Father and Daughter in Reflection | Austin Wedding Image Study

Father and Daughter in Reflection | Austin Wedding Image Study
~ It’s been another busy month at home. I’ve started learning the guitar. I’m a total beginner, but I’m really enjoying it. With the hot weather, my girls and I have been escaping to art museums to stay cool. Since the Texas summer slows down wedding season, I have a bit more free time. I decided to bring back my monthly blog series, sharing my favorite images and what I like about them.

I’ve been a professional photographer since 1992, and for the past 17 years, I’ve focused on wedding photojournalism. I like to capture weddings as they happen, documenting the day without getting in the way. Most of the time, I have a second shooter with me, even at smaller weddings. This lets me shoot freely and trust that important moments are covered. Sometimes, my second shooter takes the lead, and because we work well together, I know I can count on them to get the key shots. Over the years, I’ve developed my own style. I shoot for myself first and my clients second. My clients hire me because they want to see the world through my eyes, and that’s what draws them to my work. My best advice for photographers is to shoot for yourself first. Don’t focus on social media or try to copy others. Learn from artists and photographers, and you’ll naturally improve. Don’t let online negativity get to you. You can’t always measure success, but you can measure happiness.

Now, let’s talk about July’s photo of the month. Shooting in real time makes me even more interested in capturing moments that have soul and meaning. It helps me create unique images for my clients. When I take photos, I look for a few key things, which I’ve listed below. I use a mix of these techniques, sometimes on purpose and sometimes out of habit. I especially enjoy using windows, reflections, and natural frames to add layers to my images.

1. Identify the main subject – in this case, father and daughter.
2. The greatest area of contrast. Try squinting, like you would when looking at a painting in a museum, and notice where your eye goes first.
3. Figure-to-ground relationship. I look for a clear distinction between the subject and the background. Since I can’t control the environment, this can be tricky, but I always try to capture it.
4. Balance and gazing direction –
5. Dominant diagonal. Strong lines like these can make an image more striking.
6. Dynamic symmetry. I often include at least two intersecting diagonals in my frame.
7. Edge flicker. I compose carefully to avoid distractions at the edges of the frame.
8. Negative space. I use it only when it helps tell the story.
9. Shapes. I look for triangles, circles, and squares in my compositions.

Let me know if you enjoy these images, and feel free to leave your comments below. If you want to see more, check out my other image of the month here.