also was an opportunity for us to catch some killer images that might not have been captured due to time constraints after the ceremony. (See Trevor’s blog post that’s linked below for those awesome images.)

During the ceremony the family participated in a Sand Ceremony.  Mary and Curtis have 8 children between them and this was a perfect way to blend their families together.

The family wanted a photo with Trevor.  As a wedding photographer you end up becoming close with the family during the day.

Glasses were raised to toast the happy couple.  Many stories were shared about their families and love for each other.  By having a smaller wedding the stories were more intimate and everyone was laughing and chiming in as the stories were told.

Congratulations Mary and Curtis!  May you have many years of happiness together!

Primary Photographer: Trevor Dayley

You can read Trevor’s blog post about the day HERE.

Coordinator: Tina Humphreys Diamonds & Dreams Event Planning

Trash the Dress sessions have become increasingly popular over the last few years.  Brides are opting to have daring sessions in unconventional locations after their weddings to celebrate the high fashion couture of their wedding gowns.    From rivers to junkyards brides are seeking the thrill of the fashion shoot and will use water, paint and even fire to be captured in a creative and nontraditional manner for their bridal portraits.

Kristen wanted to celebrate her one year anniversary to her husband Marc by having an trash the dress session in the San Marcos River.  Never fear, her beautiful Alfred Angelo gown was not ruined.  After our shoot she took it to the cleaners, a little muddy but not much worse for wear.

During our shoot we drew quite a crowd since most folks can’t fathom the idea of a bride knee deep in river water!

If you have a wedding dress, bridesmaid’s dress or prom dress you should consider a Trash the Dress Session!  Sessions booked now through July 31st are 1/2 off!

Leave a comment below to tell Kristen what you think of her portraits!