Houston Wedding Photographer / Aric C Hoek

The Solaris Blog Has Moved!

As of today, all new posts are being transferred to the following address.

Of course you can just click on any link marked Blog on our site to take you to the new location as well.

All of the posts found on this blog are currently being transfered, one by one to the new address. Shouldn't take Beth and I more than a week to get it done.

Please keep in mind that the new site is very much still a work in progress. The software and blog entries are located on the Solaris site now and are not being hosted by another companies server. This is the main reason for the transfer as we believe that this will help our search result rankings in Google.

See you on the new blog!

Aric

Major System Failure.

We had a massive hard drive failure here at the studio over the weekend due to an explosion, and production has been delayed. No images were lost. No weddings were lost.

All back-up systems were in place and running at the time of the crash. Everything has been restored and production is starting again.

First order of business is to get the Brownn wedding online.

All appointments and portrait review sessions for the week are still good and there is no need to reschedule.

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

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Turner Bridal Portrait

No matter how many times I go to The Japanese Gardens, I always seem to find a new portrait there. The grounds are kept so nicely and the colors are constantly changing. The trick is to crop in on certain areas to create the illusion of isolation, while still placing the subject as part of the environment.

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

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It seems my wife has some free time.

It would seem that my wife is now a regular at Jib Jab.

Too bad they don't have a bride and groom dance that I could send to my clients on their honeymoon!

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

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A rough start to the week.

Sunday was a bit of an up and down day. Had a great bridal shoot outdoors, but got home only to find out that my wife’s car got broken into while she was at work! Yuk!

And what did they steal? A baby bag. Yes, an individual risked time in prison over two pairs of baby shoes, diapers, and sippy cups. The silver lining is that a security guard gave chase in his car, but had to stop when the thieves started running red lights. The security guard actually got the license plate!

At any rate, we were both a bit mad last night. Toni, my most beautiful wife, got home from work about midnight. This morning, I woke up to find the following email from her and I can’t stop laughing!

The other person in the video is my son. Enjoy! I know I did as it was just what I needed.

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

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The Zerda Wedding Album

Another wedding album design completed, approved and on it’s way to my book binder in California! With any luck the Zerda Wedding Album will be back in my hands in 6 weeks.

In case you missed it, here is a link to Barbara’s bridal portraits.

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

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Help Needed From Past Clients!

Reviews Needed! The good, the bad, and the ugly.

When I visit a website and I see a testimonials page, I find that I am unwilling to believe what I am reading. How do you know that the company didn't write the testimonials themselves?

Reviews can be looked at in the same way, but it sure is nice to see that 5 star rating next to a product that I am thinking about buying, and being able to read the reviews that gave that product it's five star rating to begin with is great information!

So, I have decided to create a Customer Reviews page as opposed to a testimonials page, but I am adding a very cool twist. People that write a review can leave their email address which will allow readers to contact the author of the review! This way you know the review is authentic!

I need to populate my brand new Customer Reviews page with reviews from past clients. So, if you are a past client, and you have the time, then please submit a review. Please visit the Customer Review Page and click the Submit Review Button.

Thank you for your participation!

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

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Solaris Site Updated!

I hate it when I'm shopping online looking form information about a product, and I’m unable to find that information. My standard response to a site that does not provide me with the information I’m seeking is to just find another site that will!

So, I have decided to Zig, while my competition Zags. Standard operating procedure for a photography studio is to create a website displaying their best work and not much else. This is done so the viewer will become emotionally attached. However, there really is not much else. What would happen if I provided as much information as I could?

My guess is that people would like to see more! How much more confident will people be in purchasing my services when everything is out in the open? So I have decided to make my company as transparent as possible. Visit the new site! A few bits here and there are still being worked on, but for the most part it is ready to go.

The new front end to the Solaris Site was produced by Major Websites.

PLEASE! Let me know what you think by taking the Site Survey, also located as the last link on the right of the new site.

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

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A bit of wedding mayhem.

When I have time to watch TV, one of my favorite shows to watch is a British automotive show called Top Gear. I have to record it because I never have the time to watch it when it's actually on.

Top Gear is smart and fast, and it’s all about cars. Cool cars. Guy stuff. And because it’s British, it really takes a different twist on things, which I like.

Well, I was surfing through past episodes today, and I came across this. If you are tired of planning your wedding and you need a bit of comical relief, then have a look.

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

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One Year Later!

On 7/18/06 Isaac and Marjan signed with me to photograph their wedding for 9/16/06. If you are a long time reader of this blog you may remember their wedding images.

One year later, almost to the day, Isaac and Marjan find themselves back in my studio. Thank you both for your continued business, and congratulations!

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

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Join us for Fine Art Fridays!

My good friends David Jones and Mitch Daniels and I have been off and on now for lunch at the Museum of Fine Arts. It's something that we have been doing on Fridays for I guess the past three years now. We like to call it Fine Art Fridays. There have been times when others have tagged along with us, but for the most part, David, Mitch and I seem to be the big die -hards.

We first meet at the Café Express located on the bottom floor of the newest building, and after lunch we don our iPods and walk through the museum looking for inspiration and insights into how we can develop our own work.

Well, David and I thought that we would give an open invitation to any other photographers or artists out there that would like to join us on our next outing. I haven't talked to Mitch about this yet, but zI amsure if he is aailable he will be there too.

Come join David and I at Café Express on October 19th at 11am. After lunch we plan on taking an hour or longer to meander around and brain storm. If you are interested, then please email or call the studio at 713-524-3303.

Hope to see you there!

------------
People Attending

1) Aric Hoek - Solaris
2) David Jones
3) Jennifer Schafer - Publisher of Premier Bride
4) Mary Beth Touchstone
5) Andie Smith

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

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Swinson / Williams Wedding Album V2.0

Crystal and Travis were married earlier this year on May 26th at The Moody Gardens in Galveston. I finished the initial design last month and this month I have completed the revisions. One thing that I did notice while designing this album is hwo well the color theme flows throughout the entirety of the design.

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

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Sep PPGH Print Competition Submissions

Tonight is the September meeting of The Professional Photographers Guild of Houston (PPGH). Each month brings a new print competition to all of the members that want to participate. It is this competition that determines who is awarded photographer of the year at the December Christmas Gala. I have never been awarded Photographer of The Year, but I am pushing hard this year.

There are multiple categories that you can enter prints in each month. This month I am entering into the Electronic Imaging category with a before and after entitled Hearts On Fire. The second entry is call The American Dream and is being turned into the Wedding category.

Wish me luck!

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

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Lori and Jeff's Wedding Album

Lori and Jeff’s wedding was in mid June of this year. Their wedding coordinators, Schwartz & Woodward, were recently featured on Platinum Weddings. The ceremony was at Sugar Land First United Methodist, and their reception was held at Sugar Creek Country Club.

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

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Christina and Coby's Album Design

Christina and Coby’s exchanged vows on June 9th of this year. You may remember from this earlier post. Now you can view their wedding album as well! What a fantastic family to work with and I think you will agree that their album is going to be spectacular!

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

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Mariam, Waddah and Chihuly.

Mariam and Waddah were a fabulous couple to serve! Everyone was so stress free and the party was fabulous! I really love the couples that hire me and then just set me loose without any restrictions. I was free to create!

As an additional bonus Waddah’s mother and sister were able to fly in from Egypt at the very last minute to attend.

Their ceremony and reception were held at Café Artista in Downtown Houston. However, Mariam was getting ready at The Hilton Americas. In the lobby hangs a chandelier from one of my favorite artists, Chihuly.

Chihuly Video.

Thank you both Mariam and Waddah for your business. I will have your images online this week!

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

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