Jesus and Naty Maternity Session | South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center | Corpus Christi, Tx

I photographed Jesus and Naty’s Wedding 3 years ago. And now it’s time for them to welcome a family member – Camila.  We started the maternity session in their private residence and then we headed over to the South Texas Botanical Gardens. Camila was born on June 24, 2015, 6 days before their 3rd wedding anniversary.  I’m so happy for them!  I’m also thankful to foster a relationship with my clients and to be able to capture their family throughout the years.  

Jesus and Naty Maternity Session Micah DeBenedetto / MD Photography 2015 http://www.mymdphotography.com

Jesus and Naty Maternity Session Micah DeBenedetto / MD Photography 2015 http://www.mymdphotography.com

Jesus and Naty Maternity Session Micah DeBenedetto / MD Photography 2015 http://www.mymdphotography.com

Jesus and Naty Maternity Session Micah DeBenedetto / MD Photography 2015 http://www.mymdphotography.com

Jesus and Naty Maternity Session Micah DeBenedetto / MD Photography 2015 http://www.mymdphotography.com

Jesus and Naty Maternity Session Micah DeBenedetto / MD Photography 2015 http://www.mymdphotography.com

Jesus and Naty Maternity Session Micah DeBenedetto / MD Photography 2015 http://www.mymdphotography.com

Jesus and Naty Maternity Session Micah DeBenedetto / MD Photography 2015 http://www.mymdphotography.com

Jesus and Naty Maternity Session Micah DeBenedetto / MD Photography 2015 http://www.mymdphotography.com

Jesus and Naty Maternity Session Micah DeBenedetto / MD Photography 2015 http://www.mymdphotography.com

Brandon Senior Portrait Session Living Picture Slideshow | Downtown Corpus Christi, Texas

So my “muse” Bri (click her name to view some of her photos), i.e. the woman “I LOVE SO MUCH,”  has a younger brother named Brandon who is graduating from a local Corpus Christi, Texas high school named Carrol; their mascot is the Tiger.  Her mother, who is “EXTREMELY beautiful,” contacted me to photograph his senior portraits in downtown Corpus Christi, Texas.

If you’re interested in a portrait session – contact me here… otherwise PRESS PLAY ALREADY! 

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Clarissa Serna | The Voice | Corpus Christi, Texas #teamclarissa

 

I’d like to congratulate Clarissa Serna on her terrific run on The Voice. She made it to the TOP 20!  BOOM!  Go Girl!  We’re all so proud of you!  I know this is only the beginning of a new journey, and we’re all extremely excited to see where it takes you!

I’d also like to share a memory I experienced with Clarissa as well.  While we were shooting her album cover, we had an awesome sunset.  And we decided to go to the closest clearing in the city that we could find. Coincidentally it was my Blanche Moore Elementary school parking lot.

We rushed over to the parking lot which was about 10 minutes away from Revolution – which is one of the main locations Clarissa found her “chops”. We jumped out of the car and started taking a few pics using only natural light, and a 42 inch silver reflector.  Those weren’t coming out… so I decided to silhouette her, and voila.  Still one of my favorite images to this day, and it also served as an advertisement I used in NSIDE Magazine back when I was shooting for them.  It also kick-started me chasing down my “love-silhouette” images.

I can’t locate the original image offhand, but trust me just below the crop there is a metal fence that runs across the image and a Chevy Silverado pickup.

The reason I include it is to show that you never know where your journey will take you until you step out!  I never thought I’d photograph someone in the parking lot of my elementary school, and yet here it is!  LOVE THAT HAIR FLOWIN’ in the wind….

DON’T be AFRAID to DREAM BIGGER!!!

 

Clarissa Serna nside ad 051611 low resolution

Paula Deanda | New York City December 2010 | Corpus Christi | The Voice 2014

It’s always a special thing when people DECIDE to pursue their dreams, and I’m honored to say that I’ve shared in Paula’s journey.  She recently competed in the pop culture show “The Voice.” Unfortunately she battled against Celine Dion’s former vocal coach…. yeah.  Never the less, Paula is still so young and talented with so much potential and future within.

On my first visit to the city I connected with a friend from Corpus Christi, Texas who was managing or representing Paula at the time.  She gave me the opportunity to snap a few photographs of her in Rockefeller Center, and then videotape her performance of “Easy” at Mike Ruiz‘s Birthday party at a brand new bar that I no longer remember the name of.   If anything this shows my progression as a portrait photographer.  For whatever reason I only brought my “non-portrait” lenses (17-40 and 50mm) with me.  It’s like trying to filet a fish with a butter knife.  This fact coupled with my inability to properly pose people, especially amongst throngs of internationals visiting the city, and almost freezing temperatures, we didn’t turn out with very many keepers. But hey if anything I’m still here and still learning the art of posing and photography, much like she’s still pursuing her singing career…  I applaud her for deciding to ACTUALLY follow her dreams, and encourage her to pursue, pursue, pursue!!!  Even in the face of rejection.

