I feel very fortunate to have grown up around wildlife and to this day I'm able to enjoy it at my parents "slice of Texas", my in-laws west texas ranch and my brother in law's Hondeaux Oaks ranch. You don't have to go far to see some amazing things in Texas! My in-laws recently sold their ranch and are moving to the big city of Austin....thanks for all the memories La Vida Buena!

Expect the unexpected.

Fly by the seat of your pants. 

Be prepared for anything.

Weather, lighting and equipment malfunction are all part of photography. I can plan for and choose a location only to have a truck pull into the background as soon as I begin to shoot. The beauty of the situation is being resourceful, using your own initiative and perceptions along with a pre-determined plan. During an amazing wedding Sunday, one of my flashes just stopped working! I spent a couple of minutes checking batteries, connections and turning it on and off. Dead. I threw it in the bag, grabbed on of my backup flashes and kept shooting. Before the ceremony I raised my flash up high, it hit a ceiling fan, broke an attachment, grabbed a backup and kept shooting!

Backup plan...Check!

Will be more careful with a flash in a room with a ceiling fan when you are 6' 3"... Check!

BTW here are some pics from the wedding! Congrats Brittany and Sean!

It's not uncommon for me to have a 10-12 hour day photographing a wedding then have 2 or 3 portraits the following day. Climbing stairs, jumping on a wall to get a better perspective, keeping up with a busy bride and groom, carrying a 75lb suitcase full of lenses/cameras and all the while holding up to my eye a 10lb rig (camera/lens/flash) for hours can make for a sore back and tired hands! 

In April 2012 two friends pitched in and bought me a month membership to CSC Combine Crossfit in Austin, TX and I never stopped going. Since then I have shed 10-15lbs and lost 1-2% body fat. Old injuries in my lower back, knees and wrists have never felt better. I feel lighter, faster and def. stronger than ever....which in turn does wonders for the mentally/physically demanding world of photography.

Last week I photographed my coaches and fellow athletes for CSC's website. I have big plans for photographing other Crossfit affiliates so stay tuned if you own a box!

Enjoy!

Buster

I had the pleasure of photographing an amazing couple in Austin, TX recently. They laughed, hugged and laughed some more! Together since high school, they were so natural together and a pure joy to work with. Can't wait for the wedding at Kindred Oaks!!

Digital cameras are amazing. These days they have touch screens, zooms as long as the Hubble Telescope and connectivity to something called Facebook.

So why on earth would you need photo tips?! Because a pot doesn't cook dinner by itself! 

1-Have a iphone? Who doesn't these days! Don't just point and shoot...touching the screen on the important subject like a baby or a flower will do two things: focus and get a better exposure. Click away!

2-Wait for that moment. So your little baseball player just scored a home run huh? Got a shot of them hitting, running and crossing home plate? The real shot is the emotion when they are celebrating the home run with their teammates . Always be ready and anticipate the emotional moments too!

3-Let there be light! Turn that flash on! Wether its inside or out, chances are you could use a little extra light. Try some with or without the flash or   grab a margarita!

4-Create a sense of depth. Taking a pic of a landscape scene? Add your husband, wife, kids, or pet...anything that helps the viewer feel like they are there and gives depth/scale to the scene.

5-Last but certainly not the last of many tips to come. Download-Pick out the keepers-DELETE the ones you don't need/want. Consider it taking out the trash. Computers can only hold a certain amount of music and photos and even a 12 megapixel point and shoot can fill up a 1TB hard drive quickly. Or grab a margarita!

Happy shooting!

-Nelson "Buster" Jetter

Growing up in a small Texas town I was fascinated with Italian supercars like Lamborghini's and Ferrari's. Anytime we would make a trip to Houston or Austin I was on the lookout for any vehicles with sleek styling and those without glass packs and four rear tires!

