helenmontoya.com

Love, Family and Charity {San Antonio Family Portrait Photography}

Helen — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 01:57:41 +0000

I have been lucky enough to photograph the Toalson family for three years. Our first session only included two kiddos and one on the way. They now have five wonderful boys and the love that they share is beautiful. I love meeting up with them because I’m sure to get love and hugs from at least one of theses handsome boys. When I offered up sessions in exchange for donations to Build Africa, I knew that the Toalsons would be among the first to take me up on the offer. Not only are they amazing like that but they also use their own time, talent and resources for charity projects through World Vision and with their band Abberdein.

Here are a few of my favorite images from their session. One of them can be considered an outtake, but I like that it’s more representative of the life they live. It’s also amazing to watch this dynamic duo reign in five kids. I would be exhausted but instead they continue to be gorgeous. Enjoy!

Resolution #1, make more time for family {San Antonio Family Portraits}

Helen — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 21:24:35 +0000

She’s pretty cute, huh? This is my darling daughter. Three-years-old and full of life, spunk and personality. Everyday I marvel that I’ve been given such an amazing little person to help her learn, grow and become an even more amazing bigger person. As all parents know the time is just flying right by. She recently went through a growth spurt and we really can see her “big girl” face. And sometimes a big girl attitude. And I want to soak it all in, even the not so perfect moments.

In an effort to do this I’m going to be limiting my sessions in 2013. I’ve been trying to let everyone know this on an individual basis but wanted to post something for newbies and in case I missed anyone out there. I’ll only be taking on one booking a month. My limited availability means as of this posting I’m booked through April 2013. I will also be offering one day of mini-sessions in November or early December for Christmas photos.

So if you have a month in mind for your family photos, you might want to message me soon so we can get that on the books.

There will be exceptions to the rule. You can’t always plan for things like pregnancies, newborn sessions and surprise engagements. And if you have purchased or plan to purchase the Year One package I will of course fit you in for all your sessions. There are also a few policy changes and a few pricing changes that I can email out as requested. But I think everyone will appreciate the new package that I am offering with all portrait sessions.

So while I am changing up things just a bit you can still count on high quality documentary photography and I will dedicate the time I spend with you to making images you will hopefully treasure long past your kiddos are sliding down twisty slides.

Going to the chapel….{Wedding Photography}

Helen — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:01:10 +0000

Remember Mayra and Kris? Super cute couple with amazing style and totally in love? Yeah, them! I had the great privileged of going out to Los Angeles to photograph their church ceremony in November. Yes, L.A. was amazing and yes, you should be jealous. Not just because I got to spend a few days in California but because I got to hang out with the happy couple again! I even got to tag along as they made a stop at In-N-Out Burger between the church and the reception. The jury is still out on if In-N-Out tops Whataburger, although this New Mexican girl says Lotaburger blows them both out of the water And now onto images from their big day! There are quite a few, so get comfy.

Let’s pretend it’s not 90 degrees outside

Helen — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 01:51:31 +0000

You may have noticed my occasional references to my favorite family of seven. No, they are not a figment of my imagination. Instead they are one of the most wonderful families I have the pleasure of knowing. So yes, that’s a family of seven. Mom, Dad and five boys. And they are all gorgeous. Girls will swoon over these boys some day. And mom and dad do not look like they chase around after 5 rambunctious boys all day. GORGEOUS.
Mom and I share a love of autumn. A season that South Texas does not always see fit to bestow upon us. But with all our fingers crossed we planned a session for the last Sunday in October. Hoping that we’d have some sort of cool weather. We did not. But you wouldn’t know it from their big smiles (even if some of those smiles had to be tickled out of them!).

Baby Allison {Austin family portraits}

Helen — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 02:28:29 +0000

Behold the power of the internet. I sit here writing this post, chatting with a friend and jamming out to my own personal Pandora station that I have spent many many months carefully crafting, pressing thumbs down on every song that is not exactly what I want it to be. And thanks to the power of said internet I’ve been reunited with various friends from high school, which is pretty awesome. One of those friends is Jennifer. We had literally not seen each other since we graduated from high school but we were able to reconnect and when she found out she was pregnant with her daughter we started planning the newborn session. And I’m so glad we did. Baby Allison is so beautiful and her big brother Landon is even more adorable in person than he is on facebook. And of course it’s always good to see an old friend after many many years. Here are a few images from my time with them:

I know they say that babies this young (she’s one week old in this picture) don’t smile yet, but THAT is a smile!

Handsome big brother! And he’s one of the most well behaved three-year-olds I’ve ever been around!

I couldn’t resist posting this one! Like all older siblings, Landon’s still unsure about this new baby. He’ll grow to love her. Mom recently posted that he gave Allison a kiss when he thought no one was looking. That melts my heart

Don’t you just want to snuggle her!

See! He already loves her. You can see it in his big blue eyes!

There are few things that can come between a girl and her daddy.

