"Photographers are violent people. First they frame you, then they shoot you, then they hang you on the wall."
“Photographers are violent people. First they frame you, then they shoot you, then they hang you on the wall.”
I love this quote. I wish I knew the author so I could compliment them on their wittiness.
Truth be told, when you’re in the hands of a true professional, a photographer is anything but violent. If anything, a photographer, as well as the photo session, should be FUN, EXCITING, MEMORABLE … and above all – PAINLESS. At least, that’s how we feel.
A family of four enjoying a reality moment as parents laugh and kids run around.
We are often asked what age child is the hardest to photograph. My response is always the same, “a 40 year old man.” Kids are easy… OK, most kids are easy. If you get down on their level and play with them, you’ll have an instant buddy. Moms are the best. They are usually the ones coordinating the whole shindig, so they are a photographer’s greatest ally. Dads, on the other hand, take a little more finesse. But if we get them talking about their latest fishing or hunting exploit, or maybe last night’s game, then he stops thinking about the camera and starts having fun.
A photographer might seem a bit intimidating (or even violent) to those that have never had professional photos taken, but I assure you that anyone who visits our studio is in for a treat. Our goal is for all who enter our studio as clients leave as friends. And that won’t happen unless we show you a good time.
We’d love to show your family a good time and exactly how painless a professional portrait session can be.
No, this isn’t a movie review; it’s about my son. He’s at camp this week, and, boy, was I looking forward to some time away from him. I had become fed up with putting up with his “teenagerness.” I know that’s not a word, but every parent with a teenager knows that’s synonymous with lazy, selfish, withdrawn and moody.
Photos of Cindy and family in Zion National Park in Utah
But, this week while he was gone, I was going to use the time to devise a plan to “fix” him. As my thoughts turned to the things I could do to change him, I began wondering what he might be doing right now, maybe eating breakfast? Maybe tidying up his tent? At least he wouldn’t be playing a video game. So, how could I keep him from playing them so much when he got back? That seemed to be a constant struggle between the two of us.
I began thinking about how he had helped with VBS at our church the week before. And, before that, hadn’t he participated in a missions project? All of this, without complaining? I began missing him and wondering why I couldn’t feel so favorably toward him when we were together. Maybe our strained relationship had more to do with me than with him. I could be critical to the point where I begin feeding my own negativity. In my mind, I had him going from video game-playing teenager to college dropout living on skid row overnight.
I’m excited, now, about him coming home, because I feel that it’s not too late to work on our relationship. I’m going to practice positive thinking every day, so I can recognize when a negative thought enters my mind. Yes, he is growing up fast, but that should not make me fearful. These upcoming years could be some of the best ones of his life! And, I might just have a little something to do with that.
Magical family memories made with Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse.
Magical family memories made with Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse.
My family recently got back from a FANTASTICAL trip to Disney World. We were able to enjoy seven magical days of Disney parks despite it being Florida’s rainiest month. (About that… When the rains come, you can either get upset or you can act like a kid just playing in the rain and splashing in puddles. We chose the latter.)
The few hours we slept were at one of Disney’s newest resorts “The Art of Animation” – (unbelievably awesome!). We arrived at the parks early each morning and didn’t leave till close. My daughters, ages 8, 5, and 2 were so hopped up on pixie dust, we were able to stay through the oh-so-fun magic hours. This is when most of the crowd has gone home, and the park remains open only to those staying in a Disney resort.
From morning to midnight, magical memories made with great characters and castles.
During this two hour span, my girls and I went from ride to ride non-stop. And when it was finally time to leave the Magic Kingdom, we would pause in front of Cinderella’s castle as she bid us good night, then sleepily stroll down Main Street, basking in the glow of lights and recalling the day’s adventures.
The memories my family made that week will forever be etched in my mind. Too many memories to recount in a single sitting. But just a close of my eyes, and I’m instantly transported back there riding Splash Mountain with my girls, hearing my oldest giggle about how she is always the one that gets soaked at the end of the ride; or I’m outside Gaston’s Tavern laughing at his hilarious mixture of comedic arrogance and charm; or I’m hearing my 2 year old’s sweet voice exclaim, “Mickey Mouse!” as she sees him for the very first time.
Magical family memories made at Disney’s Magic Kingdom.
