Speak No Evil, Hear No Evil, See No Evil

I think we are out of order, but I couldn't resist. This image of my niece and nephews grew from my nephew, Mat, trying to point out his ears. I only need a spark of an idea.

I've Been Busy!

Sorry for the sparse posts of late. I've been a busy, busy guy. I started the year by attending Imaging USA (the national Professional Photographers of America convention) in Tampa. Fortunately, I was not alone. There was quite a large group of photographers from Middle Georgia. Here is the picture Johnny Mullis took of us at dinner at the Columbia Restaurant. Included are the group from Delaney Holliman Photography (Delaney, Kerri, and Jenny), Impressive Images (Jim and Linda Barber), Forever Young Photography (Danielle Bodony), K H Mason Photography (Heather Mason), and Stephanie Lynn Photography (Stephanie Gober).
It was nice to be surrounded by friends, and we had a great time! I hope there will be more of these moments. Besides having fun with friends, I did get some new ideas for 2008. Keep checking to see what is in store.



Then I had to get ready for the Macon's Wedding Ring Bridal Show. I try to do something different each time I'm involved in a bridal show. This time I went with a more contemporary approach. I had a bench where weary brides could sit and enjoy flipping through a few sample albums. I think the respite was well appreciated.

It was an amazing show. There were 125 brides in attendance (More than ever before by far). One lucky bride even won a weekend getaway to the Ritz-Carlton in Atlanta. Thank you to everyone who came by the booth. I hope to see many of you in the very near future. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of my own booth to show. Bad photographer!

Now, I am working on preparing for my Digital Photography Class. This will be the first time I've done a one day class. I want to inform without overloading. So much to share in such a short time. There are only 3 spaces left, so please don't wait to register.

I'll try to be better this year about posting regularly. Have a great day!

Macon's Wedding Ring Show

I wanted to remind everyone of Macon's Wedding Ring Bridal Show on January 20th. Twice a year the best wedding professionals in Middle Georgia come together for a great show. It is an amazing opportunity to see all we have to offer. Caterers, videographers, and wedding planners are but a few of the vendors who will be present. This time we will be at the Blacksmith Shop. If you are looking for a unique venue for your reception, you would be hard pressed to do better than the Blacksmith shop.

Click on the title of this post to link to more information.

Best of all, I'll be offering a great special to brides at the show. You'll have to come by the booth to find out, but it will be a $250 value! I love free stuff.

I look forward to seeing you all there.

Special New Year!

First...

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

Second, to say thank you to everyone who have been such an integral part of my success, I want to announce the Wall Portrait Upgrade New Year Special.

It is very simple. For every 11x14 or larger portrait you order, you will receive the next larger size print at no additional charge. So, for example, you will receive a 24x30 print for the price of a 20x24 print. The Upgrade is valid on orders placed by February 28th, 2008.

Best of all, this offer is valid on new sessions as well. Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

This year, lets all accentuate the positive.

The Week Between

I normally don't work much between Christmas and New Years. This year isn't much different. A few random appointments, but not much else. So, in honor of the lazy days and less-than-ideal weather, I have found the perfect quote. Enjoy!

"No day is so bad it can't be fixed with a nap." -Carrie Snow

Last Minute Gifts From iNWARD STUDIO

With less than a week to go until Christmas, I have a couple of offers for the last minute shoppers out there.

First, for one week only, I will be offering gift certificates for 25% off face value. (Yes, you can buy them for yourself.) Simply, a $100 gift certificate will only cost $75. Not only do gift certificates make for great presents, but these will stretch your Christmas budget. Don't forget the new moms, brides, or camera buffs in your life. Why camera buffs?

Well, I'll be offering my "Digital Photography for Soccer Moms (and Dads)" on February 2nd. If someone you know is getting a new camera for Christmas or just wants to learn how to use the camera they already own, this would be a great gift. The class will last from 9am to 4pm and will include lunch. We will cover from capture to output. The day will start with a safari and end with finished prints of our work. This class has been very popular in the past, so please don't miss out. The class will be limited to 10 students. The fee is $150 per person.

So, if you are paying attention, you could combine the two offers for substantial savings.

AND, it would be wise to stock up on gift certificates for the new year. There will be a new special promotion to kick off the new year that you won't want to miss.

A Weekend of New Trends

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of partaking in a few new trends in wedding photography.

