Engagement Photoshoot at Marquardt Ranch
For some couples, an engagement photoshoot can be a little nerve-wracking. When your photographer can find the light, put you there and give you something romantic to do, you have a winning situation! For Tess and Mark, I set up the scene: golden sunset, picnic basket, wine, and a little mosquito repellent! Check out the video of their Marquardt Ranch engagement session:
We loved working with Tess and Mark and cannot wait to shoot their wedding at Marquardt Ranch in the spring! Congratulations to this beautiful couple!
Fresh greens, burlap & lace at The Club at Garden Ridge
The happy couple1Cute bride and groom at The Club at Garden Ridge
Congratulations to this fun and playful couple! Jayme and Matt had an outdoor ceremony at The Club at Garden Ridge on a warm day in September. Jayme carefully chose personal and casual touches of monogrammed decor, pictures from their engagement session, simple white roses and fresh eucalyptus leaves to decorate their simple and casual wedding.
Bride getting readyThe bridal suite at The Club at Garden Ridge
Bride getting readyThe bridal suite at The Club at Garden Ridge
Mother helping daughterMother helping the bride with her wedding jewelry at The Club at Garden Ridge.
Dad's first lookJayme and her dad had an emotional first look.
Dad's first lookJayme and her dad had an emotional first look.
Dad's first lookJayme and her dad had an emotional first look.
Dad's first lookJayme and her dad had an emotional first look.
After Jayme's emotional first look with her Dad, she had a beautiful first look with her groom Matt on the lawn overlooking the lake at The Club at Garden Ridge. It was a magical moment on a perfect clear day.
First Look at The Club at Garden RidgeA young couple sees each other for the first time on their wedding day at The Club at Garden Ridge.
First Look at The Club at Garden RidgeA young couple sees each other for the first time on their wedding day at The Club at Garden Ridge.
First Look at The Club at Garden RidgeA young couple sees each other for the first time on their wedding day at The Club at Garden Ridge.
First Look at The Club at Garden RidgeA young couple sees each other for the first time on their wedding day at The Club at Garden Ridge.
First Look at The Club at Garden RidgeA young couple sees each other for the first time on their wedding day at The Club at Garden Ridge.
First Look at The Club at Garden RidgeA young couple sees each other for the first time on their wedding day at The Club at Garden Ridge.
First Look at The Club at Garden RidgeA young couple sees each other for the first time on their wedding day at The Club at Garden Ridge.
First Look at The Club at Garden RidgeA young couple sees each other for the first time on their wedding day at The Club at Garden Ridge.
First Look at The Club at Garden RidgeA young couple sees each other for the first time on their wedding day at The Club at Garden Ridge.
First Look at The Club at Garden RidgeA young couple sees each other for the first time on their wedding day at The Club at Garden Ridge.
First Look at The Club at Garden RidgeA young couple sees each other for the first time on their wedding day at The Club at Garden Ridge.
The advantage to having a first look prior to your ceremony is you are fresh and photo ready along with your bridal party. You can schedule this time to have a few daytime portraits made with your bridal party, and then you don't have to miss too much time enjoying your cocktail hour directly after the ceremony.
The Bridal PartyGreen chiffon bridesmaid dresses, grey vested groomsmen attire.
Bridal PartyJayme and Matt with their closest friends.
Bridal bouquetWhite garden roses with hyacinth and fresh eucalyptus leaves. Green cascading bridal bouquet.
Bridal PartyJayme and Matt with their closest friends.
Silly sisters
Adorable ring bearers!Cute toddler ring bearer in converse sneaks carried signs down the aisle instead of rings.
Adorable ring bearers!Cute toddler ring bearer in converse sneaks carried signs down the aisle instead of rings.
The bride's entranceOutdoor wedding ceremony at The Club at Garden Ridge.
The bride's entranceOutdoor wedding ceremony at The Club at Garden Ridge.
The bride's entranceOutdoor wedding ceremony at The Club at Garden Ridge.
The bride's entranceOutdoor wedding ceremony at The Club at Garden Ridge.
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Wood and Iron CrossWood and Iron Cross built by the couple during their ceremony.
The first kissOutdoor Ceremony at The Club at Garden Ridge.
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Fresh organic wedding decorMatt and Jayme used natural and simple elements for their reception decor at the Club At Garden Ridge. River rocks, wood plates, water with tall manzanilla branches alternating with lower floral centerpieces with white roses and eucalyptus leaves.
Fresh organic wedding decorMatt and Jayme used natural and simple elements for their reception decor at the Club At Garden Ridge. River rocks, wood plates, water with tall manzanilla branches alternating with lower floral centerpieces with white roses and eucalyptus leaves.
