How to Choose a Photographer: New Braunfels Portrait Photographer

March 12, 2018 in Portrait Photography

“Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving.” Ansel Adams. This is a visual world that we live in, and the choices people have for photographing their families, their business and their special events grow bigger by the day. Cameras are accessible, smaller, and more affordable. Phones produce great images, but a photographer trained in color management, composition and printing can be a wise investment for special family moments and events.

What are the photos for? Are you building a website, selling your home or a car, highlighting a new business, celebrating a special occasion, or maybe you want to create an heirloom to mark a milestone birthday, or documenting a life well lived. Many great photographers are in business, but you should ask yourself some questions to help you choose the right fit for your needs.

In the article “How to Choose Your Family Photographer,” the author points out that the best place to start when looking for a photographer is for referrals from friends. If they had a good experience, chances are you will too. However, just as friends might choose a different car, or school, from what you might choose, the same goes for a photographer. Do you want a photographer who specializes in a particular niche, or one that you can go to for all of your needs. In my experience, there are pros and cons on both sides of the choice. Personally, when I was setting up my business model for Faces-Places-Photography, I chose to be an “all purpose” photographer. I studied photography extensively, and I have never seen a genre of photography that I didn’t like, or, wasn’t intrigued by. I am a family photographer in every sense of the word.

Teenagers change so much before they graduate from high school. Document yearly!

It is important to look for a style of photography that will meet your needs. Look closely at the photographs on websites and social media. Resist the urge to text or email the prospective photographer. Take the time to make a phone call. It is a good time to ask questions, learn a little more about the photographer and start a plan for a photo session. The process of planning the photographs together is time well spent.

Before booking an event as important as birth or wedding photography ask to see an entire gallery of work. Do they have the expertise to give you unique and beautiful work? Can they prepare photographs for prints and albums. What equipment do they have? Are they licensed, and are they paying insurance and taxes? What are the costs involved in the photo session? What is included, and when and how is the product delivered. Also ask if there are packages available to meet your needs. Sometimes photographers will offer a payment plan, take advantage of these options.

At Faces-Places-Photography we are committed to creating the highest quality photographs in the New Braunfels, Texas and surrounding area market. We specialize in prints and products, but we are flexible and willing to provide digital images when needed. Call me to chat about choosing the best photographer for you! I can promise you that in photography you really do get what you pay for. Great quality comes with time, practice, and commitment to excellence. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

New Braunfels Documentary Photography: Our Legacy

September 11, 2017 in Documentary Photography

In today’s fast moving society, where information flow to the public is often about what story is bigger, faster and easier to relate to, sometimes it pays to slow down. When I take portraits, and a session is finished, I like to stop and take photos of the small details of family interaction when the subjects don’t feel like they are “on stage,” or posing. Real moments are my very favorite. Portraits are wonderful and I love them, but a documentary photograph tugs at the heart.

Photojournalism is the art or practice of communicating news by photographs. We are inundated by images of natural disasters, war, celebrities and so much more. Image files are processed quickly and are posted almost instantaneously posted on social media, in print or broadcast around the world more quickly every day. According to Kirsten Lewis, “Documentary photography is really and an art, it is a type of photojournalism where the photographer is aiming to create a series of pictures that will a complete story.” This is Documentary Family Photojournalism.

Last year I took a class online through Click Photo School, The Documentary Approach, and started following one of the other students, Francesca Russell, who is a photographer and filmmaker in New York City. Last month Francesca started a project that asks the question, “What is your legacy?” In the first week the prompts encourage the participant to look back on their birth story, and how their parents met. In doing that, and talking with my mom about my story, I found a new perspective to approach family photography. My goal has always been to produce unique, and personal images for my clients. The photographs are more than the digital negative. They are memories for a lifetime.

My mother, Miriam Gentry, with me in 1958. — My mother, Miriam Gentry, with me in 1958.

This photo of me taken soon after I was born is very special to me. It highlights the beginning of the relationship between mother and daughter and the connection between us even in those early months is obvious as you can see in the picture. It is very precious to me as a daughter, a mother and a grandmother. It is one of the many that tell the story of my life, and the journey through that life with my mother. It is important to look back, as well as looking forward.

Families with new babies, people on vacation, seniors in high school, and engaged couples all deserve to have their story told in photos. Please contact me to hear all about my documentary photography sessions.

New Braunfels Portrait Photography: Back to School

July 24, 2017 in Portrait Photography

Back to school photos are traditional and enduring. As a photographer, as well as a mother and grandmother, nothing makes me happier than to document the special moments of a child's life. These photos will be like a road map of their childhood.

Take the time to document the school and year that lies ahead for the child in a set of photos.

