Houston Wedding Photographer / Aric C Hoek

Gonzales / Dockal 8/11/07

The Gonzales / Dockal Wedding

It was a hot and humid one in Houston... but it didn't stop my couple from having a fantastic time! Here are a few of my favorite images so far.

Church: Holy Rosary 3600 Milm Houston, Tx
Reception: The Houston Club

Aric C. Hoek – The Master of Shadows
Solaris Studios
713-524-3303

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21 Years Later

I was only 17 when I failed typing during my sophomore year at Bellaire High School. That was 21 years ago. However everything changed for me when I was introduced to photography shortly after. It was the first thing that I was really good at and I latched on tight.

I knew that when I graduated college I wanted to be able to photograph absolutely anything with some level of professionalism. Someone could ask me to photograph a car, a building, food, or an executive, and I wanted to be able to answer with a resounding “YES” to the opportunity.

At Salem State College I began to study commercial photography, and my skills were really put to the test. Two years later I found myself in Florence, Italy taking advanced black and white classes as well as some beginning cinematography. I finished my college career at Northern Arizona University studying under Dr. Gene Balzer pushing hard to learn additional commercial photography skills. I finally graduated in 93’ earning a BFA with an emphasis in photography and a minor in business.

After graduation I worked for three different photography studios in two different states before I found my self on the Gittings team. After Gittings I managed the digital department of one of the largest and most respectable professional photographic labs in the state.

All of that education is put to the test each week at each wedding. For a wedding photographer it all comes down to one moment. There’s no tomorrow. There are no retakes. Put up or shut up. And after each wedding is over, you find that you are only as good as your last image, regardless of your history and education.

I have no idea how many weddings I have been lucky enough to photograph, but I find I still can’t get enough. Every wedding I walk into I approach with the attitude that I’m getting ready to take the best picture of my life. All I need to do is just find it.

Aric C. Hoek – The Master of Shadows
Solaris Studios
713-524-3303

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Taken 8/18/08.

Testimonial

This is a message I received from someone filling out my contact page yesterday. I absolutely love inquiries like this as opposed to something mindless and genic.

From: xxxxxxxxxxxx@yahoo.com
Subject: New client inquiry.
Date: August 23, 2007 2:26:06 PM CDT
To: studio@solarisstudios.com

First, Last name:
Cheryl XXXXXX

e-mail address:
xxxxxxxxx@yahoo.com

phone number:
281-xxx-xxxx

event date:
6/14/08

referral source:
Bridal Extravaganza

message:
When we spoke with you at the bridal show my daughter, Brie, said, "If I had all the money in the world this is the photographer I would want. He is right up my alley - he sees photography as art." She is a musician. I have been looking at your site for several days (we have a very slow computer!) and have enjoyed it so much. When I showed more of your site to my husband and then showed him some other sites he said, "If you wanted me to like anything else you shouldn't have shown me Solaris first!" He loves photography and can tell you have quite the natural eye for shots in addition to the passion. So, I thought before we think too hard we have to see if you are even available on the date of my daughter's wedding. I believe my daughter got one of your price sheets but I can't locate it so if you could send that information along as well I would appreciate it. Thanks!

John and Carrie

We are on a production kick here at the studio and we are turning out album designs like crazy. Truthfully we are running about a month behind right now and we are looking to get caught up next week.

So. Get ready for a few days of posts containing our newest album designs!

Today I am going to share the Buddhist wedding we shot earlier this year.

Aric C. Hoek – The Master of Shadows
Solaris Studios
713-524-3303

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Katy and Joshua

Katy and Joshua have been fabulous clients, and they are so easy for me to work with. Love em! Their engagement session was taken behind The Wortham Center downtown and some surrounding areas. I hope you enjoy them as much as they do.

Shadows galore in this session due to the time of day, which of course was planned.

Katy and Joshua - Thanks again for the iTunes gift card! I bought the new album titled Snakes nad Arrows from Rush! Very nice.