Paula Deanda Rockefeller Center New York City MD Photography- 2010

Below is her official music video – which is of much higher quality, and features a man flipping out of the car and getting turned down when he asks her out, plus that international dude from “That 70’s Show,” and Bow Wow – the artist formally, er, formerly known as Lil-Bow-Wow.

YBP of the Coastal Bend Speaker Series “What the Frack” featuring City Council Woman Lillian Riojas and Mystreamjob.com creator Stephen Elias – Corpus Christi Town Club – June 6, 2013

From the Facebook Event page:

”What the Frack” featuring our city council woman Lillian Riojas, and Mystreamjob.com creator Stephen Elias discuss the importance of job growth. Each speaker will discuss how their positions benefit the community.

For more info, contact the Speaker Series Committee at : speakerseries@ybpcb.com

Admission is $5 for non YBP Members

Become a YBP Member:
http://ybp.tamucc.edu/Join%20YBP.html

Questions? Email networking@ybpcb.com

Visit the Facebook Gallery HERE.

Click respective names for more information about the Corpus Christi Town Club, Young Business Professionals of Coastal Bend, Mystreamjob.com or MD Photography.

YBP of the Coastal Bend and the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce “Sail Into Summer” Mixer – Best Western Marina Grand Hotel – May 22, 2013

From the Facebook Event page:

Mix, mingle and network with members of the Young Business Professionals of the Coastal Bend and the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce as we Sail into Summer!

Enjoy hors d’oeuvres from Beauty and the Bistro or hop in to the Image Cinema Photo Booth! There will be a cash bar, door prizes and fabulous views of Corpus Christi Bay at the Grandview Lounge in the Best Western Marina Grand Hotel. Doors open at 5:30 pm. Don’t forget your business cards!

Questions? Email networking@ybpcb.com

Visit the Facebook Gallery HERE.

Click respective names for more information about the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce, Best Western Marina Grand Hotel, Young Business Professionals of Coastal Bend, or MD Photography.

Brooke’s Houston Texans Cheerleader Tryout Portraits

I first met Brooke in October of 2012 on assignment for the Caller.  She had just finished a tough mudder and had the bruises and scars to prove it.  Now she’s motivated to be a part of the best camera shots in all of NFL sports… the CHEERLEADERS!   Thankfully the NFL doesn’t have the same policy as some “schools” in TEXAS… coughcough – anm. I wish the best of luck to her on this exciting endeavor.  Enough of me talking… assuming you even read this after you saw the pics…. Oh! Check out her closet snoop, or visit on facebook.

Big Shot out to Morgan (current cheerleader with Houston Texans), Justin, and Haylee (former Kansas City Cheerleader) for their guidance, especially since I’d never done anything like this before.  As a frame of reference… here are the Texans and Chiefs pictures.

Making the Best of Lighting and Location

I read a lot of posts on this local thread I’m a part of on THE FACEBOOK about people asking for great locations to photograph people. I think they are focusing on the wrong thing. As a professional photographer (someone who makes a living photographing), one should be able to make any location, any lighting situation work.  With that said I’ve photographed in some places I didn’t necessarily look forward to, but still managed to capture given the circumstances.  One photographer I follow is Sal Cincotta who says he doesn’t always photograph weddings in wonderful and pretty banquet halls but yet he attempts to make it as enjoyable and beautiful as possible.  I think also the focus of the question of “great locations” tends to put more focus on surrounding and less on subject.  Ideally the location serves to put the subject at ease, make it enjoyable, etc… and remains important in some respects, ie shooting a rancher at a RANCH, doctor in operating room, and etc… But ultimately the focus remains on the subject itself regardless of setting. I think the intriguing part is to make something work in any given circumstance, which is something that I strive for in my photography. For instance this photograph was taken with the subject standing in the parking lot of the Central Public Library in Corpus Christi, Texas amidst oil stains, dusty cars, and to be quite honest transients.  The Central Courthouse is just about a 1/4 mile away too!  Can you tell?  NO! It could’ve been photographed in Miami for all you know, in FACT maybe it was LOL.

I encourage everyone to explore your surroundings and make the best of them, and ultimately learn to take control of them (your surroundings).  Oh and for all the expensive lighting equipment I have, I used a 20 dollar silver “faced” reflector to fill her right profile.