Hemisfair Park great place to take pictures

Posted on April 5, 2011 by rekeishadunlap

Hemisfair park was a true dream to me. There were so many beautiful locations within the park to take pictures. I even believe it came more to life when the sun went down. I am really itching to take another one of my clients back to that spot and get some more picture of the park. This place has a modern, scenic feel, and a vintage feel which makes it very versatile.

The modern touches are all throughout the park. As you walk the Towers of America you can stop by any number of public sculptures. You can also take your picture to another level by making use of the different lights that illuminate the park at night.

Hemisfair Park has a large area dedicated to open grounds and water features. I especially enjoy the water features which are more like water sculptures. The water sculpture near the Tower of Americas is decorated with tropical and native plants. When I was last there I took full advantage of as many of the water features as I could. You can also choose to mellow out your pictures and just use the extensive yard and hills.

If you are having a vintage inspired wedding or just love to express yourself in a vintage way there are historical buildings right at the beginning of the park. Most of the time I visited the park the buildings seemed to be deserted. I pretty sure they are not still it is a great photo op. These building not only have great history but they have great character. You can also go to a number of buildings that are in the area around the park to get the same feel.

Hemisfair Park is located at 200 South Alamo Street San Antonio, TX 78205. You can also contact them at (210) 207-8572. It is open daily from 7am to 11pm so go check out all the wonderful spots to take pictures and enjoy yourself. If you like it talk about it with your photographer and set up a time to take pictures.

5 Tips on Battling Camera Shyness

Posted on April 4, 2011 by rekeishadunlap

Ever since junior high I loved being behind the camera but it took me much longer to enjoy being in front of it. It was becasue I felt I would look bad in pictures and the truth is there are some horrible pictures of me out there. The reason I looked bad in those pictures was not because of my actual looks. I didn’t know how to look good in the picture until I figure out these tips. And since it is important to me that you look good in your picture (which mean you will actually have to be in a picture) let me give you 5 tips to help you battle being camera shy.

1. Remember that whatever is closest to the lens will be the largest. So if you are like me and have a large forehead do go pointing that at the camera lens.

2. Know your face like the back of your hand. So I know my face is not exactly symmetrical and there is a way to get around that. Lets say one eye is a little smaller than the other. Well then put the smaller eye further away from the camera to accentuate your larger eye. If you have a crooked nose then point the slanted side towards the camera to help to straighten out the crook.

3. Show off your figure. Ladies always stand with your hip slightly out and bend the opposite knee. This way you flaunt the curves that God has given you. Even if you have a sightly boyish figure you still have curves.

4. Give them the puppy dog eyes. With most dogs you are looking down right? (I say most becasue I have been face to face with some dogs!) Well there eyes look bigger because that is what is closest to us. So if you are like me and have small eyes use a higher camera angle so you have to look up.

5. Smile. This isn’t the cheese smile but a real smile. Think of something fun or funny so that you are giving a true smile. Expression is very important and you want your emotion to be read in your eyes.

So take these tips and practice them in the mirror that way when ever some whips out one of the many cameras people have you will be ready.

Contagious Love in Downtown San Antonio

Posted on April 1, 2011 by rekeishadunlap

The Smiths know how to have fun that is why they came down from Arlington to San Antonio. They knew the city they love was the perfect place to exchange life long vows.

The ceremony wasn’t fussy and you could see the joy and anticipations they both had for the moment when they finally would become husband and wife.

Their love was contagious, As I watched them getting married I started to fall more in love with my husband. That kind of love is what we should all have, the kind that make people around you want to love more.

Their relationship has been tested by 7 years of commitment and this next step didn’t seem like a leap form my point of view. They both walked before the minister with joy in their eyes and smiles on there faces. The admiration they had for each other was beautiful and I pray that they continue to bless others by their display of affection. So keep spreading the love Smiths! Good luck and God Bless.

At home Engagement Portraits

Posted on March 29, 2011 by rekeishadunlap

You don’t always have to go to some exotic location to get your engagement pictures done. You can go as far as you house to get beautiful and intimate pictures done of you and your fiance.

Your home could be the best place for you to get your engagements pictures done. Think about it. It is were you can relax and you save on gas becasue you don’t have to travel anywhere. You can feel more relaxed becasue the space is familiar.

This idea only works if you like your home and you don’t mind having people over. If your home is your special sanctuary only for you then never mind. Find some place that you will love to be photographed in.

Tradition Tradition!? First Look: Seeing the Bride Before the Wedding

Posted on March 28, 2011 by rekeishadunlap

You have probably seen those pictures with the bride and groom in a secluded location taking romantic and moving pictures. The Bride looks gorgeous and groom looks hansom what you may not know is that those types of pictures usually happen before the wedding. So now it is a question of tradition or not?

The first look is not an unemotional event. It is kind of nice to be able to see each other before the wedding with just the two of you (and your photographer). Still a good photographer knows how to respect the moment and allow the two of you to enjoy each other. It can be a reprieve right before the world goes into over drive.

