New Birth Announcements

First...Mom, not yet!

Second, I'm a little late with this post, but my wonderful designer, Laura, has unveiled the latest additions to Olive My Love cards. As usual, these cards offer a funky, retro way to celebrate the birth of your child, and are available exclusively through iNWARD STUDIO. Take a look on the website for all the options, but here is my favorite. I have a thing for monkeys.



And, for those paying attention, that is Mabry...but she plays a boy on TV.

8 Things You Might Not Know

So, a few weeks ago, a photographer started encouraging her fellow photographers to post 8 things about themselves that many might not know. Delaney Holliman tagged me this week. I've put a great deal of thought into this, so here goes.

1. My name would have been April Michelle if my mom had her wish. She wanted a girl, and wouldn't even consider a boys' names while she was pregnant. So, when I was born, my parent's had no idea what to name me. My dad was wearing a MIA bracelet that he had purchased a few years earlier. It was inscribed "LT. NEAL WARD 6-13-69" They thought it made for a good name and thus I was dubbed Neal Ward Carpenter. Years later I "stole" the bracelet from my dad, and I have worn it every day since. I visited the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC when I was a kid, and made a rubbing of his name on the wall. I'm visiting DC in October and plan to do it again. Here is a picture of Neal. He is 2nd from the right in the back row.

The funny part is my mom has 3 sons...no daughters.

2. My 15 minutes came when I was 5 years old. I was featured on Channel 13 participating in a frog jumping contest at the Battle of Byron. Oddly enough, the frog didn't move. I think that is why I was chosen...and who can resist a red head.

3. I have a talent for making very realistic goat noises. I think I even fool the goats.

4. I pride myself on being willing to try almost any food. BUT, I believe that there are 4 perfect food groups. Bread, Cheese, Pickles, and Mustard. It is hard to explain, but if you want proof, have a Cuban sandwich. It is all 4 food groups plus pork two ways (roast pork and ham). Pork would be the 5th, but I think that kinda goes without saying.

5. I've known my wife since we were 10 years old. Our birthdays are only 34 days apart (she is older). We even graduated together. BUT, we didn't start dating until we were in college. She blames me for that.

6. I got married in a Baptist church owned by the federal government. We got married in a 150 year old church on the side of a mountain in the Cherokee National Forest in North Carolina. We saw it while we were dating, and thought it would be a great idea. I'm not sure our parents agree.

7. I've had a wide variety of jobs. My first job was baby sitting. Then I moved "up" to fast food. That only lasted 9 days. I also worked as a cook and a manager at two different Italian restaurants. I worked at a warehouse in college during the summers. Then I worked as an editor of Air Force instruction manuals (It was really boring). I worked for Wolf Camera for many years before having the opportunity to work as a photographer full time.

Needless to say, I've had a "real" job, and I don't want to go back.

8. Lastly, I photographed Vice President Dick Cheney once. He visited Macon a few years ago for a fund raiser. I photographed him arriving at the airport. His plane landed, Cheney emerged from the plane, and he got into his limo. That was it. What makes it memorable was all the waiting and searches. The Secret Service is thorough.

High Art

One of the things I love about living in Macon is the proximity to Atlanta. All the benefits with two-thirds less traffic. Part of the wonder of Atlanta is the High Museum of Art. You can see exhibits of work on loan from the Louvre, Southern folk art, and portraits by an African photographer to name a few. My next visit will be to see the work of Annie Leibovitz. There is a large exhibit of her work on display through September 9th. There is something special about actual prints of fine photography. The internet and books are a great resource, but nothing has the depth of a print.

Don't miss this rare opportunity.

Time Killer

It is rare to find a video game about weddings. Even harder to find a game for Mac. BUT, I've done both. It is a silly game called Wedding Dash. You are the wedding coordinator, and have to plan and run the reception. You have to choose the cake, food, and honeymoon. Then you have to seat and serve guests while breaking up fights between bridesmaids. It is amazingly accurate.

