Stewart Family Sneak Peek

I recently had the great pleasure to photograph some of my favorite clients, The Stewart Family! After moving to Oklahoma, keeping in touch became a little more difficult, but every time they are in town, they always call to update their family portraits. This time I could NOT believe how BIG the kids got since the last time I saw them! Their personalities are so evident now in their little faces! It was such a joy to be a part of this family's life as it grows and evolves! Thank you for your loyalty to my business!

These are just some of my favorites from the sitting, usually I only put about 5, but couldn't narrow it down any farther!!!! We always have a blast! Cheers!

Sum sum summertime!!!!

It's officially Summer here in Texas- marked by the 110 degree heat wave we had on Sunday. I never thought I'd say this, but thank God for the wind- it's the only thing that made it bearable! UGH! Hot and sweaty- here we come! So- to mark the beginning of a new season, I am running a print special called: "Art for your DESPERATELY white walls!" 


Now, you might get the idea that the image I have chosen marks "renewal" and "revival"- which is definitely what we are going to need at the end of this summer... but truth be told, if that were that case, I'd put a pic of a icy cold longneck on here.

I actually shot this image in honor of Brett Weston, one of my favorite photographers. He is a master of the black and white image! Here's the image of his I took my inspiration from: 

"Holland Canal" 

(photograph by Brett Weston)

My version of the Holland Canal

"Bandera Canal"

(photograph by Molly Johnson)

The Deal: 

From June 1st-June 30, 2011

Receive 20% off the print price

Prices vary by size. 

5x7"-$80

8x10"-$95

11x14"- $125

16x20"-$250

Printed on beautiful rag watercolor paper. 

Email me with your order: 

molly@mollyjohnson-photography.com

(include a phone #, size preference and email)

This is what makes me happy today....

Have been working around the house lately, painting, decorating, cleaning... up cycling!
Found this image in the archives and it just really sang to me today.... took it a while ago in an old abandoned house!
I love the color and the softness of the light, but also the way that the light is so specific...
I might get a print of this made to hang above my hat rack... what do you think?

Shooting for Heartstrings Fine Portraits...

Every once in a while, I get a call...
it goes something like this:
"Hey Mol- are you available to shoot on...????"
Usually these calls are followed by some amazing opportunities to shoot some true "eye candy!"

I've worked over the past 5-6 years off and on with Jennifer Jennings of Heartstrings Fine Portraits,
and over the course of time have had the ability to learn new tricks of the trade and build my portfolio!
Jennifer has helped me to become a better photographer, all the while encouraging the growth of my own business! If there is one thing I have learned about working for other people, it's the fact that you cannot replace the education you receive from just "being" there!  I've tried to take every opportunity I can to learn from other photographers, and am thankful for ALL of those who've taken me under their wing and given me a chance to shoot with them and their precious clients! Thanks JJ!!!

LEFT: Jennifer Jennings, owner of Heartstrings Fine Portraits, RIGHT: ME- duh! 

(Funny thing here: There was a photo booth at this party we photographed- courtesy of Smile Booth- and all these funny hats, glasses, props, signs etc... we could have stayed there all night taking these silly pics... photographers always say how much they HATE getting in front of the camera, but dead sober- we had the best time dressing up and making silly faces!! What a cool addition to the event!)

And now, onto the eye candy!!!! 

The disco ball twinkled until late into the night... there were 3 different music venues at this event, making it a spectacular night of entertainment!  

 This dance floor was just mesmerizing, you wouldn't believe it was peel and stick.... and btw- KUDOS to the lighting gurus who made this white tent look like a fabulous venue! 

Um- yes, this is me, on top of a building, photographing the tent. Yup- see that big white thing in the middle of the pic... that's where the party was. I think it was something like 1200 sq ft.., but don't quote me on the number there... regardless, it was HUGE!!!  

White carpet, white stairs, turquoise accents=killer decorating. 

White carpet, white stairs=not so killer for walking.... 

(still nursing a 10 inch bruise/bump on my shin from falling down "said" stairs!) 

I've never done drugs, but being in this room was as close as I think I'll ever come... it was all pink... SOOOO cool. Transported you to a different place!  

 I wish I knew the name of this band/singers/dancers- they were AMAZING- really have not EVER seen a more energetic bunch!!!

All the real workings of a professional concert- music by ZZ TOP! Can you believe it?  

The ZZ TOP band has been together for over 40 years... that is an amazing feat! This is Dusty Hill.  

JUST LOVE THIS SHOT!!!!  

Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, interesting dude!  

Baby Zachary

Congratulations to one of my newest clients, Chelsea, on the birth of her little boy, Zachary Clinton! Isn't he a sweet little pea? 

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous.  

It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body."  

~Elizabeth Stone

Senior Portrait

First of all, I am wondering how I got so blessed to have such wonderful clients... no really, I'm not just saying that. These are real people who care about real things. There is no superficial layer to cut through. What you see is what you get, and it really is beautiful.