I'm not a big race fan nor do I keep up with current models of Ferrari's or Lamborghini's, but everytime I step on a racetrack or speedway I feel like a kid in a candy store. Needless to say when I first heard F1 was coming to Austin I couldn't wait for  opening day. This past Saturday was the first time for me to photograph and see F1 cars....It was so technical, powerful and fast I'm def. hooked on F1 racing now!

Here is one of the shots of the 2012 Austin Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton on a qualifying round Saturday.

Enjoy!

P.S. Thanks for the tix Chris!

Lets just say that once you are hooked on photography it consumes you 24/7! Why, do you ask? Because part of capturing every sunset, wedding, baby smile or a family's bond is to be constantly aware of shadows, light, composition, angles and backgrounds. Not to mention which lens (I use six of them), what flash (have 8 of those) and which camera body to use (two of those). Next up: camera settings like shutter speed, aperture, ISO and focus.

Then the area I love the most: Creativity. Out of the  300,000+ images I've captured, it's time to get creative and figure out how I can photograph your newborn child, high school senior, wedding flowers, amazing kids or family in a way that is unique and creative to the other millions of amazing photos taken each day.

That's exactly why photography is challenging, unique, creative, fun, amazing and most of all a passion.

I had my first wedding on a Thursday because of special date...10.11.12. Gonna be hard for the groom to forget that one! This was one of those weddings you can't wait for b/c it was in a CAVE! Not a hole in the ground but a candle lit room 250 yards past the entrance. It was truly one of the most memorable weddings I've every photographed in Texas. Technically it kept us on our toes because we wanted to show the ambiance of the cave with candles,but we are also in a room where there is minimal natural light. We are very happy with the pics and can't wait for more weddings underground! Congrats Katie & Brian!

Photography: yours truly! 

Ceremony: Longhorn Cavern State Park www.longhorncaverns.com

Flowers/Makeup/DInner/Reception/House DJ: Circle H Lodge on Inks Lake www.circlehlodgeatinks.com

Hair: Liz Muniz 512.786.5957

Cake: Lisa's Cakery 

Our kids BEGGED for a puppy last Christmas and Santa delivered the cutest puggle in the world Beaux and today he turns one! Amelie has been hyping it up more than the presidential debate and jumped out of bed this morning quicker than ever. Kellie and Amelie cooked brownies, fitted him with a birthday hat, and invited one of his slobbering buddies over for the grand celebration. Happy Birthday Beaux!!

I had the pleasure of photographing one of the most beautiful venues in Texas Sunday...Circle H Lodge. Its like someone took a Colorado/Wyoming Lodge and placed it on the banks of Ink Lakes just outside of Burnet, TX. Not only do they host weddings but they are also a B&B that serves amazing food, lake side access, a custom swimming pool and the some of the nicest owners around, its a destination I can't wait to get back to! Go to www.circlehlodgeatinks.com for more information. 

Some other peps I can't forget!

Perissos Vineyard and Winery-Did you say wine? 

Lisa's Cakery-MMMMMM Cake!

To view more images of the event go to http://www.jetterphoto.com/p162444097#h456ed608

Enjoy!

My assistant and I found ourselves in one of those engagement shoots we wish happened every day: amazing couple, shorts, two wonderful dogs, flip flops, a lake and a boat. One of the best things about being a photographer is meeting people from all over that are teachers, politicians, computer techs, ranchers, cooks, programmers and of course trainers for Seaworld! 

We had an amazing shoot and once I realized the bride is a trainer at Seaworld I had to ask to bring our kids and let them meet her. After a couple of weeks of planning around vacations and photo-shoots we picked a day and it was one the kids (or us) will never forget.

There are a couple of things: Yes the water is cold. They are big.. like 6,000+ pounds big. They know over 200 commands and love ice. Did I mention they are huge!?

The video below is of her showing Kellie and the kids hand signals to killer whales. Wow.

Thanks Katie!!

Growing up I was fortunate enough to have amazing parents who took us to places like Yosemite, Yellowstone, Branson, Myrtle Beach and the Florida Keys which opened my eyes up to these grand, amazing places all over the U.S. Last week we took our kids to Destin, FL. With pure white sand and emerald waters it is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. It's amazing how green Florida is and we found out why for the first 5 days...rain! However the last two days the weather was perfect so it was all worth it!