These photos are so much more than just a snapshot of your child with the sign showing his or her grade in front of your home, or the school on the first day. They are a visual history. In reality the photos can be taken on the first day of school; or they can be a set of documentary photos that show the true personality of your child for a period of time. Childhood is fleeting and as we look back on the past seeing the transition from youngster to adult is a true gift.

It's a good idea to make sure to get a full length photograph.

In her article for The Washington Post, Jamie Davis Smith, a documentary photographer writes that she "tried to think broadly and capture all of the steps involved in going back to school, as well as how my children are feeling about the transition."

One of the photos, Ms. Davis recommends is taking a image of the first day of school outfit:

Get close and show the beautiful details of the your child's face.

Remember to think about your family and the traditions that are important to you, as well as your children. some children are excited about the first day of school outfit, while others are more excited to see friends that they haven't seen in many months. Sometimes the first day of school is not always happily anticipated. sometimes school can be scary, or even dreaded. Be sure to document the good, bad and the ugly, as real life moments are especially treasured memories.

What!!  You haven't had pictures taken to celebrate the first day of school!  Make plans. — What!! You haven't had pictures taken to celebrate the first day of school! Make plans.

Contact Marcia Richardson about documenting your life in photographs. Make memories for a lifetime!

Print Your Photos | New Braunfels Portrait and Travel Photographer

June 04, 2017

I always print my photographs.

I have compiled scrapbooks, edited my high school yearbook and graced my home with family photos that have become family treasures. As we move further into the digital age photographs fill our computer hard drives, as well as our phones and tablets. These digital files are in many ways more fragile than prints. They must be copied and stored in different locations to protect their viability with redundancy. We aren't sure about the long term future of digital image files. they aren't a sure thing forever. Technology changes so quickly that the mediums that we view these files on can become obsolete. When was the last time you viewed a VCR tape? VCR technology was brand new when I was married in 1980, and that was just 37 years ago. Yet VCRs are ancient history in the technology world. It’s important to find the time and resources to print. For the consumer printing makes sense for many reasons. You have the ability to preserve priceless family moments for a lifetime.

My grandchildren's photos grace my bedroom wall.

My father and his parents. I scanned the original photo and printed this heirloom photograph.

There is something special about holding a printed photograph in your hand. Always remember: “it isn’t if your hard drive is going to fail, it is when it is going to fail.”

I believe that it is important to approach a client’s unique photography needs individually. I look at photography differently from a chain studio that provides a service that will document your child at different stages of their lives based on current trends on Pinterest and Instagram. Certainly there is a place for these kinds of photographs. The more the merrier. However, I want to capture the essence of who your child is at a certain age.

This is a different approach and can certainly be considered an investment. I will always ask my clients whither they are looking for fine art for their walls, a photo album or book, or digital files. These choices all require a session that may require different lenses and certainly require different types of editing. My gear is professional and can cover all of your photography needs.

My fine art travel book: 72 Hours: A Winter Road Trip

I chronicled my 72 hour trip though some of my favorite destinations as well as new ones.

Travel and landscape photography is a fascinating discipline. There is no better souvenir to bring home from a trip abroad than a photograph. Over the last three years I have been documenting my new home. I live in the Texas hill country. As I prepare for the official launch of Faces-Places-Photography on July 1, 2017 I have been printing many of these wonderful photographs as big prints. Each time I look at these wonderful pieces of art I am reminded of how lucky I am to live in this wonderful region of the country. If you would like to discuss making prints for your family please contact me. Ask yourself; when is the last time you put a new photograph on the wall or in the pages of a memory book. Plan to print.

Memorial Day | Memories for a Lifetime

May 31, 2017 in Event Photography, Documentary Photography

Memorial Day has a special meaning to me.

I am a military kid, the spouse of a career Soldier, and the mom to an active duty Infantry Soldier and that brings my total years affiliated with the United States Military to fifty nine years of service. Service as a family member of the great men in my life, but service nonetheless. When I think of our friends and family who have given their lives in the ultimate sacrifice to this nation I am humbled by the magnitude of the love that I have for them and for their service. These experiences have formed my identity.

Why is Memorial Day important to photography?

First, it is the photos that we have from our past that will bring back the memories of those important people in our lives that are no longer with us.

My father Colonel Jack C. Gentry, USAF, ret.,  and my grandson James.   Photo circa 2008 — My father Colonel Jack C. Gentry, USAF, ret., and my grandson James. Photo circa 2008

Future generations will witness a testament to both family and country through the memories that are recorded print. Pictures as they say, are worth a thousand words.

