Snapshot City

The Brown-Eyed Bride and her Beau: Jenn & Chad

2011-07-24T22:49:00.000-07:00

You know, I tend to brag all the time how lucky I am to work with such fun, loving people as a photographer. It's definitely an art that ties you to humanity, and I'm happy to be a part of the more caring side of humanity. Which brings me to my latest couple, Jenn & Chad. Jenn, from the day we had our first meeting, it was nothing but fun, candor and great communication between us. I knew then I had to work with her and Chad--her fiance, who is a more reserved Yin to Jenn's spunky Yang.

On a particularly chilly Autumn day, we explored around the San Marcos Old Fish Hatchery and the river for their engagement photo session. I loved seeing them just be them (I know its hard for some folks when the camera is on) we laughed and joked as they just had fun and enjoyed themselves. And I think it reflects well in their photos.

As time flies by (as time tends to do) it was time for the Big Day. On a particulary scorching Summer day, I was honored to capture their gorgeous wedding at the lovely Faust Hotel in New Braunfels. It was a very lovely, historic hotel with lots of fun areas to play with and worked well with the traditional photos with the wedding party and family.

Jenn & Chad received a good chunk of bonus points as they chose to break tradition and saw each other before the ceremony. I know some traditionalists may not dig it, but from a photographer's point of view it's a fabulous shiny blue diamond. The break allowed us to easily gather the wedding party (When the ceremony hasn't started, its easier to gather the herd as all are a. ready b. nearby since the wedding will start soon) We were able to have a little fun and even take some photos of the couple together. Like I said, it's not for traditionalists, but for those brides willing to break free of the norm...it's OK to consider!

As the nuptials began in the beautifully quaint Faust Hotel, I smiled and cheered as the couple sealed their vows with a smooch. Everyone was so sweet and full of fun. There was food, dancing and fun throughout the night and was so excited to be a part of Chad and Jenn's wedding.

I wish them love, luck and lots of life!

Clarissa Fuselier is a Wedding & Portrait photographer in Austin, Texas. She adores weddings, loves capturing them and meeting new couples. She's seen a lot on wedding days and doesn't mind lending a hand on the Big Day to make it fantastic. She can be reached at fuselierphotography@gmail.com.

Tales of a Quince Photographer: Veronica's Quince Portraits

2010-08-17T18:19:00.000-07:00

I was pretty excited to finally get started working with Veronica. I had been on a short hiatus and was more than happy to get back to work on portraits. When I saw her at home, she had just got done with her makeup and hair and she looked absolutely beautiful. Quinceañeras are truly a celebration of new found womanhood and budding maturity. I barely recognized her from the time I first met her during the consultation. Veronica seemed all too ready to get started as she was also excited; all glimmering in her jewelry and her fantastic gown. The color was amazing on her.

In the afternoon, the sun wasn't as forgiving as it should have been (it being Texas summer) so we had to change locations. Lucky for us, her neighborhood is full of gorgeous places to set as a backdrop. We decided on a quaint little park complete with a pond and lush vegetation.

With the sun away from us (and plenty of trees for shade), I got right to work. Molly (Veronica's mother) did a great job playing assistant, following us around with the "fanny pillow." I have this little black silk pillow that I bring to all my shoots for brides and Quinceañeras can sit down comfortably and not worry about their fannies and dress getting grass stains or other problems waiting on rocks and benches. It's all a part of my little "bridal care kit" which I will explain in another blog for the sake of other photographers.

The little park was more than enough to cover about seven sets of poses. I even took time out to capture the little details of her attire, which is what I normally do for brides and decided Quinceañeras could benefit from it too. Her dress was so beautiful (I loved the color), I wanted to capture its elaborate style as well as her hair and tiara.

I must admit that I am a little jealous--I want an excuse to wear a tiara. Alas, I'm too old :( but one day, I may just show up for a shoot with my fabulous tiara teetering on my head.

Anyway (I digress), as we are entering the park, a young man in a car across the street commented on how beautiful her dress was. We all concurred. She had fans already.