There is nothing like a mother’s love!

Jen it was so great to see you as a mom. Your kids are BEAUTIFUL and I’m so happy for you!

…My baby beside me at the wheel {San Antonio Wedding Photography}

Helen — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 12:57:27 +0000

Melinda and Gabe are driving off into the sunset toward their happy ending; literally and figuratively, I think they have a road trip planned sometime soon. So to honor this new journey in their lives together I’m sharing a few of my favorite images from their big day and I’ll try to come up with some more driving cliches. May the road rise up to meet you and the wind be ever at your back. P.S. they had the coolest get-away car ever!

Year One {San Antonio Children’s Photography}

Helen — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 01:29:30 +0000

It’s hard to believe that a year has passed since I was given the opportunity to photograph this beautiful mama as she waited for her handsome little man to be born.

It’s hard to believe that enough time has lapsed that Ben has gone from this cute newborn bundle of joy:

To this gorgeous little boy!

It’s so fun to see his personality shining through. To see the love he has for his mom and dad. The way he looks at them with his big expressions and joyful smile. He knows what all kids know, they’ll keep him safe and love him unconditionally. It was a true joy to be asked to document Ben’s first year and I hope I’ll be given more opportunities to watch him grow! Now I leave you with a few of my favorite images from Ben’s first year.

Happy Birthday to Me — and a Gift for You

Helen — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 02:32:06 +0000

Birthdays are interesting. You spend so much time as a child anxiously anticipating your birthday. I mean who can blame us — there’s cake! balloons! presents! friends! and (if you’re in my part of the country) piñatas! What is there to not be excited about? But as a grown up, birthdays are usually more subdued. That’s why, up until a few weeks ago, turning 35 was not really a highlight on my “to-do” list.

But when I sat down to think about it, I realized I’ve had a blessed 35 years. When I was 18, my dream was to was to live in a major city, have a cool job and have a family. By all accounts I’ve made 18-year-old Helen’s every dream come true. I live in one of THE best cities in the country. I have my dream job. I am married to my best friend. I have an absolutely amazing daughter. We have a pretty great roof over our heads. And, as many of you know, I’ve made great strides to get myself healthy and back into shape. Thanks to my new friend and trainer, I’m feeling amazing. Life.Is.Good! So maybe turning 35 isn’t that bad.

And here’s where you benefit from my new found excitement about my age. I’m going to do a little giveaway. It starts with you opening your hearts (and wallets) to a charity and ends with someone winning a portrait session* and disc of images from their session.

To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is make a $35 donation to one of these three charities:

The Alzheimer’s Association
One of my friends is raising money for them. You can help her fundraising efforts here or just go to the charity’s site above

The Wounded Warrior Project

The American Cancer Society
The more you donate the more entries you get: If you make a $70 donation you get two entries and so forth. So, be generous and we’ll make a difference to some great organizations. When you make your donation please email (helen at helenmontoya dot com) a copy of your receipt, so I can keep a tally of how much is raised. Donation receipts must be emailed to me by Sept. 30. I will draw a name on Oct. 1, which happens to be my birthday.

I hope you’ll all join me in this effort. It’s the best birthday present you can give me.

*some fine print:

The session for immediate family members only (yours, not mine). I used to say five people max, but one of my fabulous clients has five kids and I love you all too much to make you choose between your children.
Session is based on availability. So plan on this being a 2013 portrait session.
Travel fee will apply to those outside of Bexar County.
If you live in Farmington, NM and we can coordinate your session with my trips home the travel fee is waived.
You must be a fan of Helen Montoya Photography on facebook

Love washes over me {San Antonio Wedding Photography}

Helen — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 02:25:16 +0000

Simple, elegant and moving. Three small words to describe this happy couple’s wedding. They exchanged vows standing in the cool waters of the Pedernales River with their friends and family watching from the limestone banks. I love a couple who is willing to kick off their shoes and make their own traditions, a couple who is willing to ensure that their wedding is exactly the way they imagined it to be, no matter how many minnows nibble at their toes! Here are a few of my favorite images from their ceremony.

A smile: the universal welcome {San Antonio family photography}

Helen — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:45:03 +0000

My heart wells with happiness when families return to me year after year. The Zepedas in particular came to me after not getting the image they hoped for from a big box store and I really wanted them to come away with images that they would adore! When I met their son I fell in love when he shined his big grin at me. I knew he’d be my friend and show off that great smile for my lens. Fast forward two years and he’s now big brother! Little sister did not warm up to me as quickly. She made me work for that smile! But when she finally did beam at me, my heart melted. Thank you Monique and Chris for letting me continue to make pictures of your family!

Big brother and I had a little tickling session. Is there any greater sound than than a child’s laughter?

Such a beautiful family!

She’s still wondering who I am and what this big thing is in front of my face

“hmmm, I’m not so sure about you yet”

There is is! Such a BEAUTIFUL smile!