It is available for Mac and PC, so download the free demo and waste a little time.

Photography/Photoshop Classes

Unfortunately, Nova Computer Training, where I used to teach, has closed its doors. So, I have decided to offer my "Digital Photography for Soccer Moms and Dads" and Photoshop classes at my studio. I'm starting a mailing list for interested parties, and hope to start classes in earnest this fall. Send your contact info to neal@inwardstudio.com if your interested in being contacted when the schedule is set.

Classes are also available on a one-on-one basis for those interested.

Finally!

So, I finally got the opportunity to update the web galleries with images from the last 4 or 5 months. I'm not finished, but I've made a good start. I've been so blessed this year with all the amazing weddings, families, children and seniors I have captured this year. And best of all, it isn't over yet. September and October will be as busy with weddings and the summer months.

Then I have a little break in November, but that gives me time for family sessions for the holidays. My designer, Laura, has been working all year on new holiday and birthday/birth announcements. I'll let you know when they are online. But, don't wait until then to book your session. There are actually precious few weeks in the fall before the holidays.

Bridal Show

As we do twice a year, Macon's Wedding Ring is presenting it's bridal show August 19th at the Armory Ballroom. It is an excellent opportunity to meet many of the vendors needed for the perfect wedding. Best of all, it is a very low key show with the emphasis put on conversations rather than a fashion show. So, come say hello if you are in attendance.
(Click on the title of this post for a link to the show website.)

Puerto Rico!

Puerto Rico was amazing! Azure water, verdant mountains, and scrumptuous food. The people were warm and welcoming. There were only two problems. We were only there for 3 days, and the weather makes Georgia seem temperate. It is very hot and very muggy. Of course, it was all worth it when we stepped into the cool, crystal clear water. It was unlike anything we had ever experienced.

AND, I got to photograph a beautiful wedding. Dawn and Jeremy had a small family wedding on a secluded beach just before sunset. It couldn't have been more perfect. Here are few images for you to enjoy.






Just one of my "arm length" portraits of Jeca and me at the beach we found.

Sorry and Thank You

I have been very slack when it comes to my blog. Many of you have reminded me to update my blog. Thank you.

The reason for my absence from the blogosphere is the amazing wedding I've been so fortunate to photograph. This weekend, I will complete 4 straight months of weddings (not one Saturday off). There was even a Sunday wedding for good measure. It has been amazing. In the next few weeks, I will update the galleries so you can all see what I've been doing.

Friday, I leave for Puerto Rico to photograph a wedding. I know. It is a hard life. But, after that, I have a few weekends free. I hope to catch up. So, check the website for updates.

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

My Rover is Home

As many of you know, I LOVE my car. It is a sickness, but I'm OK with that. My Rover is a 1994 Land Rover Range Rover County. It is British Racing Green. Could there be a better color for a British car? It is a little rough around the edges, but it is a work in progress.

Well, about two weeks ago, she went in for major surgery (new head gaskets, etc). After the 14 longest days of my life (and one of the largest checks I've ever written), my Rover is home. Thank you for all the well wishes . Hopefully, she will be on the road for many years to come.

Name That Promotion Winner

Thank you to all who participated in Name That Promotion. I was overwhelmed with the number of entries and votes. It was a close contest but, the winner is Heather Roach with "Simon Says Smile." Thank you to Heather for a fantastic suggestion. There will be a special gallery on the website soon, so check back.

Don't delay scheduling your "Simon Says Smile" session. There are only 12 sessions in total and several have already been reserved. I look forward to seeing you all in St Simons.

Maternity at Last

The maternity section is now live on the website. I love what I have been able to create so far, and look forward to expanding the portfolio in the coming months. I've been lucky enough to find several couples willing to be a part of the website. Thank you to all who appear in the Maternity Portfolio.

If you know anyone who might be interested in being a part of the Maternity Portfolio, have them get in touch.