Friday, I spent the evening with Stephanie trashing her wedding dress. I know the blood just rushed out of the faces of moms and brides all over, but I like to think of it as "no concern for the dress." I don't actively try to trash the dress. I just don't want to worry about getting it dusty, dirty, muddy, etc. It was a great time that resulted in some really beautiful images. Dirt roads and warehouses make for the best locations. Best of all, it was her idea.




Saturday, Ashly, Eric, and I spent the morning photographing a "morning after session." The idea comes from destination wedding photographers who might not meet their clients until the wedding day. Therefore, there is no chance for an engagement session. The morning after session is simply an engagement session the morning after the wedding. Of course, they typically take place on a beach at a far flung location with the couple in the wedding attire. We didn't have a beach, but for anyone interested, I'm always up for a road trip. It was a great opportunity capture fun images without a time constraint. Ashley and Eric were great.




I hope these images inspire others to do the same. It was great fun.

Happy Thanksgiving

A little belated, but heart-felt none-the-less. As usual, Thanksgiving weekend is a busy time. Besides the turkey and dressing at home, it is a time filled with family portraits. It is sometimes the one time each year that families are complete. AND, as has been the case, it was cold this weekend. There is something about hanging onto a metal camera in barely above freezing weather that gets me in the holiday mood. Feeling in your finger tips is highly overrated.

I hope everyone survived Black Friday. I'm so glad I don't work retail anymore.

Geek Giving

I am a self admitted geek. I'm also really into words. I'm not much of a writer, but I love vocabulary. AND, with the glut of Thanksgiving coming, I have found a great way to give back. Freerice.com will donate 10 grains of rice for every correct answer you give. Simple choose the correct meaning of each word and help feed the hungry. Everything is paid for by the advertisements at the bottom of the screen. Best of all, Apple is an advertiser. I got to 600 grains before I stopped. There seems to be no limit. So, get playing/giving and leave your best score in the comments.

Simple Pleasures, Part 5

If anyone knows a good French teacher, I'm interested. Learning French in a vacuum is really hard.

1. Deep fried turkey!
2. Pumpkin pie covered in Cool Whip. This is one of those guilty pleasures. Whip cream is better, but fat free Cool Whip is pretty amazing.
3. A table so deep in food that you can't have everything on one plate.
4. Post lunch naps. My grandfather would wake at 4:30 or 5 in the morning. He would then have a nap at 10am. Then lunch. Then another nap at 1pm. Oddly enough, he got a lot accomplished. I think retirement must be great!
5. Crocs. I know it seems off topic, but mine are orange, so they're seasonal. If you don't have a pair, get them.

Endangered Species

I recently learned that I'm an endangered species. Researches at the Oxford Hair Foundation believe that redheads will be extinct by 2100. Apparently, a mutation of a gene causes red hair. Unfortunately, the gene is recessive, and it is diluted by the dominant brown hair gene. I think I should make t-shirts emblazoned with "Save the Redheads!" I'm not sure how to save the redheads, but awareness is the first step.

Have We Talked About TV?

I'm a little obsessed with TV. I used to think it was a personality flaw. BUT, occasionally, a show comes a long to make the mindless hours worth while. I think "Pushing Dasies" is just that kind of show. It has a quirky premise, amazing art direction, and compelling characters.

Ned learned at an early age he was "blessed" with the gift of bringing people and animals back to life. But, if he touches them again, they die. If he doesn't "kill" them again within 60 seconds, someone or something nearby dies. By a strange turn of events, he brings his childhood sweetheart back to life. He can never touch her again, but he wants to.

While the story is interesting, the "look" of the show is very distinctive. It resemble a child's story book. The colors are vivid, and the setting looks a little unreal. It adds to the fanciful nature of the show. It is a real treat to see something so unique on network TV.

While some of the actors are familiar (Chi McBride, Swoosie Kurtz, and Kristin Chenoweth) many are unknowns. The characters each have exaggerated personalities. The reclusive aunts, the d-gooder sweetheart, the jilted admirer, the money hungry partner, and conflicted "hero" are all parts of this odd ensemble. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

Don't miss it!
ABC, Wednesdays at 8pm.

