These are so beautiful! I love the new design. The photo can wrap all the way around the back of the case, like the cover of a book. Or, it can just be on the top and the spine.
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Melissa and Chase joined me in Little Rock’s River Market for an engagement session last Sunday, despite the wind and falling temperatures. The wind was busy blowing in this week’s cooler temperatures, and the sun made only a brief appearance, but we had a fun session anyway. The wind was our friend on at least one occasion, flipping up Melissa’s hair, magazine cover style!
I haven’t posted on this yet because I’m still kind of lost in disbelief. I’m always pretty hard on myself when it comes to my own work. So, it was with much trepidation that I submitted my name to become a member of Photographik, “The Elite Photographers Network.” I knew my online portfolio had to be reviewed and approved before I would be accepted. Surprisingly, at least to me, I was accepted. Photographik looks for photographers who have an “eye.” Only two other Arkansas photographers are members, and they are photographers whose work I have admired for a long time. I’m proud to be among their number.
Certainly I strive to bring something to the field. I seek to continually improve my work and my own vision by looking at the work of great photographers. I don’t hesitate to break the rules when I think it will make a great photo (such as the photo above.) I follow my own eye for beauty, not someone’s set of photo rules. I’m thrilled that there are photographers out there who appreciate and honor those who seek to create art instead of trying to make photography a product that can be mass-produced. I’m honored to be numbered among them. It wasn’t that I was trying to mislead you. I really did mean to post more photos from Diane and David’s December wedding. I just have been trying to keep up with bridal fair, new signups on the website, and improving a few things here and there (like the contact form on my website — you can now leave me a message! And you can fill out the same form at the side of this page.) Here are a couple more that I came across while editing these for the couple’s proofs.
 This little guy was a dancing fool, and a hit with the ladies. I snapped a picture just as one of his fans did the same, caught the flash, the dancing, the bridesmaids and the nice light.  Regular visitors to the blog might know how much I enjoy shooting natural light. This was hand held at 1/8 of a second ... not something many people can do but I've had practice.  As promised, photos of David's on the spot dance lesson.  Love, love, love this. What a beautiful gesture of celebration! John and Casey were married last March at the Capital Hotel in Little Rock. Here’s a slide show of their wedding images I had made for the bridal fair. I had a great time at the bridal fair and enjoyed meeting everyone who came by my booth. We had a really good response and it was wonderful hearing all the positive comments from brides to be. I think many people are starting to see how taking a photojournalism approach to wedding photography makes perfect sense, and they are responding to that. After all, it is a wedding, not a day-long portrait session! I’m in the middle of contacting everyone and getting some great wedding planning tips to those who signed up during the bridal fair. If you missed signing up, you can fill out the contact form or just sign up on the blog. You can also see the first email that went out right here. I have to add a big “Thank You” to everyone who helped out. My second photographer, Cary Jenkins, was able to be there for the busiest part of the afternoon but was called away by her work with the Arkansas Community Arts Cooperative later in the afternoon. My awesome friend Wilma Keller helped set up, was there with me the entire day, and helped me take everything down and load it in my car. She is my hero. And Jannette Tarbat, a fellow rugby player (though from a different generation of rugby players than me) came and helped and was the best ever at greeting people and getting them involved in looking at albums. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Bridal Show is only a week away, and I’ve been busy getting ready. If you are a bride you should definitely plan to attend. Just sampling the different caterers’ offerings is worth the price of admission. Tickets are $5 in advance and can be purchased here. Tickets are $7 at the door. This is a huge bridal fair, and if you are planning a wedding it can be overwhelming. A little preparation can make the bridal fair much more relaxing. Thankfully, this year the people at the Democrat-Gazette have made it easier by launching the Arkansas’ Bridal Community website. The first thing to do is to get a vendor map, which can be downloaded here. Print that baby out; you will need it later. Then, check out the “Resources” page for a list of vendors that will be at the bridal fair. Focus on the vendors that you still need to book. Visit as many websites as you can to see who might interest you. If you like someone’s website highlight or circle their booth on the vendor map so you can be sure to visit for a closer look. Before the bridal fair, get some of those little address labels from an office supply store — the kind that have templates you can download to create your own. Include your name, phone, email, wedding date and possibly address. Take at least one sheet of labels to the bridal fair. Many booths have giveaways and you can use these stickers instead of laboriously filling out form after form. Oh, and don’t forget to leave your information with the vendors who you might be interested in. Using your vendor map, plan your route. Most of the time the crowds all seem to go the same direction. If you focus on the vendors who interest you, you may be able to avoid the worst crowds and get some one-on-one time with the vendors. Plan to take a friend or your mom, or even all your bridesmaids. It’s easier when you have another person’s opinion, company, and another pair of hands. Wear comfortable shoes. You may be standing in line for a while before you even get in the door. If you really don’t love crowds, and you are wanting to get down to business with your wedding planning, don’t come early — come late. The crowds tend to taper off after the first couple of hours and it will be easier to get around, to talk to people and to maybe even get some vendors booked for your wedding! Don’t forget your checkbook. You might just fall in love with a particular band, wedding venue, videographer or photographer. In that case, you will want to reserve your date then and there since these folks can typically only book one wedding a day. Have fun, and I hope to see you there! Overwhelmed. That’s what I was after shooting Diane and David’s wedding at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Little Rock. There were so many photos that I loved, that I’m just now getting around to writing the blog post. Just a few, and I’m planning a slide show later:  Getting ready. I loved the layered feel of the photo on the right.  Roses and greenery were in keeping with the Christmas theme of the wedding.
Not surprisingly, there was some serious dancing going on at the reception. The band was Tragickly White, and though I really like them, my favorite part of this reception was when they took breaks and the traditional Greek dancing started.
 I've never seen a man so happy to catch the garter.  A new and fragrant variation on throwing stuff at the bride and groom: rosemary. Stay tuned for part II, including the groom getting impromptu dance lessons. This slide show from Amanda and Marcos’ engagement session will be one of those featured at my booth at the Bridal Fair January 17 at the Statehouse Convention Center. I will also be producing (and posting) a couple of slide shows from recent weddings. The wedding slide shows are included in all 2010 packages: copies of a high definition DVD for the couple and their parents, plus a link where the video can be shared with friends on Twitter, Myspace, Facebook, etc. Something about Marcos and Amanda’s wedding at Hilltop Manor in Hot Springs reminded me of a painting by and Old Dutch Master. Maybe it was all the warm tones of the walls at both the ceremony and the reception. Or it could have been the beautiful directional light that seemed to be everywhere. It was a natural choice to go with available light for some of my favorite photos.  Hilltop Manor in Hot Springs was the setting for Marcos and Amanda's Christmastime wedding.
 Getting ready in the Sycamore Suite.  Amanda's mother watches as she puts the finishing touches on her makeup.  Amada gets help with the corset back of her dress.  My favorite image, incorporating the Christmas lights at Hilltop Manor Bed and Breakfast.  The reception was at the Porterhouse Club in downtown Hot Springs, where again, the light was wonderful.
 Leaving the Porterhouse Club in Hot Springs. Hilltop Manor is an amazing place, and since dark was coming on when I arrived, I didn’t even get to see most of it. What I saw was wonderful, partial as I am to craftsman style homes. The service was far beyond expectations, and who wouldn’t love a Jacuzzi tub next to a fireplace this time of year? I’m already plotting how we can stash the kids with grandparents and visit it ourselves. |
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