Philip Thomas Photography : Blog

New Blog

2009-04-28T15:13:00.004-05:00

Hi everyone,

I'm excited to announce my new blog is available at www.philipthomasblog.com

This blog will continue to remain active. All posts available here are also available on the new blog.

Thanks so much and let me know your thoughts on the changes.

~ Philip

ENGAGEMENT SESSION: JEN & JOHNNY

2009-04-16T16:53:00.005-05:00

This has been a crazy busy week with allot of traveling. Monday through Tuesday I stayed overnight in McAllen and had the honor of shooting Jennifer and Johnny's engagement session and then Jen's bridal session the following morning.

Last night, I was in Houston shooting another brides bridal shoot and just got back this morning. It's great to be back home and post a few pictures from Jen and Johnny's shoot as this really was an exceptionally beautiful and fun shoot at the 4E Ranch (www.4eranch.com). The ranch is set upon 15oo acres and caters towards high end clientele. A private residence if you will, hosting famous stars etc., upscale weddings and meetings.

Amy Ellison, owner, was absolutely wonderful to work with and drove us all over the ranch. I also loved her sense of humor.

Here's just a few of my favorite pictures from their engagement session.

~Philip

Another Testimonial

2009-04-15T10:38:00.000-05:00

"Philip - Just wanted to let you know that we got the package. I love our album so much that I brought it into work so the entire Advertising Dept here at AT&T could see it and you got lots of kudos! I also wanted to thank you for the calendar, it was such an expected touch and I love looking at it here in the office as it takes me to a happier place.

Thanks again and best wishes, we'll be sure to keep you in mind when we need our first family portrait!"

~ Ginger Engel

Second Thomas On The Way

2009-04-09T13:34:00.003-05:00

I wanted to share with you all our little one who's just ten weeks along in mama's belly. The ultrasound was taken yesterday.

We're so excited!

ALBUM SLIDESHOW: LAUREN & JIM ~ Click below to play

2009-04-08T14:04:00.001-05:00

Here's Lauren & Jim's album slideshow. Press click anywhere below to play. This lovely couple married last December.

~Philip

ENGAGEMENT SESSION: DINA & OSCAR

2009-04-08T12:27:00.002-05:00

A few pictures of Dina and Oscar taken last night downtown.

One of my top favorites

Love this one!

~ Philip

New Lily Updates

2009-04-06T15:22:00.001-05:00

My little one captured at Sonterra Clubhouse on Sunday.

She's such a poser!

WEDDING APRIL 4, 2009

2009-04-06T13:39:00.003-05:00

Here's some of my favorite images from Laura and Todd's wedding day last Saturday. They married at the United Methodist Church of De Zavala and their reception was at The Witte.

I love shooting in natural light and the atmosphere during the day was just great.

Just received word from Todd that his mom is doing well after taking a fall a day prior to their wedding and unfortunately couldn't make it to their wedding. Instead, Laura, Todd, immediate family and I included all went to the hospital she's staying at and took a few photos there.

Vanessa & Todd's Album Preview ~ Click below to play

2009-03-31T09:45:00.001-05:00

TANYA & ROBERT TIE THE KNOT

2009-03-30T23:50:00.003-05:00

TANYA & ROBERT MARRIED SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2009 at The Vineyards. The always quaint and scenic Vineyards is a romantic place to tie the knot and with lovely weather, that's just what Tanya and Robert did, surrounded with friends and family, dancing the night away.

~Philip

LAURA NICOLE & JOHN TIE THE KNOT

2009-03-26T17:07:00.003-05:00

LAURA NICOLE AND JOHN MARRIED LAST SATURDAY, March 21, 2009 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower (phew!) and the reception was at the St.George Maronite Center. This was the first time I shot at the Basilica and it's just an absolutely beautiful historic church.

The Limo broke down on the way from the church to the reception so I helped jump started it with my car. See photo at the end of this blog. All ended well after about half an hour, seems the car was parked on a slope and the gas tank was a little low...anyways, good to be a hero for the day. The bridal party were in excellent jovial spirits and danced the night away at the reception.

~Philip

Nicole and Phillip's Wedding Album Preview ~ Click to play

2009-03-25T16:05:00.002-05:00

KRISTIN & CLAY'S BEAUTIFUL WEDDING DAY

2009-03-23T15:36:00.002-05:00

CONGRATULATIONS TO KRISTIN AND CLAY who tied the knot on March 14, 2009 at the Witte Museum.

What a gorgeous wedding. Everything was pretty much moved indoors due to the spring showers we had earlier but this turned out to be a stellar move as not only was the decor and lighting fantastic, it made the whole event very cozy and intimate. This place was rocking!

Check out some of my favorites photos below and I wish Kristin and Clay all the best!

Wedding Planner: Tracy French of The French Connection who did a fabulous job.

~Philip

JULIE & DAVE'S PREVIEW ALBUM DESIGN ~ CLICK BELOW TO PLAY

2009-03-16T13:56:00.001-05:00

KATIE & RYAN'S ALBUM DESIGN

2009-03-07T23:33:00.002-06:00

Hi Everyone,

Here's a lovely album design I put together and completed yesterday. This is the first initial design and then once I receive some changes from Katie, I'll make some tweaks to the way she likes it.

Click on the show to play.

Thanks,
Philip

Featured on Jennifer Ramirez-Jasiczek's - A Regal Affair

2009-02-28T22:00:00.009-06:00

One of my favorite high end wedding planners, Jennifer Ramirez-Jasiczek of A Regal Affair was kind enough to ask me some Q&A on her new blog series, 'Meet The Vendors'.
I'm not a great writer, so bad in fact I'd much rather just stick what I know I'm good at and that's taking photographs.