Something Old is New Again

I recently decided to resurrect an old way of creating images but with the same instant gratification that digital offers. I bought a large, professional polaroid camera. I've pulled it out at a few sessions and have been thrilled with the results. It is great to see your image on the back of your digital camera, but it is even more exciting to have a print. I've decided to make these one-of-a-kind images available to my clients. Below is an example from the wedding in St Simons. It is the 1940 Cadillac that transported the couple to their reception. Each 3x4 inch original print will be framed with white mats and a simple black frame. Let me know if you are interested in one of these prints at your session.

Long Live the Flare

Last weekend, Joy and I had the pleasure of photographing Erin and Mark's wedding in St Simons. It was a beautiful day and a fabulous couple. We captured some amazing images, but here are two of my favorites. I'm a sucker for lens flare.




PS
I got to wear flip flops to the wedding! I love island weddings!

A Capitol Idea

Four short days, but an amazing trip none-the-less. Our short trip to DC was quite eye-opening. We sampled amazing food at Les Halles (the Washington branch of Tony Bourdain's old haunt) and Mitsitam Café at the National Museum of the Native American (museum restaurants aren't known for their great food, but Mitsitam is the exception). We were moved by the riveting exhibits at the Holocaust Memorial. We viewed the DC skyline from the top of the Washington Monument surrounded by school children. I even made a rubbing of Lt. Neal Clinton Ward's name on the Vietnam Memorial.

If you haven't been recently, plan a trip. I think it is a lot like Disney World. You appreciate different things as an adult, but it is just as magical.

Here are a few of my pictures from DC, including Jeca and me in business class (the perks of being a successful photographer).

Vacation at Last!

Jeca and I will be leaving Sunday for Washington, DC. We are visiting friends and doing a little sight seeing. I haven't been to DC since I was 11 or 12. I am excited and sad to see how much it has changed since 911. I remember visiting the FBI, but I've heard they have ceased giving tours. But, there are new museums and memorials to visit. We are returning late Thursday and leaving Friday morning for Erin and Mark's wedding in St Simons. If they're engagement session is any indication, the wedding will be amazing. Pray for good weather.

So, I'll be out of the studio until Monday, the 15th. I will be keeping a check on email, and you can always reach me on my cell. I'll be a little slower to respond, but I will. I hope everyone has a great week. I'll try to post some images next week.

It Is Never Too Early

Christmas will be here before you know it, and fall has brought cooler weather with it. So, it is time to start scheduling your family session for the holidays. Early morning and late afternoon are best for outdoor sessions and they book quickly. Don't miss your opportunity to document this year with your family.

Best of all, Laura, designer extraordinaire, has been working long nights to create a new collection of Olive My Love Cards. She has displayed all of the holiday card options on her blog. The new birth announcements are also featured. Take a look at all of Laura's hard work. You can also take a look at her personal blog, The Greener Bee, where she waxes about her attempts to be more ecologically friendly.

I LIKE To Talk About My Flare!

Jennifer Anniston didn't like talking about her flare in "Office Space", but I have an obsession. I strive for "good" lens flare.

Lens flare is caused by reflections inside the lens. It should normally be avoided as it causes a decrease in saturation and contrast. The internal reflections can also obscure the subject of your image.

BUT, lens flare can be used to accentuate the image. Here is an example from Jessica and Jason's amazing wedding on Saturday.

Simple Pleasures, Part Four

The French lessons aren't going well. It has been a long time since the last update, but, with the start of Fall, I thought it was appropriate to have a themed entry.

1. The first cool morning that you need a jacket.
2. Fresh apple cider. In Montreal I had unpasteurized apple cider. It is better, but I did find really good cider in the upstate of South Carolina once.
3. Pumpkin patches. Actually, it isn't really the pumpkins. It is all the other squashes. Squashes come in all manner of odd shapes and colors.
4. Fall leaves. I love the look of family portraits surrounded by the warm colors of fall.
5. Fair food. I love polish sausages, corn dogs, funnel cakes, and caramel apples. I'll be in Perry for opening day.

What do you do on your Saturdays?

So, two Saturdays ago, Jayne, Joy, and I went to Lake Oconee for Tracy and Scott's wedding. The wedding took place on the lake, and it was beautiful. On the way home, we heard a strange noise coming from under the car. Well, one of the tires was starting to disintegrate. Of course, we were miles from anywhere, so I had to change the tire. Joy snapped this shot to document the event.