We kept it lose and it was surprisingly easy to keep Veronica happy and comfortable. I made a few jokes at my expense as I snapped away and she was the perfect little model. I gotta hand it to the girl, at the beginning of the shoot she was quite the trooper as the sun was brutal on the first set. I kept it brief, but I'm glad we did that set because it had an amazing glow to her skin without it being harsh. So I decided to keep it.

We made good use of the late evening and came home feeling quite accomplished and elated that the shoot went so well. The right location is important, but not as important as making use of the location you get.

Clarissa Fuselier, owner of Fuselier Photography is based in Austin, TX and enjoys all forms of photography, but has a special place in her heart for Quinceañeras. Experienced, yet playful, she's available for booking, questions or just to shoot her a line saying "Hi!" via email fuselierphotography@gmail.com. Her portfolio is available for viewing at fuselierphotography.com

Your Grandchildren Will Be Upset With You!

2010-06-23T11:02:00.000-07:00

Your Grandchildren Will Be Upset With You

This is a repost. I sometimes come across an article that I would love to share with my clients and friends. The following blog post is one of them:

Author: Fred Molesworth, Salem, Oregon

I’m willing to bet your grandchildren will be upset with you. Here’s why. Imagine, 50 years from now, as your grandchildren or great grandchildren are going through the boxes in the attic. They are enthralled with the treasures and keepsakes they find and how they tie into the story of your life.

Amongst all the old items, they find a number of round silver objects. Some have writing on them, some are blank, but they resemble some kind of a small platter about 4″ across, with a hole in the middle.

Puzzled, they take them to their parents. “What are these, Mom?” they ask. “Oh, I think those are all of grandma’s photographs. Yep, here’s one labeled ‘My Wedding’. Here’s some more labeled ‘Family Photos,’ and some more labeled ‘Vacations’.”

“How do we look at them?” they ask.

“Well, I’m not sure we can. First of all, no one has the device that reads these anymore. Besides that, I doubt after all these years that they’re any good anymore. Being stored in the attic, the heat and cold probably ruined them.”

The kids are very disappointed. Nowhere amongst all the treasures are any actual prints. All that history is lost. Their connection with the past and all the wonderful stories that might have gone along with all those photographs are gone as well.

Along with all the wonders of our digital age come some significant problems that most people have never thought of.

Did you know that over 90% of all images taken on today’s digital cameras are NEVER PRINTED? I’m guilty of that myself. I have gigabytes of personal photographs that have never been seen other than on a computer screen.

In the old days, film went to the lab and everything that was printable was printed. Even if it was a bad photograph, it still was a hard copy, a part of your family history and it had permanence. Even if they never went in an album, they at least went into a box, to be discovered as treasures years later.

The same problem exists in professional portrait studios today. Many people are simply asking for the images on CD. “I’ll print them later” or “I’ll design my own wedding album” are common phrases. Usually this is done with the thought that they’ll save some money by doing it themselves.

But you know what? Most never make it into any kind of an album. Life gets busy and 20 years later they’ll be looking for some way to read those disks.

I bring this up only to point out the importance of what we, as a professional studio do. Our job is not just to create the images, to create wonderful story telling photographs about the people in front of our camera; it’s to create a final product, whether it be a professionally retouched and printed single image, a family heirloom wall portrait, or an incredible storybook album using a collection of the images that were created.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s a wedding, a newborn baby, a senior or a family. Having the final product created for you is important. To do less is to leave the job half done and to short change the customer.
-Fred Molesworth

In addition to running a full time portrait studio in Salem Oregon, Fred Molesworth is a small business teacher and advisor, and the author of the Portrait Studio Marketing blog (www.portraitstudiomarketing.com). He’s also a nationally known business and marketing speaker in the portrait industry, and past president of the Professional Photographers of Oregon.

Tips on Getting Terrific Wedding Photos

2010-06-16T19:53:00.000-07:00

A vast majority of the time, I am well aware what kind of work I have cut out for me on the Big Day. My job is to:

1) Record the events and emotion of the day with creativity
2) To use my super Ninja-like stealth to capture those easy to miss candids
3) Take beautiful photos!