Name That Promotion, The Voting Begins

First, let me apologize for the last nature of this post. I am a victim of my own success. With all the wonderful wedding, seniors, babies, and families calling, it was hard to make time for this. But, I have made my selections from the many excellent suggestions. Here are my Top 5. You have until April 28th to vote. Now, this is an excellent opportunity to stack the deck. If you see one of your suggestions, and you want to win, tell everyone you know to vote for you. Don't forget, the Grand Prize is a FREE beach session (or equivalent for those not at St Simons). Please email votes to neal@inwardstudio.com with "Name That Promotion" in the subject line.

St. Simons, Sand, Snap!
Neal’s Sizzlin' Summer Sessions in St. Simons
Capturing Island Time
Simon Says Smile
Coastal Memories

Here are a few samples from Tybee Island.

One of My Favorite Things

I get great joy from seeing a great idea to fruition. I recently found the new Wall Street Journal campaign, Every Journey Needs a Journal . I loved the simple, story telling images, and knew I could recreate it. I decided it lent itself very well to senior photography. Renee was so kind as to help me create this example. Best of all, she is quite an accomplished young woman. Click on the image to see a larger version.

Kate Looked Great!

Yesterday afternoon, Kate, her mother, and I braved the heat to make some amazing bridal images of Kate. Her dress is very modern, so we decided to do some in a very traditional environment (Woodruff House) and some in a very contemporary one (Gateway Plaza). The results are wonderful...better than I could have imagined. Kate was a trooper. She didn't complain once. I can't wait for the wedding next month. Here are a few of my favorites.

It Was Cold

Last Saturday, Summer and Mike joined me downtown for their engagement session. There isn't really anything noteworthy about that except it was freezing...literally. They suffered through the weather, and I think the results were worth the pain. Here is my favorite. I was trying to warm them up. There are a few more in the engagement section on the website.

A Funny Thing Happened on Tybee

I am amazed by the odd things that happen sometimes. I was approached by three young guys on the beach a few weekends ago. The proceeded to tell me they were a band from Atlanta... Joshua Fletcher & the Six-Shot Romance (click on the title of this post to link to their myspace page). They asked if I would take their picture on the beach. ABSOLUTELY! Band photography is liberating. There are no rules. I happened to have my 1950s, German made, Zeiss Ikon camera with me. So, I shot a few frames of film. Here are the results. It was a blast, and I hope I get to do more. The band has an album coming out the end of the month, so check them out.

Where I Want To Go!

I really enjoy photographing weddings in new locations. I have a few "dream" destinations. Middleton Place Plantation in Charleston is probably the closest. Other notable locations include Ireland, Jamaica, and Banff. Actually, any sunny island would be good. Any European country would be good (I've heard Prague is nice). Actually, I envision a bride and groom in a lush, green field, surrounded by grazing sheep, with a castle in the background. OR, a couple running in the surf with the bride's veil flowing behind like superman's cape. OR, a freshly wed husband and wife flanked by snow covered peaks.

SO, if you or someone you know is planning a wedding in one of these locations (or somewhere similar) please give me a call. As I always say... "the better the location, the cheaper I am."

Something New

I am always looking for new ways to display prints. The newest addition is the Photo Rope. I metal cable with a weight on one end. Small magnets hold the prints to the cable. The Photo Rope is a simple, contemporary way to display small images without a frame, and it is very easy to change the prints. The pictures below probably illustrate it better than my explanation.

If you would like one of your very own, they are available for $40. If you would like it with six 4x6 or 5x5 prints, it is only $100. It would make a great Mother's Day or Father's Day gift.

Who Knew This Would Work

I've got it! Let's make a Broadway musical out of a 70's cult film.

Not only did it work, but it won several Tony's. Spamalot is the musical version of the cult classic "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." Now the traveling version is in Atlanta. There are only a few shows left, so get tickets if you can. I'm going Sunday.