Fresh organic wedding decorMatt and Jayme used natural and simple elements for their reception decor at the Club At Garden Ridge. River rocks, wood plates, water with tall manzanilla branches alternating with lower floral centerpieces with white roses and eucalyptus leaves.
Fresh organic wedding decorMatt and Jayme used natural and simple elements for their reception decor at the Club At Garden Ridge. River rocks, wood plates, water with tall manzanilla branches alternating with lower floral centerpieces with white roses and eucalyptus leaves.
Fresh organic wedding decorMatt and Jayme used natural and simple elements for their reception decor at the Club At Garden Ridge. River rocks, wood plates, water with tall manzanilla branches alternating with lower floral centerpieces with white roses and eucalyptus leaves.
Fresh organic wedding decorMatt and Jayme used natural and simple elements for their reception decor at the Club At Garden Ridge. River rocks, wood plates, water with tall manzanilla branches alternating with lower floral centerpieces with white roses and eucalyptus leaves.
Fresh organic wedding decorMatt and Jayme used natural and simple elements for their reception decor at the Club At Garden Ridge. River rocks, wood plates, water with tall manzanilla branches alternating with lower floral centerpieces with white roses and eucalyptus leaves.
Fresh organic wedding decorMatt and Jayme used natural and simple elements for their reception decor at the Club At Garden Ridge. River rocks, wood plates, water with tall manzanilla branches alternating with lower floral centerpieces with white roses and eucalyptus leaves.
Fresh organic wedding decorMatt and Jayme used natural and simple elements for their reception decor at the Club At Garden Ridge. River rocks, wood plates, water with tall manzanilla branches alternating with lower floral centerpieces with white roses and eucalyptus leaves.
Fresh organic wedding decorMatt and Jayme used natural and simple elements for their reception decor at the Club At Garden Ridge. River rocks, wood plates, water with tall manzanilla branches alternating with lower floral centerpieces with white roses and eucalyptus leaves.
Fresh organic wedding decorMatt and Jayme used natural and simple elements for their reception decor at the Club At Garden Ridge. River rocks, wood plates, water with tall manzanilla branches alternating with lower floral centerpieces with white roses and eucalyptus leaves.
Fresh organic wedding decorMatt and Jayme used natural and simple elements for their reception decor at the Club At Garden Ridge. River rocks, wood plates, water with tall manzanilla branches alternating with lower floral centerpieces with white roses and eucalyptus leaves.
Fresh organic wedding decorMatt and Jayme used natural and simple elements for their reception decor at the Club At Garden Ridge. River rocks, wood plates, water with tall manzanilla branches alternating with lower floral centerpieces with white roses and eucalyptus leaves.
Bride and Groom reception entrance
Bride and Groom PortraitsAfter dinner evening portraits with The Bride and Groom At The Club at Garden Ridge
Bride and Groom PortraitsAfter dinner evening portraits with The Bride and Groom At The Club at Garden Ridge
Bride and Groom PortraitsAfter dinner evening portraits with The Bride and Groom At The Club at Garden Ridge
Bride and Groom PortraitsAfter dinner evening portraits with The Bride and Groom At The Club at Garden Ridge
The First DancesLight and beautiful first dances with the Bride and Groom.
The First DancesLight and beautiful first dances with the Bride and Groom.
The First DancesLight and beautiful first dances with the Bride and Groom.
The First DancesLight and beautiful first dances with the Bride and Groom.
The First DancesLight and beautiful first dances with the Bride and Groom.
The First DancesLight and beautiful first dances with the Bride and Groom.
The toast
Cutting The Cake
Cutting The Cake
Cutting The Cake
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See more fun moments here!
A romantic evening wedding at Gardens At Old Town Helotes
I absolutely adored my September bride, Sara as we prepared for her wedding day! She was so genuinely excited to be getting married to her handsome groom Ray, and I enjoyed capturing that joy from their engagement session to her bridal session, and finally to their beautiful September wedding day at Gardens At Old Town Helotes.
We started the day with a first look, a private moment between the bride and groom to see each other for the first time before they walked down the aisle.
Lopez2016-1690Cocktail hour on the deck at Gardens At Old Town Helotes with Mariachi Azteca de America.
Lopez2016-1690Cocktail hour on the deck at Gardens At Old Town Helotes with Mariachi Azteca de America.
Lopez2016-1768The grand entrance into the reception room at Gardens At Old Town Helotes.
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Lopez2016-1845Champagne glasses for the toast at Gardens At Old Town Helotes.
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Lopez2016-1928Reception at Gardens At Old Town Helotes.