Aric C. Hoek – The Master of Shadows
Solaris Studios
713-524-3303

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777

Courtney and Jason were the lucky winners! I can’t begin to tell you how many frantic inquiries I received over the past few months from couples wanting to reserve my services for their wedding on 7/7/7. I’d like to think that it had something to do with the quality of my work, but I know that the real driving force was the once in a life time date of 7/7/7.

No…. it was my photography. I’m sure of it. ;)

I no longer discuss a date once it has been booked. I turned them all away, as I am only one man and I can only be at one place at one time. Courtney and Jason knew this and had the forethought to book my services over a year out.

The wedding was held at Westminster United Methodist Church, and the reception was close by at The Courtyard on St. James.

Please enjoy the album design for Courtney and Jason’s wedding, and the most popular wedding date of the century, created by The Master of Shadows.

Aric C. Hoek – The Master of Shadows
Solaris Studios
713-524-3303

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Senior Portrait Session

For some time now I have been toying with the idea of starting a senior portrait division. For those of you out there that don’t know, high school seniors have their portrait taken to remember a time of transition in their lives.

There are really two things that are appealing to me about senior portraits. The first and foremost is that I will be able to expand my photographic discipline into areas that will allow me to be more creative. I truly believe that an artist that just produces the same thing over and over does him or her self a real disservice. You need to keep your work fresh, and you need to be excited about what you are doing.

The second thing I am looking forward to is keeping busier during the week.

At any rate, once we launch the division we will initially be offering two types of in studio sessions for our seniors. The first will be called our Black and White Session. The images created will be… get ready for it… black and white, but very contrasty and very commercial. Needless to say I will be including heavy shadows. The second line/look we are working on will be revealed in about 6 months as we have a large investment to make before it can be created.

What I will not create are images using ridiculous props. The last thing I want coming out of my studio is the image of a senior sitting on a Styrofoam 08’. Yuk. If you know me, and my work, then you know I want it to look as different from everything I can find out there.

So, take a look at my first attempt. This session took about 1.5 hours to finish and the amount of images you see here is what a senior could expect to choose from.

If you are a frequent reader here, take the time to leave a comment at the bottom of the entry and let us know what you think. And again, if what you are looking for is a portrait sitting on a Styrofoam 08 that is still warm from the last senior that was sitting on it, or something leaning on a tree with a fake smile, then you are most definitely not going to like my work.

I am attempting to create individualism using my own unique style of photography. Shadows.

Aric C. Hoek – The Master of Shadows
Solaris Studios
713-524-3303

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Bridal Portrait at The Corinthian

What a day! I love Bridal Portraits. I really am given the time to be creative and not be rushed, and when you combine that with a beautiful bride and a beautiful location, well you just can’t go wrong.

Vivian and Paul will be getting married at The Corinthian later this month, and absolutely magical place for a wedding. If you are getting married and your budget allows, make sure to put them on your list of places to look into. You won’t regret it.

Aric C. Hoek – The Master of Shadows
Solaris Studios
713-524-3303

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Portraits for Him.

Well, I have been absolutely swamped! A good customer came back to us last week wanting me to create an image of her for her husband. We got the session done and she came in to look at her images today and she loved them!

While the images are for her husband, I still wanted to keep things very tasteful. It’s a very thin line creating images that are to be seductive while maintaining a classy artsy feel. I think I pulled it off rather well. Staying true to form, the images are dark and full of shadows.

Aric C. Hoek – The Master of Shadows
Solaris Studios
713-524-3303

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Weekly Escape - A New Image Every Week!

Well, there are no fancy images in this post, only a shameless promotion.

I have started an image of the week club! Sign up today and receive a new image each week! Think of it as a thirty second Weekly Escape from the grind of the world.

Sign up for The Weekly Escape here! Or, you can click the link to the right to subscribe.

Aric C. Hoek – The Master of Shadows
Solaris Studios
713-524-3303

Use the Subscribe Me button to make sure you never miss a story. Be sure to tell your friends about us!