There are some tips I'd like to share if I may that the wedding party, bride & groom can do to help with the aestetics of #3 and give them beautiful, memorable photos!

No wire hangers!!! (screeching in the manner of Faye Dunaway in 'Mommy Dearest')It's a great idea to get a fancy satin wrapped hanger or even a wood hanger to showcase your dress. A cheap wire or plastic hanger just ruins the aestetics of the photo and cheapen it. I want your dress to look incredible...whether its on you or not!

No cake against the wall. Another staple is the wedding cake photos. I love cake! But I love to photograph them even more! If you place the cake against the wall, it leaves me very, very few angles to shoot your cake and the shots will look like a cake brochure. If you can manage, have the planners set your cake at a round table or a table close to the wedding party's dining table. This gives the photographer more angles and perspective.

Moms and Dads...Ready, Set, GO!
Most photographers (that'll be me) begin the wedding day with pre-wedding photo journals of the bride and groom getting ready. Typically, Moms and Dads don’t think about being in these photos, but they should. Parents should be dressed and ready. Sometimes parents will dress at the last minute, then in pre-wedding photos you see mom with no makeup, and in her robe. I suggest scheduling some special moments with your parents just when you slip into your gown. Let your family know an exact time for this, and have the photographer on standby to catch this special time.

Smoochy Smoochy!
I adore a good smooch between newlyweds don't you? Ah, love.
So be sure to show lots of PDA (public displays of affection) on your wedding day.
Some couples tend to be so busy and excited about their wedding day that they forget to show each other how in love they are and how happy they are to be getting married. Great photographers capture real emotions, so be sure to help out by being sexy and romantic…show a little PDA!
You don’t have to go overboard with poses, but simple things like holding hands and kisses on the cheek provide great material. A good photographer will “coach” the couple with simple posing ideas.

Don’t be shy…have fun and enjoy it! Be creative and push your photographer to step out of the box with edgy art which I am more than happy to!

Clarissa Fuselier is a Wedding & Portrait photographer in Austin, Texas. She adores weddings, loves capturing them and meeting new couples. She's seen a lot on wedding days and doesn't mind lending a hand on the Big Day to make it fantastic. She can be reached at fuselierphotography@gmail.com.

Sooo...What makes a good Wedding Photographer Anyway?

2010-06-11T10:00:00.000-07:00

I've been asked this by some curious friends & family that have wondered if there was a special "spidey sense" or super power that Wedding Photographers possess that others do not.

Well, honestly the answer is yes and no.

I do believe that like not everyone is cut out to be a singer, artist or Kung Fu master--same happens to apply to photography. And like the other trades, there is a lot more to it than many may think. Photography (not just Wedding Photography) requires some eclectic skills.

Lots & lots of "People Skills". Most portrait photographers would agree that the stereotype of the creepy, quiet and socially awkward photographer is not at all very realistic. Perhaps if you were an zoology photographer or landscaping, that personality would work just fine. However, if you are working with live human subjects, you will have to be comfortable interacting with people and their many quirks and traits. You can't just snap photos and give it to them and that's a wrap! It does take patience (lots of it) and warmth to draw shy people out and wrangle the wilds back in to capture those fabulous pics! For weddings & quinceaneras that's VERY important. I deal with frantic brides, rambunctious flower girls and ring bearers, hungover best men, combative in-laws, stressed bridesmaids and concerned mothers all the time and at the end of the day, even I'm amazed at how I managed to bring everyone together for the pictures I'm editing.

So yes, people skills - BIG CHECK!

Also, a good EYE. I know people overuse this term and most people don't know what it means. For me, it means a gift of seeing things differently than everyone else, YET, still having the capacity to determine the importance of certain images. This trait is essential in event photography period. Basically, using different angles, perspective and tones to put the viewers in awe, but not so contrived that the important image (i.e the kiss) is so obscure that the integrity of the image is lost. A good eye is also learning to back away from Photoshop and stop over producing images until it's raw beauty is completely ravished until its a piece of stock photography. People want feeling to their photos, so keep it in there.

