The Ranch at San Patricio

The Driftwood Chapel | The Ranch at San Patricio

Driftwood | The Ranch at San Patrcio

Ten hours ahead of me, caffeine, and a sunny sky blessing the day. I’m ready for whatever a wild Texas wedding wants to throw at me.

The morning started like many do. Everyone getting ready, sharing laughs, taking a moment to reflect, and enjoying a small libation to warm the senses. Before jumping fully in, I had one request: could the stray cars be moved so the drone shots would look clean and uniform? Details are where I carry myself. If the scene can be adjusted to elevate the elegance, I’ll always ask. And everyone went above and beyond to help. Teamwork really does make the dream work, and it set the tone for the rest of the day.

With the morning preserved, we made our way to St. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church in Mathis. The mass was meaningful and filled with heartfelt emotion. It’s critical to focus when at a church. From setting tripods in the right place, color temps dialed in, audio levels tested and re-tested, and maintaining full respect for the priest and the sacred space. When Gabriella and Eric said “I do,” the sound of cheers filled the room and it felt like the entire church lit up.

Suddenly, rain started hammering the roof, and right as we were packing up, the lights went out. The timing was unbelievable. I rushed outside, Pelican case in hand, gear tucked under my rain protector, and a sweet grand mama told me, with the warmest smile, “I’ll watch over the rest for you.” Those small moments of kindness mean everything on wedding days.

Driving back to the venue felt like hydroplane heaven, but once I returned to the ranch, the storm eased just long enough for the loveliest donkey to stick his head in and give me what felt like a little pep talk. A quick “get your head right” moment from a donkey was exactly the reset I didn’t know I needed (watch the video to see “El Burro”).

The reception brought all the emotion you could hope for with touching speeches, tearful dances, and then my favorite: El Baile de la Gorila. IYKYK.

Before the night wrapped up, the dad-superhero instinct kicked in. A family from the wedding party needed a car jack, and of course, mine was ready to go. When you’re a wedding creative, you prepare for everything: rainstorms, power outages, emotional moments, technical challenges, and even unexpected roadside rescues.

This day was wild, heartfelt, hilarious, emotional, and beautifully human from start to finish. Preparation and anticipation are how you perfectly preserve a wedding, no matter what the world throws at you.

And to Gabriella and Eric… God bless you both. May success and peace always find it’s way to your kingdom.

Zane & Brianna | JBSA Randolph Chapel

I first heard from Brianna through The Knot, where she reached out about preserving her wedding day with both photography and video. As soon as we connected, I could sense how important this day was going to be—not just for her and her soon-to-be husband, Zane—but for me, too.

Brianna and Zane both serve this great nation, and as someone whose wife is proudly serving in the Air Force, I always do my best to support our incredible service members. So, I knew from the beginning this would be a meaningful wedding.

Brianna was sweetly nervous as we went over the details of the day, but together we created a solid timeline. Planning is especially key with any microwedding, where time is usually tight and the moments come and go so quickly. I'm human—of course I worry—but with the plan in place, I felt ready.

March 29th arrived. I pulled into the venue with my gear and good vibes, prepared to give my best. In the parking lot, I unknowingly passed a friendly guy, and we both smiled and laughed as we introduced ourselves. That was Zane. Right then, I knew—it was going to be a smooth, joy-filled day. My worries vanished.

In the distance, I saw Brianna. She was giggling, nervous, glowing. Throughout the day, both she and Zane must’ve said “thank you” to me over 20 times. Their gratitude and kindness never went unnoticed—it was clear they were not just easy to work with, but genuinely good people who deeply appreciated every part of their day.

The first look was full of emotion. When Zane turned around to see Brianna, the love in his eyes said it all. From there, we moved right into their couple’s portraits before the ceremony, and it was pure magic. The chemistry, the laughter, the little looks—it made for some truly unforgettable moments.

The ceremony itself? Heartfelt, emotional, and overflowing with love. There were tears, powerful vows, and so many memories packed into a beautiful, brief celebration.

And just like that, we blinked—and it was time to say goodbye.

It was an absolute honor to capture Brianna and Zane’s day. To be of service to our veterans through the work I love is something I’ll never take for granted. Thank you, Brianna and Zane, for your trust and for allowing me to be a part of your story.

Gorgeous pictures!! Top notch attention to detail

“I am not exaggerating, one of the best calls I made in the planning of my wedding ceremony was hiring Steven (Vista). The photos speak for themselves- I cried when I saw them. From start to finish he was professional, hard working, and charismatic. He listened to all my feedback and came up with the perfect timeline for my day- we got all the photos we wanted and more! Working with him and seeing the level of equipment he has (we had photo and video for both ceremony and first look)- I am so happy we got him to capture these moments. Very impressed and would highly recommend!!” — Brianna Norris (Bride)

“Steven goes above and beyond for wedding photos! He was a joy to work with and works harder than anyone I’ve ever seen to capture all the best moments. I was pleasantly surprised to have received some sneak peak photos by the end of the day and all the rest of the photos within 2 days! He was also very flexible when we requested to extend our time. 10/10 would recommend Steven, so thankful to have picked him as our photographer and videographer.”

— Zane Noble (Husband)

“Steven from Vista Photography is hands-down the BEST photographer I’ve seen in action. He never missed a shot, had a great sense of humor, and had the photos ready for my daughter in no time. If you need a photographer, hire him”

— Janette Norris (Mom of Bride)

Steven did an amazing job at our daughter's wedding. Wow, he worked really hard to make sure all the photos, angles and lighting were just right. He was funny and helped make everyone smile at just the right time. I'd hire Steven again tomorrow and give him the highest recommendation.

— Brian Norris (Father of Bride)