Location:  San Antonio Missions
Wedding Coordinator:  Events by Reese
Wedding Day Venue:  Club at Sonterra

I met Mallory over the phone.  During the first minute of our conversation, I knew she was the girl for me and my camera.  Mallory is the girl who is fun, takes life by the horns, sincere, and enjoys all that life has to bring.  I had such a hard time keeping Mallory’s bridal photos to myself. I had the desire to share them with the world.  I am sure that Russell must have been breathless on his first vision of his wife (those fabulous images from their wedding day will be posted soon).

Mallory is beautiful and I felt that her images captured so many sides to who she is.  Some of her images caught her genuine laugh, captured her spirited soul, projected her serenity, and even when the wind was blowing we still managed to capture her grace.  I immediately took a liking to Mallory, her mom, dad, and grandma.  Their love for Mallory is palpable.    A wholesome family who knows how to love and embraces life.  Mallory, I thank you for allowing me to capture some of the first glimpses of your bridal beauty.  Pure elegance.

I told her to smile at me with those gorgeous eyes of hers, laugh from her belly, and rock it like it was nobody’s business.  Lauren stole the show that day.  Every passerby, even other brides who were getting their portraits at the same location, could not take their eyes off of her.   The beautiful white gown, the super fabulous hair, and the hint of red lipstick … she carried herself with glam, style, and grace.  Lauren is stunning.

I absolutely love everything about Lauren, inside and out (I tell her that all of the time).

I am thinking about using one of her images in my marketing campaign this coming year, what do you think?  Which one is a fav?

You have to keep it to your self how beautiful Lauren looks, because her groom-to-be does not want to see.  He is sweet, sincere, giddy, and obviously in love with his soon to be wife.  He met her at the photoshoot and would close his eyes at any glimpse of roses, big white dress, sparkles, or fabulous-ness (and mind you, she was not even dressed yet).    He was sweet and the anticipation he has to see his beautiful bride, on their wedding day, warms my soul.  It is obvious that he knows she is stunning (inside and out) and I guess that will hold him over until later next month when they say “I do”.

I am trying really hard to keep Lauren’s bridal portraits as incognito as I can, but OMG….stunning, breathtaking, and simply gorgeous.  She invested time looking for the right people to accent her wedding day and she certainly found the right dress, hairstylist, make-up artist, and me, her shutter clicking girl who loves this sweet couple.  In November, she and James will vow their love to one another and rest assured, everything about their wedding will be gorgeous.  Most of all, the love they have for one another, is the most beautiful detail of all.

Here is a sneak peek of Lauren.

Her wedding day is coming up and I can’t wait.  I can’t wait to take a picture of her boots, her flowers, her special wedding location, and her cowboy hubby-to-be.  Laurie is super sweet, super fun, and super awesome.  Although she is a country girl at heart, for her bridal images, she wanted a little something green, prestine, floral, and beautiful.  We were able to have a fabulous photoshoot at the exquisite Sonterra Country Club.  We had fun catching beautiful glimpses of the sun as it glistened softly on this brides gorgeous skin.  It is a secret what she will look like on her wedding day, so for today just a sweet glimpse of her beautiful eyes and skin.  Simply a teaser for her hubby to be.  The day will be grand and I can’t wait to capture the special-ness that is planned for your wedding day!

Thanks for having fun with me and my camera, Laurie.  I love you and your wedding ideas!

Saturday is my work day/fun day/creative day.  When you are a wedding photographer, especially in the month of August, a Saturday is a busy day on your calendar.  Usually I am giddy with excitement on a Friday date night with my hubby.   Without fail I tell him for the zillionth time that I wish I could marry him again, he grins and tells me, “me too, honey”.  He knows the deal, he knows the game, and he loves to play.  But really…I really do want to marry him again, but I know at that moment, on a Friday night, I am saying that because I am already thinking about the happenings of tomorrow, a Saturday.  A Saturday of  (in no particular order) wedding vows, ring exchanges, high heels, lipstick, and kisses.   I love brides, I loved being a bride.  There is just somethng about that feeling of getting all fancied up, a little lip gloss, a few curlers, some painted toes, a splash of perfume, and a dash of camera….ummmm the making of a mighty fine recipe for beauty and fun.  

