Sam Houston Park in Downtown Houston, Part 2

The first Sam Houston Park in Downtown Houston article covered three of the eight historic structures in the park.  This post will discuss the remaining five plus the gazebo sitting strategically in the middle of the park.

Gazebo: The gazebo is not the cleanest structure in the park but it is fun and inviting.  Play with the angles within the gazebo and shoot your clients sitting on the rail, laying on the rail or walking up the steps of the gazebo.

Kellum-Noble House (1847): The columns around the porch are tantalizing to the eyes.  Position siblings on each side of the column with their body facing each other but looking at the camera or have each lean their back against either side of the column.  If you are photographing couples then lean the girlfriend/wife's back against the column and have the boyfriend/husband face the woman and tilt his head down and toward the camera.  Have the couple whisper to each other and capture that perfect moment when their eyes meet, their mouths touch or they make each other laugh.  You will capture a great shot using this technique.

Nichols-Rice-Cherry House (1850): You can play with the columns of this house as well as the the birdbath sitting just off to the side of the stairs.

San Felipe Cottage (1868): A quaint cottage with a picturesque white picket fence.  Position the family on the steps and frame the shot with the porch rails or even frame the porch rails with the white picket fence.  For a children/sibling shot - experiment with the children sitting, laying on their back, tummy, etc in front of the white picket fence then get down to their level and shoot with the fence as the background.  Change it up and take pictures of the children behind the fence peeking out.

Yates House (1870): The gray of the house is a great compliment for colorfully clothed clients.  The columns this home offers are much smaller in width and great to have a family or children sitting from tallest to shortest and take the shot at an angle - off to the left or to the right.  The stairs of this home are awesome as a frame for a large family shot.  

Staiti House (1905): This home is large and beautiful.  The porch is small compared to the house but the area still offers photographic opportunities.  Sit or stand your subjects in front of the small square windows set in white wood.  Next move to the brick for an interesting background.  Move your client back in front of the small square windows and have then sit or lay on their stomach with their heads close together looking through the white porch fencing.  Move to the lawn area and shoot their faces close up.  Ask them to look at you, look at the sky, look at each other and make faces.

4th Ward Cottage: The tiny cottage offers an interesting white and green background.  Position the client(s) near the door and focus on the family but include the length of the house in your photo.  This will provide an interesting angle surely to become a treasured keepsake for your client.

Trees: The park is full of low hanging tree limbs perfect for individual, sibling, couple and family shots.  Make sure to bring a small step ladder to assist with climbing on to the limbs.

The second week of February we will begin discussing the photography possibilities of the almost dozen monuments.