As we wait out a rain storm in Destin, FL I wanted to share some pics from a recent road trip to Granger TX.  We photographed in a beautiful creekside pecan grove and around main street Granger where a little film called True Grit was recently filmed. Its amazing how they can transform a modern Texas town to emulate a old west town. Then again give me producers, costumes, designers, carpenters, grips and about 1/2 million bucks and presto...the old west. Ok it wouldn't be that easy but it sure would be fun to watch!

Thanks guys for allowing me to photograph your amazing family!

My path to this portrait is one that deserves a explanation and use #5,384 for duct tape. Before Sam Houston State University I attended a  junior college in Brenham, TX called Blinn (yes the same Blinn that Cam Newton attended). While there I worked a summer job with a friend's dad pulling electrical wire in attics (very hot) and digging ditches. I didn't have work boots so I wore my old school Kapea's. For those of you not above the age of 30 they are all white tennis shoes that lots of people had...ok not many people had them but whatever! One day my Kapea's had a blow out so I did what any normal person would do and wrapped  duct tape around the toe to hold it together. I was in college and doing electrical work in attics so it didn't matter at all....until my friends saw it and started giving me a hard time (which I def. deserved) and started calling me: Silver Toe. The nickname didn't last long but the story goes on forever The friend that coined the nickname....this is her son. Thanks X and have a great senior year!

One of my favorite places in Texas to dance, eat, tube, and photograph is Gruene, TX. There is so much to offer in that quaint Texas town from live music at Gruene Hall, home cooking at the Grist Mill and Blue Bell ice cream at  The Gruene General Store. Aside from all that the little town is perfect for portraits. Hence a recent bridal portrait. Enjoy!

Took some senior portraits recently in Austin. We had a blast shooting on South Congress, Lamar Bridge and the first street area. Thanks again Hollie!

I'm was sad to find out that one of my favorite photography professors and mentor Dr. James Paster passed away recently. He was one of those mentors/teachers who taught every class with humor, wit and grace. Even when he was judging our work!

This interview regarding teaching photography and film basically sums him up:

“It was honorable. It was noble. It kept me young. It satisfied my craving for an audience. I was funny; tough; fair—and I knew my subject inside and out. I was fulfilled. Proud."

He will be missed here on earth but his teachings are still with me today every time I take a photograph.

I grew up in a small Texas town called Yoakum. Between George Strait, dancing, hauling hay and being with great friends it was a childhood I can never forget. I've been in Austin over 10 years and could never leave the Alamo Drafthouse, ACL Music Festival and the hill country but opportunity to get back to Yoakum I jump at! Recently I photographed a wedding for some really good friends in a small town outside of Yoakum that has possibly one of the coolest names for a town: Sweet Home. It was crazy windy but we had a hell of a time all day! 

Needless to say my kids have been in tons of photos so it was only natural that my daughter asked to be my "Little Photography Helper". She literally cries to come with me every time I leave for a portrait and especially weddings. This past weekend I had the honor of photographing a friends wedding and Amelie was there to capture most of the reception and fulfill her dream of eating cake and being my "Little Photography Helper"! Following me every step of the way, she actually took some great shots! She def. has a future in photography. Can't wait to photograph with her again (and have some cake). Thanks for the help sweetie! Below is a collage of some of her pics.

I've waiting for this wedding for a long time! We are shooting in Wimberley TX today and the reception is at one of the oldest dance halls in Texas: Fischer Hall. What looks like a chicken coop from the outside is nothing but a pure Central Texas dance hall. What's even more amazing is next door to Fischer Hall is the Fischer Bowling club that has been there since the 1870's. Its so old school they only use nine pins and they have local kids called pinsetters that manually reset the pins. It's like photographic candy! I'll post some pics tomorrow to stay tuned!