I photographed Laura and her daughter, Paige, years ago at a make-up event at SAKS... what a blast that was. And now, as her son, Jake, gets ready to graduate from high school, she called me to document the achievement. What an honor!

Getting to know Jake was a kick in the pants. He's simple, straightforward and honest. He cares about people, not things. Sure, we can have his truck in a couple of pics, sure, we could add the basketball... but really- c'mon- he's just a regular Joe. A regular Joe who appreciates the value of a good education and where that will get him in his future. Plans? Sure he's got plans- to major in business- smart eh? But really, Jake is just Jake- no frills, not fancy- just those beautiful teal colored eyes and that beaming smile. A breath of fresh air- not all youth is lost to "materialism" and technology. There are a few good ones left- yup- that's you Jake! Give 'em hell!

I chose this image to show Jake's Senior Portrait, because I think this is his core. This is really who Jake is. He loves his family. He loves his people. Of course, the ones of the teal colored eyes aren't bad either... check Facebook for those in a week or so...

But for now- a holler out to Jake- Chuck Norris ain't got nothing on you!
Congratulations on (almost) graduating!
Cheers-
Molly

Hooray for Headshots!

It sounds funny, doesn't it, that I like to shoot headshots so much? There has always been something that is so intriguing to me about people's faces, and what a better way to capture that than in a headshot. Ok... ok... ok... so I know, headshots are supposed to be somewhat formal, and aren't supposed to say "too" much, but they can still say, "hey- this is me, here's who I am...." After all, isn't that why we need them? We need to portray visually to our customers who we are- what we represent....

Here is MY personal favorite headshot... as an artist, I think I can get away with it being a little more "creative," rather than so straight forward.... not only does it show who I am, but it really SAYS WHO I AM. If you know me, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Photo taken by my close friend, Rasmi Hunt. http://rasmiliya.tumblr.com/

For the month of April, I am offering a special discount to you- get your tosh in gear and call me. YOU NEED A NEW HEADSHOT! That is, unless you haven't changed a bit since the last one you had done... in 1983.... yeah, you need a new one. It's quick, it's painless, it's (relatively speaking) cheap, it's fun... see how easy he makes it look... you can do it. I promise you won't break the camera- promise!

$150 includes your session fee 

and up to 5 retouched images on disk. 

Call 210-262-0396 to book your appointment! 

1881 Western Photography Co.

Here's to a new adventure.....

I've recently accepted a job with a photography company based out of Bandera, Texas.
You can check out their website here: www.1881wpc.com

I'm running around on a dude ranch out in the sunshine and God's Hill Country photographing people riding horses... ranch life... portraits.... etc....
I'll post a couple of my favorites every now and then so you can keep up with what I'm doing and enjoy some of the scenery that has now become my office... jealous yet?

 Sunset at the Running R Dude Ranch in Bandera, Texas. 

Just before the cattle drive is getting ready to get under way. Round 'em up! 

 "Princess," the ranch dog/hand, is "helping" to get the cattle in the mood for a drive. 

Any luck there Princess? 

Never can have too many beautiful headshots... that's what I keep trying to tell these horses. 

Photo Safari #3- Bracken Village

Taken with: Lens Baby Muse on Canon 7D Camera, ISO 500 at 1/1000s, aperture determined by lens

http://www.lensbaby.com/lenses-muse.php

Taken with: Lens Baby Muse on Canon 7D Camera, ISO 640 at 1/400s, aperture determined by lens

http://www.lensbaby.com/lenses-muse.php

Taken with: Lens Baby Composer on Canon 7D Camera, ISO 640 at 1/4000s, 

aperture determined by lens

http://www.lensbaby.com/lenses-composer.php

Photo Safari #3-
One of my good friends, and fellow photographer, Monica Hoeffel Murphy http://thesmilecollector.com/blog/, accompanied me on my Photo Safari this month.
We decided it would be a "Lens Baby" day.... which means you don't really know what you're going to get. I am not a technical photographer, but I can tell you that a Lens Baby does something to the light coming into the camera by warping it.... great explanation huh? Basically, you would never shoot a lens baby for anything important, it's a special effects lens that is unreliable and unpredictable... but I think part of the fun of the lens baby brings you back to "pre-digital age"- where things were still a mystery, and the secret was in getting the film back from the lab and not knowing exactly what you were going to get...

