Old Glory Ranch {Hill Country Wedding Photographer}

When you get right down to it, Central Texas is fortunate to have some of the best wedding venues anywhere. It's an embarrassment of riches, to be honest. As a Central Texas wedding photographer based in New Braunfels, Lisa's been blessed to photograph weddings all over--from historic Fredericksburg in the Hill Country, to San Antonio's famed River Walk to the sunny shores of Lake Travis--and loves every minute of it! It seems that brides are asking her about potential wedding venues more often these days, so we're going to start spotlighting some of the outstanding Texas Hill Country wedding locations, starting with Old Glory Ranch in Wimberley.

The first thing that hits you when you emerge from the wooded drive onto the grounds is the gorgeous, honey-golden chapel. The exterior is smooth-cut cedar planking, and the result is a magical combination of rustic charm and elegant dignity. I'm serious, folks, when the sun shines down, the chapel literally glows.

It is exceptionally roomy inside, too. The wood surfaces are all polished smooth, and rows of windows on either side of the chapel fill the space with a warm glow. Any wedding photographer will tell you this is some of the absolute best light to shoot in--it gives everyone healthy, attractive skin tones and adds a rich warmth to all the photos. There's a lovely covered back patio area for receptions, but for a more formal dinner, the chapel hall can be converted to that in short order as well (a neat trick if the weather doesn't cooperate!). Stained glass and detailed painting on the interior beams complete the picture, with old-world, Germanic charm.

Owner Susan McCord (who just became a grandmother this week--Congratulations, Susan!) has more than 2,000 acres on the grounds which she'd developed impressively. The Gatehouse Pavilion is an outdoor venue suitable for smaller gatherings, and there are other buildings (including a lodge, a farm house and a stonework "castle") available for private rental. What's most impressive, however, is the two miles of riverfront access along the Blanco. Here McCord has built two fantastic outdoor wedding venues--the wooden wedding deck, bordered by a large grassy lawn suitable for up to 500 guests, and the smaller stone landing, which can accommodate smaller gatherings of 75 or less. Both outdoor venues are literally right on top of the Blanco River, surrounded by spectacular old-growth Montezuma cypress. For lovers of outdoor weddings, it doesn't get any better than this.

Susan works with Liz Danna, general manager, and Gina McClure, the marketing and artistic director. Any one of them will do you right, so if you're looking for a genuine Texas Hill Country wedding venue, give the fine folks at Old Glory Ranch a call. Better yet, give Lisa a call first, so you're guaranteed great wedding photography!

Lisa On Location Photography

Confessions of a volunteerholic {New Braunfels Photography}

Hello my name is a Lisa and I am a volunteerholic. There. I said it. That means I'm on the road to recovery, right? I'm a Girl Scout leader. I'm a PTA volunteer. When I attend various nonprofit meetings and there's a sign-up sheet. I can't fight the urge to write my name down. HOA newsletters -- done 'em. Spay/neuter clinics -- organized 'em. Homeroom phone trees -- got the ball rolling.

As I sit here to write my blog, the other half of my screen is taken up with pages of the yearbook I'm putting together for my daughter's elementary school. I said I would do it so I'm doing it right. Nothing but the best for my little girl.

My other daughter had her first middle school dance the other night and I couldn't resist writing my name on the volunteer list for that. I set up a little studio for the kids to have their portraits taken with their friends. I was nearly brought to tears, however, when they brought out the sign they made for me. I never expected a homemade sign with my business name painted in neon glow-in-the-dark paint to greet the kids who showed up for the spring dance. It was such a sweet surprise I had to snap of photo to share with you. Isn't it grand?

The evening flew by and time after time I was taken back to my own middle school years. They sucked. The awkward moments when I was sure everyone was staring at the big pimple on my nose and secretly laughing at me when I got that really bad perm. Or laughing at my feeble attempts to turn the "Wrangler" label on my jeans to "Jordache" because everyone knew that cool kids only wore Jordache. I learned recently that middle school sucked for everyone else as well. At my 20-year reunion the girl who laughed at me in 7th grade for wearing the same outfit twice in one week confessed she thought she was the biggest dork of all.