Our children are young for such a short time. I plan on making the most of these moments and creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Have you created any special memories with your family lately? I’d love to hear your family’s stories.
The Middlebrook Family plays instruments for their family portraits by Greg Patterson.
Amy Middlebrook is sure to be one of the sweetest people you’ll ever meet. Her nature is pure and genuine, and she is a delight to be near. So when she called and asked Greg to capture photos of her family, we jumped at the opportunity.
Like with our other clients, we first asked Amy if there was something in particular she had in mind for the portrait. She mentioned that her family was musical and enjoyed getting together from time to time to just strum a little. Could we photograph something that captured this aspect of her family? Of course the answer was “yes,” and the wheels in Greg’s imagination begin to turn.
The morning of her session, we gathered onto the porch of the Hardeman House, just around the corner from our studio, eager to see what musical moments we could create. What followed was such an emotionally and spiritually stirring event. George and Amy kicked it off, softly playing the guitar and mandolin and adding in some vocal harmony. Their son delicately joined in on the ukulele. Soon the street was echoing with their rising voices. They were singing to God. The sound was tender, yet powerful. It was heartwarming to notice each of the little smiles, nods and quick glances they gave one another. To hear this sweet family that morning was incredibly uplifting and wonderful to experience. To see them relate to each other the way they did was quite moving.
Usually we are the ones trying to provide the memorable experience for our clients. But on that day, we were treated. Every time I see the beautiful portraits of Amy’s family, I will be reminded of how I felt that special morning. It was only 30 minutes, but I will carry that memory with me for years… and I am thankful.
Kiddos eating watermelon is a great way to celebrate East Texas summertime.
Kiddos eating watermelon is a great way to celebrate East Texas summertime.
Summers in East Texas are typically hot and muggy, but you can’t stay cooped up inside all day. There’s too much fun to be had outside. Running through sprinklers, catching fireflies, going fishing, going swimming… And one other thing that comes to mind is eating watermelon! It’s a true East Texan tradition. I look forward to enjoying some sweet and juicy watermelon with my kiddos in the next few weeks. And hey, we may even get into a good ol’ fashion watermelon seed spitting fight.
G. Patterson Studio is celebrating this East Texas tradition with our most popular Just 4 Fun Kid’s Series Special – WATERMELON BASH on July 1, 2, and 3. If you’d like to have these sweet moments of your kiddos captured in a beautiful and timeless way, call the studio at (936) 569-7116.
We love creating a fun and memorable experience for our seniors. If they don’t have a blast, then we haven’t done our jobs. Plus, when our seniors are relaxed and having a good time, it makes capturing amazing moments that much easier. Every year, we see a new “crop” of seniors come through our studio doors, and we’d like to think they are venturing off to college with some great memories of little ol’ Nac.
It feels like we’re winding down for this year’s graduates, but there is always time for a professional portrait that represents all that your senior has accomplished. So, if you’re one of the few who haven’t made the time, please feel free to call us and set up an appointment. We’ll try to make you feel like the center of the universe… and I bet we’ll have a fun time too.
montage of children, families, seniors, and weddings photos
montage of children, families, seniors, and weddings photos
As we continue to reflect upon and celebrate all that has happened in the past 10 years, we take a look at the numbers of unique moments we’ve captured.
Over 1000 Just4Fun Kid’s sessions with all the goofy grins, silly smiles and unexpected moments one can imagine…
Hundreds of furry friends and their owners, those that behaved and those that made attempts to chase the neighborhood cat…
Over 800 nervous, yet excited graduating seniors, each with their own brand of style and personality…
Nearly 1500 fun-filled, action packed family sessions with crazy kiddos running around being chased by each other while the parents stand back and laugh at the mayhem…
Several dozen voice quivering “I do” moments, decorated Just Married getaway vehicles, and teary dads that are reluctant to give away their baby girls…
You, our clients, have invited us to be a part of creating tens of thousands of special moments. It continues to be a blessing and honor.
A snapshot of our printed newsletter from 9 years ago.
A snapshot of our recent e-newsletter.