My grandson James at the grave site of his great grandfather. Photo circa 2013

Photos can also establish the emotion of what the day means to others:

My mother, Miriam, at my father's grave.  Photo circa 2013 — My mother, Miriam, at my father's grave. Photo circa 2013

Second, what would we do if we did not have the freedom of expression that we hold so dear to our hearts as photographers. In some cultures and countries people are censored and arrested for taking a photo. Today often times photographers are treated suspiciously. We as Americans take the simple freedom of taking a photo for granted. Images can be so powerful in swaying emotion: just think about the images of concentration camps in WWII, the nuclear bomb devastation in Japan, or the immolation of the young girl by napalm in Vietnam. All of those images are possible by virtue of our freedom of expression, honored in the United States, that other countries would not have allowed.

This is a day when we leave politics at the door and take time to think about what it means to live in the greatest country in the world and to have the freedom of expression. But, freedom for us has come at a steep price. Take out your photos of loved ones and friends and share them with others. Also take the time to make new memories. Take out your camera, or your phone and take photos to remember these times, good and bad, for the memories of future generations.

Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St Louis, Missouri  Photo circa 2013 — Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St Louis, Missouri Photo circa 2013

If you need an event photographer to capture family reunions or military deployments please think of Faces-Places-Photography for these special occasions.

Texas Hill Country Destination | Wimberley, Texas

May 29, 2017 in Nature Photography, Travel, Travel Photography

The Texas Hill Country presents wonderful opportunities for day trips from the San Antonio and Austin. I find myself hitting my brakes; locating a safe place to pull over; and jumping out of my car to make a photograph. It is always the same whether it is a derelict peach stand, a funny sign-post, a poignant notice, or a breathtaking vista: I must have repeated this event a thousand times.

This month as my husband and I celebrated our thirty- seventh wedding anniversary we made the trip from our home in New Braunfels, Texas to the vibrant small town of Wimberley. It’s just twenty-five miles from our home and we enjoy all of the amenities that Wimberley has to offer. In 2015 Wimberley suffered a blow when Cypress Creek and the Blanco River flooded in May and then in October of that year. The city has adopted the “Wimberley Strong” banner and the city is rebounding in true Texas fashion. This article from USA Today highlights the spirit of the town and the people that choose to live here.

Hiking along Cypress Creek in Wimberley, Texas.  The area is recovering from floods. — Hiking along Cypress Creek in Wimberley, Texas. The area is recovering from floods.

Celebrating 37 years of marriage to my husband Tom Richardson.

Serenity Farmhouse Inn, Bed and Breakfast and Wedding Venue is tucked away in a lovely wooded area about eight miles outside of Wimberley. We were greeted warmly by the proprietor of the inn and treated to wine and chocolate as we settled in to our bungalow. In the morning our breakfast was delivered to us and it was delicious!

Farmer's Market Bungalow, Serenity Farms bread and Breakfast and Wedding Venue

We were off to hike the Cypress Creek Nature Trail by mid morning. On our way out to the trail we stopped in Annie James Boutique and I found a great outfit for my portfolio show next month. What a great selection. Our hike was fun. It is great to see the area being protected and given the chance to rebound from the flood damage. After our hike we had a snack and made a trip out to Duchman Family Winery for a glass of wine. We had a great visit with the sommelier, and ended up signing up for their wine club!

Bottling and Labeling at the Duchman Family Winery

Please take a moment to check out my travel and landscape photography in my Places portfolio and contact me if you are interested in my Hill Country Places Workshops that will commence in the spring of 2018.

Picture Authentic Emotions | New Braunfels Portrait Photographer

May 25, 2017 in Portrait Photography, Documentary Photography

The key to success is patience. When taking photos of young children, and their families, more often than not the best photographs happen when you least expect them. I often find that at the beginning of a photo session that everyone is a little bit nervous and stiff. This is understandable because in most cases everyone has just met. It is worthwhile to spend just a few minutes getting to know one another and develop a rapport with the family. This article was very helpful to me. It lists the many ways that you can make the experience better for both clients and the photographer. The more relaxed that everyone is the better the session will go. When you have a two year old involved in the session expectations must be adjusted.

Bubbles are a great prop! Unless the two year old feels like she needs to hold the bubbles!

After a small break we put the bubbles out of sight and we had happy smiles!!

If you find that one member of the family is struggling, give them a break. Sometimes they just need to catch their breath and have a drink of water or a small snack. I always have an assistant when I am taking photos of young children. The assistant can handle snack and break time. In the meantime I keep shooting. Often I find that I capture my favorite photos from a photo session when I least expect it.

What a wonderful bond between brothers!  These are special relationships. — What a wonderful bond between brothers! These are special relationships.

It is critical to be prepared for a photo shoot.

1) Know your photo venue

2) Get to the venue early

3) Have water and a snack.

