To view a Will Langmore portrait is to view a moment of interior revelation. “My goal is to capture the soul and personality of my subjects, and I think that’s what comes through in my work,” says Langmore, a 30-year resident of Alamo Heights. Langmore’s successful 25-year career as a professional photographer began in 1984 when he joined his mother’s studio after attending UTSA. But photography has long been a part of the Langmore family household.
“My mom trained me in portraiture, but my father was also a photographer. He introduced the world of photography to our family back in the early ‘70s.” Raised in Dallas, Will was the oldest of the Langmores’ three children. His father, Bank Langmore, became interested in photography while working on a book about the American cowboy. “Dad had a unique, grainy look to his images,” Langmore recalls. “He taught my mother about photography, and she went into portraiture.”
In 1981, after Will graduated from high school, the Langmores relocated to Alamo Heights and brought with them a distinct style of photography that set a new standard in fine portraiture. In 1984, Langmore’s mother, Dorothy, opened the first Langmore Photography studio in Alamo Heights, and a family business and ’09 legend was born. Indeed, no home in Alamo Heights is considered complete without a signature Langmore portrait, widely regarded as brilliant works of art, to grace the walls. “Mom came up with this very distinctive technique that created the soft, ethereal style of portraits for which our studio is known.
Her portraits looked more like a painting than a photograph. She created that style by putting a pantyhose over her lens to diffuse the image, then combining it with a certain kind of film and processing to create our signature look,” he explains. This distinctive combination of tools and technique proved to be a winner, and the family business flourished. Will and his sister, Marie, joined their mother’s studio, and over the years, brought to the family business their own unique style and personality. “There are a lot of similarities between all our work, but we all have our own distinct style and interests.
I think I was strongly influenced by both of my parents. Now I’m more interested in total spontaneity,” Langmore says. “I will go to any lengths of being outrageous and waiting for something to happen to capture the moment.” Langmore’s love for his work is evidenced by the beautiful portraits he creates for families throughout San Antonio and all across the country. “When I get behind the camera, I get this natural high,” he says. “I get excited.
I enjoy establishing relationships with my clients and building a rapport. I think that’s what we do well. When I capture that moment, there is just something special about it. Then I love looking at the results. I can’t wait to look at the images! It’s like being in a candy store.” Aside from the photography, Langmore also does his own printing: “For me, that’s a huge part of the creative process. I learned that from my father. I did all his printmaking when I was young.”
Married for 19 years, Will and Elizabeth have called Alamo Heights home for a decade. Previous residents of the King William District, they chose Alamo Heights when they were ready to start a family. “We wanted something more kid-friendly, and we found it here. We love Alamo Heights because it’s a small community within a large city. It feels like a small town. I have a five-minute commute to work, but I still complain,” Langmore jokes. “I love Alamo Heights because it has retained its character architecturally, and you don’t see that much anymore.”
“We wanted something more kid-friendly, and we found it here. We love Alamo Heights because it’s a small community within a large city. It feels like a small town. I have a five-minute commute to work, but I still complain,” Langmore jokes.
Being a part of the Alamo Heights community is hugely important to the Langmores. Will and Elizabeth have one son, Milo, a fifth-grader at Woodridge Elementary, who will attend the Alamo Heights Junior School in the fall. A teacher by trade, Elizabeth is very involved in Milo’s school, volunteering in the classroom, chaperoning field trips, attending class events, as well as participating in many school fundraising events. She also substitute teaches at Woodridge and the Howard Early Childhood Center.
As it is with most parents, much of the Langmores’ time is spent in support of Milo’s many interests and activities. “Milo loves sports. He’s very athletically inclined. He loves basketball and baseball. Right now, it’s baseball, so we spend a lot of time at the fields.” The Alamo Heights Little League field in the Olmos Basin is a second home to many families in the neighborhood. “It’s a very social place,” Langmore agrees. “It’s nice to spend time with the parents throughout the season. You get to know each other in a way you might not get to otherwise.”
When he isn’t conspiring on ways to get that perfect brother-sister shot or cheering on Milo at a game, Langmore is involved with several close-tothe- heart personal projects. “I’ve been photographing identical twins for about a year. I had an exhibit, and I’m hoping to have a book and a major museum exhibit in the future,” he says. Langmore also dedicates his time and talent to a joint project with Child Advocates of San Antonio (CASA), a nonprofit organization that advocates for abused children. “My role is to tell the story of what CASA does through portraits,” he explains. “ I’m creating a visual narrative. The goal is to create awareness of what CASA is about as well as to raise money. It’s very exciting.”
Today, Will and his sister, Marie, continue to grow the Langmore legacy, sharing their passion and talent in timeless portraits of children and families. His brother, John, an attorney by trade, is also an accomplished photographer in Austin. Be it work, family, community, or personal interests, Langmore’s passion and commitment are captured daily in the canvas of his life: “I’m blessed to live and work in a community like Alamo Heights.”
