August 2006 Archives
I really liked this wedding as it most definitely had some Texas flair to it. The final album will be arriving from the printers in about a week, and I am very excited to get it back.
Aric C. Hoek
The Master of Shadows
Houston Wedding Photographer
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I like to create my albums with a bit of a simplistic approach. Personally, I feel that a simple design renders a quality that will allow the design to stand the test of time.
For the next couple of days, I hope to give you a treat. I will be posting 5 – 10 complete wedding album designs that I have done this wedding season.
When I receive a finished book back from my book binder, I always have a smile on my face. If you’re a wedding photographer, and you are not smiling when you see your finial creation, you had better change the type of photography you are doing.
At this point in my photographic career, I am feeling really good about the quality of my work, and I am having the best run of my life.
When things get really busy for me, I don’t think it is bad to slow down or stop to assess the situation in front of you, because I want my business to survive another day. To see another day for the past 10 years of being self-employed is a great feeling.
As my business continues to grow, I hope to forge the way and deliver album designs to my customers that have never been seen before.
This first album has images from an engagment shoot done in Paris! Wow! I just finished designing the first version of this album yesterday, the customer has already come into view the desing. Some revisions have been ordered, which I have not started on yet... but I just couldn't wait to show this one off.
One more thing. When we think of opening a book, you normally would open the book from the right to the left. This book opens from the bottom to the top. Just a really fun twist, that reminds you that you are looking at something important when viewing it.
I have posted the layouts side by side, but each image that you look at represents two sides to the album.
Aric C. Hoek
The Master of Shadows
Houston Wedding Photographer
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It seems as of late I have been shooting nothing but bridal portraits, and I can’t put those up in fear of the fiancé seeing the images before the wedding.
Here are a few from last Saturdays wedding at The Parador. The wedding coordinator for this event was Schwarts and Woodward.
Aric C. Hoek
The Master of Shadows
Houston Wedding Photographer
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I just wanted to say thanks for all of the recent generous reviews and kind words. I also wanted to take this opportunity to comment on a discussion happening there today. I only lurk on message boards. I would never post anything there. It is my belief that the message boards on The Knot are solely for discussions between future brides.
Solaris Studios will never impersonate a user on The Knot Boards. Our reputation is very important to us, and it is a matter of pride that we book all of our weddings based on the merit of our photography and service. It is in our best interest to do the absolute best job we can to earn our clients possible referrals. I cringe at the thought of the business fall off a wedding vendor would experience if one, they were impersonating a bride on the boards, and two, they were discovered in their deception, and three, that deception was revealed to masses on the boards.
About once every three days I will do a search on all of the boards for Solaris and then a search for Aric. Reading the comments on the message boards helps me to improve my service for future clients.
As an individual looking for a photographer for your wedding, or as a Knottie, I would think it would be a comforting thing to know that your photographer, or florist, or DJ, makes an effort to read the boards in order to better their business plan.
It just makes good business sense, and only takes a few minutes each week.
I’ll be lurking…..
Aric C. Hoek
The Master of Shadows
Houston Wedding Photographer
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Last Friday one of my clients flew into Houston for her scheduled Bridal Portrait. The portrait was scheduled to be taken at her country club in Sugarland. Currently she and her fiancé are living in Dallas. As we all know right now, there is an increase in airport security. Her dilemma was the fact that she had seen her make-up artist before she left for the airport, so her hair was in a tight bun. When it was finally her turn to go through the security checkpoint, an agent said that they were going to check her hair!
Why was she singled out? Are the airports checking everyone’s hair? All I can think is that she already had her tiara on and other decorative pins in her hair that had white pearls on the end. She must have set off the metal detectors. Perhaps it was thought that she was hiding a bomb in her hair, and no one would dare to mess with a bride’s hair? I don’t know. Does anyone out there know how to store liquid in hair?
Before you decide to write me hate mail, I’m all for increased security.
In the face of opposition she held her ground, and she would not let her hair down! Now that took some (dare I say it)…. balls. A better word probably would have been determination, or guts, or diligence. But in this case, going through and defying airport security to have her Bridal Portrait taken with me in Houston… ya, balls works just fine. She made it through her car ride to the airport, through the airport security checkpoint, sat through a 1.5 hour plane ride, got her luggage, found her ride and traveled through Houston traffic to the location of the shoot, all with her hair intact and flawless make-up… and she was on time! Needless to say, photography is a very important aspect of this brides wedding.
I would like nothing more than to post her images here today, but that is a no no for me. I can’t run the risk of her fiancé seeing her in her dress before their ceremony. I will however make sure to post her images on the blog after their wedding date. Her portraits are just out of this world!
Thanks Candace for your trust, and business. You efforts are a tremendous complement.
Aric C. Hoek
The Master of Shadows
Houston Wedding Photographer
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A magazine contacted me, and said that they needed some headshots for an upcoming article. Turns out, my sitters are both astronauts! The shoot happend today at about 8:30 am in the studio.
Both mission specialists, Christer Fuglesang and Danny Olivas will launch this December and February respectively. Christer will be docking with The International Space Station in December where he will conduct testing which he has been training for intensively.
Dannyâs mission in February will depend on the success of Christerâs experiments in December. Danny will also be docking with The International Space Station during his journey into space.
I asked them both to bring me back pictures. Look for the follow-up blog.
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Aric C. Hoek
The Master of Shadows
Houston Wedding Photographer
I seem to be shooting here more and more as of late. Butler’s Courtyard is an all in one facility. A great place to have your wedding and reception. This wedding was photographed there on 7/28/06.
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Aric C. Hoek
The Master of Shadows
Houston Wedding Photographer
I seem to be shooting here more and more as of late. Butler’s Courtyard is an all in one facility. A great place to have your wedding and reception. This wedding was photographed there on 7/28/06.
Want to receive notification of updates to my blog? Look to the right of this post and subscribe.
Aric C. Hoek
The Master of Shadows
Houston Wedding Photographer