4) Know the family’s names and a little bit about hobbies

5) Have a couple of props

As a photographer you can never be TOO well prepared. Research and practice is critical and almost always pays big dividends. This article is a great reminder of what a professional photographer must prepare for in the lead-time before a portrait session.

Family photographs are priceless memories for a lifetime.

Catch those wonderful moments at the end of the session.

Don’t throw away the outtakes of these types of sessions. Often parents will find the outtakes very special. Many times I love the “failed” photographs just as appealing as the posed and formal photos. I love both classical and documentary photography and try to capture a mix of both in my portrait work. Take a minute to learn about my background. Please contact me to plan your next portrait session. I will be prepared!

New Braunfels Portrait Photographer | Plan for Mother's Day

May 06, 2017 in Portrait Photography, Documentary Photography, Event Photography

Mother’s Day is just one week away and this is a great time to start thinking about making photographs that will highlight the special relationship between mothers and their children. In 2017, there are cameras everywhere. The cell phone camera has changed the way that people think about photographs. Spontaneous moments snapped on the phone are fun. Who doesn’t love the occasional selfie? However, life captured intentionally with professional photographs that will grace your home in the form of fine art prints and heirloom albums make for the ultimate Mother’s Day gift.

Generational photography is a beautiful way to commemorate Mother's Day.

A generational photo of the women in your family is going to be a treasure for the ages. There are many ways to approach this type of photograph. You can take a more classic and traditional studio photo that will be a family heirloom, or grab a fun candid that shows all kinds of personality and will also stand the test of time for family generations to come. Pinterest is a great source of information and ideas making the best choice of photography session for your family.

An unplanned mother and daughter moment captured by Faces-Places portrait photography.

Be flexible and creative when you consider the kind of photos you want to capture of mothers and children. Some of my favorite photographs are the unexpected moments between mother and child. You can photograph these moments in a formal setting, however a documentary photograph that catches a special relationship is both meaningful and heartwarming. Explore the faces portfolio on my website to see the different ways to approach a portrait.

New Braunfels Documentary Portrait Photographer | Mom's everyday life.

Mother and son antics in the bluebonnets. |  Texas Portrait Photography — Mother and son antics in the bluebonnets. | Texas Portrait Photography

Mom’s also truly appreciate photographs of themselves. I find that most of the time it is mothers who take most of the photographs within their families. It is important to take photographs of your own mother whenever you get the chance. Mothers are often busy and hesitant to take photos as they find it difficult to find the time to prepare for a session. Look for unique ways to capture a moment for your mom.

My mother at a family tea party.  |  Family photography in New Braunfels, Texas — My mother at a family tea party. | Family photography in New Braunfels, Texas

If your mother is a photographer there are many wonderful gifts that can be purchased for her for Mother’s Day. There has never been a time when I haven’t truly enjoyed a piece of photography equipment or a photography experience as a gift.

A sweet moment between mother and daughter.  |  New Braunfels Event Photography — A sweet moment between mother and daughter. | New Braunfels Event Photography

In the month of May contact me. It is time to get a new photograph of a special mom in your life. Happy Mother’s Day!

Bluebonnet Photography | New Braunfels, Texas Photography

April 29, 2017 in Portrait Photography, Travel

Spring in the Texas Hill Country provides many remarkable opportunities to capture both portrait and landscape photographs. Texas wildflowers line the roadways, fill the fields and populate the yards of family homes and ranches. In March and April photographers, flower and nature enthusiasts and families take to the road to enjoy the beauty that colors the state.

The Bluebonnet House north of Marble Falls, Texas | New Braunfels Photographer

There are iconic locations such as the much loved "Bluebonnet House," in Burnet County just north of Marble Falls on Highway 281. This 2017 season the bluebonnets surrounding the landmark were reportedly the best bloom in the past 5 years. There are also more intimate locations tucked away in neighborhoods and off ranch roads that provide a beautiful background for portraits and family photos.

Clothing choice is very important for portraits.| New Braunfels Portrait Photography

On March 7, 1901, the twenty seventh Texas legislature adopted the bluebonnet, flower of the annual legume, Lupinus subcarnosus, as the state flower. The history of the flower goes back to Native American legend. More recently former First Lady of the United States Ladybird Johnson was responsible for populating the roadways of Texas with remarkable wildflowers of all kinds. She made the Texas bluebonnets and the state of Texas stand out with the roadway beautification program

As a portrait photographer, the bluebonnets of Texas make a wonderful backdrop for client sessions. It is important to choose unique and colorful backgrounds that also offer clean simplicity for the ultimate portrait success.