But these kids had fun. Yes, they were nervous a lot. They laughed at each other as much as they laughed at themselves. Many of the young ladies attempted to wear heals but most were barefoot by the end of the night. Their lipstick got smudged by their coke cans. I heard voices cracking from the young men and saw enough pimples to send the fine folk at Pro-Active running.

Twenty years from now, these kids will probably turn to one another and say middle school sucked. They'll remember the horrors of having their mom show up at the dance to pick them up wearing holey sweats and no make-up (saw that). They'll remember their mom dropping them off and using her licked finger to wipe pizza sauce off their face in front of all their friends (saw that too). They'll remember that they couldn't afford a new dress so they had to wear their older sibling's hand-me-downs. But I hope with the photos I took they'll also remember the fun -- the way they made a conga chain while dancing the Macarena, the way they danced the wrong steps in the line dance and stepped on each other's feet. I hope they remember that they laughed uncontrollably and went to the bathroom in groups of 10 to talk about who's going to ask whom to dance. And I hope they'll realize -- at least in that moment at the spring dance -- they were free to be a kid. And it won't seem so sucky after all.

Lisa On Location Photography

Out and About in New Braunfels, Texas {New Braunfels Photography}

One of the first big assignments I had when I opened Lisa on Location a few years ago was to decorate the walls of Schobel's Restaurant here in New Braunfels. I confess I was a little bit nervous. They wanted Central Texas scenery and my specialty was shooting people, but I knew I was up to the challenge so I got to work. Since then, I've been called upon by other individuals and businesses who see the artwork and want to own some themselves. A couple of weeks ago a Comal River condominium called me and said they'd like to feature some of my scenes on the walls of their newly redesigned cabins and public areas.

Thus began my journey into all things New Braunfels, and more specifically, all things along the Comal River. I've been pulling over and shooting whatever catches my eye. A nice view of the river from a bridge, got it. A lonely tuber braving the February chill to take a plunge down the tube chute, got him. A darling white duck in Landa Park, got it. An empty trash boat sitting under a bridge near the last tuber exit, got it.

My lovely assistant (that would be my daughter) and I have walked up and down the Comal repeatedly looking for those little things that catch our eye. We really are lucky to live in such an attractive town. I know it's hard to get around during the summer weekends when everyone and their dog likes to hit the rivers and the streets of my town, but I'm okay with sharing it, as long as they treat it nice. Take only memories and photographs and leave only footprints.

Spring is starting to turn things green again and my calendar is starting to fill up with wildflower sessions even before the flowers have popped up. I'm excited about this assignment and about the emerging spring season. There's so much to look forward to.


Lisa On Location Photography

My tribute to the King -- in cupcake form {New Braunfels photographer}

I consider myself an artist. A portrait artist. I think like an artist, I act like an artist, and I use my form of expression to put onto film -- or rather digital "film" -- my interpretation of life. So it was that artist in me that sat down with my snack this morning and saw something beautiful. As I was about to dive into this sugary sweet cupcake I decided to photograph it first.

The cupcake is beautiful -- inside and out. Outside you see the peanut buttery frosting and crispy bacon bits sprinkled on top. Stop there, hold on just a second. Did I just say bacon bits? Why yes, in fact I did say bacon bits. You see this is no ordinary cupcake. This is the famous Elvis cupcake from Sweet Dreams Bakery. The baker at this little bakery is an artist in her own right. She takes sugar, eggs and flour and creates something like this. A true work of art. And this little number pays tribute to the King of Rock and Roll himself, Elvis. Inside is delicious chocolate cake and banana cream filling and outside, as I said, is peanut butter frosting and bacon bits.

Elvis himself was an artist. He could take a tune and turn it into something sweet and delicious as well. Thank you very much.