Anyways, Jennifer is a well accomplished wedding planner and a very good writer with great questions. Click here to view the article, released last week.

Thanks Jennifer. Lots of fun and a bit of a chuckle at the end!

~ Philip

ANALISA & MARC TIE THE KNOT

2009-02-25T12:30:00.003-06:00

ANALISA & MARC tied the knot last Saturday in Coprus Christi with the reception held at the country club in Portland.

The day started overcast but soon made way for a beautiful, yet windy day as Analisa and Marc tied the knot at St.Philip's Catholic Church.

I loved documenting their day, from Analisa getting ready early at The Omni, downtown, to following them over to Portand, this wedding had everything including Marc's broken leg! They were surrounded with lovely friends and family serenading the couple.

Here's a few of my favorites.

Photos from Mustang Island

2009-02-23T10:18:00.002-06:00

After shooting a Corpus Christi wedding over the weekend, my wife, Lily and I found time to drive around stopping at Mustang Island yesterday. This was Lily's first time at the beach and she had a wail of a time. Lots of fun and I don't think I've ever been this wrapped up against the chilly beach winds.

Here's a few pics from our day.

New Pictures of our daughter, Lily

2009-02-11T11:45:00.002-06:00

This week has been difficult to get any work done as my wonderful mother-in-law who usually helps baby sit our little one has the flu. We both wish her well. So my wife, Marcie and I are taking turns looking after Lily during the day and then putting extra work hours in the evening while Lily sleeps.

So what better than to take some new portraits of our little person.

Below are a few of my favorites. Lily is fast approaching 21 months and her fun personality really shows here. Crazy how time flies! We were just comparing these photos with ones taken a few months ago and thinking how long her hair is now!

-Philip

Testimonial

2009-02-11T11:20:00.003-06:00

I just received a testimonial from Ashley and Ben who married last year, July 19, 2008. How wonderful and humbling it is to receive notes like these.

"Deciding on a photographer, in my opinion, is one of the most important things a bride and groom will do in preparation for their wedding. The pictures you take from that special day are treasures and one of few tangible remembrances of your wedding day that will help you retell the story to yourself and others of that romantic event for years to come. Ben and I have been so pleased with having chosen Philip Thomas to be our wedding photographer. His ability to capture real moments in such an elegant light is really incredible! The art in his photography is simple and beautiful and never takes away from the picture's ability to capture what really happened that day, but rather, enhances and highlights the beauty of each moment of your wedding day! He is truly a remarkable photo journalist- the best in our area! Our wedding album and pictures tell a very lovely and romantic story, without any words being used. And we are constantly being told how beautiful our pictures are! Needless to say, we are so pleased and hope that you too will allow Philip to capture and document your wedding with his enchanting style!"

~Ashley & Ben Carter

WedPix: Online Wedding Photography Magazine

2009-02-06T00:14:00.008-06:00

For anyone who's getting married, I thought it useful to add a link here.

WedPix, the Wedding Photojournalist Association's (WPJA and of which I'm a proud member) Online Magazine, is a complimentary resource for brides and grooms, photographers, wedding planners and all wedding photojournalism enthusiasts. The website covers many issues and topics and also has interviews with many award winners of the WPJA.

Good stuff. Go check it out at www.wedpix.com and you can also click here for the wpja website with info for brides and photographers alike. And I have to add that the judges who decide the winners each quarterly competitions are some of the best photojournalists in the world including photographers who shoot for vii photo agency (the Gods of present day photojournalism).

Cheerio!
Philip

Laurel and Max Album Slideshow-Click To Play

2009-01-31T22:38:00.002-06:00

Here's Laurel and Max's draft album design. Click anywhere on the image below to start the slide show. They married in Corpus Christi on December 20, 2008.

This is an example of what I do for all clients within four to six weeks of their wedding day starting with an initial draft album designed myself in the office. Then we start to tweak it the way the client wants the final draft to look. This can involve removing and adding pages, swapping images for others the client may prefer.

Sometimes, there are no changes and clients just love it the way it looks.
Then all spread layouts are sent to Alba in Italy for printing gorgeous coffee table books.

Lots of fun.
~Philip

Wedding Slideshows

2009-01-26T19:42:00.002-06:00

I just updated the website with a new section called 'Real Wedding Couples' showcasing a few wedding sideshows. There's just the one show online today, more will be up within the week. This is in addition to the extensive photo galleries that are already online in the 'gallery' section.

Hope you enjoy. Click on the image below to go straight to the slideshow.

~Philip

New pics of Lily

2009-01-25T17:05:00.003-06:00

Aaaahhh. She's our cutie. I just had to post a few new ones...these are already on my personal Facebook and just had to share with you folks.

Just got back from a lovely little wedding in Austin and I'll be sharing a few of my favorites of Erin and Robert with you later this week.

Philip & Marcie

KATIE AND RYAN TIE THE KNOT

2009-01-21T12:24:00.002-06:00

KATIE AND RYAN tied the knot over the weekend. They both started getting ready at the Crowne Plaza Riverwalk and then held their ceremony at St.Peter Prince of the Apostles in Alamo Heights. The reception was held at the San Antonio Garden Center adjacent to San Antonio's Botanical Gardens. These folks know how to party!

Below are a few of my favorite shots using. Shot with y usual gear, a Nikon D3 and D700 along with a couple of prime lenses, a 50mm f1.4 and a 18mm f3.5. Also used was my trusty 70-200 f2.8 and 24-70 f2.8, all shot using available light.

~Philip