Young sisters in an early springtime bluebonnet field. | Texas Hill Country Portrait Photographer

The flowers are a special part of Texas history and heritage, and it is important to remember good wildflower etiquette. First and foremost don't stop and set up a photography session along a busy highway. It is important to find a public field that is open to personal photography. If in doubt, always ask permission because many bluebonnet fields are on private property. After you decide on an area for your photographs always check carefully to make sure there are no snakes or fire ants in the bluebonnet patch that you are photographing. It is not illegal to pick bluebonnets, but is never necessary to pick the blooms and often the flowers grow in natural patches that allow for stepping and sitting around the delicate flowers.

Delicate and beautiful, and a Texas treasure. | Texas Nature Photography

The 2017 bluebonnets have gone to seed as we head into May. However there are Indian Blanket, White Prickly Poppy. Brown Eyed Susan, and Pink Evening Primrose that grace the roadways and fields during late spring. Texans and visitors to the Lone Star State are fortunate to enjoy the beautiful Spring. There are many wonderful places to visit and photograph each spring in the Texas Hill Country.

It is not too early to plan for photographs in the bluebonnets. This time of year is a great time to visit and tour the state. If you would like to be placed on the calendar for photographs next year email me at marcia@faces-places-photography.com to be placed on the calendar for bluebonnet photographs or photo workshop in the spring of 2018.

Documentary Photography | Texas Hill Country

December 06, 2016 in Event

There is a powerful history of documentary photography in the United States. Recently I watched a documentary about the work of Roy Stryker and the Farm Security Administration. The film called Roy Stryker and the FSA/OWI Photographers was written and directed by Jeanine Isabel Butler and "addresses an impressive range of issues--focused through representation and responsibility--is germane for us today."

In 1975 Roy Stryker said, "the picture began to be the things of my life, the photograph was the way to reach the people, somehow, someway I wanted life in pictures." In 1935, Franklin Roosevelt put documentary photography to work. Long before the television, the internet, and the 24 hour news cycle, he believed that imagery could reach more citizens and their government action. He charged the Resettlement Administration with providing that imagery, to reveal America to Americans.

Migrant Mother of Nipoma, California, 1936 | Dorothea Lange — *Migrant Mother of Nipoma, California*, 1936 | Dorothea Lange

Dorothea Lange's iconic photograph captures the desolation and poverty of the Great Depression. Yet Florence Owens Thompson's children leaning into her, and the classic curve of the baby's face, combined with the delicate position of her hand draws the viewer today. Eighty years after this photograph was taken young Americans have a sense of what families endured in those trying times.

Fleeing a Dust Storm, 1936 | Arthur Rothstein — *Fleeing a Dust Storm*, 1936 | Arthur Rothstein

This important photograph was a last minute decision by Arthur Rothstein. He had spent the day with farmer Arthur Coble and his two sons in Cimarron County, Oklahoma during a dust storm. There was some direction in this picture story. Rothstein asked the younger boy to lean back with his arms over his eyes and the older boy and his father to lean forward in order to show the country, and the lawmakers in Washington the troubles of families in the Dust Bowl.

Floyd Burroughs 1936 | Walker Evans — *Floyd Burroughs* 1936 | Walker Evans

This photograph was taken when Evans was on leave from the FSA, and working on his book, Let Us Now Praise Famous Men with James Agee. He documented the plight of poor tenant farmers in Hale County, Alabama. The farmer's eyes convey the pain and desolation.. Sitting with a dark black background behind him the viewer feels the sense of uncertainty of the times.

Make a Wish 4000th Wish | Valero Energy Campus San Antonio, Texas, 2015

Make a Wish Valero Energy Campus | March 2015

Visual storytelling is as important in America today as it was in the Great Depression. Photographs are plentiful and they are everywhere. Anyone with a smart phone can document a tragedy, an emotional moment, or a gift of compassion. We all have the ability to educate and inform through pictures and texts and the information is transmitted instantaneously.

Cowboy Santa New Braunfels, Texas | December 2016

Making relief bags for the homeless, New Braunfels, Texas | December 2016

This is a visual world and the opportunity to do great things with photographs is still as valuable today in America as it was during the time of the Farm Security Administration. I'm committed to documenting events that are important to families and community organizations. Just as the Great Depression can be revisited today through the FSA photographs, I am certain the documentary photographs of 2016 will inspire photographers 100 years from now. Take the time to learn about me. Call and arrange to have your next event documented by Faces-Places-Photography. We are committed to telling your story!

Holiday Cards | New Braunfels, Texas | Portrait Photography

November 27, 2016 in Portrait Photography

Choosing a photo for a Christmas card, designing the card, writing a note and getting it into the hands of family and friends before Christmas can be a challenge. Traditional cards have changed over time, but the purpose of the cards, to connect with loved ones, remains a priority.