Today is Saturday and I am off to do a super fab photoshoot with a good ole Texas Country Girl.  I can call her this because she will be the first to admit that she loves cowboy boots, hats, old barns, dirt,  and of course her cowboy whom she will marry in a few short weeks.  Laurie is stepping out of her comfort zone of rustic scenery and going for the elegant and posh “Sonterra Country Club“.  We will truck  our way through their grand hallways, lush gardens, and glistening windows as we capture some images of her sweet bridal self.  I’ve been talking with Laurie every single day for the last few days as we share our ideas and I can’t really decide who is more excited, she or I.  The twilight hour of beautiful Texas sunlight is upon us and I am gonna go capture me some fun with sweet Laurie, south Texas sun, and my Nikon.  

And because no post is fab without a picture…here is a wedding I am working on.  Happy Saturday!

This past weekend I attended a wedding fair.  The wedding fair at Ratama Park in San Antonio.   I had never been to such a gala (not even when I got married some 14 years ago) but I sure do wish that I would have had that experience as a blushing bride to be.  It is an idea experience!  I went to the bridal show to deliver a “something nice for you” to my friends Nancy and Cesar at La Fontana Springs.  La Fontana participates in just about every bridal fair, always have a beautiful set up and greet each person, whether bride or not, with a smile, that is important to me and one of the reasons I think they are so successful in their business.  Sunday was no different.  The owners of  La Fontana are not only my friends, but also my cheerleaders…. and I love their place!  Each turn of a corner is gorgeous and perfect for a backdrop.  Prospecting brides need to witness the beauty of this place to truly appreciate.   I have taken hundreds of images at La Fontana and wanted to share a little of the love and share the promo cards I provided La Fontana at the bridal extravaganza.

Alyssa made me giggle because when we came back around, she said, “Mommy, all those girls are taking “YOUR” pictures from Ms. Nancy.”    I learned early on that it is so much better to give than receive in this business.  No strings attached, just appreciation for relationships built and a gesture of kindness.    Warms the soul.

And at the wedding fair I was able to also hear from a 3 of my of my upcoming brides -to-be…they had made the event an idea-fair…I love it, and I love them!   Here is one of the beautiful brides……. 2B…. and her fun hubby  2B….

Okay, last night I got this email from Kim at Kimtown and she said my blog proof was ready to look at.   She was my Santa no…better…she was my  Santa Claus and all of his reindeer.  When I first talked to Kim I had a vision of what I wanted, told her my favorite store was White House/Black Market, and told her that I am starting my branding campaign of providing fun photography for REAL PEOPLE.  REAL MOMENTS. REAL LIFE.  She took off with the idea and ran.  This morning when I “opened” my blog for the first time, it was better than the Christmas when I was 5 that I got my Easy Bake Oven….yes…that good!  I am so excited!  I know it is not the fanciest blog and I know there are photographers out there that have much better pictures that I do, but it is mine and MY opportunity to connect to my peeps.

I have been thinking about getting a new blog for some time now, but I have to tell you that when you first start a business each decision is quite thought provoking.  Should I do this…should I do that….is it worth this amount or that amount…. the questions never end and often times keep me up at night….contemplating rather than dreaming of sweet nothings.

So where do I find myself today….. well…..I swear, if I had it my way I would walk around with a camera in my hand 24/7.  Even though I launched my business over a year ago, I still am in love with the idea of capturing some images of strangers who later become friends.  One of my girlfriends once said to me, “Wow, do you realize that those portraits are going to hang on the wall of someone’s home and be in their family, possibly forever?”  The thought of my simple click of a button becoming a family treasure melts me.  I am humbled.

So I owe it to my family, my friends, my clients, and even the many unknown internet friends to share my journey of owning a photography business, sharing the message I learn from each photoshoot, and living life in a world that moves way to fast and makes me realize that life is not long enough to do everything I want to do.  I am a hard worker who loves to learn, reflect, and laugh.   This blog has given me the freedom to release my inner thoughts.  I won’t feel ashamed of my mistakes, but rather learn from them, and I will cherish the opportunity to share my life.

Thank you for riding with me on this journey and a special thanks to the many clients I had this past year who have been my cheerleaders and have taken my business to a whole new level that I never knew existed.  These special people trusted me with their precious memories and sometimes had a level of confidence for me that I was sometimes lacking.

And because every post is better with a picture, here is a beautiful bride whose wedding I photographed last night.  Sheri…. one word…. “Beautiful”.  I will be posting more fantastic memories of both George and Sheri this week!