This week I had the honor of working with a San Antonio icon. I mean, when you have your own mural in the city....is that not icon status or what?

No one is more deserving, she's talented, kind, hardworking, and stating the obvious here, but GORGEOUS.  I personally love that she promotes sustainable  fashion I have learned so much from her and been so inspired by her tips. Even these cute pants she's wearing, she scored from shopping at Goodwill S.A. online!

The desired mood for this setting called for wandering around downtown, and going with the flow...even doing outfit changes in alleyways, which Jeanelly rocked! 😂

I absolutely love the flow of session when there is so much opportunity around for me to get creative with! Isn't the result beautiful?

For a branding sessions like this, I feel that every setting or outfit is allowed to have it own moment and mood, and I always edit as such. 

My goal is to create TONS of high quality, eye catching, content that can be used over and over again on multiple platforms for many months!

Planning any session, but especially a branding session begins on Pinterest with lot's of back and forth notes, so we can set a clear vision and our desired goals and outcomes from the session. I'm thankful Jeanelly trusted my location suggestions, and rolled with the flow as we walked around the riverwalk area in San Antonio. 

While I'm shooting, I am always mindful of my client and helping them be as comfortable as possible in front of the camera.

Jeanelly, however,  has lots of experiences of her own when it comes to rocking the shot. 

 I mean, who knew you could werk a bridge like this?

Model credit: Jeanelly | The Fashion Lotus

Thanks for reading!

Are you interested in a session with me? Let's chat! Click below to shoot me an e-mail. Can't wait! 

And in 2020 I think we could all agree that this holiday season is desperately calling out for an extra heaping of magic. 

So starting back in July, I set out to plan a safe, festive, magical holiday mini session for you all...with plenty of extra magic.

I am so excited and proud to present to you:

 A Christmas Dance Halle Dream. 

You and yours are invited for a getaway in the hill country, come curl up in front of the tree and enjoy a cookie while I capture your merry and bright moments for your holiday cards.
 

Some of Wild Revival Co.'s work, featured on their website. Oh, so dreamy...right? You can see why I fell in love! I'd like to thank Peyton at Wild Revival Co. for helping me bring this vision to life, and being the absolute best to work with! I cannot recommend her highly enough. I found her because of her dream worthy styling that had filled my newsfeed, and I knew I just HAD to have her style my favorites session of all year, CHRISTMAS sessions! But getting to know her has been an absolute  treat, she has been so amazing in juggling all the concerns of Covid-19, and has been so flexible and patient. Thank you, Peyton!
 

In an age where there is "nothing new under the sun" or it seems that it's "all been done before" I believe that we are creating something totally unique and one of a kind, we couldn't even find it on Pinterest...I don't think that's ever happened to me before, but it's basically #photographergoals 

Imagine this, a Texan dance hall almost as old as two-stepping itself, a place that has stood since the 1903, and been the gathering place of many a family looking to dance their cares away, nestled in a field amongst the hill country. Due to covid, it's doors have sat closed for months, but on Saturday, December 5th we will be chasing all it's lonely blues away and decking the halls with a live tree and some vintage charm. 

 The details: 

Each session will be a full 15 minutes, and includes 10 retouched digital images with a print release. You will receive your images within 5 days of your session, in plenty of time to order your holiday cards. This is the only holiday sessions I will be offering this year, and there are four spots remaining! You can message me here, to reserve your spot before they're gone. 

Event price: $225

Kendalia Halle

1135 FM 3351 Kendalia, TX 78207

Styled by interior designer: Wild Revival Co. 

Photography by yours truly.

The FAQ:
 

What to wear: Show up in your most formal gown, your Texas best or coordinated pajamas! 

The key is to coordinate with your family to set the mood. 

I saved lots of tips and inspiration for you on my Pinterest board here.

Safety: The dance hall has been closed this year, and will be cleaned prior to the sessions. 

I will be cleaning in between each session, and only one family at a time is allowed in the hall. Please arrive a couple of minutes before your session time so that you can enjoy the full 15 minute of your spot. I will text or call you when it is your turn to come into the venue so that we only have one family at a time. I will be wearing a mask during your session. 

Cancellations: If anything comes up prior to your session that inhibits you from coming, or if you are not feeling well, please notify me as soon as possible so I can fill your space. There is a $50 non refundable retainer, but the rest will be refunded. A $150 retainer is due to reserve your spot, and the remainder is due on Friday, December 4th. 

Seven.

I've counted seven sessions together with this sweet family.

Birthday sessions, pumpkin patch minis, family photos around the Christmas tree, and photo sessions that were just for fun.

There is s special attachment that grows when you get to watch kids and families grow from your lens. You get used to their go-to silly faces, the things they like to try and the things that don't work for them on camera. You look forward to the next milestone, and the one after that, that you will get to capture. That coupled with growing a friendship over the years, has made this session, our "goodbye" session, extra emotional. 

But aside from my big feelings, there are two other reasons I wanted to share some tidbit of this session with you.

Reason one, although I have specific type of sessions  detailed here on my website, I want to encourage you to reach out to me whatever your dreams for a session are! if you don't see something there that fits, that doesn't mean we shouldn't chat and see if we're a good fit for each other. This session is probably the perfect example, because it was literally planned over a few quick text, and us finding a 20 minute window where are schedules could align last minute, meeting at a little library that I had never seen before, in the middle of the afternoon, and making it WORK!

This might not be the IDEAL set up, but when needs must...I am confident I can pull it off. 😉

That 2020 feeling

Secondly, I want to address the common fear that 15 or 20 minute session wont be enough time. Varying on what your desires for your session are, sometimes 15 minutes can do the job! This session for example, is a celebratory snapshot of the "family" retiring form the air force, and looking all adorable in their outfits together. Considering that we were standing outside of the library in the mid-day sun, and we were hiding out form the playground around the corner, staying in one place and capturing these images only took 20 minutes.