You can see images like this as well as others by visiting our website at www.hookedphoto.com.

You can see images like this as well as others by visiting our website at www.hookedphoto.com.

You can see images like this as well as others by visiting our website at www.hookedphoto.com.

You can see images like this as well as others by visiting our website at www.hookedphoto.com.

 
Beth is known as my ‘prize-winning bride’.  Everytime she goes to the Bridal Extravaganza, she wins big with the end-of-the-day contests.  She and her man are big football fans, and I hated pulling them away for this session because they missed the Cowboys game vs. the Eagles.  Well, thanks to Jessica Simpson, the Cowboys lost – .

Some of Don’s family won’t be able to come for the wedding because they are in Korea, so the images that we are going to take at the wedding are the only way his relatives will get to see what happened.  That’s what I love about my job so much – capturing history as it unfolds of two special people.

I found out that Marcella is afraid of spiders and all sorts of bugs.  Apparently during our session, we came across a big spider web. 

Dear Photographer,

After researching the operations of botanical gardens in the United States , it was determined that Zilker Botanical Garden will charge a photography fee for all commercial photographers. A new photography procedure and session fee has been established.

Beginning June 16, 2007, all commercial photographers will be required to obtain a session pass for commercial photo sessions in the Garden. The session pass of $50.00 per session is due and payable upon receipt of session pass. A session is defined as a two-hour time frame. Fees paid by the photographers will be used to help maintain and develop the garden and its facilities. We accept cash or checks (payable to Zilker Botanical Garden ).

Photographers are requested to schedule their session in advance by calling 512-477-8672 ext. 10, Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The session can be any two-hour block starting between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The garden closes promptly at 7:00 p.m., so please make sure to schedule your late sessions with sufficient time to exit the grounds by 7:00 p.m. Sessions can be on the weekends, but please be aware that the garden has heavy traffic on weekends, parking may be scarce, and there is a $3.00 per car parking fee during the Spring and Summer (totally separate from the commercial photography session fee).

By scheduling your session in advance, you will help us to better manage the traffic congestion on the garden grounds. We will be able to inform you if any garden tours are scheduled during that time frame, and how many other photographers are also planning on coming at that time.

You will need to plan to come to the office on a weekday during business hours to pick up your session pass. You can mail your session fee or pay it on a weekday during business hours. At this time we can only accept cash or checks for the session fee. We encourage you to plan to pay for your session in advance in order to keep your shoot with your clients as smooth as possible.

Enclosed is an application for photography session pass and photography guidelines.

To obtain additional information on this fee schedule or to purchase a session pass, call Julye Evans at 512-477-8672 ext. 10.

Regards,

Melvin Hinson, Garden Manager

Photography

Photographs are a wonderful way to remember your visit to Zilker Botanical Garden . We encourage visitors to take casual photographs for their own personal use. Photography (still and video) is permitted for private, non-commercial use only.

The Photography Guidelines outlined here are intended for all guests, but a session pass is only necessary for those who wish to use the Garden’s setting as the background for commercial photography. This would include wedding, family, engagement, prom, graduation, Quinceanera, individual portrait, school drill teams, cheerleaders photography or the like.

As always, the general guidelines apply (see attached).

Zilker Botanical Garden reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to withhold and/or withdraw permission to photograph on its premises. Flowers and foliage may not be picked or rearranged for any purpose. Plant labels and tags may not be removed. Photographers, subjects and all equipment must stay out of the water features, flower beds and off any other structures at all times. Clothing, backdrops and other props are not to be hung on plants or trees. Zilker Botanical Gardens is not responsible for damaged or lost equipment brought into the gardens nor for the personal belongs of their clients.

Commercial photographers will be required to obtain a session pass for photo sessions (as described above) in the garden. A session is defined as a two-hour time-frame. The session pass of $50.00 per session/client is due and payable upon receipt of the session pass. This fee can be paid by the photographer or the client.

Terms and Conditions

You must have a photography session pass to shoot commercial pictures in the garden.
A session pass will be issued upon receipt of payment.
You must have the session pass with you the day of the shoot.
Public restrooms in the Garden Center building may not be used for clothing changes. There are outdoor restrooms in the west end of the parking lot that can be used.
No inconvenience shall be caused to other visitors to the Botanical Garden.
Photographers will be held responsible for any damage to plants or other structures in the garden and will be charged the cost of restoration.
Photographers are not to pose their clients in flowerbeds, ponds, water ways or on any natural or man made structures. Please stay on the paths and grass areas.
The terrain can be uneven and occasionally slippery. Please be aware of potentially dangerous situations when posing your clients.
Do not remove cones or barricades indicating hazard conditions.
Schedule your clients within the 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. time frame. The gates close PROMPTLY at 7:00 p.m.