For the better part of 10 years, we’ve tried to stay connected with our clients through our studio newsletter “Coming Home.” It’s of great importance to us to remain engaged with our friends and family who continue to support our portrait studio. The newsletter often contains stories of recent family sessions, growing families, photography tips, upcoming specials, holiday recipes, and our thoughts on the day. We want to share our exciting stories with our community. We want to inspire and encourage families and children and graduating seniors. We want to enrich the lives of our readers if only by bringing a simple smile to their faces. Our newsletter has seen its fair share of changes, from originating as a print snail-mailer to the current instant email it is today. So please take the time to peruse and share our newsletter the next time you see it in your inbox. Thanks for reading… and remember to stay in touch.
Current image of the private portrait garden of G. Patterson Studio
Current image of the private portrait garden of G. Patterson Studio10 year old image of the garden before it was the garden.10 year old image of the pond before it was the pond.
To our friends of the studio, you are certainly familiar with our private portrait garden. We try to use it in some creative way for every session. Hopefully, you would agree that it is one of the little treasures of Nacogdoches. To those that have not had the pleasure of a family or children portrait session in the garden, I am confident that you will be amazed. With greenery and colorful blooms almost year round, pond and waterfall, gazebo and swing, stone walkways and pergola, our garden provides an endless variety of gorgeous portrait backgrounds and settings. Upon seeing our garden for the first time, clients will often “oooh” and “aaah” and exclaim that they never knew this beautiful scene was tucked away in downtown’s back yard.
The garden is wonderful, of course, but it is also a labor of love. Much thoughtful planning went into the initial design and layout of the garden. And countless hours go into maintaining it day after day, year after year. I would be remiss to not mention Cindy’s father, Harry, who pours seemingly every spare minute he has into manicuring the plants. He does an incredible job and we are all thankful. Greg and Cindy and their children also contribute their fair share to this effort. Luckily, we don’t ask our clients to join in the yard work. You get to sit back and enjoy the hard labor that provides fairytale-like beauty.
Looking at these old photos, it’s hard to believe so much has changed in 10 years. We are so blessed to be able to offer this unique benefit to our clients. I hope that you come by to see our private portrait garden some time soon. It is jaw-droppingly amazing in April and May. Bring the family. You’ll be glad you did.
The image above represents a very special story to me:
One day, a young woman, pregnant with a baby girl, buys a beautiful dress. The woman has a vision of her baby growing into a beautiful young lady that will fit into that dress for her fifth birthday. In her vision, she sees her precious daughter wearing the dress while riding a pony barefoot with wind in her hair. Before the baby is even born, her mother can see this idea as a portrait hanging in her home. For the next five years, the woman patiently waits until the day finally comes when that baby has grown into the beautiful girl she had imagined. This sweet story has a beautiful ending as the portrait of her dreams now hangs in the woman’s home.
This is the kind of story that makes photographers love their job. However, so much has changed in the field of photography over the past few years… for better or worse. Cameras have gotten faster and more powerful, as they simultaneously have gotten sleeker and less expensive. Today, even our phones have better digital cameras on them than existed ten years ago. Everyone has a camera at their fingertips. Sadly for some, the ubiquitous nature of the modern day camera has changed their expectation of professional photography. These families no longer expect a friendly, customized portrait session. Instead, they anticipate a dry, quick, cookie-cutter session with forced expressions. To these families, I encourage you to expect more from photography. Let the story of the young mother inspire you to dream bigger. Though much has changed, one very important thing has stayed the same. A well crafted photograph still has the ability to stop you in your tracks and make you FEEL… happy, nostalgic, hopeful, excited, or even in love.
At G. Patterson Photographic Studio & Gallery, taking a photograph is less about documenting what someone looks like and more about capturing the essence of that person in that moment in time. Anyone can snap a photo and have it resemble the person they were aiming at. But that’s not our goal here at the studio. Our goal is to create a work of art that evokes emotion… that sees personalities shine through… that captures the loving relationships families share. One of the first questions we ask our clients before ever taking the camera out is, “What is your vision for this photograph?” We want to know if they have thought about who will be in it, what they will wear, will it be posed or candid, what type of setting, where will it be displayed, and finally what should it be about. Anyone can point a camera at someone else and press a button. What sets us apart is our willingness and ability to cater a session to your particular needs thereby creating a piece of portrait art that represents what you had envisioned and ultimately tells your story.
Remember that it is still possible to create a photograph that captures the imagination. And that’s exactly what we strive to do each day at G. Patterson Studio. We would love the opportunity to turn your dreams into reality through our fine-art photography.