Okay, good eye...or maybe two - CHECK

Knowing how to tell a story. If some of my relatives can serve as any examples, not everyone knows how to tell a story and make it interesting without turning it into the length of the Illiad. Most milestone events such as weddings, quinceaneras and anniversaries can benefit a lot from the photojournalistic style photography. Photojournalistic is just a big word for "using pictures to convey a story"- that's it. Event photography means people are doing things so it takes a great photographer to choose shots that will help tell what's going on during the day. Instead of making the bridesmaids pose, why not capture them laughing at a joke with the bride as she's getting ready. Why not capture the best man practicing his speech in front of the dog? or the mom pinning the boutinnaire on her soon to be married son? I'm not saying not to take posed photos--after all I tell my clients that the older generation prefers the more traditional posed photos--and they are a wedding staple--but just not to stay in that mindset, that's all. A healthy mixture of both should be what to shoot for :)

Tell a story - CHECK, CHECK

Most importantly --and I can't stress this enough --Wedding Photographers are just the coolest people on the planet because they LOVE WHAT THEY DO! Passion is such a rare thing these days. Photography is just like falling in love -- you have to love all of it! The long hours on the feet, the travel, the frantic brides, the skipping flower girls, the crying dad, the venues, the rained out ceremonies, the laughter, the giggles, the tears, the hugs...everything.

You have to love it, despite all its imperfections.

On that, I can totally say, "I do!"

Clarissa Fuselier is a Semi-Pro photographer based in Austin, Texas. She respects all photographers, no matter where they started from, amateur or professional as we are the Masters of Memories. When she's not running around finding engineers to bionically adhere her Nikon to her hand permanently, she's out getting hopped up on coffee and playing fetch with her dog, Cici the Wondermutt. She can be reached at fuselierphotography@gmail.com.

A Photographer's Pet Peeves - Event Etiquette

2010-01-05T07:26:00.000-08:00

We are not without our etiquette peeves too! Here is a list of my own due from experience. I love photography and I love working with people to get great images, but it's good to be mindful of little tidbits that can mean the world to a lone photographer.

Snapping photos while the photographer is shooting – Nothing annoys a photographer more than guests snapping away while they are setting up a shot. People may not realize, but this issue can ruin lots of images. Flashes from other cameras can greatly affect the image and well as distract the people in the pose. At one wedding, I set up some formal poses with the bride, groom and their parents. Later I realized that two of the really good shots couldn’t be used because the mother of the bride was looking at a guest’s camera apparently instead of mine. And though I know what to do to eliminate red eye, when other flashes are in play, it makes all your attempts for naught. Many photographers will bring this to your attention quickly, but always be mindful of the paid professional and let them get the pictures first. I’m always more than happy to step aside and let a few guests snap the set pose AFTER I’m done.
Not properly communicating where to be at event/Sudden change of plans – Weddings, Quinceaneras, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs are often elaborate with tons of people running around. I like to stay in the background and move with the action. If you do not properly tell me what changes went on and how the format of the event will alter, I run the chance of missing a photo op—YOUR photo op. Photographers understand that often things go awry and sudden changes take place, but even if you’re too busy to do it, please send someone to give us a heads up. The one you hired wants to do a great job for you, and if they aren’t up to speed what’s going on, they can miss a lot of action that you paid them to capture.
Showing up late for a portrait shoot – This goes both ways. Being late is just plan annoying. When a portrait shoot is scheduled, a lot was done to make it possible. We all brought our schedules together and blocked time to get the best images we can get. Often spots are reserved and/or paid areas to allow minimal interference from others. When time is eaten up by tardiness, you run the risk of your photographer trying to allocate time to get everything—or worst yet, rush to get it done. You’re rushed, they’re rushed and suddenly the relaxed feeling of picture taking has been lost. It’s just as important to respect the photographer’s time as they respect yours.
Not wearing proper shoes based on location – Many young girls celebrating their Quinceanera has thanked me later when I stressed they needed to wear COMFORTABLE shoes. A lot of locations people like to have their images taken are outdoors. Even more of them are rugged outdoors. Sure, gravel here and there isn’t a big deal until you have to walk in it half a mile in heels. Some locations require lots of walking so it’s best to wear something comfy at least while in motion. If ladies are insistent on wearing heels for the shoot, I tell them to at least wear sneakers between the shoot. It’s actually a safety issue as it wouldn’t be fun to attend your event with a sprained or broken ankle from falling over some envious rocks in your stilettos.
Blocking my view of a bride & groom shot - In a business where milliseconds count, it’s a huge annoyance to have a clear area, anticipate a shot, only to have a person (or several) come over and stand in my view and potential miss the op. In most cases, in a church, where there are strict rules as to where I am supposed to be and what to do, you paint a photographer into a corner when you stand in their way. Remember, the couple is paying money for them to get these photos. I stay mindful of keeping out the way the entire time I’m working all the while getting the shots the happy couple needs. Help me do that by giving me a little room to work :)