If you are all about being seen at the wedding only that is great too. Don’t let anyone strong arm you into doing their vision for your wedding. I saw my husband for the first time at my wedding as well! I don’t feel like I had missed out on anything. I remember him and what he looked like and I have pictures were I am all smiles. A good photographer can also capture the excitement and the joy in that moment as well.

So it is up to you, don’t feel pressured to do either. It is your preference as a couple not about your families preference or your photographer’s. Think about how this will effect the flow of your wedding day and how important is it to you.

Why Even Pay a Professional Photographer?

Posted on March 24, 2011 by rekeishadunlap

Weddings are expensive. This bit of information isn’t earth shattering but it does put people on guard. No one wants to be scammed and when you start shelling out money by the thousands you really want to know that your money is going to be invested well. That is why D.I.Y is popular and is great for putting your own personal touches on thing. Still, there are somethings you don’t want to scrip on either like your wedding day photography. You need to know who you are getting as a photographer and what kind of photography you will be getting. I know some of you may be say,” yeah yeah you are saying this becasue you are a photographer.” Well I was once a bride to be and I didn’t give much thought to my photographer and I paid for my lack of attention. I now understand the need for a wedding professional that understand their craft, and who their client is . That is why I am passionate about making wedding photography have impact.

What are you paying your wedding photographer for? Are you paying them for photographs and just taking pictures becasue if you are then you can do it yourself or get a cousin to do it. Or are you paying your photographer to make you look good on one of the most important days of your life? If it is the latter then you need someone who understands how light works. Do you know if you give a professional photographer a point and shoot or an iphone they can still make you look good. Why it that? It is not the camera that makes a professional it is what they know and their artistic point of view. They look at how the light hits your face and falls on your body. They know how to make women look curvy and men look strong. They know how to de-emphasize your flaws and accentuate your positives. This is what you want in a photographer.

A professional photographer also should be able to get you. My wedding pictures looked awkward to me because in a lot of the pictures I would never act like that. I am laid back and quietly funny but I was put in posses that took me out of my comfort zone. It is not my job to make you uncomfortable but unfortunately for most people when you point a camera at them the are instantly uncomfortable. My job is to get you to forget the camera so that I can make you look your best. If I am to make you look your best I need to see who you are. I need to study you and listen to you so that I can capture that in the pictures. I have a style but that doesn’t mean I have a set amount of specific posses I will get you in. If you are fun and funk I not going to put you in the same situations as the person who is reserved and quite. Who you are will lead me to what kind of image is produced.

A professional photographer is always growing and learning and looking how to get better. I don’t just work when I get a client I work when I am sitting with my friends and when I watch my son run around the room. I am training my eye to understand people better and how the light works with the human form. I look at other artist work to grow but not to copy. I am always working so that when I click the shutter on my camera it is on purpose. I am don’t want my images to be an accident I want to be intentional about the work I produce. It is about being a better photographer so that whomever I work for I am at my best. I get paid to be my best and that is why I work at it.

So when you look for a photographer look for someone who listens to you. Who cares about you and wants to know about you and what you want. The money you give a photographer is not just for their services but for their knowledge and experience.

Timeless Beauty of Southwest School of Art and Craft a Romantic Location to take Bridal/Engagment Portraits

Posted on March 22, 2011 by rekeishadunlap

taken in downtown San Antonio

The Southwest School of Art is an gorgeous and historically rich place. I used to intern there when I was in college and its as majestic and a peaceful little oasis in the fast moving city. I can still hear the sound of the old wood creaking at my foot steps every time I arrived for work. I believe that the school would be a great back drop to take romantic and memorable bridal or engagement pictures in San Antonio.

The school was designed by, French trained architect, Francis Giraud in the late 1860′s. He drew inspiration from Gothic architecture to create the beautiful buildings on the Ursuline campus. The original intent for the campus was a covenant for nuns and a school for girls. So this location is saturated with the history and beauty that makes it an ideal location of portraits. Since it is in the National registry of historical places the grounds are well kept and artfully re-purposed. It is also situated right on the river walk for and added bit of interest.

the Southwest School of Art is also a wonderful and elegant place to be married. The Coates Chapel was once used for services but is now deconsecrated by the Catholic Church. Still it carries its sacred feel and can be easily used for your wedding services. The Southwest School of Art’s Ursuline Campus can service wedding parties of 50-300 in the chapel. It has has the Covenate River Gardens that can accommodated as many as 500 guest. There are special rates for and instructions that every bride should know and you can get more information if you go to the PDF they provide at http://www.swschool.org/images/uploads/pdf/Facilities2010.pdf or go to http://www.swschool.org/facilities-rental/for-brides-only.

If you want to get married at the Southwest School of Art you need to make sure you book at least a year in advance becasue the space is in demand. If you want to take portraits at the school you , not your photographer, will need to call in advance to make sure the grounds are available. There is no charge to take portraits on the ground so you get all that history for free. So call Sylvia Glatma, the rentals manager, at 210-224-1848 to schedule an appointment or talk to her about your wedding.

Category Archives: wedding portraits