Sir Henry Cole, a prominent patron of the arts and education in England was perplexed about how to respond to the stacks of letters piling up on his desk. In Victorian England it was considered impolite not to answer mail. Cole asked two friends to design and illustrate a card and then had 1000 copies made. The concept proved to be profitable and the Christmas card was born.

The production of Christmas cards was a profitable business for many stationary manufacturers during the 20th century with the design of the cards continually evolving with changing tastes and printing techniques. One of the most popular developments was the use of a photograph as a primary element for a Christmas card.

A photograph in front of a Christmas tree is popular choice.

Nick Kelsh, a renowned photographer and educator has presented many wonderful resources designed to help all photographers capture memorable holiday photos. In Nick Kelsh's A Christmas Card and 25 Christmas Photo Tips photographers are treated to an appealing video and an informative e-book that will be very transformative to the way you approach your Christmas card choices and the way you document your holidays.

Years seem to fly by faster than normal in the digital age. There are so many photos taken of precious family members over the weeks and months of our lives. There are 27 days left until Christmas. If you need a photograph for your Christmas holiday contact me at Faces-Places-Photography and arrange for photographs and help designing a family card. Have a happy, healthy holiday season!

Holiday Photos | Texas Hill Country Portrait Photographer

November 20, 2016

This weekend I attended the holiday tree lighting in New Braunfels, Texas with my husband and grandson. Santa Claus arrived and the beautiful downtown historical square was also illuminated in light and in the holiday spirit. This event is just one of many that is held by the New Braunfels Park and Recreation Department.

Christmas Tree Lighting | New Braunfels, Texas | November 18, 2016

Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday to capture photos. The spirit of the season is infectious. It's a good time to capture family moments that you can frame for the wall or make an album or a book.

A great way to get into the spirt of the holidays is to get out and experience them.

The season of giving is upon us. This week we have Thanksgiving and Black Friday. Then there is Cyber Monday, Secret Santa, gift exchanges, and so many more opportunities to give meaningful gifts to the people that you love. Shopping will take place all over the world during the next five weeks. Each year I say I'm going to be better prepared for gift giving. Sadly though the year flies by and I, like most of us, start shopping after Thanksgiving.

When you gather together with your family for Thanksgiving dinner consider taking a series of photos. These photos, when printed, will make some of the most wonderful gifts that you can give to loved ones, AND you can avoid getting up at 3am to be in line for gifts that often soon will be forgotten. One year someone in my family took a picture of my grandson and sent it to us on Thanksgiving. I can't remember who took it, but I have always loved this picture and it reminds me of my days as a brand new grandmother.

Get close to a face when you take portraits. Don't worry about cropping (zooming) in.

"Growing up, I would always document and record events that seemed meaningful. I shot hundreds of blurry pictures and recorded hours of news footage onto VHS tapes. Over the years, I have collected drawers full of old newspapers, notes, videotapes, and photos." Lexi Namer wrote this on her webpage Save Family Photos. She asks the question, "Do you think family photos are an important tool in preserving history?" and then asks if social media sites like Facebook and Instagram are influencing the way we record our families? Think about the future. Who knows if Facebook and Instagram will still be in existence? Will we be given the opportunity to take our photos down from the site before they go out of business? Will the resolution of those photos be enough to make usable prints? There is only one real way to make sure that our family history is recorded in print...and that is to print your photos and save them in multiple locations. A print is a fabulous holiday gift!!

Growing up happens so quickly.  A cloudy day is a great time to take a portrait. — Growing up happens so quickly. A cloudy day is a great time to take a portrait.

If you need a photographer that will make photographs that you can put into albums and put on the walls of your home contact me. I am committed to spending all the time you need to make sure that your family photos are preserved for future generations. Happy Thanksgiving!!

Wurstfest 2016 | New Braunfels Texas | Hill Country Travel Photographer

November 13, 2016 in Event, Travel

Wurstfest is a Texas sized German festival that is held for 10 days in early November in New Braunfels, Texas. The first festival was in 1961, and over the years it has provided a great deal of fun for generations of New Braunfels residents as well as raising money for community organizations from the local community. Great food, beer, wonderful music, carnival rides and camaraderie delight the Wurstfest attendees every fall. The history of Wurstfest reminds us what a small town can accomplish when community leaders work together for a common goal.

As a documentary event photographer I visited Wurstfest for the first time in 2015 to photograph a photo essay for an editorial project. I went back to the fest this year for an assignment covering the Texas Hill Country in the fall. The spirit and energy of Wurstfest is contagious.

