Eric and Jessica’s wedding was a PERFECT way to start out my 2012 Houston wedding photography schedule! Both the bride and the groom were so easygoing and accommodating, it made shooting a breeze. Because of this, I was able to setup some great shots that I think the two of them will love.
The wedding was set at The Parador, a great venue at the intersection of Binz and Almeda near downtown Houston, Texas. Nestled away behind terra cotta walls is a beautifully redesigned building that used to be an old church. With a wonderfully shaded outer garden and a high, domed ceiling in the main room, it is a gorgeous place for a wedding and a great place to be for a Houston wedding photographer.
The bride’s quarters was sequestered away in the garden in its own separate building, where the bridal party had plenty of room to get ready. I snapped away as they prepared themselves.
I then made my way over to the groom’s area, where the guys (of course) had been ready for quite some time and were laughing and talking amongst each other. I took that time to pull Eric aside and take a few shots (all the while with his friends heckling him behind me, haha). We thought of the shot below right before the ceremony once the “last chance!” jokes began popping up.
It was a beautiful ceremony, under the large domed roof of the chapel.
The first dance was great, and it was very apparent the love that these two shared for each other. The same feeling was with the Father of the Bride’s dance and the Mother of the Groom’s dance.
After the dances, it was time to party! It was a very lively reception, and everyone got up and had their fair share of fun.
While everyone was having a great time, I snuck the bride and groom away for a few minutes to gather a few more romantic shots, as they had expressed a desire for those before the ceremony. The Parador had a beautiful courtyard with a centrally located circle of bushes that was symmetrically laid out. Using a three strobe setup (one behind, two at 45 degrees on either side), I composed this image:
I was very happy with how dramatic it was, and I think it matched what they were looking for perfectly! Now that I have three speed lights to play with, I am excited to try more dynamic lighting situations like the one above.
After that, we moved to an archway near the entrance to the chapel and tried another idea that I’d had. I placed a bare flash directly behind the couple and used it to light up everything inside the archway, while leaving the outside nice and dark. The effect came out really well!
From there, it was just about time for the bride and groom’s exit! With very little setup time, I ran outside and set up two speed lights facing towards the doors and then ran back inside to follow the couple outside. I like the effect this generally gives, making a very cinematic feel which I’ve always been partial too.
I nearly missed an unplanned “dip”!
Again, this was a great way to start my 2012 wedding season! A great couple, a great wedding and a great evening! Can’t get much better than that. Stay tuned for more weddings coming soon!