We had grandiose plans of going down this road called Bat Cave Road... we had heard it was absolutely beautiful, it's just past Rolling Oaks Mall in San Antonio, so the drive was not too bad... but as we arrived on Bat Cave Road, we saw nothing. Dead dead dead grass, ugly scraggly trees and people's houses. With no other destination planned (oops- always need a back-up I guess)- we settled on a little find called "Bracken Village." By this time, it was almost already 5:30 at night, the sun was going down, and it was already overcast, so the light for "artsy" photography was not at it's best. However, we made the best of the situation and took a couple of pics of the local scenery at Bracken Village- a cute little conglomerate of old houses and barns piled into a little piece of land. http://www.brackenvillagesa.com/index.php?page=home

Now don't get me wrong, I learned 2 very important things from this trip-
#1- always have a back-up
#2- always check or scout your location first before driving there
(Both things I should have already known)
BUT- since we were just playing, we still had a grand time. We enjoyed a couple of the shops located in the little village and ate at an amazing pizza joint across the street- called "Fraglios-" yummy! Plus- I got to try out a lens baby- my first time! AND- I got to enjoy the fellowship of one of my good buddies, and we can talk all the photo gook that we want without our hubby's rolling their eyes...

Oh- and- I only took 39 images, which is an incredibly small amount for me. I also only made MINOR exposure and contrast adjustments to these images which you are seeing, no cropping, no adding of filters etc... this is straight from the camera. I know they're not my best work, and even wane on not being interesting, but I've recently adopted the mantra "Nothing is worth doing if you can't learn something from it!"

Cheers-
Molly

Hunting Season is over, right?

I couldn't resist putting this beautiful Colorado Elk up on my blog today! I needed something cheery, and thought he just looked so regal and content. I am missing the beautiful colors of Spring... so this makes a dreary day feel happier! Enjoy the beauty of what nature has to offer!

Photo Safari #2

Life gets in the way for all of us. Work, work, work, eat, sleep, laundry, groceries, dishes... sheesh! Seems like we can never catch a break... my mom recently retired just so that she can now have TIME to do the eating, sleeping, laundry, groceries, dishes etc. It's enough to make you wonder sometimes what we are all working so hard for? What's the ultimate goal? Riches? Retirement? I don't have your answer, I am barely grasping my own, but here's what I think...  in between all of the above mentioned "nasties" of life, there is a void of time that you pass by... in this void, you might see a piece of art, you might be having dinner with friends, you might be enjoying a sunset on the drive home from work, your kid might be telling you that they love you... I'm not sure what your moment is, but it's these moments that create the breath inside of our lives. I am just like you, I so often let these little "breaths" pass me by and never give thought to them again. But sometimes, if you stop and really breathe deeply, you can remember those little moments and say, "oh yeah, this is the beauty of this place!" 


The challenge for me this week came when I was dining at the Limestone Grill in Boerne. They had a beautiful piece of wine art on their wall as you enter their bathrooms. I thought to myself... hmmph- I can do that! Wouldn't it be nice to have something like that to hang in the restaurant I work at?? So- that was my challenge- to create a piece of "wine art!" My photo safari happened to be at one of the coolest places I have ever been- not mentioning names- some things must be kept secret... but here's just one little taste of the eye candy that I made this week for my Photo Safari #2!!! (Oh and by the way- I like my wine art better than the one I saw- challenge completed with victory!!!!) 


ENJOY! 

Photo Safari #1

Everyone makes New Year's Resolutions... you just can't help it. 

It's okay if you never admit it to anyone, it's a natural course to take, to want to change, to want to improve. 

My personal resolutions are probably much like yours, but this year, I wanted to do something else. 

I want to grow more passionate and more knowledgeable about my craft: photography.

On the second Thursday of each month, I am going to take a "Photo Safari"

It can be anywhere with anyone. 

Subject: anything that suits my fancy. 

The challenge is this. 

I am going to put black electrical tape over the back of my sensor, so that I can't see what I am shooting (just like back in the old days of shooting film), 

I am only going to allow myself 2 "rolls" of film, or 24 exposures, no matter the subject. 

And then, I am going to come home and enjoy the mystery of photography again. 

I am going to learn my weaknesses and strengths, and I am going to do some work for MY walls. 

Medina Lake, Lakehills, Texas

January 27, 2011

7:45 am

FREE Boudoir Session!!!!

I am in the mood for LOVE.... 

Every once in a while I like to update some of my images and let my creative juices flow! 

SO- I am giving away a free boudoir session for the month of February! 

Makes a beautiful gift for that special someone in your life.... don't be scared... give me a call. 

First one to book the session wins! 

(Free Boudoir Session and 1-8x10" Custom Portrait) 

830-535-4206

“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would still go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” MLK

A worse present than coal????

A good photographer once taught me, 

"give kids something to hold onto to entertain their hands...."

SOOOOO, I gave my niece this pine cone, thinking it was both festive and interesting. 

She OBVIOUSLY did not have the same sentiments. 

Upon showing the pics to her mommy, this was her favorite, one I had passed over due to the "sour puss" face, 

but she just laughed and laughed. 

She just kept saying, 

"there really is a Christmas gift WORSE than coal!"

I learn something new everyday about the importance of capturing a moment and an expression! 

Landi Lily Marie Johnson

A few pics of my new "niece-in-law",  Landi.
She's truly one of the most beautiful babies I have ever seen.
She's only 3 days old in these pics. So content and happy.