I lived a total of 10 years in Germany during my years as a military child and a military spouse. When I was 18 I moved to Munich, Germany to study at the University of Maryland, Munich Campus. I was able to study abroad in one of the greatest European cities. Oktoberfest is held every year in Munich. It is actually held in September, in 2017 it will be September 16, 2017 to September 26, 2017. In 2016 there were 5.6 million visitors to the world's biggest fair. When I walk onto the Wurstfest grounds I can really feel that same festive anticipation. Wurstfest is the real thing!

The Texas Hill Country is full of unique festivals such as Wurstfest that are worth attending and equally as fun to photograph. The places that you can visit provide and wealth of photography opportunities. The fall is a beautiful time to visit the hill county. It is a great place to learn travel or event photography. Last week I wrote a blog about my recent visit to Lost Maples State Natural Area in Vanderpool, Texas.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about Wurstfest, or travel in the Hill Country.

Alex Meixner, of the Alex Meixner Band, opens Wurstfest on Friday, November 4, 2016 with dignitaries from the town of New Braunfels, Texas. — **Alex Meixner**, of the Alex Meixner Band, opens Wurstfest on Friday, November 4, 2016 with dignitaries from the town of New Braunfels, Texas.

Alpenmusikanten performs on November 4, 2016 at the Stelzenplatz in New Braunfels, Texas at Wurstfest..

From the balcony at Stelzenhaus you can watch the singing and dancing from a unique perspective.

Buttons are everywhere reminding fest attendees of New Braunfels German roots.

Fall is the Season for Family Photos | New Braunfels Family Photographer

November 12, 2016 in Portrait Photography

Tis the season!!

This is the time of the year to plan photography. The fall brings cooler temperatures, family holiday gatherings and the anticipation of a new year. This is a great time to document the special relationships of your life. Relationships are very important to me. I love the time I spend with clients and want them to have the best photos of their family moments to treasure for a lifetime.

By all means schedule a session with a professional photographer to capture the best images of your family. At Faces-Places-Photography I am dedicated to providing you with photographs that will be heirlooms for years to come. I conduct pre and post photography session consultations, at which time we will be planning clothing choices, as well determining the type of images that you desire for your home. We deliver the photographs promptly and are committed to providing a package that you will love. Our photographs are fully retouched and professionally printed.

When preparing for fall photos clothing choices are very important. The goal is to find a way for the clothing to be coordinated, but not matching. I have found that staying within a color family can be a very helpful way to start. That will narrow down the many choices by virtue of staying with a particular color family.

Warm colors include shades of red, orange and yellow and variations of those colors. The last gasp of summer, beautiful fall sunsets, campfires and smores. The warm colors combined with neutrals can add depth to the color palette.

Warm colors with a colorful stripe work well for children's photos.

Cool colors include shades of green, blue and purple and variations on those colors. They are fall mornings and the promise of winter. Combining these colors with neutrals will also open up the possibilities for this color family.

Variations of aqua, and a small plaid tie the family photograph tie the family photograph together.

Within the color families you can begin to mix the palette to provide contrast and impact. Care must be given to patterns, shades and tones to insure that the clothing works well as a complement to the photograph.

Red, white and blue is a popular, and patriotic choice for many families.

Neutral clothing will focus the photograph on the families faces as well as on the surrounding environment. In the event you have a big family neutral clothing is a great choice.

Beige, tan and black complement the primary color of blue in this family photo.

There are many sources to choose from to help decide on clothing choices that will be best for your family. Be sure to take into account where you would like your photos to be hung in your home. It is always great to make a "who, what, where and how," list to help to determine what to wear and where you would like your family photos made. Erin Cobb does a wonderful job educating clients about what they should wear to their photo session. Her photographs are a great example of using clothing to compliment the session.

Enjoy fall, and schedule a photo session!

New Braunfels Travel Photographer | New Camera | Canon 5D Mark IV

November 06, 2016 in Travel

It's great to be back! The whirlwind that has been my life over the past several months has kept me from regularly contributing to my blog, but my photography story needs to be documented and that has prompted me to start writing more regularly.

I have a new camera, the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV. The touchscreen LCD screen is the feature that I enjoy most, but the weight and speed of the camera also contribute to its "awesomeness." There were 4.5 years between the release of the 5D Mark III and the 5D Mark IV and I am pleased that I waited for the release of the new model as opposed to purchasing the 5D III, as I was tempted to do many times. I had to remind myself that "good things come to those who wait!"

According to Digital Camera Review the Canon Mark IV receives substantial upgrades with a higher-resolution sensor with Dual Pixel autofocus, 4K video capture, and upgraded AF system, a touchscreen, improved weather-sealing, built in Wi-Fi, an interval timer and GPS.