Commercial Photography/Filming

For all media productions within the Austin Parks facilities, such as catalog shoots, commercials, professional videos and film must be approved by Austin Parks and Recreation Department. Please submit your request and details of your project two weeks in advance of your start date for approval.

Television – Radio – Newspaper – Magazine contact Victor Ovalle at 974-6745
Commercial Video – Film – Photo Productions contact Sonia Freeland at 947-6792
Bridal – Family – Quinceanera – School Groups contact Julye Evans at 477-8672 ext. 10

Austin Parks and Recreation Department reserves the right to refuse any project. Other fees may be charged for commercial photography and filming. We do not allow vehicles or animals to be brought onto the Garden grounds (as props or backdrop or similar items).

I’m so happy that they chose us to be their photographer.  It was fun to catch up with this couple and to see how in love they are and how comfortable they were behind the camera.   Here is some of the fun that we captured.

Before Brooke and Chris arrived, I saw a couple of weddings going on during our session (one at Four Seasons and one at Shoreline Grill).  I only knew the photographer who working the Four Seasons Wedding, Suzi Varin of Suzi Q Weddings.  She’s a doll and so fun to hang out with.

Anyway, I got meet Brooke again (we just finished her bridal the week before) and I met Kris for the first time.    This couple was really great to work with and they were pretty laid back, despite the heat!  We had to get the session done this week, too, because their wedding is only in a couple of weeks. 

We really captured some fun moments, though we did it pretty quick because of the warm weather.  The lighting was AWESOME and we had clear skies and some really awesome golden light.  I really love this time of the day for portraits!  I’ll update this entry with some images shortly.  I’m so glad that they chose us to be their Austin Wedding Photographer.

It was also the first time that I got to meet Devin. Jennifer was the only one to make it over for the consultation, and we already photographed her Bridal session. Even though we just met, he warmed up really quick to the camera.

I was upset to see that there is this new monstrosity of a building that is now located on the backend of the mountain, and it really takes away the view of the city skyline from the hill. Oh well.

We will see this fun couple again at the Vista on Seward Hill in June.  I’m so excited that they chose us to be their Austin Wedding Photographer.

I will admit there was a bit of humidity, and I almost felt like I was back in Louisiana. There was a nice cool breeze that popped in and out, but it could have stayed longer.

Kelly did a great job of having fun and bringing out the best in Stan. This couple and my wife and I both share something in common – our spouse’s birthday is on the same day as ours AND it’s five years apart – how unique is that?

I’m so excited that they chose us to be their Austin Wedding Photographer.  We’ll see this cute couple again towards the end of the year at The Terrace Club.

This couple drove in from Houston, and we went walking around the hill that overlooks Pennypacker Bridge. We almost got rained out, but the clouds went away at the last moment.

This couple was fun to work along and it was my first chance to see them in person. I’m really excited that they chose us because I really enjoyed their laid-back personality, and the chance to get to know their recent addition to their family, Shiner.

I’m so excited that they chose us to be their Austin Wedding Photographer.  We’ll see this couple again next year at Vintage Villas.

We will see this couple again over Memorial Day Weekend, so stay tuned for the upcoming bridal teaser and wedding highlights!

The one thing I couldn’t get over was they giggled almost the entire time – it was so cute! It’s always great to see yet another couple that were so relaxed behind the camera.

We’ll see this couple again in May at Avery Ranch and at Bella Notte. By the looks of things, I think Mark will have no problem at all bringing Katie over the threshold on their wedding night –

I really appreciated this couple for their easy-going attitude. We will see this couple again in a few weeks at Green Pastures.

This cute couple had a lot of fun, and did a great job of being themselves behind the camera in such a busy environment as a restaurant. You can definitely tell that they are really in love and it was exciting to see them interact together naturally.

After the meal, we then walked around town, and hung out for a few more minutes and just captured some natural moments. You can get to know more about this couple at their website. We will see them again in October at The Terrace Club.

They both work in a job that is their passion – Krav-Maga (You can check their website out here). He’s the owner and she’s one of the trainers. I can’t wait for their wedding because they are going to have some kick-butt groomsmen (literally, they can kick your butt – well!).

Obviously, this couple will not have to worry about getting in-shape for their wedding. Kersten is also going for a black-belt qualification as we speak! That, and getting married within the same month? She’s a busy woman.

If you are wanting to get into shape, or if you want to learn some self-defense, you now know who you can call.

Here are some of the fun moments that we captured.

This was a risk for me because I had never been to the Museum of Art before, and I only had about an hour to scout out a 4-block by 4-block grid. I also found out that I needed some kind of permit to photograph there. It’s Sunday – where in the world am I going to get a permit in less than an hour? Needless to say, I may have broke a rule or two. I didn’t get arrested, so that was good.

I was blessed with some beautiful weather that day. I really loved the experience that I had with this couple. They came to have some fun and were very relaxed. Here is some of what we captured.