Clarissa Fuselier is a "Semi-pro" photographer based in Austin, Texas. She has respect for all photographers regardless of backgrounds - formal or informal, pro or amateur. When she's not snapping away at a gig or for fun, she's working, doing volunteer work, playing with her wondermutt or playing a little Tetris. Got a question? She can be reached at fuselierphotography@gmail.com.

Karina's Quinceanera Portrait Session

2009-10-21T10:09:00.000-07:00

I had never done Quince portraits before and

was so excited to meet the Cortinas, whose daughter, Karina would celebrate her Quinceanera next month.

The family has been a joy to work with and their beautiful daughters were tons of fun. We got started bright and early Saturday morning. When girls Karina's age was probably sleeping in, or deciding what to do with

their weekend, Karina was getting dressed for her portraits at the botanical garden.

Her mom helped her climb out the SUV with her gorgeous blue gown which suited her tone quite well.

It was early enough to be lethargic, but the Cortinas were quite energetic and all around good sports. Even her younger sibling, Gabriela--who we collectively (and affectionately) designated as the "pillow girl."

Though Karina assured me she was a "ham" when we first met, we had a tough time getting a real "teeth" smile out of her. Her mother would do something to make her laugh so she would smile at first, until we ultimately would chime, "Teeth!" at her to remind her to smile.

I joked, "You will be traumatized later on. Someone will just mention the word teeth in a sentence and you'll spontaneously grin!"

Glad the waterfall was working, I made a point to shoot there near the end to let the sun rise higher in the sky. It was a while since I actually got to enjoy the scenery of Zilker's Botanical Garden and though I was working, I was still able to take in my surroundings.

It's indeed a very beautiful place--and more importantly, a place where no two girl's portraits should be the same.

Lilly...oh yeah...and Raul too!

2009-08-09T19:51:00.000-07:00

Lilly and Raul has got to be without a doubt, one of the coolest couples that has come across my Nikon! They are the perfect yin and yang--Lilly is calm with a pretty smile;very quiet but super friendly.

Raul, is a hilarious, rambuctous and sweet guy who just happens to be the "ham" in the relationship. Throughout the entire shoot (which was orignially for Lilly) he kept her and me in complete stitches. Lilly couldn't help but laugh at his jokes as she posed for me, which gave me some great extra shots of her funny bone being tickled.

I wanted someplace that wasn't overwhelming and where the images would come out more candid than "canned." So, after doing some scouting earlier last month, I decided the Broken Spoke dance hall would be perfect. The old, rusty tour bus and oil pump was just too quaint to pass up. James White, the owner, was super kind and gave me the okay to shoot where I wanted. I urge my clients all the time that anyone can have boring, studio portraits--try and choose a setting that helps show your inner self. Keep your portraiture interesting, your background interesting. It wouldn't be the center point of your picture, but that doesn't mean it must be some boring, plain color or worst yet...a fake background...(yeesh, flashback of my senior portrait photographer). Anyway, back to Lilly and Raul.