A short review of the camera:

https://youtu.be/9FqX6qblyJ8

When you have a new camera there are a few suggestions that will help you become familiar with it:

1. Read the manual. I know in this day and age that there is a wealth of information available right at your fingertips. Google, You Tube and photo classes are all wonderful, but nothing compares to a well rounded understanding of the hardware and software that makes your camera unique. It also forces you to try each menu and button on the camera.

Lost Maples State Natural Area, Vanderpool, Texas

2. Practice with your camera in a non-stressful setting. Give yourself a day to play with the new features. I have found that the only way to really learn photography is to go out and take pictures. When you are shooting the subjects that you love you naturally will spend more time with details. I truly enjoy travel and landscape photography. There is nothing better than taking a day off to spend time with my camera in the Texas Hill Country.

3) Print your photos. I learn the most about my photographs when I print them. I know that I might sound like a throwback to film days when negatives need to be printed to contact sheets for review. However the system works. Technology moves forward but the old fashioned print on paper tells you so much about the photograph that you see on your computer.

When you have a question about traveling in the Texas Hill Country please don't hesitate to contact me. Also, check out my Places gallery to many of the wonderful places to visit in the hill country.

Enjoy your fall travels!!!

First Photo of Spring

March 22, 2016

Six beautiful girls and one incredibly blessed husband and father. Welcome spring.

What a year!!

March 13, 2016

It's been over a year since I made an entry in my photography blog. There is just no excuse for that...BUT.... I've been busy taking photos of faces and places. I have taken many interesting classes at the Art Institute here in San Antonio. I'm halfway though the BFA degree program in Digital Photography. I am learning every day and every day I am anxious to learn more. The expression "there aren't enough hours in the day," fits my life very well right now. Faces-Places-Photography is alive and well and a work in progress. Check back often to see some of my most recent sessions on the blog.

President Lyndon B.Johnson's boyhood home. Johnson City, Texas

New Year, New Quarter

January 10, 2015

It hardly seems possible that one quarter of my photography training at the Art Institute of San Antonio is behind me. 11 weeks flies by and I was so absorbed by shooting pictures for assignments as well as drawing assignments that I let the blog languish for several weeks.

In the new year as I start winter quarter I will devote myself to learning lighting for photography as well as digital image manipulation. I also have a class that will emphasize the composition and design of photographs. Most of the time I am really looking forward with anticipation to the new year, but on the other hand I often feel that I should be making progress faster. I'm not getting any younger. I vow to be more consistent in 2015 with this blog and the beginning of my business--in whatever form that may be.

I went to the George W. Bush Institute yesterday and was inspired by the former President's words from September 20, 2001 as he addressed a Joint Session of Congress, "We will not tire, We will not falter, We will not fail." I want that to be my motto, along with the country's philosophy! Best of luck to everyone in your endeavors in 2015.

Image taken in the fall of 2014 on Highway 190 near Killeen Texas.  It was one of my favorite images submitted for my final project in Principles of Photography. — Image taken in the fall of 2014 on Highway 190 near Killeen Texas. It was one of my favorite images submitted for my final project in Principles of Photography.

Photography Project 1

October 27, 2014

Tomorrow the first photographs that I will submit in my Principles of Photography class will be turned in for the review and critique by the professor as well as my fellow aspiring photographers. I have been seriously taking photographs for about 2 years now. However I don't think I have ever looked at them in their most basic structure as closely as I have done these past 3 weeks.

We were required to shoot the photos in a format that I left behind many months ago. (JPEG) and although I am a novice at editing anyway, we were not allowed to alter them in any way.

I have been having a few mini nightmares about the 100 photos I am submitting. 10 will be judged on the basis of lighting, focus, exposure, white balance and composition. However the professor said something the other day that has put me more at ease. She said, "None of these photos are going to be worthy of your portfolio." So why not just relax and enjoy the process.

When do I ever relax? Ha!! I realized I have yet to post one of my photographs on this blog. Well one other than an iPhone picture. Next week I will post my best picture. Stay tuned.....

Here it is.  Ready to turn in...and be critiqued!! — Here it is. Ready to turn in...and be critiqued!!

Me....an artist?

October 10, 2014

My first week in school is complete! I had time to reflect on my life during my drive back and forth to school. I spent 25 years as a dental hygienist. I loved that time in my life but I certainly wasn't an artist. I have always loved my camera, taken lots of pictures, printed many of them, and I've even put them into a scrapbook--many scrapbooks. During all those years I never considered my myself an artist. This quarter I am taking 3 art classes in addition to Photography Fundamentals. All of sudden...Marcia Richardson....Artist!! Keep expecting the unexpected. Always keep the door open for your dreams. They really can come true.