Enjoying some time off and now starting to go though some of the wedding workshop photos I took last week. It’s always fun working with Dustin Meyer Photography, he’s always working on something and very good at what he does.
Saturday’s question of the day: How was this commercial photo shot?
We’re setting the time machine back to 2017 to Tippman Innovation’s Pharr Texas project. I believe they were one of the first to build in the new Pharr Produce park just a mile down the road form the Pharr International Bridge. This was taken about 60 feet in the air, now here’s the fun part. Was it one of our drones that took the photo? Or was I crazy enough to get onto a scissor lift to knock out the shot?
Lucky winner will get a wataburger. =)
McaAllen / Mission Photographer Behind The Scenes
First let me say thank you to both my sons, they’ve been troopers and have gone out regularly to help me with my headshots. We’ve tried to show them what exactly I do and how important it is to serve others though customer service or even volunteering their time for various non-for profits. I know one day they’ll find this and remember helping out their old dad, and the HEAT.
Today’s photo is a quick behind the scenes pic taken at the newly renovated Leo Peña Placita Park here in Mission. (This is another one taken by our youngest). The park It used to be an old concrete amphitheater that the city upgraded from the ground up. I was told they put well over a million dollars into it to bring it up into the 21st century and give it one heck of a makeover.
It’s located at the corner of Business 83 and Conway (right across the Conway HEB) and the redesign matches the streetscape project done a while back. Before the revamp we took the boys there a few times during the city’s yearly citrus fiesta and they’d run up and down the center area where they had a stage. The redesign has a lot of colorful backgrounds and cool textures. We’ve used it as shooting location on a handful of shoots but honestly we’re waiting for the weather to cool down A LOT MORE before going out there again.
People You Should Know: Roxanne Lerma Casares
Did I ever tell you that I used to work news back in the day? Before I did all this I was a news videographer back in the 90s working for KGBT (our local CBS affiliate based in Harlingen). My job was to go out and collect around around the Rio Grande Valley, often with a reporter, and try to come up with something that would make the air. Some days were better than others but that job was fun as every day was different.
Now having said all that let me introduce you to the first reporter I had a chance to work with: Meet Roxanne Lerma Casares now with the City of Mission. She’s still very much into the news as she’s now the city’s Media Relations Officer. Part of her job is report for the city and help coordinate the news stations when ever something new is going on. She was also part of the team that help form the plan to bring Mission its first All American City award.
Emma Gonzalez – Field Mice: Memoirs of A Migrant Child
Some of the best parts of being a photographer are the people you’ll come in contact with. I was asked to do a headshot and help out with some marketing materials for local Author Emma Gonzales.
It was interesting to hear about her adventures of the migrant life during the 1950’s and 60s and what they did to keep themselves going during the good times and bad.
(She’s holding a photo of Mother Teresa, which she credits for inspiring to share her journey in her novel.) It’s been a few years since I’ve heard from her but visiting her amazon page I can see that she’s already finishing up her next novel. I wish her all the best.
McAllen Fashion Photographer
Looking back on some of my work: The first time I attended Profoto workshop in downtown Austin about 5 or 6 years ago. I had never shot fashion photography and it was awesome! The amount of detail and prep that goes into any industry photoshoot is unreal. Nothing is left to chance.
To that point I had done a lot of natural light photography in commercial work but never with strobes or a team. I’m always trying to learn something new and this one was one heck of any eye-opener. I can safely say this was the first time I had a chance to work with strobes and saw first hand how much they can impact someone’s work.
It’s funny how it all works out though, when I took the class I never thought I’d really use it. Flash forward to 2019 and the world of Instagram and Instagram influencers, now I can use those skills.
Giselle Mascarenhas-Villarreal – The Instagram Professor
Meet @theinstaprofessor! The one and only Giselle Mascarenhas-Villarreal. She’s part half of the team that is teaching South #Texas and now online instagram strategies and brand building in a modern world.
You can often catch her working on her next workshop or even taking time to catch up on the latest Gary Vaynerchuk podcast to sharpen her game.
I’ve had the chance to work with her on projects over the years but I encourage any entrepreneur to take the time and set up a one and one meeting with her. She is a wealth of knowledge and has never held anything back.
I honestly have no idea if anyone is reading this but people do surprise me from time to time. =). We had a pretty busy week last week, we opened up with a headshot session at Muscle Mechanixx here in Mission…I’m looking forward to sharing those photos sometime this week if all goes well.
We also had a pretty good time working with Monique and her team at Shop 112, lots of fun and laughs there. Shop 112 has grown from a local brick and mortar store to a social media power house all based here in the Rio Grande Valley. If you’re looking for something in the fashion world make sure you stop by her website or even catch the team live on instagram ever week.
Well #2019 is here and we’ve hit the ground running. This morning we were invited to help cover Justice Dori Contreras investiture as Chief Justice of the 13th court of appeals here in Edinburg.
Retired Justice Rogelio Valdez administered the oath in front of a packed court room (in some parts it was standing room only). She’s become the first women Chief Justice of the 13th court and the second Latina state wide to service as a Chief Justice.
Good luck Judge! I know you’ll do great in everything you do and thank you for serving our community.
The sun came out just enough to knock out some photos at Bannworth Park here in #mission. The weather cooperated as did the duckies ..no one was bitten in the creation of this photo. (Namely me) …a few of the firemen were out there and the first thing they said was “Don’t get too close to them…they like fingers.”