Lopez2016-1928Reception at Gardens At Old Town Helotes.
Lopez2016-1928Reception at Gardens At Old Town Helotes.
Lopez2016-1928Reception at Gardens At Old Town Helotes.
Lopez2016-1928Reception at Gardens At Old Town Helotes.
Lopez2016-1951Sara and Ray had a surprise dance planned for their guests delight. At Gardens at Old Town Helotes.
Lopez2016-2023Sara dancing with her dad as the guests blow bubbles.
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Lopez2016-2283Evening bride and groom portrait at Gardens At Old Town Helotes.
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Texas Ranch Wedding with Ann & Daniel
One of my favorite things about weddings is the opportunity to capture a true happily ever after. Ann and Daniel found each other at an important time in both of their lives. Dealing with loss of loved ones they helped each other through and supported each other in a way no one else could. Three months after the birth of their absolutely gorgeous little girl, they tied the knot at Rancho La Mission, and now their family of four is complete. It was such an honor to capture this ranch style wedding with navy and gold reception decor and organic burlap and lace accents. Their three tier round wedding cake simply adorned with luscious pink and white roses was too pretty to eat! In lieu of mariachi's the groom grabbed the mic and belted out a serenade to his adoring bride. It was a romantic ending to a gorgeous day when we captured a rainbow in their sunset portraits. Enjoy a few highlights from this South Texas wedding!
See full wedding here!
Because she loved me
One of the first things you do when your loved one passes away, is you find a picture of them that represents what they looked like for those preparing the body for an open-casket wake. For my grandmother, she was a beautiful woman inside and out, and there were thousands of pictures to choose from. Her cabinet was well-stocked with albums, files boxes, manila folders, Kodak and Fuji branded folders with thousands and thousands of pictures. Growing up, she would pull them out and reminisce with us, tell us stories about being a girl visiting cousins in Laredo and Taylor, Texas.
My first experiences with wedding photographs were of seeing my grandparent's classic wedding procession, and cake-cutting. They were such a gorgeous couple standing on a pedestal for their official wedding day portrait, her satin train and lace veil draped perfectly around her. There are pictures that show the infamous dances that occurred on my great-grandfather's patio, and the antics my dad and his siblings and cousins would get into. There are wedding day pictures of my Uncle Carlos and Aunt Terry, you can see how childlike they seemed marrying and joining the navy during the Vietnam War. Somehow she had some of the best shots from my own parent's 1976 wedding, pictures that not even my parent's wedding album contained. She had a beautiful picture of my mother dressed as a Fiesta Queen, and some of her bridal portraits taken at The McNay Art Museum.
There are pictures of her as a child, maybe three years old wearing a dress and trying a proper curtsy. When I see that picture I think of her mother Clemencia, (we called her Nani), and the love that probably burned in her chest as she watched her daughter play. I especially love seeing the pictures she took as a teenager, messing around and experimenting with a camera with her friends. There are 1940s sleepover pictures, her expression carefree and dreamlike. It makes it easy to imagine her as a young woman going through life the same way I have, but now with the wisdom of the things that happened to her and developed her into the woman I would often turn to for advice.
The pictures show a strong woman, not only physically and mentally but also in faith. She would start and end each day with prayer, no matter where she was. When I turned 21, she took me on my first trip to Las Vegas, and I remember waking up to the sounds of her rosary in our Riviera, Las Vegas hotel room! She prayed every day for each member of our family, and this is how I believe our family has enjoyed so many blessings and grace from Our Father through her intercession. With her passing, I know that it is now up to me to continue this ongoing prayer for my family.
When I took a leap of faith, and began my journey with Aria Productions, she wrote me a birthday card and said,
"You hold a special place in God's heart and mine and a special purpose in this world, and that makes you irreplaceable. My love and prayers are always with you. I'm so proud of how you have faced your challenges."
As a professional photographer, I know the gift that I am creating for my clients. I know that the picture I take of the bride and groom's grandparents may be the last treasured image they have, the picture they will reach for when they lose their special loved one. It's in the back of my mind always how special and important it is to capture these precious images.
When she knew her time on this earth would end soon, she put aside little keepsakes for each of us: jewelry, prayer beads, books, and yes the pictures. They are the most treasured possessions we have and they remind us to be strong in our faith, be courageous, and live doing what we know right in our heart.
You can see some of her pictures here:
Pray with your family and your children daily. You can download a prayer card here.
 prayer for my familyDownload a prayer card to pray for together with your family.
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 prayer for my childrenClick to download this prayer and pray daily with your children and teenagers.
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EMartinez-37My favorite picture of us on my wedding day. Captured by Once Upon A Time Photography.