JUSTIN AND AUDRA AT SEKRIT THEATRE IN AUSTIN, TX

SAN ANTONIO COUPLES PHOTOGRAPHER

One of the most important things I wanted to focus on this year was being more purposeful in my photography. It wasn’t just good enough to be able to choose a location and have my standard photo shoots. I wanted this to be a year in which I branched out and really tried some new things, while also pushing my photography to things that I had never done before. I came up with a great idea to pick a place that was very different from anything that I had ever done before, while also shooting differently. This wasn’t about just being able to capture the moments between a couple or a family, but rather tell a story.

I went ahead and booked a venue, and asked a couple to join me for this never before done photoshoot. What followed was something that I never imagined, and still think about today. Simply put, it was a story that I captured through time and in a different era. The whole feel of this couple’s photography shoot was to take us into a time machine into the 1920’s and let our minds wander through a different time. I could not have asked for a more purposeful photoshoot.

Once the venue was booked, I began to talk to Justin and Audra about the idea I had. I had never forgotten about them from a previous engagement photography session because of how natural they were with each other. It alwasy felt as if myself and my camera were never there, and this would be great for my idea. I knew I had also loved the look and feel of the early 1900’s, so it was something that I wanted to emphasize too. This would be a love story stuck in a very different time. Every photograph should feel immersive, and those looking at them should feel as if they are traveling through time with each shot.

Pretty quickly I was able to talk to both of them about the type of clothing we wanted for this specific shoot. I had shared my idea with them, and we began to immediately share clothing options back and forth. This is one of the things that I love to do with couples, families, engagements, and any other type of photography session. I can never emphasize how important clothing is to each photography session, and I was happy that we were all on the same page with what I wanted to do.

The clothing had to be perfect and really weave together into this love story being told in a different time. The fact that we were all on the same page about the theme and the clothing really made this couple’s photography session amazing. This goes back to my focus of being more purposeful. Not only does the theme have a purpose, but so does the clothing, and all of it comes together beautifully in this to make it unforgettable.

One of the very first things I also did was to see this place and book it at my favorite time of the evening. I wanted to be able to have very moody lighting, while also utilizing some of the beautiful lights that were at this venue. This place not only had a glass garden house, but also a mystifying school bus right in the middle with all type of old accessories inside. There was no question I needed to use all of it!

While it was important to have all the different places in the venue that I wanted to shoot, along with the lighting, it was equally important to put Justin and Audra in positions where they felt comfortable. Lucky for me, they didn’t need much direction for me to be able to capture the love stares, smiles, and the beautiful chemistry that they have together. I had a few poses in mind, and specific shots that I wanted, but I also had plenty of time to just kind of let them be themselves.

This is one of my favorite things to do in any type of different photography session! Just let people be natural with each other, and capture those moments. You can always tell through the camera that it’s not forced, and as you can see in these pictures it shows! This shot of them running together is one of my favorites. I wanted to capture them in movement and I got this beautiful smile from Audra right in the middle of it. Everything in the shot has a purpose… the clothes, the movement of their arms, Audra’s hair. What I wanted was a “dreamy” look in this shot, and I felt I definitely achieved it.

One of the greatest things is when you have the perfect couple, setting, and clothing. This for me is one of those shots that highlights that because everything has a purpose. The composition of the shot is very symmetrical in the photo above, but so is the feel and colors. The clothing goes perfectly with the setting, and it brings out the couple while highlighting where they are at. You would never be able to imagine this is being done right in the middle of the busy neighborhoods of East Austin!

I usually do ask every single couple what they are up for, and what they are willing to try. It’s important that whatever they do, they feel comfortable in what i’m shooting. Natural things that they tend to do together when cameras are not around will come out beautifully in a shoot. This shot above is also another one that I love because we can take away the setting, but the action between Justin and Audra is one that we can imagine being done naturally anywhere.

We were lucky to spend an entire hour at the venue and be able to try so many different poses and things throughout the evening. One of the things I love about couple’s photography is that you have so much room for creativity! Obviously, it helps to have the perfect couple that will be up for anything! but no matter how comfortable they are, there is always room to be able to put them in places that show true magic between them.

Have you and your partner been thinking about having a couples photoshoot? or maybe a shoot for your engagement, elopement or any other type of event? Are you interested in a photography session that looks like this? Click the link below and let's set up a time to talk so I can answer all of your questions! I can make sure to capture the love between you and your special someone!

ABOUT STEPH & LADY PHOTOGRAPHY

I am a couples photographer based in San Antonio, TX, serving couples, engagement, family, maternity, personal branding, and elopement photography clients in San Antonio, Texas, and the surrounding communities of New Braunfels, Schertz, and Cibolo, and all of Central and West Texas.