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@_ANTHONYGAUNA

As things get back to "normal" (I hate that phrase

There are so many feelings going on within me. Fir

There are so many feelings going on within me. First off, I'm so stoked to "get back to work". I know I could've already been shooting, but I wanted to chill out until June in case shit got crazy and cases sky rocketed. But once June hits, I'll be back in the game.
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I already have elopements and sessions scheduled! Contact me if you're considering a session. I'll still be wearing a mask, but you'll still be able to see my beard. Lol. I didn't realize it until looking through photos from last year, but it has grown. Looks like my childhood dream of having a ZZ Top beard will come true!
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Jokes aside, I'm so damn happy to get back into shooting, whether it's weddings, elopements, or sessions. Being a photographer is who I am. I wanted to share a photo from a wedding I did shortly after I was fired from my job and took the risk of going full-time. This was taken back in 2012. It reminds me about all the hardships I went through during time and have gone through even up until Covid. It makes me remember that I AM A PHOTOGRAPHER and I'll go through shit just to make myself and others happy by creating art WITH them.
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I love ya'll. And I mean it, reach out if you're looking to book your wedding or session. I open back up in June. Custom quotes are always available. All I require is a consultation. You can find all sorts of kind words about me and my process from clients on the interwebs. I love ya'll.

Yesterday, we ran around chasing Ethan with his wa

Yesterday, we ran around chasing Ethan with his water guns and laser guns. I felt like I was prepping for family photo sessions running with my camera trying to get a photo. Lol. Cause like, for real, I've put on so much weight since quarantine. I need to lose it before "wedding season".
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Throughout all of this, the one thing that's continued to stick with me is that it's engrained in me to photograph people. I'm not in a good place in my life or health, emotionally or physically, if I'm not photographing people.
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I'm tired of being stuck in our apartment. I'm tired of feeling like I'm in a very, very, very long version of summer vacation even though summer vacation is starting today. I miss time for myself in every damn aspect of my being.
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I can't wait to get back to creating for others. I need it for my mental health to the point where no one even knows. Quarantine has made me hit the lowest of the lows. More than Waco could have ever done to me.

Now that things seem like they’re getting better

Now that things seem like they’re getting better, I've received new inquiries (and booked new couples), I have decided to open up dates in June. I'm so damn happy to go back to doing what I love and doing what I'm good at.
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It's gonna be weird though, I know. I'll be wearing a mask. I'm still feeling weird about it all. I know other photographers opened up a few weeks ago, but I still wanted to be a bit more cautious.
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Another thing that I realized is that I might become a bit more familiar with the San Antonio courthouse. And I also might have to get a little creative. Couples aren’t planning big weddings during these times. All this made me think about this elopement from a few years ago. They're from the Valley, but eloped in the San Antonio hill country.
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I can't fucking wait until shit gets back to "normal". I miss creating art for bad ass people. Let's fuck shit up! 🤘

Today, my wife and I celebrate 2 years of marriage

Today, my wife and I celebrate 2 years of marriage! And in July, we'll have been together for 8 years. We've been through so much together. A month after we met and started dating, I was fired from my job, moved in with my dad, ate only Ramen, and took two risks.
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The first one was starting my own photography business with absolutely no experience about running a business or working for myself. I only had a few weddings under my belt, hardly any camera equipment, no website, and not a damn clue what I was doing. The savings in my bank went to buying what I needed. I even signed a 1 year contract to advertise with The Knot without having the money. I had no idea if I would be even be able to pay it off.
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The second risk was the potential of losing the woman I met that I fell in love with immediately. By telling her that I was going to try starting my own business with no knowledge, I was afraid she wouldn't want to be with me. But she was supportive of me (even without seeing my photos until a month after that). I was so damn afraid of failing. Especially, since she and her one year old son moved in with me and my dad too. My family and friends thought I was crazy and making a huge mistake, but Amanda stood by my side the entire time.
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I'm someone that takes risks if I believe in myself. I do shit my way and answer to no one. Yet at the same time, I'm always equally afraid of failing others because I truly care about more than myself. Amanda was the one person I met that genuinely made me feel loved. Even with all my flaws. She knows I'm an artist and will never go to school and/or get a "normal" job. My running joke with her is that "She's the only person who's put up with me".
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I love her so damn much. Here's a few photos from our wedding. It's a mix of my photos and our amazing wedding photographer @christiandavidphoto_ . And yes, that's right... I did have my camera on me during our ceremony. Once again, I'm thankful my wife puts up with me. I'm a handful. You have no idea.

Coming up this August will be my 8th year of being

Coming up this August will be my 8th year of being in business full-time as a photographer. That's fucking crazy! 8 years of working on my own. Granted, it's come with a lot of struggles either with relationships, finances, places to live, and in the very beginning, living off of ramen and boxes of macaroni and cheese. There's been multiple times throughout these years I've felt like giving up. Not because I hate photography, but just cause at some points it was just so damn hard to get through shit emotionally and financially.
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It gets hard for me emotionally because I don't ever want to fail my wife and son. I don't want to be some angsty artist that needs to express himself but can't provide for his family. Luckily, we've always scrapped by. We've always made it work. I've always learned lessons from my failures. It's never been terrible and it's always been worth it.
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Whenever I feel down, my wife always tells me, "Things always work out". And I hate when she tells me that. Yet, equally, it's also comforting. Lol. But it's true.
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With everything going on these days, I honestly have really big ups and downs emotionally. But with my 8th year anniversary of working for myself approaches, I still feel hopeful. I still feel excited to continue on. To push through the continual struggles. To continue to create art for myself and others.
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Above all, I'm so damn grateful for the people who put their trust in me. Who believe in me to take their photo. To hear their stories and preserve them through the way I see the world. People have hired from from around the US or Texas and put their trust in me without ever meeting me in person. I've slept on couches of clients' homes. I've been invited to BBQ and dinner. I've been given thoughtful gifts and really kind thoughts and words. Especially throughout the time of this pandemic.
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All of this to say is that I'm pushing through. I dug through as many files as I could today and found a lot of selfies I've done with my clients throughout the years. I love ya'll so damn much. If you never had a chance to leave me a review online, reach out and I'll send you a direct link!

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