One of the greatest treats in doing photography is feeling a chemistry between all those involved. It reflects in my work, and it definitely reflects in them as people. The one-hour just flew by as we seemed to have so much fun, while their son, Jaden ran around (when he wasn't shadowing his father). After Lilly's set, it didn't take too much to convince Raul he should give it a try.

He dug the vintage bus and decided he'll get a few snaps too. Some of the shots had their little Jaden in them, which I thought worked so well, as he and Raul are nearly inseparable. They all did fantastic! I even got some couple shots while Raul gave Lilly some "creative pointers." When all was said and done, we closed up shop and got our caffiene fix---an appropriate treat for our dedication early that morning.

The August Wedding: Claudia & Alvaro

2009-08-05T12:19:00.000-07:00

The Hill Country is a beautiful place, so it’s no wonder lots of couples wish to get married in the little towns of Central Texas. Claudia and her fiancée, Alvaro, chose a mixture of indoor/outdoor venue for their marital celebration in Johnson City, Texas (birthplace of Lyndon B. Johnson) The hall was decorated beautifully and the cakes were gorgeous! They agreed on a very simple wedding with family, friends and lots and lots of dancing!

The dancing was held outdoors. The humidity to others probably would have been debilitating to dance in, but the entire crowd were moving to their favorite beats…and yes, they even managed to get yours truly out there for a dance J

What can I say, I’ve been extremely lucky to work with such sweet people and being a part in making their wedding memorable.

Claudia wore a beautiful, breezy white gown that was totally gracious and practical with the heat and her love of dancing. Her husband decided to get more into his dancing clothes with his white dress shirt. Those two know how to cut up some floor! Talk about entertaining!

When it came to the cutting of the cake, I could tell that there was a conspiracy with the best man whispering to the bride. Shortly beforehand, Claudia & Alvaro decided to just both take a bite out of the top tier. Yet, something told me mutiny was afoot. Just when they were about to take a bite, Claudia pulled up and the best man….you guessed it, shoved the groom’s face right into the cake! Classic!

Nothing’s says “Love” like a nose full of French vanilla wedding cake! And yes, the groom’s cake was truly as evil as it looks ladies and gentlemen. On that note, nothing says “Evil” like a chocolate cake with chocolate filling, drenched in chocolate and topped with chocolate covered strawberries!

The celebration, despite the dreaded humidity, was beautiful and full of fun memories. And as Claudia & Alvaro danced beneath the Texas sky, I thank them for trusting me to preserve those same great memories for them.

Prodigal Model : Another Session with Vickie!

2009-07-23T22:02:00.000-07:00

It's been a lonnnggg time comin'!

So...the website is FINALLY updated! Phew! It took me long enough. I didn't realize how many photos I had to sift through to add to my portfolio! Guess that's a good thing :) I loved having the chance to work with the wonderful people I have so far. Being a part-time photographer is tough, but has its advantages. I'm in love with portraiture, can't wait to take in my next client for a fun on location portrait session. That's in 3 weeks:( But to hold me over will be another wedding on the 1st! The bride is super sweet and can't wait to have a session with her.

Earlier this week, I had another session with my favorite client, Vickie. She's absolutely gorgeous and the camera has quite a thing for her. She just wanted a few lazy images around her apartment. It was quite a challenge since her complex was...um slightly barren. I did manage however to find a bit of Oleander trees that still had some beautiful bunches left. Since the red she wore totally went well with her skin, in one shot I tore a piece of Oleander from a tree (just a little) and stuck in her hair. I told her that only I should touch it and for her not to touch the flower or put her fingers in her mouth. She thought it was cheesy but thought, "What the hell?"and let me do it anyway. Her candid shots are hilarious and free-spirited. She burst out laughing and I snapped her. They came out beautifully! I took all the shots I needed before I told her to be sure to wash her hair from the Oleander just to be safe. Note: (For those you don't know, Oleander trees (all of it) is poisonous if ingested. Be careful and keep it away from the kiddies!)

All of the "lazy" shots came out really well and as always had tons of fun with the fabulous Vickie!