So now we come full circle. This photograph is a work of art portraying a yummy delicious work of art, which pays tribute to another artist and his fascinating palate.

So now I will eat my cupcake -- my delicious, sweet work of art. And I will post this blog, itself a work of art if you ask me, and contemplate the piece of work that is my 4-year-old. He'd like to finger paint this afternoon. The artist in him has spoken. Did I mention they also make Rum and Coke cupcakes made with real rum? I think another trip to the bakery will be in order after the fingerpainting adventure.
Lisa On Location Photography

"How did she do that without getting her dress wet?" {New Braunfels Wedding Photography}

That was the number one question asked to me by bride-to-be after bride-to-be yesterday at the Columbus Bridal Expo in Columbus, Texas. The answer, of course, is "she didn't." That's a real dress that is really getting wet and she's really floating in an inner tube wearing that dress in the Comal River here in New Braunfels.

I took this shot a couple of years ago and it's still the one that seems to get the most attention when I display it at a bridal show or online. I've blogged before about my trash the dress shoots and how much fun it is to get dirty in our best evening wear. But it's still fun to see the faces of those who'd never heard of the concept before.

Bridal shows are a blast. This was only my second show. Each time I learn a little more about what to do next time. I get ideas from other vendors on how best to display my packages and my photos.

The best part is meeting all the brides. They're so wide eyed and excited. Some are just getting started having gotten engaged merely days or weeks ago. Others have been doing this a while and are trying to finish up last minute errands. Some have a wedding date three years in the future, others are scrambling to pull one together in a few weeks. They ranged in age from young adult (just a few years older than my own daughter -- yikes) to mature couples planning to settle down with their new love after their own children are already grown and on their own.

It was also fun to meet other vendors and swap stories about weddings and share ideas.

I don't know how often I'll do bridal shows. They're a lot of fun but they're also a lot of work and an exhausting way to spend a Sunday afternoon. This one resulted in a nasty scratch on my nice flat screen slideshow display monitor -- one of the hazards of moving it around. But it was worth it to meet some new friends and possibly book a few weddings.

If you're one of the brides I met yesterday, thanks for coming to my blog and give me a call when you'd like to talk some more!

She oughta be in pictures {New Braunfels Baby Photography}

Once again I was reminded that I'm among the luckiest people in the world to be doing something I love on almost a daily basis. I met baby Olivia the other day and had so much fun playing with this little cutie. She's 6 months old with the personality (and the face) of an angel.

She smiled right on cue, grabbed her toes right on cue, sucked her thumb like a champ and didn't spill a drop of pee on my props!

My own children are 12, 10 and 4 (almost 5) and I'm done with babies of my own. So this is the perfect time for me to cuddle and admire the babies of others. I get to play with, take photos of, and coochie coo them all I want but as soon as they start to get cranky it's off to mom or dad. Isn't it great! I love my job!

Happy Valentine's Day {New Braunfels Photography}

You may notice a new look to my blog and my website! I'm updating my style and colors. I was looking for something richer and more vibrant instead of the plain old black and found this color scheme to match the new Lisa on Location website. I'd love to hear your comments. Change is good from time to time!

Another change at Lisa on Location was hosting my first annual (I usually hate that phrase "first annual" because it's incorrect journalistically -- how can something be annual if it's the first time it's happened, but I digress) Boudoir Day. I rented a nice room at a Bed and Breakfast here in New Braunfels and hired a make-up artist. We had wine, chocolate, nice music and had a blast giving make-overs and then photographing some beautiful women in pretty clothes. The results of those sessions are top secret! But I've shared some images from another couple of ladies I shot last month who were all in favor of me sharing their images with you.

I had so much fun with my January boudoir sessions I've decided to make it a yearly thing. It's perfect for the slow photography season and perfect for the dull winter months. I've already started planning next year's Boudoir Day and may make it a whole weekend, or a couple of weekends if demand is high enough. It's never too early to get your name on the list for next year!